Principal's Notes

According to John Hattie, “there is no influence with the greatest impact on student achievement than having a collection of teachers with the same belief in their ability to positively affect students.” Our nation is currently experiencing a crisis in education due largely to a shortage of teachers.

I believe that by investing time at the beginning of the year by teaching social skills, character values, and setting rules together, children will benefit all year long by knowing they are in a place that is welcoming and safe. We don’t always know what is going on at home. We do know that what we are saying in the classroom can be the best thing a child hears all day.

“My teacher gave me the best gift of all… Believing in me!”

---Unknown

Friday, September 20, 2024 will be a monumental event for Oakdale! We will be recognized for being a National School Of Character. We will have many special guests to help us celebrate. We will practice this week on seating arrangements and behavior in the multipurpose during this program. Everyone should have a t-shirt to wear Friday. Please don't send the t-shirt home with the students. Students can just slip them on Friday before the celebration. I am counting on everyone to make this a great success! We can do this! Please take pictures and send them to Mrs. Hendricks to post on Facebook and Twitter.

The path to better reading scores? Teach kids to read.

It works like magic.

Devote substantial time to teaching phonemic awareness (preK-1), phonics (preK-2), oral reading fluency, vocabulary, reading comprehension, and writing. Make sure kids are being taught to read grade level texts — not just texts at the kids’ supposed reading levels in grades 2 and up.

“The more that you read, the more things you will know, the more that you learn, the more places you'll go.” You are not a teacher, but an awakener.” “It takes a big heart to help shape little minds.” “Teaching kids to count is fine, but teaching them what counts is best.