Lake Grove Elementary

Dear Lake Grove Families,

The start of a new year is an apt time to take stock of all that we have to celebrate and to set goals and resolutions for the future.

What an amazing week it's been! It is so wonderful to be reconnected with your children again. The students have jumped right back into their learning and friendships with an eagerness that is heartwarming.

This community continues to impress me with our commitment to taking care of one another.

Thank you all for keeping your children home if they're not feeling well, for wearing masks, and for understanding as we continue to postpone in-person events, large gatherings within the school, and adjusting the date to welcome volunteers back to Lake Grove.

Our staff has been really stepping up to ensure that even with some absences every single student has the love and support they need to thrive and succeed.

I sincerely wish for a happy, safe, and healthy 2022 for each of you that is filled with opportunities to appreciate one another.

Be well,

Principal Jennie Knapp

As we start the new year of 2022, we will be spending the month of January introducing the character trait of PERSEVERANCE in our Social Emotional Learning (SEL) lessons. The definition we will be using for Perseverance is: the ability to work through situations even when there are obstacles or challenges in the way.

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.

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

K-2 PERSEVERANCE Parent Letter (English) K-2 PERSEVERANCE Parent Letter (En Español)

3-5 PERSEVERANCE Parent Letter (English) 3-5 PERSEVERANCE Parent Letter (En Español)

There is nothing we want more than to have all of our staff and students present at Lake Grove each day. Yet, as we continue to work through this phase of the pandemic, and with Omicron being especially virulent, we wanted to send a reminder to please keep students home if they are ill (even with mild symptoms) to help prevent the spread of COVID in our schools and community. It's also important to let us know if you have been exposed to a positive case so we can work with Clackamas County and the LOSD nursing team to determine if quarantine is necessary. Please see below for reminders that were sent by the district previously. These remain especially important as Covid case numbers in our community continue to rise. Thank you for working together with us!

Don’t go to School Sick: Please don’t go to school with ANY illness symptoms, no matter how mild. This includes a runny nose or scratchy throat.

Required Face Coverings Our districts will continue to require masks in all buildings. Please make sure to remind your child to wear their mask over their nose and mouth at all times indoors. Based on updated health recommendations, we encourage the use of N95 masks for optimal protection instead of cloth masks.

Wash Hands Frequently Protocols and systems are implemented to ensure access to soap, water, and alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol available throughout LOSD school buildings. Schools will prioritize handwashing with soap and water after students or staff use the restroom and throughout the day, as appropriate.

Distancing Physical distancing of 3 feet will be maintained to the extent possible. Students and staff will be asked to be mindful of physical distancing throughout the school day. During meal time, physical distancing of 6 feet will be maintained.

Isolation Those who test positive for COVID will need to isolate from school settings for 10 days. This is different from CDC’s five-day guidance, which is intended for the general population and not specific to schools.

Quarantine This starts the day after your last exposure to a case. Unvaccinated and asymptomatic close contacts may end quarantine after a minimum of 7 days, with a negative antigen or PCR test taken 5-7 days after exposure. Vaccinated students are exempt from quarantine.

Test to Stay A modified quarantine for unvaccinated and asymptomatic close contacts is available, but this option is only available if your exposure occurred in a K-12 setting in which universal, consistent and correct mask use was implemented, or when actively eating or drinking. The District Nurse will determine when this option can be used.

The safety and security of our students and employees remains our top priority. Although COVID-19 will continue to impact classrooms throughout our districts, we will keep taking the steps necessary to safely maximize in-person learning opportunities.

Your partnership and support is greatly appreciated.

Our teachers use the adopted Health Curriculum, The Great Body Shop, to teach the required Oregon Health Standards to our students. THE GREAT BODY SHOP is a comprehensive health education curriculum which is sequential, developmentally appropriate, culturally sensitive, and medically accurate. The lessons align with Oregon’s Health Education Standards and are embedded with social-emotional learning. Watch your classroom teacher's newsletter for upcoming topics. If you would like to review the health curriculum, please contact the school office. More information, including an opt-out form if needed, can be found on the District website.

This Winter, all K-8 students in Lake Oswego will complete two online i-Ready assessments in class. One is for math and the other is for reading. i-Ready is a program 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 results will be shared with parents in February. For kindergartners, this will be their first i-Ready assessment. Our Winter i-Ready window is open from January 3-28.

Have you ever thought about working here at Lake Grove Elementary School? We have positions posted and are looking for wonderful people to join our team!

See the postings for more details, and feel free to contact the office with any questions 503-534-2357.

The date for welcoming volunteers back to our schools has been pushed back, but it's still a great time to complete the paperwork so you can join us in the future.

Volunteers need to verify the following requirements before volunteering in schools:

• Complete Background Check through school Raptor system - if you have not already completed this, bring your driver's license or passport with you on your first day back to register.

• Fill out this form: Sign Statement of Knowledge and Understanding of LOSD Policies - detailed information below.

• Show/Send Proof of Vaccination to Annika Nicholas (nicholaa@loswego.k12.or.us). LOSD will not be granting exemptions for volunteers due to requirements of weekly testing and distancing.

• You will be contacted by the school office with next steps. There are additional trainings required for volunteers working directly with students.

Statement of Knowledge and Understanding - LOSD District Policies

All contractors, volunteers, and visitors must agree to follow District policies, the most important of which are summarized or referenced below:

• No smoking or other uses of tobacco products, alcoholic beverages or other controlled substances on District property, including parking lots and fields.

• No firearms, fire pits, indoor barbecues, candles, fog machines, balloons or fireworks may be used on School District property.

• Park in designated parking areas only. Violators will be towed at the owner's expense.

• Reporting of Suspected Abuse of a Child JHFE

• Reporting Requirements Regarding Sexual Conduct with Students JHFF

• HPV/Bloodborne Pathogens GBEBAA/JHCCBA/EBBAB

• Educational Equity JBB

• Nondiscrimination Policy AC

• Sexual Harassment GBN/JBA

• Transgender and Gender Nonconforming Students JBBA

• Volunteers IICC

Please click on this link to sign the form that states you know and understand the information and the policies listed above.

Every year, Oregon students take assessments to meet federal requirements. The purpose of these assessments is to provide data that schools can use to ensure each and 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.

If your child has received their COVID-19 vaccinations and you would like to update their immunization record at school, please do so using this form. While not required at this time, this will be helpful information to have in the event of an exposure in a classroom or bus and could help prevent the need to quarantine. Thank you!

LOSD is opening up its new student registration on Wednesday, Jan. 19. That includes students who will be entering kindergarten in the fall of 2022. Each neighborhood elementary school will be hosting a virtual open house. These will be posted on school websites beginning at 5pm on Wednesday, Jan. 19. Click here for more information about Kindergarten Counts.

See the messaging in the Current. Masks will be optional for elementary school students outdoors after January 14th. Thank you for your support.

If you have lost something at school, please take a look through the slides and submit a request for pickup. Please help by labeling all items. We will do our best to return labeled items directly to the student. See all items collected here.

If your child will be absent, please email your student's teacher and copy the office at lgattendance@loswego.k12.or.us. Please list the date your child will be absent and any illness symptoms. You may also call us at 503-534-2357, or leave a voicemail on the 24-hour attendance line at 503-534-2299.

If you need to pick your child up early for an appointment, please be sure to bring your ID in to the office to sign them out.

1/17 No school - MLK Day

1/18 PTA General Meeting (Zoom, 7pm)

1/19 Kindergarten Counts (Virtual, after 5pm)

1/28 No school - Teacher Grading Day

RETURN PAW PATROL SIGNS TO SCHOOL

Thank you to everyone who helped spread the school spirit through Paw Patrol! If you have any paw signs, please drop them in the school foyer. Questions? Contact lakegrovefundraising@gmail.com.

ART LITERACY RETURNS TO LAKE GROVE CLASSROOMS LATER THIS YEAR: VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

Art Literacy is a district-wide volunteer program that introduces students to different art principles, elements, and artistic techniques. All training, presentation materials, project information and supplies are provided by our PTA. This is a great opportunity to work with students in the classroom!

Key roles and responsibilities:

-Delivery of the Artist Overview presentation to the classroom

-Presentation and completion of the Hands-On Project in the classroom

-Mounting of artwork, creation of portfolios, and filing previous months’ artwork

Length of time required in the classroom:

-Presentation: 15 minutes

-Hands-on project: 30 minutes

You will be paired with at least one other volunteer for your classroom and will work together to ensure that all key roles and responsibilities for your classroom are covered. A monthly training will be held to ensure all volunteers are prepared.

Please contact Kim MacKay at kimtamura@gmail.com if you are interested in volunteering! The program will start when safety protocols allow.

FIFTH GRADE FAMILIES: PROVIDE PHOTOS TO THE YEARBOOK BY JANUARY 15

The yearbook committee is currently collecting photos for 5th grade section of the 2021-22 yearbook (due 1/15). Fifth grade families will receive an email with instructions. EVERY Lake Grove student gets a FREE yearbook sponsored by the PTA. Fifth graders get a memory page, dedication page, and will be included in a recap of photos “through the years” since Kindergarten. Please submit 4-8 photos and a dedication statement through google docs. INCLUDE STUDENT’S NAME on the photos you submit by changing the filename to include your student’s name.

1. 3 Photos for Memory Pages featuring every 5th grader’s personality and interests Submit Memory Photos here
2. 1-5 Photos, plus a statement for the Dedication Page: Please submit 1 - 5 photos and a statement on this form
3. 5th Grade through the Years - Optional - to be shared with the Graduation Party committee. Please submit photos of LGE 5th graders through the years since Kindergarten. Think class parties, field trips, sports teams, field day, first day of school, etc. This is optional. These photos will be included in the end-of-year ceremony slideshow. Submit ‘5th thru the years” here. Please name as many kids as possible.

Questions? Email 2122lgeyearbook@gmail.com

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