An Opportunity to "Question" the Elementary Staff

On our September 20th professional development day, the Okoboji Elementary staff learned, practiced and developed lessons with "good" questions. Staff worked on the strategy of Questioning and developed questions that will create student responses that require higher order thinking and create better thinkers and more in-depth learners in our classrooms. Look for some of these types of questions to come home with your child and on their teacher's classroom blog.

4th Graders Skype Around the World

Fourth grade students in Mrs. Brecher's class use technology and Skype with a US soldier in the country of Qatar, near the Persian Gulf. Students had the opportunity to ask questions about refueling planes and the other duties of the military. Students used the responses to their questions as a springboard to research new ideas and topics in their classroom. Check back here to find out where these students will travel next with the power of technology.

Students from Germany visited Okoboji Elementary

The students and staff at Okoboji Elementary were fortunate to have visitors from Germany visit our school on September 8. There were 18 high school girls and 3 teachers who visited the elementary in the morning. These students stayed with host families in the area and were given an opportunity to experience the IOwa culture through a variety of activities. The girls and teachers make up an instrumental band, similar to a jazz band, that performed a concert at the Okoboji High School on September 8th.

Construction at Okoboji Elementary

As students arrived at school for the first day of the 2010-2011 school year on Tuesday, August 24th, they were greeted by orange construction fence surrounding the south part of the elementary. I appreciated the cooperation and flexibility of our parents as they dropped off their students to start the first day. Students lined up to enter the building in different places than last year to accommodate our new construction area. I want to thank our parents in advance for their cooperation as construction will begin soon for the elementary addition. The addition is slated to be completed the middle of May 2011. Look for future updates right here!

New Bus Lane and Parking

New construction has begun at the elementary this summer. Pictured above is our new bus lane and parking. Finishing touches will be made to the bus lane next week. Construction work on the new elementary addition should begin soon. Check back here often for new updates and pictures.

Author, Jeanette Hopkins, Visits Okoboji Elementary

As part of our February Reading Month, Jeanette Hopkins, author of The Ladybug Waltz visited Okoboji Elementary and spent time with each class. She read her story to them and then followed up with a craft of ladybug hats. Jeanette is a very talented writer and shared some writing expertise with our students. Jeanette was very impressed with the amount and types of writing we do throughout our school.

February is Reading Month

Theme: Reading Feeds the Minds of Youth!

We will enjoy special reading activities each Monday! Guest readers will visit on Monday, February 1st and we’ll have “Mystery Readers” the remaining Mondays. We will be collecting boxed or canned food donations for the UDMO food pantry as well as “Help for Haiti” cash donations. These will be collected in the media center and delivered at the end of the week!

A reading competition will be held at OES throughout the month. Each family is to record their total number of books/chapters read each week. That form must be returned EACH FRIDAY to the classroom of the oldest/only child in the family. We will chart the weekly progress and the winning team will get to celebrate at the end of February!

Author, Jeanette Hopkins, will visit each classroom, PreK through 3rd grade, on February 18th and 19th. Book pre-order forms have been sent home with students: if you wish to order, please return order forms and payment by Wednesday, February 3rd. The author will then deliver a signed copy of the book during her visit.

Hunger Hurts: How YOU can help! Visit our school website at www.okoboji.k12.ia.us to find links to MORE ways you can help fight world hunger!

Please contact Kristin Johnson, OES Media Center Coordinator, with questions: kjohnson@okoboji.k12.ia.us or phone 338-2458.

Scholastic Book Fair

Sales ~ Tuesday, March 23rd and Thursday, March 25th: 3:00 – 8:00 p.m.

For more information and to browse the books, click on this link:

http://bookfairs.scholastic.com/homepage/okobojielementary