We are off and running with Middle of the Year Benchmarks (MOY).  4th and 5th graders started this week with writing and science tests.  Next week, along with 4th & 5th graders, 3rd graders will all take the math and reading MOYs.  Although these tests aren't as long as STAAR, they do assess the curriculum that has been taught.  Therefore, results help us determine what needs to be retaught and to which students.  You should receive the results within the next few weeks.  

The younger students had the opportunity to watch a performance by the theater group from Bowie, I think it was called "Little Mermaid".  It was a dynamic performance.

Today, the Oliver Foundation, awarded the school with a $3000 check to support our PE department's healthy choices initiative.  Ms. Ashorn's class was excited to receive the check!

Speaking of grants.  Did you know that OHE has received almost $40,000 in grants already this year?!  The district is recognizing OHE on their monthly good-news program Inside AISD which is cablecast on AISD TV, on the AISD TV blog AND posted to the main AISD webpage!  The "stand alone" video about Oak Hill's grant program is on-line here :

http://vimeo.com/channels/aisdshorts/111109538

And a huge thank you to Sally Coleman and her Our World, Our School Celebration.  I remember 5 years ago, when this was just a seed of an idea with Sally.  Now we are 3 years strong!  Thank you to all who performed, to those that had booths, and to those that brought food.  It was a great experience traveling through the countries.

If your free tomorrow morning and like the cold, OHE could use some help winterizing the gardens.

Stay warm!

Last week I forgot to thank the wonderful volunteers that provided the staff with a Soup Lunch.  It is one of our favorites.  We all have fun tasting the different soups!

Did you know that some of the AISD School Buses have cameras on the outside of them to catch drivers who are not stopping when the school bus puts on the their red lights?  On average, these buses catch at least 2 drivers per route not stopping!  Right now this is just a pilot program but could be implemented in the near future.  So make sure you are stopping when school buses have their lights on red.  Heard it was a pretty hefted fine.

Our PK Team attend their conference this week.  This was made possible by the financial support of our PTA and school partners.  It was a great experience for them.

Wednesday is Picture Retake.  If you weren't satisfied with the first picture, just return them and let your child's teacher know you want retakes.

Monday is the last day for our UNICEF fundraiser.  If you still have the UNICEF box at home, please send it Monday.

Have a great weekend.

I know every week I say there are a million things going on here at OHE.  And this week was no exception.  Each day we celebrate Red Ribbon Week.  Monday was Crazy Hair Day.  I don't know about you, but these are some crazy hair dos.

 

 Thursday was "Put a Hat On Drugs".

Friday, "Come as a Book Character".

Bilingual Storyteller and Bluebonnet award winning author Joe Hayes visited OHE on Monday. Students enjoyed learning how he turned something he loved hearing and doing into a job that has lasted for over 35 years for him - telling stories. He left us with a good message of "You never know until you try!". Hopefully some of our young storytellers came home and retold the tales they heard to someone new to keep the stories going! If not ask about the ant (K-2) or salt (3-5) and sit back and enjoy the story!

First graders went to the Nature Center and Zilker Park.  It was their first field trip of the year. 

 Digging for dinosaurs...

Second graders went to Inner Space Caverns. I think it is one of the favorite field trips student take,

Wednesday our Reflection Winners were announced.

OHE 2014-2015 Reflections Winners

LITERATURE AWARDS FILM PRODUCTION AWARDS

First……………………Emma

First……………………Miles

Second…………………Janani

Third……………………Sanmay

First……………………Norah

Intermediate Second…………………Brook

First…………………….Ali

First…………………….Sophia

PHOTOGRAPHY AWARDS

First…………………….Reichen

First…………………….Raelen

First……………………William

Second………………….Nautica

Second…………………Christopher

Second………………….Kelly

Third…………………...Marly

Second………………….Richard

Second………………….Rebecca

First……………………Xander

Third……………………Rebecca

First……………………Raelen

Third……………………Rebecca

First……………………Richard

Third……………………Rebecca

First……………………Karina

Third……………………Rebecca

Second…………………Richard

Second…………………Nicholas

MUSIC COMPOSITION AWARDS

Second…………………Reichen

Primary Second…………………Kiara

First…………………….Annika

Third…………………..Jack

Third…………………..Oliva

DANCE CHOREOGRAPHY AWARDS

 VISUAL ARTS AWARDS

First…………………….Amelia

Intermediate First……………………Lauren

First…………………….Raelen

Second…………………Emma

Third…………………..Torin

First……………………Aja

Third…………………..Eva

First……………………Arisha

 Third…………………..Rebecca

First……………………Kelly

Third…………………..Rebecca

First……………………Taymour

Third…………………..Diego

First……………………Taymour

Third…………………..Angela

First……………………Robby

Third…………………..Nell

First……………………Katie

Third…………………..Mayah

First……………………Nicole

 Third…………………..Atzin

First……………………Sophie

Third…………………..Anna

First……………………Alexix

Third…………………..Aidan

Second…………………Andrew

Second…………………Campbell

Second…………………Rodrigo

Second…………………Matthew

Second…………………Jesus

Second…………………Sophie

Second…………………Kiara

Second…………………Sophie

Second…………………Kate

Second…………………Claire

I am so proud of each of the students that entered.  There were some great projects and tearful stories.  A huge thank you to Shawna and Betsy for organizing the event!

In Mrs. Robert's Kindergarten class, they counted pumpkin seeds. The medium  pumpkin had 418 seeds. Everyone estimated how many they thought would be in the large pumpkin. There were 480! The closest guess was 476! They counted by 10's and put groups of 10 cups of 10 into a 100 cup until we ran out of seeds. It was a fun math activity.

Third Graders have spent the past few weeks learning about Dia de los Muertos. The altars can be seen all over the school.  Their culminating activity was to watch the new movie "Book of Life", which is based on this Mexican tradition.  

Our Ballet Folklorico also performed a traditional Veracruz dance.

Did you know that some of our 5th grade classes "Buddy" with Pre-kindergarten students and help them read?

UNICEF boxes were sent home this week.  This is an annual service project at OHE for our 5th graders.  Their goal this year is $2000 so if you are Trick-or-Treating today, don't forget the UNICEF box!  

Be safe and stay warm!

It is important for everyone to know how important the elections are this November.  Not only will a new governor and city mayor be elected, but there are 5 openings on the AISD School Board.  For those that might not think this is important, this new school board begins immediately. Therefore the new school board will select our new Superintendent as well as approve the new district budget.  Both of these items could have huge impacts for us all. Early voting has begun and runs through October.  We are even posting "I voted" pictures on our Facebook Page.  

There are so many awesome things happening here at OHE that I need help in bragging about them all.  In an effort to make sure all these wonderful things on campus receive a "Shout-Out" a section has been added to the OHE website.  Students, Staff, and parents can now give someone a kudos.   All you need to do is go to the OHE website, click on the "Shout-Out" button and write your message.  Then an email will come to me and the person you wish to send it too.  A running lists of brags will kept on the webpage.  Enjoy bragging about the wonderful things you see here at OHE.

Over the years, the OHE Gardening Club has received several grants that have helped to support the landscape of our school.  They are being featured on KLRU.  Please visit their website to learn more about our program.  www.klru.org/ctg

 Our 1st graders did a wonderful job with their fall musical.

Third graders this week learned about the different types of matter through a hands-on experiment with pancakes!  Yum!

Author Christopher Espinosa and his robot dog Rocket Megabyte visited Oak Hill on Wednesday. The 3rd, 4th and 5th graders received numerous writing tips on how to make any of their ideas become strong stories. He demonstrated how to start with a  good hook at the beginning, change boring details into stronger more specific details that paint a picture in the readers' minds, and to end with a bang. He left us with the thought - "If you think it, you can ink it!" Hopefully we will see many of our young authors put this tip to use.  His Texas Adventure book can still be purchased online at Sky Rocket Press (or email Ms. Underwood for specific details).

In our typical OHE fashion, with tons of things going on this week, we ended it with Fun Field Day. 

This morning in assembly we were reminded about Red Ribbon Week next week.  Check a previous eblast to learn how to dress each day.  Next week our 5th graders also begin their annual Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF service project.  So if your child(ren) start asking for change to bring to school, you will know why.  

We are also looking forward to award-winning author / storyteller Joe Hayes' visit to OHE Monday! And don't forget to take the family to the Texas Book Festival down on capitol grounds this Saturday and Sunday.  Lots of authors, storytellers, crafts, and food for the whole family. Enjoy!

Last week the Gardening Club, started to remove the summer plantings.  Two of the students helped to remove the basil and saved it for me, so that I could make pesto.  They were rewarded this week with pesto for their pasta.  Rebecca and Sophia actually seemed to enjoy it.

Third graders spent some time outside enjoying the wonderful weather and learning about science. 

It is so incredible to see teachers participating with their students.  These teachers are running/walking the track with their class.

Mrs. Lauri..

 Mrs. Cabrera...

 Mrs. Gerber...

Did you know that both the school's website and Eagle Eye have been awarded the Gold-level Award by the Texas PTA?  Thank you Geeta Suggs for your amazing leadership and work with these two sources of information.   

Next week is Bus Driver Appreciation Week.  Please let your bus drivers know how much you appreciate them.

Don't forget that Monday is a student holiday.  It is Parent Conference day for all elementary schools.  If you haven't scheduled a conference with your child's teacher, please do so.  All teacher emails can be found on the school website under faculty.  

As you conference with teachers, make sure you take the time to look at all the work displayed around the building.  

Fall picture day is Tuesday.  If you order pictures, please make sure the exact amount for the pictures is in the envelope.  We do not have change.

Looks like it will be wet this weekend.  Try and stay dry.

Do you know:

• That if each family donates $10 to the PTA No Hassle Fundraiser, OHE will reach our  goal? You can donate through our website at www.oakhillelementary.org

• There is a website related to all the construction on 290 and 71?  The project team is available to meet with neighborhood associations, community groups and others to discuss issues of concern, various improvement options, and the results of technical and environmental analyses. They welcome your questions about the Oak Hill Parkway. Here is the website www.OakHillParkway.com.

• That October 6th is the last day to register to vote for the November elections?  Early voting starts October 20th. 

• That 22 OHE teachers received A+ Federal Credit Union Grants that totaled over $22,000 for their classrooms?  Here they are being recognized by the AISD Interim Superintendent and School Board Monday night.

• That I typically have more dads at my Principal Coffee than moms?  (One dad today is missing from the picture.)

• That we had the 2014-2015 Student Council Installation Ceremony, and that the previous Student Council President, comes back for the ceremony?  

Hope you learned a few more facts related to OHE.  Enjoy your weekend. 

Have you seen some of our bulletin boards?

Here is one from Mrs. Robert's kindergarten class and it is interactive. It may facilitate conversations about "What did you do at school today".   Check out her class email to find the questions to ask.

 Here is some writing from Mrs. Kanak's Kindergarten class after they read "Jazz Baby".   Literacy Charts & Bloom’s Taxonomy questions really help the students work through texts they have read as well as promoting critical thinking when reading.

 Even 5th graders are creating bulletin boards.  From Mrs. Mendrek's class, students are learning about different genres of writing.  This was on fiction.

 As I mentioned last week, student council campaigns were this week.  There was a totally of twenty 4th and 5th grade students running for either president, vice-president, treasure, or secretary.  The students created awesome posters and amazing speeches.  I was even part of two of them.  Something about my high heels and kissing a chicken?!

After all the campaigning and speeches, the 2014-2015 Student Council Officers are:
President: RyalJames, Vice President: Ridley, Secretary:  Caroline , and Treasure:  Raelen.

The following students will be part of our No Place For Hate Coalition as well.  Avery, Kody, Lily, Jason, Campbell, Sally, Ian, and Claire.

Congratulations to all the students for a great race.  I am so proud of each one of them.

Next week is Custodian Appreciation Week.  When you see our awesome Custodial Team, please let them know how much they are valued.

Have a great weekend.