Dear Oak Orchard Families,

It has been another wonderful week of learning and growth here at Oak Orchard! We have so much to celebrate and look forward to as we move into a very busy month of March.

First, I want to extend a huge congratulations to our Super Mighty Mustangs for February! These students were nominated by their teachers for consistently living out our Mustang Mission—demonstrating safety, respect, responsibility, kindness, and honesty. We are so proud of the positive impact these students have on our school community.

Next week is one of our favorite times of the year: Read Across America Week! To celebrate the joy of reading, we will be hosting a Spirit Week (be sure to check the schedule for daily themes!) and incorporating DEAR (Drop Everything And Read) moments throughout our school days.

We want the magic of reading to continue at home, too. We encourage all families to make a special point of reading with your student for at least 15–20 minutes each day next week. Whether it’s a favorite picture book or a new chapter, these shared moments make a world of difference.

You may notice two exciting new additions to our newsletter this week:

We hope these become weekly staples that help you feel even more connected to our school culture.

Finally, please mark your calendars for our next Family Fun Night—March Math Madness!

It promises to be an evening full of engaging basketball and math-themed fun. Keep an eye out for more detailed information coming home next week!

Thank you for your continued partnership and for getting our students here and ready to learn every day.

Warmly, Your Proud Principal

Julie Schiavone

jschiavone@medinacsd.org

(585) 798-2700

This past week I received an email from a parent who wanted to give a special shout out to some of our staff. Here is her comment:

Good morning!

Mornings are impossibly hard for all of the reasons you already know. Separation is so tough in my house on top of being a little rushed and always tired! But if there is ever a chance to turn a tough start into a great day, it absolutely happens with Brittany Winters, Allison Harmon, and Heather Mundion at the front doors! My daughter has very little interaction with them during her day-to-day movement at the school, so this relationship has been built primarily in those doorway interactions. The bright demeanors they share with the kids have made so many of our mornings slip back from the ledge and I can go home knowing my daughter is going into her classroom smiling.

Please let them know how thankful we are in our home for their grace, kindness, and patience with our little folks.

Thanks,

Jess Marciano

These three ladies are such valued members of our team. They are outside every morning in all kinds of weather, welcoming our children into the building, providing hugs, wiping away tears, and giving helping hands to walk students to class as needed. A huge thank you to all three for all they do!

If you would like to recognize one or more of our staff members, please use the link below and I will include it in a future newsletter.