Oak Ridge Elementary School www.oakridge.leon.k12.fl.us
March 1, 2006   Volume  8                      Number 11


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 - Valuable

March  Happenings
•  February 27 - March 10- FCAT Testing Grades 3,4,and 5

•  March is Youth Art and Music in Our Schools Month.

•  March 1:  Application deadline for School Choice Program

• March 2: Money Due for PTO Cookie Dough Fundraiser

•  March 3: Read Across America

•  March 6-10: National School Breakfast Week - ‘It’s hard to fill
    your head when your stomach is empty.’

•  March 15 & 16:  Special Area Fun Days

•  March 17: Teachers Planning Day -NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS

•  March 20 - 24: Spring Break

FCAT Testing is February 27 - March 10
Please have your child dress comfortably and come to school rested
and on time!  We Must Score High!

Volunteers of the Year for Tallahassee Democrat Awards Named
                Oak Ridge students, faculty and staff appreciate all of  time
our parents, guardians, business partners and community members
donate for our students’ benefit.  Many hours are logged with
volunteers helping our with school field trips, parties, mentoring, and
participating in special events every month.  Unfortunately, we can only
select 3 to represent everyone for these awards.  Please know that in
our hearts every one of you is much loved and appreciated!
• Mrs. Hood, AmeriCorps Tallahassee
• Mr.  Hollis, Foster Grandparent
• Judge Judith Hawkins

•  AmeriCorps Tallahassee:
In 2004/05, 9 members of AmeriCorps Tallahassee worked as
reading tutors with 96 low-performing students in K – 3rd grade at Oak
Ridge. So far, in 2005/06 9 tutors have served 105 Oak Ridge K – 2nd
grade students.  These reading tutors meet each targeted student four
days a week for 30-minute tutorial sessions.  Working one-on-one or
in small groups, they remediate and reinforce the reading skills
introduced by the classroom teacher.  In addition, they assist with
proctoring during FCAT and SAT10, work in the after school program,
and work in Leon County Schools Summer Reading Academies.
They volunteer at a variety of school events, such as the Late Night
Library and carnivals.  They organized a picnic at Jack McLean Park in
April, 2005 to reward students for their good effort on the standardized
tests.  They hosted sleep-overs, one for girls and one for boys, as an
end-of-the year treat for students who have behaved and cooperated
during the year.  They plan to repeat these events this year.
 AmeriCorps participate in other community building events, such a 6
Days 6 Ramps and Make a Difference Day.  Twenty other members
serve Bond/Wesson and Woodville schools in a similar manner.
Members are currently serving a total of 286 students in the 3 host
schools.

•  Grandpa Hollis:
Ninety-one year old Fred “Grandpa” Hollis is a man of many talents in
one of the first grade classrooms.  He brings a genuine love for
children into each of his activities with them.  He makes sure that each
student gets feedback on their homework.  Research has shown this
to be highly effective in increasing student achievement.  He also
instructs a group during the language arts center time.  He personally
works with each student every day.  He has made many valuable
suggestions on ways to better reach the students in his groups.
These ideas have been implemented and have deepened the
children’s knowledge of literature and comprehension skills. They
now are writing about different aspects of the books they share with
Grandpa, and are beginning a “Book Club”.  The children love coming
to him and sharing their new skills with him, and he delights in their
growth, exclaiming about their reading prowess!

•  Judge Judith Hawkins
Oak Ridge students have been fortunate beneficiaries of the
dedicated, enthusiastic and supportive involvement of volunteer,
Judge Judith Hawkins.  She served as a reading tutor for second
grade students needing help with fluency.  She assisted with SAT9
test preparation, math problem solving, vocabulary building and
reading comprehension. School-wide, she conducted 4 parenting
sessions or ‘Pow Wows’ in which she taught parents how to
effectively discipline and nurture their children.  She is a regular guest
speaker at various school programs.  She sponsors several students
for their annual Wild Adventure field trip.

A  Pre-Kindergartner Thank you!!
Pre-Kindergartners want to thank Oak Ridge PTO for their
new tee-shirts.  The shirts will be worn for special Oak Ridge events
and field trips.  The children are shown here as they are leaving
school to see the Attic Players performance of
 “Peter Pan”.
Mrs. Piper and Mrs. Wacksman,, School Readiness Teachers

African American Inventors and Famous African American Historical
Figures
Mrs. Johnson’s second grade students have been busily  studying
about Famous African Americans.
Do you know who invented the fountain pen, refrigerator, clothes dryer,
comb, lawn mower, and the traffic light?  Find the answers to these
and other inventions, by checking out Mrs. Johnson’s class bulletin
board.  It is located across from the auditorium.
 While you are there, read up on Colin Powell, Harriet Tubman,
Langston Hughes and Mary McLeod Bethune!
 Thanks, Second Graders for a job well done!

March 1 Deadline for School Choice
 March 1st is the application deadlline for School Choice.  The School
Choice Program provides options for students to attend a school that
best meets their specidfic needs and maximizes their opportunity to
learn.
 Options for the 2006-2007 school yeaser have changed.  If you are
interested in knowing more about the Leon County School Choice
Program, call the School Choice Office (487-7546 or 414-5160) or visit
us on the web at: www.planning.leon.k12.fl.us

Big Rig Visits Oak Ridge School Readiness Program
Monday, February 6th, School Readiness children had a real treat.
Tyler Newton and his father, Cory, a driver for JB Hunt, rolled up in an
18 wheeler cross country rig.  All the children climbed into the cab and
enjoyed sittng into Tyler’s favorite place...the top bunk.  As Mr. Newton
was heading out to go on his next assignment, he and Tyler sounded
the horn.  What a tremendous learning experience for all of us.  Thank
you, Mr. Newman.
Mrs. Piper, School Readiness Teacher.

Jump Rope for Heart
        Everyone practiced his or her jump rope skills in  P.E. getting
ready for this year’s      “Jump Rope for Heart” event.  The event  was a
great workout and a lot of fun.
       This annual fund-raiser brings in money for the American Heart
Association      (AHA) to help continue their extensive efforts in
research and heart education.  Their purpose     is to promote
healthier life-styles and healthier hearts for all of us.  With the
educational programs from the AHA, our students have been learning
how the heart works, how exercise effects their hearts, and how to stay
FIT FOR LIFE!!
        “Jump Rope for Heart” has been one of the most enthusiastic
FUN-raisers in our school.  In the past years the students have done a
remarkable job of community service outreach, by spreading the word
about how to keep hearts healthy and active.  We keep getting our
sights higher in encouraging more and more people to take care of
their hearts!
       The collection envelopes each student received should be
returned to the honeroom teacher by March 7, 2006.  Family and
friends are welcome to support your child’s participation by making
contributions (donations are tax-deductible and many companies offer
matching gift programs).  However, we ask that children not go
door-to-door or ask strangers.  Checks should be made payable to
the American Heart Association.
      OUR GOAL THIS YEAR IS TO ENCOURAGE AS MANY PEOPLE AS
POSSIBLE TO HAVE HEALTHIER HEARTS AND HEALTHIER
LIFE-STYLES!!!!
                                               Mrs. Gennie, P.E. Teacher

PTO Notes:
      Thursday, March 2, 2006 will be the last day to turn in those cookie
dough orders!     We need to sale 500 tubes of dough in order to meet
our goal..  Several classes are doing very well, and they are almost to
their $500.00 mark.
     Let’s work together to make this fundraiser a BIG SUCCESS!
Choose from:Chocolate Chunk , Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip,
Chocolate Chips, Chunks & Pecans, M&M® Rainbows,
Oatmeal Raisin, Snickerdoodle,  Sugar Cookie , White Chocolate
Macadamia Nut ,Turtle Cookie , and Create·a·Kookie Cookie Dough.
Cost - $10.00 a tub.  Flavors: Payment due with order.
       If you are interested in helping with this fundraiser, please contact
Ms. Paul at 488-3124.