PAWS Newsletter
May 2024
DATES TO REMEMBER
Wednesday, May 1 | National School Principal Day
Monday, April 29 - Friday, May 10 | SBA Testing
Friday, May 3 | 5th Grade Social
Monday, May 6 - Friday, May 10 | Teacher Appreciation Week
Wednesday, May 8 | National School Nurse Day
Friday, May 17 | 6th Grade Social
Wednesday, May 22 | Pitch Perfect Panthers Show Choir Performance
Monday, May 27 | Memorial Day - No school
2024 SBA TESTING
A reminder that all full-time students will be taking the Smarter Balanced Assessment state test in the spring of this school year. The assessment includes Math and English Language Arts, and our fifth graders will also take Science.
Testing will take place from April 29 - May 10. Students will take each test with their homeroom class and will have as much time as they need to complete it. Students will still attend their electives (PE, Band, Art, Music) at their normal times.
Please encourage your child to perform their best during these test dates. Tips include preparing for the night before, getting a good night’s sleep, and eating a healthy breakfast.
On the testing days listed below, please remember to send your student to school with a set of headphones.
SBA Testing Dates:
Monday, April 29 - Reading CAT
Tuesday, April 30 - Reading PT
Wednesday, May 1 - Make-ups
Thursday, May 2 - Math CAT
Friday, May 3 - Math PT
Monday, May 6 - Science (5th Grade only)
Tuesday, May 7- Friday, May 10 - Make-ups as needed
Make-Up Testing Dates:
Wednesday, May 1
Tuesday, May 7- Friday, May 10
APRIL PANTHERS OF THE MONTH
These are our Panther of the Month students for the month of April! These students were recognized for being a courageous member of our school community!
Great job Panthers!
SAFETY TIPS FOR STUDENTS ONLINE
Students often spend their days interacting online, and we encourage families to have intentional conversations with their children about what they encounter on the internet.
These discussions could include:
- Reminding children to never contact strangers online, on any platform
- Encouraging children to share any worries or concerns with you;
- Ensuring children understand the importance of not giving personal information to anyone they do not know;
- Telling children no-one has the right to make them do anything they do not want to do;
- Setting privacy systems on devices with your child as a way to have a conversation about safety.
Here are additional resources to help you initiate conversations with your children about the internet and social media safety.
- Family Online Safety Institute
- Common Sense Media
- Creating a Family Media Plan (American Academy of Pediatrics)
- Teaching Kids About Internet Safety (GCFLearnFree.org)
Please take this opportunity to speak to your child about online behavior and safety so they understand their role in maintaining a safe school for all students.
PRE-ORDER YOUR OHI YEARBOOK
As we continue to sell a large amount of yearbooks, please be sure to secure your copy by ordering soon! Each yearbook will cost $25. To purchase online, click here to the e-fund link. Payments can also be made at the ASB Window.
For any questions, please contact our ASB Bookkeeper Jenni Reyes at 360-279-5302 or via email at jreyes2@ohsd.net.
PTA NEWS
President: Brandy Preston
Vice-President: Sara McGrath
Treasurer: Kate Kelly
Secretary: Kerstin Cornell
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OakHarborIntermediateSchool
Email: ohipantherspta@gmail.com
Wednesday, May 1 - Friday, May 31 | “April's Showers Bring May Flowers” Candy grams
Wednesday, May 8 and Wednesday, May 22 | Cookie Wednesday
Friday, May 10 from 8:30 a.m. - 9:00 a.m. at the OHI gym | Breakfast with Grown-ups
Tuesday, May 14 - Wednesday, May 15 | Spring Class Photos
Wednesday, May 29 - Wednesday, June 5 | Spring Book Fair
"April's Showers Bring May Flowers" Candy grams
All those April Fools' surprises, that the Leprechauns left, made for some wet bunnies and kiddos (if they found them) and beautiful flowers. There are flowers blooming everywhere. It’s time to take a minute and stop and smell all of the roses and flowers in bloom. Make sure to watch out for those favorite pollinators, the BEES. We can't wait to bring in some of those flowers we see outside inside in a fake but still oh so pretty way. Help us treat the kiddos this month and sponsor a classroom by clicking here. For your contribution, every kiddo in the class will receive a candy gram delivered by the PTA in the last week of the month.
Breakfast with Grown-ups: 8:30 am-9am:
May 10, 2024 for 5th and 6th Graders
YOU MUST SIGN UP TO ATTEND EVENT
OHI PTA is looking to host a Breakfast with Grownups. Our students all have those favorite grownups in their life. It could be their parents, aunty, uncle, or a teacher. We would love to help them celebrate, by hosting a small quick breakfast from 8:30 am-9:00 am in the OHI GYM. This event will be only for OHI students and their favorite grownups.
Please no more than two grownups per student as our space is limited. Sign up is by grade level and comment how many would attend. YOU MUST SIGN UP to attend this event. You can sign up by clicking here. This is a first come first serve event. It will end at 9 am sharp.
Spring Classroom Photos: May 14-15
OHI will be taking classroom photos on May 14-15, 2024. Make a lasting memory for your student by purchasing a class photo. $10 per photo. Purchases can be made through this link or by depositing cash or check in the provided envelope in our PTA box, located across from the office. We will send home a reminder with an envelope attached for payment.
Scholastic Book Fair: May 29th-June 5th:
Come and bring your kids to the Spring book fair. Grab all those exciting books that will keep them entertained over the summer. Think of all the places or worlds they can visit, from where they are lounging, when they dive into a fantastic book!
OHI PTA will also be looking for volunteers to help the book fair run smoothly. Sign up through here.
Volunteer badge is required.
Cookie Wednesdays:
On the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of each month, cookies are baked and sold to the students, during their lunch period. Cookies are sold $0.50 each with a limit of three cookies per student. Cash is only accepted and the students can not use their lunch number. Please do not send in more than $5 with your student. The Cookie Wednesday dates for May will be: May 8th and May 22nd
For any questions, please contact the PTA at ohipantherspta@gmail.com
FOOD POLICY
Several of our children suffer from severe &/or life-threatening food allergies. Food treats for celebrations will not be accepted/distributed. We want all children to receive special recognition and have the opportunity to celebrate special occasions. Please consider an alternative “treat” such as special pencils, erasers, etc. Thank you in advance for your understanding and thoughtfulness toward all our students.
A MESSAGE FROM OUR NURSES
During the month of May, the Office on Disease Prevention and Health Promotion celebrates National Physical Fitness and Sports Month to raise awareness about the benefits of physical activity.
What can I do to get – and keep – my child active?
As a parent, you can help shape your child’s attitudes and behaviors regarding physical activity. Knowing the recommendations is a great place to start. Encourage your child to be physically active for 60 minutes or more each day, with activities ranging from informal, active play to organized sports. Here are some ways you can do this:
Start early. Young children love to play and be active. Encouraging lots of safe and unstructured movement and play can help build a strong foundation for an active lifestyle.
Set a positive example by leading an active lifestyle yourself.
Make physical activity part of your family’s daily routine by taking family walks or playing active games together.
Give your children equipment that encourages physical activity.
Take young people to places where they can be active, such as public parks, community baseball fields, or basketball courts.
Be positive about the physical activities in which your child participates and encourage them to be interested in new activities.
Make physical activity fun. Fun activities can be anything your child enjoys, either structured or unstructured. Activities can range from team or individual sports to recreational activities such as walking, running, skating, bicycling, swimming, playground activities, or free-time play.
Instead of watching television after dinner, encourage your child to find fun activities to do on their own or with friends and family, such as walking, playing chase, or riding bikes.
Be safe! Always provide protective equipment such as helmets, wrist pads, or knee pads for activities such as riding bicycles, or scooters, skateboarding, roller skating, rock-wall climbing, and other activities where there may be a high risk of injuries. Ensure also that activities are appropriate for the age of your child.
How is it possible for my school-aged child or adolescent to meet the recommended levels of physical activity?
Many physical activities fall under more than one type of activity. This makes it possible for your child to do two or even three types of physical activity in one day! For example, if your daughter is on a basketball team and practices with her teammates every day, she is not only doing vigorous-intensity aerobic activity but also a bone-strengthening activity. Or, if your daughter takes gymnastics lessons, she is not only doing vigorous-intensity aerobic activity but also muscle- and bone-strengthening activities! It’s easy to fit each type of activity into your child’s schedule – all it takes is being familiar with the recommendations and finding activities that your child enjoys.
School-based physical activity programs can also help children meet the recommended levels of daily physical activity. Find out how.
Also see tips for giving children a healthy body and mind when they are out of school for the summer.
What if my child has a disability?
Physical activity is important for all children. It’s best to talk with a doctor before your child begins a physical activity routine. Try to get advice from a professional with experience in physical activity and disability. They can tell you more about the amounts and types of physical activity that are appropriate for your child’s abilities.
Learn more about special considerations for children and adolescents with disabilities.
A MESSAGE FROM OUR COUNSELORS
The Character Trait for this month of May is Creativity!
One way to think about Creativity is “using your imagination to create something new or solve a problem.” Opportunities to be Creative are all around us! How can you find ways to be Creative as a family this month?
Creativity is 1 of 3 traits we will focus on throughout the year that helps students Be Well. Throughout the school, students will be developing skills like emotion regulation, positive self-talk, and stress-management.
Character Strong Newsletter
5th Graders will be focused on creative stress relief, emotion regulation and finding creative solutions.
6th Graders will be completing lessons on exercising perspective taking, choosing kindness and learning to compromise.
May is Mental Health Awareness Month!
Mental Health can be impacted by many things. See this article about how Mental Health can be impacted by the news! How The News Impacts Mental Health.
Additionally, the National Alliance for Mental Health Awareness (NAMI) is one organization working to eradicate stigma, extend support, foster public education and advocate for policies that prioritize the well-being of individuals and families affected by mental illness. Please see NAMI.org for more information on their programs!
Oak Harbor Intermediate students can participate in a Spirit Week to help raise awareness the week of May 6-10. Please see the flier below for more Spirit Week info!
Big Brothers and Big Sisters is coming to Oak Harbor Intermediate!
Are you interested in individual mentoring for your student one time each week?! The school-based program in partnership with Big Brothers and Big Sisters meets after school at Oak Harbor Intermediate on Wednesdays starting at 3:40 PM for one hour.
Please see the attached flier for more information or to sign your student up!
FROM THE DESK OF OUR MFLC
A Proud Moment for OHI Military Kids, Military Families, and the Entire OHI Community
Military Child Family Night on April 15 was a rousing success with about 60 people showing up. Oak Harbor High School Flag Team opened and closed the event coached by Chief Thiel. Command speaker, Captain Hanks started the talking portion of the program. The MFLC and School Liaison did short briefs, with the rest of the program being led by OHI’s Military Kids. They conducted a trivia quiz, a book reading, a poem reading, videotaped interviews, the Panther Cheer, and a red cup stacking competition. We are grateful to the ASB and PTA had volunteers who were there to help. Administrator, Matthew Sionson, and Communications Director, Lisa Jones, took pictures. Many teachers, administrators, custodial staff, and OHI kids made significant contributions to making this and the entire month of April a successful celebration of the Month of the Military Child. Go PANTHERS!
Get a Consent Form on File:
Military Families, don’t have your child miss the opportunity to join in on Deployment Groups, Lunch Bunch Groups and/or One-To-One with our Military and Family Life Counselor. Make sure you fill out a Consent Form and turn it into the office:
THIS MONTH'S MENU
AT O.H.I. We are Respectful, Responsible, and Ready
Oak Harbor Intermediate
150 SW 6th Street,
Oak Harbor, WA 98277
360-279-5300
Oak Harbor Intermediate School
150 SW 6th Street
Oak Harbor, WA 98277
(360)279-5304