It is December!

It is that time of year again! December...we are always reminded about how many days are left until Christmas. Will we ever accomplish our "To Do" list? At school, we operate daily with our list of things needed to be done. In Ms. Mazzeo's fourth grade class we have written letters to my friend, Major Grovsnor, serving our country in Afghanistan. Several years ago our students wrote to her when she was serving in Iraq. Upon her return, she visited our third and fourth grade classes. It was truly a wonderful experience for students and teachers. She told us first hand about daily life as a soldier. She has made the Army her career. I admire her greatly for her bravery, courage and committment to the USA.
I shared Major Grosvenor's pictures from Iraq with our current fourth grade students. I still get goosebumps seeing our soldiers standing with the American flag atop the enemy palace in Baghdad. They asked me many questions about her, and then someone said "Can we write to her?" It is very difficult for students to understand life as a soldier, but they are interested. Their letters will be sent at the end of this week, with bags of Christmas candy and cookies donated by students and teachers. We hope to hear back from her in the near future.
The most important lesson students learned from this opportunity was to think of others this holiday season, especially those serving in the US military who will not be "home for the holidays". I hope you all have an opportunity to share your blessings with others during December. I love sharing the classroom every day with our Oxford students.
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays

Veteran's Day, November 11, 2009

There were many activities today at OCS to honor our veterans. Teachers helped students to better understand the meaning of the day. Some students brought in pictures and memorabilia from family veterans to share in class. Mrs. Kimball shared a video clip of the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery. For students who had never seen this event, it was very powerful. Questions were asked, and answered by teachers.
In Miss Mazzeo's fourth grade class the students made cards for my neighbor, Mr. Harris Smith. He is a veteran of World War II, now 92 years old. He shares many stories of his time flying blimps over the Atlantic Ocean looking for enemy submarines. He is a brave and courageous man, and I have always admired his dedication to our country through his service. I will deliver the student cards this afternoon and look forward to his surprised expression. He is deserving of our thanks, but he'll always tell me he was just doing the job he was assigned to do!
I hope you have the opportunity to says THANKS to a veteran today!

October Author Visit

OCS grades K-5 enjoyed a visit by NJ author, illustrator Dar Hosta on October 21. During the assembly we learned about creating words and pictures that make a book. We saw pictures of Mrs. Hosta's studio at home where her collage illustrations are carefully constructed. She reminded students how many times her written words were returned to her by the editor to "rewrite and make it better." Students know that their own teachers often return writing to them and tell them to "make it better". Writing is a process for young and old! Mrs. Hosta shared stories about her family including Ruby and Ezra, her peppy pooch pets. She talked about alliteration. What's that? Here's another example from her book I Love the Alphabet. The M page includes many monkeys munching mangos.
Mrs. Hosta challenged all students to share one thing they learned from her with someone at home tonight. Can your child give you an example of alliteration?
We thank the PTO for sponsoring this exciting ond interesting assembly where we all got tips on how to make our writing more interesting.

September

September means Back to School for kids, preschoolers, K-12 kids,and college students of all ages! Learning is something we do lifelong. Learning takes place not only in the school building but everywhere we go. We can take educational vacations, take time to read information of interest,take our famililies to historical places and parks to learn about history while having fun. Talk to your kids about your continuing educational interests, your hobbies, your clubs, your volunteer groups, the organizations that are important to you.
We learn something new every day, and as a teacher, I learn something every day from one of the students in our building. I am so glad to come back to school in September. I love to hear about summer vacations, whether it's a trip to a foreigh country, or a visit to Grandma's house. Kids are always learning something.
Encourage your kids to tell you one thing they learned at school each day. You might be surprised at what they tell you!
Since I enjoy visiting the National Parks, I want everyone to know about Ken Burns new documentary series, "The National Parks, America's Best Idea," on TV starting Sunday night September 27, at 8:00pm. Your family will enjoy viewing this educational series together.

Tea Party and Poetry Awards

Annual Kindness Tea Party

On May 1st, the student kindness poetry winners and their teachers, attended the OCS Annual Kindness Celebration. It was held at Carol Griffith’s local Coffee Cup Shop in Oxford. The students learned a little about appropriate table manners and enjoyed delicious
assorted cookies. Peach and raspberry tea was served.
After school the students and teachers walked to The Coffee Cup and were happily surprised to see balloons and little gift boxes for everyone. After the students read their winning kindness poems, they were presented with a gift certificate for Borders Books from the PTO. There were lots of smiles, as everyone had a good time.
Mrs. Hahn expresses her thanks to the Oxford PTO for their continued support of this important event.

Jackie Farkas, 4D

Kindness News from Trenton

Oxford Central School is proud to congratulate Zachary Michniewicz for winning Special Honorable Mention in the 2009 statewide Kindness Awareness Student Fine Arts Competition. Second grader Zach, received a special Heart of Gold Award for his Kindness poetry and artwork from Mrs. Andrea Inverso, Chief Executive Officer of Kindness International. Keep up the great writing, Zack!


Tri County Reading Council Awards

It is with great pleasure that we announce two winners at OCS in the Annual Young Author’s Competition sponsored by the Tri County Reading Council. Jackie Farkas, in Mrs. Dowd’s fourth grade won Honorable Mention in the fourth grade poetry contest. Kylie Bayer, a seventh grader in Mrs. Lurz Language Arts class, was awarded Honorable Mention in the essay category. Students from Somerset, Warren and Hunterdon submitted entries.
There will be an Awards Ceremony at Hunterdon Central High School on May 28 for the winners, family and friends in honor of these students’ achievements. Oxford Central School congratulates Jackie, Kylie and their teachers.

April Showers Bring May Flowers

April 1st is the date that tells me May 1st is just around the corner. May 1st is the date for our Kindness Tea Party Celebration for the winners of our annual Kindness Poetry contest. Teachers and winners will enjoy an afternoon of tea, cookies and sharing kindness poetry. Carol's Coffee House in downtown Oxford will be our party place. We ask students to wear their "Tea Attire" and be sure to bring their manners. After school, students and teachers will walk over to Carol's. Parents, please pick up your students at the Coffe House at 4:00 pm prompt.
Poetry Winners will be awarded a gift certificate to Borders Books from the PTO. I encourage students to write a thank you note to the PTO for the gift.
I appreciate the PTO support in planning and arranging for all the details of the day.
Mrs. Hahn

Kindness Poetry Winners at OCS

Kindness Poetry Contest, February 2009
The judges have made their decisions. Congratulations to all students who wrote Kindness Poetry during February. Please take a look at the front hallway bulletin board where you will see the winning poetry displayed. These poems have been entered into the NJ statewide Kindness Poetry contest in Trenton. Our OCS first place winners will receive an invitation to a special Kindness Tea Party in May, and a gift card to Barnes and Noble Bookstore. Thank you to our wonderful PTO for funding these awards. We are appreciative of their generosity. Mrs. Hahn

And the winners are……. Please see the Friday OCS Bulletin for March 6 or the school front hallway bulletin board for the winners names and poetry.

February 2009

The Key to Kindness is You

This is the fourteenth year we are celebrating "Random Acts of Kindness" month at OCS during February. Students are given the opportunity to understand and develop positive character traits including kindness, citizenship, respect, responsibility, courage, honesty and trustworthiness. The staff encourages students to act in a caring way towards each other and all members of our school community.

Students, grade K-4 can earn an on-the-spot "Get Caught Being Kind" award. These are displayed on the classroom doors. Students will also write Kindness Poetry to be entered in the NJ State Fine Arts Competition. First place winners will be awarded $10.00 gift cards for books at Barnes and Noble. These winners will also be invited to a Kindness Celebration Tea Party in the spring. We are grateful to the PTO for funding these awards.

No act of kindness, however small, is ever wasted. Aesop