Board Meeting

The December meeting of the Oakes School Board will be held on Tuesday, December 11th starting at 7:00 a.m. in the Central Office Conference Room.

School Not in Session

The Oakes Public Schools will not be in session December 24th – January 3rd.

Weather Related Announcements for

Inclement Weather

All weather related school closings, late-starts, and early-dismissals will be announced on KDDR (95.9-FM/1220-AM), KXJB-TV, KVLY-TV, and WDAY-TV. In addition, announcements will also be made on the school’s automated alert system, mobile app, and Facebook.

Just a reminder that students that ride the bus should have proper winter gear with them at all time. Children should be dressed warm enough to assure comfort during such time that the bus may be stalled or stuck.

Please makes sure that your child has a hat and gloves with them for the cold weather. This also applies to our athletes that travel to events after school hours.

Thanksgiving in Kindergarten By: Madison Taylor & Katie Johnson

Sick and tired of a traditional Thanksgiving meal? Well, the Kindergarten class at Oakes Public School took it upon themselves to create their own Thanksgiving Feast! They whipped up turkey-less sandwiches and blessing mix for the annual feast! (In other words, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and trail mix!) Each of the 35 students invited one guest to the feast that took place on Wednesday, November 21st. Miss Taylor’s Indians and Mrs. Johnson’s Pilgrims entertained everyone with songs and helped share the Thanksgiving story. The Kindergartners even asked their guests to join in on our last song, “If You’re Thankful and You Know It”. During our program the boys and girls had the chance to share what they were thankful for. In addition to all their hard work preparing the meal

they created decorations for the lunchroom! They made turkey’s to hang on the wall and turkey’s for centerpieces on the tables. The decorations added a very festive holiday touch to the Feast and also to the other students and adults in the school who ate lunch that day! We received many compliments throughout the day on our adorable turkey’s!

Friends of Fine Arts

Happy December! We hope you can take a little time to relax and enjoy the spirit of the season. One way to get in the "mood" would be to enjoy the sounds of the season that will be performed by the Jr/Sr High students on Monday, December 3rd at 7:00p.m. and then the Elementary program on Monday, December 10th at 7p.m. (If you are able to take pictures at any of the concerts we would truly appreciate your posting or sending them to Deb.VanDeVenter@ k12.nd.us). As you shop this holiday season, and if you use Amazon, please consider joining smile.amazon.com. They will donate .5% of the price of your eligible Amazon purchases to Friends of Fine Arts and Academics. Thank you for considering this

“Educating Today’s Students for Tomorrow’s World” Newsletter Vol. 29 Issue 4

Phone: 701-742-3234 www.oakes.k12.nd.us

December 2018

opportunity. Please like us on Facebook www.facebook.com/OakesFriends

In this holiday season we hope all your dreams and wishes come true and may the New Year bring only tears of JOY. Merry Christmas and Happy 2019

Oakes Parent Teacher Organization

The Oakes Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) will

have their next meeting on Tuesday, January 8th at 6:30 in the library. The purpose of this organization is to lift up our students and staff at Oakes Public School. All parents and staff are welcome to attend!

Music Notes By: Kathie Hay & Dareien Lund

We are pleased to announce that Marisa Garza has been selected to participate in the UND Honor Choir Festival this coming January in Grand Forks. Thank you to everyone who traveled to Fargo to audition for this festival and congratulations to Marisa on earning this Honor.

Congratulations also to our four students who were chosen to participate in the 2019 NDACDA Junior High/Middle School Honor Choir: Isabelle Haring (9th grade, daughter of April & Kevin Haring) Mason German (8th grade, son of Denise & Scott German) Caden Christenson (9th grade son of Brian and Shari Christenson) and Paige Bakke (7th grade, daughter of Jon & Amy Bakke) who has been selected as alternate. Thanks to all students who submitted an audition recording this year.

‘Tis the Season and that means we are scurrying to put the finishing touches on our holiday programs. The Junior and Senior High Music Concert is scheduled for Monday, December 3rd at 7 PM featuring the Jr High Band, 7th grade choir, 8th grade choir, HS Concert Band and HS Concert Choir. Our elementary program has been scheduled for Monday evening, December 10th at 7 PM. This program will feature the 5th and 6th grade bands in their first official performances of the year. They are working so hard to prepare for this; you won’t want to miss it! In addition, our K-6 students are gearing up to present the musical: “Jinglebell Jukebox” . You will be sure to hear lots of familiar Christmas tunes at this program. As always, we look forward to helping you celebrate the season by attending these performances. See you there!

Football Awards

Oakes Tornado football lineman, junior Hunter Greenmyer, was named to the All-State First Team in 9-man football for 2018. Senior receiver/defensive back Coy Awender, and sophomore quarterback/defensive back Garret Meehl were named All-State Second Team. Those three players, plus junior Logan Sell, and sophomore Ashton Biesterfeld, were selected for the All-Region 3 team. Senior Taylor Schall, junior Gabe Quandt, and sophomore Marc Seyer, were named honorable mention for the All-Region 3 team. All-region players are nominated and voted on by the coaches in the region. All-state players are nominated by their coaches and selected by coaches from across the state at a meeting the night before the Dakota Bowl.

Oakes Public Schools Hires New Business Manager

The Oakes Public School Board is pleased to announce that April Haring has been hired as the new business manager for the Oakes Public Schools. She is currently the auditor for the city of Oakes. Her husband works for the city of Oakes and their three children attend Oakes Public Schools. She will formally assume her new duties as of January 1, 2019. Haring has years of experience in public fund accounting and human resources administration in her role as Oakes City Auditor. She has done extensive and varied professional development related to those duties and has completed North Dakota Rural Leadership training program. She has held leadership roles in in the North Dakota League of Cities. The Oakes Public School Board is confident that there will be a seamless transition for all stakeholders - the board, administration, school staff, students and taxpayers of the district. Haring will replace Thomas Vanorny, who has been the Oakes school business manager since April 1, 1978. Mr. Vanorny has accepted the position of business manager for Valley City Public Schools starting on January 1, 2019. Oakes Public School district is deeply grateful for Mr. Vanorny's years of faithful and efficient service to our district. He will be greatly missed.

MCT Peter & Wendy By: Maryellen Homan

Missoula Children’s Theatre presented “Peter and

Wendy” to the Oakes community on November 9 & 10, 2018. Fifty-one students auditioned and were cast for the play. Aside from the audition on Monday, the tour directors also conducted workshops for all children in Grades 1-3. These fun and engaging workshops included Acting, Let’s Make Up, and Improv. The MCT directors, Matthew Porter and Hadley Williams, were very impressed with the quality of talent and cooperative behavior of our youth. Total attendance for both nights of the performance numbered 364. Special thanks to pianist Donna Cline and to all who supported the show, especially Virginia Gramlow and Active Arts members who hosted art classes held the Saturday before the audition. Seventeen young artists painted lively pictures with acrylics on

canvas. Their work was on display during both performances. Thank you to the Oakes Public Schools, the Active Arts Club, and the ND council on the Arts for funding the event. Wait to see what MCT play is coming to town next November!

November Students of the Month

Oakes Junior and Senior High School November

Students of the Month are pictured below: 8th grader Emma Muggli daughter of Scott & Cherie Muggli; 7th grader Ethan Simpson, son of Scott & Shannon Simpson; Sophomore Lanie Awender, daughter of Perry Awender & Karen Awender; and Senior Drew Dethlefsen, son of Brian & Leslie Dethlefsen. They were chosen for their desire to improve by making connections and asking significant questions

Congratulations on a job well done!

Counseling Corner By: Janelle Wibstad & Jamie Franks

In a research study utilizing brain scans the following

findings were made in connection with screen addiction:

• Gray matter atrophy • Compromised white matter integrity • Reduced cortical thickness • Impaired cognitive functioning • Cravings and impaired dopamine function

In short, excessive screen-time appears to impair brain structure and function. Much of the damage occurs in the brain’s frontal lobe, which undergoes massive changes from puberty until the mid-twenties. Frontal lobe development, in turn, largely determines success in every area of life—from sense of well-being to academic or career success to relationship skills. Use this research to strengthen your own parental position on screen management, and to convince others to do the same. For more information, the full article can be found from Psychology Today at: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/mental-wealth/201402/gray-matters-too-much-screen-time-damages-the-brain

CART-RT SORT ECRWSS

Postal patron