INVITATION: JOIN US IN SUPPORTING OUR K-6 CHOIR

We are thrilled to extend a warm invitation to our OAA family to join us in supporting our K-6 choir as they minister through song at Madison Mission Seventh-day Adventist Church tomorrow, March 23, 2024 for the 11:30 am service.

Our young people have been diligently working under the direction of Ms. Webb accompanied by Mrs. Drake and preparing selections of uplifting and inspiring songs that they are eager to share on Sabbath. Their dedication, enthusiasm and love for music shine through every note. We are confident their singing will touch your heart and lift your spirit.

We hope to see you there as this gives an amazing opportunity for fellowship and community engagement.

For our K-6 students, details for tomorrow are on the flier! 

We are grateful to each of our local churches for graciously hosting our choir and providing us with an opportunity to share our gifts with the wider community.

SHORING UP MATH and READING SKILLS

So far this school year, our students have gone through two rounds of Measuring of Academic Progress (MAP) assessments, the Fall and the Winter assessments.  The MAP assessment is a norm-referenced, standard bearer for measuring achievement and growth in K-12 mathematics, reading, language usage and science.  Here at OAA we use It as a form of progress monitoring tool, monitoring each student’s progress in the above mentioned subjects.

As we move toward the close of the school year, our goal is to support students in shoring up some of their skills, particularly, in mathematics and reading.   IXL is a digital program that we use in the classroom. Students can also access this resource at home. Each student has his or her IXL login information.  All they need to do is login to IXL and look for the MAP icon below.  

Parents, you can get your child’s MAP scores from his or her teacher.   Our Spring MAP assessments will take place at the end of April.   So, we invite you to partner with us to help each child, K-11, master their math and reading skills through the IXL practice.

Grades 7-12 WEEK OF PRAYER RECAP

This week our school had the privilege of hosting a Week of Prayer for students in grades 7 through 12. It was a spiritually enriching and transformative experience for all involved, filled with meaningful reflections, heartfelt worship and opportunities for both spiritual and personal growth.

Our students and staff have been richly blessed by the ministry of Pastor Ivor Meyers of Power of the Lamb Ministries. Pastor Meyers has been our speaker for Week of Prayer. Years ago he left Hip Hop to follow Christ and hasn't looked back. His ministry has reached thousands around the world and has revitalized, reconnected and recharged many who were giving up hope and faith.

In addition to the morning assemblies, support was provided to encourage deeper engagement with spiritual themes and principles. Our freshman class even took advantage of this time to come together as  a unit to pray and work through their differences as a class.

Students learned that in Greek, X is the first letter in the word Christ. The early Christians used X as a symbol to show they were followers of Christ. Since this enlightenment, some of our high school young men have been walking around calling themselves X-Men. 

As we reflect on our Week of Prayer, we are reminded of the importance of developing and nurturing our spiritual well-being through a deeper study of the word of God, crossing our eyes to see Christ and the Great Controversy woven throughout the Bible and fostering a culture of love and acceptance within our school community.

As we move forward, let us carry the lessons learned and the experiences gained during the Week of Prayer with us, striving to embody the values of faith, dying to self and serving God with our mind, heart, and desires.

A REFLECTION OF OAA'S CELEBRATION OF BLACK HISTORY MONTH

We want to take a moment to reflect on the rich and vibrant celebration of Black History Month that took place throughout our school in February. We honored the achievements, contributions and legacies of Black individuals who have made indelible marks on history and continue to shape our world today.

From thought-provoking discussions and educational activities to engaging events and inspiring performances, OAA's celebration of Black History was both enlightening and empowering. Through these initiatives, we've sought to deepen our understanding of Black history, culture and experiences while fostering a sense of unity, empathy and solidarity among our students, faculty and staff.

It is our hope as we move forward, to carry the lessons learned and the spirt of unity forged during Black History Month with us, striving to create a more equitable and inclusive world for all.

OAA STUDENTS PARTICPATE IN THE NORTH ALABAMA SCIENCE and ENGINEERING FAIR (NARSEF)

The North Alabama Science and Engineering Fair (NARSEF) was held at UAH on March 6, 2024.  Our high school and middle school students participated in the Senior (high school) and Junior (middle school) Divisions competitions.   All of our OAA Senior Division participants and 2 of our Junior Division participants qualified for the next level competition, Alabama Science and Engineering Fair (ASEF)

ASEF will host middle and high school fair winners from the 4 regional fairs held across the state. Students had the chance to compete for more than 150 awards totaling over $15,000.00.

ASEF is an affiliate of Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (Regeneron ISEF), the world's largest international pre-college science competition. ISEF annually provides a forum for millions of students from over 50 countries, regions and territories to showcase independent research.

Three exceptional high school students in the Senior Division from ASEF will advance to the Regeneron ISEF from May 11-17, 2024 in Los Angeles, CA and will compete against the top 1500 students in the world for nearly $9 million in prizes and scholarships.

Additionally, the top 10% of Junior Division winners from grades 6-8 will advance and compete in the Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge.

We are proud to announce that middle school and high school students from OAA participated in ASEF and brought home the title of finalists. Please see the students listed below:

Senior Division (High School)

1. Henry, Joshua - Oakwood Adventist Academy (HS)

   • (NARSEF Computational and Bioinformatics Sciences- 2nd Place)

2. Jackson, Chrisanne - Oakwood Adventist Academy (HS) 

   • (NARSEF Behavioral Sciences-1st Place)

3. Mountain, Vaughan - Oakwood Adventist Academy (HS)

   • (NARSEF Biomedical Engineering & Biomedical and Health Sciences- 2nd Place)

4. Vanterpool, Jordon - Oakwood Adventist Academy (HS)

   • (NARSEF Biomedical Engineering & Biomedical and Health Sciences- 3rd Place)

5. Vanterpool, Jasmyn - Oakwood Adventist Academy (HS)

   • (NARSEF Physics, Astronomy & Mathematics- 2nd)

6. Ward, Antonio - Oakwood Adventist Academy (HS)

   • NARSEF Computational and Bioinformatics Sciences- 1st Place) 

Junior Division (Middle School)

1. Kwarteng, Christina - Oakwood Adventist Academy (MS)   

   • (NARSEF Chemistry-2nd Place)

2. Vanterpool, Janaia - Oakwood Adventist Academy (MS)

   • (NARSEF Biomedical Engineering & Biomedical and Health Sciences- 1st Place)

Special Awards 

1. NORTH ALABAMA VET. MEDICAL ASSOC.

• Vaughan Mountain 

2. US Army Special Awards

   • Vaughan Mountain 

   • Jordan Vanterpool 

   • Janaia  Vanterpool 

3. Best Electromagnetics Project from IERUS  

• Jasmyn Vanterpool 

4. Optics and Photonics Award by the Huntsville  Electro-Optical Society 

• Jasmyn Vanterpool  and Christopher Jackson 

5. USSRC Docent's Award for Excellence

• Chrisanne Jackson

• Jasmyn Vanterpool

• Janaia Vanterpool

Congratulations to each of our scholars. We want to also give special mention to Mia Bellamy, Czarah Nora and Samuel Mercury, middle school students who participated as well. 

NEED A BREAK? BABYSITTERS FOR HIRE

Life gets busy, OU Student Babysitting has your back! Whether its a night out, an important appointment, or just some well-deserved "me time, " the OU Student Babysitting team of experienced and trustworthy babysitters is here to provide reliable childcare when you need it most. 

Why OUSB?

✅ Most are certified and background-checked sitters

✅ Experienced with children of all ages

✅ Flexible scheduling to fit your needs

✅ Safe, nurturing and fun environment for your little one(s)

✅ Peace of mind for parents knowing your child(ren) are in good hands

No need for childcare stress to hold you back! Contact Eryn Roper today via 256-200-7711 for a list of sitters and to book your next babysitting appointment!

K-12 TUTORING OPPORTUNITY

We are excited to announce that Tutor Me is available for all students at OAA K-12.  We were blessed to add this program when we added the GoGuardian program.   Tutor Me is an online on-demand individualized 24/7 learning support program for all subjects and all grade levels K-12 through college level. 

Students can receive live one-to-one tutoring and feedback in all subjects and assignments.  See the attached student guide document on the program and the website. www.tutorme.com will provide additional information on how the program works.  They have just recently announced that it is now called Pear Deck Tutor.  

Students can find the blue login link in the bottom left-hand corner of every Canvas subject to log into the TutorMe (Pear Deck Tutor) program. Take advantage of this free online tutoring program!

For the safety of you, your child(ren), the OAA volunteers, safety patrols and staff, please be reminded of the following:

GENERAL RULES:

• Children should enter and exit the vehicle from the right side only.

• Only allow your child to exit your car on the sidewalk.

• Drive slowly while on campus, especially during drop-off/pick-up.

• All cars move together "One Band, One Sound" [this is for the safety of your child(ren) + all children of Oakwood Adventist Academy]

MORNING SPECIFIC RULES:

• Drop-off begins at 7:30 a.m. and ends at 7:55 a.m. Students may not enter the building until 7:30 a.m. Oakwood Adventist Academy is not responsible for their safety before that time. Please do not leave them unaccompanied outside of the school building.

• Safety patrols are here to assist your children out of the car and to class. If you need to speak to a teacher, please schedule a conference. 

• If you are not at the drop-off zone in front of the school, your children should not exit.

• Children should be ready to exit the vehicle when they arrive at the drop-off zone. Please don’t wait to put sneakers on and collect your school supplies when you pull up to the drop-off zone.

• Do not begin to pull away from the car line until all children are safely on the other side of the barrier.

• If the 8:00 a.m. bell rings, your child is tardy and you MUST sign them in at the front desk.

AFTERNOON SPECIFIC RULES:

• K-8 ||| Pick-up now begins at 3:05 p.m. and ends at 3:45 p.m., M-TH AND begins at 2:05 p.m. and ends at 2:45 p.m. on Friday

• 9-12 ||| Pick-up begins at 3:30 p.m. and ends at 4:00 p.m., M-TH AND begins at 2:30 p.m. and ends at 3:00 p.m. on Friday

• OAA car tags are preferred to be hanging from the rear view mirror. Bare minimum they must be placed on the driver side of the dashboard.

• Students may NOT walk to the parking lot at any time unless accompanied by an OAA staff member.

• Please refrain from talking with the teachers during pick-up, as this distracts them from ensuring the safety of all children.

AFTERNOON SPECIFIC PROCESS:

• Cars arrive and we group names based on arrival for calling students to line up for dismissal.

• Cars make their way to the front of the building (8 cars at a time)

• Students are dismissed to their car based on how they were grouped.

• Once the sidewalk is clear and all students are loaded, the group at the sidewalk departs so that the next group of 8 cars can arrive to the front of the building. 

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***Please do NOT drive around pass the old high school building/the Anna Knight building to cut the line. When you cut the line, it prolongs the car line process for everyone as the names and numbers get thrown off.***

OAA HandS welcomes parent participation in support of our OAA school programs (grades K-6, 7-8, 9-12). We promote a positive and beneficial partnership with OAA Administration and Teachers. Research indicates many positive outcomes for children when parents volunteer and actively participate in their child’s school.

Follow these simple steps to become a successful OAA In-School Volunteer:

Step 1. Fill out this Google survey form to submit your name for service as an OAA volunteer.

Step 2. Complete the mandatory South Central Conference risk assessment. The link to begin the risk assessment can be found in the Google survey form.

Please use the following for the assessment:

Union: Southern Union

Conference: South Central

Step 3. You will be contacted by the OAA HandS Parent Coordinators for final review:

Parent Coordinator: Tawnya Laughinghouse (tpl3222@gmail.com)

Asst. Parent Coordinator (K-6): Shantel Wise

Asst. Parent Coordinator (7-8): Charmaine Woode

Asst. Parent Coordinator (9-12): Tarshall Dublin

OAA HandS and OAA Administration believe that volunteering and visiting within the school building is a privilege. As part of a team supporting student success, you are very important to OAA as a school volunteer.

These volunteer guidelines are established for the benefit of our children, whose needs are our highest

priority.

Be sure to follow us on all social media platforms as this is another amazing way for us to stay connected for latest news and updates!

We also encourage you to use our hashtags when showing your Mustang pride so that we can repost you on our pages!

#letsgomustangs #gooaa #oaainmydna #oaamustangs