Oregon Trail Elementary School

Week 15 at Oregon Trail Elementary was full of energy and excitement! One of the most memorable moments was celebrating the 67th day of school, with festive teachers and students filling the building with fun and school spirit. Music played through the hallways, creating a cheerful atmosphere as students returned from a much-needed Thanksgiving Break. Learners were engaged, focused, and ready to jump back into their routines. We also took time to revisit our school expectations to make sure everyone started the three week stretch strong. Overall, it was a great week at OT!

Barsa was able to observe her own class yesterday and shared, "This morning in Mrs. Boyle’s class, we sat in a circle for Morning Meeting. We said the Pledge of Allegiance together. Then we practiced how to respond the right way when someone tells us “no,” like staying calm and not arguing. After that, we talked with our shoulder partners about it. Everyone looked happy and was working hard during the meeting."

Hi everyone! I’m the school’s social media specialist, and I truly enjoy sharing all the wonderful things happening in our building. I couldn’t do it without my incredible student photographer, Barsa. She has visited every classroom from Kindergarten through 5th grade, capturing the amazing learning and activities taking place across our school. I’m so proud of her dedication and the amazing work she’s done!

Mrs. Ferrara's class finished their CKLA poetry unit with a recital! During the unit, students wrote 8 poems, using different poetic tools and figurative language. This was their opportunity to showcase their favorite poem for their class.

🦷✨ Wednesday’s Healthy Teeth presentation was a success! Students learned how to care for their smiles with proper brushing, flossing, healthy food choices, and regular dental checkups. Big thanks to everyone who took part—strong habits today mean brighter smiles tomorrow! 😁💙

May this holiday season bring rest, laughter, and special moments for your family. Merry Christmas from all of us at Oregon Trail Elementary.

While our 5th graders were learning about the American revolution, we engaged in a simulation to truly understand what 'no taxation without representation' meant. Each student was given 10 coins (Skittles). The King read aloud an infraction, one at a time, and the tax collectors collected the payment. One infraction read: "If you have a pet, you owe three coins." By the end of the simulation, most students had nothing left and were sent to jail. The tax collectors were each given 10% of the revenue, while the king got all of the rest. The students were incensed that the king was eating his profits right in front of them, which led to the question, "Do you see why the colonists were so angry with the king?"

Mrs. Willsey and Mrs. Shabi spent the morning co-teaching a lesson on accepting being told “no.” Students watched a video, participated in a related hands-on activity, and practiced how to disagree appropriately. We are thankful for the first 30 minutes we have each morning to support and strengthen the social and emotional needs of our students.

Building friendships and skills during Buddy Time with Mrs. Ferrara and Mrs. Christensen’s students!

Week 14 was filled with energy and connection! Students enjoyed plenty of dancing, welcomed families for our Thanksgiving Lunch, collaborated during small-group activities, and started each day with meaningful morning meetings. Wishing everyone a restful and joyful Thanksgiving break!

FUNctional Friday with Ms. Oberg, Mrs. Reichel, and Mr. Trevor! Our very own Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. We learned about the history of the balloons, looked at pictures of the parade, and made our own balloon floats. Thank you to our school resource officer for leading the parade!

There’s no better time to gear up and show the world what true spirit looks like! Our brand-new Spirit Gear Collection has officially dropped—packed with bold colors, fresh styles, and everything you need to support your child's school!

Mrs. Seamons and her students began the day with the Good Morning song to welcome the students and set a positive tone. They then counted the absent students and reviewed the daily classroom jobs. Afterward, the class participated in the Pledge of Allegiance. Mrs. Seamons continued with a review of the days of the week song and completed calendar counting together. Students practiced identifying shapes and discussed plans for their upcoming Thanksgiving lunch. The session concluded with students practicing counting backwards as a math skill warm-up. Mrs. Seamons is highly regarded within the district for her skill in supporting and mentoring new educators. She is frequently requested for new-teacher observations because of her strong instructional expertise, clear feedback, and ability to model effective classroom practices. We love Mrs. Seamons and everything she brings to Oregon Trail.

"Congrats, Ms. Kelley's class, with the ninth correct answer "A Sky Full of Stars" by Coldplay on this week's What's This Song?!? Wednesday Challenge!"

Don't forget about Thanksgiving Lunch Tomorrow!

Go get dinner and support our amazing school on Wednesday, December 3rd!

Check out week 13! Next week is our last week of school before we have a week off for Thanksgiving Break! Don't forget about our Thanksgiving Lunch on November 20th.

Ms. Bixler and her students had a very efficient start to their day. They started their day with the pledge and a song, which was followed by students joining in a big circle around the room to count by their multiples. Once students were finished, they were given a few minutes to get some iReady minutes in before practicing their spelling patterns through "Map It". Instead of starting their day with a Morning Meeting, they end their day with social and emotional lessons. Thanks Ms. Bixler for providing routines for students to be successful in the classroom. Photo Credit: Barsa, student photographer

Winners of the What's This Song?!? Wednesday Award for "Good Feeling" performed by Flo Rida

Week 12 was fun! Art, Finding Patterns, Descriptive Writing, Independent Work, Group Work, and so much more. Enjoy the rest of your weekend!