At the Silent Auction the Carr Family bid on the "Principal for the Day".  Major Carr was the winner and was my shadow for the day.  We walked all of the classes and wrote up observations in two.  We had lunch duty in the cafeteria. We checked on the picture schedule which was really off but it was being handled.  Thank you to all the parent volunteers helping with pictures. 

 Ryan Blaydon won lunch on stage with some of his 2nd grade friends.

 Mr. Carr and I observed Mrs. Mendrek's class in PE.  Mrs. Palmer was teaching students how to perform different gymnastic skills.  Here is one student on the parallel bars.

 Here students climb up the trestle.

 In the background a student is climbing the cargo net.

 They love the rock wall.  Both Mr. Carr and I like the rock wall as well if it was much higher.

 Students can either roll sideways down the tumbling mat or front ways.

 This picture shows students climbing the ropes and stall wall.  The ropes happen to be Mr. Carr's favorite gymnastic activity. 

Finally, Mrs. Palmer helps a student walk across the high balance beam.  This happens to be Mr. Carr's younger brother, Chapell. 

Mr. Carr stated that his favorite part of the day was walking through the pre-kindergarten and kindergarten classes because the students were all doing so many different and exciting activities.  He said that he didn't realize that I spent so much time walking around all the classes and that 5th grade lunch duty was frustrating because all the fifth graders talked way too much, mainly because he was one of them. It was great having an extra helper.  We had a great day. - Dr. Mitchell and Mr. Carr.

You should have received an AISD parent survey several weeks ago.  If you have not returned the form, please return it next week so we can submit them to the district.

Our spring GT assessments are complete and parents will be notified next week of the results.

If your on campus during lunch next week, our silent auction winners will be eating on stage.  Additionally, the student who won the "Principal for a Day" will shadow me on Monday.  We are both quite excited. 

I hope you are enjoying the updates we are making to the campus.  The front of the building has been painted with updated colors.  No more 70s orange!  Plus flagstone has been added to the flag pole area so students don't have to walk in the mud.  Don't forget tomorrow is OHE clean-up day.  The grounds committee could use lots of support.

Remember there is no Friday assemblies until April 29th.

As I walked through kindergarten this week, I saw some young scientist at work.  Mrs. Polan's class is growing Wisconsin Fast Plants.  Students will observe the life cycle of a seed in less than 40 days!

This week PTA honored the OHE staff for teacher appreciation week.  Each day there were wonderful surprises in the lounge, power drinks, snacks, coffee, yogurt, sandwiches, and today we were given massages.  Additionally, parents volunteered to cover classes while teachers went off campus for an extra long lunch with their team. Thank you for all you support this week.  It was a great treat right before spring break.

Due to gymnastic equipment in the gym, OHE will not have Friday assemblies until April 29th.  At that time, we will get caught up on Eagle of the Day students by announcing two weeks worth of winners per week. Students having birthdays during the week, will be allowed to come to the office each Friday until April 29th to receive their birthday pencil.

Class pictures are March 28th.  I am looking for volunteers to help be runners. If you are interested, please send me an email.  The company usually offers an incentive for helpers.

Third grade students have been working on biographies for several weeks.  Researching information related to a person of their choice.  This week Mrs. Grimm's and Mrs. Lagerquist's classes held their final presentations.  

Today we recognized students who received awards at the Regional Science Fair.  We are so proud of these students.

I hope everyone has a great, safe, and relaxation spring break.  See you on March 21st. 

We had lots of fun at the carnival.  Hope you enjoy the pictures.  Thanks to all who helped and participated.  It was absolutely a success!

The Austin Energy Regional Science Festival this past Saturday, February 26, 2011 at the Palmer Events Center.  Our Eagles excelled at this competition. The following is a list of our students and what they earned at the regional science fair: 

Student Name	Place	Grade Level	Name of Project
Shannon R	2nd	5	Crazy Colors
Mia M	1st	5	Flower Power
Claire P	1st	5	Bubble Mixture Test
Samuel M	2nd	3	Winging It
Sarah L	1st	3	The effect of soil types on the growth of radishes
Wesley E	2nd	5	Poppin' Corn
Terra E	2nd	3	Empty vs. Full
Amber W	2nd	3	All About Chickens
Ian B	2nd	1	How Fire Uses Air to Burn
Ryan B	2nd	2	Angle Shooter
Ian J	2nd	4	Should You Let Your Plants Drink Sodas?
Jace B	2nd	4	The Great Guacamole
Keller K	2nd	4	What a Cat Wants

Congratulations to all our students!

It's that time of year and TAKS testing has begun.  On March 1st, our 4th grade students take the Writing TAKS test.  Because of testing security, parents are not allowed to be in the area where students are taking the test.  Therefore, the 4th grade side of the building will be off limits as well as the cafeteria during 4th grade lunch time for parents and guests.

If you haven't signed up to work the carnival next week, please visit the attached link.  There are still many booths and slots available. http://carnivalsignup.ohepta.org/

On a different note, if you are a parent that likes to keep up with your student's grades, please visit http://www.austinisd.org and sign-up for parent connection.  If you need help, contact Naomi in our OHE office.

This week with the support of Book People and Ms. Brooks author Barney Saltzberg came and visited our kindergarten students.

Also this week, our pre-kindergarten and PPCD students learned about transportation.  My husband, Sgt. Mitchell, was eager to show them his patrol vehicle.  Oh how they loved the lights and sirens!

Spring parent conferences are Monday.  Since the spring conferences have not traditionally been mandatory, we have decided that for any student that has performance or behavior concerns a conference must be held.  If you haven't been contacted by the teacher and want a conference, just let the teacher know. 

As you know, AISD is facing a financial crisis. Unfortunately, our school will be impacted.  A reduction in force is a very serious matter, and AISD employees will be adversely affected.  According to our projections for next year, OHE is losing 6 teaching positions (1 4th, 1 3rd, 2 2nd, 2 kinder positions), 1 teaching assistant position, and 1 office clerk position.  Each of the employees was notified on Wednesday if they were on the Reduction in Force (RIF) list.  Out of respect to those employees and the uncertainty of their situation, I have chosen not to publicize their names.  I ask that you respect that decision as well and understand how difficult this is for our campus, especially since last year OHE went through a similar reduction process.  The campus is eager to begin planning for next year and as the plans are created I will continue to inform you of those decisions. As always, please come to me if you have any questions or concerns.

On a much more positive note, the Austin Jazz Workshop was on campus Thursday.  Our 3rd - 5th grade students enjoyed the performance and some even were able to participate.  There was a special guest appearance by our own Mr. Bowers!

Also, this is shout for carnival volunteers.  Carnival is only 2 weeks away, and we still needs volunteers to work grade level booths.  You are able to sign-up on line.  Please visit the website.

It has been an exciting day here at OHE!  Student council organized our first costume day.  Chick-fil-A was here passing out their new spicy chicken biscuit sandwich. Mrs. Roberts' class performed a "Brain Pop" activity during assembly. It was popcorn reward day at lunch, and we ended the evening with our PTA Rock-n-roll Fun Night.  Enjoy the pictures!

OHE Families,

As many of you have witnessed, the district has used the "School Messenger" system to notify parents of important situations related to district, recently the close of school last week.  If you have not received these notifications or would rather a different phone number be used, please let the our front office know so we can make the change in the system.  School Messenger can also be used at the local campus level.  Today, I used it to call 1st grade parents to inform them the field trip had been canceled due to the weather. 

Since school was canceled last Friday, the student council costume day has been rescheduled for this Friday.  Also on Friday, Chick-fil-A will be on campus early distributing their new spicy chicken biscuit sandwich.  Come and enjoy. 

Need costume ideas?  Mrs. Phillips' 4th grade class created newspaper costumes thanking our newspaper adopter.  The class uses the Austin American Statesmen in multiple ways: research, math problem solving, writing, and fun etc.

I would like to take this opportunity to announce OHE’s 2011 Teacher of the Year, Mrs. Lucy May.  Currently Mrs. May is a 2nd grade bilingual teacher and also mentors other bilingual teachers in the district.  At morning assembly on Friday, we honored Mrs. May with a beautiful flower arrangement.  We are so proud of her and the work she does everyday with your children! Next time you are on campus and see Mrs. May tell her congratulations.  We wish her the best of luck at the next level.

Last semester OHE offered an after school computer class called Scratch.  Scratch is a simplified programming language suitable for students interested in learning the basics of computer programming.  Students create their own interactive programs by learning how to snap together visual programming blocks to control images, music, and sound. The program is being extended for the spring semester. Scratch Club I is for to 3rd - 5th graders with no previous programming experience.  Scratch Club II is for 3rd - 5th graders who were previously in Scratch Club I.  Both clubs will meet on Thursday after school from 2:45 - 4:00 and will run for nine weeks (February 10, 17, 24, March 3, 10, 24, 31, April 7).  Sign-up forms are in the front office and the deadline is February 4th.

Sixth grade choice sheets will be given to our 5th graders this week.  Both O'Henry and Clint Small will be on campus Tuesday explaining the process to our students.  Please feel free to attend.  Then on Friday, Mrs. Taylor, the Small principal will visit my monthly coffee talk at 9:00 for any 5th grade parent that has questions or just wants to meet her.

Also on Friday, one of our corporate sponsors, Chick-fil-A, will be on campus with their new spicy chicken biscuit breakfast sandwich for parents and staff.  Come have breakfast, sign-up for Scratch, and stay for my principal's coffee.

Earlier this month, someone researching school administrators and why they use blogs contacted me. The researcher wanted to know what my reason for blogging was.  If you would like to know my response, you can see it here.

Have a great week!

 

 The percussionist demonstrating tambourines.

 Mrs.Robert's kindergarten class really enjoyed the music by moving to the beat!

A percussionist from the Austin Symphony Orchestra was on campus today and held performances for our Pre-Kindergarten through 3^rd grade students.  He discussed several different percussion instruments and explained how sound was created for each.  Then he would play each instrument and students were able to listen to the unique sounds each created.  The students were excited and interacted with the music. 

 The OHE students had a wonderful opportunity today to see the Ft. Worth Opera.  The five member crew performed "The Three Billy Goats Gruff."  Not only was it an outstanding opera performance, but it also was a lesson on bullies. Thank you to our benefactor for bringing the production to OHE!  

Tutoring has begun for students in 3rd - 5th grades.  Tutoring is offered to students based on their MOY benchmark results.  If you have questions, please speak with your child's teacher.

Starting next week, spring GT testing will take place.  A person from the GT office will test the kindergarten students either on January 18th or 19th, Mrs. McDonald and I will test 1st and 2nd graders, while Mrs. Baxter test 3rd - 5th grade students.  Due to scheduling conflicts, there isn't a specific time these will occur.  So please if your child was nominated, discuss with them that testing will occur.

This is another reminder to please label coats, gloves, hats, etc.  Our "lost and found" has become quite large.

Welcome Back!

The 2011 has started smoothly.  It was great to see all the students back and it appeared most were excited to return and share what they did over the holidays.  There were only a few tears (and those were from teachers).


Today students will be bringing report cards home. After some confusion the first nine weeks about which rewards students were to receive, we have decided on the following:  
Attendance Ribbons                                        
(Zero Absences)                                
PK - 5th grade                                                                        
Citizenship Ribbons                                        
(4s on the personal development side of report card)
1st - 5th grade        
Academics
(All As or 4s)
1st - 5th grades

Many of you have already seen the new lanes for morning drop off in the back parking lot.  This will start officially Monday.  At the back gate along the sidewalk, there will be 5th grade greeters helping students.  Cones will be placed at the first entrance (where the buses enter) blocking this as an entrance therefore the second opening will be both an entrance and exit.  All of the other drop offs (front circle drive and annex) will remain the same.  This is just an additional place to drop off students in the morning.

Also this week for some 3rd - 5th grade parents, permission slips for tutoring are being sent home.  We are offering tutoring classes for any student who is not performing satisfactory on the MOY benchmark test given in December.  Some of the tutoring classes are during the day and some are after school.  If you do not receive a letter, your child performed well on the MOY benchmarks.  If you would like to know how your child did, please contact the teacher.  

The student council has created a "Wear Your Favorite Team Jersey" day for Friday.  So lets all celebrate our favorite team.

Friday is also my Principal's Coffee.  Hope to see you there.

Dear OHE Families,

It has been so wonderful being here at OHE.  I have truly loved being back on a campus and interacting with everyone.  It has been a steep learning curve but it seems to be smoothing out.  This week, Peggye and I sat down to look over some data and I actually recognized student names and knew what classes they were in!  As I walked campus these past few days, observing all the parents helping in the classrooms was wonderful.  

Being new to the community, I wasn't quite sure how this season was celebrated.  But I have been quite impressed with how many traditions and celebrations are taught.  OHE students will understand how other cultures celebrate this time of year or if they celebrate anything at all. Which is great considering the diversity of this campus.

Thank you to all for helping me feel so comfortable and in teaching me the OHE traditions as well as supporting me with new initiatives. I  look forward to continuing our work in the spring.

 I wish each of you a wonderful Christmas, Hanukkah, and/or other holiday celebrations.

Thank you PTA for the updated safety vest for our 5th graders!  This is just one example of something Projects and Goals has bought already for the school.  Check out the website to learn more about what has been purchased.

Parents with the cooler weather already upon us it would be helpful if your child's name was attached to coats, hats, gloves, etc.  The "lost and found" has increased. 

OHE Parents,

I just wanted to let you know that Mrs. McDonald is out for a couple of days and Mrs. Horne, a retired principal is substituting for her.  So if you see her walking around, you will know who she is and what is doing on campus.

For those who haven’t noticed, the sandboxes now have fresh sand and the playgrounds have been re-mulched.  Also, next time you enter through the front of the building, notice the new light covers.  These are just a few of the items that were mentioned to me when I arrived that needed work.  I am still working on painting the outside.  Those work orders are taking a little more time but still in the works.

With so many students taking Middle of the Year Benchmarks, the student council decided we should have a crazy hair day. The student on the left was very creative- DVDs, pens, how many items are in there? If you don't recognize the person in the next picture with pigtails, that is Mr. Cumings. Lastly, I am not sure how she did this but there is a cup inside of all that hair.  

 

I heard Santa pictures had a huge turn out on Saturday even with the parking lots being painted.  Also if you would like to participate in our Angel Tree, please stop by the front office.