Just a reminder to our students and parents that 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders do not have “snack” breaks during the scheduled instructional times of the school day. Be sure that students eat a healthy breakfast because their lunch times do not begin until 12:00.  Also, students are welcomed to bring a bottle of room temperature water from home.  We realize that staying hydrated is important to learning, and we are encouraging students to drink a lot of water.  For safety and best learning practices, ONLY water is allowed.  If students need to replace unapproved liquids or refill water bottles, there are fountains available to each grade level.

Will they let me go when I need to go to the bathroom?
And what if I get lost on my way back to class?
And what if the other kids are a hundred, a thousand, times smarter than I am?
And what if we have a spelling test, or a reading test, or an…anything test, and I’m the only person who doesn’t pass?
And what if my teacher decides she doesn’t like me?
And what if, all of a sudden a tooth gets loose?
And what if I can’t find lunch, or I sit on my lunch, or I (oops!) drop my lunch someplace like the toilet?
Will they let me starve or will somebody lend me a sandwich?
A cookie? A cracker? An apple? Some juice?
And what if they say, “Do this,” and I don’t understand them?
And what if there’s teams and nobody picks me to play?
And what if I took off my sneakers, and also my socks, and my jeans, and my sweatshirt and T-shirt,
And started the first day of school on the second day?

By Judith Viorst

We had a great day today and cannot wait until the second day!

We know you have all read about budget cuts, but the teachers at White Oak are determined to find ways to provide innovative classroom materials for our children. Six White Oak teachers have currently applied for grants for iPod Touches for the classroom through Limeades for Learning. The only way they will be awarded these grants is if YOU will go to Limeades for Learning, and VOTE FOR THEIR PROJECTS.

To do this, click on the link above> Click on Location> Choose Texas> Choose City> Choose White Oak

Read about each project and VOTE with every email address you have ONCE a day. You may also cast extra votes using the peeler that you get from the bag at any Sonic Drive-in. VOTING BEGINS AUGUST 29TH and grants will be awarded each week.

• Mrs. Hall’s Project – iPods Needed to Enrich Third Grade Lessons
• Mrs. Hunter’s Project – iTeach with iTouch
• Mrs. O’Malley’s Project – iRead with iPods
• Mrs. Odom’s Project – iTouch Therefore iRead
• Mrs. Saccoccio’s Project – iPod, iTeach, iLearn…Oh My!
• Mrs. Wilken’s Project – We Love Reading

Good Luck to all teachers. Please show your support by making a daily commitment to VOTE.

The arrivals came thirty minutes early, but we managed to transition. You just cannot contain the excitement of the first Meet the Teacher night. While we could not capture each and every little mind who walked the halls tonight, we were able to snap a few. See you all again on Monday.

Customize a digital slideshow

Yes, I think I will go to Meet my Teacher.

“Meet the Teacher” is scheduled for Thursday, August 18th. Primary students’ (PreK-2)  time to meet their teacher is from 4:00 – 5:00 pm. Intermediate students’ (3rd-5th) time to meet their teacher begins at 4:30 and ends at 5:30 pm.  We look forward to a great beginning!

White Oak Elementary Talent

Just because it happens to be summer, this does not mean that our students have stopped working. For the past two weeks a group of White Oak Elementary students have been reading, memorizing, practicing, and performing. These talented boys and girls just finished the production of “Arf” at Artsview Children’s Theatre. It was a “howling” success!

For the complete write-up and more photos, see the Longview News Journal article in the East Texas Section 1B.