Panther Pride (309) 557-4470

Volume 2 Issue 4

December 2013—January 2014 McLean County Unit District 5

Oakdale Elementary School 601 S. Adelaide Normal, IL 61761 (309) 557-4421 Attendance Hotline Panther Pride (309) 557-4470

Oakdale Expectations It’s a Great Day to be a Panther!  Be Respectful Dear Oakdale Families, we all work together for the  Be Responsible success of your children. Please take time over break It is hard to believe a  Be Here and Ready to read with your children new year is almost upon us. and/or encourage them to  Be Safe As you know, our students read. We want their skills to Holiday raised money for the victims *Please review these expec- stay sharp! of the storms that hit Wash- Parties tations with your child. ington and other Central They should be able to tell Illinois towns. Together our I hope that you enjoyed you examples of all four of staff and students raised your time at Thanksgiving Classroom Holiday these expectations for use in the classroom, lunchroom, $1,591.67. Thank you for and are able to spend some Parties will be bathroom, hallway, play- all of your supports as we quality time with your family held on Thursday, ground, and the bus. help those in need. We over the upcoming Winter couldn’t be prouder of our Break. December 19th, students, staff and families! beginning at 2:30 When we return from Happy Holidays!!!!! P.M. Thank you to break, students will be tak- all of you who ing the MAP Test. Please signed up to help help encourage your students to give their best effort Sincerely, with treats, on this test. We use these Darrin Cooper games, or in other results to help monitor stu- ways. We appreci- dent growth and progress. Principal They will take this test once [email protected] ate all you do to more in late April. make this a special We appreciate all of time for our stu- your support and efforts as dents!

INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Candy Cane Notes Principal Message 1

Important Dates 2 Help the student council buy presents for the Children’s Dept. at Advocate BroMenn Hospital by sending Candy Cane Notes to friends, students, and Winter Weather 2 teachers at Oakdale. PTO Directory 3 On sale in front of the office before school: PBIS News 4 $.25 December 16th—18th. PAGE 2 PANTHER PRIDE

Important Dates Winter Weather & School Closings December 2013

6– Market Day Pick-Up When it is necessary for 11—One Hour Late Start school to dismiss early or be canceled, verification 16 – PTO Meeting 6:00 will be given to the news media, as well as being 19 – Christmas Parties posted on the Unit 5 20 - Last Day Before Winter Break website, so parents will know when to expect their children home. The decision to dismiss early due to January 2014 inclement weather is made prior to 11:00 AM and the me- 6- School Resumes from Winter Break dia will be notified at that time. It is best to tune in to one 6-17 MAP Testing of the following radio stations if you suspect that early dismissal is a possibility – WJBC 1230 AM, WBNQ 101.5 15- One Hour Late Start Day FM, WIHN 96.7 FM, WBWN 104.1 FM, WGLT 89.1 FM, or 17– Market Day Pick-Up WWCT 106 FM. This information will also be available on the District’s website, www.unit5.org. Please do not call 20 - Dr. Martin Luther King’s Birthday - No School the school or Unit Office for this information. Please dis- cuss with your child(ren) your family’s plan for early dis- 29—One Hour Late Start Day missal days. It helps when the students know in advance how they will get home or who will pick them up from February 2014 school, prior to the occurrence of an early dismissal. 14– Valentine’s Day Parties 2:30

14– Market Day Pick-Up GARDEN CLUB 17 – President’s Day – No School 18–School Improvement Day – No School On a cold November afternoon, a small group from

21- End of 2nd Trimester (K - 5) the Oakdale Garden Club worked to clean up the but- terfly garden and prepare it for winter. A big thank 26– One Hour Late Start Day you goes out to the following students that gave up REMINDERS their free time to care for our school. Unless students are a part of the before and after school care program, they may not arrive at school prior to 8:25 A.M. Adult supervision is not available until that time. Mikaela Mounts Lily Pontius Please use the attendance hotline (557-4470) when calling in Elli Diggins Sam Eddy an absent or late arriving student. The hotline is available 24 hours a day. Hunter Spencer Kaitlan Jacobs

All electronic games and/or equipment are not allowed at school unless a teacher gives special permission for the day. Our club will be meeting this Monday, Dec. 9 for a If a child is to take medication at school, it must be accompa- class on evergreens for the holiday season. Those nied by a signed self-administration form. This also applies to non-prescription medications and cough drops. interested must submit the green permission slip and receive the invite for a spot in the class. Please remember to dress your children appropriately for outdoor recess. Students will be allowed to go outside for recess when the temperature is 20 degrees or above, includ- ing the wind chill. Mrs. Carey VOLUME 2 ISSUE 4 PAGE 3

Student Safety PTO STUDENT DIRECTORY Walkers

The Oakdale PTO is providing the Oakdale parents We have had several reports late- with a student directory. The directory will include the ly of students near the creek and students name, parent’s name, address and down the hill on their way to or phone number. from school. This is an extremely dangerous situation with the If you DO NOT want your child’s information included snow, ice and cold temperatures. in this directory please complete the form below and We are addressing this with stu- return it to the Oakdale office by dents, but would appreciate you Friday, January 10, 2014. doing the same if you have students that walk to school. *********************************** Thank you for your help!

I DO NOT want my student(s) listed in the Oakdale Student Directory. UNIT 5/OAKDALE MITTEN DRIVE ______Name Teacher Monday, November 25—Friday, Dec. 13 ______Name Teacher Unit 5 will collect new mittens, gloves, hats, ______and scarves to help keep Name Teacher students warm this winter.

______Items can be donated at Name Teacher Oakdale School

Unit 5 District Office

1809 W. Hovey, Normal ______Parent Signature Date For more information, call 557-4032

PTO Corner PTO Meeting: Next PTO meeting will be December 16th at 6pm in the Oakdale Art Room. Childcare will be provid- ed. There will be no January meeting, meetings to resume in February.

BoxTops: Keep an eye on the expiration dates on your BoxTops and be sure to send in any expiring on 12/31/13 before the December pickup on Thursday, December 12th.

Fun Fair: Fun Fair planning is underway. If interested in helping or have ideas for donations please contact a PTO member. PTO Board Members: President Kim Yates [email protected] Vice President Cari McField [email protected] Treasurer Tera Knudsen [email protected] Secretary Kristie Hornke [email protected]

Pizza with the Principal November 2013 Winners

Alex Peters KF Aniyah Jones 2R Rayne Smith KF Alyssa Dodson 3B Sanjay Gunupudi KM Jo Beverage 3B Colby West KM Arianna Glosser 3R Sadie King KS Tyranyia Lewis 3R Jonathan Bourque KS Austin Scott 3W Brianna Purcell 1C Daija Kerr 3W TJ Dawson 1C Ketsia Katanda 4B Luxcene Nsindu 1J Hunter Spencer 4B Ricky Lesney 1J Nichole Pearl 4F Lili Neal 1N Sanyi Dangerfield 4F Cambrie Jarman 1N Alex Martin 4W Peyton Cornejo 1H Persephone Steel 4W Raul Alvarez 1H Elli Locke 5C Dallas Rankin 2B Lily Pontius 5C Austen Dawson 2B Presley Miles 5Ha Nicole Lin 2G Hannah May 5Ha Jaren Watson- 2G Anahi Hughes 5He Rhodes Adrianna Scott 5He Nathaniel Moore 2R