Sept.
2016
BOBCAT BEAT 
A Monthly PTA Publication 
A Message from the Principal  
By Dr. April Williams
Principal of Oak Forest Elementary School  
 
Welcome to the 2016-17 school year! Can you believe we are already three weeks into the school year? Our Bobcats are well into the routine of things and are growing and learning each day. Be sure to ask them about their exciting school day every day! 
 
I hope all parents and guardians are able to become actively involved in the events and activities throughout the school year. Please make sure that you read the information sent out in the Wednesday folders, sign up for Living Tree, check our website frequently and follow us on Twitter! A number of our teachers have embraced Twitter as well. Follow them to see your child's classroom in action! Seeing what they are doing every day will make those "What did you learn today?" conversations a lot easier. 
 
Your involvement is essential for our continued success. Below are a few upcoming events that I hope you will attend.

Open House Pre K - 2nd, September 8, 6:30pm - 7:30pm
Open House 3rd - 5th, September 8, 5:30pm - 6:15pm
PTA Association Meeting, September 15,  7:45 a.m. in the Library

We have a lot of fun and exciting things happening this year, and I am thrilled to be a part of this journey with you. Please do not hesitate to contact me, and know that my door is always open to you!

*Attendance counts! Year-to-date estimated funding lost due to student absences: $2,927.41

A Welcome Letter from the President 
PTA President Betsy Denson and her two OFE Bobcats

By Betsy D enson
OFE PTA President, 2016-2017 
president@oakforestpta.com 

It's amazing how time flies. Another school year has begun... For some of you it's a first, so welcome to Oak Forest Elementary. It's a special place.

Community is an often-used word, but in the case of our school, the community is what makes us great. Oak Forest Elementary's teachers will truly take an interest in your children and help them to grow, both academically and emotionally. Parents volunteer their precious time on behalf of all our children, both in the classroom and from home; many work full-time jobs, yet still find a few hours each year to make a lasting difference. Teachers and parents are supported by a caring and thoughtful administration, which collectively spends long hours to keep things humming.

This year, we'll have a repeat of our highly successful Fun Run, scheduled for October 30, and on November 12, the whole community gathers for our Fall Festival, which a majority of parents surveyed said was their favorite school event. Our annual OFE PTA Auction is in March, and you'll be hearing about that in the months to come. The continued success of the auction is what allows the PTA to provide the school with much-needed "big ticket" items, and we hope that we can count on your help to make this year's a success.

My oldest has two more years at OFE and that thought is bittersweet for me. I hope you will enjoy your year, make new memories and help your kids learn a lot. Please let us know how we are doing as a PTA, and what we can do to improve serving you. Better yet, join us and let's keep building this community together.
 
Important September Dates to Remember

September 8 - PreK-5th Open House
September 8 - Papa Murphy's Spirit Night
September 15 - Grandparents' Luncheon
September 15 - PTA Meeting #1
September 21 - Fun Run Kick-off Rally
September 21 - Early Dismissal
September 30 - OFE Fun Run

Check Living Tree Calendar for times/locations.


Headed to Open House on September 8 but not sure what to do for dinner? Head to Papa Murphy's at 1214 W. 43rd Street between 11 a.m. and 8 p.m. to pick up dinner for your family. Mention OFE and 20% of your purchase will come back to our school!
OFE students having a blast at the 2015 Fun Run

Welcome to New OFE Teachers and Staff

The OFE PTA would like to extend our warmest welcome to all new staff and teachers! Thank you for your professional dedication to our school. We welcome you and are proud to call you part of the Bobcat Family.


Amy Horne
Second Grade


Vanessa Woodfin
Fifth Grade


Sarah Garcia
Fifth Grade


Allison Bond
Health and Wellness


Tina Dillard
Special Education


Amy Butler
PSI Classroom

Lauren Williams
Science Lab

Darian Dow
Teacher Assistant

Matthew Badger Technology Clerk

Author Trudy Ludwig to Visit OFE

OFE parents are invited to a special morning presentation with children's advocate and bestselling author Trudy Ludwig. The adults-only talk will be on Monday, October 3, from 8:00-9:30am in the cafeteria on the topic " Understanding Our Kids' Online & Offline Social World: Friendships, Cliques & Power Plays." 
 
Intentional exclusion, gossip, the silent treatment, teasing and the spreading of rumors are often dismissed as normal rites of passage, but research shows these behaviors are a form of emotional bullying and they are as harmful as physical bullying --  with long-term negative effects. Learn more about what bullying is and isn't, relational aggression (the use of relationships to manipulate and hurt others) including the latest research findings, the nature of boys' and girls' friendships, cyberbullying, as well as tips, tools and resources to help you empower your children in their social world.

For more information, visit Trudy's website, www.trudyludwig.com, or contact Jenn Brown, school counselor at Oak Forest Elementary School, at jbrown32@houstonisd.org.

Wishing Teachers a Sharp New Year
By Jessica Kirklin and Laura Tilley - Teacher Appreciation Committee  Chairs
  Teacher Cassie Lemoine smiles with Jessica Kirklin.
taps@oakforestpta.com 

T he Teacher Appreciation Committee surprised teachers with a Welcome Back to School Breakfast featuring everyone's 
Chalkboard and pencil cookies
favorite morning meal: breakfast burritos, along with apples and Topo Chico. They gave each teacher a Sharpie with a note saying,  "Here's to a Sharp New Year!"  The committee also delivered back-to-school-themed cookies to teachers during  the second week of school. 

The PTA has plans to treat our teachers well throughout the school year!

Calling All Green Thumbs for a Fall Workday
By Melanie Masek, Renata Weiss and Regina Poliak - Environment Committee Chairs
environment@oakforestpta.com
 
Oak Forest Elementary will be partnering with Urban Harvest this year to assist in garden bed education, planting and harvesting for all grade levels. To start the year off, we will be having a Fall Workday on Saturday, September 24 , to weed and prepare the garden beds for fall planting. Look for a volunteer sign up on Living Tree soon.
 
In June, two OFE teachers, Ms. Williams and Ms. Woodfin, attended a six-hour workshop sponsored by Urban Harvest called "The Edible Academy: A Teaching Workshop, Cultivating the Outdoor Classroom," thanks to the generosity of OFE parent Dianne Murata. 
 
Please contact the Environment Committee if you would like to volunteer to work in the garden beds and/or in the arboretum area this year. We look forward to a great school year!  

Treasurer's Corner
By Theresa Velasquez - PTA Treasurer

Welcome back to what is certain to be another great year for our Bobcats! Many PTA volunteers have been working hard, even before school started, to make our "welcome to school" events a success. All of these events, such as the Kinder Playdates, Ice Cream Socials and New Parent Breakfast, are  made possible thanks to funds raised by our PTA.

Our current approved budget (from May 2016) shows funds utilized for the following:
  • Students: $57,145 - Accelerated Reader Software and Awards, Art Performances and Competition, Healthy Kid/Field Day, Student Enrichment, WITS (Writers in the Schools)
  • Teachers: $ 11,500 - Reimbursement of Classroom Expenses and Teacher Appreciation
  • Direct Donations: $163,000 - 100% funds raised by Spring Auction, Fall Fundraiser and Book Fairs
    (No donation is too small; any amount from OFE families is accepted and appreciated.)
  • School Community: $42,000 - Arboretum Maintenance, Urban Harvest Garden Program, Recycling Club, Spirit Functions, Smart Boards and Smart Board Technology

New Teacher Spotlight: Allison Bond, Health and Wellness
 
Oak Forest Elementary welcomes Allison Bond as the new Health and Wellness Trainer this year. Her yoga practice began over a decade ago. After an injury, it was recommended that she receive a hip replacement, and she began using yoga as a way to postpone and ultimately prevent the surgery. About five years ago she added the study of relationships and emotional well-being to her practice, and eventually she began teaching so that she could help others through yoga as it had helped her. Before coming to OFE, Ms. Bond taught yoga for two years at North Forest High School.  

Ms. Bond has a number of goals for her students.  "I hope all my students explore and learn ways to develop stronger focus and clarity and to feel empowered by their strengths and see their weaknesses as opportunities for growth and learning," said the yoga teacher, who wishes there had been a similar program available when she was young. "I also hope they gain confidence in being exactly who they are."
 
Ms. Bond says that she feels very fortunate to have the support of the Oak Forest Elementary community, and to be surrounded by such a beautiful campus. We feel equally lucky to welcome Ms. Bond as an OFE Bobcat! 
 
 
Bobcats Reduce, Reuse and RECYCLE!
By Julie Wilson and Victor D'Souza - PTA Green Committee Chairs
green@oakforestpta.com

Do you have a fourth or fifth grader who enjoys helping the community and saving the environment? Then the Recycling Club is for your Bobcat! The school generates over 150 pounds of paper to recycle EVERY WEEK! That's the equivalent of an average woman's weight! It is the job of PTA Green Committee volunteers and their student helpers to take all that recycling from classrooms and workrooms out to the recycling dumpster every Friday after school. We work in teams and have a lot of fun along the way! If you or your student wants to know more, email Julie at green@oakforestpta.com .


PALS Corner
By Jennifer Brown -  OFE Counselor
jbrown32@houstonisd.org 

Our fifth grade leadership students, also known as PALS, started the year off by lending a hand at the Ice Cream Social and helping out the PTA by welcoming families, distributing school supplies and various other duties. Here are a few pics of the PALS in action.

 


New Student Summer Play Dates
By Beverly Marsh and Colleen Cockrum - New Parent Liaison Committee Chairs
newparent@oakforestpta.com

The New Parent Committee hosted two play dates for incoming students this summer. On  June 18,  kids and parents alike braved the hot weather at Candlelight Park. On August 6, the incoming students got to throw water balloons to beat the heat on OFE's very own playground. 

 

 
Save the Date: Oak Forest Fall Festival
By Jacquie Jacobs and Jade Brooker - Fall Festival Committee Chairs
fallfestival@oakforestpta.com

Please join us for the 2016 annual Fall Festival on November 12, where we will take a deep dive "Into the Woods" where anything goes, just like the musical of the same name with a modern twist on the Brothers Grimm fairy tales. This year's activities will include a variety of games, face painting, an extravagant selection of carnival bounce houses, an inflatable nine-hole putt-putt golf challenge, an xline gaming center and last, but not least, our very own animal entertainment show with a variety of exotic animals from the woods. Let your spirit roam free through our creative art stations that will leave you feeling like a character in this year's Fall Festival story.

Look for more information about the 2016 Fall Festival on Living Tree, the OFE PTA Facebook page and in your child's Wednesday folder. 

 
Oak Forest Elementary Directory
By Allison Torregrossa and Maureen Marcon - Directory Committee Chairs
directory@oakforestpta.com
 
Earn a Free Dress pass for your child by submitting your contact information for the OFE Directory by Monday, September 12! The free dress date will be Tuesday, October 4. If you have already submitted, rest assured that your child can have free dress along with those who do it now. 

The Directory is a great way to connect with other Bobcats and their families. Whether it's for play dates, parties or just trying to figure out homework assignments, one of the easiest ways is by using the OFE School Directory. We need your help to make this year's directory a success. If you have not already submitted your contact information, please visit www.oakforestpta.com and click on the "Directory Info Submission" tab at the top of the webpage.
 
The directory will not be distributed to the general public and should not be used or copied for commercial purposes. Every student's name will be listed in the directory, but only PTA members with paid dues at the time of publication are eligible for a hard copy, so don't forget to join the PTA!  

FaceBook and Twitter
By Emily Zihlman and Mindy Vance -  Social Media Committee Chairs  
communications@oakforestpta.com

This is a reminder that you can also get daily updates and your questions answered via the OFE PTA Facebook Page! If you are not yet a member, search Facebook for " Oak Forest Elementary School - PTA" and request to join this group. Once we confirm that you are a current OFE family, your invitation will be approved. This private/closed FB group is managed by the PTA Social Media Committee.
 
And now...

OFE also has a Twitter account managed by the school administration. The Twitter handle is @OakForestES, and the feed can be seen on the school website's front page:  http://www.houstonisd.org/oakforestes


Volunteer Thank You Spotlight
OFE represents at the Texas PTA Conference in July.
By Betsy Denson - PTA President
president@oakforestpta.com 

While school was out for summer, members of the PTA were hard at work over the summer getting things ready for August 22. Special thanks to 1st Vice President Renee Dahlmeier, 2nd Vice President Kara D'Agostino, 3rd Vice President Julie Osterman, Secretary Yanira Dudley, Treasurer Theresa Velasquez, Parliamentarian Brooke Persyn, Historian Jill Davis, Auction chair Ruth Mendez and Finance committee member Amelie Comeaux for attending the Texas PTA conference in July. Each learned a lot, which they can apply to their jobs in the coming year.

Thanks to the Bobcat Store's Michelle Kennedy and Liz Steveken for organizing inventory and filling online orders.
Thanks to Environment's Melanie Masek, Renata Weiss, and Regina Poliak for organizing our upcoming year of planting with Urban Harvest.                 
Thanks to Green's Julie Wilson and Victor D'Souza for taking out the recycling generated over the summer, which took five hours to haul away 500 pounds!       
Thanks to Hospitality's Shannon Benesch and Alice David for organizing the Ice Cream Socials.
Thanks to PTA Spirit's Charity Autry and Angelita Guerrero for making the ice cream happen at the socials.                 
Thanks to Teacher Appreciation's Jessica Kirklin and Laura Tilley for giving the teachers an awesome first-day-back breakfast.
Thanks to School Supplies' Emily Leffler and Gaby Rodrigues for delivering supplies and taking orders at the Ice Cream Socials.        
Thanks to Community Relations' Jennifer Gallun and Wendy Taylor for bringing cookies and goodwill to area homes and businesses to prep them for full parking lots and side streets.             
Thanks to Fall Fundraiser's Stella Stevens and Christina Amos for summer meetings in anticipation of our September Fun Run.
Thanks to Fall Festival's Jacquie Jacobs and Jade Booker for coming up with a theme and booking vendors and food for our school community's big get together.
Thanks to Bilingual Liaison's Miguel Tristan and Crystal Mear for translating materials over the summer.
Thanks to Directory's Allison Torregrossa and Maureen Marcon for all the prep work to give PTA members a printed directory.
Thanks to Membership's Courtney Gaydosik and Catlin Harlow who are already recruiting and processing new members.
Thanks to VIPS' Lori Araiza and Carrie Lam who have been recruiting new volunteers and helping place them in committees.
Thanks to Box Tops' Joan Dwyer and Beth Caldwell for getting the word about Kroger's Community Relations Program.
Thanks to New Parent Liaison's Beverly Marsh and Colleen Cockrum who braved the heat with incoming Kinder parents for two summer playdates and hosted the Boo Hoo breakfast for parents on the first day of school.            
Thanks to Newsletter's Kirk Zihlman and Jennifer Solak for managing content in August for September's newsletter.
Thanks to Social Media's Emily Zihlman and Mindy Vance for adding new parents to our Facebook page and sharing pertinent information.
And last, but certainly not least, thanks to IT's Herman Lam and Bernard Buckholtz for all the work getting the PTA website up to speed, including the online ordering/data forms.

Truly a team effort, OFE's volunteers make things happen. Thank you!

School Supplies Committee Chairs Gaby Rodrigues and Emily Leffler
PTA Volunteers at Ice Cream Social
Cookies delivered to local businesses by the Community Relations Committee 



Box Tops for Education 
By Joan Dwyer and Beth Caldwell - Box Tops Committee Chairs
boxtops@oakforestpta.com
  
Welcome back, Bobcats!! Everyone can help raise money for Oak Forest Elementary by collecting box tops this year. Last year we collected 22,780 box tops, earning over $2,200 for Oak Forest Elementary. Let's beat those numbers this year!
 
We are ready to start collecting for this year. For every 10 unexpired box tops that you submit, you will be entered into a monthly drawing to win a free ice cream cone or other treat. There will be two winners each month, and the class that collects the most box tops by the end of April wins a free ice cream party at the end of the year. 
 
Use the "10 to Win" raffle ticket below to submit your box tops. Additional copies can be found on the PTA website:  www.oakforestpta.com . Your box tops submissions can be turned into your teacher, or you can drop them in the blue basket located by the bench in the school office foyer. It is helpful to submit your box tops in groups of 10 in a zip lock bag or envelope for easy counting by our volunteers.  And don't forget to put your full name and classroom on your bag or envelope so your student can be entered into the drawing.  

OFE

Box Tops for 
Education 
Raffle Ticket 


Just attach 10 to be added to our monthly drawings
Hint: Box tops can be placed in a ziplock bag or envelope and stapled to the form. 

Student's name: ___________________

Home Room Teacher Name:__________________________

Pod:____________         Grade:_____

Entry Date:__________________

 Available for OFE Box Tops Raffle