With testing this week, it has been a pretty uneventful week.  The 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students did a great job on the STAAR test and the primary students did a great job remaining quiet.

I would like to continue to recognize the parents and Boy Scout troop that are helping with the front lawn area.  This has been a huge task, but it looks really great.  I appreciate everyone's support.

Throughout the week, 2nd graders attended a musical of Pinoncchio at the Zach Scott Theater.  One of our own students was in the play.

Today the 5th grade students kicked off the annual Food Drive.  They will be collecting food items for the Austin Area Food Bank.  Each classroom will have a box so all students can support the program.  At the end of the program, the 5th graders weigh all the food and then go and help at the food bank.  It is a great way for our students to give back to their community.

We value our volunteers at OHE and we have AWESOME ones! Please join us on Friday, May 2nd for a special treat to celebrate you!

Can't believe next week begins May and then school is almost over!  Seems like we just started!

Did you know that we have bird houses, built by the students in Gardening Club, hung all around the playground?  If you can locate all 21 the bird houses and identify the type of bird that would use them, I have a prize in the office for you?

Speaking of the playground...have you seen all the work being done in the front?  Wow!  A huge thank you goes out to Sue Lagerquist (former OHE teacher), Beth Thorton, and Sarah McKenna (both parents) for spending countless hours this week shoveling mulch and dirt.

Tuesday was a general PTA meeting and a new PTA Executive Board was approved.  We have several new players, Arati Singh, Esther Williams, and Rosie Truelove. A big thank you to Anne Marie Reed for her leadership as president these past two years.  Also at the meeting, we heard from Dr. Brooks (a current OHE parent) on "Building Self-Compassion in Children".  He identified many strategies both for adults and children that help.

Thursday, the kindergarten students who won the Silent Auction Item, "Kinder Pizza Party" celebrated in the conference room.  Not sure what they were more impressed with, the pizza party or my office!

 A parent of a kindergartner and 4th grader taught yoga to a few of the PE classes.

We ended this short week with an outstanding 2nd grade Fairy Tale Performance.  A huge thank you goes out to the 2nd grade and music teachers!  Did you know that Ms. Tobias rewrote the words to the songs to make them "Fairy Tale" appropriate.  Such talent!

Have a great Easter weekend and don't eat too much chocolate!  Don't forget next week is STAAR testing again, so no visitors on Tuesday and Wednesday.

This week the PTA Silent Auction Winners for "Lunch on Stage with Friends" celebrated.  Thank you to Ms. Pinky for decorating the tables each day.  The students loved it. 

 5th graders went to Hamilton Pool on a fieldtrip this week.  Below is the group project they worked on when they returned.

Mrs. Gerber's class has baby chicks, which they are trying to find homes for.  Let me know if you are interested.

Today was the Student Council "Be an Athlete" day.  So much fun.

If you need plans for tomorrow, the Gardening Club is hosting an "Open Grounds" day.  Heard there will refreshments and a scavenger hunt!

The week of STAAR testing is always a little stressful.  Schedules have to be changed and lessons need to be quiet, which causes everyone to be a little more irritable.  But the 4th and 5th graders did a great job staying focused and all the other students did a great job trying to stay quiet.  Things will go back to normal for two weeks, then we do it all over again.

Thursday, Clint Small and O'Henry Middle Schools were here helping student select instruments for next year.  It was fun watching students "try-out" with the different pieces.  I think it is great they do this.  Who knew you had to have the right kind of mouth to play certain instruments?

If you don't have any plans for Saturday morning, there is a workday here at starting from 8-1.  We need strong arms and expertise to complete our classroom garden area, build new areas, and edge the circle drive. This is a great opportunity to improve our school grounds while building friendships. See you on the back patio!