October

BOARD REPORT

Principal: Erin Porro

Building: Ocean Park Elementary

Date: October 2024

Highlights and Upcoming Events:

Sandpiper Story Squad

The Sandpiper Story Squad started on October 1st and is a wonderful group of volunteers at our school who bring stories to life for our students! They visit classrooms regularly, sharing their passion for reading and helping our young learners develop a love for books. We’re so grateful for their time and enthusiasm, and we hope they’re having as much fun reading with our students as the kids have listening to their stories. We’ve held training sessions and are thrilled to see over ten volunteers joining us each day. If you’d like to sign up to read with our students, click here! https://www.ocean.k12.wa.us/page/volunteer-forms

Updates:

Our current student enrollment stands at 212; during our recent assembly, we were thrilled to introduce 27 students who joined our Sea STARS group. Their quick mastery of the Sea STARS traits within the very first month of the school year is truly remarkable.

ASB:

Lauren Keller will lead our ASB this year, with elections on October 10th. We’re excited to share the results of the ASB Elections for 2024-25:

President: Peyton Smith
Vice President: Allyiah Campbell
Co-Secretaries: Avree Womack & Henry Bailey
Co-Treasurers: Gauge Menard & Ember Brady
Co-Publicity Officers: Kayden Bates & Ceaira McAllister

Congratulations to all the candidates for running such a fun and positive campaign!

Piper Days:

Our inaugural Piper Day of the year was a resounding success! Students eagerly signed up to participate in activities our dedicated OPE staff members guided. The day was filled with exciting options, including outdoor games, Bey Blades, and engaging in board games and card games while enjoying delicious snacks.

Students got creative with activities like The Wild Robot directed draw/paint, making bead bracelets, and exploring name art with Zentangle. They also had the opportunity to express their artistic talents through fun color pages. Other captivating activities included lively Just Dance sessions, Baseline Soccer, kickball, and a movie with popcorn. Our Piper Days are always eagerly anticipated, as they provide a wonderful opportunity to share interests and connect with our students in many exciting ways.

Coffee with the Principal: September 30th

We had our first Coffee with the Principal, and it was a great success! During this event, we celebrated all our dedicated volunteers from last year. Many parents stayed to chat about joining FOOPS, making it an excellent opportunity for connection and collaboration.

Drills:

On October 17th, we participated in the Great Shakeout, followed by a "Tsunami Walk." Some students exited the building during this exercise after practicing the recommended safety procedures.

One 5th-grade class and one 3rd-grade class made their way to our designated secure location, Weighart’s Art Studio, where they were later transported back to OPE by bus. Meanwhile, our 3rd and 4th graders also participated by exiting the building and taking a route around the two baseball fields before re-entering. Some classes could complete the walk around the fields, but when it started pouring, three classes stayed inside.

It's worth noting that our students and staff are well-prepared and composed, always ready to respond effectively in an emergency. Additionally, we celebrated Fire Safety Week from November 7 to 10 and will conduct a full fire drill in November.

Intervention:

We have started our reading intervention using the Read Live program, which runs four days a week. During our PLC professional learning Community, we dedicated much time to studying student data and developing plans for support and interventions. This important work will continue in our PLCs as we adapt to meet our students’ needs. We are utilizing our WIN time (What I Need) to ensure we address the specific areas where each student requires support. WIN time consists of 25 minutes spread throughout the day, and the entire building actively participates in this initiative.

Teacher in-service day:

Our recent Professional Development Day we were focused on Kagan Cooperative Learning structures, emphasizing student collaboration and engagement. These structures encourage active participation and help create a positive learning environment where every student can thrive. By incorporating Kagan's strategies into our teaching, we aim to enhance student interaction and foster a sense of community in the classroom. Our staff left the session excited to implement these techniques and further support our student's learning experiences. Staff earned 7 hours of Professional Development (PD) points to renew their teaching certificates.

Goals:

By the end of the academic year, increase the mathematics proficiency in 5th-grade students, with at least 80% achieve one year’s academic growth in math or perform at or above grade level, of students meeting or exceeding grade-level standards in math. June 2025
By the end of the academic year, ensure that at least 90% of 3rd-grade students at Ocean Park Elementary achieve one year’s academic growth in reading or perform at or above grade level, as measured by standardized assessments.
By June 2025, increase student and staff engagement at Ocean Park Elementary by implementing innovative strategies. Aim to see a 20% increase in positive feedback on engagement surveys CCE for teachers and participation rates in school activities measured by attendance for students.

Challenges for OPE:

As of October 18, 2024, we do not have a start date for redoing the "MOOSH Pit." We don't have swings available, as they were taken down over the summer and won’t be replaced until the surface is completed. Students have been writing letters and asking when the swings will be back.