January 4, 2012

Welcome back and Happy New Year to all.  As we begin the new year we would like to thank everyone for their cooperation and courtesy when dropping off children in the mornings.  Your adherence to the traffic flow plan and awareness of children in the parking lot and crossing the street is much appreciated. 

Farewell Linda

Last month our beloved Business Manager Linda Hovey left us for retirement.  She is a presence at Blue Oak that is dearly missed and an administrative partner that set a new standard for excellence at our school.  In the interim Holly Pladson will provide business services for us twice a week and the Charter Schools Management Corporation will handle the remainder of the job.  Holly knows Blue Oak intimately as a parent and member of the Parent Council and comes to us with a breadth of experience as a CPA and prior school auditor.  Please welcome Holly to her new role at Blue Oak.

Parent Enrichment Night

The Health and Wellness Committee invites you to join us on January 10Th @ 6pm in the Big Room at Blue Oak. We will be joined by Dr. Nagel who is board certified in Integrative Holistic Medicine. Amanda Bosschart will be leading a talk on transitioning from an unhealthy home to a healthy home. Janea Lloyd will be joining in from Chico Natural Foods. Sharing information about alternatives to store bought treats. We hope to see you all there!

New California Booster Seat Law

Effective Jan 1^st, 2012: “children under age 8 must be properly buckled into a car seat or booster in the back seat.”  Please keep this in mind when your child’s class goes on a driving field trip.  More information about the new law is available online at http://kidsare1.weebly.com/new-california-booster-seat-law.html. 

New Faces on Campus

The new calendar year brings new faces to Blue Oak!  Please welcome Adam Navone as our new School Health Aide.  Adam comes to us from the nursing program at CSU Chico and is sharing the Health Aide position with Stacy Bearden (beloved, dedicated parent).  Together Adam and Stacy will staff the Rest & Recovery Room four hours each school day, providing much needed attention to the ‘sick and injured’ as well as relief to the front office staff. 

You may also see or hear from your 2^nd – 4^th graders about new Reading Instructional Aides.  We have welcomed Lauren Himmelspach (a liberal studies graduate and aspiring teacher – working toward her credential) and Sarah Ouimette (an experienced teacher and paraprofessional from Colorado) along with parents Lisa Guillen, Jeff Hull, Sarah Morgan and Shannon Walker.  These six are joining our specialty presenters under the direction of Donica O’Laughlin (a Butte County Teacher of the Year with more than 35 years of classroom experience) in implementing our new Reading Discovery Program.

Gold Leaf Project

Local artist Elisabeth Newman-Kuiper approached Blue Oak last month and asked if she could use Blue Oak’s beautiful trees to create an intriguing project.  The proposal was to imbed gold leaf rubbings on various places where limbs had been cut off the sides of trees.  Of course Blue Oak told Elisabeth that we would love to have her complete her project with our trees.  As of today I’m told that there are several completed rubbings.  I’m also told that you really have to search to locate these intricate works of art, but when you do see them they are amazing.

Reminder!  Lunch Program Changes…

Our lunch program changes effective February 1, 2012 – All orders must be placed with paper menus and appropriate payments to the front office.  Menus for February will be distributed by January 6^th in student files.  Completed orders & payments for February will be due by January 16^th.