Applebee's Pancake breakfast

What a delicious Saturday morning it was at the Applebee's pancake breakfast. We had a great turnout- around 322 showed up for breakfast! The pancakes were delicious and the great conversation and time with friends and family was even better!

 

 

 

If you weren't able to join us, we missed you and hope that you can join us next year!

Also- Thank you all for your support of OHE with voting for Ms. Hernandez, who is a top 10 finalist for the $10,000 Rather Prize! We will not know if she won until early March. This prize benefits ALL of the students at OHE. You still have time to vote today and tomorrow!

We are 100 days SMARTER!

Last week we celebrated the 100th day of school! The teachers had multiple activities for students to count to 100, count by 10's, and learn how many 100 of something is. At this age, it's a big number! They had a great time and had several yummy treats centered around 100. We also had our second grade classes dress as if they are 100 years old. It is hilarious and they are SO cute! Next year- I think I'll join in! :-) Here are several pictures from that day.  Look at how much fun they are having!

 

 

It was a busy week for our PK and Kinder students. Not only did they do numerous 100th day activities, they had a visit from Austin firefighters who brought the ladder truck. They put the ladder all the way up and wow, was it high! I love this picture of all the students looking up at it.

They got to go inside the fire truck,  they walked around and learned about many of the knobs and hoses on the fire truck and they heard a short presentation from the firefighters. I know this is always a highlight of their year! 

 

We also celebrated being heart healthy by wearing red on Friday. We had many students and staff who participated. I love that Oak Hill does so much to teach our students about ways to be healthy.

 

We hope that you will be able to join us on Saturday this weekend  or the Pancake breakfast at Applebee's from 8-10am. Tickets are $10 for all you can eat pancakes, bacon, sausage, eggs, potatoes, fruit, coffee, and orange juice. Sounds delicious!! Tickets can be purchased online in the store or you can send in payment to the school by TOMORROW, Wed. Feb 8th.  This event helps fund many projects at OHE.

Hope you enjoy this beautiful weather! Maybe it will stick around for a bit!

Have a great Oak Hill day!

Happy Holidays!

The last days leading up to the winter break have been packed full of exciting activities. As I walked around the building, I saw students engaged in lessons about holidays around the world, holiday traditions or working on topics from math concepts to creative writing with a winter theme. Here are some examples of this wonderful (and super cute) work.


 

 

 

Students in 3rd, 4th and 5th grades were presenting biography reports about famous people, exploring science concepts and representing difficult number concepts in creative ways.

 
 

 

The teachers had a great opportunity to learn about mindfulness in the classroom and the benefits, not only for their students, but also themselves. It is a great way to start the day and get our brains calm and ready to learn, but can be used all throughout the day to help students transition from one activity to the next or to refocus their energy on the task at a hand. Here are our teachers learning about the benefits of mindful stretching.

Our fifth grade students presented a wonderful holiday treat in the form of a winter musical/ theater show. It was full of cheerful songs and winter themed jokes- what a great way to spread holiday cheer! The students did an outstanding job!

 

 




The Soaring Eagle singers also took their annual caroling trip to nearby businesses.  This is such a wonderful way to share the holiday spirit with our community. Ms. Brown and Ms. Flaherty were certainly busy little elves this December!

 

Last night, I attended the Austin ISD board meeting to receive recognition from the Texas Education Agency for our Academic Achievement Distinction Designations. We earned three designations in Academic Achievement: Reading/ELA, Academic Achievement: Science, and Postsecondary Readiness.  It was truly a wonderful moment to be recognized for all of the hard work that the teachers and students do every day. I was honored to accept this recognition on their behalf.

During our last assembly of 2016, we said "Happy Retirement" to one of OHE's longtime residents. Ms. Alice Wiley is retiring.  She has been at Oak Hill for 24 years-as a student teacher, a teacher, and as a teacher assistant. She plans to come back and volunteer for the school periodically, so her days here are not over and we don't have to say goodbye. We will truly miss her on the days she is not here and we will certainly miss her at morning drop off.

As we close out 2016, I wanted to take this time to say how proud I am to be the principal of Oak Hill Elementary. I am so lucky to work with the most deidcated group of teachers in all of Austin; the kindest, most amazing students; and a caring, supportive community of parents.  I wish you and your family joy and peace in the new year and hope that you have a wonderful winter break! See you in 2017!