We are off to a VERY strong start this school year! LOTS OF COMPLIMENTS to YOU as the main source of preparation, guidance, and support for your child's learning!! To ensure efforts for clear, meaningful collaboration, we have several ways we communicate to families:

• Weekly Smore (this newsletter) - This will be our main communication tool throughout the school year. Within it, we will provide important dates, links to resources, and photos of our kids and teachers in action. It's essential to keep your email addresses updated in our Synergy system, so you don't miss any important information!
  
• Remind- This app allows us to send texts and email messages to our families quickly. This also allows you to message back! You must have the app downloaded and connected to our school in order for this communication plateform to work.
• School Website - This will be updated monthly, at a minimum. You will also notice our weekly newsletter posted there as well. https://northplains.hsd.k12.or.us/
• Email and Auto-dialers - If there is urgent information, such as a weather delay or safety updates, we will use a direct email and/or auto-dialer to communicate first. Email is also used by staff to share weekly/monthly newsletters that communicate directly with you as families to provide relevant information about your student.
• Soar Time- This is a quarterly in-person connection time with the principal and/or community partners for information vital for home-school partnership as well as giving parents/guardians the opportunity to share their voice.
• PTO- This is a parent committee dedicated to the experiences and resources to help our staff do great things for your kids! Our Board meets with the principal every other week and when needed. This close collaboration is reflected on https://www.northplainspto.org/Our_PTO
• Hard copy flyers- Every Thursday, papers may be dispersed from our school to home. This is in addition to any class level communication shared.

• Download and set up the app ParentVue connected with your child's account.
• Complete each child's online verification through ParentVue by mid-Sept.

• Download and set up the app Remind connected to your child(ren).
• Carefully read and review with your child the Technology Services letter mailed to you this week.
• Carefully read and review with your child the Standard of Student Conduct Handbook mailed to your home with our school welcome letter and related materials.

Wednesday, September 11, is a federally-recognized National Day of Service and Remembrance. Also known as 9/11 Day or Patriot Day, the designation encourages reflection on those who gave or risked their lives to serve others during the terrorist attacks in 2001, and engagement in community service projects

Monday, Sept. 30th: NO SCHOOL for students

Kindergarten- Mrs. DeBolt

Kindergarten & First grade- Mrs. Monahan

First grade- Ms. Lueck

Second grade- Ms. Job

Second & Third grade- Mrs. Elliott

Third grade- currently being hired....more to come soon!

Fourth grade- Mr. Kyaw

Fifth grade- Mrs. Chronister

Sixth grade- Mrs. Schwartz

Music: Ms. Miller

P.E.- Mrs. Phipps

Counselor- Mrs. Gerig & Ms. Tobin

Student Success Coach- Mrs. Lawler

English Learner specialist- Ms. Underhill

Speech & Language Pathologist- Ms. Gannett

Special Education Teachers: Mrs. Arumugam (Kamala) & Mrs. Chasteen (Melyssa)

Behavior Specialist: Heather Jarrell

Stellar support staff- Mrs. Bottema, Mrs. Karla, Ms. Vicki, Mr, Jay, Mrs. Pauly, Mrs. Chapman (library), Ms. Kai, Ms. Stephanie K, Mr. C, Mrs. Hemal, Ms. Kiley, Ms. Moe, Ms. Martin, Mr. Dale, & Ms. Bethany

Many of you have been asking...."What can we do to help our staff who work so hard for our kids?" Love this question as it recognizes the work ethic and dedication to learning we do in this profession and in our community! Educators feel spoiled with drinks to be placed in our staff fridge, fresh fruit, unique office supplies like flair pens or Tarragonda pre-sharpened pencils, copy paper, construction paper, cardstock paper, and self care items : ) Really...anything to bring novelty and/or tastiness to their day to day is always a hit! You can also view our condensed supply list for other specific ideas per grade level- view our school website under 'important dates' : ) I would also encourage special, handwritten notes or cards! Sharing special care doesn't need to involve purchased items!

School Starts: 7:45am (Monday-Friday)

School Ends: 2:05pm (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday), 1:35pm (Wednesday)

• Doors open for Breakfast at 7:15am.
• Students who are walking, biking, or being dropped off in a car at the parking lot closest to the gym can arrive after 7:25am, as there is limited supervision before that time, unless they are eating breakfast on-site.
• At 7:40am, the first bell rings and students will be released by a staff member to go to classroom.
• At 7:45am, the tardy bell rings and classes begin morning meeting.
• If your student arrives after 7:45am, they will need to ring our doorbell at our front office doors. Students will check in with the office to get a pass before going to class so we can ensure they are accounted for in attendance.
• Districtwide attendance goal is a highbar- 90% attendance in school for every student! Anything less is flagged and discussed in our school based attendance support team.

Our instructional day runs from 7:45am-2:05pm, yet on Wednesday, we have an abbreviated day, with student dismissal at 1:35pm to support staff professional development and team planning.

Arrival

• Bus riders are dropped off at our main school entrance. From there, each day, students decide if they go to the cafeteria or gym.
• Walkers, bikers, or those dropped off by car, enter school grounds by the gym. From there, each day, students decide if they go to the cafeteria or gym.
• Students must walk INSIDE white painted lines in order to keep safe boundaries in parking lots and between gym and the main building.
• All parents/guardians must remain outside the gym and main building before 7:45am.
• If your student arrives after 7:45am, they will need to ring our doorbell at our front office door. They will check in with the office to get a pass before going to class so we can ensure they are accounted for in attendance. Checking into the office can be with or without the parent/guardian.
• The parking lot directly in front of our school is ONLY FOR BUSES at arrival time. Please DO NOT enter or exit the front parking lot between 7:00am-7:45am. We have visual cones as reminders to not enter.

Dismissal

• Students will exit their classroom through the front main doors if are a bus rider, or through the breezeway doors with their teacher to be dismissed as a walker or pick up by car.
• The undercover is organized by class, so that retrieval for car pick up can go as quick as possible when signaled by a staff member holding a mini microphone : )
• Please stay in your car, if using the pick-up line in the parking lot closest to the gym.
• We have staff to walk students across the crosswalk. Staff members will all have walkie talkies to let teachers know you are there to pick them up.
• If you park or walk to pick up your child, please wait by the middle chainlink gate between our main building and the breezeway.
• The parking lot directly in front of our school is ONLY FOR BUSES at dismissal time. Please DO NOT enter or exit the front parking lot between 2:00pm-2:30pm. We have visual cones as reminders to not enter.

Student Internet Use Reporting: Beginning in the 2024-25 school year, parents/guardians will have access to their student’s internet use history on personal or district Chromebooks when the student has logged in using an HSD account. This measure is being implemented to both enhance student safety and ensure appropriate technology usage. Parents/guardians will receive a weekly email with a summary of the day of the week their student is most active online and the top websites visited. Excluded from the report will be any internet use on a personal device that is accessed with non-HSD credentials. Parents/guardians also have the option of creating an account for the Lightspeed Parent Portal that will provide them access to additional features, including a detailed report of browsing history for the past seven days and the ability to pause internet access outside of school hours. This is a change from past practice; however, we believe it is an appropriate step to keep our students safe and focused on learning while using Hillsboro School District technology and credentials. Reports will be sent for the first time as of 9/8/24. View this FAQ if needed.

Chromebook Policies

As part of our commitment to providing students with technology to access their learning materials, we offer each student the use of a Chromebook computer. With more than 18,000 students in our schools, this equates to a significant volume of technology that’s subject to damage and loss. While we understand that accidents happen, we also must take steps to contain our costs and responsibly manage resources.Therefore, the following protocols will be in effect for the 2024-25 school year:

• Students in grades K-4 must leave their Chromebooks at school each day unless a parent/guardian requests otherwise (e.g. no other access to technology at home).

• Students in grades 5-12 may take their Chromebooks home each day or may choose to leave them at school.

• Damage and Replacement Fees:

• Chromebook First Replacement - $200*

• Chromebook Additional Replacement - $400

• Chromebook First and Second Repair - $0

• Chromebook Third Repair or First Repair After Replacement - $75

• Chromebook Additional Repair - $150

• Charger Replacement - $20

*The fee for the first replacement is subject to the district fee reduction process, described below. Other fees noted are not subject to the fee reduction process and will be assessed at full value, if necessary.

Students and families are reminded that district-issued devices should be handled with care, according to the Acceptable Use Guidelines in the Standards of Student Conduct (p. 30). If your family needs help with home internet access, please report this to your child’s teacher on Family Connection Day or call our Family Digital Navigator at 503-844-1500 ext. 60241.

For technology support, please visit the Student Tech Support website, call 503-886-8956 and leave a message, or email techhelp@hillsboro.incidentiq.com. Guardian Information on Tech Service’s Student & Family Website in English and Spanish

Parents are welcome to refer their child for services designed for students identified as talented and gifted. Students who perform exceptionally beyond regular instruction on a universal screener measuring overall reading or math or on a mental abilities test, and have other confirming evidence that they learn at a rapid rate and advanced level, can be identified as TAG students. With parent input, individual plans are made to adjust the rate and level of the student’s instruction to meet his or her specific needs. If you think your child may qualify for TAG services, and want information about the referral and identification process, please contact your school’s TAG Coordinator.

Servicios para Estudiantes Talentosos y Dotados (TAG, por sus siglas en inglés)
Los padres son bienvenidos a recomendar a su estudiante a los servicios diseñados para estudiantes identificados como TAG. Los estudiantes que se desempeñan excepcionalmente por sobre el nivel de aprendizaje regular en un examen universal que evalúa el lenguaje o las matemáticas en general o en una prueba de habilidades mentales, y tienen otra evidencia que confirma que aprenden a un ritmo rápido y a un nivel avanzado, pueden identificarse como estudiantes TAG. Con la opinión de los padres, se hacen planes individuales para ajustar el ritmo y el nivel de instrucción del estudiante para satisfacer sus necesidades específicas. Si usted piensa que su estudiante puede calificar para los servicios TAG, y quiere información sobre cómo recomendarlo y cómo es el proceso, por favor póngase en contacto con el coordinador TAG de su escuela.

Dịch vụ cho Học sinh Tài năng và Năng khiếu (viết tắt tiếng Anh là TAG)

Chúng tôi hoan nghênh phụ huynh giới thiệu con mình đến các dịch vụ được thiết kế cho học sinh được nhận diện là tài năng và năng khiếu. Học sinh thể hiện thành tích học tập xuất sắc vượt mức thông thường trong sàng lọc phổ quát đánh giá tổng thể khả năng đọc hay toán học, hoặc trong bài kiểm tra khả năng trí tuệ, và có các bằng chứng xác nhận khác rằng các em học với tốc độ nhanh và ở trình độ nâng cao, có thể được nhận diện là học sinh TAG. Với ý kiến đóng góp của phụ huynh, kế hoạch cá nhân sẽ được lập ra để điều chỉnh tốc độ và trình độ giảng dạy cho học sinh để đáp ứng nhu cầu cụ thể của các em. Nếu quý vị cho rằng con mình có thể đủ điều kiện nhận các dịch vụ TAG và muốn biết thông tin về quy trình giới thiệu và nhận diện, xin vui lòng liên hệ với Điều phối viên TAG của trường.

You and your family are invited to attend the Latino district parental advisory committee meetings. Come learn ways to get involved in the school system and support your children’s education! September 12, 2024

LatinX PAC Meetings (Second Thursdays of the month from 6:30-8:00 p.m.)

Google Meet joining info

https://meet.google.com/uqr-onug-mgk

Or dial: +​1​ ​4​1​4​-​4​3​9​-​0​8​6​2 PIN: 4​0​3​ ​9​9​4​ ​3​6​2​#

First meeting of the year! “Welcome to the Village Kickback” - September 11 from 6:00 – 7:30 PM at Century High School Varsity Baseball Field. Please tell your FOL to personally invite all families that have students who identify as Black, African-American, African, and Mulitracial. BVFAC 911 Flyer.pdf