Good morning OES Families,
For the past few years, I have put on "Christmas in the Library" the week leading up to our holiday break. During this week, up to two classes at a time visit the library for an hour. At that time, the students watch a movie while enjoying hot chocolate and decorating/eating sugar cookies. This year the students will be watching a few PREP and LANDING shorts on Disney+ (all rated G).
I will be purchasing and baking the sugar cookies from Gordon Foods but am looking for help with the rest! If you would like to donate an item, there are a couple of links listed below. The signup genius is for frosting containers. Please do not send in bags of decorative frosting. The 16oz frosting containers work great! The amazon link is for the rest of the items to make our cookie decorating and hot chocolate drinking a success! Please make sure all items are here by next Friday, December 12th!
If your student has a food allergy, please let me know! I have a list and want to make sure I did not miss anyone! I will have alternative items for those students, so they do not miss out!
Hot chocolate and cookie decorating supplies
Thank you in advance for your support!!
Mrs. Shafer
Hi OES Families,
We having many volunteer opportunities coming up in our building and we don't want you to miss them! Please feel free to sign up below if you're interested!
Have a wonderful afternoon,
Oxford Elementary School
Dear Wildcat Families,
Looking for a great Christmas gift this season? Our Wildcat Blankets are back and make the perfect present for any Wildcat fan! These blankets are soft, warm, and full of school spirit—ideal for cozy winter nights or cheering on the sidelines. They’re especially loved by our sports moms and dads!
Wildcat Blanket Highlights:
• Super soft and warm
• Great for home, games, or gifting
• Perfect for students, parents, and fans
• Supports the DA/OES PTO
How to Purchase:
Thank you for supporting the PTO and helping us continue to provide great experiences for our students. These blankets go fast each year, so be sure to grab yours while supplies last!
Warmly,
DA/OES PTO
Dear DA/OES Families,
We’re excited to share that our annual Santa Shop is right around the corner (Saturday, December 13th)—and this year comes with some exciting updates!
We’ve partnered with Holiday Treasures Gift Shop, which allows us to offer a wider variety of gifts at multiple price points. Students will be able to shop items ranging from under $5 to $15, making it easier for everyone to find something special.
New this year:
Families can preview the shop online here: Holiday Treasures Gift Shop
You now have the option to preload funds using a credit or debit card. Simply purchase the amount you’d like your child to spend, send them with their envelope and voucher, and they’ll be all set to shop!
Cash will still be accepted as always.
Please remember to sign up for a shopping time slot for your student so we can keep the event organized and fun for everyone.
We are also still in need of volunteers to help the Santa Shop run smoothly. If you’re able to donate some of your time, we would truly appreciate it!
We’re working hard to get FundRun prize selection forms home this week for those choosing Early Santa Shop as their prize.
A flyer and shopping envelope have been placed in teachers’ mailboxes today, so please keep an eye out for them coming home.
Thank you for your continued support in making this event magical for our students! 🎁✨
Warmly,
DA/OES PTO
Jessica, Jade, Sheena and Tammy
Please make sure your child brings their winter gear to school tomorrow. We aim for students to go outside for recess to get fresh air and exercise whenever the “feels like” temperature is above 10 degrees.
Please ensure your child comes to school prepared with the following labeled winter items:
Warm coat
Boots
Hat
Gloves or mittens
Snow pants
#WorldclassWildcats #OCSWildcats
Happy Thanksgiving, OES Families! Please read our December OES Press Family Newsletter!
Dear Oxford Community Schools Families,
We want to hear from you! Whether you voted yes or no on the recent millage proposals, your perspective is important and will help guide planning for programs, facilities, and services that best support our students and community.
Share your thoughts in one of these ways:
In-Person Listening Session:
Tuesday, December 9
6–7 p.m.
Oxford Middle School
Virtual Listening Session:
Thursday, December 11
6–7 p.m.
Login to the Virtual Session (on 12/11/25 at 6:00 p.m.)
Online Community Survey:
Thank you for taking a few minutes to share your voice. We look forward to hearing from you!
With gratitude,
Dr. Tonya Milligan
Superintendent
Oxford Community Schools
Hi OES Families,
As a reminder we do have an early release day with a 12:15pm dismissal tomorrow, Friday November 21st as well as Tuesday, November 25th going into Thanksgiving Break and no school November 26-28. Please check out the early release lunch menus below.
Have a wonderful afternoon,
Oxford Elementary School
Sunday, November 30th, 2025, is Wildcat Remembrance Day. On Sunday at 7 p.m., our community will light luminaries as part of the day’s observance to Light Up Oxford with Love. Luminaries (a white paper bag and a small battery-powered candle) are available again this year for any student or staff member who wishes to pick one up from our front office and/or the front lobby.
Our students have differing levels of knowledge about November 30th, 2021. We did not conduct whole-class discussions about the luminaries, allowing families to guide any conversations at home in a way that works best for them.
As always, please reach out to me, your child’s teacher, or our family-school liaison if you or your child needs support.
Good afternoon OES Families,
This is just a reminder that the Book Fair will be open during the following times in the Media Center this week for parents to shop:
Monday, November 17th from 4:45pm to 8pm
Thursday, November 20th from 4:45pm to 8pm
Friday, November 21st from 12:45pm to 4pm
Please remember students are not to come down during conferences unless accompanied by an adult! I do provide black bags for secretive shopping if students do attend with you this week!
Parents, family members, neighbors, etc. can all shop at our online fair as well! Click on and share the link below! All books will be shipped to the school the week after Thanksgiving. Once they arrive, I will get ahold of you to schedule a pickup time (if they are for a Christmas gift).
Some of our teachers also filled out book Wishlist's for their classroom that can be found on the link below. I will have a trifold board setup in the Media Center with the same info if you would like to purchase something in person!
Happy Conference Week and I look forward to hopefully seeing you all this week!
Mrs. Shafer
Hi OES Families,
It’s that time of year again where we work hard to provide support for families that may need it during the holidays.
There is a giving tree in the OES lobby where our student council has created ornaments with a QR code on them that will take you directly to a sign up genius to select items to donate to help our local families so if you’re in for conferences this week, please check it out!
The link to the sign up is also below. If you are donating an item, please do not wrap the gifts. Send the donated item(s) into the school and to the giving tree outside the OES office in a bag and labeled with the family #. All items are needed by Friday, December 12th.
If you would like to donate anonymously, please just write "Anonymous" as the alternate name you would like displayed next to the slot you are taking.
We appreciate all of the love and support you give as we help our OES children realize once again the joy of helping others.
If you have any questions, please reach out.
Thank you!
Oxford Elementary School
It’s MY most favorite time of the year... BOOK FAIR TIME!!
Students will be able to shop starting Monday, November 17th thru Friday, November 21st during the designated days listed below:
Monday, November 17th – Alef, Johnston, Harvey, Ulin
Tuesday, November 18th - 4th grade in PM
Wednesday, November 19th – Bartlo in AM and 5th grade in PM
Thursday, November 20th – open shop all day for students
Friday, November 21st – LAST CALL open shop 9:30am to 11:30am for students (half day)
BONUS!! Parents will be able to shop during conferences!! The book fair will be open to parents at the following times:
Monday, November 17th from 4:45pm to 8pm
Thursday, November 20th from 4:45pm to 8pm
Friday, November 21st from 12:45pm to 4pm
We do have black shopping bags in case you are purchasing Christmas presents!!
Holding your conference on a different date?! Relatives looking for a little something extra to give your student this holiday season?! We can help!! Click on the link below to shop from the comfort of your couch!!
Kids can never have too many books, so feel free to share the link with relatives, neighbors and friends!! A percentage of the fair goes right back into purchasing the books YOUR STUDENTS ask me to buy for our Media Center. This is the ONLY fundraiser the school holds each year for the Media Center so your continued support is extremely appreciated!!
Online gift cards can also be purchased to make shopping easier for your student, so you don't have to stress about money being lost!! Click on the link below to create a gift card for your student or add more money onto a previous gift card!!
And as much as I absolutely LOVE all of your children, the book fair is NOT a drop-off site while you are in conferences. Children can only visit the book fair during conferences IF accompanied by an adult! I apologize for any inconvenience.
Please reach out if you have any questions!! HAPPY READING!!
Mrs. Shafer
shannon.shafer@oxfordschools.org
(248) 969-5330
Please read this updated November newsletter for updates and/or reminders regarding our FISH Food Drive, conferences, book fair, winter weather apparel, and more!
Dear OES Families,
We hope you had a great weekend! We have two important reminders for you this week concerning the cold weather and our community service initiative.
This is the Last Week to Donate to Our Food Drive!
This is the last week to donate to our FISH food drive! Our school's Oxford Orion Fish Food Thanksgiving Food Drive is closing this Thursday, November 13th, and this is your final chance to help us support the local FISH food pantry and make a difference for families in our community this holiday season.
A huge thank you to everyone who has already contributed! Remember, the grade level competition is still on. The grade that brings in the most items will win an exciting ice cream sandwich or popsicle party, sponsored by the Student Council.
Current Grade Level Standings (as of Friday afternoon):
Here is a look at the current standings in our competition. Every item counts as we race toward the deadline:
3rd Grade: 106 items collected
4th Grade: 90 items collected
5th Grade: 81 items collected
It's a tight race with 3rd graders taking the lead! Let's see which grade can pull ahead before Thursday!
Thank you for your continued generosity and support.
A Note on Winter Clothing and Snow
The snow has arrived, and temperatures are dropping quickly! As a reminder, we aim to have students go outside for recess to get fresh air and exercise, as long as the temperature “feels like” is above 10 degrees.
Please ensure your child comes to school prepared with the following (LABELED) winter items every day:
Warm Coat
Boots
Hat
Gloves or Mittens
Snow Pants
Thank you for partnering with us to keep our students warm and safe, and for your generosity toward the food drive.
Sincerely,
Marie Murphy
Principal
Oxford Elementary
Tomorrow is Election Day! Make your voice heard and vote on the two Oxford Community Schools millages. Please encourage your Oxford friends and family to vote too.
If you have questions about what’s on the ballot, Check Out This Short Video.
More information including an FAQ section is available at http://oxfordschools.org/millage.
These elections are typically very close which means it's critical that all of our families and staff take the time to vote. Every vote counts!
Dear Oxford Community Schools Families,
We understand that some families may have concerns about food insecurity. For additional support if needed, we have compiled a list of local food assistance resources. You can access the full list on our website here: Food Assistance Resources.
We also want to remind families that every student is encouraged to eat a free breakfast and lunch at school each day to ensure they have access to nutritious meals.
If your family is in need and unable to access food, please reach out to a Family School Liaison (FSL) or any school staff member. We are here to help connect you with the right resources.
Sincerely,
Oxford Community Schools
#WorldclassWildcats #OCSWildcats
Enjoy trick-or-treating tonight! 💙💛
#WorldclassWildcats #OCSWildcats
Dear OES Families,
What a wonderful month we have had at OES in October, and we still have so much fun left this week! Please be sure to check our November OES Press by clicking here for important information and updates! A lot is happening this week, between Halloween Math Night tonight, Trunk or Treat on Thursday, Halloween this Friday🎃, and an incredible Parent Education Fair this Saturday!
I am so proud of our students this month. They have shown themselves to be caring, principled, and thoughtful thinkers in all they do. Thank you for your continued support and partnership!
I look forward to another fantastic month ahead with our OES community!
Kind regards,
Mrs. Murphy
Oxford Elementary Principal