Oglethorpe Avenue Elementary

❤️ Red Ribbon Week is Here! ❤️

Next week, we’re celebrating healthy choices, strong minds, and bright futures!
Red Ribbon Week is all about coming together to make positive choices and support one another in living our best, drug-free lives. 💪

Here’s how we’ll celebrate each day:

🔴 Monday: Red Ribbon Week Kickoff!
Wear RED to show your commitment to living drug-free and making healthy choices!

💗 Tuesday: Every Piece Matters—Pink Out!
Wear PINK to show your support for breast cancer awareness.

🏈 Wednesday: Team Up To Solve the Puzzle!
Wear your favorite sports gear or Wildcat spirit wear—because teamwork makes us stronger!

🧩 Thursday: “Piece” It Together!
Dress like a twin or a group—matching outfits for the win!

📚 Friday: Show Your “Character”!
End the week with our Storybook Parade! Dress up as your favorite book character and don’t forget to bring your book to carry!

Let’s show our Wildcat pride all week long! 💙🐾

🎪📚 Step Right Up for Literacy Night! 📚🎪

Join us for an evening of games, prizes, raffles, and reading fun at our Literacy Carnival!
🗓️ Thursday, November 13 | 6–7 PM
🍗 Tenders Delight Food Truck will be here starting at 5:30 PM—come hungry!

🎟️ Games!
🎁 Prizes!
🎉 Raffles!
📖 And more!

In preparation for the big night, we’re collecting gently used children’s books to share with students as prizes and gifts.
Your donations will help us spread the joy of reading across our Wildcat community! 💙🐾

📦 Drop donations off: OAES Main Office
📅 Accepted through: Friday, November 7

🌅🐾 Our Wildcats showed up at dawn laced up and ready to RUN! The Fun Run is officially underway here at OAES, and these kids are lightning fast ⚡️🐆 We’re running not just for fun, but for a cause—helping our 5th graders get to Tybee Island for their big end-of-year trip! 🏝️💙 📣 Come cheer them on and be part of the energy! 💛 Don’t forget—you can still get sponsors or donate here: https://square.link/u/nyOdKCcw?src=sheet Let’s go, Wildcats! 🏃‍♀️🏃‍♂️💨 #OAESFunRun #WildcatPride #UpUpAndAway #EveryStepCounts

💛✨ Today is National Custodian Appreciation Day and we are taking a BIG moment to shine the spotlight on the incredible heroes of Oglethorpe Avenue Elementary! ✨💛 Our custodians are the heart of our school—working early mornings, late nights, and everything in between to make sure our building sparkles, shines, and feels like home. They are problem-solvers, encouragers, fixers, and protectors. They keep our hallways safe, our classrooms welcoming, and they do it all with smiles that brighten every Wildcat’s day. More than just keeping OAES beautiful, they model what it means to serve with pride, integrity, and care. Our custodians lift us up daily, and their hard work makes everything we do possible. 👏👏👏 Please join us in giving a HUGE round of applause and ALL of our gratitude to our custodial team. We see you, we appreciate you, and we LOVE you! 💙💛 #NationalCustodianAppreciationDay #WildcatPride #OAESStrong #EveryDayCounts

📣 Wildcats, we’ve got a BIG couple of days ahead and we don’t want you to miss a thing!

✨ TONIGHT is Math Night: Sports Edition!
Kick things off at 5:30 with dinner from the Wing House Food Truck, then join us at 6:00 for a night of math games, cool prizes, and raffles. Parents—don’t forget, you’ll have the chance to win a $25 Starbucks gift card and a $25 Amazon gift card!

🏃‍♀️ TOMORROW is our Fun Run!
Get ready to cheer, run, and celebrate school spirit! Here’s what you need to know:
🍧 Bring $1 to help us give every Wildcat a popsicle
💧 Bring a water bottle
👟 Wear something comfy to run in
💛 Don’t forget to get sponsors or donate here: https://square.link/u/nyOdKCcw?src=sheet

Run Schedule:
1️⃣ 1st: 8:30–9:00
👶 Kindergarten: 9:10–9:40
2️⃣ 2nd: 9:50–10:20
3️⃣ 3rd: 10:30–11:00
4️⃣ 4th: 11:10–11:40
5️⃣ 5th: 11:50–12:20
🎈 PreK: 12:30–1:00

We can’t wait to see everyone come together for two amazing events—let’s bring the energy, Wildcats! 💙💛

📬🦖 A very special thank you to Dr. Maurice Snook for generously loaning part of his stamp collection to our library! Right now, our Wildcats are enjoying a dinosaur-themed display featuring stamps from across the globe and throughout history. Stamp collecting—philately—may seem like a small hobby, but it’s actually a window into history, art, culture, and storytelling. Through Dr. Snook’s dinosaur stamps, our students are not only marveling at prehistoric creatures, they’re also learning how countries commemorate discoveries, celebrate science, and share culture through these miniature works of art. As you can see, even our littlest Wildcats are captivated. Thank you, Dr. Snook, for sparking curiosity and helping us explore the world (and prehistoric past!) through philately. 🐾✨ 📚 Come check out these stamps at the Book Fair, this week and next!

Volunteer/voluntario 🔗 https://forms.gle/3jG5vUkxN87F6cFz7

💸 🔗 https://checkout.square.site/merchant/JBG3C6S38X1S0/checkout/VTQV6YZWVSDQG7TZ2ZQCGF4O?src=sheet

🎉👏 Huge congratulations to Ms. Valerie Oxford, our incredible ESOL teacher, who was selected as a recipient of an AthFest Educates Grant!

Thanks to this award, Ms. Oxford’s students will experience an unforgettable aerial arts field trip at Canopy Studio, where movement, creativity, and confidence soar to new heights. 🌟

We’re so proud of Ms. Oxford for bringing innovative, arts-based opportunities to our Wildcats, and we’re grateful to AthFest Educates for their continued support of arts education across Clarke County. 💛💙

HISTORY IN THE MAKING!

The Wildcats stormed the court last night and captured our first-ever volleyball victory, taking down Barrow in a match we’ll never forget. 🏐🔥

Kinley poured in 18 points, but it was the grit, hustle, and teamwork from every Wildcat that sealed the win. None of it would’ve been possible without the leadership of Coach Camille and Coach Arellano, who’ve been building this team from the ground up.

And this is just the beginning — the first W is in the books, and the future is wide open. 💙💪

📣 Next up: come cheer us on as we take on Burks, Wednesday, October 1st at 5:30 in the CCSD Gym!

#WildcatWin #HistoryMade #OAESVolleyball

🧪✨ Today, Oglethorpe had the joy of hosting Dr. Maurice Snook, a retired chemist who wowed our Wildcats with his magical experiments! Students were treated to a science lesson like no other—full of shrieks, gasps, and wide-eyed wonder as Dr. Snook brought the fundamental laws of chemistry to life right before their eyes. From start to finish, our Wildcats were on the edge of their seats, discovering just how amazing science can be when we play with the building blocks of our world. Dr. Snook is truly an Athens treasure, and we feel so lucky to have shared this unforgettable day with him. Thank you, Dr. Snook, for sparking curiosity and joy in our young scientists! 💛💙

Get ready to show your Wildcat spirit! 🏀📣 Fall Basketball and Cheerleading tryouts are coming up next week—Tuesday and Thursday right after school until 4:30 PM. This is your chance to shine, show off your skills, and be part of an incredible team! Tryout forms are coming home in Wednesday folders this week, or you can grab them online through the ClassDojo link. Let’s see our Wildcats bring the energy, the moves, and the team spirit—don’t miss out! 🎉💛💙

More big news coming daily out of OAES: our very first Wildcats Volleyball Team has officially taken the court!

We are so proud of our student-athletes for stepping up, working hard, and showing what it means to represent OAES with teamwork, determination, and Wildcat spirit. A huge shoutout goes to Coach Camille and Coach Arellano, whose vision, energy, and dedication have brought this brand-new program to life.

Our season is officially underway, and we can’t wait to see our Wildcats in action. Come cheer on our girls’ volleyball team this Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. at the CCSD Gym! Let’s pack the stands and show our athletes how much we believe in them.

Up, up, and away, Wildcats—this is just the beginning! 🏐💙💛

🌟✨ HUGE CONGRATULATIONS to Dr. Elizabeth Dubberly! ✨🌟 Dr. Dubberly has been awarded the NFMLTA/MLJ Emma Marie Birkmaier Award for Doctoral Dissertation Research in World Language Education—one of the highest national recognitions in the field of language education. This award is given by ACTFL (American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages) to honor groundbreaking contributions to world language research. https://www.actfl.org/news/achievement-in-language-education Her dissertation, “Creando con Ciencia: Creative Entanglements in the DLI Spanish Science Classroom,” shines a powerful light on the beauty and complexity of Dual Language Immersion classrooms. Through her innovative research, Dr. Dubberly explored how Spanish science lessons infused with the arts can disrupt old boundaries, connect knowledge from home and school, and create “in-between spaces” where students thrive, grow, and learn in dynamic new ways. Her work celebrates the creativity, bilingualism, and brilliance of our students, and her recognition is a testament to her passion, scholarship, and unwavering dedication to language education and to our Clarke County community. 💛 We are beyond proud of Dr. Dubberly for representing Oglethorpe, CCSD, and UGA on the national stage. What an incredible achievement! 👏🎉 Please join us in giving Dr. Dubberly a HUGE round of applause! 🎉👏 #WildcatPride #OAESstrong #BilingualBrilliance #ACTFL2025 #LeaderInMe #EveryDayCounts #CCSDproud #DualLanguageImmersion

🌟 Speaking of growing leaders here at Oglethorpe… this morning we had the honor of inducting our 2025–2026 Safety Patrol Team! 🛡️🐾 From helping Wildcats out of cars and buses, to keeping our school clean, to raising and lowering the flag each day with pride—our Safety Patrol members model responsibility, service, and leadership in action. These students embody what it means to be Leaders in Me—proactive, dependable, and always thinking of others before themselves. With their guidance, our school community is already lifting up, up, and away into a year full of safety, kindness, and excellence. 🚀 👏 Congratulations, Safety Patrol! We are so proud of each of you and grateful for the important role you play in our Wildcat family. 💛 #WildcatLeaders #SafetyPatrol #LeaderInMe #UpUpAndAway #WildcatPride #OAESstrong

🎬✨ The lights are on, the cameras are rolling, and our Wildcats are leading the way! This week, our 2025–2026 News Crew officially kicked off daily morning broadcasts—and wow, what a start! 🌟

These students are living proof of what it means to be Leaders in Me—showing initiative, teamwork, responsibility, and courage every single morning as they bring the news to their school community. From writing scripts to running the tech behind the scenes, they’re learning real-world skills while building confidence and lifting up their peers.

👏 We are SO proud of this incredible group of leaders who are already taking us up, up, and away into another amazing year at OAES. Congratulations to each of you!💛🐾

📺 Don’t miss their very first broadcast here: https://www.youtube.com/live/sWkjBbRF9zE?si=cThHQy7m7l-7Lz12

#WildcatNews #StudentLeaders #LeaderInMe #OAESstrong #UpUpAndAway #EveryDayCounts

🌟 Congratulations to our 2025–2026 Support Person of the Year, Celina “Mama” Dorfman! 🌟 If you’ve ever walked our halls in the morning, you know the joy that follows Ms. Dorfman wherever she goes. She is a ray of sunshine bursting through our school doors—lifting spirits, calming nerves, and setting the tone for a beautiful day of learning. “Mama Dorfman,” as we affectionately call her, has a gift for seeing the best in every person she meets. She notices the small things, celebrates the wins, and reminds us all to carry kindness and positivity with us. Her heart is as big as her smile, and she brings that love not only to her students but to every member of our staff. She collaborates with grace, jumps in wherever she is needed, and always does it with joy. Ms. Dorfman doesn’t just support our school—she makes it stronger, brighter, and more connected. She is the kind of person who makes everyone around her feel cared for, appreciated, and seen. Ms. Dorfman, we are so proud to celebrate you alongside Ms. Garcia this year. You embody the spirit of community, kindness, and love that makes OAES the extraordinary place it is. Thank you for all that you do to lift us Up, Up, and Away! 🚀✨ 💙💛 Congratulations, Mama Dorfman—you are one of a kind, and we are so grateful for you! 💙💛 #WildcatPride #SupportPersonOfTheYear #UpUpAndAway

🌟 Congratulations to our 2025–2026 Teacher of the Year, Megan Garcia! 🌟 Ms. Garcia, our incredible Kindergarten DLI English teacher, is the kind of colleague and educator who makes Oglethorpe Avenue Elementary shine. With 17 years of teaching experience—including the last four in DLI Kindergarten—she is as steady and dependable as they come. Rock-solid, capable, and endlessly compassionate, she always gets the job done with grace, patience, and love. Ms. Garcia believes every child can learn and deserves to feel safe, valued, and like they belong. She works tirelessly to create a classroom that is welcoming and inclusive, where each child feels special and seen. Whether it’s acting out stories with finger puppets to bring literature to life, or pausing to celebrate even the smallest victories, she makes learning joyful, engaging, and meaningful. Her students don’t just leave her classroom stronger learners—they leave knowing they are loved and capable. Beyond her classroom, Ms. Garcia is a true culture-builder. She leads with kindness, reminding her students (and all of us) that helping others, spreading positivity, and lifting people up matters. As she puts it: “Kindness goes a long way because we never know what another person is going through.” She models this every day—smiling, encouraging, and giving her best not only to her students but to her colleagues and school community. That ripple of kindness is powerful and lasting; it’s why her impact is felt far beyond her own classroom walls. Ms. Garcia, you embody everything we hope for in a Teacher of the Year. You remind us that teaching is not just about instruction, but about heart, connection, and the belief that every child deserves to be seen, cherished, and celebrated. We are so proud to honor you and grateful every day that you share your gifts with our Wildcats. Thank you for lifting our school Up, Up, and Away! 🚀✨ 💙💛 Congratulations, Ms. Garcia—you are extraordinary. 💙💛 #WildcatPride #TeacherOfTheYear #UpUpAndAway

📸✨ Picture Day is this Thursday, Wildcats! ✨📸

Time to bring those bright smiles, sharp outfits, and Wildcat confidence—because these photos will capture memories that last all year long. We can’t wait to see everyone dressed to impress and ready to shine. 💙💛

#WildcatPride #UpUpAndAway #SchoolPictureDay

📚✨ Late post, but worth the wait! Last week we celebrated our hardworking Wildcats who completed our Summer Bridge Program with a well-earned reward party! These students spent their summer filling reading logs and tackling homework to fight the “summer slide,” and we couldn’t be prouder of their dedication. They celebrated with a pizza + pop dance party, then leveled up the fun in our Wildcat Den—pool, air hockey, video games, basketball, golf, and more! 🎉 Way to go, Wildcats—your commitment to learning is inspiring! 💙💛 #WildcatPride #ReadersAreLeaders #LeaderInMe