Principal's Message 4.14.23
Dear Lake Grove Families,
Thank you for your partnership! Our teachers are enjoying celebrating your child's progress with you during parent teacher conferences yesterday and today.
I'd like to give a shout-out to our fifth graders and some parent volunteers, as well as Ms. Johanson, 5th Grade Teacher, Mr. Garret Wagner, Building Engineer, and Mr. Zurcher, Sustainability TOSA, for their leadership with our Day of Service last week. Lake Grove 5th graders participated in a fun and fulfilling day of service to spruce up our school grounds for spring! Activities included adding dirt to the garden beds, pulling the invasive ivy from the planting location, cleaning up the front of the school and planting bulbs given by the fifth grade along with the additional pots that decorate our school grounds, followed by a campus-wide litter clean up. See a few photos below.
Please check your student's backpack today for the Cougar Day Jog-a-thon information and collection envelope. We're excited for this inclusive opportunity for our students to raise any amount by moving their bodies and working together. Keep in mind that 5-10 laps is an impressive accomplishment as you're sponsoring our students.
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
COUGAR NIGHT IS JUST 17 DAYS AWAY ON APRIL 29!
Tickets are almost sold out! Don't miss out on all the fun! Visit the website to purchase tickets: https://lake-grove-cougar-night.mailchimpsites.com/
Are you following Lake Grove's Instagram or Facebook accounts? Here is a sneak peek of the amazing live auction items we are posting weekly. Follow us: @lakegrovepta on Insta or https://www.facebook.com/lakegrovepta
Save the date - talent show May 25
Lake Grove’s annual talent show is back LIVE this year! All talent is welcome and all Kindergarten-5th grade students are encouraged to participate. Space may be limited due to time constraints. You must have a practiced/prepared talent to share. Each participant must fill out the entry form, add a group name if it applies. All entries will be reviewed for school appropriate content (e.g. song lyrics). All entry forms are due no later than May 10th to the Lake Grove Office. Late entries will NOT be accepted. If you have any questions, please contact Mrs. Post.
Connectivity Pause at dismissal
Social Emotional Learning
Dear Lake Grove 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.” 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. Courage is one of three traits we focus on throughout the year that helps students “Be Strong”. Throughout the school, students will be developing skills like focusing, organizing, and goal-setting.
Have some fun connecting as a family this month while practicing Courage. Here are three “PurposeFull Pursuits” for you to complete together. How many can you do this month?
Reflect, think, and discuss with your student 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 one of these things a try together and take a selfie to capture the memory.
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 student? 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 with your student. It could be about bullying, the environment, uncertainty, etc. Remind them that love and support are two tools we can use to practice Courage. Discuss as a family ways they can practice Courage around the issue you discuss.
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 below to get started. At the end of the conversation, think of one way you can practice Courage this week.
Story Prompts:
The time I (or someone else) showed Courage was _____.
An act of Courage that changed/challenged me was _____.
We believe involving families in our Social Emotional Learning is important. Here are some activities and conversation starters for you to explore Courage as a family.
Thank you for taking the time to engage your family in these activities.. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions. I can be reached at postw@loswego.k12.or.us or 503-534-2357.
In Partnership,
Wendy Post
School Counselor
OSAS Schedule and Reminders
What students need to be prepared for state testing:
- Be well rested (good night sleep)
- Eat a healthy breakfast
- Bring a book to read when they are finished
- Encouragement (think growth-mindset!)
A reminder - students do not need a smartphone or smartwatch at school. We have a landline phone in the office where we encourage students to memorize an important phone number to practice dialing. Additionally, each Lake Grove student has been issued an iPad or a Chromebook. Please be sure that they bring CHARGED chromebooks for testing.
If a student has a smartphone or watch during testing it will invalidate their test (smart phones and watches are an impropriety, per state assessment regulations).
April 17 is the beginning of the Statewide tests for English Language Arts (ELA) and Math for all students in grades 3-5. Here is the schedule for the next few weeks:
News from the District Nurses
Bike Safety
As the weather improves, it’s a great time to consider getting outside. Your District Nurses want to remind and encourage your student to ride their bike safely and remember to wear a helmet. These resources can help your student get off to a great start.
Sun Safety
While outside, be sure to protect yourself and your student from harmful UV. Visit this link to learn ways to safely enjoy the sun and what to do if your student gets a bit too much.
If you would like to speak to your school nurse, click the link below for contact information.
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.
Safe Oregon
Safe Oregon, Ways to Report Incidents
Parents-guardians who have concerns about a student’s well-being are encouraged to reach out to their principal and 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. https://www.safeoregon.com/
In addition, below are reporting methods for parents-guardians or students to use to report issues related to racist, bias, or harassment incidents.
· Incident Report for Elementary School
Save the date!
4/18 - PTA General Meeting via Zoom
4/20 - Run Club at Recess weather permitting
4/24 - Cougar Day Jog-a-Thon
4/27 - Staff Appreciation potluck lunch hosted by Kinder and 5th grade families
4/27 - Run Club at Recess weather permitting
4/29 - Cougar Night at Ironlight 7-11 pm (must purchase tickets in advance)
May 4 - Run Club at Recess weather permitting
May 8-12 Staff Appreciation Week
May 11 - Run Club at Recess weather permitting
May 16 VOTE!
May 17 Spring Social on school playground 5-7:30 pm
May 18 - Run Club at Recess weather permitting
May 24 - Run Club at Recess weather permitting
June 1 Last Run Club of the year!
The district calendars for the 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 school years are now available on the district and Hallinan websites. You can find them here quickly.
MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR THE SPRING SOCIAL ON WEDNESDAY, MAY 17
Join us on the school playground and surrounding fields for the Spring Social where families can enjoy food trucks, two face painters, a photo booth, spirit wear for sale and lots of fun! This community building event will offer food for purchase on the school playground on Wednesday, May 17 from 5-7:30 pm.
COUGAR DAY: THE ANNUAL WALK AND JOG A THON
Lake Grove students are participating in raising funds for our school through a Walk and Jog-a-Thon on Monday, April 24. Grades 3, 4, and 5 are allocated 45 minutes of walking and jogging time while grades Kinder, 1 and 2 have 30 minutes. The course is set at approximately 1/4 mile. Volunteers, teachers and staff will be on hand to track laps and we have set a whole-school goal to walk, run or jog 1,000 total laps—if students achieve this goal, the entire school earns a pizza party!
This year, the students’ fundraising efforts will fund a new bark lap track around the playground to be built over the summer. The new bark track will help offer new activities at recess, enhance PE offerings and provide dedicated areas for PTA activities like Run Club, Cougar Day and Field Day. Funds will also support the purchase of new, larger desks for our growing students in the fifth grade classrooms. These new tables are 2-person desks with adjustable heights for different students.
BE A PART OF IT
This is your student’s opportunity to be a part of raising money for our school! Every student received a pledge envelope to bring home earlier this week.
Encourage your student to send an email or text message to their network of neighbors, friends and relatives to ask for pledges (students should request flat pledges instead of “per lap” pledges).
All pledges are tax deductible and a receipt can be downloaded from our website https://www.losdschools.org/Page/8671. Send this receipt to anyone who gives you a pledge! Pledges are due by Monday, April 24.
This template can be used by your student to ask for donations via email:
Dear ___,
I’m raising money for my school! The contributions I earn will help Lake Grove Elementary offer free programs and activities to me and all students. Our PTA offers programs such as Run Club, Oregon Battle of the Books, Art Literacy and field trips—AND they purchase a yearbook for every student. Could you help me by making a donation to our PTA? I have a goal to raise $___ by Monday, April 24. I can accept:
- Checks made payable to Lake Grove Elementary PTA
- Venmo @LakeGrovePTA (please note my name when you use Venmo so I get credit!)
- Paypal https://paypal.me/LGPTA (please note my name when you use PayPal so I get credit!)
- Cash
You can download a receipt here: https://www.losdschools.org/Page/8671. On April 24, I will participate in a Walk and Jog-a-Thon. I want to do __ laps! Thank you for considering a donation to my school!
WHY WE RAISE FUNDS
Fundraising is extremely important to support enrichment programs at Lake Grove. Contributions to our PTA help create completely volunteer-run programs like Art Literacy, Run Club, Oregon Battle of the Books and more.
PTA BY THE NUMBERS 2022-23
- Every Lake Grove student will have five art lessons through the Art Literacy program and a visit to Iran through Culture Travel
- 40 students are producing a newspaper in Journalism Club
- 35 students are playing math games in Math Club
- 97 students participated in OBOB
- A whopping 330 students have participated in Run Club!
- All Lake Grove teachers received general classroom funds to help students achieve their potential
- All students & staff will receive a Walk-a-Thon t-shirt
- At the end of the year, every student will receive a yearbook to chronicle the year
- And of course…the ALL IMPORTANT FIELD TRIPS!
Donations also fund student events like classroom parties and fun events like 5th grade celebration…as well as allow us to show our appreciation for the stellar teachers who help our students grow and thrive! Without contributions from families and local businesses, and volunteers stepping up, our PTA could not offer this level of support.
Prizes!
The three students who raise the most money from pledges will receive a gift card to their choice of Amazon, Lakeshore Learning or Target.
- First place earns a $100 gift card
- Second place earns a $75 gift card
- Third place earns a $50 gift card
Winners will be announced on April 28.
Giving back to our community with your student’s pledge tickets
As a part of our giving back campaign, students will vote for their favorite book for the PTA to purchase and donate to the school library. Students will simply drop their tickets in the jar of their choice as they enter school between Monday, April 17 to Monday, April 24. On April 28, we will announce the winning book to be donated, along with an additional monetary donation to the library.
Lake Grove families are welcome to join us on the field on Monday, April 24. A SignUp Genius will be available next week; sign up to volunteer or just stop by to cheer on our runners.
Questions about Cougar Day? Contact lakegrovepta@gmail.com.
Thank you for your support!
Sincerely, the Lake Grove PTA Board and our Principal
Lisa LeBlanc & Cheryl Sharkey, Co-Presidents
Yan Liang, VP of Enrichment
Erin Quandt & Sarah Mehrabzadeh, VPs of Community Building and Social Responsibility
Christi Osborne, VP of Membership
Ginni Tribanas, Secretary
Lena Elbakshish, Treasurer
Jennie Knapp, Principal
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
