Ocean Avenue Friday Notes

• Every Wednesday (Started 1/15): 4th & 5th Grade Board and Card Game Club, 11:45-12:45 PM, Mr. Rounds' Classroom
• 01/27-2/14: Access Testing
• 02/03: PTO Fundraiser Night, Portland House of Pizza, 4-8 PM
  
• 02/06: Fifth Grade Presenting Building Bridges: A Project with Side x Side Artist Posey Moulton, 10 AM in the 5th Grade Wing/Classrooms (for 5th Grade Families)
• 02/07: Teacher In-Service PD Day - NO SCHOOL
• 02/11: 5th Grade Field Trip to Gulf of Maine Research Institute
• 02/11: OAES PTO Meeting in the Library, 6:30-8 PM
• 02/17-02/21: February Break - NO SCHOOL (School Resumes Monday, February 24th)
  
  

✅ Here is the link to BREAKFAST/LUNCH MENU.

✅ Here is the link to the DISTRICT CALENDAR for the 2024/2025 school year.

✅ To look ahead to future meetings, school events, etc, please click on the link below ⬇️

Valentine's Day is approaching and we want to keep it safe for all.

We suggest that students exchange cards only. Please do not send candy or other treats to share. Thank you for your cooperation!

Ms. Weeks' class applied for a grant this past fall and just found out that they successfully were awarded the Painting For A Purpose ~ Learning Grant! This grant, worth $500, will be used to purchase new recess/recreation equipment. Congratulations to our 4th grade for this wonderful accomplishment! Look for pictures in a future newsletter to see what equipment was purchased with this grant for our students!

Fifth Grade Families ~ Please join the fifth graders in shareing their Performance Task for their Reading and Writing Module Building Bridges: Perspectives and Prototypes.

Thursday, February 6, 2025

10:00 AM

Fifth Grade Wing / Classrooms

Students have studied/researched bridges for the past eight weeks. They have chosen a scenario, some from right her in our community and designed a bridge ptorotype that solves the problem in their scenario. They will present their ideas to you.

The focus for this month’s tech tip is to support kids with activities that are not passive uses of media and tech. Using media and technology for interacting and creativity can be a win for families!

On the Digital Citizenship: Using Technology Responsibly webpage, you can find quick Technology Use tips. Check out the “Start here to establish healthy tech habits”!

For the 10th consecutive year, the Maine Department of Education (DOE) is partnering with schools and community organizations across the state to promote the Read to ME Challenge. This month-long public awareness campaign, held every February, encourages reading and literacy development among Maine children.

• Learn More

If you are able to do so, please send in a full change of your clothes with your child(ren) to have in their cubby or locker at school. It is especially needed for our K-2 students, who have the occasional accident or fall outside. We always have extras, but many students do prefer their own clothes from home. Thank you for help!

We are celebrating leadership and honoring the growth of our 5th graders. We know our time is ticking down with them in our school and we want them to know how much we appreciate them!

Monte's is sponsoring our leadership program ~ we are thankful for their partnership and support.

With winter now in full swing, we are running very low on our snow gloves and snowpants in our clothing closet. If you have any outgrown and "gently used" kids snow gloves and/or snowpants, we would happily take them here. For snowpants, our biggest need is sizes 8, 10 and 12. For snow gloves, all sizes are needed.

We so appreciate your generous donations that help to supply our clothing closet with the needs of our families. THANK YOU!

Dear PPS families:

Please join us at our Public Forum on the FY26 School Budget on Tuesday, February 4, 2025, at 6 PM. Come ready to share your input on budget priorities for the upcoming 2025-2026 school year! We want to hear from you as we work to develop a budget for FY26 that best meets the needs of our students and staff. You can attend in person at Casco Bay High School or virtually at tinyurl.com/FY26Pub

As a Girls on the Run coach, you’ll be amazed at the positive transformations you will be a part of each season. At twice weekly practices, you'll be a mentor to 3rd-5th graders at Ocean Avenue Elementary School as they build confidence and work toward completing an end-of-season Celebratory 5K.

Ninety-eight percent of #GOTR coaches agree that the skills and strategies that the participants learn are useful to them in their lives, too. Join us this season as we unleash confidence, determination and resilience.

See girlsontherunmaine.org/coach for more information, and email Kim Pelletier with interest.

The PTO has your dinner planned for Monday, February 3rd!
Dine in or carry out dinner at Portland House of Pizza and support a great cause!

*Flyer must be presented*

Each year the PTO hosts a benefit and auction in the Spring with proceeds going right back into our school! Thanks to our tireless volunteers, we always have a lot of great items & experiences up for silent or live auction! That’s where you come in - we need your help to make 2025’s auction better than ever!

Stay tuned for details about the next meeting. Be sure to follow our Facebook & Instagram account for updates (links below)!

If you’d like to participate on the auction committee or have items to donate, please contact volunteer@oapto.org.

• OAES PTO Facebook Page
• OAES PTO Instagram Page

Email: westme@portlandschools.org
Website: https://oceanavenue.portlandschools.org/
Location: 150 Ocean Avenue, Portland, ME, USA
Phone: 207-874-8180
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/oaesportland