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Dragon News
Findley Elementary School
September 15, 2023
Message from the Principal
Hopefully, everyone is settling back into the routine of school. Back to School Night was a huge success from our perspective. What a treat it was to see so many families out to tour the school and meet our teachers and staff. We would love to hear your feedback on your thoughts. Please take a few moments to let us know what you liked, what you didn't and anything else you think we should know.
Back to School Night Feedback Form
This edition of the Dragon News is full of important information! Please never hesitate to reach out if you have questions or concerns.
Happy Friday,
Sherry Marsh, Ed.D.
Principal
New Information
Do you know about our PTO?
Findley PTO
Findley PTO: Supporting our students by connecting parents, staff, and the community!
Visit our website at www.findleypto.com or email president@findleypto.com.
Dragon Dash is HERE!
Hello Findley Families,
Hope you are all getting back into the swing of the new school year with lots of volunteer opportunities and Findley community events. Next Friday, 9/22, our 1st ever BBQ party will be held at Findley school to kick off our biggest and only Fundraiser. ..the DRAGON DASH !!!
If you have not ordered food, but plan to dine at school please click the link Dragon Dash BBQ Party Food Order to place your order. Ice Cream can be purchased during the event but all other food items are not available for purchase during the event.
The PTO Dragon Dash team is excited to announce on Friday, October 6th, students will participate in the Dragon Dash and run with their entire grade. For those new to Findley, Dragon Dash is our annual fundraiser where students run laps to support our school and raise funds for classroom and teacher development, playground updates, and so much more! Last year Findley PTO spent $110 for each kid in Findley. This year we plan to spend more since we are bringing back AUTHOR VISITS. The fundraising target of the school year 2023-2024 for each student is $125.
Your Dragon Dash team has secured some great prizes and incentives to reward the fundraising and participation efforts. To get started today, set up your student's Pledgestar account by going to https://pledgestar.com/findley and follow the steps.
In order to guarantee that your student has the correct size T-shirt you must sign up and select the T-Shirt Size by 9/22. All sign ups after this date will still participate and be eligible for prizes, however the student may not get the correct size shirt.
All classes to reach 95% participation rate on Pledgestar will receive a class pizza or donut party! The top earning class will have a class pizza or donut party and Extra 20 minutes recess! The top earning student in the whole school will get to be a Principal for a Day. Our top earning student per grade gets one "No School Art Day" certificate from Whimsy Wees Art Studio which values at $93. Company matching donations will not be accounted towards prizes.
Lastly, we will need volunteers on the day of the BBQ Party. Please click 2023 Dragon Dash BBQ Party Volunteer Sign-ups to sign up. Remember that volunteers need to have completed background checks. If you haven’t done so already, go to myimpactpage.com to begin the process– Don’t delay!
Let's get psyched for the Dragon Dash!
2023 Dragon Dash Kick Off Video
Go Dragons!
Art Literacy Needs You
Mrs. Antich 3rd Grade
Mrs. Canessa Kindergarten
Mrs. Dow 2nd Grade
Mrs. Stubblefield 2nd Grade
Mrs. James 5th Grade.
You do not have to have a child in the class to help out!
TAG Updates!
Thanks,
Shannon Bauck & Kari Ray
Want to know when your Students bus will arrive? Download the App!
A Message from our School Social Worker & Counselor
Dear Findley Families/Caretakers,
We hope the new school year if off to a great start for your student(s)!
This school year Ms. V and Mrs. Gotfried will be working together to support regular attendance. We wanted to share the districts message around attendance and also share with you our school protocol around attendance. You can also find this information in the Findley Family Handbook. Please reach out to Mrs. Gotfried or Ms. V with any questions or concerns.
emily_gotfried@beaverton.k12.or.us
victoria_sharan@beaverton.k12.or.us
Thank you so much!
From the Beaverton School District Website:
In BSD, we believe that attendance is an important life skill that helps students be successful in the classroom, graduate on time and be prepared for life beyond high school. The desire to attend school regularly starts with students feeling a sense of belonging. We want our classrooms, schools and district to be places where students develop meaningful relationships with staff and other students. But to forge those connections, students need to show up for school.
Chronic absenteeism is defined as missing 10% or more of school days for any reason (including excused, unexcused and behavioral absences). That's equivalent to about 18 missed days over the course of an academic year. In Oregon, more than one in six children are chronically absent from school. Research shows that children who were chronically absent in kindergarten and 1st grade are far less likely to read proficiently at the end of 3rd grade. By 6th grade, absenteeism is one sign that a student may drop out of school. By 9th grade, regular and high attendance is a better predictor of graduation rates than 8th grade test scores.
At Findley, our goal is to support families in regular attendance by problem solving and supporting families when needed to help overcome any obstacles or barriers to attendance.
Our school social worker and school counselor monitor attendance and respond with a tiered approach for 10% missed days, or below 90% attendance:
1. 10% or more missed school days: Teacher Outreach
2. Continued absences that fall below 90% attendance rate: Counselor or Social Worker Outreach
3. Continued absences after initial outreach: 2nd email or phone call from Counselor or Social worker
4. Continued support/problem solving needed to improve attendance: Administration Outreach
Change of Go Home Plans?
If you are changing how your student is going home, please make sure you contact the office. You may email fndly-communications@beaverton.k12.or.us or phone 503.356.2100.
Notifying the office allows them to know exactly where your student should be and helps us keep them safe!
Thank you for your help!
Passport Club 23/24
Hello Findley Families,
Can your students identify the United States of America or the Pacific Ocean on a world map? As Findley develops its students into globally-minded citizens, Passport Club wants to do its part by helping students locate their position in the world.
Passport Club is a volunteer-run geography enrichment program offered at Findley to 2nd – 5th grades. This is an optional program and is not mandatory.
- Every 2nd-5th grade student is automatically enrolled & receives a passport with their name on it at school.
- During monthly quizzes, your student collects stamps as they learn to identify world locations on the map.
- Your student’s study map, indicating the countries or geographic landmarks, will be distributed at the beginning of each month. Maps are sent home in this week's homework folders.
- Please practice with your child for several minutes each day to help them get ready!
- Passport Club quizzing is once a month (on a Wednesday), and takes place at the school. Rechecking is due 2 days later on Friday.
1st Check Day
Re-Check Day
Wednesday
September 20, 2023
Friday
September 22, 2023
Where in the World Questions (Bonus Questions that are optional):
- In which continent were you born?
- In which country were you born?
QUIZLET FLASHCARDS & STUDY MAPS:
- Want to use a fun way to learn Passport Club Levels? Use Quizlet - SEPTEMBER PASSPORT FLASHCARDS - QUIZLET
- Study Maps for September - were sent home this week but if you misplaced your map you can find copies on the PTO website (password is findleypassport) - Passport Club Study Maps & Answer Keys
- The "Map Key" lists each Level's locations that will be asked on check day & the "Study Map" shows where the locations are.
Grade Level Clarification:
- 2nd-4th grade students have the option of 5 levels of study to choose from. However, students are encouraged to learn all the items in each level up to grade level.
Grades
Grade level
2nd Grade
Level 1 and Level 2
3rd Grade
Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3
4th Grade
Level 1, Level 2, Level 3 and Level 4
5th Grade
Special Itineraries (SI) study maps
- For example, a 2nd grade student would be asked to learn the following for the month of September:
- Level 1: North America, South America, Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia, & Antarctica
- Level 2: Atlantic Ocean, Pacific Ocean, & Indian Ocean
- 5th Grade Special Itineraries:
- Does not start until October, they will receive a special in-class presentation for kick off.
- 5th Grade students have their own grade level Special Itineraries (SI) study maps.
VOLUNTEER SIGN UP:
Passport Club can only be successful with the help of our wonderful volunteers. We need volunteers to check student's map knowledge. It's easy and you learn, too, please help us increase student's geography knowledge!
- Sign up for a Checker shift(s) - BetterImpact Sept 2023 Calendar. Click on Sept 20 Check Day and sign up! The shifts are separated by grade. 2nd Grade is from 11:10-11:40, 3rd Grade is from 11:35-12:05, and so on. See you then!
Sincerely,
Findley PTO & The Passport Club Team
Job Opportunities in BSD
The Beaverton School District is hosting a job fair at the District Administrative Office (1260 NW Waterhouse Ave.) on Wednesday, October 11 from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Specifically, we are hiring Paraeducator II positions; these are aides who support our special education classrooms. Salaries range from $20.61 to $26.40 and include benefits. To learn more about the position, please visit our Careers website.
Repeat Information
Emergency Kits for your Students
Medication Authorization Form
Medication submitted to the office in its original box if over the counter or in the original container with the prescription written on it with dosage.
The Medical Authorization Form must be on file with the medication. Please click on this link to print off this form when you bring in the medication. (We have them here as well)
Lower Parking Lot Arrival🚘
Please help us keep car drop off a smooth and safe process by remembering these few expectations:
- Please pull as far forward as you can before allowing your child to get out of the car. This helps with traffic flow. Even if your child goes in at the front of the school we need you to pull as far forward as you can to keep traffic moving.
- If your child can't exit your car on the right side, please park and have them use the crosswalk. Exiting on the left side is dangerous as cars are passing on that side.
- Please follow the guidance of Mrs. Cole and Mrs. Hargrave as they direct traffic. Their goal is to keep everyone safe and traffic flowing.
- Please do not stop in either crosswalk at any time.
Thank you so much!
School Meals
For information regarding school meals, please see here: 2023-2024 Meal Service.
To apply for meal benefits, lease see the Meal Benefits webpage to get started. The free and reduced-cost meal program offers many benefits beyond nutrition for participating families, including fee waivers, activity scholarships and school supplies. We encourage all families to take advantage of this option, if eligible.
Families are encouraged to keep a balance of $5 in their students' account for last minute milk purchases. While students will always be provided a lunch, regardless of balance on account, milk cannot be given without payment.
Arrival & Dismissal Maps and Procedures
Saltzman Lot is not available for parking, drop off or pick up during arrival and dismissal.
Dogs on Campus
Board Policy:
KGB - Public Conduct on District Property
16. Bring an animal into a district building without prior administrator approval and, where appropriate, only when proof of current rabies vaccination has been provided. Dogs are prohibited on district grounds. All other animals on district property are permitted with prior district approval only. Animals serving the disabled are permitted as provided by law.
TAKE A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION!
Families, let's work together to ensure our children's safety on the streets. Please remember to set a good example for our students by using the crosswalk instead of crossing mid-block when you are picking up your student. To help everyone remember, we will have painted footprints marking the safe route to cross the street. Thank you and stay safe!
ParentSquare Tutorials for Incoming Families
English ParentSquare 101 - https://youtu.be/UiX7gUTzeQU
Spanish ParentSquare 101 - https://youtu.be/Fg1iC4OL34E
Interested in Cub Scouts? Join Findley Pack 718!
Cub Scout Pack 718 is a part of the Scouts BSA program chartered under the
Findley PTO. The Scouting program focuses on helping kids learn character development, citizenship, sportsmanship and fitness, respect, personal achievement, and community service, through fun and adventure.
We are actively forming dens of all grades, boys and girls. You can attend our join night and info session on Sept 23th at 4:30 pm for more details in person. Find event details and RSVP via Evite.
Cub Scouts are grouped into dens at each grade level, and typically meet once or twice a month for age appropriate activities. Some example activities include hiking, woodworking, visiting a museum or a historical site, learning about the community & government, knot tying, first aid, and lots more.
The full Pack meets once a month where all Scouts come together for fun and activities, including picnics, Pinewood Derby car racing, Community service activities, Blue and Gold banquet, and Rocket Launch.
The Findley Cub Scouts are a volunteer, parent-led, organization focused on
helping our children develop. Our Pack 718 (http://pack718.com) has
more general information about Pack 718. You can see some of our scouts in action here: https://youtu.be/UT4bnboZI3E
To Sign Up, go to https://beascout.scouting.org and search for Findley. If you have any questions, contact pack718leads+findley@gmail.com.
Important Dates
September
20-Passport Club (2nd-5th)
22-Dragon Dash BBQ (evening event)
29-All School Assembly Findley Spirit Day
October
6-Dragon Dash
13-No School, Staff Development Day
18-Great Shake Out-District-Wide Earthquake Drill
26-All School Assembly, Mix & Match Spirit Day, Fall Festival
27-No School, Grading Day
Findley Elementary
Email: sherry_marsh@beaverton.k12.or.us
Website: https://findley.beaverton.k12.or.us/
Location: 4155 Northwest Saltzman Road, Portland, OR, USA
Phone: 503-356-2100
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/findleyES