WILLAGAZETTE

We are gearing up for a brand new school year, and are excited to share a little bit of advance Back to School News for you today (keep your eye out for our 'official' Back to School Newsletter coming later this week. There will be lots of important information included!) But here is a sneak peak of important dates and information that we hope will be helpful for our new Kindergarten families ~

• August 22rd - PTO Summer Play Date from 4-6 PM

• September 3rd - Meet the Teacher from 12:30 -1:30 PM
• September 4th - First Day KINDERS ONLY Groups A & B
• September 5th - First Day for Grades 1-5, & Kinder Last Names A-L
• September 6th - School for grades 1-5, & Kinder Last Names M-Z
• September 9th - School for ALL grades
• September 10th - KINDER FAMILIES check your email for conference time information
• September 11th - School for ALL grades
• September 12th - School for grades 1-5, NO SCHOOL FOR KINDERS (Kinder Conferences)
• September 13th - School for grades 1-5, NO SCHOOL FOR KINDERS (Kinder Conferences)
• September 16th - REGULAR SCHOOL SCHEDULE RESUMES

Help us get to know your little one by clicking here to fill out a survey all about Kindergarten Readiness. This important information will allow us to build balanced class lists and provide your child with a fun and easy entry into Kindergarten!

If you are the parent of an upcoming Kinder, or know someone who is, now is the time to enroll! Click here to access our enrollment documents online, or stop by the office to pick up a paper packet.

If you have a paper packet to drop off after office hours, please use our secure locked drop box located next to our front doors.

We are getting very close to the deadline for having enrollments processed so that students can begin on the first day of school, so please bring those in as soon as possible! Please feel free to contact the office at 541-790-7100 if you have any questions.

We’re excited to welcome our youngest students to the start of their schooling through the Kindergarten Smart Start program this fall.

We have made some changes to the program based on comments we received from our families and staff following the introduction of the program last fall. This year's schedule includes only two days where students will be separated into cohorts based on last name, instead of the four days last year. Under this arrangement, one cohort will attend class while the other group is out of school on Thursday, Sept. 5, with the cohorts reversed during the second day on Friday, Sept. 6. This schedule allows our educators to get to know the students in a smaller group setting.

Kindergarten Smart Start, Sept. 4–13, 2024

• Last name A–L: Attend Sept. 4 (W), 5 (Th) and 9–11 (M–W)
• Last name M–Z: Attend Sept. 4 (W), 6 (F) and 9–11 (M–W)

No Kindergarten Sept. 12 & 13 (parent-teacher conversations)
Regular school schedule begins on Monday, Sept. 16

Providing this unique start allows for smaller classes and time to connect with families, giving teachers the opportunity to understand your child’s unique strengths as well as their academic and social needs from the very beginning. Kindergarten Smart Start will help ensure a successful and personalized introduction to school for each student and a smoother start for all students.

Estamos emocionados de darles la bienvenida a nuestros estudiantes más jóvenes al inicio de sus estudios a través del programa Kindergarten Smart Start este otoño.

Hemos realizado algunos cambios en el programa según los comentarios que recibimos de nuestras familias y personal luego de la introducción del programa el otoño pasado. El calendario de este año incluye sólo dos días en los que los estudiantes serán separados en grupos según su apellido, en lugar de los cuatro días del año pasado. Según este acuerdo, un grupo asistirá a clase mientras el otro grupo estará fuera de la escuela el jueves 5 de septiembre, y los grupos se revertirán durante el segundo día, el viernes 6 de septiembre. Este horario permite a nuestros educadores conocer a los estudiantes en un ambiente de grupo más pequeño.

Kindergarten Smart Start, del 4 al 13 de septiembre de 2024

• Apellidos A–L: Asisten el miércoles 4, el jueves 5, y del lunes 9 al miércoles 11 de septiembre.
• Apellidos M–Z : Asisten el miércoles 4, el viernes 6, y del lunes 9 al miércoles 11 de septiembre.

No habrá Kindergarten el 12 y 13 de septiembre (días de conversaciones entre padres y maestros)
El horario escolar regular comienza el lunes 16 de septiembre.

Brindar este comienzo único permite clases más pequeñas y tiempo para conectarse con las familias, brindando a los maestros la oportunidad de comprender las fortalezas únicas de su hijo, así como sus necesidades académicas y sociales desde el principio. Kindergarten Smart Start ayudará a garantizar una introducción exitosa y personalizada a la escuela para cada estudiante y un comienzo más fluido para todos los estudiantes.

Just a few things to help make the first few days a little smoother for your child:

• 4j will supply basic school supplies for every K-5 student. Teachers may ask for specific supplies after the school year starts, but on the first day the only things kids need to bring are a backpack, water bottle, a change of clothes to keep in the bottom of their back pack (our playground does get wet and muddy, and accidents happen!), and weather appropriate clothing.
• 4j will provide FREE breakfast and lunch for all students. No application is necessary.
• If you are interested in volunteering at our school, you will need to fill out a volunteer background check application. During peak times of year, this can take several weeks to complete, so plan ahead! Click here for background check information.
• Class lists will be emailed to parents by the classroom teacher on Friday, August 30th at 3:00. All 4j schools will follow this format, class lists are no longer posted at the schools.
• Be sure to come to our MEET THE TEACHER Open House on Tuesday, September 3rd from 12:30-1:30 PM. This a great opportunity for kids and parents to come in, see the school, find out where their classroom is and meet their teacher!

Sheila Minney - Principal

K.C. Bodily - Assistant Principal

Miranda Emanuel - Student Success Coordinator

Debbie Serra - Office Manager

Haley Myers - Office Assistant

Tory Jenkins - Kindergarten

Audrey Hartsfield - Kindergarten

Julie Schneider - Kindergarten

Patrice Cowman - First

Kimberly Dame Brown - First

Suzi Swinehart - First

Lisa Robbins - Second

Sarah Ausborn - Second

Ann Hubbard - Second

Jannine Johnson - Third

Patrick McIlrath - Third

Jocie Roberts - Third

Amber Burns - Fourth

Griffin Meyer - Fourth

Lucy Miner - Fourth

Carrie Balavender - Fifth

Amanda Johnson - Fifth

Leah Mode- Fifth

Ann Parks - Learning Center

Trieve Rue - CLC

TBA - Life Skills

Cassidy Temple - Title Reading & Math

Nengah Mandra - ELL

Mary Poppen - Music

Marie Kempf - PE

Anya Kean - Librarian

Alicia Bongon - Counselor

Linda Hesketh - Speech & Language

Jessie Wagner - Speech & Language

Jill Lancaster - OT

Maria Biederman - Psychologist

Matthew Monson - MTSS

Mondo Mora - TSS

Amy Baker - EA

Machelle Cheung - EA

Sandra Corbin - EA

Sarah Dreyer - EA

Trish Egge - EA

Tami Hellwege - EA

Lindsay Manley - EA

Jeannette McCord - EA Behavior Specialist

Phuong Morgan - EA

Susan Victor - EA

Michelle Williams - EA

Summer Bartlett - EA Life Skills

Kyla Duncan - EA Life Skills

Maricelia Fadness - EA Life Skills

Karra Russell - EA Life Skills

Rachael Shuffield - EA Life Skills

Anna Walker - EA Life Skills

Ari Windstein-Nyack - EA Life Skills

Lindsey Brown - EA CLC

Gavin Ogan - EA CLC

Rachel Stauffer - EA CLC

Katlyn Tucker - EA CLC

Stephanie Vaupel - EA CLC

Katie Will - EA CLC

Josh Zuidmulder-Goss - EA CLC

Rolando Sason - Maintenance Coordinator

Gillian Lowe - Night Maintenance

Cathy Erickson - Nurse

Laura Sipos - Health Clerk

Joanie Weyant Kitchen Coordinator

Sarah Peterson - Food Service Assistant

Betsy Mathieson - Food Service Assistant

Be sure to check in with the YMCA for openings for their before and after school care program here at Willagillespie. Please click here to visit their website for more information or to register for the Fall.

Re: Student Injuries and Insurance

2024-2025 School Year

Dear Parent/Legal Guardian:

The safety of our students is of critical importance to all of us and we want to protect them from injury. Even so, accidents do happen (at school and elsewhere) and required medical care can be expensive. Please know that your school does not assume responsibility for such costs but does offer you access to several student accident insurance plans for voluntary purchase. Details can be found in the attached brochure/enrollment form.

Options are available to cover your child 24/7, anywhere in the world or you can limit coverage to school-related injuries only. The plans do not restrict your choice of doctors or hospitals. However, you’ll also have access to an extensive network of providers with discounted fees. Seeking care through contracted providers may further reduce your out-of-pocket costs, particularly if your child needs surgery or hospitalization.

Also offered is the pay-as-you-go Student Accident & Sickness Plan which covers sickness as well as injury, in and out of school. The Dental Accident plan can be of particular value with younger students as final treatment to injured teeth often needs to be deferred until after they mature.

Common emergency benefits – Regardless of the benefit level selected, all of the accident medical plans and the Student Accident & Sickness Plan will cover eligible charges for Ambulance, Emergency Room and Emergency Room Physician at 100% of Usual, Customary and Reasonable charges (UCR) up to plan limits.

Enhanced benefits for qualified concussions – If an insured student suffers a concussion while participating in any covered activity and is consequently removed from play from his/her interscholastic sport per the school’s formal concussion protocols, then any deductible or inside limit features of the plan are waived and eligible charges for the evaluation and treatment of the concussion are paid at 100% of UCR subject to remaining policy terms and conditions.

Interscholastic Sports – Please know that all plans offered (other than the Dental Accident Plan) may be used to comply with applicable state and local insurance requirements for participation in interscholastic sports (coverage for high school tackle football is offered on a stand-alone basis).

You are strongly encouraged to carefully review the information provided. If your child already has health coverage, the student insurance plans offered can also be used to expand your choice of providers and help cover the high deductibles and 30% to 40% cost sharing obligations imposed by many health plans today.

To enroll, please visit www.myers-stevens.com; instructions for enrollment are available on the website. While your child is eligible to enroll at any time, one-time-pay rates for the accident medical plans and Dental Accident Plan are the same regardless of enrollment date. As such, you are encouraged to consider enrollment now in order to include coverage for this summer and the full 2024-2025 School Year. Once processing is completed, an ID card verifying coverage will be mailed home to you.

If you have any questions concerning the coverages available or need help with enrollment, please call Myers-Stevens & Toohey at (800) 827-4695. Bilingual representatives are available for parents who need assistance in Spanish.

Sincerely,

Lane County School District 4J

Re: Seguro Medico de Accidentes Para Estudiantes

Año Escolar 2024-2025

Estimado Padre/Guardian legal:

La seguridad de nuestros estudiantes es de vital importancia para todos nosotros y queremos protegerlos de lesiones. Aun así, los accidentes ocurren (en la escuela y en otros lugares) y la atención médica requerida puede ser costosa. Tenga en cuenta que su escuela no asume responsabilidad por dichos costos, pero le ofrece acceso a varios planes de seguro contra accidentes para estudiantes para la compra voluntaria. Los detalles se pueden encontrar en el folleto o formulario de inscripción adjunto.

Disponemos de diferentes opciones para la cobertura de su hijo las 24 horas del día, los 7 días de la semana en cualquier parte del mundo, o puede limitar la cobertura solo a lesiones que ocurran en la escuela. Los planes no restringen su elección de médicos u hospitales. Sin embargo, también tendrá acceso a una amplia red de proveedores con tarifas con descuento. La búsqueda de atención a través de proveedores contratados puede reducir aún más sus gastos directos, en especial si su hijo necesita cirugía u hospitalización.

También se ofrece el Plan de accidentes y enfermedades para estudiantes de pago por uso, que cubre enfermedades y lesiones dentro y fuera de la escuela. El plan de Accidentes dentales puede resultar especialmente útil para los estudiantes más jóvenes ya que a menudo se posterga el tratamiento final de los dientes lesionados hasta que los estudiantes se hacen mayores.

Beneficios de emergencia comunes: independientemente del nivel de beneficio seleccionado, todos los planes médicos de accidentes y el Plan de accidentes y enfermedades para estudiantes cubrirán los cargos elegibles para ambulancia, sala de emergencias y médico de la sala de emergencias al 100% de los cargos usuales, habituales y razonables (Usual, Customary and Reasonable, UCR) hasta los límites del plan.

Beneficios mejorados para conmociones cerebrales calificadas: si un estudiante asegurado sufre una conmoción cerebral mientras participa en cualquier actividad cubierta y, en consecuencia, es retirado de la participación en su deporte interescolar según los protocolos formales de conmoción cerebral de la escuela, entonces se renuncia a cualquier deducible o característica dentro del límite del plan y los cargos elegibles para la evaluación y el tratamiento de la conmoción cerebral se pagan al 100% de los cargos UCR sujeto a los términos y condiciones restantes de la póliza.

Deportes interescolares: tenga en cuenta que todos los planes ofrecidos (que no sean el Plan de accidentes dentales) pueden utilizarse para cumplir con los requisitos de seguro estatales y locales aplicables para participar en deportes interescolares (la cobertura para fútbol americano de escuela secundaria se ofrece de forma independiente).

Se le recomienda encarecidamente que revise de forma detenida la información proporcionada. Si su hijo ya tiene cobertura de salud, los planes de seguro estudiantil que se ofrecen también pueden utilizarse para ampliar su elección de proveedores y ayudar a cubrir los deducibles altos y las obligaciones de participación en los costos del 30% al 40% impuestas por muchos planes de salud en la actualidad.

Para inscribirse, visite www.myers-stevens.com; las instrucciones de inscripción están disponibles en el sitio web. Si bien su hijo es elegible para inscribirse en cualquier momento, las tarifas de pago único para los planes médicos de accidentes y el Plan de accidentes dentales son las mismas independientemente de la fecha de inscripción. Como tal, se le recomienda considerar la inscripción ahora para incluir la cobertura para este verano y el año escolar 2024-2025 completo. Una vez que el procesamiento se haya completado, se le enviará a su hogar una tarjeta de Id. que acredita la cobertura.

Si tiene alguna pregunta sobre las coberturas disponibles, o necesita ayuda con la inscripción, llame a Myers-Stevens & Toohey al (800) 827-4695. Disponemos de representantes bilingües para los padres que necesiten asistencia en español.

Sinceramente,

Lane County School District 4J

Email: serra_d@4j.lane.edu
Website: www.willagillespie.4j.lane.edu
Location: 1125 Willagillespie Road
Phone: 541-790-7100
Facebook: https://facebook.com/willagpto