Oak Ridge Elementary School www.oakridge.leon.k12.fl.us
March 3, 2006   Volume  8                      Number 12

School Hours:    Office Hours  7:30 - 3:30  Student Hours  7:40-2:00
Administrative Staff:
Hodgetta A. Huckaby, Principal
Kimberly McFarland, Assistant Principal
4530 Shelfer Road, Tallahassee, Florida 32310
Telephone: (850) 488-3124  FAX: (850) 922-7145
Web Page: http://www.oakridge.leon.k12.fl.us
Listserv: http://listserv.leon.k12.fl.us/archives/oes-parents.html
Mascot: Eagle - Colors:  Royal Blue and White


Positive Action Word of the Month  - Determination

Calendar
• May 4: Viewing of Science Fair
  Projects
• May 4:  Leon County Schools  Volunteer Appreciation and Award
  Ceremony
• May 5: Science Projects Go Home
• May 5: AR Awards
• May 5: 5th Grade Banquet
• May 5: AmeriCorps Girls’ Sleepover
• May 8-12: Teacher and Staff Appreciation  Week
• May 8: 2006/07Kindergarten Registration Begins
• May 8: SAC Meeting
• May 9: Media Resources Due
• May 11: WINGS Ends
• May 11:Families Building Better Reading Workshop
• May15 and 16: Musical  “All Across the USA”
• May 16: Mentor Farewell Ice CreamSocial
• May 18: Business Partner Meeting
• May 18: Carnival, Part II
• May 18: Kids Talk WLCS Channel 23
• May 18: WINGS Showcase
  Musical  - We Haz Jazz
• May 19: AmeriCorps Boys’  Sleepover
• May 22: Baskin’s Bash
• May 23: Special Area Fun Day
• May 23: Kindergarten Graduation
• May 24: End of the Year Awards Ceremonies
• May 24, 25, and 26: Early Release Days  Students will be released at
11:30 AM
• May 26: Last Day for Students
• May 29: Memorial Day Holiday
• May 30 & 31  Teacher Planning Days

Judge Judith Hawkins Wins Education Award
 More than 500 people attended the Tallahassee Democrat Luncheon
that honored more than 140 people and organizations in eight
different
categories.  The awards were presented by Democrat Publisher Pat
Dorsey and Sue Dick, President of the Greater Tallahassee Chamber
of Commerce.
 Judge Judith Hawkins excitedly accepted the Volunteer of the Year
Award in the Education Category.  Judge Hawkins has volunteered at
Oak Ridge for the past eight years and her influence upon Oak Ridge
Eagles will resound for years to come.  Though largely utilizing her
time, talents and efforts in Ms. Baskin’s second grade classrooms,
her impact has been experienced schoolwide as a result of her Parent
“Pow Wows” and the presentations given during “Operation
Occupation” Week, Honor Roll assemblies and other school events.
She has truly inspired Oak Ridge Eagles, both parents and students,
to set goals, dream dreams and work diligently to realize the success
that is possible for all.  As a result of this esteemed recognition, the
Tallahassee community now knows what Oak Ridge Eagles have
known all along...Judge Judith Hawkins is a valuable valiant volunteer!
 Also honored in the Education Category was Mr. Fred Hollis, known
affectionately at Oak Ridge as Grandpa Hollis.  Working in Mrs.
Feehrer’s first grade classroom, he has been a positive role model for
our students and brings a genuine love for children into each of his
activities with them.  He gives the students feedback on their
homework, math, reading and writing skills.
 In the Nonprofit Organizations category, AmeriCorps was recognized
for their efforts in working as reading tutors with students from
Kindergarten through Third Grade. In addition to working with targeted
students four days a week in 30 minute sessions, they volunteer and
assist in a variety of school events such as the Late Night Library and
the carnival.
 Mr. Stuart Cox was recognized for his work in mentoring students.
Although he was nominated by Springwood Elementary, Oak Ridge
claims him too!  He first came to our school as he wanted to mentor a
student he worked with at another school who had recently transferred
to Oak Ridge.  After she moved away, he stayed to continue mentoring
students in Ms. Gaymon’s class.
 Oak Ridge salutes all of our volunteers, mentors, and business
partners!  We thank you for your support!

PLAN NOW!
May 24, 25, and 26 are Early Release Days.
 Students will be released at 11:30 AM.

News From Our Media Center:
Read Across America
 Read Across America was originally created as a one-day event to
celebrate the joy of reading on March 2, Dr. Seuss's birthday. Today, in
2006, the program has grown into a nationwide initiative that
promotes reading every day of the year.    Oak Ridge celebrated this
event by having all classes attend a special presentation in the media
center.  Local author, poet and playwright Brenda Scott, read the
students some of her poems.  She is known for writing plays such as
Hey, There Neighbor, What a Picnic in L.A.?  and As Men Talk.  Later,
the students watched presentations of some of their favorite Caldecott
Medal Award books, such as Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice
Sendak and Why the Mosquitoes Buzz in People’s ears by Verna
Aardema.
 Students were given ‘Oak Ridge Elementary School - We Succeed
When The Eagles Read  bookmarks to highlight the occasion.

Oak Ridge School Celebrates National Library Week April 2-8, 2006:

National Library Week 2006:  Change Your World at Your Library

   National Library Week was first sponsored by the American Library
Association in 1958.      Each year, in the month of April, school, public,
academic, and special libraries throughout the United    States
participate in National Library Week celebrations.  Oak Ridge School
Community  joined the    rest of the Nation by participating in a number
of activities. We celebrated the contributions of our    nation’s libraries
and librarians and promoted library use and support.
    Classes participated in the following activities:
Door Decorations
  The winners are:
•  First Place - Ms. Hartman’s Fourth Grade Class.  Theme: Bet Ya
Can’t Read Just One
•  Second Place - Ms. Johnson’s Second Grade Class.  Theme:
Readers are Leaders
• Third Grade - Ms. Vaca’s Class.  Theme: A-Maze-ing Books
Storytelling with Paul Peavy:
Public Library Card Sign Up:
-Ms. Satchell, Media Specialist

FCAT Resources for Parents
 We hope your class or your child did well on the FCAT! Thank you for
choosing SP SnapShot’s Parents as Partners page as your FCAT
resource For more information on how SP SnapShot turns student
data into useful information, please go to www.spsnapshot.com

Annual Title I Parental Involvement Conference
     On Friday, February 24th, two members of our Oak Ridge family
attended the 11th Annual Title I Parental Involvement Conference in
Orlando, Florida. Jessica Wallace, our WINGS 21st Century Site
Coordinator and Parent Liaison, not only attended the conference, but
was a presenter as well. Her topic was “How to Have a Meaningful
Parent/Teacher Conference”, and parents, teachers, and other school
personnel who attended her session commended Ms. Wallace for her
excellent presentation skills and content. Congratulations to Ms.
Wallace for being chosen to present at this annual state conference!
Celeia Durant, a paraprofessional in our School Readiness program
and Oak Ridge parent, also attended the conference. Mrs. Durant was
able to attend sessions that support her efforts as an involved parent,
and reports that she had “an excellent time”. A big “THANK YOU” to
both of these Oak Ridge Eagles for being willing to invest their time
and effort to expand their knowledge and share it with others.

Special Area Fun Days - March 15th and 16th
Students who earned their Special Area Stars had a terrific time during
these Field Day events.
For this 4th nine week period, Special Area Teachers will again be
stamping stars
for students with good attitudes and behaviors in classes.
Students, be sure that you earn all of your stars so that you can
participate in the activities May 23rd!