Tulips! Tulips! Tulips!

Many of you probably remember a few years ago our award wining Red Ribbon Committee designed a project that saw students plant more than 300 red tulip bulbs out in the front of the school. You may also remember how beautiful the school looks when those tulips spring to life in late-April or early-May.

What many people might not realize is that the tulips were planted by our students as part of our positive life decisions campaign, "Planting the Promise." Well it has been a few years now and it is time to get a new crop of promises planted into the ground to grow and remind our students about the pledges they make to stay away from the dangers of drug use and to make positive decisions about how they will live their lives.

There is a link on our web page that highlights this years campaign! Please support this worthy endeavor. Besides....

How cool would it be to drive by in the spring and have your son or daughter tell you they planted one or more of those bulbs..... That's what I thought!

Till next time...

How cool is this playgorund?!!!

Special thanks to Girl Scout Troop #845 for the awesome job they did painting a giant map of the United States on our playground! This project is part of their Silver Award work and it is SWEEEEET! The girls also repainted the "four square" boxes on the playground and they look great also. Every morning and afternoon I see students and their parents out there looking at the map and talking about the states. This project will really be a part of OCS for many years to come! Thank you to their troop leader, Mrs. Beth Miller, for asking me what we might want to have here at school and turning my thoughts into an awesome map of the U.S. Great job Troop 845!

Till next time....

Two BIG Events...

are being held here at OCS next week--coincidentally both on Monday, September 27th!

1. First we will be holding our annual School Picture Day on Monday. Students will move to have their pictures taken with their homeroom.

2. We will also be holding our 2nd Blood Drive! The Student Council here at OCS is encouraging everyone who is old enough to come the school between the hours of 3:00-8:00 in the school gym. We are hoping we can get more donations that we did last year.

Congratulations to our newest club officers who were recently elected for both the K-Kids and the Student Council. I look forward to working with both groups again his year.

Don't forget, another Friday Bulletin comes out tomorrow.

Till next time...

AAAHH the middle of September!

The middle of September is upon us. AS you sit there pondering, "Why would Mr. Magnuson feel a sense of relaxation in the middle of September?" Well, ponder no more!

The middle of September brings about a peace in administrators because students are settling in, teachers are settling in and we are all building a solid foundation for a great school year. The start of the year always begins with it some sense of apprehension. Will my child like their teacher? Will they eat lunch? Will the teacher keep me informed? What happens when they leave and go to school? But those fears start to diminish as the days move along and we share experiences with the students that will assist them on the long journey to June.

I like September anyway... the weather is typically great, the kids come back to school and the hard work of the summer has a purpose. I heard someone say the other day, I can't believe October is going to be here so soon.... WHOA! Hold off! I am not done with September yet!

Back To School Nights are coming up. Tonight, Tuesday, September 14--- Pre-School through Grade 4. 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm.

Grades 5-8 Back To School Night will be next week, September 21. Same time.

Till next time...

Day One and off to a good start

Things got off to a good start today. Kindergarten students are great, all bugged eyed and smiling! Lunch went well and will get better as the students in all three lunch periods adjust to new procedures and the routine.

Good news for our school... we were informed by the NJ Department of Education today that the results of our Spring 2010 NJASK testing in grades 3-8 went very well. So well, that we met all of our NCLB and Adequate yearly progress targets for the fifth year in a row.

Here's to 181 more days!!

Till next time...