Principal's Message 11.18.22
As many of you know, I value picture books as teaching tools. I find they can act as windows to experiences that are not our children's own, and can act as mirrors to reflect positive stories about themselves and others. During this month as we focus our social-emotional learning on gratitude, I'd like to share the read-aloud below, We Are Grateful: Otsaliheliga by Traci Sorell, with you and your family.
My family's Thanksgiving tradition includes sharing aloud with each other something for which we are especially grateful. One thing for which I am thankful is the opportunity to help your children develop a sense of pride in their growth which I hope will lead to a continuing love of learning.
If you can't find what you need to know here, please feel free to email or call our office with questions.
Be kind,
Principal Jennie Knapp
Welcome Leah Fehlman
Smart Phones and Watches Off
It has come to our attention that some students have been communicating with each other via smart phones and watches during school hours. Not only is this a distraction from learning, it can lead to hurt feelings which require adult intervention. While we recognize that devices are helpful for communication between parents and children, often the temptation to use them socially is difficult for students to resist.
Here are two resources for parents to help support your conversations with your children if needed.
https://www.commonsensemedia.org/articles/what-are-the-basic-safety-rules-for-cellphones
https://www.commonsensemedia.org/articles/whats-the-right-age-to-get-kids-a-cellphone
The school issued ipad or chromebook are the only technology needed at school. Lake Grove's policy is described below.
Students' phones and smart watches must be "off and away" during the school day. Please explain to your children that they should not be contacting you directly during school. If students have devices at school to contact you after classes, they can should keep them in their backpacks until dismissal. If you need to reach your child, please email the teacher or call the office 503-534-2357 and we will be happy to deliver any messages. If a child asks to call home from the office, we will be sure they have access to a landline phone
History and Spelling Bee
The Who Was? History Bee is a new competition that will take place in classrooms over the next month. Students in grades 3-5 are eligible to participate. This trivia-style competition takes its questions directly from the Who Was? book series. Students who choose to participate in this competition will take a quiz in their classroom during the week of November 28th. The top 10 finishers from that quiz will compete for the school-wide championship the week of December 12th. Here is a Study Guide that can help you and your child get prepared.
Students in Grades 4 and 5 can also participate in the Spelling and Vocabulary Bee. Classroom competitions are held in January, with the top two spellers from each class competing in the School-wide competition in February. Study lists are being shared with students via their school-issued Google Accounts.
For either competition, reach out to our TAG Coordinator Josh Ernst.
Social Emotional Learning
Dear Lake Grove Families,
This month, we will be investing our time and attention on the character trait: GRATITUDE in our Social Emotional Learning (SEL) lessons, classrooms, and throughout our school community. Gratitude has been shown to be one of the best ways to reduce anxiety, increase happiness, and improve relationships. The practice of gratitude is a tool that both grounds us and also inspires hope, peace, and joy. For when we are grateful, we are stronger to “be the good” to our world.
One way to think about Gratitude is “choosing to appreciate the people and things in our lives.” Practicing Gratitude can increase our well-being and our happiness. Gratitude is one of three traits we will focus on throughout the year that helps students “Be Well.” Throughout our school, Grovers will be developing skills like emotion regulation, positive self-talk, and stress management. We are choosing Gratitude!
Throughout the month, students will learn about having Gratitude for our emotions and for coping skills. We can bravely use those coping strategies when feelings overwhelm us.
Our monthly letters include activities to explore GRATITUDE further as a family.
Enjoy connecting together with the PurposeFull Pursuits inside the Kindergarten-5th grade Gratitude Family Letters! Thank you for teaming with us to empower our students socially and emotionally. We are all the heart of Lake Grove!
Sincerely,
Wendy Post
Lake Grove Counselor/Social Worker
MTSS Parent Guide
Meeting students where they are at academically, personally, and social-emotionally allows us to support the whole child and provide them with a positive, supportive school experience. One way we do this is through our district Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS). MTSS is an instructional framework that includes universal screening of all students, multiple tiers of instruction and support services, and an integrated data collection and assessment system to inform decisions at each tier of instruction. Review the MTSS Parent Guide here. If you have questions, please reach out to your classroom teacher or Student Support Specialist Kate Urbanski.
News from the District Nurses
WHEN TO KEEP YOUR STUDENT HOME FROM SCHOOL
Please follow this link to see when and for how long to keep your student home due to various symptoms.
VISION SCREENING
Oregon Lions Sight and Hearing Foundation will soon be conducting their annual vision screening of K,1,3,and 5th grades. Click for more information.
DONATE YOUR OLD GLASSES
On the day of your school's vision screening, please consider donating any old glasses you have to the Lions Club. Click for more information.
IMMUNIZATIONS
Is your child up to date? Check here and be sure to update school records before you leave for Winter Break.
New Application for School Volunteers - Please apply!
For the safety of children, volunteers are required to have an approved background check when volunteering in schools.
To help streamline compliance with state and school board policies, which require that all volunteers have background checks and knowledge of other board policies -- as well as state-mandated proof of vaccination (or a qualified exemption) -- we are introducing a new all-in-one volunteer application and approval process through ou Raptor Visitor Management System.
Submitting an online application initiates the background check process. Once submitted, applicants will receive an email upon approval of your background check and you will be given access through the onsite Raptor System at all schools. Please allow up to three weeks to process your approval.
Volunteers need to submit only one application for volunteering in all LOSD schools. Applications need to be submitted annually to capture changes in background checks, policies, and/or vaccination requirements.
Volunteer Application for LOSD
Thank you for applying promptly, and for your service to our students and schools. We are grateful for our volunteers.
LHS Musical
LAKERIDGE HIGH SCHOOL is bringing "The Music Man" to our community! This family-friendly musical production will run November 10, 12, 17 and 19, 2022 for a total of 6 performances on the Lakeridge High School main stage. The cast for the show features Brock Woolworth as Harold Hill and Lizzie Bryan as Marian Paroo, along with a lively ensemble of musical and dancing talent. Tickets can be purchased in advance at http://www.pacer-drama.org/.
Safety Symposium About Fentanyl and Firearms
LOSD is hosting the 2022 Fall Safety Symposium in partnership with Lake Oswego Police Department, Homeland Security, Gun Owners for Responsible Ownership (GOFRO), and BeSMART. All in our learning community are welcome to attend the in-person session.
Wednesday, Nov. 30 7-8:30 p.m.
Lake Oswego High School Library
2501 Country Club Road; parking in the front of the building
Special guest speakers will give us the facts on critical safety issues in our schools and community, share life-saving information, and provide proactive strategies for families.
Topic 1: Secure Storage of Firearms - BeSMART for Kids & Teens!
Topic 2: The Fentanyl Crisis and the Role of Narcan
Safe Oregon
Parents-guardians who have concerns about a student’s well-being are encouraged to reach out to their principal, and to maintain strong lines of communication and partnership between students, families, staff, and other resources.
SafeOregon is also an effective way to report a tip regarding safety threats or potential acts of violence to our students or schools.
(Students should also be aware that intentionally providing a false report is a serious offense.)
Save the date!
11/21-11/25 No school for students -Professional Development and Thanksgiving
12/7 - Vision Screening for K,1,3,5
12/11 - Dining for Dollars at MOD Pizza Kruse Village all day (code needed MODF16720)
12/15 - Staff Appreciation Cookie Exchange
12/19-1/2 - No School - Winter Break
1/3 - Classes Resume!
1/24 - PTA General Meeting at the LGE Library, 7 pm
NOVEMBER PTA MEMBERSHIP DRIVE
November will be your last opportunity to join the Lake Grove PTA as a member! Becoming a member means you get a vote on all PTA business. Please look for the PTA Membership flyer coming home in your child's backpack next week. In case you have yet to join the PTA and would still like to, this flyer includes all of the payment options and outlines the many programs that benefit from your donations. The membership drive concludes on November 30. Join us for another great school year of parent and teacher collaboration through the PTA!
GET INVOLVED! MANY WAYS TO VOLUNTEER AT LAKE GROVE
A new Google sheet captures all current volunteer opportunities at Lake Grove. Bookmark this tracking document so you can see the latest and greatest volunteer roles. PTA programs don’t happen without the generous support of volunteers. We welcome parents, guardians, aunts, uncles, grandparents and more!
Simply submit your volunteer application https://apps.raptortech.com/Apply/MjIwOTplbi1VUw== and join us at school once you’ve been approved! If you have any questions or need accommodations for the volunteer application, please contact Jennie Knapp at LGE: knappj@loswego.k12.or.us or John Parke with the district: parkej@loswego.k12.or.us.
Volunteers needed for vision screening on December 7
Vision screening is provided to LG students in grades K, 1, 3 & 5 by the Oregon Lions Sight & Hearing Foundation. If a parent of a 2nd or 4th grader has a specific vision concern for their student and would like them screened, please notify your teacher. Eight parent volunteers are needed on Wednesday, December 7 from 8:15-10:30 a.m. Sign up here. Questions? Email lakegrovepta@gmail.com.
MOD PIZZA NIGHT ON SUNDAY, DECEMBER 11
Join other Grovers at MOD Pizza on Dec 11 and raise funds for Lake Grove Elementary at the Lake O location in Kruse Village! Our school earns money for PTA programs all day. You must mention you are there for the Lake Grove fundraiser or use promo code: MODF16720 and 20% of the sales will be donated to our school. Questions? Email lakegrovepta@gmail.com.
HUNDREDS OF TOYS COLLECTED FOR “WITH LOVE”
The Lake Grove PTA thanks our students and families for their donations to "With Love," an organization that supports foster families in our community. Last week, Lake Grove participated in a stocking stuffer drive, bringing hundreds of small toys into school to donate to these families. Thank you for your kindness, Grovers! Learn more about With Love https://www.withloveoregon.org/
The Art Literacy team invites you into our elementary school classrooms for art education!
Just visit this SignUp Genius and look for your student’s classroom, organized by teacher name. Simply add your name to the list. Then watch the training session here. This recording includes a demonstration of the hands-on portion at the end of the video. Additional information about Renoir is available at Renoir | Lake Oswego Art Literacy with the password volunteer4loartlit. Sign up for future Art Lit training sessions here. If you are new to Art Lit and want to better understand the program before you volunteer, contact Kim MacKay (kimtamura@gmail.com) to hear about the benefits of this program for our students and learn how you can help support art education. We invite any new volunteers to attend your student’s first classroom session to observe and learn how Art Lit works at Lake Grove. Questions? Contact Kim MacKay (kimtamura@gmail.com).
Lake Grove Elementary
At Lake Grove, we are an inclusive school community fostering social, emotional, and academic growth for all students.
Principal: Jennie Knapp
Website: https://www.losdschools.org/lg
Location: 15777 Boones Ferry Road, Lake Oswego, OR, United States
Phone: 503-534-2357
