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Otter Splash for the Weeks of January 18-31

Hello, Oak Grove Family, Versión en español aquí, النسخة باللغة العربية هنا, lToeo la Kiswahili hapaT, Версия на русском здесь, Versiunea in Romana

Due to character limits in School Messenger, the full version of this week’s Otter Splash will be shared through TalkingPoints. Thank you for your understanding! 🦦

Oak Grove Elementary School will be closed on Monday, January 19, in observance of the Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday. This day is often recognized as a Day of Service, encouraging individuals and families to honor Dr. King’s legacy by giving back to their communities. Acts of service—both big and small—reflect Dr. King’s commitment to kindness, justice, and making a positive difference in the lives of others. We encourage our Oak Grove families, if possible, find meaningful ways to serve and support those around them.

It’s hard to believe it, but we are already in the initial stages of planning for the 2026-2027 school year! The first step in that process is to open the Track Change Request window. Families may request a track change now through Monday, March 3rd. If you are interested in a track change, please contact Ms. Dahlholl at adahlhoff@wcpss.net. Please know that while we cannot guarantee that requests will be honored, we will do our best to accommodate as many as possible. Families requesting a track change will be notified of the outcome in early May.

At Oak Grove, our teachers and staff continue to work tirelessly each day to make a positive difference in the lives of our students. We invite you to help us celebrate their hard work by submitting an Otter Staff Shoutout! Simply complete the quick Google Form to recognize our Otterly Amazing staff—it’s a meaningful way to share how they’ve made an impact on your child. 🦦💚 Be sure to visit our website to see the shoutouts and join us in celebrating the incredible people who make Oak Grove such a special place. 🎉

Thank you for being an essential part of our OGES community. We look forward to a second semester filled with growth, learning, and success for all students.

Friendly Family Reminders 

  • Smartwatches and Cell Phones: The only electronic device students should bring to school is the district-issued Chromebook. Personal technology (e.g., smartwatches, cell phones) should be turned off during school hours. Parents can call the front office to relay a message to their child.

  • As temperatures continue to cool, please send an extra set of clothing for your child to keep in their backpack or cubby. This applies to all students. While the front office has a limited supply of shirts, we do not have extra pants or underwear available. In addition, please write your child’s name clearly on jackets using a permanent marker. Labeled items are much more likely to be returned to students before being placed in the lost and found.

  • Arriving Late / Leaving Early: Students who arrive at school after 9:15 AM must be signed in by the parent/guardian via the QR code on the front door. Early check-out ends at 3:15 PM. 

  • As families plan for the second semester, please remember that regular school attendance is critical to your child’s educational success. While we know families may choose to travel throughout the year, we encourage families to travel during track outs so students do not miss school. One major benefit of year-round schooling is the regular breaks that trackouts provide. Every attempt possible should be made to ensure that students are present at school when their class is tracked in. We appreciate the support of our families in this commitment to the success of all students. 

  • January also brings an increase in seasonal illnesses. According to the CDC, influenza and other respiratory viruses are on the rise. To help keep our school community healthy, please use the guidelines below when deciding if your child should attend school. These are the same criteria our staff uses when determining whether a student should be sent home:

    • Fever of 100.4° or higher (remain home until fever-free for at least 24 hours without fever-reducing medication)

    • Diarrhea (remain home until symptom-free for 12 hours)

    • Nausea or vomiting (remain home until symptom-free for 12 hours)

    • Severe headache

    • Red, watery eyes with yellow discharge

    • Undiagnosed rash

    • Inability to participate in learning activities

    • Significant change in a student’s typical medical status

Warm regards,

Beverly Benton

2025-26 Year Round Calendars

Staff Shout Outs

Parent Handbook

 

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)

 

Congratulations, Ms. Pyles - Selected as the 25-26 Elementary Finalist for the WCPSS School Library Media Coordinator of the Year Award! 🎉🎊👏📚🖥️

On Tuesday, January 13th,  our very own media coordinator, Ms. Pyles, was surprised by district personnel with the incredible announcement that she has been selected as the 25-26 Elementary Finalist for the WCPSS School Library Media Coordinator of the Year Award! 

 

This recognition is a true reflection of Ms. Pyles’ dedication, creativity, and unwavering commitment to our students, staff, and school community. Her passion for literacy, learning, and collaboration is felt throughout our building every single day, and we are so proud to see her hard work honored at the district level.

 

Please join us in congratulating Ms. Pyles on this well-deserved achievement! We are so fortunate to have her as part of our school family.

 

 

 

🎉Staff Shout Out - Ms. Tucker

Thank you, Liz and Reed Elam, for shouting out Ms. Tucker, one of our Otterly Amazing Track 1, Second Grade Teachers!

 

 

🎉Staff Shout Out - Ms. Wile

Thank you, Liz and Reed Elam, for shouting out Ms. Wile, one of our Otterly Amazing Track 1, Kindergarten Teachers!

 

 

 

 

🎉Staff Shout Out - Ms. Bailey

Thank you, Liz and Reed Elam, for shouting out Ms. Bailey, one of our Otterly Amazing Track 1, Kindergarten Instructional Assistants!

 

 

 

🌟 Attention 5th Grade Families: It is time to submit your Otter Wishes for the yearbook! 🌟

 

Pay for your Otter Wish here and submit it here. 

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💻Single Subject Acceleration Information From Ms. Garcia, AIG Teacher

OGES  AIG Otters Website

WCPSS SSA Website



🦦Calling All Future Otters! 🦦

Kindergarten Registration for the 2025–2026 school year begins October 15th! Families with children who will be 5 years old on or before August 31, 2025, are encouraged to register early. Please see the flyers for information on how to register and how to prepare your child for Kindergarten. We can’t wait to welcome our newest Otters to the Oak Grove family! 💚



❄️☃️Brrrr...It's Cold Outside!❄️☃️

Oak Grove follows the hot and cold weather guidelines for outdoor activities to determine whether students will have outdoor recess. Please help us by reminding your child that they must dress appropriately for the weather, as this is also a deciding factor for teachers when in the yellow zone on the weather guidance. 

 



🍦🍪Snacks, Snacks, and More Snacks🍦🍪

Recently, several families have contacted the school, the school nutrition team, or the administration to set a spending limit on MySchoolBucks. Below are the steps to manage your child's cafeteria spending. If you have any questions, please contact our cafeteria manager, Felicia Massenburg, at fmassenburg@wcpss.net. 

  1. Log in to MySchoolBucks, then click the person icon in the top-right corner.

  2. From the menu, click “My Student.”

  3. Find your student’s name, then click “Edit.”

  4. On this screen, you can set optional spending limits for à la carte items (like snacks or second servings). These limits include: Daily Spending Limit, Weekly Spending Limit, and Breakfast Spending Limit.

  5. To disable à lacarte spending, set all these amounts to $0. This will not prevent your student from purchasing full meals.

  6. Next, select one of these account types:

    • Cash Account for Meals ONLY – For meal purchases only (no à la carte)

    • Cash Account for Meals/Ala Carte – For second servings and à la carte items

You can update these settings at any time. 



 ⭐ PTA UPDATES⭐

 

❓❓Community Q & A with Local Legislators ❓❓

Your voice matters! Have a question about school safety, funding, or building conditions that you want our state leaders to hear? This is your chance to speak up. You still have time to submit your question for our panel!

 

📍What you need to know:

  1. Only questions submitted in advance will be asked

  2. You may submit anonymously

  3. Contact information is required with submission

 

Submit Questions Here: https://form.jotform.com/meenastatz/learn-with-legislators-question-sub?fbclid=IwdGRjcAPaOPljbGNrA8fsrmV4dG4DYWVtAjEwAGJyaWQRMU9VTWJzejFqVUhRMVpaY1JzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEeUUvTQIpdQ67Vr1Yl1qcO9qqobaKQMX6Tx_pgLU2DGVpTbzrCoi_mknzWttw_aem_2AJ49pob0RHd-TvXxHKmpw

 

👥Featuring: 

Rep. Julie von Haefen

Rep. Allison Dahle

Sen. Lisa Grafstein

 

🎯We’ll  be tackling real issues impacting our public schools:

✅Health and Safety

✅Budget and Funding

✅Maintenance and Upkeep of School Facilities

 

Let’s make our voices count for our kids and our schools

 

RSVP Here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0944ABAD2FA5FFCF8-61444922-oges#/