Oshki Ogimaag Community School
January 26, 2025
Boozhoo Oshki Ogimaag Community School Families and Community Partners,
The vision of Oshki Ogimaag Community School states:
Our vision is to guarantee the future of Anishinaabemowin, cultural knowledge, values, and history to sustain and empower our Elders, family, and youth. Upon graduation, students will have academic competence, positive leadership skills, and social self-sufficiency.
Collaboration with Tribal schools worldwide will promote knowledge and respect for Indigenous world views, and allow for meeting the ever-changing educational and social needs of the Grand Portage Community with new methodologies and innovative technological opportunities.
Families, students, teachers, staff and administrators become allies in education promoting student ownership of learning through empowerment and recognition of diverse learning styles.
As we journey through this momentous school year at Oshki Ogimaag, we’ve been reflecting on our mission and vision, as we continue to develop a strong foundation of which to build upon. Ms. James has taken the first line of our vision, “To guarantee the future of Ansihinaabemowin, cultural knowledge, values, and history to sustain and empower our Elders, family, and youth,” as a focal point, to guide our staff. Ms. James endeavors to normalize speaking Ojibwemowin conversationally, has set goals to increase student fluency in Ojibwe, has integrated cultural teachings into our core curriculum, increased hands-on, Community-based projects, and has increased collaboration with Community members as regular parts of our school days.
Revitalizing Ojjbwemowin has far reaching positive implications that can potentially span generations. There is research and anecdotal evidence showing that cultural immersion works to support development of a positive self-identity that impacts academic success and has positive ripple effects that span into adulthood. As a staff, we are engaging in a book study of Anton Treuer’s The Cultural Toolbox: Traditional Living in the Modern World, which serves as a wonderful introduction for those just beginning their journey of learning, and offers meaningful insight and reflection, for those looking to deepen their knowledge, and is invites powerful dialogue as we reflect together.
Below is a link to a brief video where Dr. Treuer, who is Professor of Ojibwe at Bemidji State University and building an Ojibwe Teacher Training program, speaks of the success of a Nawahi Hawaiian Language school.
A Peek Into Our Week
Waagoshag - In Reading, Kindergartners continue to work on sounding out and writing CVC sight words, and continue reading poems identifying rhyming words, working on identifying beginning and ending sounds of rhyming words, and reading simple sentences that include current sight words. In Reading,1st graders are reading short stories and answering comprehension questions, and also continue to read poems and identify sight words and count syllables in words. 1st graders are learning about digraphs (when two letters make one sound, i.e. ck, br, bl, dr, sh, wh, and sl).
In Writing, Kindergarteners continue to work on Letter and Sound recognition and writing sight words, and are beginning to learn about grammar. In Writing, 1st graders continue to work on writing complete sentences using sight words and identifying the differences between a question and a statement. In Math, Kindergarteners continue to learn about shapes and 1st graders continue to learn how to add and subtract within 20. In Science, the class continues to work on learning about winter and what animals do in January. In Social Studies, the class continues to learn about snaring.
Makwag - In Foundational Reading Skills, students begin each week with a pre-assessment and start Lesson 1 of the week with a poem launch that contains sights words, fluency practice, and focuses on different foundational reading skills each week. This week’s poem, The Picky Eater, introduced phonograms (letter symbols that make a sound) ow, ue, oo, ui, and ou, which spell the sound /OO/. Students learned about homophones (words that have the same pronunciation but have different meanings or spelling). In Language Arts Module, students presented their books to the Kindergartners and 1st graders, reading their books out loud to small groups as they cycled through the groups in the Makwag class, so that all Waagoshag class could hear all of the Makwag’s books! Makwag did a wonderful job presenting their work, we are very proud of their efforts!
The next Language Arts Module for the Makwag class is focused on Fossils and students will build their literacy and science skills as they engage in a study of fossils. Unit 01 themes are What do paleontologists do? and How do characters respond to major events? Students will learn about Mary Anning and her role as a fossil hunter as they engage with key MN State literacy standards.
In Math, students continue to work through Unit 2, Section C, focusing on story problems, moving into lessons on story problems and diagrams. In Social Studies, Makwag will continue working through their Geography unit moving into learning about the five oceans and in Science, the class will continue working on their Habitats unit learning more about Ecosystems and Biome Classifications.
Migiziwag - In Reading, 5th grade is analyzing literary texts focusing on point of view, and descriptive language to help the reader better understand the text. 3rd and 4th graders are researching different animal groups and their defense mechanisms, focusing on close reading of informational texts and web pages. Students are citing evidence, determining the main idea, and summarizing their research.
Migiziwag received a letter from an elementary school in Montana. The Montana school invited Migiziwag to join the Great American Mail Race. The class writes to schools in all 50 states and Migiziwag write about all the things one should know/or want to know about Minnesota. Migiziwag are hoping to receive letters back from each state! Migiziwag are tracking their progress on a big map of the United States, in the classroom. The class is also learning the life skill of addressing an envelope.
In Math, 3rd graders are learning about subtraction and addition of four digit numbers. 3rd graders have learned three different ways to solve a problem, and then use the method that they feel works best with their learning style. In Math, 4th and 5th grade is learning all about fractions!
Ms. Jeana will be sending home a permission slip on Monday, January 27th to participate in the Textile Traditions class at the North House Folk School, in Grand Marais, February 4th-6th. Ms. Jeana will also be sending home a Liability Form from the North House Folk School, as soon as she receives the form from North House. Both forms need to be signed in order for students to be able to participate.
Migiziwag (3rd-5th grade) will leave school promptly at 8:05am February 4th-6th in order to get to Grand Marais for Textile Traditions. Please make sure your student arrives to school on-time so they can participate in this engaging and cool experience with their classmates!
Hands-On, Community-Based Projects Happening at Oshki Ogimaag
We have Yoga with Ms. Carly each week on Thursdays,. Yoga sessions are 20 minutes long and work to support students with focus, attention, mindfulness, emotional regulation, and bodily awareness. Each session is also open to Elder participation! See flyer below for details and reach out with any questions!
Mr. Gene joins us each week for drumming with the boys, and when he’s working with students ,provides valuable cultural lessons. Our students love their time with Mr. Gene and look forward to it each week! When boys are drumming, our Cultural Liaison, Ms. Char, along with Ms. Kat and Ms. LeeAnna do cultural activities with the girls. The girls have been continuing their beadwork, making beautiful daisy chains, lead by Ms. LeeAnna (Ms. Nans)!
This week, students began swimming lessons, lead by certified instructors from Cook County YMCA. Look for Welcome Letters from the YMCA and details on the skills students will be working on through the end of February, on Monday in your child’s Go Home Folder.
This week, students also began working with Anne Brataas, from the MN Children’s Press, engaging in Writer’s Workshops!
On Wednesdays, North House Folk School is providing Woodworking Class after school.
Mondays 3:30-4:30, through March 31st, Dr. Erik Redix is leading Ojibwe Language Table, located in the OOCS Conference Room! Join us to learn and/or increase your Ojibwemowin skills! See flyer below for details!
Miigwech to Ms. Carly, Mr. Gene, Ms. Anne Brataas, Cooky County YMCA, North House Folk School, Ms. Char, Ms. Kat, and Ms. LeeAnna for their important work with our students!
Due to the short week with school closures and the many activities that began during the week, we decided Ms. Tina will begin Curriculum-Based Assessments with students in Reading and Math, Tuesday, January 28, starting with 2nd grade.
Students will complete FastBridge assessments in Reading and Math (including Dyslexia screening) , K-1 and 3-5 will complete next week January 27-31st and 2nd grade will complete February 03-07th.
Report cards for Quarter 02 along with CBM assessment reports and FastBridge Assessment reports will be mailed to families the week of February 10th.
Reminder: Good rest at night and getting to school will support your student in being successful at school and help to support them completing their assessments successfully and access the information they’ve learned!
Chilly Temps Call for Cold Weather Gear
Please make sure your student comes to school in weather-appropriate clothes and outdoor gear every day. We are committed to outdoor learning and experiences throughout the entire school year, including the many months of chilly, snowy, weather we experience in Minnesota. Now is a good time to switch to long sleeves each day so your student can be comfortable. Each day your student should have the "Big 5": Boots they can hike in, a jacket warm enough for the weather, snow pants, hat, and mittens or gloves.
If your family faces barriers preventing you from providing these items for your students, please reach out, we often have donations of winter gear and/or can help you connect with Human Services to ensure all students have warm winter gear. Please include sizes and color preferences, when reaching out.
