The Orca Update

Oakland Families,

I am excited to let you know that our Orcas are flourishing! We have just finished midyear diagnostics for all students. The growth and gains that our students have made are incredible! Our students have worked hard and it shows. I am so proud of our students for their hard work and of our teachers for providing meaningful and rigorous instruction every day. We are not done yet! We still have our second semester to continue these gains. With your partnership and support, our students have the potential to make record growth this year. You can help us by having your student on time at school every day, reviewing their Wednesday folder each week, and having regular communication with your child's teacher. Working together, the sky is the limit for our students.

Elizabeth Kackley, Principal

January 31 - February 15 - Access testing for ELLs

February 8 - Class Pictures

February 10 - Spirit Night at the Stingrays Game

February 16 - Early Release/Freestyle Friday

February 19 - President's Day - No School

February 23 - PBIS Celebration

February 27 - PTO Meeting and Black History Month Celebration

5th Grader Chaquain Sharp won our Oakland Elementary spelling bee and went on to the Charleston County Schools District spelling bee. We are so proud!
Pictured left - Chaquain Sharp and Jhersie F (runner up), 5th grader Spelling Bee winners

Congratulations to our Oakland Elementary School Teacher of the Year, Stephanie Johnson! Ms. Johnson teaches 1st grade and has two daughters who are also Oakland Orcas themselves! We are all so proud and so thankful to have Ms. Johnson as part of our pod!

Parents and guardians! Please be aware of our Attendance policy here at Oakland!

• Parents and guardians have the responsibility to ensure that all school-age children in their care are in school and on time every day.
• When a student is absent, please send in a note. You may use the template linked here and please include any doctor's excuse notes.
• Only ten days may be excused by parent notes, and parents notes only excuse a medical or illness absence.
• Vacation and travel are not excused absences.

Please visit our Oakland Website or contact Karen Harker about attendance and truancy.

Karen_harker@charleston.k12.sc.us

Earlier this year, fourth grade students learned about the structures and functions of falcons and owls when visited by the Birds of Prey organization. Soon, students will be watching a play at the historical Dock Street Theatre and visiting the International African American Museum. In March, students will be able to observe barrier islands by taking a boat ride with the Eco Barrier Island touring company. Students had a lot of fun in science investigating the effects of speed on the collision of objects. In math, students have been solving multi-step word problems, finding elapsed time, and converting measurements. In ELA, students are currently reading about animal adaptations. In social studies, students are studying the Revolutionary War.

Oakland has been fortunate to partner with ECM (Engaging Creative Minds) over the last few years. They bring local artists of all kinds to work with students on a standards based, arts integrated, and highly engaging week long residency. Classroom teachers plan and work alongside the artists during the instruction. This year our kindergarten, first and third grade students will have this amazing opportunity. We are excited about this community partnership. If you would like to know more about ECM, click on the links below.

http://www.engagingcreativeminds.org/

Orca Archery is our archery team for 4th and 5th graders that competes in the NASP (National Archery in School Program) circuit against other elementary students around the state. Archery helps students with focus, self-control, patience and perseverance, all while doing something really awesome - SHOOTING A BOW AND ARROW! We are halfway through our inaugural season and the archers are having so much fun while improving each week. We have had archers place in the top 5 in every tournament! We even earned our first team trophy placing 3rd in our last tournament. If you stop by the office, you can see our new display case to show off our awards!