White Oak Weekly News
August 19-23, 2024
Students First, Every Day!
We are thrilled to share that the first few days of school have been incredibly successful! Our teachers have been focused on building strong relationships with their students, fostering teamwork, and ensuring that everyone is comfortable with the daily routines both inside and outside the classroom.
We are also pleased to report that drop-off and pick-up went smoothly during the first two days. Thank you for your cooperation! We kindly ask that you continue to remind your children where they should go after school to ensure a quick and safe pick-up for everyone. Please arrive early, park in the neighborhood, and drive into the White Oak parking lot in a slow and careful manner.
As the temperatures are expected to be quite high this upcoming week, please remember to send your child to school with a refillable water bottle. Staying hydrated is essential, and having a water bottle on hand will help keep everyone cool and refreshed. Due to the heat, we may also be eating and playing indoors during lunch to ensure the comfort and safety of all students.
Finally, please save the date for Back to School Night on Thursday, August 29. This is an important evening where you will have the opportunity to meet your child’s teacher and learn more about classroom procedures. We look forward to seeing all parents there!
Thank you for your continued support and for helping us start the school year on such a positive note. If you haven't already joined our PTA yet, please do so NOW. It's quick and easy. The membership flyer is below- remember that all members of a family can join White Oak's PTA.
Cheers to Week 2. It's GREAT to be a WILDCAT!
Warmly,
Jen Culbertson
Upcoming Activities at White Oak:
Tuesday, August 20
Slice House Pizza and Cold Stone Creamery Fundraisers
* See flyers below. Meet up with other families and support our PTA.
Friday, August 23
White Oak Spirit Attire Day - Wear GREEN or your White Oak shirt to school.
Dippin' Dots for Sale After School ($5.00 cash- bring exact change, please)
White Oak's CATS Behavior Expectations
Our school is beginning year 2 of Positive Behavior Interventions and Support (PBIS).
What is Positive Behavior Support?
PBIS is a process for creating safer and more effective schools. It is a systems approach to enhancing the capacity of schools to educate all children by developing research-based, school-wide, and classroom behavior support systems. The process focuses on improving a school's ability to teach and support positive behavior for all students. Rather than a prescribed program, PBIS provides systems for schools to design, implement, and evaluate effective school-wide plans. PBIS includes school-wide procedures and processes intended for all students and all staff in all settings. PBIS is not a program or curriculum. It is an approach to creating a safe and productive learning environment where teachers can teach and all students can learn.
What is PBIS at our school?
We have adopted a unified set of school-wide positive expectations for behavior in our school. These expectations are posted throughout the school, and your child will be learning more about them during their first days at school. Our unified expectations are as follows:
Wildcats ARE RESPONSIBLE! We always...
Choose Kindness
Act Safely
Think Scholarly
Show Respect
White Oak's 3rd-5th graders attended an assembly last Friday to start learning these expectations (ask your child if they can teach you our 8-clap cheer). Our younger students will join me in the MPR this week to learn them, too. Please see White Oak's behavior expectations matrix below.
Join Us THIS TUESDAY at Slice House Pizza and Cold Stone!
UPCOMING EVENTS:
Thursday, August 29: PTA Mixer (5:15 p.m.)
Thursday, August 29: Back to School Night (6:00 p.m.; 6:30 p.m.)
Friday, August 30: Minimum Day Dismissal at 1:10 p.m.
Monday, September 2: Labor Day Holiday, no school
Wednesday, September 4: PTA Association Meeting at 6:00 p.m.
Friday, September 6: Spirit Assembly (8:30 a.m.)
White Oak's Daily Schedule Has Changed!
Our NEW DAILY schedule is as follows:
8:15 a.m.- 2:24 p.m. (Monday-Friday)
* The gates are closed immediately at 8:15 a.m.
* Our campus supervisors and office staff cannot provide after school supervision. Please pick your student up on time.
OUR GATES: MAIN, TK/KINDER, FRONT, & NELDA
Our MAIN GATE (next to the Front Yard) opens at 7:45 a.m. daily
The TK and Kinder gate opens at 8:00 a.m. daily
* ALL 1st-5th grade students should enter campus through the MAIN GATE.
* Students eating breakfast before school (starting at 7:45 a.m.) should proceed to their class line to drop their belongings off BEFORE walking to the cafeteria.
* The first bell rings at 8:10 a.m. Teachers & students should be at their classroom line by 8:10.
* The tardy bell rings at 8:15 a.m. If students enter the gate after 8:15 a.m., they are tardy.
*Starting these healthy life habits of being on time, sets your student up for success.
White Oak's FRONT GATE (at the front of the school) will remain open for parents both before school and after school. During school hours, while students are on campus, the FRONT GATE will be locked. A campus supervisor will be able to assist any parent who comes to the Front Gate during school hours. If no adult is present, please call the front office and we will assist you. Thank you for your support as we work together to keep our school community safe!
At the end of the school day, the FRONT GATE and the NELDA GATE will be unlocked at 2:24 p.m. if parents wish to walk on campus to pick up their child in front at the Main Office waiting area.
PARKING LOT- We Need YOUR Help and Patience!
Cars are to proceed in a single file to the drop off/pick up area (almost at the exit of the parking lot near Alscot). Parents should remain in their car and not get out to open the trunk or car doors. Children should enter and exit from the right side passenger doors once the car has come to a complete stop. They should be carrying their own backpack and other supplies.
Drivers may not use their cell phones and must remain in the car at all times during drop off and pick up. Please be patient and courteous with others while in the parking lot, especially on rainy days.
THERE IS NO PARENT PARKING IN THE MAIN PARKING LOT. If your child needs extra assistance with their belongings, please plan on parking on the street and not entering the parking lot. Parents entering the school with their child MUST park on the street and walk in. Thank you for your support.
Attendance Matters! Let's Start Off The Year STRONG!
Please call the school office at (805) 520-6617 to report your child's absence each and every day they are absent.
- Remember, you have 5 days to clear your student's absence by calling the school or emailing the office.
- Taking trips and vacations during school days is considered unexcused absences.
- Under state law, a student who, without a valid excuse, is absent from school for three full days in one school year, or is tardy or absent for more than 30 minutes during the school day on three occasions in one school year, is considered truant.
Remember to LABEL Everything!
Please LABEL all of your child's sweaters, sweatshirts, jackets, water bottles, backpacks, and lunch bags. As our Lost and Found fills up throughout the year, we will be making a donation to a local charity organization. Please stop by the front of the office and check the Lost & Found rack regularly!
Toys and Games
Apple Watch Reminders
All students that wear Apple Watches to school must have phone capabilities and other notifications turned off during school hours (8:15-2:24 p.m.). This is the same rule for cell phones. Thank you for reminding your student(s).
Safety First!
White Oak Spirit Wear Will Be On Sale Soon!
Be Informed- Like & Follow White Oak's Facebook Pages
PTA Calendar of Events and Grade Level Volunteers Needed!
Cafeteria Menus for August
COMMUNITY FLYERS
Attachments:
- White Oak Voluntary 2024-2025 Supply List
- White Oak School Calendar 2024-2025
- Aeries Parent Portal Data Confirmation Directions
- School Device Coverage Insurance Form (grades 4-12)
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White Oak Elementary School
Email: jennifer.culbertson@simivalleyusd.org
Website: https://whiteoak.simivalleyusd.org/
Location: 2201 Alscot Avenue, Simi Valley, CA, USA
Phone: (805) 520-6617