Matters on Student Growth : Oak Grove Elementary School

While Oak Grove says goodbye to three important staff members, Fayette County welcomes them into leadership positions serving all our elementary schools.Jeannie Malone, Brooke Fuller, and Chris Riecke are accepting new challenges and new opportunities at the district level.Join us in a brief podcast where they share their journey and what it means to carry a bit of Oak Grove to other schools!

An audio version of a message for parents on:what Lexile ishow it is used for book selectionhow we mark our books OGES Video:  https://www.youtube.com/@OGES_Broadcastdaily announcementsmessages from adminpodcastsOGES Podcast:  https://oakgrovebraves.buzzsprout.comAvailable on Apple, Spotify, Amazon Music, Podcast Index, YouTube, Podcast Addict, Podchaser, and other podcatching applications. 

What if we've been underestimating the power of play? Teacher Andrea Camp has been digging into the latest research and is excited to share some surprising findings that will change how you view your child's playtime. Play brings the benefits of:ConcentrationCuriosityCreativityConnectivityResources used:Camp, Andrea. The Importance of Unstructured Play.  Personal Interview.  9 Sept. 2025.‌Powers, Richard. Playground: A Novel. W. W. Norton & Company, 24 Sept. 2024.  This fictional book explores the idea that play is more than just fun and games. It's an essential part of survival, creativity, and healing. It suggests we move away from games we "win" and instead embrace games of connection and imagination to navigate today's challenges. From childhood games to the complex systems of nature, this story argues that play is a vital force that helps us evolve and imagine a better future.Articles:https://hechingerreport.org/want-resilient-and-well-adjusted-kids-let-them-play/https://www.naeyc.org/our-work/families/10-things-every-parent-playhttps://www.gse.harvard.edu/ideas/usable-knowledge/23/05/embracing-learning-through-playhttps://www.joincoralcare.com/blog/stages-of-play-development-solitary-play-parallel-play-and-associative-playhttps://leader.pubs.asha.org/do/10.1044/kid-confidential-teaching-parents-the-power-of-play/full/https://leader.pubs.asha.org/do/10.1044/my-baby-can-play-how-productive-play-promotes-literacy/full/

At-home and school strategies that help our non-native English speakers are beneficial to ALL our students!  Join us in a talk with Mrs. Brittan Parker on the challenges and rewards in teaching ESOL at Oak Grove ES!

Introducing Mrs. Erin Barnes, Oak Grove's 2025 Teacher of the Year! Get to  know our TOTY in this interview on why she became a teacher, what inspires her, and what challenges her!  

Join our discussion with several of our veteran Exceptional Children Services teachers on how support student growth in their program and for all our students. 

Our Enrichment teachers have a unique approach to challenging our students -= meeting them where they are and encouraging growth. Mrs. Barfield was unavailable, but Mrs. Price sat down with Mr. Blum to talk about our ENR program at Oak Grove ES. 

Mr. Blum talks with our Early Intervention Program teachers - also known as EIP - Mrs. Fuller, Johnson, and Willis on how that program supports student growth.  

Mr. Riecke and Mrs. Holland talk about the first 90 days of school and what our expectations for the next 90 days are!

Want to know more about our Character Traits initiative? Wonder what Leader In Me is? Scratching your had over you children talking about 'Make First Things First" and other sayings?Listen to our most recent podcast where Mr. Blum sits down with Besty Wierda, Consultant with FranklinCovey Education.

Get all the details on our Veterans Day program in this podcast featuring just a few of the many staff members involved in managing this event: Mrs. Toering, Mrs. Lewis, Mrs. Price, and Mrs. Turk.We have many international families, so for those who may not be aware, what is Veterans Day?How is that different than Memorial Day? When is Veterans Day?Why do we host an assembly (why is it important to our elementary students) on Veterans Day?Who all is invited?What can a visiting Veteran expect?Do veterans need to RSVP?Can we honor Verteans who have passed or who are unable to attend?How can parents help out?

Two fifth graders working on a Podcast for the Technology Competition try the hosting spot in this podcast's interview with Mrs.  Holland

Three of our 5th graders, Abby, Elly, and Jerrick, recently competed at the Science Olympiad. They sit down to talk about their experiences in this hands-on Science fun!

Lyla and Liam tell about how much fun they had and how much they learned in Technology Competition!

Mrs. Liz Bunker