These past few weeks have just flown by with so many things happening at school.  Our main focus has been making sure each student is ready for their TAKS test.  Next week is another big week of tests.  3rd, 4th and 5th graders will all be testing sometime during the week.  The results came back from the first round of 5th grade scores our students did awesome.  Once the data is official, I will share the actual results.

But in the traditional OHE way, there has been lots of fun along the way.

April 9th, we had our annual Fun Run.  Lots of families came out to participate. I even had a niece and nephew with me. The banana eater in the picture below is her. 

 Also last week was the, I think this is correct, 12th annual Fairy Tale performance.  We definitely have some future actors in our mists.

 Ms. Underwood's Silent Auction items were completed this week.  Lauren was Librarian for the Day.  David and Adam went to the movie with the Librarian.

 Today in conjunction with the kindergartner performance, which I didn't take a picture of, the Young at Heart readers celebrated their 20th year reading to our OHE students.  One of their first students was here to help celebrate. 

Well, we finished with our first round of 5th grade TAKS testing.  I appreciate everyone's effort to not be on campus those days.  There will be another round the last week of April for 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders.

Besides testing, other grade levels have been busy learning as well.  Mrs. Roberts' kindergartners practice reading every day.

 Mrs. Bentley's class created fairy tales and read their stories to the class.

 Earlier this year, 3rd graders participated in the Capitol Lasertoma "Quiet Pleases" poster contest.  Below are the winners.

 Under the leadership of Ms. Brown, the OHE choir performed their "Rock-n-Roll Forever" concert.

Hope to see everyone at the Fun Run tomorrow.  Wear your running shoes!

It has been a busy week at OHE.  Many students received their Silent Auction Awards by eating on stage like the 3rd grader winner, Kael, above with friends or in the Young at Heart Library with me as in the picture below with kindergartner winner, Devon.

5th grade Silent Auction winner, Maggie with her friends.  All being watched over by our new mascot.

Ryan, our 2nd grade winner.

Will, the 1st grade winner and friends.

Today was also Student Council Hippie Day.  These students are from Mrs. Bentley's 2nd grade class.

Mrs. Calabrese with her first grade class.

It is hard to tell with such great looking costumes, but I think these are some of the girls in Mr. Kennedy's 3rd grade class.

Look at Mrs. McDonald.  She went all out.

Silent Auction winner, Morgan, received her special bedtime story from Mrs. Polan this week.  What a fabulous idea!  It looks like her brother and sister enjoyed it as well. Morgan also won "Lunch with a Cop".  She has had lots of special treats at OHE lately.

Mrs. Faulkner rewarded her winners Ella, Sadie, Lauren, and Nathan with a Movie Party in her room!

Even with all this fun, there was some learning happening.  "Dr. Devon" was Mrs. Conaway's Scientist of the week and demonstrated how a building would withstand an earthquake.  We learned that buildings made out of sugar and peanut butter don't last well in earthquakes!  Mrs. Conaway's class also observed a Bald Eagle that has eggs that are supposed to hatch any time today.  Go to
http://www.raptorresource.org/falcon_cams/index.html
to watch as well.

 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!