The Owl Post
September 23, 2024
Hello Vernon Families and Friends,
Vernon will be participating in a Lockdown drill on Thursday, September 26, 2024 at 2:50 PM.
Lockdown actions are initiated whenever there is an active threat against the safety of our school. This action includes “Locks, Lights, Out of Sight” and works to create a time barrier until our first responders can arrive at the scene. Lockdown emergency actions save lives, and conducting such drills helps to better prepare our staff and students if a threatening situation were ever to occur at our school.
We understand that these types of active threat drills can cause some anxiety for students and staff. Please know that our staff are working to connect with students in advance of the drill in an age appropriate way to help ease any anxiety and better support students who may be negatively impacted.
As a parent/caregiver, we wanted to share some additional resources that could help in connecting with your child(ren) in advance of this drill:
15 Ways to Help Your Child Through Crisis: Parent resource from KidsPeace
Helping Children Cope: Offered by ready.gov, this resource provides advice for helping children cope through disasters and emergencies.
Talking with children about terrorist attacks and school and community shootings in the news: from the National Center for School Crisis and Bereavement
Talking with children about violence: tips for parents and teachers: from the National Association of School Psychologists
The National Child Traumatic Stress Network: this website offers guidance for trauma-informed care for children following a disaster or traumatic event and offers many resources including a Psychological First Aid training.
We do not expect this drill to disrupt the school day, and your child(ren) should be dismissed at the regular time. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact my office. You may also reach out to our district’s Emergency Management program through Security Services at 503-916-3000 to discuss any issues of emergency preparedness, drills, or security measures taken at PPS.
Ben Keefer
Principal
School Office Hours
7:30am – 4:30pm – School Office Hours
Attendance email
Vernon Fall Book Fair
The Fall Book Fair will be in the MPR from
Monday, September 30th - Friday, October 4th. The open times each day will be in the morning from 8:15 - 8:45 and in the afternoon from 3:15 - 4:00.
In order for the Book Fair to be successful we need many volunteers. Please see our Book Fair Sign Up Genius for volunteers that are needed.
Link for Sign Up Genius: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60B0A4BACAA2CA4FC1-51169596-2024#/
Fun For The Owls is Back!
You should have received a pamphlet in your back to school packet. If not, pick one up at the office. What Is It?: A fundraiser to raise money for enrichment programs, equipment, supplies, STEAM, field trips and so much more for our kids. It's one of our most important fundraisers so we are looking for everyone to get involved. How Do You Raise Money? You raise money by collecting pledges. Each pledge is the total for a one time donation. Every single pledge from $1 to $1 gazillion helps. Reach out to family, friends, neighbors and your favorite local businesses. As an added bonus, each pledge your child receives doubles as an entry for a prize drawing later this fall. Your pledge sheet with a QR code for online donations is in the packet your student brought home. What Are The Kids Doing This Year? The kids will be moving through a fun obstacle course on the Vernon playground. When Is It? Friday, October 4th More Info: https://www.vernonpta.org/
Sign up to Volunteer with the link below:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60B0A4BACAA2CA4FC1-50739480-2024?useFullSite=true#/
FUN for the Owls - VOLUNTEERS
FUN for the Owls will be here before we know it, and we’ll need some help!
Below is a list of ways that you can lend a helping hand...
Help collect prizes for our drawing ahead of the event
Help distribute t-shirts to each class
Help decorate for the event - balloons, signs, banners, etc.
Help with event set-up
Help assist the PTA & PE teachers during the event
Help break down the event
Help assign drawing entries, after pledges are due
Not only will this be a lot of fun, but it is also a hugely important fundraiser for our school, and we can only do it with a bit of help! We hope you can join us in making this event a great success!
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60B0A4BACAA2CA4FC1-50569405-2023#/
This year’s FFTO will take place on Friday, Ocotber 4th!
ALSO:
T-shirt designs are due this Friday, September 13th, 2024! Visit the FFTO web page for more info.
FUN, REWARDING VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY
We are seeking parents/caregivers of Vernon students at all grade levels to volunteer to work with our kindergarten and first grade students in literacy.
No experience or expertise is needed.
Volunteers will work one-on-one with kindergarteners for brief 10-15 minute sessions on skills like matching letters and sounds and forming letters correctly in writing.
A volunteer training session will be provided.
If you would like to volunteer, please complete this brief online form: https://forms.gle/4AwKqeUwrbTXp3Dc9
If you have questions, please contact Dot McElhone (mcelhone@me.com).
Thank you for supporting our kindergarten and first grade owls!
Vernon’s E-Bike Lending Library
The Vernon Bike Bus has been given an Aventon Abound cargo e-bike for our community to share. Glady's Bikes on Alberta generously built it for free. People in the Vernon community are invited to borrow the bike for up to one month, and then pass it along to the next interested person.
Please make sure you have a place to secure the bike and store it out of the elements.
Complete this form if you are interested in borrowing the bike, and share it with anyone else who may want to give it a try.
SUN School Programming Update
SUN School Fall term dates are going to be October 7th-December 5th.Class registration information will go out in the Owl Post the week of 9/23. My cell phone is (360)670-2326 and email shaniar@selfenhancement.org for any questions or further information a family might need :)
