Olivet Elementary School

Dear Olivet Parents,

Be Safe, Be Responsible, Be Respectful!

Olivet continues to work on safety, responsibility, and respect.  Children can earn awesome osprey tickets and be entered in a drawing to spin the wheel of prizes in our monthly assemblies!  Please help them by modeling these life skills at home, and by talking about examples you see or hear in the world around us.  You are your child’s most important teacher!

Traffic

One place that you can show your child the skills mentioned above is in our parking lot! There are many parents who pick up their children each day, and not a very big driveway.  Please be courteous and respectful to others around you, and they will be more likely to be courteous and respectful to you!  I will be working with the staff and some parents to re-design the traffic flow, so if you notice changes, please follow staff directions.  If you are interested in being a part of the re-design team, please contact Mrs. Davis at 522-3045.

CELEBRATE OUR SUCCESS!!

Olivet School’s API score went up 39 points to 802!  What does that mean?  It means that our students performed significantly better on the state testing that was done in April of last year!  The federal target is raised by another 10% next year, so we have work to do, but our growth was amazing!  Good work Olivet students! 

The Flu and H1N1

We have had many sick students, and wanted to make sure you know the signs of H1N1 and when to send your child back to school.  Symptoms of the flu include fever, cough, sore throat, a runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, and feeling very tired. Some people may also vomit or have diarrhea. Keep sick children at home for at least 24 hours after they no longer have fever or do not have signs of fever, without using fever-reducing drugs.  Keeping children with a fever at home will reduce the number of people who may get infected.

Instructional Grouping

Your children may be sharing that they are seeing more than one teacher in a day.  Olivet is lucky to be a part of a pilot program through Sonoma County Office of Education called Response to Intervention and Instruction (RtI²).  Students may be grouped during the day and visit other classrooms for instruction at exactly the level they need to further their academic growth.  Students are tested three times a year on reading fluency and phonics skills to determine what their needs are.  Then teachers create groups of students to focus instruction exactly where it is needed.  This is an exciting process, and is still being defined.  If you have questions or concerns, please ask your child’s teacher for more info!

POEF

What is POEF?  The Piner-Olivet Educational Foundation is an independent nonprofit organization whose purpose is to solicit funds to provide enriched educational opportunities for the students of the Piner-Olivet Union School District. POEF is dedicated to maintaining open communication and gathering input from the district’s parents, teachers, students, and administration. The focus of the Piner-Olivet Educational Foundation funding shall be on programs which are enhancements to the core district curriculum and which offer opportunities for students to gain special knowledge, skills, and experiences.  The  “Superwalk” is an example of a fundraiser that POEF uses to fund field trips district-wide.  You are invited to attend any/all POEF meetings.  

Breakfast

Breakfast is served from 8:05-8:25 each morning; if your child gets breakfast at school, please have him/her here in time to get breakfast!

Lost and Found

Please come and look at the lost and found!  Please write your child’s name in all outerwear so it can be returned to your child!!!

Morning Drop-off

Please DO NOT drop your child off in the parking lot by the office!! All drop-offs must be at the front of the school in the U-shaped driveway.  Mrs. Zolli is there every morning to ensure your child’s safety.  Please do not enter the staff parking area for drop-off. 

Lunchtime Issues

Please remind your child not to share lunch with his/her friends.  Each parent sends what he/she decides is healthy and appropriate for his/her child.  Children then share lunches, and problems start.  Food allergies, diet restrictions, and other family preferences are the reasons for this.  Thanks for your help with this important issue!

Classroom Volunteers

All teachers at Olivet welcome classroom volunteers! The more hands we have, the lighter the load.  If you have time, please ask your child’s teacher how you can help!

Picture This

Good readers form mental pictures as they read.  To improve your child’s comprehension, read a book without letting him see the pictures.  Then, ask him to guess what the illustrations look like.  Examples:  How are the characters dressed?  Is the setting bright or gloomy?

Raising Good Sports

You can teach your youngster to be a good sport by being one yourself.  When you attend a game, clap and cheer for players who try hard, even if they are on the other team.  You’ll help your child learn to be gracious to everyone in the game.

“Life doesn’t require that we be the best, only that we try our best.”  H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

Early Pick-up

Please do not pick up your child early unless you have an appointment.  Your child needs to be in school the whole day!  It is disruptive to pick them up early unless it is necessary.  Thanks for your help!

English Learners Advisory Committee Forming Now

If your child is learning English, we want you to become a part of our ELAC.  There are 8-10 meetings a year, and you’ll help make program decisions regarding your child’s education!  Please attend our first meeting on October 12^th at 5:30 in the library for more information, or call Mrs. Davis at 522-3045.

Changes of Plans

If you call the school to ask your child to go on the bus or not to go on the bus, we have to call the class and interrupt the important instruction!  Please try to make arrangements before school, or let us know before lunch so we can put a note in the teacher’s box.  Thanks!

Mrs. Davis