Ocean Avenue Friday Notes

• 12/14: Designing Women Craft Show at Ocean Avenue School ~ PTO Sponsored Event, 9 AM-4 PM
• 12/23-01/01 - Winter Break - NO SCHOOL
• 01/02: School Back in Session ~ Welcome Back!
• 01/20: Martin Luther King Jr. Day - NO SCHOOL
• 01/25: OAES Hockey Night at the Maine Mariners ~ PTO Sponsored Event, 6 PM
  
  

✅ 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 ⬇️

As winter sets in and temperatures drop, we’ve noticed more parents parking closer to the building during visits. When visiting the school, please ensure you park in one of the designated parking spots. We’ve also observed some parents using the disabled parking spaces.

These spaces are reserved for parents and visitors with a disability license plate or placard. It’s essential to keep these spaces available for those who truly need them. Please do not park in these designated spaces unless you have the appropriate plate or placard.

In the afternoons, you may see after school program vans parked in the disabled parking spots. This is a temporary exception, as we currently lack designated parking for these vans. Their use of these spaces ensures student safety by preventing them from crossing a busy parking lot as they leave for their after school activities.

During arrival and dismissal times, families who drive can use the parent loop off Ocean Avenue. Morning drop-off tends to be more manageable, as families arrive over a 15-minute window. However, afternoon pick-up at 2:10 can lead to some waiting since all driving families are arriving at the same time. We ask for your patience and encourage you to enjoy a little extra time with your favorite small humans!

If you’d like to avoid the bumper-to-bumper traffic of 60–80 cars, you’re welcome to park on a side street and walk up the sidewalk to the school. Thank you for being part of one of the best school communities—we appreciate your cooperation and support!

Last week we shared information about cold-weather clothing. This week we thought we'd share a little more about the recess activities students enjoy at school during the winter months.

Recess at this time of year can be so much fun and of course, provides much-needed physical activity and sunlight! Obviously, we encourage students to build and create with the snow. However, we do have a rule that snow must stay on the ground. When we have fresh snow, many students simply love catching snowflakes, making tracks in the snow, or making snow angels. We do have sleds that students can use to pull each other around the soccer field. Using the sleds is a great way for students to take turns, problem-solve, and work together.

Parental controls are helpful tools that can assist you in managing your children's media use. According to Common Sense Media (CSM), these controls “…work best when used openly and honestly in partnership with your kids.” To achieve this, it's important to keep communication open with your child. Have conversations about establishing positive digital habits and make sure to model these habits yourself.

For more information, check out CSM’s Parents’ Ultimate Guide to Parental Controls. Additionally, you can find resources like the Family Tech Planners on the PPS Digital Citizenship: Using Technology Responsibly page. Don’t forget to explore the Translated Resources section for Family Tech Planners and extra tips on Technology Use.

As the temperatures continue to drop and the snowflakes start to fall, we have many cold hands needing a warm cover. We are currently very low on our waterproof snow glove supply and would love any donations - new or "gently used" to help us keep our student(s) hands warm this winter. Thank you for your donations!

Board of Public Education Chair Sarah Lentz will present the annual State of the Schools address to the City Council at its 5 PM meeting on Monday, Dec. 16, in the Council Chambers at City Hall. The City Charter requires that the Board chair deliver an annual address to the Council on the state of Portland’s public education system. Lentz will speak of the district’s many successes over the past year, as well as the challenges it faces. Go to the City’s Meetings & Agendas portal to view the agenda and access the Zoom link to attend this meeting, which will be in person and via Zoom.

Join us for a virtual Pre-K Information Night to learn more about how the Portland Public Schools Pre-K lottery works! We select applicants from those who apply during the three-week application window, and the order of your application doesn't impact your chances as long as it's submitted by the deadline. After the initial lottery, we keep a waitlist open and continue to add families until October 1st of the new school year. Visit the Pre-K Lottery Process page to learn more about the Pre-K process.

The Designing Women Craft Fair will be at Ocean Avenue School on Saturday, December 14th! This is an annual PTO fundraiser that is successful each year thanks to our amazing OAES Community! Have you been wanting to get involved but not sure how? This is the perfect low commitment opportunity!

We will need several volunteers for shifts at the welcome table and food table. If you have just two hours to give, it will make a big difference! Grab a friend and do it together.

Can't make it on December 14th but still want to help? We also need food donations (baked goods, soups, sandwiches, etc.) to sell at the event. Proceeds benefit the school.

All opportunities (onsite volunteers, food donations) can be found here: Designing Women Craft Fair Volunteers

A Little Background: Ocean Avenue has been hosting Designing Women for many years. We give Designing Women use of the gym and cafeteria in exchange for the PTO collecting a "suggested donation" at the door and selling food and drinks. For many PTO members, the Designing Women event was our first volunteer experience at Ocean Avenue. It's a great way to get to know other parents while supporting Ocean Avenue Elementary School.

Questions? Feel free to reach out board@oapto.org.

We will be hosting a PTO Fundraiser at the Maine Mariners game on Saturday, January 25th at 6 PM. The OAES Community had a blast at this event last school year so we are heading back to cheer on the Mariners and enjoy a fun night with family and friends!

$1 from every ticket sold from our link will benefit students and staff of Ocean Ave School. Additionally, we will need 12 volunteers (must be 18+) to work a concession stand for the duration of the game. Please note that volunteers will need to be there at 4 PM and will work through approximately the end of the 3rd period. This is a really fun event and a great way to get involved!

Get your tickets here: Hockey Night with OAES

Concession stand signup: Concession Stand Volunteers

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!

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

We won’t spam your texts but we will send reminders about events! Signing up for texts or emails from the PTO is the best way for direct communication.

If you’d like to join our email list, please contact communications@oapto.org.

FOR TEXTS:

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