THE LION'S ROAR NEWSLETTER

OAK MIDDLE SCHOOL

October 7, 2018

In this Issue: LAUSD WEBSITE Oak Middle School Website  Oak PTA E-mail FOLLOW US: ‌

HEAR US ROAR! OAK MIDDLE SCHOOL WEEKLY UPDATE  Academics, Athletics, Activities and the Arts Extraordinary Experiences for Everyone Every Day SPOTLIGHT ON STUDENT ENGAGEMENT: Engaging students in the learning each day is an art crafted by each of our teaching staff at Oak Middle School. The goal is to make learning joyful, interactive, and most importantly memorable. Here is a sample of these moments this week:

Discovering phenomenon is the key foundation for our Next Generation of Science Standards. Students first examined the bag of chips dilemma and then watched as Mr. Miko conducted a demonstration using newspaper and a wooden stick. Properties of Air was the basis for this lesson.

In Mrs. Gardner's math class, students use playing cards to practice adding integers. Red cards are negative integers and black cards are positive integers. Students played in pairs to beat the clock.

Students in Mrs. Berthon's class used manipulatives to help create the foundation for algebraic equations. In Mr. Sliwa's math class, students use their desks to prove solution strategies and then compare them with classmates. Mrs. Orozco's math students used the "breakout boxes" to show off their math problem solving skills.

In English, students engage in rich discussions through shared inquiry and Socratic dialogue. In grade 6, students explored multiple sources regarding Japanese Internment camps before reading The Bracelet. In 7th grade, students used artwork from the New Yorker Magazine to help examine the artist's purpose to create Tone and Mood.

Creating a love of reading is a critical component of our mission at Oak Middle School. Giving students TIME to read and share with each other is part of BIG BOOKS WEDNESDAY in grade 6.

SPOTLIGHT ON FRIDAY LUNCHES AT OAK: Friday lunches help us celebrate the week of learning. Our students love to dance, hang out with friends, and enjoy the beautiful California sunshine.

DID YOU KNOW?

DID YOU KNOW... Our Step It Up Fundraiser helped to raise $82,400 for Oak school!! Thank you to all our Oak families who helped to support this effort. Our BIG Step IT UP event will be held weather permitting on October 23rd. We NEED volunteers ! Please click here to sign up

DID YOU KNOW... VETERAN'S DAY IS COMING TO OAK On Friday, November 9th at 9:30 a.m. We are now gathering names for participants and we want YOU! Please call our school office or send an email to ekominsky@losal.org to sign up. This is a very special day for all of us at Oak. We would love to see you there.

DID YOU KNOW... Mr. Main is coordinating another New York/DC trip for our 8th grade students this Spring Break? November 1st is the deadline for the $99 deposit to secure a place on the trip. Come to a meeting this Friday at lunchtime in room 76 to get more information.

DID YOU KNOW... Registration is now open for the Young American’s 3-Day Performing Arts Workshop Presented by LAEF!   Sign up now at  www.LAEF4kids.org/Young-Americans ! Calling all 3rd-12th grade students to the Stage! The Young Americans Program aims to train young people in performance (no prior experience necessary!), strengthen character and develop self-esteem, self-worth and self-discipline.   Friday, January 25 from 3:30-8 pm at McAuliffe Middle School Saturday, January 26 from 7:45 am to 5:30 pm at McAuliffe Middle School Sunday, January 27 from 1:00-7 pm at McGaugh Elementary’s Auditorium   Details can be found at  www.LAEF4kids.org/Young-Americans .   Registration Cost: $120 which includes a t-shirt AND footage of Act 2 of Sunday’s performance. Multi-student discounts are available – 10% off the 2 nd  child and 15% off any child thereafter. Scholarships are available on a first come, first serve basis.  Tickets will be sold for Sunday, January 27th's performance by the Young Americans during the workshop & 30 minutes prior to the performance. Questions? Email  info@LAEF4kids.org  or call 562-799-4700 Ext. 80424.

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DID YOU KNOW.. Antigone Now is coming to the Oak stage?

DID YOU KNOW.... Reflections is now here! PTA Reflections would like to know who are your "heroes Around Me". Our Oak pride is full of creative students and this is an opportunity for them to share with our community and beyond. Reflections is a national art recognition and achievement program for K-12 students which allows students to find outlets in dance choreography, film production, literature, music competition, photography, and visual arts. There will be an art showcase in the Spring displaying all the entries for Los Alamitos. The deadline for submissions is October 19th in the main office. Entry forms must be completed and turned in with the student's project. If you have questions or your student would like to borrow art supplies, please contact our Reflections Chairperson, Michelle Williams, click here To access the application find application here by clicking

DID YOU KNOW... The Los Alamitos Recreation & Community Services Department invites you, your friends, and family to join in on the Race on the Base - Los Alamitos Unified School District Race Challenge. Get a $5 discount by using your own school code and earn credit towards your school. The code can be used by any student, faculty, friend or family member. PLEASE JOIN US FOR TEAM OAK RACE ON THE BASE!   The school with the most race entries by their school code receives: 1)       The winning school name on a traveling championship belt 2)       A popsicle party for the whole school 3)       $500 towards your school! Register at  www.raceonthebase.com . Early bird registration deadline is September 30, 2018. Register before the price increase! See attached flyer for details and school code.

DID YOU KNOW... You can celebrate a birthday while helping our Oak Middle School Scholarship Club raise money for the McKenna Claire foundation that supports research for Pediatric Cancer?If you would like to post a birthday on our marquee, please click the link and fill out the paperwork. Celebrate Birthdays at Oak click here to print the birthday form

DID YOU KNOW.... Every Friday is Spirit Day at Oak? Please wear your favorite Oak Tee or show your school pride by dressing in our school colors: Blue and Yellow.

DID YOU KNOW.. Los Al Song and Cheer has a clinic open for anyone interested in cheering on our Griffins.

HEAR US ROAR! Erin Kominsky Principal, Oak Middle School ekominsky@losal.org

WHAT'S HAPPENING AT OAK THIS WEEK?

MONDAY IS A REGULAR SCHOOL DAY . SCHOOL WILL BE OPEN FOR COLUMBUS DAY! Conferences are coming to Oak October 17,18 and 19. Please call in to schedule your appointments. Phone lines will open THIS Monday! 562 799 4740 ext. 76100 MONDAY (10/8) Call in today to schedule your parent conference! TUESDAY  (10/9): Call in today to schedule your parent conference! Antigone Now Drama Show tonight 7:00 p.m. MPR WEDNESDAY ( 10/10): Modified Wednesday 2:00 dismissal for period 7 Call in today to schedule your parent conference! Operations Steering committee meeting 6:30 p.m. District Antigone Now Drama Show tonight at 7:00 p.m. MPR THURSDAY (10/11): Teaching and Learning at Oak Middle School FRIDAY (10/12): Show your school spirit today!

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Parents we need YOU to join PTA. Our goal is 100% membership for Oak Middle School. Please JOIN TODAY! Did You Know...? Oak Families helped Oak PTA raise over $1500 last year by doing these 4 things!!   BoxTops  - Save, clip & turn in your BoxTops to the Main Office before the end of September!    Office Depot  – When you shop for supplies at Office Depot on Katella, tell them you are from Oak Middle School and they will donate 5% of your total to our school!   Ameci's Pizza  - Our local Los Al shop gives Oak $$ back if you to cut out the  AMECI CARES ABOUT OUR SCHOOLS  icon on the pizza boxes and turn them in to the Office!   Ralph's Grocer  - Follow these instructions to get your Ralph's card linked up to save for Oak! 1.    Go to www.ralphs.com. 2.    Click on Community > Community Rewards (Top center menu). 3.    Scroll down the page to Participant >Enroll now 4.    If you already have an account, click Sign In. 5.    If you are new to Ralphs.com and need to create an account, click on Register (Top right Corner) 6.    Do you use your phone number at the register? Call 800-660-9003 to get your REWARDS card number. 7.    Once you are logged in, go to My Account (Top right Corner) scroll down to Community Rewards to Find Your Organization and search for  OAK MIDDLE SCHOOL PTA (or our number 81838) 8.    Under Select Your Organization, select the button next to OAK MIDDLE SCHOOL PTA  9.    Click the Save Changes button to save your selection. 10. The City School will appear at the bottom of your Ralphs receipts. Double check the next time you go to the store.     Thank you families for supporting Oak and our PTA!

Oak Middle School PTA Board 2018-2019  President- Marita Frank- marita.frank@gmail.com Executive Vice President- Monica Graham- cmograham@hotmail.com Treasurer- Krista Jameson- mskristaj@yahoo.com VP Ways & Means- Marci Ferguson- baenam@msn.com VP Parent Ed- Viki Bragg- vlw24@aol.com VP Legislation- Allison Mohanna- Alison.mohanna@gmail.com VP Membership- Cindy Welch- jcjwelch@gmail.com Financial Secretary- Kahmissa Steenhousen- ksteenhausen@gmail.com Recording Secretary- Christy Croce- croce@mail.com Historian- Rebecca Brazier- rebeccabrazier@yahoo.com Parliamentarian- Jodee Flint flintfuller@

Purchase Oak Spirit click here On-line  Gear up to show your school spirit on Fridays!  Oak spirit wear is availbable for purchase or go to casswimshop.com search Oak.

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