Welcome to the PTA Newsletter! We are glad you are joining us as we support and enrich the lives of OLE students. Thank you for helping to make a difference!
Thank you to all OLE families who helped us spread the love to OLE teachers and staff!
We sure hope they know how loved and appreciated they are each and every day!
The Great Minnesota Read Together Has Begun!
February 14 - February 28
The Read-A-Thon is underway and we are SO PROUD of how amazing OLE students are doing with their reading and fundraising!
Here is a short recap of where things stand:
$12,285 Raised so Far
506 Readers
18,326 Minutes Read
334 Sponsors
Keep up the great work OLE students!
It's not too late to set up your child's fundraising page and log their minutes for a chance to win some AMAZING prizes! Click the button below to get started!
The school has transformed into a celebration of all things Minnesota! From reading by the campfire to finding the hidden mosquito, there is no shortage of MN fun happening at OLE!
In addition to daily all-school reading sessions, there are some fun Spirit Days during the Read-A-Thon!
Friday, February 25: Minnesota Outdoors Day.
Dress for your favorite MN outdoor activity (hiking, camping, fishing, etc.)
There will also be a school wide MN BINGO game
with prizes and popcorn for all!
Monday, February 28: Minnesota Spirit Day
Show your MN pride! Wear clothing from a favorite MN sports team or a favorite MN location or landmark.
Want to see how OLE is progressing towards our goal? Click the button below to view our school Read-A-Thon page!
Did you know it takes over 100 volunteers to make the Carnival a success? We need you on the team!
Next Volunteer Meeting WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 23RD
6:30pm in the OLE Media Center
Thank you to everyone who attended our January Volunteer Meeting! We are off to a great start, but we still need to fill many committee positions. Check the list to see if you might be a good fit!
Donation Committee: Responsible for collecting donations from local businesses for our raffle.
Volunteer Committee: Responsible for getting enough volunteers to cover set-up, games, raffle, baskets of fun, clean-up, etc.
Food Committee: Responsible for securing food trucks.
Games: Responsible for games and entertainment at the carnival.
Wristbands and Tickets: Responsible for wristband and ticket sales.
Baskets of Fun: Classrooms create themed baskets for a drawing the night of the carnival. Responsible for coordinating with teachers, assembling the baskets and putting out at the carnival.
Decorations/Signs: Responsible for signage and decorations and ordering t-shirts for volunteers.
In addition to the committee chair positions, we will need LOTS of volunteers at the Carnival! Please mark your calendar now and consider taking a little bit of time during the Carnival to help out.
We really can’t do it without you!
CARNIVAL QUICK FACTS
Brings in over $15,000 for OLE PTA - one of our biggest fundraisers of the year!
Helps fund classroom enrichment, books for the library, and art for every student at OLE!
Super fun volunteer opportunities for everyone!
A highlight of the year for OLE students!
Activities include food trucks, face painting, carnival games, prizes, book fair, and so much more!
Questions? Can't make the meeting but still want to help? Email us using the button below! We can't wait to have you on the team.
Kindergarten is doing their shape project, starry night, patterned after Vincent van Gogh.
1st grade is working on their shape project called peaceable kingdom, patterned after Edward Hicks.
2nd grade is creating their color project, concentric circles, patterned after Wassily Kandinsky.
3rd grade has completed the clay formation of their coiled pots. They will be glazing later this month.
4th grade is making their shape project patterned after Henri Matisse
5th grade is learning about 1-point perspective, patterned after a street artist Julian Beever, with their shape project.
A huge THANK YOU to the OLE Art Committee for planning the lessons, purchasing the materials and making this all possible! Thank you also to all of the volunteers who help out with all these projects throughout the year. We can't do it without you! Your time makes a tremendous impact on the students at OLE!
If you are interested in volunteering, email the OLE Art Committee below!
The PTA isn't possible without the tireless efforts of ALL our amazing volunteers! We will spotlight a great volunteer each month so that all of you can get to know the individuals who generously give their time and talents to the OLE community.
The PTA February Volunteer of the Month is Vi Palmer!
We have Vi to thank for all of the amazing things happening right now with the Read-A-Thon at OLE! She jumped right in as the new Read-A-Thon Chair this year and has done an incredible job!
Want to learn a little more about Vi? Click the button below!
Thank you, Vi, for everything you do to support the students at OLE! Your time and generosity do no go unnoticed!
You won't want to miss OLE students in We Are Monsters! Mark your calendar now for the spring performances of We Are Monsters.
Tickets go on sale March 14th
Performances take place in the theater at the Maplewood YMCA. Tickets go on sale March 14th. Friday, April 8th at 7:00pm
Saturday, April 9th at 1:00pm
Sunday, April 10th at 4:00pm
Bystander Intervention Training
Supported by the Korean Cultural Association
The Korean Cultural Association supports Bystander Intervention Training. Register for this FREE one-hour training where you will gain valuable understanding of the power you have as a bystander.
You and others in your training group will learn new action ideas as you review a wide variety of common harassments you may witness in many spaces. You are an unnamed, unseen member of a virtual group.
Upcoming dates for Bystander Intervention Training
The purpose of our PTA is to enrich the experiences of all students and the Otter Lake Community by sharing our time, talents, and treasure. You help make all this possible! If you are interested in joining the PTA, would like to volunteer, or have an exciting idea to share with us, please fill out the volunteer form below. We look forward to connecting with you!
Meetings will take place in the OLE Media Center from 6:30-8:00pm. Child care is provided. Please remember that masks are required in the building at this time.
In addition to attending in person, we welcome you to attend the meeting virtually via Google Meet if that is a better option for you. Just click on the meeting date below to access the Google Meet. We hope to see you there!
Have a question for Principal Mueller to answer live at the meeting? Click here to add your question to the agenda.
Want to help support your OLE students? Download the Box Top for Education app and scan your receipts!
Since Box Tops went 100% digital, we've seen the Student Council budget decline significantly. YOU can play a role in changing that. The OLE student Council uses the funds to provide mints to students for MCAs, donate money to the PTA for the carnival, contribute to fundraisers at OLE, and much more!
Do you shop on Amazon?
If so, you can help support the OLE PTA when you shop!
Supporting the OLE PTA when you shop on Amazon is easy, and it makes a huge impact! All you have to do is click the button below and sign in to your Amazon account. From there, select Otter Lake PTA as your charity. When you shop, make sure you are shopping on smile.amazon.com and Amazon will donate a percentage of the price of your purchase to the OLE PTA each and every time! It's a win-win!
Want to get more involved in the PTA? Have an idea or event that could benefit our school? We are always looking for new ideas! Contact the board at oleptawbl@gmail.com.
The primary purpose of the Otter Lake PTA is to enrich the experiences of all students. We accomplish this goal by providing both monetary and volunteer support to the school.
