Paw Prints

Volume 26, No. 22 2-1-16

Osceola Elementary School

Students of the Week Congratulations to the following students who were chosen as Student of the Week for their class during the week of January 25th through January 29th, 2016.

Pre-K Theresa Pease

Kindergarten

Emma Noseworthy, Darlene Bray, Chloe Edwards, Brantley Rodriguez

First Grade

Aa’Kyla Givens, Daviyana Brewington, Margie Leathers, Peyton Hundley, Da’Metrya Allen, Samantha Samson, Emily Roth

Second Grade

Sofia Diaz, Jared Nicholson, Alex Fader, Dustan Dubose, Emanuel Lookadoo, Sharon Ridley, Wyatt Lanzer

Third Grade

Richard Anders, Caleb Keffer, Lukas Sanks, Jason Otto

Fourth Grade Sol Weiner, Kalel Stroud, Cassius D’Elena,

Joseph Carter, Sophia Post

Fifth Grade

Austin Witt, Peyton Mitchell, Aedan Bullard, Sabrina Ricks

Joy Reichenberg & Rebecca Keffer

Assistant Principals

Tina Waldrop

Principal

1605 Osceola Elementary School Road St. Augustine, Florida 32084 Ph. 547-3780, Fax 547-3795

Web Site: http://www-oes.stjohns.k12.fl.us

Come join us tonight! Cyber Safety presentation for parents and

guardians at 6:00 pm in our Cafeteria. Followed by SAC & PTO.

Osceola’s Clothing Closet The Clothing Closet, here at Osceola will be open and available for families to visit on Wednesdays from 2:00 – 3:30. Please call Ms. Harrison at 547-3787 if you are interested in making an appointment.

Wildcat Words Dear Parents and Guardians, Last week we celebrated reading and literacy it was a great week as students wore crazy socks, hats and shirts that had writing on them. The week ended with a magic show that delivered the message “Superheroes of Literacy”. It was enjoyed by all. I was very proud of our students when the magician, who had been at several elementary schools that day and throughout the week, told me that our students were so well behaved. He went on to say that he was very impressed with their attention and with the way they followed directions and participated in the presentation. On Tuesday night we celebrated our Teachers of the Year and Rookie Teachers of the Year for St. Johns County. Osceola's Teacher of the Year is Sarah Blevins and the Rookie Teacher of the Year is Ashley Foley. Mrs. Blevins is a dedicated, conscientious and caring teacher, feeling personally responsible for the learning of each of her students. She is always looking for ways to reach children and uses a variety of teaching tools to reinforce her teaching. Mrs. Blevins works countless hours in her classroom, ensuring that the students who are assigned to her have an environment that is both stimulating and structured. She spends a great deal of time individualizing her instruction to best meet the needs of her students. Her commitment to the students and families of Osceola is amazing! The relationships that she develops with her families helps them to feel comfortable and supported as they navigate the ever changing landscape of education, which is especially critical for parents of Kindergarten students. Mrs. Blevins’ working relationship with her colleagues is also one of her strongest attributes. As the team leader, Sarah embodies all that is defined as a team player, willing to help out and assist other teachers and administration whenever needed. She shares new ideas and helps to make the grade level team flourish. Mrs. Foley completed her student teaching at Osceola three years ago and joined the staff of Osceola last year. From the moment that one meets her, they are greeted with an infectious smile and a very positive attitude that is instantly energizing. Mrs. Foley has everything that it takes to be an exceptional teacher. She develops relationships built on trust and mutual respect with her students. She works as a true team member as she team teaches, plans and collaborates with her colleagues. One of her colleagues describes her as a “cheerleader”. Her students respond to her positive and “can-do” attitude and they blossom under her direction. She instills in them a zest for learning that transcends to all aspects of their lives. Please join me in congratulating these exceptional teachers for their accomplishments. I hope that you will be able to come back tonight for our Cyber Safety Presentation by the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office. We will meet at 6 o'clock in the cafeteria for the presentation. Detective Mike Strausbaugh will lead the presentation and help us understand the importance of keeping our children safe as well as identify some of the pitfalls that may present themselves through the Internet. The PTO and SAC meetings will follow the presentation. I hope that you're able to spend some time outdoors this week, making great memories with your children. Sincerely, Tina P. Waldrop Principal

3rd Quarter Character Kids

Congratulations to the following students for being chosen by their class as the Character Kid for the 3rd quarter. Keep shining and showing your PAWS!

1st Grade Orian Ferrell – Mrs. Howard Dezire Staley – Mrs. Bailey

Jayden Roberts – Mrs. Stinson

Miguel Kline – Ms. Mansfield Marissa McCready - Mrs. Laubacker/Ms. Lewis

Haylie Butler – Mrs. Fehrs

Da’Metrya Allen – Ms. Kennedy

3rd Grade

Reagan Winchester – Mrs. McManus

Kayla Wiggins – Mrs. Whelan

Elias Welty - Mrs. Keller Brooke Mitchell – Mrs. Foley

Mya Robertson – Mr. Tax

5th Grade

Ronasia Sapp – Mrs. Blanco

Ashanti Rowe – Mr. Quam Sean Milligan – Ms. Peryam

Nailah Hicks - Ms. Schofield

2016-2017 Kindergarten Pre-Registration Osceola Elementary will hold pre-registration for children entering Kindergarten on the following dates: Tuesday, February 2 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Thursday, March 10 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Friday, April 8 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Monday, May 9 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. To be eligible for public kindergarten in St. Johns County, children must be 5 years old on or before September 1st and must reside in St. Johns County. Parents must register children at the school where they are zoned for the 2016-2017 school year. Please provide the following documentation to complete the registration process:

Child’s certified birth certificate

Current Physical (dated within one year of the start of

school)

Florida Immunization Record (680 Form)

Three proofs of residency (mortgage statement or

current lease, and two of the following: Current FPL,

cable/satellite, home phone/internet or water bill)

Registering Parent’s Driver’s License or ID Card

Parents are encouraged to register during the designated dates above so that schools can adequately prepare for the new school year.

VPK Registration Along with Kindergarten Pre-Registration, parents may also register students for VPK. Children must be 4 years old on or before September 1st to qualify. In order to register for VPK, you must have completed the VPK eligibility process through Episcopal Children’s Service (ECS), and have a Child Eligibility Certificate at the time of registration. Visit the ECS website for more information, www.ecs4kids.org. VPK spaces are limited, and once they are filled we will not take additional registrations. In addition to having the Child Eligibility Certificate from ECS, you will also need to bring all of the documents required for school registration that are listed above. Please visit Osceola’s website for additional information and to schedule your registration appointment.

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GUIDANCE CORNER Volunteer: If you are interested in volunteering your time or skills to help with our clothing closet, garden beds, or delivering supplies to needy students, please call Ms. Harrison at 547-3787. Clothing Closet: will be open and available for families to visit on Wednesdays from 2:00 – 3:30. Please call Ms. Harrison at 547-3787 if you are interested in making an appointment. Attention to our RISING 5th Graders: Are you interested in learning more about the Murray Center of the Arts? The last Arts Info Night will be held on Tues. 2/2 at 7:00pm in the Murray Auditorium. Learn more about all the programs, Visual Arts, Drama, Chorus, Dance and Band, by attending this meeting. Online registration for the Arts Program will be available 1/21-2/5 with Arts auditions held on 2/5 and 2/10. Please check the Murray website to stay updated on events and programs.

What’s for Lunch?? Students have a choice of one entrée and two fruit and/or vegetable choices. Choice of milk is served with all complete meals. Tues, 2/2 Max Cheese Sticks, Mini Cheese Ravioli, Mini Corn Dogs, Baby Carrot Dippers, Spinach and Romaine Salad, Celery Stick and Cucumber Dippers, Marinara Dipping Sauce, Corn, Assorted Fruit, Garlic Toast, Dipping Sauce, Ketchup, Mustard Wed, 2/3 Cheese or Pepperoni Pizza, Chicken Nuggets, Baby Carrot Dippers, Spinach and Romaine Salad, Celery Stick and Cucumber Dippers, Sweet Peas, Fresh Apple Slices, Assorted Fruit, White Wheat Roll, Dipping Sauce Dunk Cup Thurs. 2/4 Cheeseburger, Home-style Chicken Sandwich, Chicken Nuggets, Baby Carrot Dippers, Spinach and Romaine Salad, Celery Stick and Cucumber Dippers, Crispy Baked Potato Cuts, Assorted Fruit, Garlic Toast, Lettuce, Tomato and Pickle, Ketchup, Mustard, Mayo, Dipping Sauce Dunk Cup Fri. 2/5 Teacher In-service Day, Student Holiday Mon. 2/8 Chicken Quesadilla Max, Max Cheese Sticks, Chicken Nuggets, Baby Carrot Dippers, Steamed Broccoli Florets, Green Beans, Marinara Dipping Sauce, Assorted Fruit, Taco Sauce, Garlic Toast, Dipping Sauce Dunk Cup

What’s Happening? Every Wednesday is Early Release~

Students Dismissed at 1:50 Every Friday is School Spirit Day~

Mon. 2/1 Cyber Safety Meeting, 6:00 pm, Cafeteria SAC and PTO Meetings to follow, Cafeteria Family Fun Marathon Begins Thurs. 2/4 Class Pictures Basketball game, Osceola vs. Crookshank, 6:00pm, at the Solomon Calhoun Center Fri. 2/5 Teacher In-service Day, Student Holiday Fri. 2/12 Interim Reports sent home Mon. 2/15 Presidents Day, Student/Teacher Holiday Tues. 2/16 Student/Teacher Holiday Sat. 2/27 Family Fun Marathon Celebration, 12:00 pm, Osceola Fields

Osceola SAC Team News

The Osceola SAC Team (School Advisory Committee) is made up

of our principal, Mrs. Waldrop along with a group of teachers,

parents, support staff and community members. The SAC is

responsible for decisions related to the implementation of

Osceola’s School Improvement Plan. SAC also discusses important

items related to student achievement.

If you are interested in becoming a part of the ongoing

improvement at Osceola, please join us at our SAC meeting to be

held on Monday February 1st at 6:00 pm. We will have a

special presentation about “Cyber Safety-Keeping your

student safe on-line”, to be followed by our SAC and PTO

meetings.

Free childcare is provided.

All are welcome and new members are needed!

Important Survey: Please Participate!

Many of you received our Superintendent’s recorded call last week informing you about the survey to be used in the planning process of our district’s strategic plan. Your participation is vital to ensure that the direction the school district takes in the next five years is reflective of the feelings, thoughts and beliefs of you, the stakeholder. The survey will be open until Tuesday, February 2nd and should not take more than 10 minutes to complete. Thank You! http://web.spcollege.edu/survey/20475

CHOCOLATE AND BEYOND A SWEET WAY TO SUPPORT VOLUNTEERS

Chocolate and Beyond, a celebration of chocolate, desserts, and other culinary sensations, will be held on Saturday, February 27, 2016, from 2 – 4 p.m. at First Coast Technical College, Building C in St. Augustine. Guests will enjoy tasty samples from some of the area’s finest restaurants and specialty shops. A silent auction, 50-50 drawing, and contests will also be part of this fun and exciting afternoon. Hosted by The Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) of St. Johns County, proceeds from Chocolate and Beyond are utilized to recruit, train, and recognize senior volunteers in our school district and other county locations. Tickets ($10 in person, $12 on-line) can be purchased on the RSVP website at www.rsvpstjohns.com, or at Whetstone Chocolates (King Street and Anastasia Blvd locations), Cold Cow Ice Cream, and TD Bank in St. Augustine. Call RSVP at (904) 547-3945 for more information.

News from PTO: CANDY GRAMS ON SALE Send a Candy Gram, a lollipop with a note attached, to someone you love! Parents and family members can send them to their kids, and

students can send them to their friends and teachers! Each Candy Gram costs 50 cents, and you can order as many as you like. They will be on sale January 25th – February 5th and delivered on February 12th. The forms will have been sent home and you can also find the

form on the PTO website.

Family Fun Marathon starts TODAY!!! All you have to do is run or walk a mile a day with your family. Check

off each day that you complete your family mile on the worksheet

that was sent home. Then, on February 27th at 12:00, bring your

entire family to the Osceola Fields, located next to the school. You

will walk or run the LAST 1.2 miles with your Osceola family while

enjoying music and fun!

Students, to help you stay motivated, check-in with Coach Worthy

each Friday during the month of February and track your miles.

Basketball news from Coach Worthy

Our next Osceola Basketball game will be held against

Crookshank. The game will be on Thursday, February 4th! The boys

will play at 6pm and the girls will start at 7pm! The game will be

held at the Solomon Calhoun Center again. I know our players were

so excited with the great turnout against Webster. I hope to see

everyone back for Crookshank Elementary.

Go Wildcats!

Osceola’s Annual all Star Dad’s Breakfast

Thursday, February 18, 2016 at 7:00 a.m.

All Osceola Dads or any male role model in your student’s life are

invited to Osceola Elementary School on Thursday, February 18 at

7:00 a.m. to enjoy breakfast and hear a motivational message with

your child. John Lynch, Head Coach for the Men’s Soccer Team at

Flagler College will be our guest speaker. Breakfast will be free of

charge. Invitations will be sent home on Monday, February 1st.

Reservations need to be returned to your child’s teacher by

Thursday, February 11th.

SUMMER MARINE SCIENCE PROGRAM

Applications for the summer Marine Science Program will be passed out

by science teachers at all schools during the week of February 16th.

Applications will be due back to science teachers by March 4th. Applications

can also be downloaded at any time from the website prior to April 15 at

http://www-grms.stjohns.k12.fl.us/ and click on the Marine Science link.

The link also will have a complete day by day curriculum for each grade

level, parent information, and a video from last year’s program.

This summer program is available to all students currently in grades five

through seven and has been sponsored by the school district since 1982.

Three eight-day sessions are held at Gamble Rogers Middle School with

bus transportation provided. The dates for the three sessions this summer

will be May 31st through June 9th, June 13th through June 23rd, and June 27th

through July 8th. Small classes of 12-14 students are separated by grade

level. All instructors in the program are St. Johns County School District

teachers.

The Marine Science Program is a carefully designed experience for

responsible students who are interested in learning about our local marine

environments. Learning is “hands on” in the field with students kayaking,

canoeing, boating, hiking, snorkeling, sailing, windsurfing, surfing, SUP,

(stand up paddle boarding), etc. Specific grade level activities and

curriculum are attached to the applications and are also available from the

website.

More information about the program can be had by emailing John Gordon

at john.gordon@stjohns.k12.fl.us .