With the holidays upon us I wish you all a wonderful holiday season filled with joy, family and fun. Oak Grove will be buzzing with excitement as Christmas break approaches. With trees to decorate, holiday spirit, and Winter Map testing our students will be working hard. At Oak Grove we will continue to help support our students to be the best Eagles they can be.

As the holiday season approaches, it's the perfect time to reflect on the true meaning of this joyful time of year. While gifts and decorations are certainly exciting, let's not forget the importance of kindness and compassion towards others. The holiday season is a wonderful opportunity to practice acts of kindness and make a positive impact on those around us. Whether it's reaching out to a friend in need, volunteering at a local charity, or simply offering a helping hand to someone in your community, every act of kindness can brighten someone's day and create a ripple effect of positivity. One way to spread kindness during the holidays is by practicing gratitude. Take a moment to express appreciation for the people in your life, whether it's through a personalized note, a small gift, or simply saying "thank you." This simple act can make someone feel valued and loved, and it also helps us gain a spirit of gratitude within ourselves. Another way to promote kindness during the holiday season is by embracing inclusivity. It's important to remember that not everyone celebrates the same holidays or traditions. By being open-minded and respectful of different beliefs and cultures, we can create a welcoming and inclusive environment for all. We can also foster kindness and strengthen connections with our peers and classmates.

1. Reach out and include others: The holiday season is a great opportunity to invite classmates to join in on festivities- Organize a gift exchange, plan a holiday-themed playdate or sleepover, or even just invite someone to sit with you at lunch. Small gestures can go a long way in making someone feel included.

2. Practice empathy: The holiday season can be a mix of emotions. Some students may be feeling lonely or stressed. Take the time to listen and understand what your classmates may be going through. Offer a kind word, lend a helping hand, or simply be there to support them.

3. Create a positive classroom environment: Kindness starts within the classroom. Be respectful and supportive of your classmates' ideas and opinions. Offer help when someone is struggling, and celebrate each other's achievements. Remember, small acts of kindness can have a big impact on our relationships.

So, as we dive into the holiday season, let's make a conscious effort to spread kindness and compassion. Let's remember that the true spirit of the holidays lies in our ability to uplift and support one another. Together, we can make this holiday season a truly meaningful time for everyone. Wishing you a season filled with love, joy, and kindness!

Warmest wishes, Mrs. Rademaker

* School staff and administration are not allowed to share information regarding other students with parents.

* When communicating with parents about a school incident school staff and administration can not share the consequence given to other students. They can share information regarding what took place and consequences for their own children.

* This determination is due to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act which is a federal law.

How do we communicate with school families? There are multiple platforms for communication at Oak Grove, however the main way that administration and staff communicate what is happening is through Class Dojo, and Teacherease. All of the teachers and staff use Class Dojo for daily messages as well as posting stories. The administration send messages to parents about behavior and events through Teacherease. Teacherease sends out emails to school parents, if you are not receiving emails please login to your parent account and check to make sure the email is correct. Parents can also receive communication through text, and our school website.

Second grade working in math groups. We are learning how to use number line diagrams to represent and write addition and subtraction equations!

December 6th- Winter MAP testing begins

December 11th - PTO meeting 6:30pm

December 13th- Band/ Choir Concert 6:00pm

December 21st- Bright Futures Winter Family Night 5:00pm

December 22nd- SIP day early dismissal 11:50am

December 22nd- End of Quarter 2

December 23rd- January 8th - Winter Break

January 9th- Students Return to School

The highest priority of all staff at Oak Grove is your students' safety. With all of the challenges facing our students in the world today, we have noticed that students are struggling with how to speak to each other. One concern is their choice of words when they become frustrated or mad with one another. As a school community we have to make sure that all of our students are safe and we need your assistance to ensure they understand that threatening language, of any kind, is not acceptable. If a student reports a threat to the office or to a teacher, it is taken seriously. There are many different levels of threats, such as a student saying they are going to hit someone, to making statements that include weapons. It is important for students to know and for parents to reinforce that all levels of credible threats will result in a consequence from the office. Consequences will vary depending on the level of threat. In each instance of threat, a team of individuals at the school must meet to determine the level of threat and if it is on-going. In many cases students are suspended, the Bartonville Police are contacted, and the behavioral threat assessment team discusses the safety of staff and students when the individual returns to school. If the threat is school wide, a message will be sent from the school to all school families. If the threat is student to student, the parents of the students involved will be notified by school administration as well as the Bartonville Police Department. We ask that you have a conversation with your students to ensure they understand what a threat is and why they should never use threatening language while they are at school. We appreciate your partnership.