The Howler Vol. 15

Greetings Grant Watts Community,

As we approach the national holiday that celebrates the life and service of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., I want to acknowledge the kindness and empathy we see within our students. In the past few weeks, they have learned about the teachings and history of this important American hero and engaged in some heartfelt conversations and activities inspired by the legacy of Dr. King. As you enjoy the day off Monday, I encourage you to talk with your children about how we can continue to work towards making MLK’s dream a reality.

Next week brings colder temperatures and the potential for icy conditions. Please use caution when walking around campus, and try to stay on the main pathways, which will be treated with deicer. If the thermostat drops below freezing in the mornings, we will bring all students inside beginning at 8:00 am. Recess will still be held outdoors, so please send your child with appropriate cold-weather gear. Also, remember to label those items with their names, as our Lost & Found is already filling up again.

Lastly, please ask your children about our new fruits and vegetables program we rolled out at Grant Watts this week. Thanks to a grant from the US Department of Agriculture, we can offer fresh and healthy snack choices for all our students each Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. We tried Fuji apples, kiwi fruit, and micro greens this week!

Have a wonderful long weekend,

Principal Small

Get ready for Family Bingo Night! This is one our favorite events of the year - and it’s FREE! This year we will be holding the event at the High School Cafeteria.

We are looking for prize donations for all ages - from toddler to adults. Donations can be dropped off at the schools.

If you would like to volunteer at the event, please see our Sign Up Genius

We LOVE our elementary schools, and it’s time to celebrate! Join us at the Hearts & Arrows Dance on Saturday, February 8th at Grant Watts Elementary. Music, lights, photo areas, and fun! Students from all elementary schools are invited. Parent(s)/Guardian(s) must stay with students for the event.

Stay tuned for more information.

The 3rd grade students will be going on a field trip to see the Oregon Symphony perform on February 13. The concert will be at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall downtown Portland. Students will be learning about the symphony and about the composers and music they wrote between now and the concert.

Second grade students are starting to prepare for their 2nd grade concert starting this week. The theme of the concert is: Explore the World. We will be learning about five different countries and singing a song from each one. There will be a slideshow coming to your email soon (I’m still working on putting it together) that will be a practice aid for your student. They will be singing songs in different languages, so practice at home will be vital for their success. The more they hear the music, the better they will perform it. The concert date is March 20 at 6:30.

We are accepting enrollments for the 2024-2025 school year. We would love to welcome any new students to join our after-school program. Families can learn more at discoverchampions.com or by phone at 971.290.9010.

Champions will be open on Non-School Days providing a safe and fun environment for school-aged children. Families needing care can sign their children up for these days by visiting discoverchampions.com. Register your child now before it's too late and enjoy peace of mind knowing your child is in good hands while school is out! Please note that our Champions program will be closed in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day on 1/20. The next Non-School Day will be on 1/31 at Otto Peterson from 7:30 am - 5:30 pm.

In addition to our regular programming, we are now open for Spring Break and Summer Break enrollments for children ages 5-12. These seasonal programs provide a great opportunity for families to engage their children in fun, enriching, and educational activities during the upcoming breaks. Enroll your children at discoverchampions.com.

• Monday, January 20th- MLK Jr. Day-NO SCHOOL
• Friday, January 24th -SEPO Bingo Night @ SHS
• Tuesday, January 28th- 3rd Grade Field Trip to OMSI
• Friday, January 31st-Grade Day- NO SCHOOL
• Saturday, February 8th- Hearts and Arrows Dance
• Thursday, February 13th- 3rd Grade Field Trip to see Oregon Symphony