Principal's Message 12.16.22
It's hard to believe that this will be the last Cougar News of 2022. As I reflect on the past year, I am so incredibly honored and proud to be leading education at Lake Grove. As I reflect on the close of the year, I remain enormously honored and incredibly proud to be leading the learning at Lake Grove. Our staff and students continue to impress me with their perseverance and their commitment to excellence and to one another. We strive to be an inclusive learning community that fosters social, emotional and academic growth for all learners and our accomplishments in 2022 surely demonstrate these values.
Often as the New Year approaches we set objectives for the year ahead. Our staff has set ambitious goals for academic proficiency that your children will be able to demonstrate in the spring, and we are working tirelessly to create a learning environment that will ensure our success.
I hope that each of you will feel a sense of belonging at Lake Grove. I hope that you will feel able to share feedback letting us know which actions help create that sense of community for you and your children. I also hope that if you are ever feeling disconnected, unsupported, or in need of help that you will reach out with that feedback too. We cannot address problems that aren't reported, and in the spirit of continuous improvement, I welcome all opportunities to learn from you.
Enjoy the next two weeks of extra time with your children. I hope you experience many moments of joy, some time for reflection, and lots of rest. We can't wait to see you again in 2023!
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
P.S. A big thank you for the cookies and treats yesterday! Staff and teachers felt so spoiled and loved.
Winter i-Ready
Winter Break Read-A-Thon
Your elementary student is invited to join in LOSD’s first-annual Winter Break Read-A-Thon! It’s a fun program developed by our high school students. Your child will learn more about it during library time. Keep reading for more information and watch the video:
What is a “Read-A-Thon”?:
All elementary school students in LOSD are encouraged to read as much as they can over winter break! Read alone, with an adult, listen to an audiobook…whatever inspires a love of literacy!
Family and friends are asked to pledge an amount for each book their student reads to a corresponding class fund.
One-time donations and/or continuous pledges per books read are accepted.
All donations support our local Lake Oswego Public Library and SMART Reading, an Oregon-based organization whose goal is to provide access to books and reading sessions to students in need.
Our Goal:
To encourage elementary school students to read at least five books over winter break.
To inspire elementary school students to raise $20 each to help us reach our district-wide goal of $5,000+ in donations!
To promote healthy reading habits throughout our local district, and to improve literacy across Oregon!
How to participate:
We are using a website called 99Pledges to keep track of reading and collect donations.
Here's how it works:
Click here to create an account for your student. Scroll down to the bottom, and click "Add Participant".
Once you fill out the quick form, you will receive an email from 99Pledges. The email will have two links: one to manage your page and one to share with others to collect donations.
Once your student's page is created, send the link to relatives and friends so they can help support your student in their reading goals! When sending the link, share how many books your student plans to read so their donors can pledge accordingly.
Each time your student finishes a book, update the book tracker on the website!
Prizes:
Every LOSD school that raises$3,000 or more by the end of the Winter Break Read-A-Thon will be entered into a drawing for a school-wide donut party! (Note: We will have alternative prizes for students with dietary restrictions or allergies).
The school that reads the most books will be crowned "The FIRST-EVER LOSD Read-A-Thon Champions!", and will receive a giant banner to put in their library, presented by us at a celebratory school assembly!
On top of this, a prize will be awarded to the student who reads the most in each grade across the district!
Thank You!
Thank you to our amazing LOSD community for all the time and support you dedicate to our local community and kids. It’s because of your support we can host fun events such as these. We wish you all the best this holiday season, and happy reading!
Questions?
Email us at:
li00665990@loswego.k12.or.us (Alicia Li)
scipi05456@loswego.k12.or.us (Jeb Scipio Del Campo)
bohn802784@loswego.k12.or.us (Sam Bohn)
Social Emotional Learning
Dear Lake Grove Families,
This month’s Social Emotional Learning focus is EMPATHY.
One way to think about Empathy is “understanding and connecting with other people’s feelings.” Empathy is a practice that can help us grow strong relationships.
Empathy is one of three traits we will focus on throughout the year that helps students Be Kind. Throughout the school, students will be developing skills like perspective-taking, conflict resolution, and leadership.
Have some fun connecting as a family this month while practicing Empathy. Here are three “PurposeFull Pursuits” for you to complete together, if you wish.
As a family, create your own poster showing different emotions. For example, you could use emojis to represent different emotions and label them. Hang your poster in a central location. Each day, designate a time that your student will do an emotion check-in and tap the feeling they felt the most that day. This reminds your student of the emotion vocabulary they are learning at school and gives you insight into how they are feeling. Understanding other people’s feelings can help us grow in Empathy.
Review Empathy as a family. Remember that Empathy is understanding and connecting with other people’s feelings. Schedule a family movie night so that you can specifically watch for feelings and emotions. Let everyone know that you’d like them to point out how the characters in the show are feeling and that you will pause periodically to discuss Empathy. As emotions are identified, invite one another to Empathize by sharing about a time they felt that way or imagining how they might be feeling in that moment.
Find a time to sit in a circle together and celebrate all the ways you have seen each other practice Empathy. Take turns sharing responses to the following prompts or make up your own. Remember to practice Empathy as you listen to each other.
What is one way a family member has shown you Empathy lately?
Share about a time someone was a good friend to you.
Share about a time when you felt like someone really listened to you.
Share about a time you worked with a family member to resolve a conflict successfully.
Share about a time you stopped to look at a situation from someone else’s point of view.
Share about someone you think is a good leader. What can you learn about leadership from that person?
Thank you for your partnership! It’s an honor to watch our school community grow with Empathy!l
Sincerely,
Wendy Post
Lake Grove Counselor/Social Worker
News from the District Nurses
STOP THE SPREAD OF ILLNESS - Updated advice from the Nursing Team
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.
Is your child up to date? Check here and be sure to update school records before you leave for Winter Break.
Oregon State Assessment Opt-Out Form
State law requires us to inform you that a form is available from the State Department of Education that allows you to opt your child out of the math and English Language Arts assessments for the current school year. Should you wish to opt out your child, fill out the form and submit it to the main office at your child’s school. Please note the submission deadlines listed on the form. Meeting the deadline will help the school with planning and preparation. If you wish your child not to participate in the science assessment for grades 5, 8, and 11, submit this request in writing to the principal of your child's school.
If you have questions or want more information about state assessments, please contact your child’s principal or teacher(s).
Click here for opt-out form for Math and English Language Arts.
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 our 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.
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.)
NEWSPAPER CLUB KICKOFF IN JANUARY; CHECK OUT THE APPLICATION PROCESS
Calling all creative Cougars, grades 3-5! Great Grover News is recruiting student staff members for the 2023 Spring/Summer edition. Reporters, writers, artists and future journalists are encouraged to apply and take part in creating content and covering events at Lake Grove Elementary School. All interested students must complete an application with support from a parent or guardian by 5 pm on Thursday, January 12. Check out the application here https://tinyurl.com/2p8e9fa8. Newspaper meetings will begin on Thursday, January 19, 2:00-3:00 pm at Lake Grove Elementary (Room TBA). Students will meet with Senior Editors and parent volunteers on some Thursdays throughout the rest of the school year, 2:00-3:00, at school.
A more detailed calendar with specific meeting dates for story gathering, story completion, editing, layout, digitizing, and printing will be made available after the first meeting. Parent volunteering is strongly encouraged. Thank you for making the Club possible! If you have any questions, please contact: lakegrovepta@gmail.com (subject line: Newspaper)
JOIN THE NUMBER NINJAS
In Number Ninja, students will practice fundamental math facts through games and fun activities after school. The emphasis will be on building tenacity through reasoning and problem solving. Students will work at their math level individually and in small groups using specifically curated activity kits. Students who demonstrate engagement and progress will receive Number Ninja prizes. This is also a preparation opportunity for the students interested in various local and national math competitions.
If your student is interested, please sign up here https://tinyurl.com/rt6w2wr8 by 5 pm on Friday, January 13. The first Club meeting is scheduled for Friday, January 20 from 2:45-3:45 pm at the Lake Grove Library. We will meet every Friday afternoon, 2:45-3:45 pm (except for no school days). The last meeting will be on Friday, June 9. Signup through the Google Form is REQUIRED for participating in the Club, and regular participation is expected once signing up. Parent volunteering is strongly encouraged. Thank you for making the Club possible! Any questions, please email lakegrovepta@gmail.com (subject line: Number Ninja).
VOLUNTEER WITH ART LIT
The Art Literacy team has moved the next training session for Beatrix Potter, artist #3 to be online only. There will be no in-person training during the month of December. Art Lit leaders will record the training session and make it available during the week of December 19. The YouTube link will be sent out to volunteers and posted in the newsletter once it's available. Questions? Contact Kim MacKay (kimtamura@gmail.com).
If you are looking for Renoir training, 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.
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
