Scappoose School District News

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Below, you will find links/hot buttons to each school. In this format, click on your chosen school logo, and you will find the same familiar updates and newsletters from your schools.

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WELCOME BACK!

This week, Scappoose Middle School students got a say in shaping next year’s school lunch menu, and they ate it up—literally! Thanks to our Nutrition Services Manager, Barbara Foti, and the partnership Lisa from Superior Foods, students had the chance to taste-test two new potential lunch options: a gluten-free Teriyaki Chicken and a brand-new Sweet & Sour Chicken. Both were a huge hit!

Lisa from Super Foods said they had never had such high participation rate at a tasting. She said, “They are hungry for new options!” With such an enthusiastic response, we’re looking forward to more tastings—next up, breakfast items! Stay tuned for more delicious decisions ahead!

Scappoose High School’s College and Career class did a Streets of Scappoose Tour this week to learn about various small businesses in Scappoose. Students had the opportunity to learn about different career paths and businesses within their community. The College and Career class is a pilot course for the new Career Skills credit, a graduation requirement for 2027 and beyond class established by the Oregon Department of Education.

This class focuses on helping students explore career paths by connecting personal strengths, interests, and values with their future goals. It covers the development of essential life skills such as self-advocacy, understanding rights and responsibilities, and seeking community resources for well-being. Students will gain practical career exploration experience, preparing for post-secondary education and the workforce.

Topics include employability skills, exploring diverse career pathways, financial literacy for post-secondary choices, and preparing professional documents like resumes, cover letters, and portfolios. Additionally, students will develop interview skills and learn how to navigate the job application process.

Thanks to Portrait Homes, Hurliman CPA, and the Lodge for hosting our students today! We had such a wonderful field trip!

Warren and Grant Watts students recently gathered for assemblies to kick off their new Character Strong trait—Perseverance! At Grant Watts, students put perseverance into action with a fun and challenging balloon game. They had to keep their own balloons in the air while also navigating distractions from others trying to knock other’s balloons down. It was a lively way to show that sticking with a task, even when obstacles arise, is key to success. All three Elementary Schools are excited to focus on perseverance this month and find new ways to build resilience in and out of the classroom!

OPE 5th graders in Ms. Jenkin’s class put their persuasive skills to the test with a “Tug of War” fact board during their opinion writing unit on the pros and cons of zoos! Students chose a side, gathered supporting facts, and added their points to the board in a pre-writing exercise. In the end, the pro-zoo side edged out the competition with a final score of 32 to 25! This engaging activity helped students strengthen their arguments and prepare for their opinion writing pieces.

January marks School Board Recognition Month, a time to express our gratitude to the dedicated individuals who work tirelessly to provide the best possible education for our students. Our school board members devote countless hours of unpaid time to ensure our schools thrive, reflecting the community's values and priorities in the complex task of maintaining and running public schools.

The school board's primary focus is supporting student achievement by creating a vision for success, setting standards and monitoring progress, evaluating whether schools meet their goals and students are learning, aligning district resources effectively, and promoting a safe and orderly environment for learning.

While we celebrate their efforts in January, their contributions are evident throughout the year. These committed individuals strive tirelessly to improve student outcomes and advocate for the success of every student in our district. We extend our heartfelt thanks to our school board members for their unwavering dedication to our schools and community.

SHS is hosting a Winter clothing drive for a National Honors Society Student’s Individual Service Project. You can find donation boxes near the offices in all SSD schools.

2025-26 Oregon Teacher of the Year
Nominations are Open

The Oregon Department of Education, in partnership with Oregon Lottery, is looking for the next Oregon Teacher of the Year!

(Salem, OR) - Honor an outstanding educator in your life - Nominations for Oregon Teacher of the Year are open now through February 6.

The Oregon Teacher of the Year serves as the face and voice of educators across the state. As a representative of the profession, this teacher leader will engage and inspire other teachers and community leaders.

Nominees for Oregon Teacher of the Year should be exceptionally dedicated, knowledgeable, and skilled licensed public school educators in grades preK-12.

What happens after nominations close in February?

All eligible teachers* who have been nominated will be invited to apply. Candidates who submit an application will then be in-the-running to be selected as a Regional Teacher of the Year from one of the 19 Education Service Districts statewide. Every Regional Teacher of the Year will be awarded $1,000 and will be celebrated across the state in September.

One of the Regional Winners will then be chosen as the 2025-26 Oregon Teacher of the Year by a blue ribbon panel. Thanks to ODE’s partnership with the Oregon Lottery, the Oregon Teacher of the Year receives an award of $10,000, as well as a special fund to cover all travel costs for the year.

“Being selected as Oregon Teacher of the Year has truly been an honor for me, my family, and my community. It has felt like an award we've all won,” said Bryan Butcher Jr., Oregon’s 2024-25 Teacher of the Year. “The chance to make an impact is why I began teaching. And with this new honor, I have the chance to spread that impact in ways I could not have imagined. I'm stoked for the future!”

The Oregon Teacher of the Year will also submit an application to be considered for the honor of National Teacher of the Year.

Thank you for nominating an exemplary educator in your life!

If you have questions, please reach out to Oregon Teacher of the Year Program Coordinator, Michelle Goodness.

*For more information about Oregon Teacher of the Year eligibility requirements, please see the “About” section on the Oregon Teacher of the Year website.

Interested in attending a K-8 Place-Based Charter School on Sauvie Island?

Current enrollment opportunities are available now is Kindergarten and Middle School. Sauvie Island School accepts enrollment applications all year long. Please visit our website for additional information at www.sauvieislandschool.org

The winter months bring with them the possibility of busses being on snow routes, school closures, or delayed openings due to severe weather conditions, power outages, or other unexpected events.

With student safety leading these decisions and an understanding of the disruption these closures and delays cause our families and staff, SSD is committed to announcing changes to the school schedule as early as possible. If conditions are severe enough to threaten the safety of students traveling to and from school, a decision will be made the night before. Otherwise, decisions will be made by 6 a.m.

How we will notify you:

• FlashAlert.net
• Phone call
• District email
• SSD App notification
• Facebook
• Instagram

2024-2025 SSD Snow Routes can be found on our website HERE. Additionally, snow routes are listed on the District and individual school websites at the top of each page. If you have questions about bus pick-up or drop-off locations, please contact First Student at 971-290-4020.

We hope that providing this information will make inclement weather days easier to navigate.

We’re excited to share that our Food Service Menu system has recently been upgraded! In this video, I'll guide you through the new features, making it easier than ever to stay informed about menu items and their nutritional details.

You can access menus on each school’s website or on the District page—conveniently located in the Quick Links section both at the top and bottom of the page, as well as under the Food Service Department tab.

Once you click the menu link, you’ll be directed to the EZSchoolLunch landing page where an Allergen Disclaimer will appear. From there, you can simply select your school and the menu you would like to view to see what is being served.

Each item includes detailed nutritional information and you can easily browse by day, week, or month

If you like to keep a printed menu, just hit the "print" button to get the full month's menu in a handy calendar format.

We hope this upgrade makes it easier to plan meals and ensures you have all the information you need to feel confident about the nutritious options we offer. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to our Food Service Director, Barbara Foti.

Thanks for helping us keep mealtime healthy and informed!

Keeping our students healthy is a top priority, and we need your help! Please keep your student home if they are experiencing a fever, vomiting, diarrhea, or any symptoms of contagious illness. Staying home when sick helps prevent the spread of illness.

Click the links below for some important guidelines about recommendations on when to keep students with symptoms out of school.

As the school year begins, we must prioritize safety around our school grounds.

Drivers: Please exercise caution and be aware of the increased pedestrian and cyclist traffic during drop-off and pick-up times. Adhere to posted speed limits and remain vigilant for crossing guards and children crossing the streets. Your attentiveness can prevent accidents and ensure the safety of our students.

Walkers and Bike Riders: Please remain alert and follow all safety guidelines while traveling to and from school. Use crosswalks and obey traffic signals. If biking, wear a helmet and ensure your bike is equipped with lights for visibility.

Together, we can make sure that our children have a safe and positive experience as they travel to and from school. Thank you for your attention to this important matter and for your continued support in keeping our school community safe.

As we begin the school year, we would like you to be aware of how Scappoose School District communicates. We strive to develop and deliver clear, timely, and accurate information about the district and all that is happening in and around our schools. We seek to provide resources and materials to ensure families, students, staff, partners, and community members are informed about our key priorities, community events, our successes, and obstacles.

We look forward to communicating with you and your family!

Information is conveyed primarily via:

BlackBoard Messaging: Directly from the District or Individual Schools via a variety of mediums; email, text message, app notification, automated phone calls.

• The SSD App: To get the App, simply go to the App Store on your device and search for “Scappoose School District.” From there, you can choose which schools you want to get new/alerts from.

Scappoose School District Website:

• www.scappoosek12.org

• School-specific websites: (These can be navigated to from the SSD main webpage)

School Newsletters:

• These will be sent out every Friday to your email inbox

District social media sites: Please follow us!

• Facebook: Scappoose School District

• Instagram: @Scappoose_Schools

FlashAlert notifications:

• Scappoose Flash Alert Page This is mostly for inclement weather

Letters/emails to parents/guardians

To streamline our social media communication and ensure that accurate information reaches our community, we are transitioning to an information only/no commenting approach for our social media posts. This change is designed to minimize negative or irrelevant comments and to encourage direct communication with our District Office or individual schools. By doing so, we aim to prevent the spread of misinformation and ensure that the community receives official responses through the appropriate channels. We believe this approach will enhance the clarity, positivity, and effectiveness of our communications. If you have any questions regarding information in our posts, please connect the relevant school or District office directly. You can still look forward to all of our usual content and information throughout the year.

Thank you for being a vital part of our SSD family! We wish you the very best start to the school year!

Thanks,

Scappoose School District

Come out and Watch Scappoose School's Student Athletes Play!

For more information, you can find Scappoose Middle School and High School sports schedules on the schools’ web pages under “Athletics.”

See the links below for more information.

It’s one of the best ways to stay informed on both District and School specific information in real time, right on your smartphone!

If you don't yet have the app here is how to get it:

1. Search; “Scappoose School District” in your device's App store

2. Download the App to your phone/tablet and click “Open”

3. There will be a pop-up and click “Choose from list”

4. Choose the schools you would like to receive news/alerts from

5. CONGRATS! Your App should now be set up!

To become a substitute in the Little Lilu Preschool, you will need to apply through ESS and complete the Central Background Registry (CBR). This additional step allows you to be eligible to sub in the LIttle Lilu Preschool classroom at Warren Elementary.

Here is the Link to CBR

The CBR is an online application and will require free fingerprinting that individuals often coordinate with a local business (there are several options for fingerprinting in Hillsboro or up Highway 30).

Individuals with questions on the CBR application process can contact Jen Stearns, jstearns@scappoose.k12.or.us.

OEA Choice Trust (OEA CHOICE WELFARE BENEFIT PLAN) supports the well-being of Oregon’s public education employees. Scappoose School District has received a grant to support our employee’s well-being. OEA Choice Trust files an annual report with the Employee Benefits Security Administration, as required under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA). You can visit the OEA Choice Trust website to see how to request and receive copy of the full annual report, or any part thereof.

Website: https://www.scappoosek12.org
Location: 33589 SE High School Way Scappoose, OR 97056
Phone: 971-200-8000