March 5, 2024

Family Communication

Hello Otter families,

Thank you to all our volunteers that made Otter Olympics an amazing event for all our students. Otter Olympics closing ceremony is today for students, and we will be announcing our winners. Donations are still accepted until Friday, March 15, 2024.

Thank you also to our PTA and the fundraising efforts of our families as we have continued the beautification of our campus and had new plants and planters installed around the Otter Pad and throughout the campus gardens last week. We appreciate the effort of our community, families, and PTA to ensure Oakstead looks beautiful.

Dr. Steinacker, Ms. Leahy, & Mrs. Natal

🦦 In Otter News 🦦

Technology on Campus

We want to remind families that the district has updated their policy this school year regarding technology for elementary students.

The student code of conduct states: Students in grades Pre-K through 5 who bring wireless communication devices to school must ensure that they remain in silent mode and completely out of view for the entire school day.

Wireless communication devices include smart watches, and we have seen an increase of students utilizing them to text, use calculators, etc. Teachers have been allowing students to leave them on if they are not interacting with them throughout the school day. However, if students are found to be utilizing their watch staff will remind students of the student code of conduct expectations. If a student repetitively utilizes there watch after warnings, as per the code of conduct, staff will confiscate the watch and return to the student at the end of the day.

For state testing we are asking that all technology be left at home on student testing days, as students will be required to have items turned off (not just on silent) and in their backpacks. Leaving devices at home will ensure they remain safe and undamaged.

Early Release Day

Please ensure dismissal changes are made through Otter Runners today by 1:00pm so we can ensure your child is in the proper location. It is important students are picked up by 2:10pm, so we can begin our staff professional learning.