Falcon Flash

Dear Falcon Friends and Families,

As I announced a few weeks ago, we are making a change in our aftercare program provider. In order to be in alignment with the other six Lake Oswego elementary schools and offer service during non-student days we have chosen Champions. This decision was made in order to offer the same level of services as our other school communities, and is not a reflection of the wonderful Campfire Columbia personnel that presently work at Forest Hills.

Beginning on September 5, 2023, Forest Hills Elementary School will be partnering with Champions to provide before and after-school programming for our students during the next school year. Champions’ accredited programs have more than 30 years of experience providing high-quality after care services that balance education and fun in a safe, enriching environment. The program will be conveniently located right here at Forest Hills. Children’s learning should continue when the afternoon bell rings, and the Champions program ensures it will. Guided by

passionate teachers, our students will have the chance to explore their curiosity and interest in art, literacy, STEM and also build confidence and community through hands-on projects and activities. Time will be set aside for homework support/completion; and healthy snacks and fitness will be offered each day. For a closer look into the Champions experience, provided below is a link to a virtual tour of the program: Champions Tour

PLEASE NOTE: Families will be eligible to register for Champions beginning March 14, 2023. All students will automatically be placed on the waitlist so that the currently enrolled Camp Fire Columbia students can be prioritized. The Champions team will then be releasing families gradually based on enrollment date, so please don’t hesitate. Register as soon as possible. You can enroll after March 14th here: Forest Hills Registration

I am truly pleased that we are teaming up with Champions and hope you will consider them as you make plans for before and after care needs for the 2023-24 school year.

Thank you and enjoy the weekend.

Jim Mangan, Principal

Please take the survey before it closes at midnight on March 24th by clicking this link: ytsurvey.org/losdfamily23. The survey time window opens today, February 27, 2023.

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

We sincerely thank you for taking the time to provide your feedback. Your response is incredibly valuable to us.

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

3/14: Vision Screening Make-Up Day K, 1st, 3rd, and 5th

3/15: SCIENCE NIGHT 6:00 - 7:30pm

3/21: 4th Grade Music Concert at 2:00 pm in the gym

3/22: 3rd Grade Music Concert at 2:00 pm in the gym

3/24: NO SCHOOL- Teacher Prep Day

3/27 - 3/31: SPRING BREAK

4/13 -14: Conferences - NO SCHOOL

4/21: Neon Nights Dance Party 5:30 - 8:30 pm

5/4: Talent Show & Art Exhibit **NOTE DATE CHANGE**

5/13: Round Up @ Barn Kestral

EVERY THURSDAY IS EARLY RELEASE-- 2:00pm

link to full Calendar

In order to make Science Night a success, volunteers are needed to help monitor exhibits, review projects, and more. Older siblings also make excellent helpers and are welcome to volunteer as well. Sign up here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0D4BAEAC2AAAFCC43-science1

Saturday, March 11th the Three Bees Garden will host a work party from 10am to 2pm.

Come join us as we clean up beds, top off soil levels, and spruce up pathways. Whether you can join in for 3 hours or 30 minutes, your help will make a difference! Kids are welcome to come help out too - many hands make light work!

If you have tools (shovels, wheelbarrow, work gloves) please bring them!

We will have coffee, cocoa, and doughnuts to keep our workers fueled.

Please add your name to the sign up genius so we can be sure to have enough goodies on hand!

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/508094CACA72EA1F85-3beesgarden

Dear Forest Hills Families,

During the month of March, we will work together to practice the character trait of COOPERATION in our Social Emotional Learning (SEL) lessons, classrooms, and throughout our school.

As a school community, we will be examining how Cooperation looks, sounds, and feels. Cooperation is about assistance, support, collaboration, & teamwork. It is a necessary tool in our toolbox for creating a community that cares for one another and in turn creates a school community in which each Forest Hills Falcon truly feels a sense of belonging.

The definition students will be learning this month is: COOPERATION: working together to reach a shared goal.

Students will be encouraged to use cooperation skills such as communication, self-awareness, and the ability to step up (or step back) when the time is right to best support whatever group you are working with.

March is also recognized as National Disability Awareness Month which we will honor by learning how our classroom communities are made strong by our diversity of learning styles and abilities. We each have different abilities, skills and ways of learning. We will direct our focus on inclusive practices and continuing our work with empathy & kindness. School Counselor-led lessons in March will be centered on cooperation through the critical lens of Disability Awareness.

Here is a link with PK-5 Family Letters to explore COOPERATION further as a family and here is a link with some wonderful children's books about disabilities for you to continue the conversations at home.

In Partnership,

Hayley Drimmel

School Counselor

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.

Applications are due Monday, March 13 at 5 p.m. Recommendations and selections will be made in April. All applicants will be notified by May 1. Thank you!

Starting next school year, before and after-school care for Forest Hills families will be offered by third-party provider Champions to be in alignment with the other elementary schools in our district. This will allow our families in all schools equitable access to childcare during non-school days and other benefits of being part of the same system.

This year, Camp Fire Columbia has provided excellent childcare services for the Forest Hills community. Our decision to transition all extended care services to Champions is not a result of service issues. Please know that we remain very confident and appreciative of Camp Fire Columbia, and our families speak highly of their time in their care. Their team will continue to serve Forest Hills through Friday, June 9, 2023.

The other six elementary schools in our district have expressed very positive experiences with Champions, and we feel good knowing that our students will continue to receive quality before- and after-school care. Champions will be opening up its fall registration on March 14. Please go to https://connect.klcschoolpartnerships.com/ for more information.

Please complete this form to opt your fifth grade student OUT of the science state test.

Please contact Tori Elliott, Student Support Specialist, with all questions: elliottv@loswego.k12.or.us

Oregon Administrative Rule (OAR) 581-022-1910

FILL OUT FORM

DROP OFF: if you are not parking and just dropping off your student, please use Sunningdale Rd in the BACK of the school. Staff are stationed there to help your student get into school.

FRONT ENTRANCE: please park your car and walk your student across the street to the front of the school. Do not let your student cross the street on their own.

This policy was put in place over ten years ago to address the safety and efficiency of student drop. Please cooperate with us in making our school a safe place for all.

The Forest Hills school directory is found on DirectorySpot. Access your account in 3 easy steps:

1. Download the DirectorySpot app to your smartphone:

iPhone - http://goo.gl/5U2Tzq or Android - http://goo.gl/iBK9lY

2. Launch DirectorySpot, enter your email address as your Username, and click on "Reset Password."

3. Click on the link in your email to set your password, relaunch the DirectorySpot app, and login with your username and password.

Once your account is set up, be sure to bookmark the URL for easy web access:

https://www.directoryspot.net/schools/foresthillselementaryportland/

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

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.

It’s that time of year… Lake Oswego schools administer the YouthTruth every spring to help improve students’ experiences in our learning community. Responses from students, staff, and parents/guardians are incredibly valuable. We will be sending the survey link at the end of February, and we ask that you please take 15 minutes to complete it before March 24.

Importance of YouthTruth

• YouthTruth (YT) is a national nonprofit that harnesses perceptions to help educators accelerate improvements. Student perceptions are empirically linked to academic outcomes, and student perceptions are leading indicators.
  
• YT survey questions are grounded in research about what matters for student outcomes. The findings are used to inform our long-term strategic plan progress, curriculum and instruction, and professional development to improve practices.
  
• The survey design has been rigorously tested for validity and reliability. Through developmentally appropriate questions, students in all grade levels provide feedback on engagement, academic challenges, relationships, belonging, culture, emotional and mental health, diversity, and inclusion. Elementary students will also provide feedback on instructional methods and middle and high school students will provide feedback on obstacles to learning and career and college readiness. Staff and parents/guardians will be asked to provide feedback on similar topics. All responses are anonymous.
  

Timing of YouthTruth

Lake Oswego YT surveys will open on February 27 and close at midnight on March 24. Students will complete their survey in school, and staff and parents/guardians will be emailed the survey to complete in their own time. The link we send to you will be specific to Hallinan. Please make sure to take a survey for each school your students attend.

Please contact Jim Mangan with any questions about the survey. Thank you in advance for taking the time to provide your feedback.

Each school year, Oregon students take assessments to meet federal requirements. The purpose of these assessments is to provide data that schools can use to ensure that 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.

Click here to see the updated LOSD Elementary School Student and Family Handbook.

Please contact the office and your teacher any time your student will miss or be late for school. Include: Nicole Merino, merinon@loswego.k12.or.us and Susan Locey, loceys@loswego.k12.or.us. Thank you!

Ms. Susan is our new Attendance Secretary!

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

Stay in touch with the PTO on social media!

Instagram #foresthills.pto

https://www.instagram.com/foresthills.pto/

Facebook Forest Hills Elementary PTO

https://www.facebook.com/LOSDForestHillsPTO

All members of our community are committed to providing a safe and inclusive learning environment that cultivates empathy, creates challenging opportunities, and fosters lifelong learning.

Email: merinon@loswego.k12.or.us
Website: https://or01813384.schoolwires.net/Page/9
Location: 1133 Andrews Road, Lake Oswego, OR, USA
Phone: 5035342350