February 2, 2024
Dear Oxbow Families,
As January slips away, we excitedly step into February here at Oxbow! This month brings with it shorter days, crisp air, and exciting opportunities for your child to grow and learn.
Here's a glimpse of what's in store:
Winter-Themed Dances: Enjoy a special night and make memories with your Owl(s).
Kindness Counts: February is a great time to focus on compassion and kindness. We'll participate in activities that promote respectful interactions and a strong school environment and culture.
Black History Month: Throughout February, we'll honor the achievements and contributions of Black Americans through our daily morning announcements.
In addition to these great activities, we will also take part in school-wide Penny Wars, and Valentine’s Day events and Mid-Winter Break is right around the corner.
For more information about our February activities and happenings, please refer to upcoming school newsletters or reach out to your child's teacher directly. We look forward to another month of exploration, discovery, and joy with your child here at Oxbow!
Upcoming February Dates:
February 6 - Early Release Day @ 2:37 pm
Hungry Howie’s 4 pm-8 pm
February 8th - Hat Day for $1.00 Donation (Ken Tucker Scholarship)
February 9 - Daddy/Daughter Dance
February 10- KHC @ LHS 9-11 am (check-in begins at 8:30 am)
February 12-16 - Penny Wars
February 16 - Popcorn Friday/Hoot Shop
February 19-20 - No School (Winter Break)
February 23 - Mother/Son Dance
February 26 - OPC Meeting 7 pm - Tech Lab
February 27- No School for Students
Positivity Project:
This week our school community will be focusing on the Other People Mindset of Cheering Others’ Successes. This means when other people succeed, I am happy for them and cheer them on.
Being happy for other people when they succeed isn’t always everyone’s initial reaction. Often, it’s easy to become jealous or envious of others’ victories -- or even to experience schadenfreude, which is deriving pleasure from witnessing (or learning about) another person’s misfortune. People who have these reactions to the success or misfortune of others are colloquially known as “haters.” It’s important to note that these are natural emotions and in small doses can be helpful in allowing us to see what we care about -- and motivate us to pursue those goals.
But making a commitment towards cheering on other people’s successes can be a great way to improve our own health, happiness, and relationships. People can take active steps to be more genuinely happy for the achievements of others. Ways to do this include; telling others about the success of your modest friend; noticing when your reaction to a sibling’s success is envy or jealousy -- and asking yourself why that is; reminding yourself that appreciating the excellence in another is a character strength; asking your successful teammates and classmates what they do to prepare for games or tests.
Being supportive of people who succeed is good for our mental, physical, and emotional well-being and when people cheer each other on it begins a reciprocal process that forges stronger relationships. Those relationships are the foundation for a strong culture in teams, schools, and businesses.
To practice and encourage the character strength of perspective with your child, please visit the Positivity Project’s P2 for Families (password: P2), where together you will watch a video, read a quote, and talk about the answers to three questions.
Crosswalk Update:
On Monday, the Board of Education will be voting on a safety feature for Oxbow’s crosswalk on Oxbow Lake Rd during their monthly Board meeting. The District is recommending the installation of a Rapid Rectangular Flashing Beacon (RRFB) at the crosswalk and flashing yellow school safety zone lights. This will help improve the safety on Oxbow Lake Rd and allow White Lake Police Dept. to enforce the speed limits.
Green Name Tags:
Please be sure to continue using your bright green name tags for dismissal. This is one of our safety measures and it makes dismissal smoother and quicker for staff. If you need a new tag, please reach out to nicole.spangler@hvs.org
Volunteers Needed at Lunch and Recess:
We are looking for parents who are interested and willing to volunteer at lunch and recess. We have room to accommodate those volunteers who would like to help indoors or outdoors. As with any volunteering position, you must have a cleared CRC on file with the Main Office. Please reach out to Mrs. Greenleaf if you would like to help out. We are flexible and open to whatever works with your schedule.
Lunch Hours are 11:45-2:00 pm/ daily
Title I Survey:
Increased Illnesses:
Over the last week, we have noticed an increase in various viruses across grade levels including, Influenza A and Influenza B. Please ensure that your child is washing their hands regularly, getting adequate rest, and eating a well-balanced diet. If your child is not feeling well, please be sure to monitor and inform the Main Office of any absences due to illness.
From Last Week:
Continuous School Improvement Updates:
This week, several members our school team and an Oxbow parent, had an opportunity to work with various school teams from around the district, our State and Federal Grants Director, Mrs. Bjorkman and Sara Shriver, Executive Director of the Michigan Association of State and Federal Program Specialists (MASFPS), evaluating Oxbow’s progress towards school goals from last year to the current school year.
School Goals Include:
1. Increasing proficiency in mathematics in all grade levels
2. Increasing proficiency in literacy in all grade levels
3. Providing social-emotional support to students through the use of the Positivity Project to support self-awareness and to become a better citizen.
What is Continuous School Improvement?
Our school team is dedicated to a process of continuous improvement, constantly striving to refine and enhance our teaching methods, curriculum, and overall school environment. This isn't a one-time thing, but a cycle of reflection, adaptation, and growth throughout the school year.
We gather feedback from students, parents, teachers, and the wider community, analyzing strengths and areas for development. Surveys will be emailed to staff and families very soon!
Based on this, we implement new strategies, test them, and evaluate their effectiveness. It's an ongoing journey, fueled by a commitment to providing every student with the best possible learning experience. This might mean adjusting class sizes, exploring new technology, or incorporating innovative teaching techniques. While change can sometimes be unsettling, know that it's always driven by a deep desire to provide your child with the skills and knowledge they need to thrive. We invite you to be part of this process, sharing your thoughts and insights to help us create a school that truly lives up to its potential.
School Team Members: Mrs. Scanlon, Mrs. Walker, Mr. Rehnlund, Mrs. Richards
Parent Team Member: Mrs. Nelson, Parent of a 2nd Grader
Cold Weather:
With the colder weather here, please be sure to send in a jacket and/or hat and gloves with your child daily. Label all items with your child’s first and last name. When the weather is dry, children go outside daily for recess, even throughout the winter months. In order for children to play in the snow on the playground, they must have snow boots and snow pants with them.
Enjoy your weekend!
Mrs. Greenleaf