Oasis Charter Elementary School

Valentine Candy Gram Sales - February – 6^th through 13th

We are going to try something different this year with Candy Gram sales. Previously, you paid for the candy grams and then completed the form. This year, the week before Candy Grams officially go on sale, we are going to send home blank candy gram forms which will allow parents and children to complete at home, and then send back to school with the money. If you would like additional candy gram forms, they can be found on the school website under Media Center. Simply print, complete and return the forms with the money (check payable to OCES or cash) to school. Or stop by school and visit the front office or Media Center for additional forms. We will still sell the candy grams to parents and students in the café February 6 through February 13.

The thought behind this new idea, will allow more parents to send Candy Grams to their children at school or maybe even to friends, teachers, or an entire classroom of students. Candy Grams may be sent to recipients at Oasis Elementary, Oasis Middle and Oasis High ( please make sure you include on high school and middle school students candy gram form, the even day 2^nd period teacher).

Suggested recipients are teacher, students, and staff. Many times, your child is at a loss for words when completing, now you can assist them in completing. We also invite parents to send Candy Grams.

The cost is 50 cents for each candy gram (consisting of your handwritten message and a few pieces of candy in a baggie). They will be delivered to the recipient’s classroom on Tuesday, February 14^th.

Candy Grams are provided not only as a fundraiser, but a way for parents, students and teachers to reach out and let students know you are thinking about them. As a fundraiser, the proceeds go to the Media Center Reading Incentive Programs to include, 21-Hour Reading Club, Sunshine Young Readers Award Program, AR Field Trip, and The Battle of the Books.

Please note: All candy grams forms and monies must be received by the end of the day on Friday, February 10^th.

We will still sell them during lunch in the Elementary Café from February 6 through February 13^th.

We also have Generic Candy Gram forms with smiley faces if you prefer.

Candy Gram Letter Candy Grams Candy Grams- Non Holiday

An Opportunity for a Free Author Visit – Jan Brett

It’s easy to do; you can enter by going to www.facebook.com/byjanbrett, “Like” Jan Brett, click on “Contest”, and complete the entry form. The school or library with the most parents, teachers, friends, or supporters who enter no later than April 20, 2012, will win a visit during the 2012-2013 school year.

Jan Brett has more than 37 million books in print, including The 3 Little Dassies and The Easter Egg and best sellers The Mitten and The Hat. One of the America’s most popular children’s authors; she has brought to life lovable characters for more than 30 years.

Thank you for your support

Mission Statement

The mission of the Oasis Charter Elementary School Media Center is to create a foundation of lifelong learning and make the media center the heart of the school. It is our goal to encourage students to actively seek and pursue knowledge and promote reading as a worthwhile and enjoyable activity.

Students are responsible for the materials they check out from the Media Center. Students are reminded from kindergarten to keep library books in backpacks when not being read. There are two very important reasons for this rule. One, if the book is in the student's backpack, the book is available for reading at home as well as at school. The other reason for this rule is that it helps students keep track of their books. If books are overdue, the student can retrieve the book from the classroom and return it later in the day, thus allowing them an opportunity to check out a new book. If the book is at home, outside of the backpack, it is more likely to be lost or forgotten. Please help us remind students of this rule.

What if there was ONE thing you could do that would absolutely improve your child’s ability in school? What if it were free? Well, there is! Research has shown the single most important activity for building the knowledge for eventual success, is reading aloud to children. Jim Trelease, national reading expert and the author of The Read-Aloud Handbook, states that reading aloud to your child “conditions the child to associate reading with pleasure, creates background knowledge, and provides a reading role model.” I hear many parents say, “Sure I know I should read to my child, but who has time?” What if I told you it would take only 15 minutes a day?

The Oasis 21-Hour Reading Club is designed to increase student enthusiasm for reading. Here’s how it works: Each child (grades K-2) will receive a reading log. Every time you read to your child, or your child reads at home (not during school hours), you or your child can record the title and number of minutes on a reading log. I encourage you to spend the majority of this time reading with your child so they will receive the maximum benefit of this program. Children reading alone are left without guidance, when they encounter an unknown word. Please be sure to review pages after reading, to insure your child comprehends the book’s message,

Other Reasons Reading With Your Child Is Important

- stimulates your child’s imagination

- develops your child’s interest in reading and in books

- improves your child’s listening skills

- builds vocabulary

- helps your child to understand stories and “book language”

- creates a bond between you and your child

- provides your child with a positive role model

Each reading log is designed to record 3 hours worth of reading no more, no less. Children should return the completed log as soon as three hours are recorded. One log every few weeks will get them to their final goal. If you choose to read a harder chapter book to your child, simply count the number of minutes you read to them. If your child is participating in the Book It Program, the time they read at home can be counted toward the 21-Hour Reading Club. For each 3-hour reading log returned, the student will receive a reward. Rewards will be sent to the child’s classroom within the week.

Turning in reading logs which are inaccurate will not make your child a better reader and will teach them to be dishonest. So please make sure you verify what your child is reading. Ask them questions about what they have read or listened to, and make sure they understand the book’s message.

21 Hour Reading Club Form

21 Hour Reading Club Letter

Reading Programs Sponsored by the Media Center

21-Hour Reading Club for students in grades K-2

Thank you to everyone for your participation in the 21-hour Reading Club, we will start this program again on the first day of school, August 8, 2011.

I encourage you to still read with your child during the summer break maintaining the reading routine you have established this year. The Lee County Public Library has a wonderful summer program starting June 13, 2011. Also, refer to the letter sent home during the last week of school with attachments for the reading incentive programs sponsored by Scholastic Books, Miracle Baseball/Wendy’s, Barnes and Noble, and Book Adventure.

Research shows that children’s reading levels improve when they read at home and are read to by their parents. The Media Center implemented the 21-Hour Reading Club in order to encourage this together time at home. Children are given incentives for every three hours of reading performed at home. Simply complete the form with the reading time and return it to the classroom teacher. Incentive prizes will be sent to the child’s classroom within a week. Along with prizes for 3, 6, 9, 12, and 15 reading forms, students will receive an invitation to the Ice Cream Sundae Party for 18 hours, and for 21-Hours of reading, children will receive an award at the Awards Ceremony. Reading logs can be found in the Media Center and online at the school’s website under Media Center.

Please assist your child in achieving these goals.

Family Reading Nights

Every other month, students and parents are invited to spend the evening at the Media Center. During our evenings everyone enjoys center activities; to include literacy games, story time, craft, author visits, and family reading.

Sunshine Young Reader Awards for students in grades 3-5

The Sunshine State Young Reader's Award (SSYRA) Program is a statewide reading motivation program for students in grades 3-5. The program, cosponsored by the School Library Media Services Office of the Department of Education and the Florida Association for Media in Education (FAME), began in 1983. The purpose of the SSYRA Program is to encourage students to read independently for personal satisfaction, based on interest rather than reading level. Sunshine State books are selected for their wide appeal, literary value, varied genres, curriculum connections, and/or multicultural representation. Students are encouraged to read these books in order to improve their reading fluency.

Volunteers

All volunteers are welcome! Volunteers are needed to help shelve the huge number of books that are returned daily. We also use volunteers to help process new books and materials as well as keep our shelves organized so students are able to find what they are looking for. This is a great way for parents to become familiar with the materials and resources we have to offer.

The First Annual Battle of the Books was held on May 24^th at Tarpon Point Marina, with four teams competing. These children read all 15 of the SSYRA titles and earned a 70% or high on their Accelerated Reading Test.

B.O.B. Kids

Jayden Bendezu

Kelly Bevan

Tessa Santagate

Deja Vega

Sunshine Reading Sisters

Alyssa Childs

Mary Grace Epps

Catherine Fonseca

Alyssa Grabner

The Book Worms

Laney Bloch

Mackenzie Crawford

Megan Hanley

Anna Marie Parisi

SSYRA: Super Students

Yearning to Read Always

Jordan Joseph

Ashlyn Klump

Joseph Vazquez

Valeria Velazquez

The Champions of the First Annual Battle of the Books competition are The Book Worms consisting of Laney Bloch, Mackenzie Crawford, Megan Hanley and Anna Marie Parisi coached by Mrs. Nancy Singleton. Mrs. Nancy Spooner of Fox 4 News was the moderator for the evening.

The Book Worms with Mrs. Singleton The Book Worms with Lisa Spooners

The Sunshine Young Readers Award Program (SSYRA) will resume at the beginning of the school year for students in grades 3-5, with 15 new titles nominated by The Florida Association of Media in Education and The Florida Department of Education.

Ninety-five children read at least 3 of the SSYRA titles for 2010-2011 and were eligible to vote for their favorite title. The Lee County Supervisor of Elections was on hand with official ballots and their ScanTron machine. The students of Oasis voted Obi Gerbil on the Loose as their favorite and were consistent with other children throughout the state of Florida. Obi Gerbil on the Loose won the SSYRA Book of the Year.

SSYRA Elections