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.