Oakhurst Weekly
Happy Black History Month!
At Oakhurst, we celebrate Black excellence all year long - and this month we get to dive deeper into the amazing contributions of literature, art, creation and activism from Black leaders past and present! Each day, we spotlight Black culture via a reading, listening, or movement activity via a school-wide Black History Month spotlight board. We've already had many moments of celebration and rich conversation and we look forward to much more learning!
Reading aloud is just one of the amazing ways parents can encourage building good reading habits at home. Having a few other good ideas in your back pocket can help to keep your child engaged and focused on books.
One of the most important things to do is to establish consistent reading routines each day. These routines might consist of:
- having a particular time of day (i.e., after dinner, at bedtime) or a set amount of time to read.
- dedicating a cozy comfortable place with plenty of light to read each day can make a significant difference in your child’s ability to grow as a reader. Pillows, comfy blankets, and a soft couch or nook can help readers to settle in with a great book. Even our littlest ones can start these routines early so they can be ready for kindergarten at Oakhurst!
Parents who read for their own enjoyment are also wonderful models for their children. It can be difficult for adults in particular to escape into a good book with so much going on in their everyday lives. Try giving yourself a little break, choose the perfect book, and snuggle in with your kiddo while they read, too!
It is also crucial for students to have multiple opportunities to read different kinds of text. Give your child choices by taking them to your local library or bookstore. Let them peruse the plethora of books available in these places, both nonfiction and fiction. Encouraging your child to also read the environmental print found on signs, labels, logos, and even cereal boxes allows them to understand the purpose for reading and how this can help them to learn more about the world and how it works.
If you are looking for even more ways to instill a true passion for reading in your child, check out these links:
Don’t forget the Read Aloud Challenge reading tracker is due the first week of March!
Paper copies were sent home in your child’s folder last week, and a digital version can be found/printed HERE.
You can also snap 📸 pics of your student reading aloud OR pics of your family reading aloud together and upload them here to be shared on our February is for Read Alouds wall!
Dr. Whitaker's Upcoming Listening Session
As we create more opportunities for dialogue around CSD, families are invited to attend an upcoming winter listening session where Dr. Whitaker will hear directly from our community about the issues that matter to them.
- Monday, February 10, 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. (virtual)
Decatur Education Foundation
Tour deCatur Registration is Open!
Get ready, get set, get registered for Decatur Education Foundation's 23rd annual Tour deCatur! Sign up at www.tourdecatur.com!
The fun happens on Saturday, March 15, at the Decatur High School stadium. This year, in addition to the 5k (a Peachtree qualifier), the 1-Mile Fun Run, and the adorable Tot Trot (for our friends ages four and under), DEF is offering a "None-Run" for anyone who wants to support Decatur kids without breaking a sweat! This is DEF's largest fundraiser and supports programs and initiatives that remove obstacles, provide opportunities, support educators, and strengthen the Decatur community!
To prepare for the race, all K-2 elementary schools in the district are participating in the iRun program, which teaches students the fundamentals of fitness skills that make running, jogging, and walking enjoyable and safe and prepares them to run the one-mile fun run in March. For more information about DEF's initiatives and how you can get involved, please visit www.decatureducationfoundation.org.
