
Oak Creek Elementary
Coyote News - January 27, 2023
Principal's Message
Oak Creek Families,
The end of January and the first semester is almost here, and we are moving forward into the second half of the school year with a strong focus on academics and personal growth. We are happy to see the growth our students have made so far, and excited to see what more they can do! Thank you for your continued partnership from home!
Please make sure to read below for important information, including details about the PTO sponsored Friendship Party, OBOB, and more! If you have any questions, please see the FAQ section below, or feel free to reach out to myself or Tess Kristoffersson at kristoft@loswego.k12.or.us.
Thank you again for your support from home!
Barb Keeton
In This Message:
Updated in Every Edition:
- Principal's Message
- Dates to Remember
- PTO Corner
NEW In This Edition:
- Updated OBOB Information
- Updated Foundation Gala Details
- Honor Choir Performance Info
Repeated Information:
- Recognitions and Observations in February
- Tualatin Food Pantry
- Purposeful People: Perseverance
- Nurses' Note
LOSD District News:
- "I Love Lake Oswego" Clothing Closet
- SafeOregon
- Subscribe to Lake Oswego Schools App
Dates to Remember!
February 4: Honor Choir Performance
February 11: PTO Friendship Party
February 20: Presidents' Day - No School
February 28: SMSP Family Code Night
March 11: The Lake Oswego Schools Foundation Gala
March 24: Teacher Work Day - No School
March 27-31: Spring Break!
April 13-14: Conferences - No School
May 26: Grade Prep Day - No School
May 29: Memorial Day - No School
June 12: Last Day for Students! 11:00 Dismissal
Honor Choir Performance
On Sat., Feb. 4, 11 Oak Creek 5th graders will participate in the 2023 OMEA (Oregon Music Educators Assoc.) District 14 Elementary Honor Choir. They will rehearse from 8 am - 3:30 pm at Lakeridge High School. At 4:00 pm they will present a concert with the Middle School Honor Choir in the Lakeridge High School Auditorium.
The students are: Julia Chan, Emma Dailey, Shaina Franco, Isabella Horta, Natalia Kern, Kadee Liang, Olivia Papworth, Hayeong Peloquin, Ella Reigle, Bennett Schultz and Anna Thornton.
You are cordially invited to attend
PTO CORNER
Hello Oak Creek!
The PTO Event VPs are hosting a Friendship Party! Join the celebration Saturday, February 11th, 4:00-7:30p (3:30-4:00p reserved for Pathways, KG, and 1st grade only)!
Buy your bracelets today!
● Online pre-order is $7 per child for children 3 years and up and $1 per adult (adults must accompany children)
● Online pre-order friendship roses, $3 per stem, will be handed out at the end of each time slot
● No additional tickets sold at the door day of, online pre-sale only
● Two party time slots: 4:00-5:30p and 6:00-7:30p, capped at 250 people per time slot
Each bracelet includes treat bags and access to all the games / activities:
● Carnival games
● Dance party
● Friendship forest hula hoop
● Photo booth
● Arts and crafts
● Friendship B-I-N-G-O
● Complimentary kids’ snack and beverage table
● Festive decorations and lights
Both candy and prizes will be handed out throughout the night for participating in games and activities
We still need volunteers! Please sign up here: Friendship Party Volunteer
● Each volunteer receives free adult admission and one free child bracelet
Food for purchase at the party:
● food and dessert options
We are so excited to celebrate love, kindness, and friendship with your families!
SAVE THE DATE! Coyote Spirit Week, the school wide Move-A-Thon, and the adult only action are back! We cannot wait to bring the community together! Specific times and details TBA. Stay tuned!
Coyote Spirit Week: April 17-21, 2023
School Wide Jog-A-Thon: April 21, 2023
Adult Only Auction: April 22, 2023
Get your OCE spirit wear! Use this link to shop for all of your coyote gear.
Calling all art literacy volunteers! Did you know that you do not need art experience to be an art literacy volunteer? We would love to have more parents come do art in the classroom with their kids. If you don't want to teach art or go to the training, sign up to fill an assistant position in your class, no training needed. Sign up here: Morisot February Art Literacy Lessons and Training
The Amazon Smiles fundraiser is ending indefinitely. You have one more month to make your prime orders and donate to OCE. When shopping on Amazon, visit smile.amazon.com and select “Oak Creek Elementary PTO” as your charity. Make all purchases through smile.amazon.com instead of amazon.com You can even change the app setting on your phone.
Join Cub Scout Pack 469! Meet with your pack every Tuesday beginning February 14th at 5-6pm in Oak Creek Library. Learn about the family fun and outdoor adventure that awaits you from Scout parents and representatives! Your attendee will learn knot tying skills, make a cute Valentine’s gift, and get a taste of what Scouting has to offer.
Follow us on social media!
Facebook @ Oak Creek Elementary
Instagram @ Oak Creek Elementary PTO
Questions? OakCreekElementaryPTO@gmail.com
Oak Creek Elementary PTO Executive Committee
Kirstin Martin / President
Amanda Schade / Treasurer VP
Samantha McCaskey / Assistant Treasurer VP
Page Donnelly/ Membership VP
Brooke Mattern / Communications VP
Holli Hansford / Co-Events and Enrichment VP
Barry Hansford / Co-Events and Enrichment VP
Steve Farnham / Co-Fundraising VP
Heather Shoyer / Co-Fundraising VP
Lauren Terpstra / Parental Involvement VP
Rachel Wilde / Secretary VP
Teressa Raine / Sustainability VP
OCE’s OBOB Tournament!!
OCE’s OBOB Tournament Continues!!
The last week of pool play begins Tuesday, January 31 st.
Here is the schedule:
Volunteers
If you are interested in helping with either of these events, let us know! Please email: Kirstin Martin at oakcreekelementarypto@gmail.com
For all other questions please contact
The OCE School Librarian & OBOB Book Club Coordinator email: Darcy Benson at bensond@loswego.k12.or.us
The OCE OBOB teacher coordinator email: Megan Lovelace at lovelacm@loswego.k12.or.us
Warmly,
The OCE OBOB TEAM
Purposeful People
Dear Oak Creek Community,
As we start the new year of 2023, we will be spending the month of January practicing the character trait of PERSEVERANCE in our Social Emotional Learning (SEL) lessons. The definition we will be using for Perseverance is: pushing yourself to work through challenges and obstacles.
A lot of research today is telling us that the highest indicators of success in our kids isn’t just about their grades or their IQ. The number one skill that helps people of all walks of life be successful is GRIT! Grit is the ability to persevere in the face of adversity or even failure.
Over the course of the month, we will talk about inspiring people who faced many failures before they found success. We will talk about what it means to navigate tough stuff, even when it feels overwhelming or really hard. We will talk about having a Growth Mindset; to see challenges and failure as an opportunity to grow instead of a brick wall. During my SEL time in each classroom we will also talk about anxiety and worries and how to push on through when things get tough.
One way to reinforce our teaching here at school is to let your child know it’s ok to not be perfect. Students are often expected to perform their best on everything from tests to playing on the sports field. Complimenting their effort, determination and good character places the focus on the process instead of the product.
Here are links for extension activities to explore PERSEVERANCE further as a family:
Kindergarten Perseverance Family Newsletter
1st Grade Perseverance Family Newsletter
2nd Grade Perseverance Family Newsletter
3rd Grade Perseverance Family Newsletter
4th Grade Perseverance family newsletter
5th Grade Perseverance Family Newsletter
Together,
Roxanne Davidson
Ms. D 💙 Oak Creek Elementary School Counselor 💙 davidsor@loswego.k12.or.us
Nurses' Note
Recognitions, Observations in February
We have a lot to celebrate and acknowledge this month. All teachers and staff are encouraged to find ways to recognize these and other awareness opportunities to help create a culture of belonging in our schools.
February
Black History Month, is an annual observance originating in the United States, where it is also known as African-American History Month. It has received official recognition from governments in the United States and Canada, and more recently has been observed in Ireland, and the United Kingdom.
American Heart Month is a time when all people can focus on their cardiovascular health.
National Freedom Day, February 1, celebrates freedom from slavery. It also recognizes that America is a symbol of liberty. The day honors the signing by Abraham Lincoln of a joint House and Senate resolution that later became the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
National School Counseling Week, February 6-10, focuses public attention on the unique contribution of school counselors within U.S. school systems.
National School Resource Officer Appreciation Day, February 15, recognizes the partnership with our SROs and the relationships they build with the students and staff in helping keep schools and communities safe.
Presidents' Day National Holiday, February 10, is a federal holiday to remember the achievements of two of the nation's greatest presidents, George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, whose birthdays both were in February.
Black Lives Matter at School Week, January 30 - February 3, is intended to spark an ongoing movement of critical reflection and honest conversation and impactful actions in school communities for people of all ages to engage with issues of racial justice.
LOSD District News
Tualitin Food Pantry
"I Love Lake Oswego" Clothing Closet Open to Entire Community!
I Love Lake Oswego Clothing Closet has received an overwhelming amount of support and donation during the pandemic. We want to give back to our community and encourage our community to lean on us not for just hard times, but for up cycling, sustainability, and for our environment. In the past the closet was just for students, and since the pandemic we have opened our doors to anyone within our community.
Visit https://www.ilovelakeoswego.com for more information.
SafeOregon
Parents-guardians who have concerns about a student’s well-being are encouraged to reach out to their principal, and to maintain strong lines of communication and partnership between students, families, staff, and other resources.
SafeOregon is also an effective way to report a tip regarding safety threats or potential acts of violence to our students or schools.
(Students should also be aware that intentionally providing a false report is a serious offense.)
Subscribe to Lake Oswego Schools App
Stay connected to the district and your school(s) and receive urgent notifications by subscribing to the Lake Oswego Schools App.
About Oak Creek
Reach out to us if you have any questions or need anything!
- Principal; Barb Keeton: keetonb@loswego.k12.or.us
- Administrative Assistant; Terese Kristoffersson: kristoft@loswego.k12.or.us
- Administrative Assistant; Tanya Goodwin: goodwint@loswego.k12.or.us
Address: 55 Kingsgate Rd., Lake Oswego, OR 97035
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OakCreekPTA/
Interested in OCE Spirit Wear? Check out this website sponsored by our PTO! OCE Spirit Wear