The Otter Overview

Thank you to everyone who participated in our fall parties and Strong Choices week last week! These memorable events do not happen for our Otters without the amazing support of parents and families! We love getting to partner with you! 🎃🍂

⏰Thank you for ensuring your student is on time each day for learning. Every minute matters and we work hard to maximize our time together. Our doors open at 7:25, students begin their day with teachers at 7:45, and the tardy bell rings at 7:50. We begin our learning promptly at 7:50 each day.

Our current daily attendance rates for the first quarter are:

Kindergarten: 92.95%

1st Grade: 93.76%

2nd Grade: 94.71%

3rd Grade: 95.21%

4th Grade: 95.96% 🥇

FOURTH GRADE has edged out the lead this month! Great job fourth grade!!!

Daily attendance is vital in helping students stay on track academically, building strong relationships, practicing social and communication skills, and increasing connection and a sense of belonging. Studies show that increased absenteeism, even one day per month, can lead to lower achievement and increased emotional concerns.

If your student is struggling with a situation and hesitant to come to school, please reach out to their homeroom teacher, one of our counselors, or one of our administrators. We are all here to help!

If your student will be absent, please let our attendance clerk know by emailing ocesattendanceclerk@bentonvillek12.org or calling 479-286-9500.

Sincerely,

Jessie Lisenbee, OCE Principal

Matt Allen, OCES Assistant Principal

November’s counseling lesson is on personal body safety through the EMPOWER Me curriculum from Gundersen Health. Students will be given a handout after the lesson to take home. Please ask your student what they learned and to share the handout with you. Here is some information from the Gundersen National Child Protection Training Center that will help parents to further discuss personal safety with their childre:

Check first: Children and teens should be taught to check first with parents and caregivers before going anywhere with anyone, accepting gifts, or allowing someone to photograph them. If anyone attempts to force a child to go somewhere with them without being able to check first, they should be taught to yell “call 911” or “help” in a low, strong voice and run to another adult for help.
Use the buddy system: Encourage children and teens to walk to and from school, wait at the bus stop, go out into the community and spend recreational time in groups. It’s not only a safe idea—it’s also more fun! Parents should know the names and contact information of the people their child likes to spend time with both in-person and online.
Find 5 trusted adults: These are people to talk to about any problem or worry. They could be parents, grandparents, teachers, coaches, neighbors, or any safe adult.
Trust your gut: Teach your children how to recognize their gut instinct or “uh-oh” feeling. If a child or teen is in a situation where their gut is telling them that something is wrong they should leave and check in with a parent or caregiver. If a certain individual gives your child that “uh-oh” feeling, make it a family policy that they are not allowed to spend time with that person unless the parent/guardian is present.
No secrets: There is never a good reason for a child or teen to keep secrets from their parents. If your child is asked to keep a secret that is a red flag for them to leave the situation and talk to you immediately. It’s a good idea to teach your child the difference between a secret and a surprise so you can keep the lines of communication open without learning what you are getting for your birthday.
Say no, get away, tell an adult: Parents should talk to their children about times when they may need to say no to an adult. If a child is being tricked into confusing or harmful touching he/she should be taught to say ‘no’ loudly. Then she/he should get away from the situation and tell a trusted adult. Reinforce with children that if they are ever tricked into a harmful touch that it is NOT their fault and that you will love them no matter what.
Attention and affection trap: Adults use attention and affection as the primary way to exploit children and teens. Tell your children that adults who have their best intentions in mind want to be a mentor and not a significant other. Talk to your teen about the dangers of being in a “relationship” with an adult. If your child or teen suspects that an adult is attempting to start a “romantic relationship” with them, they should talk to a parent right away.
Know all about you: Children and teens need to know their phone number, address, parents’ or caregivers’ numbers, along with other important contact information like their school information and numbers of trusted adults. Practice making a 911 call with your children as a way of practicing reciting the information in case of an emergency.
Remember to talk about online safety: Children and teens need to be taught not to give out personal or emotionally private information online. Youth should not meet people online in real life without parental permission and involvement. If children see themselves as a part of the solution to keep the Internet safer they may be more likely to report inappropriate emails and communication to a parent. Parents can use cybertipline.com to report online luring or other illegal online behavior that puts children and teens at risk.

To learn more about the “Empower Me!” presentation, click on the provided link below. If you have any questions about the "Empower Me!" presentations, please don’t hesitate to contact your child’s school counselor.

Ms. Nulty 286-9570

Mrs. Niebruegge, 286-9640

https://youtu.be/OffEHgvmzg0

To view and order school pictures, go to strawbridge.net, click on "Order Pictures & Yearbooks" in the top right, enter code FM482516, and click "Find". You can acces and purchase pictures after entering your email address.

Picture retake day for all students is Monday, November 17th.

It's yearbook pre-sale time! If you would like to purchase your 2025-2026 OCE yearbook for 10% off, purchase it before October 31st! Go to https://web.treering.com/create-account/1016310287542965 and either log into your account from last year or create a new account. Let Mrs. DeRossitt know if you have any questions: ederossitt@bentonvillek12.org.

Starting October 1, 2025, you can fill out your application online. You will also upload pictures of the documents (ID and proof of income). If you anticipate needing Christmas assistance please go to https://sharingandcaringkids.com/christmasassistance/ and fill out the application and upload the required documentation.

Reach out to Colleen Nulty at cnulty@bentonvillek12.org if you have questions.

We love parent volunteers and are so appreciative of all you do! If you'd like to help chaperone a field trip, volunteer during a class party, or any other student event at Osage Creek, volunteer training is required.

If you joined us earlier this fall for volunteer training and completed the online forms, you're good to go! 🙂 If not, here are your next steps:

1. Review the volunteer training information HERE.

2. Review and digitally sign the training forms HERE.

3. Serve at Osage Creek and have an amazing time with our Otters!

Know a Bentonville Schools' employee who goes the extra mile? Nominate them HERE.

November is here and that often means unpredictable weather. Please check the weather and ensure your child has a jacket and appropriate footwear. Please write your child's name in their jacket so we can return it to them if they forget it outside. Layering is especially helpful this time of year as mornings can be chilly and afternoons tend to warm up. Students will go outside for recess unless it is raining, sleeting, or the wind chill is dangerously low. We could shorten time outside as necessary due to weather. Further guidelines and clarification can also be found in our Elementary Student Handbook: www.bentonvillek12.org/documents/parents/student-handbooks/338971. The health and safety of students and staff will be primary considerations when making decisions regarding outdoor recess. Our source for temperature and wind chill information is www.weather.com

Osage Creek follows the Bentonville Schools academic calendar. You can find the calendar HERE.

11/7 - Ollie Trolley

11/7 - Otter Romp

11/7 - Tailgate Together at BWHS

11/11 - Veterans Day

11/12 - 1st Grade Field Trip

11/12 - 3rd Grade Field Trip

11/17 - Fall Picture Retakes

11/20 - PTO Meeting at 5:30pm

11/24-28 - Thanksgiving Break

12/5 - Otter Romp

12/8-12 - PTO Holiday Shop

12/9 - Otter Wonderland

12/9 - 1st Grade Musical

All students are welcome to bring their lunch from home or eat in our fantastic cafeteria.

To add money to your child's account, visit bentonville.familyportal.cloud and log into your account. Need help? Feel free to call us at 479-286-9500.

Breakfast and lunch menus for the district can be found here:

https://www.bentonvillek12.org/documents/departments/food-and-nutrition/menus/339863