Typical Daily Schedule

Typical School Day Schedule:

8:00 School Library is Open and Available to Return and Check Out Books

8:10 Campus Opens to Students - Please do not drop off students prior to 8:10 - No Supervision is available.

8:10 Cafeteria opens for breakfast for all elementary students.

8:20 Building Opens for Students to Enter. 

Parents are encouraged to say “goodbye” to students as they leave their car or at the front door.

8:30 School Begins

8:45 K-5th English Language Arts   

10:45 - 11:30 Kindergarten Recess (20 minutes) then Lunch (25 minutes) - 

10:55 - 11:40 1st, 2nd Grades Recess (20 minutes) then Lunch (25 minutes) - 

11:20 - 12:05 OIMP Recess (20 minutes) then Lunch (25 minutes) - 

11:25 - 12:10 3rd Grade Recess (20 minutes) then Lunch (25 minutes) - 

11:30 - 12:15 4th and 5th Grades Recess (20 minutes) then Lunch (25 minutes) - 

More Recess/Movement Breaks for all Grades are added as needed each day!

Afternoon K-5th 60-90 minutes of Math

 K-5th 45-60 minutes of Science and Social Studies 

55 minute “Specials” for ALL students will happen every afternoon.  Each class receives 1 Music, 2 PE times, 1 Farm to Classroom time AND 1 Creative Arts Time (Art and Bucket Drumming). 4th and 5th grade students have most specials right before recess and lunch at 10:35.  5th grade band and strings is one of the specials that happens before recess and lunch.

2:15 Parents plan to arrive a 2:10 for pick up

WEDNESDAY DISMISSAL - Staff participate in Professional Learning Communities (Staff Development)

3:15 Parents plan to arrive at 3:10 for pick up

Dismissal, Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday

Other Important Information

School Visitors and Parents in the Building - Visitors and parents are welcome on our campus and in our buildings.  

• Enter and exit through the front door - so we are aware of additional adults in the building in case of emergencies. Please sign in before proceeding to any other space.

• Sign in at the counter in the main office 

• Complete and wear a yellow name badge. This name badge lets school staff know that you have signed in.   

• Sign out when departing. Use the QR Code to log your volunteer hours. (see the volunteer page of this website)

• At the start of school, we ask that parents drop their children off in the parent drop off area or at the front door.

An interpreter will be available to assist with communication from 8:20-8:45 every day, ask our elementary office manager to connect the interpreter to you!

Recess/Movement Breaks - Movement is important for all elementary students.  Besides the scheduled 20 minute recess break before lunch, teachers take regular movement / recess breaks as needed throughout the day.  These breaks may be in the form of walking the track, outside free play, indoor breaks for games, choice time or “go noodle” movement breaks.

Snacks - Some students need a snack break either in the morning or afternoon and some do not.  All teachers recognize that it is challenging for a “hungry” student to learn and will always accommodate students as needed.  Some classes schedule regular snack breaks - if your child’s classroom does not have a regular snack break and your child needs a snack break, simply reach out to your child’s teacher, a plan can be arranged.

Tardies and Attendance - In accordance with RCW 28A.225.005, regular school attendance is required and is important for success in school. Washington State Law, the Becca Bill, requires that all children regularly attend school or participate in an approved home school program.  Chronic absenteeism and tardiness are a concern, even if the absences and tardies are excused. OIES will use the following process to notify parents of absenteeism and tardy concerns:

Tardies - If a student is late to school, they must report to the office before going to class

•  5 tardies will trigger a letter from the school.

• 10 tardies may trigger a phone call from the school

• 15 or more tardies may trigger a conference with parents, principal and student to develop a plan for improvement.

Absences - When a student is absent, a parent/guardian must call or email the school to state the reason for the absence. An excused absence is for a doctor, dentist, illness, mental health, or family emergency.  If a student returns to school without an excuse, the school is required to contact the parent.  

Unexcused Absences - 

• 3 unexcused absences in a month will trigger a parent, principal and student conference to create a plan for improvement

• The 2nd-5th unexcused absence in a year will trigger deeper interventions including county involvement (Community Truancy Board)

• After 7 unexcused absences in a month and not later than 15 cumulative unexcused absences during the school year will trigger filing of a truancy petition.

Excused Absences - 

• 5 absences will trigger a letter from the school.

• 10 absences during the school year will trigger a letter that could require a parent, principal and student conference to create a plan for improvement

Spirit Days - We have scheduled spirit days throughout the year. These are special days where students can dress according to certain themes.  More details will follow about each specific day.   

Assemblies - Assemblies will happen throughout the year typically on Fridays, from 2:20-3:00.  Information about upcoming assemblies will be sent via school messenger and found in our weekly newsletter.  Parents are encouraged to attend and share in our school spirit!

Lost and Found - Please label all items your child brings to school: clothing (sweaters, caps and jackets), as well as lunch boxes, backpacks and musical instrument cases.  Unclaimed clothing will be donated to a worthy cause after one month.

Cell Phone / Personal Electronic Device Policy - At the elementary school level, no cell phone, or smart watches may be used in a classroom, building or playground without the permission of the classroom teacher.  During the school day, cell phones and smart watches must be turned off and stored in the student’s backpack.  If a cell phone, smart watch, or other electronic device is used in a class without the permission of the teacher, the item is taken to the office and kept in the office until the end of the day. The student may pick up their item at the end of the day.

Dress Code - Students are expected to wear clothing appropriate to the school setting.  T-shirts must not display inappropriate pictures or language, for instance those with references to tobacco or alcohol products are not allowed. Shorts must be no shorter than mid-thigh length.  Tops with exposed midriffs are not allowed at school.  

Curriculum - Within our school, we work in collaborative teams to implement and integrate the Washington State Learning Standards in all subject areas. Teachers are continuing to be trained in GLAD (Guided Language Acquisition Design) to support their instructional practices.  We monitor student learning and target interventions / extensions as appropriate for each child. 

• Math Curriculum:  

  • Kindergarten-3rd grade - Bridges from The Math Learning Center

  • 3rd -5th grade - My Math from McGraw Hill Education.

• English Language Arts Curriculum:  

  • K-5th grade - Core Knowledge Language Arts (CKLA) from Amplify

  • Writing is integrated into reading, science and social studies through the four main writing genres, narrative, opinion, informative and poetry.

• Social Studies and Science: Social Studies and Science units happen through integration with other subject areas.  These STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, math) units are aligned with the national Next Generation Science standards.

  • Since Time Immemorial Units for Social Studies.

  • FOSS and AMPLIFY science kits provided through the NWESD assist with hands on materials 

  • Outdoor Education experiences in our beautiful San Juan island.This program is integrated into what is happening in the classroom and organized by the teachers. Classrooms will focus on different outdoor areas around Orcas Island, using state parks, YMCA Camp Orkila, Camp Four Winds, San Juan Preservation Trust land and Landbank spaces, and Camp Four Winds.  

• Kelso’s Choice and 2nd Step:  A wonderful quality about OIES is that we focus on the whole child.  Our 2nd Step Advocate teaches a weekly social and emotional curriculum to all students. The program focuses on helping students differentiate between small problems, which they are encouraged to solve themselves and big problems, which require some adult assistance.  Then students learn a variety of problem solving skills and strategies to apply.  The goal is to help students feel confident in solving problems and asking for help when needed.

  • Kelso’s Choice

  • Second Step 

    • Elementary

    • Bully Prevention Unit

    • Child Protection Unit

Homework - We value family time, and understand the need for children to play.  We encourage families to read together as much as possible.  Each individual classroom teacher will address student needs regarding homework.  If your child is in 3rd-5th grade and is using their in class time wisely, they should not have more than an average of 30 minutes of homework each night, including reading.  If homework becomes frustrating, please communicate with your child’s teacher.

Student Assessments - Assessments fall into a few general categories: screenings, classroom-based, and annual state assessments (for students in 3rd-5th grade). 

Screenings - 

• Child Find - For students in preschool - scheduled by appointment 

approximately 2 times per year.

• RAN (Rapid Automatic Naming) - K-1st grade (and any new to OISD students) - This is a quick assessment required by the state, and is one screener used to identify dyslexia.

• Fastbridge - K-5th grade - This is a quick online screener (about 20 minutes each for reading and math) and happens 3 times a year to monitor student growth.

• Developmental Reading Assessment - K-5 grade - This 1:1 individual assessment is given 3 times a year for students not reading at grade level.

• Washington Kids -This is a state required, one on one assessment that screens all kindergarteners in the areas of literacy, language, numbers, gross motor, fine motor and social skills.

• World Class Instructional Design (WIDA Assessment) - K-12 - This screener is given to any student new to the district, who identified a language other than English, on the Home Language Survey (in the registration packet) - depending on the scores of this screener, students may or may not be eligible for Multi Liingual Services.

• Highly Capable Assessments – OISD will annually test all 3rd grade students late winter using the Cognitive Abilities Test, screening for highly capable.  Each fall nominations for students NOT in 3rd grade can be completed and submitted by either a parent or teacher, if you are interested in recommending your child be evaluated for highly capable, contact your child’s teacher.  At this time, we do not offer specific highly capable pull out programs, but do identify students so teachers can extend and enrich instruction to better meet individual needs.  

Classroom Based Assessments -

• Students in each grade participate in a variety of in class, end of unit assessments in different subject areas.  Some of these assessments are paper and pencil, some are on line, some are presentations or project-based assessments.

Annual State Assessments -

• Smarter Balanced Assessments - 3rd-5th grade - Online standards based achievement tests are based on Washington State Learning Standards, and administered each spring in math and ELA.  5th grade students also participate in a state assessment, each spring, in science.  

• World Class Instructional Design (WIDA Assessment) - K-12 - This annual language assessment is given to all students who are identified as a Multi Lingual Learner. The assessment is given online and measures students' reading, writing, listening and speaking abilities in English.

Library Books - Kindergartners can check out a book each week at library time. This is to foster knowledge of the library, help them learn responsibility by borrowing and taking care of books, and to give them access to reading materials.

1st-3rd can check out up to 3 books. No checkouts if a book is overdue.

4th-6th can check out up to 5 books. No checkouts if a book is overdue.

7th-12 can check out up to 10 books. No checkouts if a book is overdue.

The Library is open each morning at 8:00 to check out and return Library Books!