News and events
February 3, 2023
A message from the principal
Oxbow Creek Families,
It's February and I Love to Read Month. Whether you are an avid reader or you seldom pick up a book, we all know how important reading is. It's a critical instructional focus and one of the most challenging skills for students to acquire. Learning to read is so complex! It requires analyzing and synthesizing information from multiple parts of your brain simultaneously. Reading is a lot of work and our students work hard to be the best readers they can be. This month, we are focusing on how fun reading can be! We want our students to hear great stories and think about "how a great book can take you on an adventure". The emphasis is on fun!
Here are a few ideas that come from the pink February reading calendar:
- read to someone on the phone
- read to a pet
- read a recipe
- read a joke book
- read and record yourself reading - play it back and listen
Thank you.
Missy Monson - Oxbow Creek Principal
Winter Conferences
The winter conference schedules are now available. Please visit www.myconferencetime.com/oxbowcreek to reserve a time with your child(ren)'s homeroom teacher(s). The dates and times for winter conferences are as follows:
Mon. Feb.13 7:30-8:30AM, 4:10-7:40PM
Thurs. Feb.16 7:30-8:30AM, 4:10-8:10PM
Tues. Feb. 21 7:10-8:30AM, 4:10-7:40PM
Email reminders will be sent out on Tuesday, February 7th.
If you need to change your conference date & time,
please contact your child's teacher directly.
School Highlights
Items to Note:
- We are committed to helping families in need of assistance with food, clothing, household items and some basic services. Please contact Oxbow Creek's social workers if your family is in need. All communication is confidential.
Ann Parisian (Grades 1, 4, 5) 763-506-3825 or ann.parisian@ahschools.us
Gina Newlander (Grades K, 2, 3) 763-506-8384 or gina.newlander@ahschools.us
- Please remember, we go out to recess most days. Please send students dressed properly for recess. District policy is we will keep children inside if one of the following is true:
air temperature is below 0 degrees F.
the wind chill is colder than -10 degrees F.
Shadow's Challenge
Shadow's Challenge is taking place the month of February! It’s been a recent Oxbow tradition for our school mascot, Shadow, in partnership with our Oxbow PTO and Student Leadership Team, to challenge students to ramp up their home reading during the month of February, for “I Love to Read” month. For every book read at home, students fill out a paw print with their name and the book title, and return it to school. Students will work together to fill grade level bins and earn school-wide rewards!
You should have seen an I Love to Read month calendar in backpacks. Check it out for fun ways to read every day in February. We are also having fun dress up days every Friday in February and they are listed on the calendar as well.
Our Scholastic book fair will be here February 13-22. Look for more information coming home soon! The book fair will be open during all conferences for families to come in and shop.
Multiple Ways to Report Student Absences
Parents/guardians can submit online when their student is going to be absent or arriving late through the My Student Information app via A-HConnect or in the ParentVUE mobile application. You can still call the school at 763-506-3806, this is simply a convenient alternative.
To report an absences online, follow these steps:
Once logged into My Student Information or the ParentVUE app, select the “Report Absence” button by your student’s name. A pop-up window will appear asking for further information. Follow the on-screen directions and click “Save.” Refer to these step by step directions.
Just a reminder, if a student is not at school and a notice of an absence hasn't been received, the parent/guardian will receive a call. The student's absence will be recorded as unverified. If the absence continues and we have no communication from a parent/guardian, the absence will be recorded as unexcused.
Volunteer Information
I’m not sure I can say thank you enough to all of our amazing volunteers! You continue to show such dedication and generosity toward our students and staff. Alece and I thank you on behalf of the entire Oxbow Staff!
If you haven’t already, please fill out these forms to join our team of volunteers at Oxbow: Volunteer application and Background Check Form.
Filling out these forms is the best way to hear about all the fun ways to volunteer at school! Fill out your volunteer forms before signing up for any of the volunteer opportunities listed below.
Volunteer Opportunities
Arts & Academics Expo: The Expo is Thursday, March 2nd from 5:30-8:30pm. Volunteering is a fun way to see all of the amazing projects! We need a lot of help on Feb 27th, 28th, March 1st and during the event on March 2nd. Volunteer opportunities include expo set up, project check in, project display, clean up: 2023 Art & Academic Expo and expo encouragers daytime: Expo Encouragers Daytime. and evening: Expo Encouragers Evening Contact Alece Henderson with questions at Alece.Henderson@ahschools.us
Staff Appreciation: Help us support our staff during busy conference weeks! Sign up to bring an item or click to see how to donate funds: Winter Staff Appreciation/Coffee Bar
Book Fair: The Scholastic book fair is a favorite event at Oxbow every year! All proceeds go directly to the media center. We need help the first two days with filling out wish lists for teachers and we also need a lot of cashiers (must be 18) throughout, please sign up and make sure you have all your volunteer forms submitted. Our Book Fair will run from Monday, February 13 - Wednesday, Feb 22. Sign up here to help: 2023 Book Fair Sign Up
Yearbook: Please share photos you have taken with the yearbook staff! Email them to oxbowyearbook@gmail.com. Include any information available such as grade, classroom and event.
We have many opportunities for volunteers every week, click here to see all of them: Current Oxbow Creek Volunteer Opportunities
Haley Belongia
Alece Henderson
Volunteer Services Coordinator
Oxbow Creek Elementary
763-506-3830
Things to Note
- Fri., Feb.10 - Spirit Day: Crazy Hair Day
- Thurs., Feb. 16th - Staff Appreciation Dinner
- Fri., Feb.17th - Spirit Day: Read My Shirt Day
- Mon., Feb. 20th - No School: Presidents Day
- Tues., Feb. 21st - No School: Staff Development
- Thurs., Feb 23rd - 5th Grade Ski Trip to Trollhaugen
- Fri., Feb. 24th - Spirit Day: Mismatch Day
- Mon., March. 10th - No School: Staff Planning
- Mon., March 13th through Fri., March 17th - NO School: Spring Break
- Mon., March. 20 - No Students: Staff Development
This e-newsletter is published by Oxbow Creek Elementary School. Questions, comments or concerns about the school e-newsletter? Contact us.