Notes from the Head of School

Happy Friday!

*This week, Mrs. Lynch's OE class had fun with a following directions activity where they built their own snowmen in the warmth of the classroom! Following multi-step directions can be challenging and this class did an awesome job!

*The White Oak Wolfpack wrapped up their basketball season this week. We are sad that they only had 1 home game, but are proud of the way the team came together and worked hard this season! Thank you to the families who provided transportation and support for the team. A HUGE shoutout to Coaches Gumina and Rida who provided positive and unwavering enthusiasm and guidance to the team!

Reminder: Students need to wear sneakers when playing in the gym - whether it is in gym class or during indoor recess at morning break or lunch! We have seen an uptick in injuries when students are playing in slides or Crocs. Students who don't change into sneakers are not allowed to play. Thank you for reinforcing this at home for everyone's safety!

*1st period today, the Student Council officers helped to run the lower school meeting. After the 6th & 7th graders read to their peers, the high school students shared a reading about Martin Luther King Jr. and then facilitated a game of "get to know you" Bingo. The students did a great job, so they were able to end the period with a game of Fishy, Fishy!

*The Student Council is still selling Kindness Grams - for $2 you can send a note and a sweet treat to a classmate, friend or teacher. Make someone's day brighter by purchasing at milk break and lunch. Grams will be delivered on Thursday next week.

We have a lot of exciting things happening next week!

*On Monday, The Springfield Museums on The Go will visit our campus to present a program called Us and Them: Discrimination During the Holocaust and Today to all of our high school students. Through hands-on activities and primary source interpretation, students will be immersed in the experiences of local Holocaust survivors who settled in the Springfield area while examining historic cases of discrimination, identifying upstanders vs. bystanders, and tracking the progression of hate from individual acts of prejudice to genocide. Student have previewed vocabulary and important themes in their classes this week. We are looking forward to this important discussion with our students.

*On Wednesday, Ms. Daley and Mrs. Benjamin will be teaching Hands-Only CPR to all of our students. Students will review what they can and should do in case of medical emergencies and practice the basic life-saving skill of Hands-only CPR on our CPR training manikins. We review this skill each year as part of our partnership with Kev's Foundation who has provided the school with several AED machines.

*Wednesday is our 100th day of school! Let's Celebrate! How? Well, students and staff can dress like they are 100 years old, or wear something that represents 100 items or 100 days of fun and learning! We will have a photo spot set up - so watch for those pics in next week's email!

*Hands-Only CPR training comes during our Heart Health Awareness month! Students who have participated in our online campaign have received their red t-shirts and a stress ball from Mrs. BenjaminWe are asking EVERYONE to wear red next Thursday, February 26th to show support and awareness for heart health!

It's not too late to join!

If you haven’t already, register here:   White Oak Web Page

*Friday, February 13th is a 1PM dismissal before our Winter break from 2/16-2/20!

SAVE THE DATES:

*Luau Dance for Grades 4-7: March 6th, 3:30-5 PM, $10 in the cafeteria hosted by the Student Council officers

*The White Oak Drama Club will present: Willie Wonka on Friday, May 1st with a possible Saturday, May 2nd matinee performance. The cast is hard at work learning their lines at morning break and lunch. Do not miss the opportunity to see this production, complete with song!

* Prom: May 9th, Storrowton Tavern, West Springfield- open to high school students only!

Have a great weekend! Stay warm!

Jody

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