OES News From the Nest

Greetings, Oakdale Families!

What a wonderful way to wrap up October! This month, we celebrated our amazing principal, hardworking custodians, and dedicated coaches for the care and leadership they bring to Oakdale each day. From the fun of our Fall Festival to the togetherness of Unity Day and the accomplishments recognized on Awards Day, we had so many reasons to celebrate! We also wore pink in recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, showing support for those affected and honoring their strength and courage. We are closing out October with Red Ribbon Week and Trick-or-Treat festivities, creating special memories while encouraging healthy choices and school spirit. Thank you to our staff and families for making these experiences possible!

As we return to school on Monday, November 2, we look forward to a November filled with learning, kindness, and gratitude. Our calendar includes Career Day on November 5, followed by the Great Handshake Challenge and Family Math Night on November 10. These opportunities will help our Falcons explore their futures, build confidence, and enjoy learning together.

Please remember that school will be closed November 11 for Veterans Day. We will celebrate World Kindness Day on November 13, reminding our students that even small acts of kindness can make a big difference. November also brings our Fall Book Fair, November 16–20, Thanksgiving Lunches on November 17 and 18, and the Westside Classic Flag Football Game on November 19!

Thanksgiving Break will be November 23–27, with students returning Monday, November 30, when AimsWeb and P2P testing begins. Throughout this busy month, please continue supporting daily attendance, arriving on time, and reading and practicing math at home.

We are thankful for your continued partnership and the joy your children bring to our school. Let’s make November another wonderful month for our “Falcons in Full Color—Where Passion Meets Purpose!”

Welcome back, Falcons! We are so glad you have returned and brought Oakdale to life in full color. Let’s make the 2026–2027 school year our best one yet!

With Falcon Pride,

Principal Ezell

During National Principals Month, we proudly celebrate Ms. Kiera S. Ezell and her dedication to Oakdale Elementary!

Her caring leadership, commitment to student success, and support for our teachers and families help create a school where every Falcon can shine. She encourages our students to recognize their strengths, embrace challenges, and SOAR toward their goals.

Ms. Ezell brings our theme, “Falcons in Full Color,” to life by celebrating the unique talents and potential within our school community. Thank you, Ms. Ezell, for leading with heart and helping Oakdale grow. Your Falcon family appreciates you

We invite students and families to join us in showing appreciation throughout October. A thoughtful note, a kind word, or a simple “thank you” is a meaningful way to let her know how much she is valued.

Thank you, Ms. Ezell, for helping Oakdale shine in full color! Happy National Principals Month!

Join us at Oakdale Elementary on Tuesday, November 10, at 5:30 p.m. for an evening of math, fun, and family! Come explore and see math in action as we celebrate learning together.

Bring your curiosity and your Falcon spirit—we can’t wait to see you there!

Oakdale Elementary will be closed Wednesday, November 11, in observance of Veterans Day. School resumes Thursday, November 12.

We honor and thank all veterans for their service, courage, and sacrifice

Oakdale’s Fall Book Fair is November 16–20! Discover new books, explore exciting stories, and spark your next reading adventure.

Help your Falcon grow a love of reading—there’s a whole world waiting inside a book!

Come support our 4th- and 5th-grade student-athletes and cheerleaders at the Westside Classic on November 19, 2026! Kickoff is at 5:30 p.m. at Central High School.

Tickets are $3 in advance and $5 at the gate. Bring your enthusiasm and help us celebrate our students’ teamwork, effort, and school spirit!

Let’s fill the stands and cheer our Falcons on as they SOAR! ❤️🖤

Oakdale Elementary will be closed November 23–27 for Thanksgiving Break. Students return Monday, November 30.

We are thankful for our wonderful students, families, and staff! Enjoy a restful break filled with gratitude and time together.

Our Falcons have been busy learning, growing, and having FUN in our 21st Century Community Learning Center! Each afternoon, students participate in academic enrichment, homework assistance, and engaging reading and math activities designed to strengthen their skills and support classroom learning.

But the learning doesn't stop there! From finding their rhythm with Drum Nation 🥁 to getting creative through Art 🎨 and building confidence and discipline in Karate 🥋, our students are enjoying exciting opportunities beyond the regular school day!

And that's just the beginning! We're looking forward to even more hands-on learning, enrichment activities, and memorable experiences throughout the school year!

📢 Interested in Joining Our Program?

Our 21st Century Program currently has a waiting list, but we are still accepting applications! Families interested in enrolling their child are encouraged to click the link below to apply. As spaces become available, students on the waiting list may be added to the program.

🔗 Apply Here: https://forms.gle/NcukqpZBdCkxuhia7

We're excited to continue providing our Falcons with opportunities to learn, grow, and shine beyond the classroom! ❤️🖤

We are excited to share that our fifth-grade students will participate in the Great Handshake Competition! This experience will help students strengthen their communication, confidence, and leadership skills through professional handshakes, interviews, one-minute elevator speeches, and impromptu situations. We look forward to watching our fifth-grade Falcons SOAR with confidence and professionalism!

Word of the Week: Perimeter

Part of Speech: Noun

Definition: The total distance around the outside of a shape.

Sentence: Jordan added the lengths of all four sides to find the perimeter of the garden.

Example: Jordan’s rectangular garden is 6 meters long and 4 meters wide. Its perimeter is 6 + 4 + 6 + 4 = 20 meters!

Falcon Challenge: Find a rectangular object at home, such as a book or tabletop. Measure each side using the same unit, then add all four lengths. What is its perimeter? Remember—Oakdale Falcons use math to understand the world around them and SOAR!

Oakdale Elementary is proud to partner with Neighborhood Bridges Tuscaloosa City, a charitable organization that connects schools and communities to help meet students’ basic needs, remove barriers, and create opportunities for every child to succeed in school and life. Community members can subscribe to receive notifications about anonymous needs within our schools and choose how they would like to help. To learn more or become a subscriber, visit Neighborhood Bridges Tuscaloosa City. Together, we can build bridges of kindness and support for Oakdale students and families as our Falcons continue learning and growing in full color!

For the next two weeks, our social and emotional learning (SEL) focus is Self-Efficacy, a skill within Self-Awareness. Self-efficacy means believing we can succeed through effort and practice.

This belief helps our Falcons stay motivated, keep trying, and grow through challenges.

Our slogan is “Step by step, I can do it!”

Teachers will help students approach challenges one step at a time and celebrate effort and progress. Families can support this skill by encouraging practice and asking, “What can you do now that you once found difficult?”

“Success comes from effort and persistence.”

As Falcons in Full Color, we celebrate every student’s strengths and growth. Together, we can help our Falcons believe in their ability to learn and SOAR!

Oakdale families are invited to enjoy Storytime every Thursday at 4:00 p.m. at West End Laundry, 910 31st Avenue, Tuscaloosa, AL 35401. This engaging Wash, Read, Repeat program gives children an opportunity to enjoy stories and strengthen their literacy skills while families complete their laundry. For more information, call (205) 345-6640 or email Cheryl@uwwa.org or Jodi@uwwa.org. We hope our Oakdale Falcons will take advantage of this wonderful community resource!

School Start Time Reminder

School begins promptly at 7:55 a.m. Students arriving after this time are considered tardy.

• Breakfast is served before the bell—late arrivals may miss it.

• Intervention and review time happen first thing in the morning.

• A calm, on-time start sets the tone for a successful day.

Thank you for making punctuality a priority and helping our students start strong each morning!

Tardies

Please know that excessive tardies or absences are closely monitored and may result in truancy concerns, as required by state guidelines. We want to partner with you to ensure this does not become an issue for your child.

Getting to school on time helps your child start the day calm, prepared, and ready to learn. Thank you for making punctuality a priority—it truly sets your child up for success!

If you are experiencing challenges with morning routines or transportation, please reach out to us. We are here to support you.

Daily Attendance

Attendance plays a vital role in your child’s success and in our school’s overall report grade. We need every student at school each and every day unless they are sick or there is a family emergency. If your child is absent, please be sure to send a written or doctor's excuse the very next day they return.

When planning vacations or out-of-town events, we kindly ask that you refer to our holiday calendar and schedule trips during school breaks. Consistent attendance helps your child stay on track academically and socially, and it makes a significant difference in their learning progress. Let’s work together to ensure our Falcons are present, learning, and soaring every day.

Families, please take time to review the Tuscaloosa City Schools 2026–2027 Code of Conduct with your child. This important guide outlines student expectations, attendance requirements, appropriate behavior, disciplinary procedures, technology use, and the rights and responsibilities of students and families.

Working together to understand and follow these expectations will help us maintain a safe, respectful, and productive learning environment for every student.

• View the Code of Conduct in English
• View the Code of Conduct in Spanish

NOVEMBER 2026

Tuesday, November 10 – Great Handshake Competition @ 9:00 AM

Tuesday, November 10 – Math Night

Wednesday, November 11 – Veterans Day (School Closed)

Friday, November 13 – World Kindness Day

Monday, November 16–Friday, November 20 – American Education Week

Monday, November 16–Friday, November 20 – Fall Book Fair

Thursday, November 19 – Westside Classic Football Game @ 5:30 PM (Central High School)

Monday, November 23–Friday, November 27 – Thanksgiving Break (School Closed)

We want to make sure every parent and guardian can access important updates through our new ParentSquare app. Please take a moment to confirm that your contact information is accurate. If you need assistance, our front office will be happy to help you stay connected.

If your phone number or email address needs to be changed, it must first be updated in PowerSchool at the school level, as ParentSquare pulls all contact information directly from PowerSchool. To receive messages from your child’s teacher and from our school, you must be listed in PowerSchool as “guardian,” “lives with,” or “receives mail.”

The safety of our students is always our top priority. Please review the following reminders to help us keep Oakdale a safe and orderly environment for all:

1. All visitors must sign in through the front office by using Raptor and presenting a valid driver’s license.

2. Transportation changes should be shared with your child’s classroom teacher through a written note or ParentSquare message no later than 11:00 a.m. This allows us to make sure all students are in the correct location for dismissal.

3. Please remain in your cars during morning arrival and afternoon dismissal. If your child needs assistance, a teacher will be available to help them get to their car.

4. Do not pass any buses or block the bus loading area at any time.

5. Students will not be allowed to check out after 2:15 p.m., with no exceptions.

Email: kezell@tusc.k12.al.us

Assistant Principal: Denise Arrington

Email: darringt@tusc.k12.al.us

Phone: 205-759-3626

Oakdale's Website: https://oakdale.tuscaloosacityschools.com/

Social Media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TCSOakdale/

Twitter: https://x.com/oakdaleelement

Vision:

We strive to create a nurturing, collaborative environment where students grow academically, socially, and emotionally.

Motto:

Only at Oakdale… where passion meets purpose and teamwork turns dreams into plans!