Falcon Flash

Dear Falcon Families:

Welcome back and Happy New Year! It was wonderful to see students, staff, and volunteers back at school after the winter break. Many of our students shared some of the holiday gifts received, so I thought it would be a great opportunity to clarify our expectations around electronic devices including cell phones and smart watches.

The staff at Forest Hills is committed to providing a safe and effective learning environment for all students. The use of electronic devices has the potential to compromise student privacy, safety, property, and academic success. These devices include, but are not limited to, smart watches, cell phones, headphones, airpods, and video game players. Students are expected to have their personal electronic devices off and put away during school hours. Devices need to be off and away in classrooms, hallways, and bathrooms. This also includes devices put into “school mode”. I’m sure you would agree that we want our teachers concentrating on teaching and learning and not monitoring the mode of student watches. School issued chromebooks and iPads are the only electronic devices needed at school. Personal computers/laptops are not allowed to be used at school.

We understand that there are times when a student needs to communicate with a parent/caregiver during the school day. They may come to the main office to call home. Parents/caregivers can also call the office at 503-534-2350 and a message can be delivered to your student. If students choose to bring an electronic device to school, they may secure it in their backpack. FHE will not be responsible for any lost or stolen items.

Clearly it’s best to keep all non-school issued electronic devices at home.

Thank you for understanding and cooperation.

-Jim Mangan

1/12 - Early Release 2:00 pm

1/16 - MLK Day (No School)

1/18 - Kindergarten Counts (Information Night) 6 pm in the Library--Parents only

1/18 - PTO Meeting 8:30 am at Forest Hills -RIGHT AFTER DROP OFF!

1/27 - Elementary Grade Prep Day (No School)

link to full Calendar

The following students scored the highest in the classroom WHO WAS HISTORY BEE. They then went on to compete in the Forest Hills school-level bee. Carrie Yuan, Audrey Kochavatr, Oliver Weinert, River Wallen, Liam Olfert, Jeremy Quian, Evelyn Redmond, Bennett Zald, and Lochlan Ferro.

Carrie Yuan participated in 13 rounds to become the school champion. She will compete in the regionals in March. Congratulations to Carrie and all who participated!

Dearest Falcon Families,

As we start the new year of 2023, we will be spending the month of January practicing the character trait of PERSEVERANCE in our Social Emotional Learning (SEL) lessons. The definition

we will be using for Perseverance is: pushing yourself to work through challenges and obstacles.

A lot of research today is telling us that the highest indicators of success in our kids isn’t just about their grades or their IQ. The number one skill that helps people of all walks of life be successful is GRIT! Grit is the ability to persevere in the face of adversity or even failure.

Over the course of the month, we will talk about inspiring people who faced many failures before they found success. We will talk about what it means to navigate tough stuff, even when it feels overwhelming or really hard. We will talk about having a Growth Mindset; to see challenges and failure as an opportunity to grow instead of a brick wall. During my SEL time in each classroom we will also talk about Anxiety/Worries and how to push on through when things get tough.

Ways to reinforce our teaching hers at school is to let your child know it’s ok to not be perfect. Students are often expected to perform their best from tests to on the field. Complimenting their effort, determination and good character does much farther than the outcome!

Here are links for extension activities to explore PERSEVERANCE further as a family:

Kindergarten Perseverance Family Newsletter

1st Grade Perseverance Family Newsletter

2nd Grade Perseverance Family Newsletter

3rd Grade Perseverance Family Newsletter

4th Grade Perseverance family newsletter

5th Grade Perseverance Family Newsletter

As always, please feel free to reach out with any questions or concerns at drimmelh@loswego.k12.or.us.

Sincerely,

Hayley Drimmel

Forest Hills School Counselor

The 4th and 5th graders will have an opportunity to participate in the Scripps National Spelling and Vocabulary Bee. Classroom competitions will be the week of January 3. The top scorers from each class will move onto the final competitors-only bee the week of February 6. Since Scripps study lists are not to be published on the web, students will be sent links for spelling and vocabulary study sheets from their classroom teacher.

1. Classroom Bee Week of 1/3/23

2. School Bee Week of 2/6/23 (10 students from grades 3-5.)

3. Regional Bee for Finalist: 3/2023

Do you need

The Forest Hills school directory is found on DirectorySpot. Access your account in 3 easy steps:

1. Download the DirectorySpot app to your smart phone:

iPhone - http://goo.gl/5U2Tzq or Android - http://goo.gl/iBK9lY

2. Launch DirectorySpot, enter your email address as your Username, and click on "Reset Password."

3. Click on the link in your email to set your password, relaunch the DirectorySpot app, and login with your username and password.

Once your account is set up, be sure to bookmark the URL for easy web access:

https://www.directoryspot.net/schools/foresthillselementaryportland/

What services does your school nurse provide?

School Nursing by Definition:

School nursing, a specialized practice of nursing, protects and promotes student health, facilitates optimal development, and advances academic success. School nurses, grounded in ethical and evidence-based practice, are the leaders who bridge health care and education, provide care coordination, advocate for quality student-centered care, and collaborate to design systems that allow individuals and communities to develop their full potential. (Adopted by the NASN Board of Directors February 2017.)

Some of the services provided by your school nurses:

• Provide first aid care and health assessment;

• Write care plans and coordinate the care of students with chronic or acute health conditions;

• Communicate with teachers and staff to ensure the safety and well-being of students;

• Administer medications and monitor delegated medication administration;

• Assist in the evaluation of students for Special Services (Special Education);

• Coordinate and provide vision screenings and vaccination clinics;

• Track and monitor immunizations and dental care and;

• Educate and train staff on: asthma, life threatening allergies, diabetes, and blood borne pathogens.

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If you would like to speak to your school nurse, click the link below for contact information.

Contact your District Nurse

For the safety of children, volunteers are required to have an approved background check when volunteering in schools.

To help streamline compliance with state and school board policies, which require that all volunteers have background checks and knowledge of other board policies -- as well as state-mandated proof of vaccination (or a qualified exemption) -- we are introducing a new all-in-one volunteer application and approval process through ou Raptor Visitor Management System.

Submitting an online application initiates the background check process. Once submitted, applicants will receive an email upon approval of your background check and you will be given access through the onsite Raptor System at all schools. Please allow up to three weeks to process your approval.

Volunteers need to submit only one application for volunteering in all LOSD schools. Applications need to be submitted annually to capture changes in background checks, policies, and/or vaccination requirements.

Volunteer Application for LOSD

Thank you for applying promptly, and for your service to our students and schools. We are grateful for our volunteers.

Each school year, Oregon students take assessments to meet federal requirements. The purpose of these assessments is to provide data that schools can use to ensure that every child is on track and achieving learning goals.

State law requires us to inform you that a form is available from the State Department of Education that allows you to opt your child out of the math and English Language Arts assessments for the current school year. Should you wish to opt out your child, fill out the form and submit it to the main office at your child’s school. Please note the submission deadlines listed on the form. Meeting the deadline will help the school with planning and preparation. If you wish your child not to participate in the science assessment for grades 5, 8, and 11, submit this request in writing to the principal of your child's school.

If you have questions or want more information about state assessments, please contact your child’s principal or teacher(s).

Click here for opt-out form for Math and English Language Arts.

This Winter, all elementary students will complete two online i-Ready assessments. Like Fall, one is for math and the other is for reading. i-Ready is a diagnostic that will help us determine your child’s strengths and areas for growth, personalize their learning, and monitor their progress throughout the school year. i-Ready allows us to meet your child where they are and provides us with data to inform and tailor instruction to accelerate growth. This is the second of three i-Ready assessments we give each year, and the results will be shared with parents.

Click here to see the updated LOSD Elementary School Student and Family Handbook.

Please contact the office and your teacher any time your student will miss or be late for school. Include: Nicole Merino, merinon@loswego.k12.or.us and Susan Locey, loceys@loswego.k12.or.us. Thank you!

Ms. Susan is our new Attendance Secretary!

Stay connected to the district and your school(s) and receive urgent notifications by subscribing to the Lake Oswego Schools App.

Stay in touch with the PTO on social media!

Instagram #foresthills.pto

https://www.instagram.com/foresthills.pto/

Facebook Forest Hills Elementary PTO

https://www.facebook.com/LOSDForestHillsPTO

All members of our community are committed to providing a safe and inclusive learning environment that cultivates empathy, creates challenging opportunities, and fosters lifelong learning.

Email: merinon@loswego.k12.or.us
Website: https://or01813384.schoolwires.net/Page/9
Location: 1133 Andrews Road, Lake Oswego, OR, USA
Phone: 5035342350