Otter Splash for the Weeks of August 17-31
Hello, Oak Grove Family, Versión en español aquí, النسخة باللغة العربية هنا, Toleo la Kiswahili hapa, Версия на русском здесь, Versiunea in Romana
It has been a busy and exciting two weeks! Our Tracks 1 and 2 Otters participated in the Big Splash Fundraiser, and thanks to their hard work and your incredible generosity, they earned all of their rewards—from chalk and chew, to staff wearing inflatables, to extra recess. Students had a blast during the Splash and Dash obstacle course and cooled off with popsicles. We are thrilled to share that Track 1 and 2 families and friends have raised over $18,000—what an amazing start! Tracks 3 and 4, you’re up next! Your Big Splash Fundraiser will run from August 20–29. Please see the PTA information below to learn how you can support our students and join in on the fun!
Tracks 3 and 4— We look forward to welcoming you to Curriculum Night on Tuesday, August 19, with the first session starting at 5:30 PM, followed by a brief PTA Meeting and concluding with the second session starting at 6:20. We hope you will join us for the PTA Meeting. Our Otterly Awesome PTA has some incredible events planned for the coming year. We are especially excited for the BIG Splash, which will take place from August 6th to 14th for Tracks 1 and 2 and August 20th to 29th for Tracks 3 and 4!
This year, we remain committed to recognizing the outstanding educators who have a positive impact on our students. We encourage you to use this Google Form to submit your Otter Staff Shoutouts. Let’s continue to celebrate the great work happening at Oak Grove! You can also check our website regularly for updates and to see our staff members being recognized. 🦦🎉
Please be sure to see our “Otter Happenings” (Important dates for families) below. In addition, you can find more information about our First Staff Shout-Out, Carpool and Assisted Parking Reminders, Lockdown Drills at Oak Grove, Lightspeed Internet Filter Pilot Program at OGES, Volunteer Registration, Kindergarten Dental Screenings, and PTA Updates.
As we start this new school year, we remain committed to keeping student safety at the forefront of all we do, while maintaining open lines of communication and working closely with you to ensure that every child at Oak Grove receives the best possible education in a safe, supportive, and nurturing environment where every student can learn, grow, and thrive. Please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions or concerns.
Warm regards,
Beverly Benton
2025-26 Year Round Calendars
Otter Happenings (English Calendar)
Acontecimientos de nutria (Spanish Calendar)
حداث قضاعة Arabic Calendar
Matukio ya Otter (Swahili Calendar)
Выдровые события (Russian Calendar)
Calendarul Romanesc (Romanian Calendar)
Staff Shout Out - Ms. Gigi Sammons
Thank you, Madi, Allie, and Cliff Pyles, for shouting out Ms. Sammons, our Otterly Amazing Physical Education Teacher and Clubs Coordinator!
Carpool and Assisted Parking Reminders
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The Assisted Carpool area, located on the track-out side of the gym, is reserved only for families whose students need assistance.
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If you are picking up your child(ren) using this area, you must park your car and walk to the door to pick up your child from their teacher.
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Drive-through pickups are not permitted here.
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Families who need to park to ensure their child(ren) are safely buckled in must park in this lot as well.
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If you are picking up your child(ren) from the YMCA before 4:00 PM, you are required to park in this lot to do so.
Lockdown Drills at Oak Grove
As part of our commitment to keeping all students safe, teachers will be talking with students about what to do during a lockdown. These discussions will cover different scenarios, including being in the classroom, hallway, cafeteria, bathroom, or outside at recess. Students will learn the specific steps to follow in each situation so they know how to respond quickly and appropriately. We will conduct two lockdown drills this school year to help students practice these procedures. These drills are an important way to ensure everyone is prepared in the unlikely event that a real lockdown should ever occur.
Lightspeed Internet Filter Pilot Program at OGES
Our school is participating in a district pilot of a new internet filter starting August 19. This tool helps keep students safe online while supporting access to instructional content.
You may notice some changes in website access during this time. If your student has trouble reaching educational resources, please contact the school so we can assist.
Thank you for your support as we test this new solution!
Volunteers Needed
As always, we LOVE having volunteers in our building. We could not host events, fundraisers, and clubs without the help of parent volunteers! Would you like to share your passion and expertise with the school community? Now is the time to sign up! We need YOU!
We kindly request that all families complete the WCPSS volunteer application at wcpss.net/volunteers as soon as possible, rather than waiting until a field trip or event is scheduled. Adults who were approved to volunteer in the 2024-25 school year should use THIS LINK for directions on how to renew their volunteer status for the 2025-26 school year. Please renew your volunteer status during the renewal window, July 1-Oct. 1, which only takes 1–2 weeks for approval.
If you are completing the volunteer application for the first time or attempting to renew your volunteer status outside the designated window, please note that it may take up to six weeks for the school district to approve your application. Use THIS LINK to register for the first time.
Kindergarten Dental Screenings
Every school year, our School Health Dental Hygienist conducts a healthy smiles dental screening for all Kindergarten students in Wake County. Please refer to the WCPSS student/parent handbook for additional information. Good dental health is important to a student’s overall well-being and affects a child’s success and performance in the classroom.
Hygienists use a flashlight to provide a quick visual screening of the student’s teeth, unlike a dental exam by a dentist. The Dental Hygienist follows all guidelines put forth by the CDC, NC Oral Health Section, and WCPSS.
A letter with the screening results will be sent home ONLY if your child has questionable or obvious dental needs. If needed, children with obvious dental needs may receive an additional follow-up screening by the School Health Dental Hygienist later in the school year.
Parents/guardians may contact their child’s principal to opt out of dental screenings.
If you have any questions, please contact our school’s dental hygienist, Diana Dakdouk, RDH, at 919-621-2480 or ddakdouk@wcpss.net.
Screening Dates:
Thursday, August 28 - Tracks 1, 3, & 4
Wednesday, September 10 - Track 2
⭐ PTA UPDATES⭐
We are halfway through our Big Splash fundraiser! This is the ONLY PTA-sponsored fundraiser for the year. Check out our giving link to track our progress, find out how the PTA will use the funds, and learn the different ways you can donate! Did you know we offer corporate matching?!
Tracks 1 & 2 raised over $18,000!!!! We had a great time celebrating their hard work at the Splash & Dash this week! Thank you to all of our donors, volunteers, and student helpers! Together, we are making a BIG SPLASH for Oak Grove!!
Come join the fun at the Block Party hosted by Chef’s Palette on Sunday, August 17, at 1:00 PM! Free food, live music, vendors, and games for all! Donations collected will help stock 80 backpacks of school supplies for Oak Grove and 3 other elementary schools! RSVP to the fun! Check the supply request here!
We are kicking off Tracks 3 and 4's Big Splash fundraiser on August 20 and need your help!
Sign up here to volunteer with tie-dying!
Sign up here to help throughout the fundraiser
Purchase your own Big Splash shirt here!
Purchase your Oak Grove magnet here!
Interested in becoming an Oak Grove Sponsor? Contact us for more information!
PTA Upcoming Events:
August 17: Chef's Palette Block Party (Not a PTA-sponsored event, but donations support OGES!)
August 18: Parent Coffee Connection 9:15 in the cafeteria
August 19: PTA Meeting for Tracks 3 & 4 Curriculum Night 6:00 PM
August 20: Tie Dye Kickoff Tracks 3 & 4
August 29: Splash & Dash Tracks 3 & 4
To get the latest news, remember to join the PTA to receive the newsletters and follow along on our website and socials (Facebook & Instagram) !
