Author: DANITA MCCLENDON-MORGAN

Girls on the Run (GOTR) is so much fun at Oak Hammock K-8! Coach Nancy Branim and Coach Amber Martin are proud of the 3rd-5th grade students that are learning and practicing healthy habits, developing positive relationships, and becoming stronger. The GOTR group meet twice a week to participate in lessons to lead healthy and balanced lives while practicing for the season finale 5K in November. Our star-powered GOTR team that make us proud are Aaliyah Jackson, Alannah Silva, Alyssa Martinez, Arianna Martin, Brielle McNamara, Janiyah Talabert, Kamila Gamez-Luna, Mia Gomez, and Natalia Gamez-Luna. #GOTR  

Students in Mr. Sparacio’s 7th Grade Civics class took an interactive approach to learn about the Declaration of Independence.   Students watched a parody music video, “It’s Too Late to Apologize Declaration” as they created the Ultimate Break Up Letter to King George the III annotated to the song’s lyrics.  The students were engaged in their learning while analyzing the ideas and complaints set forth in the Declaration of Independence.  They were challenged to work collaboratively to describe how English policies and responses to colonial concerns led to the writing of the Declaration of Independence.

Ms. Alexis’ students on the 7th grade Raptors team at Oak Hammock K-8, created a poem about the fall season. The students were to write their poems and work with their shoulder partner to analyze the impact of rhymes and other repetitions of sounds (e.g., alliteration) on a specific verse or stanza of a poem. This was not an easy task (though they thought it would be initially). It was, however, very fun to do. Students had a great time creating their poetry and the top poems were selected to create a ‘Poetry Corner’ for the 7th-grade hallway bulletin board.

The 7th-grade Raptors students in Mr. Richard’s Science class at Oak Hammock K-8, utilized a marshmallow science lab to explore Big Idea 1: The Practice of Science. Students were challenged to create a structure to support their marshmallow. They learned science is not only based on observation and inferences but requires creativity and the ability to question and explain one’s methods and processes. The lesson incorporated SEL skills, critical thinking, and engineering skills, as students competed in each class, to create and claim the bragging rights to the tallest structure to support the marshmallow on top.

Students on the 7th grade Raptors team at Oak Hammock K-8, welcome the start of the school year by creating personal and academic goals. The overarching theme for this school year is #WorkHardBeNice. Students discussed what it meant to them and how they could incorporate the theme into their academics and Social & Emotional Learning. As a team focus, they are determined to never give up and to work hard and be nice as they help each other achieve the goals as displayed on the bees throughout their learning environment. Ospreys Soar Together!

As a first-day back-to-school team building lesson, students in Ms. Savanello-McQuay InD homeroom class at Oak Hammock K-8 were engaged in learning the importance of working together #OspreysSoarTogether. The class read the story, The Most Magnificent Thing, by Ashley Spires and discussed the importance of not giving up and having enthusiasm about their projects. Students collaborated in groups to create their “Magnificent” things; they were successful in constructing a bowling alley, a classmate’s favorite dessert—pie, and a hand glider.

Oak Hammock K-8 would like to congratulate Derick Calero for having his artwork chosen and displayed in the office of The Florida House of State Representatives, State Representative, Dana Trabulsy, District 84, at The Capital in Tallahassee. State Representative, Trabulsy stated in her communications, “It brought stunning color to my home away from home and was admired by all.”   The Osprey family would like to congratulate Derick on this great accomplishment.  His artwork is an authentic expression of his amazing talent and his passion for art.

Oak Hammock K-8 6th grade virtual band students’ final project for the year taps into their creativity and ingenuity. Students were asked to create their own musical instruments from household items such as jars, cups, bowls and pots.  The students filled their items of choice with smaller objects to create different pitches, rhythms and dynamics. After participating in a lesson about various types of whales and their songs, students were asked to use their created instruments to emulate whale songs.  The ESE Self-Contained students took special interest in this project as they were are having a great time creating their … Read More

The students in Ms. Quinn’s K-5 ESE class, at Oak Hammock K- 8, learned about the life cycle of the butterfly. After exploring the butterfly garden on campus, the class watched as their caterpillars became chrysalides. Students created models of the butterfly life cycle with pasta and made predictions about the color of their butterflies. The class has been patiently waiting and watching the chrysalides metamorphosis into butterflies to determine which of them made the correct color prediction.

The Osprey Family at Oak Hammock K-8 celebrate their A-Team for Administrative Professionals Day 2021.  The A-Team was showered with flowers, chocolate and words of appreciation.  They were reminded, day in and day out, they make Oak Hammock K- 8 a better place to be and work. No one is more cherished in this world than someone who lightens the burden of others. Each of them deserved more thanks than the tokens of appreciate could ever show. The Osprey Family would like thank them for their commitment and dedication.

Oak Hammock K-8 Traditional and MySchool second grade classes had lots of fun exploring the different biomes. The students were assigned a project that was a collaboration between their classroom teacher, resource teachers and their family to focus on a specific community of vegetation and wildlife.  Students had to choose an animal and research about the animal including its habitat. In media class, Ms. Lecce focused on the importance of reliable resources when researching on online.  In STEAM, Ms. Flynn guided the students to discover and learn about different habitats and how to create an art piece.  The students created … Read More

Spring is here! Students in Kindergarten through Sixth Grade at Oak Hammock K-8 are learning about the life cycle of plants, water use, and most importantly, where food comes from, by growing herbs in the school’s infamous butterfly garden. Ms. Campbell’s 6th Grade ELA students learned dill and parsley are not only great herbs for cooking, but they are also favorite host plants for the Black Swallowtail Butterflies. The class planted dill and parsley seeds in the garden and are anxiously waiting for Black Swallowtails Butterfly to search these herbs out by smell. As students in all grade levels wait … Read More

“You are appreciated & thank you for making a difference” was the theme at Oak Hammock K-8.  The Administration showed their appreciation for their Osprey Staff by surprising them with a breakfast treat before Spring Break. Ms. Galloway thanked everyone for hanging in to the end and for giving their all.   A special thank you to our sponsors, Dixie Cream Donuts “melt in your mouth” and Natalie’s Orchid Island Juice Company.

The Kids Heart Challenge is an annual event the students participate in at Oak Hammock K-8. Students in Coach Branim’s K-5 physical education resources class learned about heart health while hosting a fundraiser for the American Heart Association. The virtual fundraiser event had a total of 130 elementary student participants who raised $7,430.00 this school year. The students were incentivized by having the opportunity to smash, Coach Branim with a “Pie in the Face” if they raised $100 or more. The “Pie in the Face” was a success! There were a total of 27 students who met or exceeded the … Read More

Oak Hammock K-8 MySchool students in 7th & 8th grade are creating wonderful music as members of the Osprey Band. The students have been working hard to create a virtual ensemble performance. Each student records their part of the selection, Ode to Joy and uploads it to Canvas. Ms. Isenhower, the band director, compiles all the recordings into one musical collaborative ensemble. As part of band class, the students record, listen and critique their selection and work to align them together to create a cohesive piece. The band is currently making great progress and is looking forward to the completion … Read More

Oak Hammock K-8 participates in PBIS program as a schoolwide reward system. Students in the self-contained classroom in grades 4th- 8th operate the Osprey Cart Reward Program. This program allows the self-contained students many opportunities to practice functional skills by utilizing the task analysis approach for learning. The classroom teachers, Ms. Savanello and Ms. Haley support the students by providing the online order form and assist the students in breaking down the task into manageable parts to ensure the orders are completed successfully. The program is linked to ELA and Math, where the students practice counting, adding, and sorting. Students … Read More

Elementary students in Ms. Valente’s Resource class explored the scientific method by researching the effects of gravity and air resistance on parachutes. The students were challenged with designing and creating an effective parachute model (small or large) to land on the target and stay intact. Students in Ms. Kane’s 4th grade class, were scientists for the day, as they made predictions, conducted trials to collect data, observed and reached a conclusion to determine which parachute system was effective.  

Creating social awareness and helping underprivileged individuals and families in need are the things Oak Hammock K-8 students are learning as they sponsor their annual food drive for Grace Packs. Students from Mr. Sparacio’s 7th Grade Civics class are understanding the importance of giving back to the community by preparing the collections boxes to be placed throughout the school and classrooms for the Chef Boyardee themed food drive. Helping families in need is the motivating force for the students as they contribute to society while learning to collaborate, cooperate and show kindness. The school will be collecting donations February 1- … Read More

First year art students in Ms. Douglas’s art class were challenged with creating their own “Among Us” online game character. Students combined artist styles and visuals from this popular game to produce their masterpiece. The project required students to choose an artist from an 8-poster panel and incorporate characteristics from this artist into their artwork by using enlarging techniques. The student’s final design was individualized by choosing a specific art media and using craftmanship practices.