Ocean Avenue Friday Notes

• 06/02: Fifth Grade Step-Up Day to Middle Schools, 11:30 AM-1:15 PM
• 06/05: Last Day of Afterschool Boys and Girls Club
• 06/05: Fifth Grade Band & Strings Concert in the Gym, 1:15 PM
• 06/05: PTO Parents' Night Out & Benefit Auction, 5:30-8:30 PM, Portland Community Squash
• 06/08: Field Day (Rain Date: 06/09)
• 06/09: PTO Meeting in the Library, 5:30 PM
• 06/15: Kindergarten through Fourth Grade Step-Up Day
• 06/16: Fifth Grade Promotion Celebration, 9:15 AM
  
  

• 6/01 - Hat Day - Wear a hat to school! 👒
• 6/02 - Ocean Avenue Day - Wear something that represents OAES!🐬
• 6/03 - Wacky Wednesday - Wacky hair, clothes, hat, socks?🙃
  BE CREATIVE and HAVE FUN!
• 6/04 - Red, White and Blue Day - Wear red, white and blue! 🔴⚪🔵
• 6/13 - Beach Day - Wear something you would to the beach! 😎

With the temperatures rising, we want to share how we are keeping our students comfortable and safe. As many of you know, our building is not fully air-conditioned, so we are taking proactive steps to manage the "indoor summer" vibes!

To Help Everyone Stay Focused and Cool, We Are Implementing the Following:

• Hydration Stations: Our staff will be frequently reminding students to drink water throughout the day. Please consider sending your child with a refillable water bottle so they can top off at our filling stations.

• Air Circulation: We have fans running in every classroom to keep the air moving and the environment as comfortable as possible.

• Cooler Choices: We are utilizing shaded areas of the playground during recess and keeping indoor activities low-energy during the peak heat of the afternoon.
  
  

How You Can Help:

• Dress Light: Please send your children in lightweight, breathable clothing.

• Pre-Hydrate: A big glass of water before school goes a long way!
  
  

While we can’t bring the actual ocean breeze into the classrooms, we are doing everything we can to keep our cool while we learn. Thank you for your support and for helping your kiddos stay hydrated!

As we approach the last few weeks of school, I wanted to offer some thoughts about how you can support your child to manage the end of the year and all the changes it brings. For some children, the end of the year is exciting and full of possibilities, but for others, it can prompt some anxiety about what is next.

• Am I ready for the next grade?
• Will I be able to manage the work?
• Who will be my friends in my next class?

These are all good questions, and we need to support children to understand and navigate change. It's helpful to try and keep children on their regular schedule as much as possible through the end of school and ensure that they get enough sleep. It's also helpful to reassure your child that we are all here to support them, and to remind them of the progress they have made, their successes, etc. We work hard to place students in class groupings and to assign teachers to those groupings. As you may recall, we will send out letters in August informing you of your child's teacher for next year.

Thank you for your continued support as we enter the final weeks of the 2025/2026 school year!

A small group of 3rd grade students from Mrs. Taylor’s classroom completed a special independent study project on endangered species. They studied a species of choice and then with Ms. Hopper’s leadership, wrote and illustrated trifold brochures that are now displayed at the Maine Audubon at Gilsland Farm.

A big shoutout to all of our library helpers this week! One of our IB transdisciplinary themes is "How We Organize Ourselves," and students have loved digging into that inquiry and helping out this week! Once our book checkout wraps up, the focus shifts to tracking down any misplaced titles and ensuring our shelves are complete for next year. It truly is a community effort, and we are so grateful to everyone who keeps our resources engaging, reliable, and ready for our readers.

~ Ms. Eva

All students in middle school need documentation of a doctor’s physical exam to participate in ANY school sport. Please make an appointment for your child to have a well child physical exam before September. Talk to your doctor about vaccines for your child. Ask for copies of any shots received and a “sports clearance” note. Provide copies to your middle school nurse.

Your child will need a physical exam every 2 years to participate in sports in middle and high school. Feel free to contact me if you need help finding a doctor or making an appointment.

Carrie Haber

School Nurse, OAES

CLICK HERE for Volunteer Sign Up for Field Day

We are collecting donations for our elementary school clothing closet! We are in need of:

• Shorts
• Sweatpants
• Leggings
• Shoes (especially sneakers and croc-like shoes)
• Raincoats
  
  

All sizes are needed for students throughout the school. New or gently used items are greatly appreciated.

Thank you for helping support our students and families!

If you would like to see what is being served for breakfast and lunch each day at school, you can find the daily menus ONLINE.

*All meals are free for all students. Milk is $0.50 each

*All meals served with a choice of Skim or 1% Maine Milk

*Alternate Sunbutter and Jelly Bundle is available daily at all schools

*Menu subject to change without notice

• Annual PTO Auction & Parents Night Out: Friday, June 5, 5:30-8:30 PM, Portland Community Squash, 66 Noyes Street
• PTO Meeting: Tuesday, June 9, 5:30 PM in the Ocean Avenue School Library/Virtual
• Spring Fair: June 2026

Friday, June 5th, 5:30-8:30 PM at Portland Community Squash

Parents’ Night Out is a fun community event for all adults in the Ocean Ave Community – please join us! The event is free to attend – PTO will provide heavy appetizers and a cash bar will be available.

New this year, we will have childcare available onsite (requires sign-up and $10 payment per child).

For more details and sign-up are available here. We are still seeking volunteers and item donations for the auction – please reach out to volunteer@oapto.org if you are interested in volunteering or contributing! Thank you!

• OAES PTO Facebook Page
• OAES PTO Instagram Page