FROM THE DESK OF MR. DERAAD November 2013 · FROM THE DESK OF MR. DERAAD November 2013 OLE NEWS ......
Transcript of FROM THE DESK OF MR. DERAAD November 2013 · FROM THE DESK OF MR. DERAAD November 2013 OLE NEWS ......
FROM THE DESK OF MR. DERAAD
November 2013
OLE NEWS
NOVEMBER 2013
Issue # 2
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
651-653-2843 – PRINCIPAL
651-653-2831 - OFFICE
651-653-2833 - FAX
651-407-7540 - SCHOOL CLOSING
651-653-2846 - HEALTH OFFICE
651-653-2834 - EXTENDED DAY
651-407-7538 - TRANSPORTATION
651-653-2832 - ATTENDANCE
651-653-2839 - KITCHEN
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
OTTER LAKE ELEMENTARY
1401 COUNTY RD. H2
WHITE BEAR LAKE, MN 55110
GO BEARS!
November, 2013.
Environmental Trail:
We now have an Otter
Lake Environmental
Trail in our backyard.
As part of our ongoing STEM (Science,
Technology, Engineering, Math) Initiative, we
have worked with our WBL Buildings and
Grounds Dept. to make a trail that our
students can use for follow up Science obser-
vations and learning. Does anyone know of an
Eagle Scout that needs a project? We would
like to add signs and benches to our Trail.
Conferences: Fall conferences have come and
gone. Thank you to everyone for attending and
participating in the goal setting process. Our
students will prosper with cooperation be-
tween families and school. The computerized
MAP (Measures of Academic Progress) testing
helped to set goals this Fall along with the
MCA scores for Grades 4 and 5. Students will
be tested again at mid-year and then in the
Spring. The Spring testing will help us to deter-
mine if students met their projected growth
targets in Reading and Math.
Valuable Items: Items should not be brought
to school as they could be lost or stolen. This
includes Pokeman Cards, Yu-gi-oh Cards,
Gameboys and bracelets. Selling or trading
items (cards, etc.) is not allowed at school.
Also, please be sure to put your child’s name
inside of his/her coat. Many coats have a name
label, if not, write on the size label. If coats are
misplaced, we can return them more
expediently if we have a name.
Be sure to check the Lost and Found rack and
cupboard whenever you’re in the building.
From the Attendance Office: A special note
of thanks to all the parents who have called
the attendance office (653-2832)to report
their child absent and/or tardy. This elimi-
nates many phone calls to track down stu-
dents. Also, please remember to sign your
child in when coming in late. Your child will
be given a slip to take to class letting the
teacher know they have checked in. Thanks
for your cooperation!
Security & Safety:
After School Pick Up.
We ask for your cooperation with after
school pick up. If you are picking up your
child after school, please park your car in the
parking lot and wait behind the tables posted
to pick up your child from the teacher when
they walk down. Intermediate students that
are picked up outside are being asked to wait
until after the 3:45p.m. dismissal bell when
most primary students and their parents
have a chance to cross the crosswalk area.
Parking Lots: Parents are asked to use the
west parking lot for student drop-off and
pick-up. Please avoid parking in the front
parking lot or drive thru area during the busy
times before and after school. The traffic at
these times is extremely heavy so we want to
take every precaution to assure everyone’s
safety and to keep the traffic flow moving
smoothly. Thanks for your cooperation in
this matter.
2 Teach is
2 Touch Lives
4 Ever
FROM THE DESK OF MR. DERAAD
Monthly News letter: This is the se-
cond edition of our Otter Lake News-
letter. Normally, you can expect to
see it around the 1st week of each
month. We will send it electronically
this year and will provide paper cop-
ies to those that do not have internet
access. Please contact the office at
651-653-2831 if you would like a
paper copy. The newsletter is a
primary source of school infor-
mation. Please take time to review it
as it will contain timely information
concerning Otter’s programs and
procedures.
School Hours:
Otter Lake School
hours are from
9:15a.m. to
3:40p.m. Students
who walk are not to
arrive at school before 9:00a.m. When
they arrive, they are to line up and get
ready to go directly to their classroom.
There is no playground supervision in
the morning, therefore please do not
allow your children to leave home too
early. Please encourage your children
to follow the directions of the school
patrol.
School Closing: We are using the same
procedures that we have in the past.
The district’s “Emergency School Clos-
ing Hotline” is 651-407-7540. When
someone calls this number, they will
receive a message regarding the cur-
rent status of White Bear Lake Area
Schools for that particular day. The
hotline is for messages regarding
late starts and early dismissals. We
will not be using it for messages
regarding late buses or any other
transportation concerns.
If you have any questions, please call
651-407-7538.
FROM THE DESK OF MR. DERAAD
Peanut Allergies: This is a reminder
that we do have students who have
very serious allergies to peanuts/nut
products and could experience se-
vere, life threatening consequences if
exposed to the touch or taste of pea-
nut/nut products. As a result, we re-
quest that you avoid sending lunches/
snacks containing those items. Thank
you for you help in this matter.
Speed Limit: This is just a reminder
that the speed limit around the
school is 20 MPH. This extends east
of the school on County Road H2 for
five blocks. For the safety of stu-
dents, staff, and others, please ob-
serve this law.
Preparing for Cold Weather: Please
make sure that your children are
dressed for the weather. Our schools
are kept at 66-68 degrees, which is
just right for learning, but is some-
times slightly cooler than you keep
your homes. Short sleeves usually
need to be covered with a sweater or
sweatshirt. Children do go outside
during the noon hour If it is not rain-
ing and if the temperature and/or
wind chill is zero degrees or above.
Please help to see that your children
are dressed for playing outside with
warm coats, hats, mittens, and boots.
Be sure to label all of your children’s
clothing, especially outerwear.
MUSIC NOTES
Information about activities in music class
will be posted on the grade level music
schoology courses your children are en-
rolled in. Please look there for information
on activities, curriculum, concerts and class
projects.
Concert Dates:
5th Grade- Jan. 30, 2pm and 7pm
2nd Grade - March, 26, 2:30pm
3rd Grade - March 27, 2:30pm
1st Grade - May 1, 2:30pm
4th grade - May 28, 6:0pm
Tuesday, Nov. 5- Important Election
On November 5, residents will vote on four
School Board seats and the District’s
Capital Projects Levy, which funds text-
books and media materials, science equip-
ment, technology, and large musical instru-
ments. See a video of the items covered
by the levy here. (***linked to http://
whitebear.wistia.com/medias/acx3bk9986)
The health office is looking for volun-
teers to help with Vision Screening.
The dates are Monday, November 11th
and Wednesday, November 13th.
There are two shifts needed each day.
Shift #1 - 9:30am - 12:30pm
Shift#2 - 12:45pm - 3:15pm
Please call Jan Darling, the school
nurse at 651-653-2845 if you are avail-
able to volunteer.
Thank You!
HEALTH OFFICE HINTS!
BearPower at our School:
We believe that every child deserves the chance to reach his/her
potential. This is why we are part of the BearPower movement to
help families in our community eat well and be active. Our school is
pledging its commitment to the principles of BearPower and the
movement to build healthier kids and a stronger community. Over
the course of the year, we will be making exciting changes at our
school to help make eating well and being active fun for all of our
students. We hope that you and your family will join us as we get
BearPowered!
What will we be doing this year?
Our school will be looking for lots of ways to make eating well and
being active easy and fun for everyone. It will mean making some
changes to what we eat, drink and do - but all of those changes will help our kids reach their
full potential. So keep an eye out in your child’s classroom, at school events, and in the
school newsletter to see all the ways we are getting BearPowered.
GO BEARS!
We started off
November fin-
ishing the last
two days of
Volleyball.
Otter Lake students then moved into
our Parachute unit. With the para-
chute we will build their upper body
strength using the parachute in a
number of high energy activities. The
game Shark is one of the students fa-
vorite parachute games. After work-
ing out our upper bodies we’ll scoot
into our Scooter unit. Students will do
a variety of games on scooters. The
scooter unit is very
physically challeng-
ing using a lot of
the core muscles as
well as a lot of fun!
To finish up Novem-
ber Otter Lake students will roll into
our Tumbling unit. On safety mats,
we’ll learn and practice stunts and
tumbles involving balance, strength,
agility and body control and put it all
together into a tumbling routine.
Nutrition Tip: As we enter
the new millennium,
America’s health care sys-
tem stands at a crossroads. No one can
honestly believe that Americans are
healthier than they were 20 years ago,
because we have become the fattest
people on the earth. New research
findings indicate beyond a shadow of a
doubt that the heavier you are, the
more likely you are to die a premature
death. The Zone way of eating is based
on a balance and moderation, science,
and common sense. It is a simple tool,
but a powerful one that can help all of
us enter the millennium with healthier
In November we
can look for-
ward to Thanks-
giving. We also
have cooler
weather and in PE we’re forced to
move to indoor activities. Looking
back at October in physical educa-
tion Otter Lake students worked on
their skills and rule knowledge in
Soccer and Football. We finished up
with our Tennis unit, where students
learned the rules of tennis and
played on portable nets I set up in
the gym and outside on the black-
top. After Tennis, we raised up the
nets to play Volleyball - a great life-
long sport that can be played inside
or outside. We covered bump, set,
and spike but really focused on being
able to serve the ball over the net
consistently.
In November your child will receive
your child’s fitness tests scores as
quarter one comes to an end. These
new FitnessGram scores will help
you in measuring your child’s current
fitness level. The tests will be given
again in the spring. Otter Lakes
main focus is striving for improve-
ment and students giving their best
effort. In Physical Education your
child has learned five Brain gym
stretches. Research shows these
stretches can help student’s minds
and body work better together in
physical activities. Ask your child
about these stretches.
PHY. ED. FACTS FROM MR.O’CONNELL
bodies, improved performance and an
optimistic outlook toward the future.
Enter the Zone, and today can be the
first day of a longer, healthier, and
happier life.
Have a fun and active November!
PE Specialist—Mr. O’Connell
G
O
B
E
A
R
S
MEDIA MOMENTS - Chris Dahl
A few ways to celebrate books and
promote reading:
Family Reading Night: Choose a special
day of the week to spend time reading to
your children, and listening to your children
read. Establish a habit that will last a life-
time!
Take a Trip to the Library: The Ramsey
County Libraries are great places to go as a
family. Whether it is a weekly or monthly
trip to the library, establish the habit of
getting books, movies, and music from
your local library.
Need some ideas? Go to Reading Rockets
for a list of books your children might like.
http://www.readingrockets.org/books/
awardwinners/
All you need is
an open mind.
And an open
book!
STUDENT COUNCIL NEWS!
2013 –14 Student Council Meetings:
October 11th @8:30am.
November 15th @ 8:30am
December 13th @ 8:30am
January 17th @ 8:30am
February 21st @ 8:30am
March 21st @ 8:30am
April 11th @ 8:30am
May 16th @ 8:30am
Food Drive—October 25th - November 1st.
A note from Senorita Olsrud.
¡ Hola Familias! This fall has been muy ocupado
(very busy)! We have learned all about Mexico,
played games, sung songs, learned the colors, and
the 4th and 5th grade students are even having real
conversations with one another in Spanish!
Please watch Schoology for materials including
links to videos and study materials as well as class
updates! (All OLE students are already enrolled in
their grade level Spanish course on Schoology, so
be sure to check it out!)
Local Hispanic events happening this month:
El Día de los Muertos, the Day of the Dead, is cele-
brated on November 1 and 2. There will be a Día de
los Muertos celebration on November 1st from
7pm - 10pm at Altered Esthetics. It will be a one-day
art show and candlelit vigil which is free and open
to everyone of all ages. The silent candle light vigil
walk will begin at 7:30pm. Check it out~
Thank you for your support and encouragement as
we begin our journey into the Spanish-speaking
world!
Saludos
Señorita Olsrud.