The Otter Overview

We have missed our Otters so much! It has been wonderful to see them back today!

Our attendance rates have increased slightly and we're so grateful for that! We maximize every moment and opportunity with our students.

2nd Grade continues to lead the way this month! They are on quite the streak for attendance right now, leading since December.

Our current daily attendance rates for January are:

Kindergarten: 93.85%

1st Grade: 93.11%

2nd Grade: 94.86% 🏅

3rd Grade: 93.94%

4th Grade: 93.39%

We only have 74 instructional days left this semester. Please do everything you can to have your Otter at school on time every day. If you need any help or services, please reach out to our office or counselors and we'll do our best to help in any way that we can.

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.

Remember that instruction in the classroom begins at 7:50 am each morning. Please ensure students are inside no later than 7:45 so they can get to their classroom, put their belongings away, and get started on a successful day.

Sincerely,

Jessie Lisenbee, OCE Principal

Matt Allen, OCE Assistant Principal

Building friendships, one buddy at a time 💙 Our Osage Creek buddy classes are growing relationships, sharing smiles, and learning together every step of the way!

We are so thankful for Bentonville's First United Methodist Church and their generous donation to the Summer Book Bus! This will play a HUGE role in putting good books in our readers' hands over the summer! Thank you for your partnership in helping our otters learn and grown all year long!

Our kindergarteners, 1st graders, and 2nd graders have already taken ATLAS interims and done an amazing job! We are so proud of their growth and cannot wait to see what they accomplish in April!

3rd and 4th graders will take ATLAS Interims on Tuesday-Friday, February 3rd-6th. Please ensure your child is well rested and ready to go. If you'd like them to eat breakfast at school, please have them on campus by 7:30 so they can get breakfast and get to class in time to test.

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

We know that students are most successful when educators and parents work hand in hand. We value your input and partnership tremendously. Our teachers update student progress weekly on TeacherEase. If you feel that you are not able to view current progress, please let your student's homeroom teacher know. You're also welcome to contact the office for more support.

Parents can receive more information regarding TeacherEase at:

https://www.bentonvillek12.org/page/check-grades

The safety and efficiency of our morning car line depends depends heavily on the amazing, weather-defying skills of Ms. Deal, Ms. Dumas, and Ms. Hairston. We are fortunate at OCES to have such dedicated staff working hard to ensure every student gets into the building safely.

If you drop off in the morning, please review our guidelines so that every drop-off is safe and stress free.

General Guidelines:

• Be mindful and aware of your surroundings at all times. Cell phone use is prohibited while operating a vehicle in a school zone. Minimize other distractions in the vehicle for student safety. (Hands free isn't distraction free.)
• Be attentive to staff directions and Stop/Go signs they carry.
• Leave home early enough to arrive on time. Drop-off begins at 7:25. The car line closes at 7:47 as students are expected to be in their classroom learning at 7:50.
• Adults are to stay in their vehicle at all times. If your child needs assistance getting out of the vehicle, park in the parking lot to provide that assistance before walking them to the crosswalk.
• Come to a complete stop, place your vehicle in Park, and wait for staff to blow the whistle before releasing children from your vehicle.
• Do not drop children off in the parking lot at any time.

Thank you for helping keep our students and staff safe!

Our lost and found is full of goodies looking for their home. If you're missing something, check lost and found soon. Everything left on Friday, February 6th will be removed and donated.

Our February core value is Respect: Showing others they are important by what you say and do. Here is information from our counselors Ms. Nulty and Ms. Niebruegge:

Students will be learning about artists, inventors, and influencers during Black History Month. Watch our social media pages for highlights!

Due to our snow days and ATLAS interim testing, we are rescheduling our Otter Romp. The Romp will now be held on Friday, February 13th. You will recieve individual communication if your child is receiving an award.

We want to give a BIG THANK YOU to Ms. Nulty and Mrs. Niebruegge!

We proudly celebrate our incredible school counselors for National School Counseling Week! 💙 Thank you for the countless ways you support our students — listening, encouraging, guiding, and advocating every single day. Your compassion, dedication, and heart make a lasting difference in the lives of our children and families. Our school is stronger because of you. We are so grateful for all you do!

All Bentonville Reads kicked off on Friday, January 30! We are so excited to be reading Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library together! Each otter has received their own copy to read, and we hope they are loving it! Each book came with a bookmark giving assigned nightly chapters to read together with your family. Keep an eye out on social media for more family events and activities with All Bentonville Reads!

PTO has rescheduled the Glow Party to Thursday, February 5th. Still 5:30-7:00 pm at Osage Creek!

Calling all 4th graders!

Kindness Week is February 9th-13th, led by our conselors Ms. Nulty and Ms. Niebruegge! Students can complete kindness challenges to earn prizes throughout the week!

Valentines parties are Friday, February 13th! Thank you to each and every adult who makes our parties a success. We appreciate you!!!!

Kindergarten: 11:20-11:50

1st Grade: 11:50-12:20

2nd Grade: 12:20-12:50

3rd Grade: 12:50-1:20

4th Grade: 1:20-1:50

Please remember that all adults must check in through the front office before attending a party. Non school age siblings may attend as long as they do not cause a disruption and do not partake of the snacks and crafts since supplies are purchased for the designated number of Osage Creek students. Thanks for your help!

Happy Presidents' Day! No School Monday, February 16.

Class pictures will be taken on Wednesday, February 25. Spring picture information will be coming your way soon. Bring your best SMILES for the camera!

Please join us at the Bentonville Schools Educators' Career Fair if you are interested in exploring career opportunities with our district. School administrators and district department leaders will be on site, eager to meet candidates and conduct on-the-spot interviews with individuals interested in becoming part of the Bentonville Schools family. In addition to positions that are posted for the current school year, we have also started posting positions for the 2026-2027 school year.

It's time to order your yearbook!

Go to treering.com/validate and use code 1016310287542965 to access Osage Creek.

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://bentonville.nutrislice.com/menu

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

2/2-2/6 - National School Counselor Week!

2/3-2/6 - ATLAS Interim Testing for Grades 3 and 4

2/5 - PTO Glow Party

2/6 - Ollie Trolley

2/9-2/13 - Kindness Week

2/13 - Otter Romp - rescheduled from 2/6

2/13 - Valentine Parties

2/15 - National School Resource Officer Appreciation Day

2/16 - Presidents' Day - No School

2/19 - PTO Meeting - 5:30pm @ Quail Ridge Clubhouse

2/25 - Class Picture Day

2/28 - Bentonville Schools Career Fair at Bentonville High School

3/1 - All Bentonville Reads Crystal Bridges Event

3/6 - Ollie Trolley

3/6 - Otter Romp

We are fortunate to have an amazing PTO that does so much for our students and staff at Osage Creek! Please consider joining the Osage Creek PTO!!

Our PTO website (and newsletter) are: https://osage-creek-elementary-pto.square.site/

PTO contact email is: OsageCreekElementaryPTO@gmail.com

We're happy to help! Please call us at 479-286-9500.

You can also follow us on social media or use our linktree to stay up to date:

linktr.ee/osagecreek