Beverly Cleary Connection

This week, we had the joy of welcoming folks from the district, Laurelhurst, and The New Teacher Project (TNTP) on campus for curriculum walks. We were able to pop into 6 different classrooms and see the amazing things taking place in rooms. When we walked the halls (yes, even during passing periods), the team was mesmerized by the sense of community in the building. They were also in awe of how both teachers and students didn’t miss a beat when they entered the room and instantly made them feel welcome. Some other key highlights included: high student engagement, community/incentives in place, check-ins with kids (not just independent work & worksheets), a swift pace, sense of urgency, lots of routines followed quickly and efficiently, as well as teachers using the curriculum.

On Thursday, we practiced both a "secure the perimeter" drill as well as a fire drill. As a reminder for families, a "secure the perimeter" drill is activated when there is an unsafe situation outside the school building. Designated personnel are assigned to secure the exterior doors to the building, but classes continue. No one is allowed outside of the building during this time.

Today, I was able to meet with the FIT assessors to debrief our assessment results. If you missed a newsletter, the FIT assessment assesses the various systems on campus (behavior, safety, academic, etc.) and interviews staff, families, and students in the process. We will share more in upcoming coffee talks and newsletters, but from our assessment in February of 2023 to the assessment on the most recent November 6th assessment, our mean score improved by 24% (and a 27% improvement from the 2019 assessment).

Next week is parent teacher conferences and a non-school week for students. We are excited to welcome families in the building to share all of the wonderful progress your children are making! Have a wonderful weekend!

The 8th graders went on a field trip today to OMSI. They visited the Planetarium and the science halls. They had so much fun and behaved like superstars!

We appreciate all the help we've received this year from our Library volunteers who shelve, organize, repair books, and provide important organizational tools to help our school's Library run as smoothly as possible! If you are interested in doing one or more shifts, the Signup Genius link for library volunteers now has dates into February, 2025.

Local bookstore, A Children's Place Bookstore is once again generously offering our Library a fundraising event on Dec. 10 and 11. Mention Beverly Cleary School and 20% of your purchase will be donated to our Library. Please mark your calendars now and plan to do any holiday book shopping while supporting our school library.

The Library just received a huge shipment of new books. Ask your student if they've seen a new book that sparks their interest! Furthermore, if your family or student has recently discovered a great read you think our library should have in its collection, please drop teacher-librarian Nancy Gilkey an email letting her know about it at ngilkey@pps.net.

It’s that time of year to start thinking about high school! Each high school will be hosting an 8th Grade Night, so be sure to check their websites for more information on dates and details. If you live in a dual enrollment area, you have the option to choose between schools, and forms from PPS will be mailed home soon.

For families considering transferring from your neighborhood school or applying to Benson, the enrollment window opens November 13 and closes December 16. If you have any questions or need assistance with the process, please don’t hesitate to reach out to Liz Kobs. I'm here to help as you begin this exciting next step in your child’s education! Here is the link to the PPS Enrollment and Transfer page with more info about the high school transition.

• Benson Information Night November 20
• Grant HS Information Night December 11
• To High School and Beyond for 8th grade parents! Monday, November 25 9:30 am and 6 pm and Tuesday, November 26 1 pm. These sessions are in person for an hour in the counseling center

If your family is in need of assistance this season, please complete our confidential survey by November 22. This form is confidential and will only be viewed by school counselors, Sam Lannom (K-4) and Liz Kobs (5-8). One form per family. If you have any questions, feel free to contact your child’s grade level counselor.

Please fill out this form and attach a baby or toddler picture of your 8th grader for the 2024-25 yearbook and write a short message of congratulations and best wishes. Submission due by Wednesday, December 11th. If you have any questions, please email: beverlyclearyschoolyearbook@gmail.com

CLICK HERE to read the 11/22/24 PTA Newsletter.

This week includes:

- Winter After School Enrichments!

- Join the Fred Meyer Rewards Program

- BCS Book Drive

- and many more upcoming events!

https://beverlyclearyschoolpta.membershiptoolkit.com/enrichments