Lake Grove Elementary

This week each class participated in a celebration with hot chocolate or apple cider as recognition for students' efforts to earn Cougar Compliments! Students can earn Cougar Compliment tickets from any adult when they are observed demonstrating the Social-Emotional character trait of the month or any of our school-wide expectations:

BE WELL (SAFE)

BE KIND (RESPECTFUL)

BE STRONG (RESPONSIBLE)

The slips of paper, known as Cougar Compliments, are placed into a collection bin in the library and two students from each grade-level are randomly selected from the bin each week. These students will hear their names over the loudspeaker and will collect a small fidget prize from the office. Additionally, when the bin is full enough, we have a school wide celebration. The hot chocolate parties this week were our school-wide celebration this time. Thank you Cougars for taking such good care of one another!

If you can't find what you need to know here, please feel free to email or call our office with questions.

Be kind,

Principal Jennie Knapp

Winter iReady (new)

Smart Phones and Watches (repeated)

History and Spelling Bees (repeated)

Social Emotional Learning (repeated)

Winter Holiday Resources (new)

News from the District Nurses (new)

****New Application for School Volunteers (repeated) ****

Oregon State Assessment Opt-Out Form (repeated)

Safe Oregon (repeated)

Save the Date (updated)

PTA News (updated)

It has come to our attention that some students have been communicating with each other via smart phones and watches during school hours. Not only is this a distraction from learning, it can lead to hurt feelings which require adult intervention. While we recognize that devices are helpful for communication between parents and children, often the temptation to use them socially is difficult for students to resist.

Here are two resources for parents to help support your conversations with your children if needed.

https://www.commonsensemedia.org/articles/what-are-the-basic-safety-rules-for-cellphones

https://www.commonsensemedia.org/articles/whats-the-right-age-to-get-kids-a-cellphone

The school issued ipad or chromebook are the only technology needed at school. Lake Grove's policy is described below.

Students' phones and smart watches must be "off and away" during the school day. Please explain to your children that they should not be contacting you directly during school. If students have devices at school to contact you after classes, they should keep them in their backpacks until dismissal. If you need to reach your child, please email the teacher or call the office 503-534-2357 and we will be happy to deliver any messages. If a child asks to call home from the office, we will be sure they have access to a landline phone

The Who Was? History Bee is a new competition that will take place in classrooms over the next month. Students in grades 3-5 are eligible to participate. This trivia-style competition takes its questions directly from the Who Was? book series. Students who choose to participate in this competition will take a quiz in their classroom during the week of November 28th. The top 10 finishers from that quiz will compete for the school-wide championship the week of December 12th. Here is a Study Guide that can help you and your child get prepared.

Students in Grades 4 and 5 can also participate in the Spelling and Vocabulary Bee. Classroom competitions are held in January, with the top two spellers from each class competing in the School-wide competition in February. Study lists are being shared with students via their school-issued Google Accounts.

For either competition, reach out to our TAG Coordinator Josh Ernst.

Dear Lake Grove Families,

This month’s Social Emotional Learning focus is EMPATHY.

One way to think about Empathy is “understanding and connecting with other people’s feelings.” Empathy is a practice that can help us grow strong relationships.

Empathy is one of three traits we will focus on throughout the year that helps students Be Kind. Throughout the school, students will be developing skills like perspective-taking, conflict resolution, and leadership.

Have some fun connecting as a family this month while practicing Empathy. Here are three “PurposeFull Pursuits” for you to complete together, if you wish.

As a family, create your own poster showing different emotions. For example, you could use emojis to represent different emotions and label them. Hang your poster in a central location. Each day, designate a time that your student will do an emotion check-in and tap the feeling they felt the most that day. This reminds your student of the emotion vocabulary they are learning at school and gives you insight into how they are feeling. Understanding other people’s feelings can help us grow in Empathy.

Review Empathy as a family. Remember that Empathy is understanding and connecting with other people’s feelings. Schedule a family movie night so that you can specifically watch for feelings and emotions. Let everyone know that you’d like them to point out how the characters in the show are feeling and that you will pause periodically to discuss Empathy. As emotions are identified, invite one another to Empathize by sharing about a time they felt that way or imagining how they might be feeling in that moment.

Find a time to sit in a circle together and celebrate all the ways you have seen each other practice Empathy. Take turns sharing responses to the following prompts or make up your own. Remember to practice Empathy as you listen to each other.

• What is one way a family member has shown you Empathy lately?

• Share about a time someone was a good friend to you.

• Share about a time when you felt like someone really listened to you.

• Share about a time you worked with a family member to resolve a conflict successfully.

• Share about a time you stopped to look at a situation from someone else’s point of view.

• Share about someone you think is a good leader. What can you learn about leadership from that person?

Thank you for your partnership! It’s an honor to watch our school community grow with Empathy!l

Sincerely,

Wendy Post

Lake Grove Counselor/Social Worker

As we enter the Winter Holiday season, Lake Oswego School District wants to connect with families who could benefit from additional support. The district has a wonderful partnership with Elks Club to offer holiday resources for any LOSD families who may benefit.

The Elks Club will be delivering the food and gifts on Saturday, December 17th from 9am-12pm and require you to be present at time of delivery. You may also make arrangements for someone to accept the delivered gifts in your absence.

The holiday boxes may contain: produce, pasta, rice, ramen noodles, beans, and chicken. In addition, toys (children 15 years and older will receive a $15 gift card) and possibly some clothing items may be included. Please note the boxes will primarily consist of food and toys.

If your family would benefit from this resource, please contact me as soon as possible as I must have all referrals submitted no later than Wednesday, December 7th.

Thank you and best wishes always,

Wendy Post / Kristen Guesdorf

Lake Grove Counselor / LOSD Elementary Social Worker

postw@loswego.k12.or.us / guelsdok@loswego.k12.or.us

(503) 534-2357 / (971) 204-9555

Please take a few minutes to review the information and resources below regarding Oregon Health Authority (OHA) and Center for Disease Control (CDC) updates and resources for respiratory viruses, including Influenza, Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), Monkeypox (mpox), plus Hand, Foot, and Mouth disease (HFMD). This information can also be found on our District Nurse website page.

Oregon health officials recently issued a call to action in response to the rapid spread of RSV and Influenza virus. State health officials recommend that people:

• Stay home when sick.

• Cover coughs and sneezes with the inside of your elbow, or with a tissue that you immediately throw away after use.

• Clean and disinfect all high-touch surfaces, including doorknobs, faucets, chairs, countertops, and tables.

• Regularly wash hands with soap and water or use hand sanitizer, especially after coughing or sneezing into a tissue.

• Avoid sharing cups, water bottles, and other drink containers, or eating utensils.

• Get a flu shot and stay up to date on COVID-19 vaccinations, including new bivalent boosters. There is no vaccine for RSV.

• Consider wearing a mask in crowded indoor spaces.

WHEN TO KEEP YOUR STUDENT HOME FROM SCHOOL

Please follow this link to see when and for how long to keep your student home due to various symptoms.

IMMUNIZATIONS

Is your child up to date? Check here and be sure to update school records before you leave for Winter Break.

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 our 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.

Parents-guardians who have concerns about a student’s well-being are encouraged to reach out to their principal, and to maintain strong lines of communication and partnership between students, families, staff, and other resources.

SafeOregon is also an effective way to report a tip regarding safety threats or potential acts of violence to our students or schools.

https://www.safeoregon.com/

(Students should also be aware that intentionally providing a false report is a serious offense.)

12/7 - Vision Screening for K,1,3,5

12/11 - Dining for Dollars at MOD Pizza Kruse Village all day (code needed MODF16720)

12/15 - Staff Appreciation Cookie Exchange

12/19-1/2 - No School - Winter Break

1/3 - Classes Resume!

1/16 - MLK Jr Day - No School

1/24 - PTA General Meeting at the LGE Library, 7pm

1/27 - Teacher Grading Day - No School for Elementary or High Schools

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR VISION SCREENING ON DEC 7

Vision screening is provided to LG students in grades K, 1, 3 & 5 by the Oregon Lions Sight & Hearing Foundation. If a parent of a 2nd or 4th grader has a specific vision concern for their student and would like them screened, please notify your teacher. Eight parent volunteers are needed on Wednesday, December 7 from 8:15-10:30 a.m. Sign up here. Questions? Email lakegrovepta@gmail.com

VOTING IS OPEN! STUDENTS WELCOME TO VOTE IN THE YEARBOOK COVER CONTEST BY DECEMBER 9

Yearbook cover entries are in and it’s time to vote for your favorites! Students, please vote for ONE WINNER per GRADE. All entries will be featured in the yearbook, with the winners on the cover. STUDENTS ONLY and please vote ONCE ONLY. Voting closes December 9, 2022.

SHARE SWEET TREATS WITH OUR STAFF THIS HOLIDAY SEASON!

Our LG educators really look forward to the annual cookie delivery from our families. The staff appreciation committee needs 80 families to bring a batch of cookies or treats on Thursday, December 15 by 10:00 a.m. This is a great opportunity to give back to our staff who give so much to our students! Questions? Contact Ali Koper at 503-415-9699. Homemade or purchased items are welcome. Sign up here.

DINING FOR DOLLARS AT MOD PIZZA ON SUNDAY, DECEMBER 11

Join other Grovers at MOD Pizza on Dec 11 and raise funds for Lake Grove Elementary at the location in Kruse Village! Our school earns money for PTA programs all day. You must mention you are there for the Lake Grove fundraiser or use promo code: MODF16720 and 20% of the sales will be donated to our school. Questions? Email lakegrovepta@gmail.com.

GET INVOLVED! MANY WAYS TO VOLUNTEER AT LAKE GROVE

A new Google sheet captures all current volunteer opportunities at Lake Grove. Bookmark this tracking document so you can see the latest and greatest volunteer roles. PTA programs don’t happen without the generous support of volunteers. We welcome parents, guardians, aunts, uncles, grandparents and more!

Simply submit your volunteer application https://apps.raptortech.com/Apply/MjIwOTplbi1VUw== and join us at school once you’ve been approved! If you have any questions or need accommodations for the volunteer application, please contact Jennie Knapp at LGE: knappj@loswego.k12.or.us or John Parke with the district: parkej@loswego.k12.or.us.

In addition to the volunteer opportunities mentioned above, we are also currently looking for volunteers to help with the following…

The Art Literacy team invites you into our elementary school classrooms for art education!

Just visit this SignUp Genius and look for your student’s classroom, organized by teacher name. Simply add your name to the list. Then watch the training session here. This recording includes a demonstration of the hands-on portion at the end of the video. Additional information about Renoir is available at Renoir | Lake Oswego Art Literacy with the password volunteer4loartlit. Sign up for future Art Lit training sessions here. If you are new to Art Lit and want to better understand the program before you volunteer, contact Kim MacKay (kimtamura@gmail.com) to hear about the benefits of this program for our students and learn how you can help support art education. We invite any new volunteers to attend your student’s first classroom session to observe and learn how Art Lit works at Lake Grove. Questions? Contact Kim MacKay (kimtamura@gmail.com).

Support volunteers needed for Drama Club, Math Club & School Newspaper

Be a part of creating Lake Grove’s version of Charlie & the Chocolate Factory! This beloved story will come to life in our gymnasium in spring 2023. Together with Northwest Children’s Theater, the Lake Grove PTA will work with students grades 2-5 to produce the elementary school play. We need volunteers to make this successful! Tryouts will be hosted on a single day in late February and every interested student will find a role in the production. Rehearsals occur over the course of a single week in March. Please register your interest in a co-chair position, or general availability for helping out with Drama Club here. If you want more information about how Drama Club works, email lakegrovepta@gmail.com.

Audition date: Monday, February 27 after school

Rehearsal dates: Monday-Friday, March 6-10 after school

Performance dates: Friday, March 10 at 7 p.m. & Saturday, March 11 at 2 p.m.

Do you have a passion for math games, logic puzzles and Lake Grove students? Then we need your help! The Lake Grove PTA seeks volunteers who are enthusiastic about mathematics and want to share their love of learning starting in January 2023. To sign up for Math Club volunteering, visit the SignUp Genius. Questions? Email lakegrovepta@gmail.com.

Every child is a journalist! They are master investigators with interesting questions and super storytellers sharing tales! If you share a passion for journalism, please consider joining the Newspaper Club as a volunteer. From shooting photo essays to interviewing teachers, from reporting sports news to writing an Op-Ed, your guidance will help our Grovers learn about and enjoy the exciting world of journalism. This club will also kick off in January 2023. To support Newspaper Club, visit the SignUp Genius. Questions? Email lakegrovepta@gmail.com.

Recess supervisors welcome

Lake Grove Elementary welcomes volunteers as recess supervisors throughout the day! If you’re looking for a way to support our school while spending time with Lake Grove students, this may be a great opportunity for you to have some fun with the kids. As a recess supervisor, you will complement our Lake Grove staff by providing an additional set of eyes and ears on the playground—and you’ll be a resource for students who may need adult support. It’s easy! These additional recess supervisors aren’t mandatory but three volunteers per recess are welcome. If you sign up, check out the FAQ: Recess Volunteer Helpers. Recess supervisors should plan to come rain or shine—and in severe inclement weather, volunteers will be part of indoor recess. Check out the SignUp Genius. Questions? Email Jennifer Hooper hooperj@loswego.k12.or.us.

Lake Grove Recess Schedule

9:45-10:05 5th Grade Morning Recess

10:15-10:35 4th Grade Morning Recess

11:10-11:40 Kindergarten/1st Grade Lunch Recess

12:05-12:25 2nd/3rd Grade Lunch Recess

12:45-1:05 4th/5th Grade Lunch Recess

1:25-1:45 3rd Grade Afternoon Recess

1:45-2:00 Kindergarten/1st Grade Afternoon Recess

2:05-2:25 2nd Grade Afternoon Recess

At Lake Grove, we are an inclusive school community fostering social, emotional, and academic growth for all students.

Principal: Jennie Knapp

Website: https://www.losdschools.org/lg
Location: 15777 Boones Ferry Road, Lake Oswego, OR, United States
Phone: 503-534-2357