Oak Creek Elementary

Oak Creek Families,

Spring Break has officially started and I hope you and your family are able to make the most of the extra time together. When we return, it will be April, which will bring us several opportunities to come together:

• April 13th and 14th - Conferences (Make sure to watch for communication from your classroom teacher for scheduling.)
• April 17-21 - Coyote Week, ; including the Move-a-thon and Coyote Day Auction (See the PTO Corner for details.)
• April 29 - Walk4Water 16 (Read below for more information.)

There is so much to look forward to! Enjoy Spring Break, and we will see you all in April!

Read below for important information, including details about our School Advisory Committee, our upcoming Spirit Week/Move-a-thon, and more! If you have any questions, please see the FAQ section below, or feel free to reach out to myself or Tess Kristoffersson at kristoft@loswego.k12.or.us.

Thank you again for your support from home!

Barb Keeton

Updated in Every Edition:

• Principal's Message
• Dates to Remember
• PTO Corner

NEW In This Edition:

• Youth Truth Survey - Closing Friday!
• Walk4Water16!
• Purposeful People - April Focus: Courage!

Repeated Information:

• School Advisory Committees (SAC)
• Nurses' Newsletter
  

LOSD District News:

• Recognitions, Observances in April
• Asian Cultural Festival
• Lake Oswego Football
• LOSD Cares
• Tualatin Food Pantry
• "I Love Lake Oswego" Clothing Closet
• SafeOregon
• Subscribe to Lake Oswego Schools App

March 27-31: Spring Break!

April 13-14: Conferences - No School

April 17-21: Coyote Week (School-wide Spirit Week)

April 21: Move-a-thon

April 22: Adult Only Auction

April 29: Walk4Water16

May 26: Grade Prep Day - No School

May 29: Memorial Day - No School

June 12: Last Day for Students! 11:00 Dismissal

Maya Naik, a former OCE student who is currently at LRHS, is teaming with OCE to promote WaterAfrica and the Walk4Water coming to Lake Oswego soon! Maya and her team are going to create a short video for our teachers to share in class and we will be hosting a brief assembly on April 24th to share more about the project and to promote the walk the following Saturday.

Please read her note here:

Please join us for Walk4Water16 on Saturday, April 29!

Come down to Foothills Park in downtown Lake Oswego to “Finish the Job” in Zambia by 2025.

WaterAfrica raises money to provide clean water and sanitation for Zambians. On average, people in the developing world walk almost 4 miles every day to get water. 2023 is the 16th year for this fantastic family event for kids, parents, grandparents, and friends!

Sign up at WaterAfrica.org - Free Registration and Participation

Hello Oak Creek!

COYOTE WEEK IS COMING, APRIL 17th - 22nd!

Coyote Silent Auction April 7th - April 22nd

• online auction available to all

• experiences and items available including classroom baskets, vacations rentals, and exclusive access to events

If you would like to host an event or have a donation item, please connect with ptofundraisingoakcreek@gmail.com

Coyote Day Move-a-Thon April 21st / 11:50a - 2:20p

• specific grade-level times coming soon

• all students encouraged to participate

Sponsor a student today!

Coyote Casino Night Auction April 22nd / 6-9p

• adult only event at the U & I Event Center featuring auction items, live music, casino games, food by Koi Fusion, and much more

• $75 per ticket to include 2 alcoholic drinks, dinner, and casino chips

Tickets available March 24th at 8p. Buy now!

Seeking wine and beer donations for this event! If you are willing / able, connect with ptofundriasingoakcreek@gmail.com

*see attached flyer for additional details

Book Fair at OCE!

The Oak Creek Spring Book Fair, April 10th - 14th in the library. April 10th - 12th, students will visit the fair with their class. They will be able to purchase books, but not stationary items, toys, or trinkets. The book fair will be closed before / after school and during lunch on those days. The fair will be open during conferences. Sign up to volunteer at the event!

Additional Volunteer Opportunities!

April Art Literacy

May Art Literacy

The next Art Literacy training is Wednesday, April 5th, 7-8p in the library. Everyone who attends will be entered to win a Target gift card! A winner will be selected at the end of the training session. You must be present to win.

Dine out and raise money for the OCE PTO!

Visit Panera on April 10th, show the attached flyer, and 20% of your purchase will be donated to the OCE PTO. Ordering online? Use code: FUND4U

Coming soon!

OMSI Night at Oak Creek, June 1st, 4:30-7:30. Free to all OCE families. More information to follow.

Calling all football players, 2nd - 5th grade!

What: Youth Football Clinic w/ Lake Oswego High School Varsity Football Players

When: Thursday, April 6th, 2-4p / Parent Q & A, 3:30p

Where: Oak Creek Elementary Field

Contact: marci.johnston@yahoo.com, cindy.messman@gmail.com

*see attached flyer for additional details

Get your OCE spirit wear! Use this link to shop for all of your coyote gear.

Follow us on social media!

Facebook @ Oak Creek Elementary

Instagram @ Oak Creek Elementary PTO

Questions? OakCreekElementaryPTO@gmail.com

Oak Creek Elementary PTO Executive Committee

Kirstin Martin / President

Amanda Schade / Treasurer VP

Samantha McCaskey / Assistant Treasurer VP

Page Donnelly/ Membership VP

Brooke Mattern / Communications VP

Holli Hansford / Co-Events and Enrichment VP

Barry Hansford / Co-Events and Enrichment VP

Steve Farnham / Co-Fundraising VP

Heather Shoyer / Co-Fundraising VP

Lauren Terpstra / Parental Involvement VP

Rachel Wilde / Secretary VP

Teressa Raine / Sustainability VP

We need you! Please consider applying for our school or district advisory committee for terms starting next school year. There is one application for all committees -- please mark the committee that is of interest to you. Only committees with vacancies -- School Advisory Committees and Long Range Facility Planning -- are listed in the application for this period. See the charters posted on the School Board Advisory Committees web page for more information about each committee.

The deadline for applications has been moved to Friday, April 7 at 5 p.m. Recommendations and selections will be made in April. All applicants will be notified by May 1. Thank you!

Dear Oak Creek Families,

During April, we will turn our social emotional learning focus on Courage. One way to think about Courage is “choosing what is helpful, right, and kind even when it is hard or scary.” Courage is 1 of 3 traits we will focus on throughout the year that helps students Be Strong. Throughout the school, students will be developing skills like focusing, organizing, and goal-setting.

As we enter April, we will be talking about the virtue of Courage - to help our children be courageous and learn to conquer things that frighten or scare them. Children need reassurance that fear is one of our feelings and to help them understand that it’s okay to feel afraid. Courage isn’t fearlessness, but instead our ability to choose the right thing even when we are scared! The definition we will be talking about is: Courage is to choose what is helpful, right, and kind - even when it is hard or scary.

Have some fun connecting as a family this month while practicing Courage. Here are 3 “PurposeFul Pursuits” for you to complete together. How many can you do this month?

1. Reflect, think, and discuss with your child things you both would like to do, but find intimidating or scary. Maybe it’s a new hobby, trying a new game, sharing your art or invention with others, or going on an adventure somewhere. Give 1 of these things a try together and take a selfie to capture the memory!

2. Review Courage as a family! Remember that Courage is choosing what is helpful, right, and kind - even when it’s hard or scary. What’s something that you’ve been afraid to discuss with your child? Something that might be difficult to explain about our community or the world. Chances are they will hear about it eventually and it may come from someone who is less informed or less supportive than you. Have a courageous conversation. It could be about bullying, the environment, uncertainty, etc. Remind them that love and support are 2 tools that we can use to practice Courage. Discuss as a family ways they can practice Courage around the issue you discuss.

3. We have all demonstrated Courage in our lives. Many of us have seen people practice Courage in ways that have inspired us. Stories are powerful tools for connecting as a family. Protect time this week to share stories about Courage with each other (you can use the story prompts to get started). At the end of the conversation, think of 1 way you can practice Courage this week. Pursuit #1 Pursuit #3 Pursuit #2 Reflect, think, and discuss with your child things you both would like to do, but find intimidating or scary. Maybe it’s a new hobby, trying a new game, sharing your art or invention with others, or going on an adventure somewhere. Give 1 of these things a try together and take a selfie to capture the memory! Story Prompts:

• A time I (or someone else) showed Courage was _____.
• An act of Courage that changed/challenged me was _____.

Thank you for taking the time to engage your family in these activities.

In Partnership,

Roxanne Davidson

School Counselor

Handwashing

While hand sanitizer is a great option, it cannot replace good handwashing. Be sure to wash your hands after using the restroom,sneezing or coughing, or touching your face to help keep our community healthy.

Allergies?

If your student has a health plan that includes an Antihistamine (Benadryl), please be aware that you must provide it. If your child has an allergic reaction or potential exposure to allergen and you have not provided it, we will have to call 911 per the regulations and guidelines of OHA/ODE/CCESD.

If you would like to speak to your school nurse, click the link below for contact information.

Contact your District Nurse

Please click here to: Learn when to keep your children home from school.

We have much to celebrate, acknowledge, and observe in April. In particular, our district and schools will be bringing attention to Arab Heritage Month and Autism Acceptance Month. All teachers and staff are encouraged to find ways to recognize those and other awareness opportunities to help create a culture of belonging in our schools.

Arab Heritage Month, April 1-30, celebrates the Arab American heritage and culture and pays tribute to the contributions of Arab Americans and Arabic-speaking Americans.

Autism Acceptance Month, April 1-30, aims to promote acceptance, celebrate differences, and be more inclusive towards autistic individuals around us.

National Child Abuse Prevention Month, April 1-30, recognizes the importance of families and communities working together to strengthen families to prevent child abuse and neglect.

National Day of Silence, April 14, is observed as a movement against the harassment and bullying of individuals identifying with the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) community. Students protesting for this movement typically take a day-long vow of silence to symbolically represent how the students from the LGBTQ+ community were silenced throughout the years.

National ASL Day is remembered on April 15, 1817, when the first lasting school for the deaf in the United States opened. Students gathered there over the years and at subsequent deaf schools across America. The children intermingled Native American Signs, French Sign Language, and Martha’s Vineyard Sign Language. This process brought forth modern American Sign Language.

National Volunteer Week, April 15-21, is an opportunity to recognize the impact of volunteer service and the power of volunteers to tackle society’s greatest challenges, build stronger communities, and be a force that transforms the world.

Yom HaShoah, April 17-18, is a Holocaust Remembrance Day when Jews from all over the world stop to reflect on the afflictions their ancestors faced.

Earth Day, April 22, demonstrates and promotes environmental awareness and calls for the protection of our planet.

National School Library Week, April 23-29, is a time to celebrate librarians' contributions and promote library use and support.

Take Your Child to Work Day, April 27, encourages parents to bring their children to work with them and show them the wide range of jobs available to them.

National Arbor Day, April 28, is America's oldest environmental holiday and celebration. Founded in Nebraska in 1872, it was created to encourage people to plant trees in Nebraska, as it was largely a treeless state.

Observances:

Passover, also called Pesach, April 5-13, is a major Jewish holiday that celebrates the exodus of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt. Recommended accommodation: Avoid scheduling major academic deadlines, events, or activities on the first 2 days and the last 2 days. If planning an event, provide food accommodations (Kosher restrictions apply)

Good Friday, April 7, commemorates for Christians the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Recommended accommodation: Avoid scheduling major academic deadlines, events, or activities.

Easter, also called Pascha, Zatik, or Resurrection, April 9, is a Christian festival and cultural holiday commemorating the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. Recommended accommodation: Avoid scheduling major academic deadlines, events, or activities.

Orthodox Good Friday, April 14, commemorates for Orthodox Christians the crucifixion of Jesus Christ on the cross. Recommended accommodation: Avoid scheduling major academic deadlines, events, or activities.

Eid al-Fitr, April 21-22, is celebrated by Muslims worldwide because it marks the end of the month-long dawn-to-sunset fasting of Ramadan. Recommended accommodations: Avoid scheduling important academic deadlines, events, or activities on this date. If planning an evening event, provide food accommodations if requested (Islamic dietary restrictions apply).

If we've missed a recognition opportunity, please email mary.kay.larson@loswego.k12.or.us.

Mark your calendars! Lake Oswego High School’s Asian American Student Union is hosting their second annual Asian Cultural Festival on Saturday, April 8th! The event will feature free Asian food, music, and activities from over 30 organizations/restaurants between 2 pm and 6:15 pm, as well as cultural performances from 6:30 pm to 9 pm. The show features a variety of spectacular performances including lion dancers, taiko drumming, music, martial arts, and more!
Tickets for the performances ($5) are limited and can be purchased on their website, www.asianfestivallo.com. The first 100 tickets purchased with the promo code EARLYBIRD23 will get 20% off!
Thank you so much! We hope you also choose to join us at our festival this April!

I Love Lake Oswego Clothing Closet has received an overwhelming amount of support and donation during the pandemic. We want to give back to our community and encourage our community to lean on us not for just hard times, but for up cycling, sustainability, and for our environment. In the past the closet was just for students, and since the pandemic we have opened our doors to anyone within our community.

Visit https://www.ilovelakeoswego.com for more information.

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.

https://www.safeoregon.com/

(Students should also be aware that intentionally providing a false report is a serious offense.)

Stay connected to the district and your school(s) and receive urgent notifications by subscribing to the Lake Oswego Schools App.

Reach out to us if you have any questions or need anything!

• Principal; Barb Keeton: keetonb@loswego.k12.or.us
• Administrative Assistant; Terese Kristoffersson: kristoft@loswego.k12.or.us
• Administrative Assistant; Tanya Goodwin: goodwint@loswego.k12.or.us

Address: 55 Kingsgate Rd., Lake Oswego, OR 97035

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OakCreekPTA/

Interested in OCE Spirit Wear? Check out this website sponsored by our PTO! OCE Spirit Wear

Last call to provide your feedback in the YouthTruth survey and help improve students’ experiences in our schools. Your response is incredibly valuable to us. Please take the parent/guardian survey before it closes at midnight on March 24 by clicking this link: ytsurvey.org/losdfamily23

Please note:

• The survey needs to be completed in one sitting.

• We ask that one member of each household fill out the survey.

• If you have more than one child who attends the same school, you may respond to the survey multiple times - one time per child.

• If you write any comments, please do not include your name or anything else that might identify you. Your responses are anonymous, and they will be combined with the responses of other parents and guardians before being shared back with school and district leadership.

If you have any questions about the survey or our plans for how we will use your feedback, please contact Principal Keeton.

Thank you for taking the time to provide your feedback.