Ocean Avenue Friday Notes

• 06/05: TONIGHT! PTO Parents' Night Out & Benefit Auction, 5:30-8:30 PM, Portland Community Squash ~ The online auction is now LIVE!
• 06/08: Field Day (Rain Date: 06/09)
• Session 1 (Grades 3-5): 8-9:15 AM
• Session 2 (Grades K-2): 9:30-10:45 AM
• 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
• 06/18: Egg Drop, Start at 8:30 AM

• RIPPLEFFECT: Last Day - May 28th
• A COMPANY OF GIRLS: Last Day - June 2nd
• JEWISH COMMUNITY ALLIANCE: Last Day - June 5th
• BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB: Last Day - June 5th
• BREAKWATER: Last Day - June 11th
• MAINE OUTDOOR KIDS: Last Day - June 12th
• CENTERPOINT MARTIAL ARTS: Last Day - June 18th

The Portland Public schools will be operating various summer meal sites at 11 locations across the city of Portland this summer.

Meals are the same for all children regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability, and there will be no discrimination in the course of the meal service.

All children and teens 18 years and younger may receive a nutritious meal free of charge to be enjoyed on site.

Most sites will be begin serving on Thursday, June 25th. Meals will be provided on a first-come, first-serve basis, at any of the following meal site locations.

Learn more: https://ow.ly/MQfp50W3Lu8

Beyond the Portland Public Schools' Summer Meals Program, there are various Portland Area Food Pantries and a Community Food Resource Guide listed on the district's website.

As we enter into the final days of the school year, our Lost and Found continues to have many unclaimed items. If your student is missing any items, I encourage you to come and look through our lost and found.

During the summer months, any unclaimed lost and found items are either donated to our Clothing Closet at school or to an outside agency. Before this occurs though, we would love to get as many of these items back to their original owners as we can. Please feel free to come in now through Thursday, June 18th to look. We ask that you sign in at the Main Office first before heading down to the Lost and Found. Thank you!

Grade 2 took part in their Wabanaki studies field work at Baxter Woods, where they explored the forest through a series of hands-on learning stations. Students observed different layers of the woods, learned about trees of various types and ages, and created art using natural materials.

A key focus was the interconnectedness between the land and the Wabanaki Confederacy, including how the 4 R’s—respect, responsibility, reciprocity, and relationship—are reflected in nature. Thank you to our chaperones, the educators who organized and led this experience, and to our students for their curiosity, effort, and care.

Happy Friday, families! We are still missing 141 library books, and with the average book costing around $18 to replace, it adds up. Please keep an eye out for overdue slips in your child's backpack so we can get these stories back on our shelves.

As always, feel free to reach out to Ms. Eva with any questions.

LICE: Cases of head lice have been on the upswing throughout Ocean Ave and other schools. Head lice are very common and are more active during the cooler part of the year when children are indoors and in close proximity. Although it's June- the weather has still been a bit cooler meaning lice are still active. Please check your child's head closely and if lice are found, take appropriate measures to treat the child's hair. If one person in your home has lice, it is necessary to check everyone in the household. Please also remember that once lice have been found on your child's head, they most likely have been there for up to 2 weeks. Please try to limit sharing hats, helmets, etc and keep hair up if possible. If you have any questions, please reach out to Nurse Carrie.

TICKS: While the warm weather and sun are fun to enjoy- please be aware this is the time of year when mosquitoes and ticks are active. Check your child’s body thoroughly each evening especially if they have spent time playing outdoors. Ticks are tiny (less than an inch), red or brown in color, and attach themselves to skin. If you find a tick, remove it with tweezers or a special tick-removal kit. Wash the bite site with soap and water and contact your child’s physician to determine if medical follow up is needed. You should do regular tick checks during spring, summer & early fall.

Carrie Haber

School Nurse, OAES

Please Help Our Plants Survive this Summer!!!

Over the past few weeks, students have been happily planting vegetables and flowers in our school garden. We are looking forward to coming back to school and harvesting corn, beans, squash, tomatoes, sunflowers, and watermelon(!) amongst many other veggies.

In order for these plants to survive, we need volunteers from our school community to help with watering them over the summer. If you are interested, please choose a week to Adopt-the-Garden on our Sign-Up Genius page. Ms. Nogar will then contact you about garden care specifics. Thanks!

We are excited to share that The Locker Project is the partner beneficiary of the 6th Annual Woodfords Community Garden Tour on Saturday, June 13. Get your tickets today — a portion of the event proceeds will be donated to support The Locker Project at Ocean Avenue Elementary School!

WHEN: Saturday, June 13, 2026, 1-4 PM (rain date June 14)

WHERE: Throughout the Woodfords Corner community!

TICKETS: by donation – suggested donation of $20 per attendee.

Tickets can be purchased online or on Tour day at Woodfords Plaza (651 Forest Ave). Pay what you can: less is fine; more is appreciated! We welcome ALL community members to join us, regardless of their ability to donate.

Friends of Woodfords Corner (FWC) created the annual Woodfords Community Garden Tour as a celebration of our community and a way for neighbors to connect during pandemic times. Six years later, the annual event continues with a self-guided tour of ten gorgeous gardens across the Corner! Walk or bike around the neighborhood, enjoy friends, visit the gardens, and support two great organizations working to support our community — The Locker Project and Friends of Woodfords Corner!

>> Learn more and get your tickets! <<

We hope to see you there!

P.S. Many thanks to tour sponsors Benchmark Real Estate and East End Corps for making this event possible!

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

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

We are excited to announce that our online auction is now live! It includes a wide array of trips, items, activities, restaurant gift cards, and special school experiences offered by the wonderful OAES staff!! Extra talented artist-teachers have also donated their beautiful crafts. It will stay open for bidding until tonight, Friday, June 5th at 8 PM.

Please share the auction link below with other members of the community, friends, and family! These funds will be used for field trips, library books, community support, and much more.

https://oapto.betterworld.org/auctions/2026-ocean-avenue-elementary-sch

AND please join us TONIGHT at Parent's Night Out for community and LIVE Auction items!!

June 5th at Portland Community Squash from 5:30-8:30 PM!

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, music, and a cash bar will be available. The Live Auction will occur during the event, but no bidding expected - it's just a time to socialize and have fun together!

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

Thank you for your support and we hope to see you tonight!

• Annual PTO Auction & Parents Night Out: TONIGHT ~ Friday, June 5, 5:30-8:30 PM, Portland Community Squash, 66 Noyes Street, Portland ~ We are excited to announce that our online auction is now LIVE!
• PTO Meeting: Tuesday, June 9, 5:30 PM in the Ocean Avenue School Library/Virtual
• Spring Fair: June 2026

• OAES PTO Facebook Page
• OAES PTO Instagram Page