Falcon Flash

A valued colleague brought this message to my attention. It was first shared by an unidentified American principal and has since circled the globe. I thought that I would also re-use and adapt this message to our students and families, because it perfectly captures the sentiments we feel here at Forest Hills concerning test scores. Please share with your children if you choose. -Jim

Dear Forest Hills Falcons, Friends and Families:

We are very proud of you as you demonstrated huge amounts of commitment and tried your very best during these testing weeks. However, we are concerned that these tests do not always assess all of what it is that makes each of you special and unique. The people who create these tests and score them do not know each of you the way your teachers do, the way I hope to, and certainly not the way your families do.

They do not know that many of you speak two languages. They do not know that you can play a musical instrument or that you can dance or paint a picture. They do not know that your friends count on you to be there for them or that your laughter can brighten the dreariest day.

They do not know that you write poetry or songs, play or participate in sports, wonder about the future, or that sometimes you take care of your little brother or sister after school.

They do not know that you have traveled to a really neat place or that you know how to tell a great story or that you really love spending time with special family members and friends.

They do not know that you can be trustworthy, kind or thoughtful, and that you try, every day, to be your very best… the scores you get will tell you something, but they will not tell you everything.

So remember to do your best and no matter the score, be very proud and also remember there are many ways of being “smart”.

Keep on Soaring

Mr. Mangan, Principal

Speaking of ways students are able to demonstrate their intelligence, our 5th graders performed the musical “Pirates” for students and families on Wednesday under the expert direction of our music teacher Allison Hedgepeth. Due to so many students wanting to participate, Ms. Hedgepeth split the grade in half and conducted two casts. Each cast performed for fellow students during the day and then repeated their performance in the evening for families. Despite the intense heat in the gym, all students sang, danced and delivered their lines beautifully. THANK YOU Ms. Hedgepeth and GREAT JOB 5th Graders!

5/24: BOOK SWAP 3rd, 4th, 5th in the afternoon

5/25: BOOK SWAP 2nd, 2st and Kinder in the morning

5/26: Parent Input Forms are DUE

6/6: FIELD DAY K & 1st Time TBD AM 2nd & 3rd: Time TBD PM

6/7: FIELD DAY 4th & 5th TBD PM

6/9: 5th Grade Promotion and End of Year Party 8:30 am

6/9: Kinder Promotion and End of Year Party afternoon -- 1:30 - 2:40pm

EVERY THURSDAY IS EARLY RELEASE-- 2:00pm

link to full Calendar

Parents are welcome to provide input regarding their child’s learning environment. Input on this form will be given to a Placement Team of grade level teachers who understand the strengths and needs of students they are placing. They will work collaboratively to place students in well balanced classrooms. Here is the document.

The Parent Input Form is due Friday, May 26th.

Please print a copy and bring or email to the office: merinon@loswego.k12.or.us.

Thank you for supporting Forest Hills Elementary at the Round Up last weekend. Your presence and contributions made this gathering truly memorable. We are filled with appreciation for the Round Up Co-Chairs and the committee. Co-chairs Lindsey Brasch and Brianne Howell and all the committee members generously donated their time and energy over several months to bring our community together and raise funds in support of the curriculum enrichment and community building opportunities that distinguish Forest Hills from other schools.

Thank you to the families and businesses who generously donated items and experiences for the silent auction and to the families hosting party boards. We also thank the businesses from our community who donated funds to sponsor the Round Up. Due to the generosity of everyone
who supported and attended the Round Up, we were able to exceed our fundraising goal of raising half of next school year’s PTO operating budget. Your contributions ensured the success of the event and
showcase the spirit of collaboration that defines our community.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: please click HERE

to volunteer!

Please donate your child’s gently used books to our book swap. For each book donated, a book buck will be issued. Students may then use their book bucks to “shop” for books new to them.

No coloring or activity books, please.

Drop off books: at the start of the school day:

May 19th, 22nd and 23rd, 8:00am to 8:30am

Book Swap 3rd, 4th, 5th grade: pm. Wed. May 24th.

Book Swap 2nd, 1st and Kinder: am. Thurs. May 25th.

Thank you for your donations and volunteer help!

Any bucks not spent, will go into a raffle for book prizes.

Any books left over after the swap will be donated to classrooms or local reading programs or the Children’s Book Bank.

60+ volunteers are needed for Field Day 2023!

This event is truly a highlight of the year for many Forest Hills students and a very fun event to be a volunteer as well. There will be an array of fun activities on the field with 10-13 different stations that the kids will rotate through in just over an hour. We will need at least 2 volunteers per station including volunteers to hand out water and otter pops during the break.

Here is the link for the sign-up sheet:

Field Day 2023

Salad Harvest Parties are coming up and we can't wait to see you in the garden!

Your kids planted a garden, watched it grow, and now get to finish off the farm to table experience with a salad party! Kids are welcome to harvest from the garden bed their class planted!

Please sign up here to help! THANK YOU!

Order next year's school supplies through the PTO's partnership with 1st Day School Supplies - no store-hopping necessary! Get exactly the supplies your child needs for their entering grade by placing your order here, and the supplies will be delivered to their classroom in time for the 1st day of school.

Time to verify your information in our system! Are you wondering if your information is complete? Eighty-six students have emergency contacts listed without phone numbers. It would be hard to reach them. Please check and verify your student's information.

Log into ParentVUE and review/update your students' information through the Register/Verify tab. If you have forgotten your ParentVUE password, go to the login page, click "I am a Parent," then click "Forgot Password." If you are unsure whether you have a ParentVUE account, contact your student's school. For assistance with the verification process, refer to the user guide on the LOSD website or contact your student's school.

We will meet on Wednesdays during lunch recess in the 3 Bees Garden. Please let your kiddos know we are back in action!

This season we have seeds to start and baby plants to tend. We are looking forward to getting our hands dirty!

AND, if you would like to join us, parent volunteers are very welcome! Please remember to check in with the front office to get a name tag before you come around to the garden on Sunningdale.

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/

Asthma/Allergy Medications at School

It is critical to the health and safety of your student to bring ALL doctor recommended medications to school. Over the summer, speak with your doctor to get the proper supplies for school and then go to the LOSD web page to find the proper forms to be completed with the medications. If your student is in Elementary or Secondary and will store their meds at school, watch for a medication drop off time for your particular school. If they are in secondary and keeping their medication in their possession, please submit the proper paperwork so we are aware of where to find their medication in case of an emergency.

Individualized Health Plan? - Watch for an Email

If your child has a LOSD Individualized Health Plan (IHP) developed in consultation with your District Nurse, please watch for an email! Your response is needed to confirm or update your student's plan. We appreciate your prompt response.

Immunizations

Please review the OHA requirements and information on required immunizations for students. Please make arrangements to complete immunizations and update Synergy over the summer to avoid exclusion in 2024.

If you would like to speak to your school’s district 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.

Lake Oswego School District voters passed Measure 3-592, with approximately 72% of ballots cast in favor of the local option school levy in the Special Election on May 16, 2023. Renewing the levy protects class sizes, educator positions, instructional days, elective programming, and mental health supports in our school without increasing the current property tax rates. Passing the levy is a big win for our students.

The Oregon Department of Education and Oregon Health Authority has updated requirements for school districts' communicable disease management planning for the 2023-24 school year. Included are the following changes to our COVID-19 response:

Effective May 11:

• Several sources of COVID-19 data ended. We will archive our dashboard and CDC Community Level metrics shared in our newsletter, website, and school signage.

• A five-day period of isolation for those infected with COVID-19 is no longer recommended for the general population, including people in K-12 education settings. Our schools will continue to follow the recommendation for students and staff to stay home until fever free for 24 hours and symptoms improve.

Effective June 17:

• The COVID-19 vaccination requirement for public and private school teachers, staff, and school volunteers (OAR 333-019-1030) will be lifted. That means that after June 16, teachers, school staff, and school volunteers will no longer have to provide proof of vaccination or have a valid medical or religious exception on file to be in direct or indirect contact with students.

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

· Incident Report for Middle Schools

· Incident Report for High Schools

A Note From Mrs. Hedgepeth...

As summer is approaching I wanted to share some local organizations that offer summer camps in the fine arts!

Oregon Repertory Singers Youth Choir is a local youth choir program that offers both school year choir and fun summer camps for elementary students.

ORS Summer Sing Information!

Spotlight Musical Theater Academy offers classes during the school year along with camps in the summer! If your child loves singing, dancing, and acting this might be a fun opportunity for them!

Spotlight Musical Theater Summer Camps

Youth Music Project offers lessons and different music classes throughout the year along with summer camps! If your child is interested in being in a rock band or learning how to play mariachi music this could be the camp for them!

Youth Music Project Camps

Vibe of Portland offers art and music classes throughout the year along with summer camps!

Vibe of Portland Summer Camps

***Disclaimer: Even though I am familiar with most of these organizations and know people working within them, I am not affiliated with any of them.

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