Oshki Ogimaag Community School
March 29, 2024
It is a blizzard!
Meeting Our Environmental Education Goals
One of our Environmental Education goals with our charter school authorizer Osprey Wilds, is for all students to add to their nature journals weekly. In their journals, students write observations, record data, hypothesize, and sketch pictures. As teachers create lessons plans for journaling, they incorporate Minnesota Standards for grade-levels in writing, mathematics, science, social studies and art.
A tradition in Ms. Jeana's classroom is Forest Fridays. During Forest Fridays students spend the afternoon exploring the woods and have different goals and/or targets for observations each week. This time meets our mission to prepare students through hands-on learning, preserve Anishinaabe language and culture (cultural lessons are always part of our time spent in nature) and contributing to the wellness of future generations. We teach students to be stewards of the environment, we teach students to care for the plants, trees, and all creatures, as they are all living beings, and we teach students how nature also cares for all of us, and must be respected. Ms. Ryden's class often attends and OOCS staff also occasionally attend Forest Fridays with Ms. Jeana's classroom. They head out to the woods after lunch at 12:30pm and return to school by 2pm or 2:30pm. Families and Community Members are welcome to join! Let us know if you would like to join us for Forest Friday!
There is also a great deal of current research that highlights the benefits of time spent in nature for adults and children. An article published by the Child Mind Institute lists some of the benefits of children spending time in nature as: 1) It builds confidence; 2) It promotes creativity and imagination; 3) It teaches responsibility; 4) It provides different stimulation; 5) It gets kids moving; 6) It makes them think; 7) It reduces stress and fatigue. There is also a growing amount of research that shows that spending time in nature supports the needs of students who struggle with emotional regulation, sensory processing disorders, students who have ADHD, and students who are on the Autism Spectrum. Read the full Child Mind Institute article here: https://childmind.org/article/why-kids-need-to-spend-time-in-nature/
Yoga with Miss Carly
We are lucky to have Yoga with Miss Carly every other Thursday! Carly Puch is a Cook County Community Leader, promoting more conscious care of the environment and wellness for all. She speaks of these issues on her popular podcast Consciously Carly. She also recently published a book of poetry! Our students love their time with Miss Carly and are always excited to see her!
An article published by the National Institute of Health states "The use of yoga among children may assist their development, increase their well-being, reduce everyday stress, facilitate weight management, and mitigate emotional and behavioral problems, aside from being a supplement to improve focus and attention." Read full article here: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3980104/#:~:text=The%20use%20of%20yoga%20among,to%20improve%20focus%20and%20attention.
Talking Nutrition and Wellness with Tess Bailey and Asemaa Seeding with Amy Bell
At Oshki Ogimaag Community School we have a HUGE amount of gratitude for the amazing support Community members offer our school and students! We love to see our students connecting with and learning from Community members. This provides to our students a deeper sense of Community and connectedness and facilitates cross-generational relationships that are mutually beneficial.
This week Tess Bailey visited with students. Tess teaches our students about planting, harvesting, nutrition, history and medicinal values of plants, and wellness. Amy Bell worked with students on Asemaa seeding.
Parent/Guardian Teacher Conferences April 16 and April 18.
Spring Conferences are scheduled for Tuesday, April 16 and Thursday, April 18, 3:30-5:30pm both days. If neither of those days/times work for you, please reach out to your child's Teacher to find a time that will work for your family! The Sign-Up Genius should have come from your child's Teacher via email, reach out if you did not receive it! Ms. James and Miss Tina will be at school during conferences if you want to check-in or have any questions!
Join Our Team! Spread the word!
Oshki Ogimaag Community School is hiring for the following positions:
- 2 Licensed Elementary School Teacher positions open for the 2024-2025 School Year
- Indian Home School Liaison (open immediately)
- Custodian Part-Time (open immediately)
Ideal candidates will have knowledge and understanding of Ojibwe language and cultural traditions, and the traditional seasonal activities of the Anishinaabe.
Oshki Ogimaag Community School is an equal opportunity employer. Oshki Ogimaag will not deny anyone the opportunity for training or employment due to race, color, creed, religion, national origin gender, gender identity, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, disability, sexual orientation, age, family, leave care act status, or veteran status.
See our website for more details. Email resumes and applications materials to Oshki Ogimaag Community School Email Below:
Naagaaniid - "One who leads."
