Oakdale Elementary Collects Over 300 Toys for Home for Little Wanderers

Oakdale Second Graders had a plan to help make a successful Holiday Toy Drive.

  It was about three weeks ago, that we reported a story about Ms. Kerrin O'Brien and Ms. Christine O'Leary's Oakdale Elementary School second grade class. The eighteen boys and girls were putting together a Holiday Toy Drive, the first of anything like this at the local school.  Since September, this class had planned on doing “something” – to give back and help the community. Shortly before Thanksgiving, the teachers heard about the Home For Little Wanderers “Big Wishes” Gift Drive. The Home has been around for about 200 years now, and helps thousands of families throughout the year.  Meetings were held, phone calls were made, fliers were posted, drop boxes were set up in school, and the Oakdale Toy Drive was underway! Now, even for …

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Oakdale Students Ask for Your Help with Toy Drive

The Toy Drive will help support The Home for Little Wanderers.

  The Holidays are upon us – with Thanksgiving  and Black Friday now a memory and Christmas just around the corner. Over the past few weeks, just about everyone in town has seen, read about, and/or participated in, one type of fundraiser, charitable event, benefit or another. We have followed many of these events around Dedham, and sung the praise of countless people involved. Every so often though, a story is presented to us, that just stands out amongst the others – making you want to share it with as many folks as possible. “This” is one of those stories…  Not too long ago, we received an e-mail from Oakdale Elementary Second Grade teacher Kerrin O'Brien. It seems that she, and fellow teacher Christine O'Leary, had come up with a plan …

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Oakdale Third Graders Visit Plimoth Plantation

  The entire third grade of Oakdale Elementary School visited Plimoth Plantation right before Thanksgiving.   They visited the settlers' homes, played games at the Wampanoag Homestead and warmed by the fire in a wetu.   In the photo above the students get close with the giant turkey made out of hay. 

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Oakdale Elementary Celebrates Veteran's Day

  “Whether it's peacetime or wartime, it's always important that we remember – Veteran's Day means more than just a day off from school.”  These were the words that opened Principal Holli Armstrong's Oakdale Elementary School Veterans Day assembly. All week at school, time was put aside to teach our “young ones” the importance of Veterans Day. Originally celebrated in 1919, to honor those who served, sacrificed, and survived World War 1, Veteran's Day  (Armistice Day) has grown and evolved over the years. It was in 1978, that a bill was signed, assuring the nation that each year on Nov. 11, the day would be set aside to honor and thank all veterans who served our country. A National Resolution was passed in 2001, that calls for our country…

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Oakdale Elementary Holds “Dry Ice” Science Experiments

Every Halloween, Oakdale's 5th grade Science teacher, Ruth Dorsey, holds her much anticipated “dry ice day” at the school.

  Did you know that “dry ice” doesn't melt? It “sublimates” – going from a solid to a gas, skipping the liquid stage. You know that dry ice is cold, but did you know that it was really -109 degrees farenheit? Did you know that “everything” in the Universe is made up of Matter and Energy?  Well, the 5th grade students at the Oakdale Elementary School in Dedham know all of that, and much more. Each year around Halloween, Oakdale's acclaimed 5th grade Science teacher, Ruth Dorsey, holds her much anticipated “dry ice day” at the school.  Mrs. Dorsey joined the Dedham Public School system in 1996. This was the ninth year that Mrs. Dorsey has transformed her classroom in to a five-station Science lab. Each of Oakdale's three, 5th grade classes, …

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Oakdale Elementary Elects New Student Council

The council will try to plan and prepare for benefits and fundraisers for the school.

  As the 2012-2013 school year moves along, student councilors across town, recently elected by their peers, begin the work of planning and preparing for various benefits and fundraisers. Oakdale Elementary School Principal, Holli Armstrong, recently held the first of many meetings with her newly appointed fifth grade student council. With the largest enrollment numbers in town, the student councilors at Oakdale are responsible for many significant events, benefiting both the school and the community. Last year's group sold personalized ceramic tiles, which helped raise funds for school activities. The tiles have just been delivered and this year's students are sorting and preparing them to be hung. The duties of any student council member…

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Oakdale Elementary Holds Annual Scholastic Book Fair

Oakdale's 300 plus students in grades 1-5, purchased approximately 1,000 books and raised well over $2,000 for their school library!

  Since the renovation and grand opening of the Oakdale Elementary / Gail Bradbury O'Connell Children's Library and Media Center some five years ago, Principal Holli Armstrong has made it a priority to impress upon her students the importance of reading.  Herself an avid reader, Principal Armstrong works hand in hand with Library and Media Specialist Meghan Nels at the school. The pair teamed up recently, to hold their annual, Fall “Scholastic Book Fair.” Scholastic is the world's largest publisher and distributor of children's books. Translated in to 45 languages and available in 150 countries, Scholastic has been delivering books, magazines, and educational programs to schools and families for more than 90 years. Scholastic Books has an …

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Summer Reading Recognition at Oakdale Elementary

Oakdale Elementary School recognizes students who completed their summer reading assignment.

  Every September, as the dust settles on a new school year, Oakdale Elementary Principal Holli Armstrong holds a school wide assembly, in recognition of those students who have completed their Summer Math and Reading homework. The students are asked to work on a grade level Math packet and read as many books as possible during their summer vacation. Ms. Armstrong, herself an avid reader, stresses the importance of keeping your mind sharp and being prepared for school. With Reading Specialists Kristen Cannon and Nancy Nichols by her side (Nina Mancinelli is on maternity leave), Principal Armstrong thanked the 300 plus students for their hard work and told them that this year, over 85% of them had completed their assignments – the most in …

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Oakdale Elementary's Ruth Dorsey Wins Ed Kelley Award

This award is given to teachers that show compassion, insight, and integrity.

  At the beginning of each school year, the administration of the Dedham Public Schools holds a meeting. While introducing new teachers and reviewing their goals, policies, and procedures - two awards are handed out. The first is the Joseph “Shad” Araby Award. This award is presented to an employee/s of the Dedham Public School System that has shown a dedicated effort to support the students of our schools. This year's award was presented to the town's entire custodial staff – to honor their continued effort and hard work. The second award is the Ed Kelley Award.  Recently, we had the pleasure of chatting with Assistant Superintendent Cynthia Kelly (herself an award winner 1994-95) about Ed Kelley and this prestigious award.  Ed Kelley was…

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Oakdale Elementary Opens School Year Like a Well-Oiled Machine

First day of school at Oakdale Elementary.

Despite an early morning rain – forcing the school`s 320 plus students and their parents to gather inside in the gym – coupled with a day that had almost a 100 percent humidity, the Oakdale Elementary School in Dedham began the new year recently without a hitch. This September will make the 23rd “first day of school” that Holli Armstrong has had as an educator – her 8th year as Principal at Oakdale. Ms. Armstrong and her teachers have opening day down to a science! During the month of August, a letter was sent home to students – updating them on staff changes, reminding them to complete and return their Summer work, letting them know what to expect at school, and informing them of some of the exciting things planned for September. The …

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