12/2/24 OG NEWS

December 2, 2024

Bus Safety

New assigned seating will begin this week on all buses. This change is important for ensuring the safety and organization of our students. We will reiterate bus safety protocols at school and kindly ask you to discuss these guidelines at home as well. Our 8th-grade bus leaders will be assisting the bus drivers in helping students adhere to their assigned seats. Please remind your children to remain seated while the bus is in motion, avoid eating on the bus, and maintain a voice level between 0 and 2. Thank you for your cooperation in keeping our bus environment safe and respectful for all students.

New Attendance Notifications

Beginning in December, we will communicate additional notifications to families regarding student attendance. Once a month, each family will receive a postcard with a student’s attendance totals for the school year. In addition, families will receive a letter via email when students reach a certain number of absences. For example, a family will receive an email when a student reaches eight absences, ten absences, etc. Please see this document for more information about these notifications. Thank you for your additional collaboration to ensure students maximize their education at Oak Grove.

Student Council is selling smencils

Student Council will be selling Smencils on 12/5, and 12/6 during morning recess at the elementary playground. All students in grades K, 1, 2, 3, and 4 are welcome to purchase a fun-smelling "Smencil" for $2.00.

Spelling Bee

Do you have a 4th-8th grader who enjoys spelling and competition? It is almost time for our qualifying spelling tests. During December, all 4th-8th grade ELA teachers will provide the official spelling list from the Scripps Spelling Bee to prepare for the qualifying spelling bee test. Each grade level will send their top 5 spellers (and an alternate) to the school spelling bee on January 16 at 6:30 pm in the Junior High Learning Center. Please note: If you have a conflict that evening, please do not take the qualifying test to allow other children the opportunity to qualify for the bee.

Winter Dance - Grades 6-8

The Student Council is hosting a Winter Dance for 6th, 7th, and 8th graders on Friday, December 13, from 5:00–7:00 pm. Enjoy music, dancing, and fun with friends! Cash concessions will be available.

Fine & Applied Arts Newsletter

Please click HERE for the November 2024 issue of the Fine & Applied Arts Newsletter!

12/4/24 - PTO meeting in the PD room @ 6:30 pm

12/7/24 - PTO winter market in the JH Gym and JH cafeteria

12/11/24 - Oak Grove Band Festival in the JH Gym and JH cafeteria @ 6:30 pm

Games of the Week

12/2/24 - 7th (4:30) and 8th (5:30) Grade Boys Basketball @ Northwood

12/3/24 - 7th (4:30) and 8th (5:30) Grade Boys Basketball Vs Lake Bluff

*Please note that the games will start early if possible

12/3/24 - 7th (4:30) and 8th (5:30) Grade Girls Basketball @ Millburn

12/4/24 - SPORTS PICTURE DAY! - Junior High Cafeteria after school

12/5/24 - 7th (4:30) and 8th (5:30) Grade Girls Basketball Vs Neal

*Please note that the games will start early if possible

Athletics
Looking for information about upcoming games or events? Please check the Oak Grove Athletics Calendar or contact our Athletic Director, Dave Karolewicz, at karolewicz@ogschool.org.

Band
Please see the Oak Grove band website for the most updated information.

Our Winter Market will be Saturday, December 7, from 9 am-12 pm. Click HERE to see details including shopping info, volunteer opportunities (for students and adults), Duck Donut pre-orders, etc. We need adult volunteers so please sign up if you have an hour or two to spare.
One more week to shop the Happy Little Flame Fundraiser! Get your gifts locally while also supporting the PTO. Orders are accepted through December 6. Shop HERE!
The next PTO meeting is this Wednesday, December 4 at 6:30 pm in the PD Room and on Zoom. Please see the agenda and November meeting minutes for more information. Please complete this form if you’d like to cast a proxy vote, and mail it to the PTO secretary. A Zoom link will be sent via email.
We need your help supervising the playgrounds before school on Friday, December 20, so the staff can enjoy breakfast together. Please sign up HERE to help!

Please click HERE to view the flyers in our virtual backpack. Flyers are updated weekly, so please check back often so you won't miss any of the events going on in our community.