Oak Crest Family Tiger Topics

November 22, 2024

NO SCHOOL NOVEMBER 27-29 : THANKSGIVING!!

THANK YOU!

I am so appreciative of this school community for so many reasons this week.

Conferences - we had over 90% family involvement. Thank you for taking the time to model the importance of education for your children. It is essential for kids to see your priorities as they determine their own!
Taco Night - Our teachers are fueled at conferences by talking about your wonderful kids and by the gift of food. A huge thank you to the families that donated to the Taco Night pot luck, it was incredible!
Winter Weather - We had more students ready to wear hats and gloves this week than any "first snow" over the last 5 years. Thank you for not only sending your kids with the right gear, but expecting them to wear it, and take care of it.
Community Support - Thank you for the many ways you donate gifts of time and resources to the Belle Plaine Community. The FEAST is this weekend at Oak Crest, there are toy drives at the PD, and many other ways you pay it forward or give back to those in need. Check out the info below about support options.
Trust - Thank you for trusting us with your kids. It is a joy to make an impact on their lives. Thank you for trusting our educational decisions. Learning is hard. School is hard. Each kid is a member of a community and our teachers have to make hundreds of difficult decisions every minute for your kid and others. Without your trust, we would not be able to do this job to the best of our ability.

Have a great weekend Tigers! Only two days of school next week!

Ben Tressel

Principal, Oak Crest Elementary

Important Dates.

Mon. 11/25 (Day 3), Tues. 11/26 (day 4), NO SCHOOL (Wed. 11/27-Friday 11/29)

Nov 24 - The FEAST (11am-2pm @ Oak Crest : more info below)
Nov 26 - 5th/6th Grade Volleyball Tournament
Nov 27-29 - No School (Thanksgiving Break)
Dec 4 - All School Meeting
Dec 11 - Tiger Strong 5/6
Dec 18 - Tiger Strong 3/4
Dec 20 - BE RED DAY
Dec 21 - Jan 1 - NO SCHOOL WINTER BREAK

Reminders

Please be sure to contact the office and homeroom teacher if your child has a different end of day plan than normal. Kids can not stay afterschool, change bus routes, or go with another parent without communication in advance from families. We will send them home according to the usual plan if we do not get notified.

Additionally, kids that want to change plans mid-day are not allowed to call home for permission. Parents must initiate this communication. Thank you for helping keep our end of day procedures safe and organized.

TIGER STRONG

This week our 3rd & 4th graders added their ideas of awareness and appreciation to our banners and wrote thank you notes to people they appreciate. They did a great job using their heads and hearts to reflect and consider the good things in their lives and how the actions of others that positively impact their world.

We continue to focus on AWARENESS this month and it pairs perfectly with the themes of Thanksgiving. I hope you get a chance to talk with your kids about gratitude and continue these lessons at home. In December, our theme for Tiger Strong is MINDSET. We will learn about Fixed vs Growth Mindset and use this learning to help us have an attitude that leads to happiness, kindness, and success.

School Wide Be RED Reward Earned

Our first school wide goal was met this week as our combined tickets exceeded the first line on the glass case. This earned every kid, class, and grade level a movie and popcorn party! Our kids are awesome and proud to be Tigers!

Opportunities to SUPPORT, GIVE, & MORE

There are a lot of opportunities this time of year for our community to support each other, or gather support as needed. Below are just a few opportunities for you to consider.

Minnesota Timberwolves Read to Achieve is currently going on at Oak Crest. The program runs from October 28- December 8. Students who read 500 minutes will receive a Timberwolves ticket offer. Students can turn their tracking sheet into Ms. Ritter in the Media Center by December 13.

WINTER WEATHER REMINDERS!

**Our playground is not protected from the wind, so it feels 10 degrees colder here than what it says on your weather app. Send layers, and put names on those clothes in case they are left behind! Thank you!