Lake Grove Elementary

Dear Lake Grove Families,

As we head into the three day weekend in honor of Martin Luther King Jr., I wanted to share this quote from his "Where Do We Go From Here?" address.

"We must walk on in the days ahead with an audacious faith in the future.”

Of course Dr. King was referring to the vital Civil Rights work of the time, but this idea continues to resonate on many levels. As we make our way through the challenges presented by a pandemic that has affected every aspect of our lives, our ability have faith in the future, despite so many unknowns is what allows us to work together to provide your children with the tools they will need to be successful.

Our staff, bolstered by the generous lunch from our PTA, continues to impress me with their commitment to help your kids learn and grow, sheltered from any stress that's encroaching in our adult lives. If anyone can inspire an audacious faith in the future, it's these amazing children!

Thank you for your continued partnership.

Be well,

Principal Jennie Knapp

As we start the new year of 2022, we will be spending the month of January introducing the character trait of PERSEVERANCE in our Social Emotional Learning (SEL) lessons. The definition we will be using for Perseverance is: the ability to work through situations even when there are obstacles or challenges in the way.

A lot of research today is telling us that the highest indicators of success in our kids isn’t just about their grades or their IQ. The number one skill that helps people of all walks of life be successful is GRIT! Grit is the ability to persevere in the face of adversity or even failure.

Over the course of the month, we will talk about inspiring people who faced many failures before they found success. We will talk about what it means to navigate tough stuff, even when it feels overwhelming or really hard. We will talk about having a Growth Mindset; to see challenges and failure as an opportunity to grow instead of a brick wall.

Here are links for extension activities to explore PERSEVERANCE further as a family:

K-2 PERSEVERANCE Parent Letter (English) K-2 PERSEVERANCE Parent Letter (En Español)

3-5 PERSEVERANCE Parent Letter (English) 3-5 PERSEVERANCE Parent Letter (En Español)

Thank you for contacting our district nurses with your COVID-19 related concerns. Our nurses are responding to each inquiry in the order that they are received. Due to the high volume of calls and emails they are experiencing, please expect a delayed response of up to 24 hours.

If you are emailing regarding a positive COVID-19 case or exposure, please keep your student home until you receive a response. Please click here for the current school exclusion guidelines.

If your student has tested positive for COVID-19, please email the nurse for your student’s school the following information and a nurse will get back to you as soon as possible:

• Student’s First and Last Name

• School

• Date symptoms started, if any symptoms

• Date tested positive and where the test was taken

Thank you for your patience and cooperation.

Lake Grove School Nurse: Lisa McBee mcbeel@loswego.k12.or.us

Our community is experiencing a level of positivity that is new in this pandemic and still our schools remain among the safest places where layered mitigation measures are being followed. We are extending our added measures of postponing volunteers and guests in our schools, limiting spectators at middle and high school extracurricular activities, and continuing with elementary school outdoor mask requirements for the time being, and will evaluate these protocols every two weeks. Based on cases reported to our nurses, and supported by public health findings, COVID-19 is being spread outside of school during social gatherings, amongst household members, and activities where oftentimes fewer protections are in place.

Our teachers use the adopted Health Curriculum, The Great Body Shop, to teach the required Oregon Health Standards to our students. THE GREAT BODY SHOP is a comprehensive health education curriculum which is sequential, developmentally appropriate, culturally sensitive, and medically accurate. The lessons align with Oregon’s Health Education Standards and are embedded with social-emotional learning. Watch your classroom teacher's newsletter for upcoming topics. If you would like to review the health curriculum, please contact the school office. More information, including an opt-out form if needed, can be found on the District website.

This Winter, all K-8 students in Lake Oswego will complete two online i-Ready assessments in class. One is for math and the other is for reading. i-Ready is a program that will help us determine your child’s strengths and areas for growth, personalize their learning, and monitor their progress throughout the school year. i-Ready allows us to meet your child where they are and provides us with data to inform and tailor instruction to accelerate growth. This is the second of three i-Ready assessments we give each year, and results will be shared with parents in February. For kindergartners, this will be their first i-Ready assessment. Our Winter i-Ready window is open from January 3-28.

Have you ever thought about working here at Lake Grove Elementary School? We have positions posted and are looking for wonderful people to join our team!

See the postings for more details, and feel free to contact the office with any questions 503-534-2357.

Every year, Oregon students take assessments to meet federal requirements. The purpose of these assessments is to provide data that schools can use to ensure each and every child is on track and achieving learning goals.

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.

If your child has received their COVID-19 vaccinations and you would like to update their immunization record at school, please do so using this form. While not required at this time, this will be helpful information to have in the event of an exposure in a classroom or bus and could help prevent the need to quarantine. Thank you!

Registration for the 2022-23 school year (all grade levels) will begin January 19, 2022. This is for new students who have never enrolled in Lake Oswego before and for returning students who are not currently enrolled but will re-enroll for next year. Registration is online through ParentVUE. Parents do not need to register students for 2022-23 who are currently attending during the 2021- 22 school year. Information about registration, including Spanish Immersion, can be found here.

LOSD is opening up its new student registration on Wednesday, Jan. 19. That includes students who will be entering kindergarten in the fall of 2022. Each neighborhood elementary school will be hosting a virtual open house. These will be posted on school websites beginning at 5pm on Wednesday, Jan. 19. Click here for more information about Kindergarten Counts.

Are you interested in contributing to a dynamic volunteer organization dedicated to advancing our community's commitment to educational excellence?

Please consider applying for the Lake Oswego Schools Foundation Board of Directors. The Foundation is seeking parents/guardians, students and community residents to serve on its Board of Directors. Board members must demonstrate a commitment to the Foundation, the School District and the Lake Oswego community.

The term for new board members will begin July 2022. Board members commit to a two-year term and may serve up to three terms. Please click HERE to access the online application form. The application provides more information about being a board member.

Interested people should submit applications by Friday, March 4, 2022. The Nominating committee will review applications and conduct interviews in the March time frame. If you are unable to access the application, please contact woolfw@loswego.k12.or.us to receive a pdf version of the application.

If you have lost something at school, please take a look through the slides and submit a request for pickup. Please help by labeling all items. We will do our best to return labeled items directly to the student. See all items collected here.

If your child will be absent, please email your student's teacher and copy the office at lgattendance@loswego.k12.or.us. Please list the date your child will be absent and any illness symptoms. You may also call us at 503-534-2357, or leave a voicemail on the 24-hour attendance line at 503-534-2299.

If you need to pick your child up early for an appointment, please be sure to bring your ID in to the office to sign them out.

1/17 No school - MLK Day

1/18 PTA General Meeting (Zoom, 7pm)

1/19 Kindergarten Counts (Virtual, after 5pm)

1/28 No school - Teacher Grading Day

HELP PLAN THE FIFTH GRADE CELEBRATION AND GRADUATION

Our fifth grade students are spending their last months as elementary school students and will soon become middle schoolers! The Lake Grove PTA organizes special recognition for fifth graders each year—whether it is a graduation ceremony or keepsake gifts to acknowledge their growth, a committee will be formed to honor this occasion. To join the committee, contact Lindsey Castrey, committee chair, at lindsey.castrey@gmail.com or 541-515-9897.

FIFTH GRADE FAMILIES: PROVIDE PHOTOS TO THE YEARBOOK THIS WEEKEND!

The yearbook committee is currently collecting photos for 5th grade section of the 2021-22 yearbook (due Saturday, 1/15). Fifth grade families should already have received an email with instructions. EVERY Lake Grove student gets a FREE yearbook sponsored by the PTA. Fifth graders get a memory page, dedication page, and will be included in a recap of photos “through the years” since Kindergarten. Please submit 4-8 photos and a dedication statement through google docs. INCLUDE STUDENT’S NAME on the photos you submit by changing the filename to include your student’s name.

1. 3 Photos for Memory Pages featuring every 5th grader’s personality and interests Submit Memory Photos here
2. 1-5 Photos, plus a statement for the Dedication Page: Please submit 1 - 5 photos and a statement on this form
3. 5th Grade through the Years - Optional - to be shared with the Graduation committee. Please submit photos of LGE 5th graders through the years since Kindergarten. Think class parties, field trips, sports teams, field day, first day of school, etc. This is optional. These photos will be included in the end-of-year ceremony slideshow. Submit ‘5th thru the years” here. Please name as many kids as possible.

Questions? Email 2122lgeyearbook@gmail.com

THANKS FOR YOUR PAW PATROL DONATIONS!

Thank you to the 57 families who helped spread school spirit through Paw Patrol and raised $1400 for school programs! Your generous donations help the PTA provide enrichment programs to all students and show our appreciation for teachers. Kudos to Marnie Lyon Brown, Ginny Hoadley and Denise Wilkinson for spearheading this program.

If you have any paw signs left at your home, please drop them in the school foyer. Questions? Contact lakegrovefundraising@gmail.com.

STAFF APPRECIATION LUNCH BRINGS JOY!

The staff appreciation committee hosted a soup & sandwich luncheon for staff this week. Kudos to Cheryl Sharkey and Ali Koper for delivering the PTA-sponsored lunch to the teacher break room! The committee is already looking forward to Teacher Appreciation Week, May 2-6. If you’d like to be part of the staff appreciation committee, contact Ali Koper at akoper@outlook.com or 503-415-9699.

ART LITERACY RETURNS TO LAKE GROVE CLASSROOMS LATER THIS YEAR: VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

Art Literacy is a district-wide volunteer program that introduces students to different art principles, elements, and artistic techniques. All training, presentation materials, project information and supplies are provided by our PTA. This is a great opportunity to work with students in the classroom!

Key roles and responsibilities:

-Delivery of the Artist Overview presentation to the classroom

-Presentation and completion of the Hands-On Project in the classroom

-Mounting of artwork, creation of portfolios, and filing previous months’ artwork

Length of time required in the classroom:

-Presentation: 15 minutes

-Hands-on project: 30 minutes

You will be paired with at least one other volunteer for your classroom and will work together to ensure that all key roles and responsibilities for your classroom are covered. A monthly training will be held to ensure all volunteers are prepared.

Please contact Kim MacKay at kimtamura@gmail.com if you are interested in volunteering! The program will start when safety protocols allow.

FOURTH AND FIFTH GRADERS INVITED TO JOIN MATH CLUB

Math Club continues on Tuesday, January 18 from 4-4:45 pm on Zoom. This club for 4th and 5th grade students is led by PTA volunteer JulieAnna Giannini, and will meet virtually once a month to sharpen students’ math skills, play games and have fun! If you want to join in on the fun or get more details, email lakegrovepta@gmail.com.

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