Oak Valley Owl Flyer

We have so much to be thankful for this school year.

Thank you for attending Conferences! Our goal is always 100% participation. We know with family support, your student will continue to grow and learn.

Thank you to PTA and OV Families for providing meals for staff during conferences. So appreciated!

Thank you for supporting the Book Fair. Proceeds from the book sales will benefit our Oak Valley library! Thanks to Ms. Krecek for coordinating the fair.

Thank you families and staff for an amazing Halloween Trunk or Treat event. We truly appreciate the families and staff for decorating trunks, donating candy, and volunteering their time. Such fun! So many smiles!

Thank you to our students! They are a true joy to teach and learn with each day. We are so grateful to be with them on their academic journey.

Be sure to mark your calendar!

*PTA Movie Night is Friday, November 8 at 6:00 pm. Students will vote on the movie.

*OV Family Math and STEM Night is November 21, 5:00 - 6:00 pm

*Thanksgiving Break is November 25 - 29

*The Winter Program is December 18, performances at 10:00 am and 2:00 pm

The weather is colder. Be sure your student wears appropriate clothing. Please reach out to Mrs. Tinnes, the counselor, for winter clothing resources. We go outside for recess everyday unless it is raining, snowing, high winds, or feels like 20 degrees or colder.

We encourage you to visit our website www.ops.org/oakvalley to stay up to date on important dates, lunch menus, find school related links, and the cycle day calendar.

Be sure we have your most current contact information and all health related forms are given to the Health Office.

School attendance is very important. Students should attend school regularly, on time, and all day. Your child needs to attend school regularly to make academic growth. If your child is sick, please call the office, 531-299-1880, to report the absence.

School Hours:

8:35 am Breakfast doors open - Grab-n-Go breakfast in the classroom

8:45 am Arrival for students not eating breakfast / Pre-K Arrival

8:50 am School Instruction Begins

4:05 pm Dismissal

Please do not leave your child at the school before 8:30 am. There is not proper supervision. If you need before school care, please contact Kids Club to register:

https://opsfkidsclub.org/program-details/

Please call or email if you have any questions, 531-299-1880. Please let us know if we can connect you to resources to support your family. We are here to help.

Sincerely,

Suzanne Hagen

Principal

suzanne.prenger-hagen@ops.org

November

• 5 - No School - Election Day
• 6 - Gr. 4/5 Girls Basketball Game at Oak Valley, 5:15 pm
• 8 - PTA Movie Night, 6:00 - 8:00 pm; No Pre-K
• 12 - PTA Meeting, 4:30 pm in Library
• 13 - Picture Day Make-Ups
• 19 - Gr. 4/5 Girls Basketball Game at Oak Valley, 5:15 pm
• 21 - OV Family Night, 5:00 - 6:00 pm
• 25 - 29 - No School - Thanksgiving Break

December

• 3 - PTA Meeting, 4:30 pm in Library
• 13 - No Pre-K
• 18 - Winter Program, 10 am or 2 pm
• 20 - 1/3 - No School - Winter Break

Please help us create a safe dismissal. Only park and load on the Oak Valley side of the street. Only cross the street at the crosswalks. Safety patrol will be on duty after school. Crosswalks are circled in green on the map below. Thank you for helping keep everyone at Oak Valley safe.

School will begin two hours late for all students on Sept. 24 and Oct. 29, 2024, and Jan. 28 and April 1, 2025. Staff will use the time for data-driven work to improve teaching and learning across Omaha Public Schools. Because of the shortened schedule, breakfast will not be served on those days. Staff will take attendance as they do on a regularly scheduled school day. Schedule conflicts will not be considered an excused absence.

Did you know it takes an average of three days for students to catch up for every one day they’re absent? Omaha Public Schools is committed to working with our families to support student attendance every day, because we know every minute counts.

Our district has updated our action plan to follow state guidelines on assisting students who miss a significant amount of class time. Our student attendance team will meet with families of students who have 20 total absences, whether or not those absences are excused. The team will work with the family to create a collaborative plan to improve attendance.

You can make an impact on your student’s attendance now, and we’re here to help. If anything is getting in the way of getting your student to school, please contact your school’s principal, school support liaison, school counselor or bilingual liaison for help.

#BeKind & Gratitude. According to Harvard and psychology research, gratitude is strongly and consistently associated with greater happiness, builds strong relationships, and improves overall health. When we are thankful and appreciate all the goodness in our lives, we feel better. It helps us face adversity and try new things. The counselor has focused on kindness during class lessons. Students noticed that they feel better when they choose kindness and interact with each other with kindness. How can you and your family show gratitude and choose kindness? It takes effort, but is well worth it.

Safety is always our top priority. We are focused on providing safe, welcoming and supportive environments for our students and staff.

We are teaching all students behavior expectations from the classroom to the lunchroom and recess, or extra-curricular activities. Our Student Code of Conduct outlines expectations and discipline related to the safety and well-being of our students and staff. Consequences are designed to be a learning experience for students. Families play an essential role in promoting school safety. Regularly discuss behavior expectations and consequences with your student at home, and check in daily with your student to know what's going well and what may be a challenge.

If you or your student see concerning behavior, report it immediately to a trusted staff member at school or Safe2Help Nebraska. A Safe2Help Nebraska link is installed on all student iPads. Families can also call (531) 299-SAFE. We regularly practice our district’s Standard Response Protocol in case of emergency (fire, evacuation, severe weather and more).

Thank you for your partnership in promoting safe, welcoming and supportive schools.

Principal Email: suzanne.prenger-hagen@ops.org
Website: www.ops.org/oakvalley
Location: 3109 Pedersen Drive
Phone: 531-299-1880
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OPSOakValleyElementary

Omaha Public Schools does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex (including pregnancy), marital status, sexual orientation, disability, age, genetic information, gender identity, gender expression, citizenship status, veteran status, political affiliation or economic status in its programs, activities and employment and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. The following individual has been designated to accept allegations regarding non-discrimination policies: Superintendent of Schools, 3215 Cuming Street, Omaha, NE 68131 (531-299-9822). The following persons have been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies: Director of Equity and Diversity (equityanddiversity@ops.org), 3215 Cuming St, Omaha, NE 68131 (531-299-0307).