Lake Grove Elementary

Dear Lake Grove Families,

What a great start to the school year. I have been amazed with our Lake Grove community and all we have accomplished in these first few weeks back in school.

I wanted to share with you information about the upcoming Lake Oswego School Bond measure on the November 2021 ballot. A school bond is how school districts in Oregon typically fund major capital construction upgrades, updates and/or replacements of buildings. LOSD is on track to complete all capital projects promised in our 2017 bond measure -- on time and on budget. We are now turning our attention to the second phase of the three-part construction and capital improvement program.

The proposed Lake Oswego School Bond, if passed, would modernize classrooms, protect our capital investments, prioritize safety and security, and improve accessibility at all of our schools. It would also rebuild Lake Oswego Junior High and River Grove Elementary to relieve capacity and support best practices in education. If approved, property owners would pay an additional $0.92/$1,000 of assessed value annually. For the median home assessed value of $420,000 that is approximately $385 per year.

What would the bond do here at Lake Grove, if the measure passes?

• Address priority capital repairs

• Replace broadloom and tile carpet

• Upgrade mechanical systems for comfort and efficiency

• Improve accessibility

• Make accessibility improvements to walkways, restrooms, parking lots, garden, and entrances to ensure all students, staff, and community members can have access to public building

• Update playground to make more accessible

• Safe, secure campuses

• Update fire alarm system

• Building door hardware replacement

• Install additional cameras for sight improvement and video monitoring

• Update campus communication broadcast systems

• Modernize classrooms

• Continue technology infrastructure updates

• Replace outdated computers

You can find more information, including a complete project list and Frequently Asked Questions, online at www.LakeOswegoSchoolBond.org.

The Lake Oswego School Bond proposal can be found on your ballot as Measure 3-577. I encourage you to vote in this current election and in all elections.

Be well,

Principal Knapp

P.S. LOSD is hosting a Virtual Town Hall on the Bond Measure, Monday, Oct. 18, 5-6 p.m. All are invited to attend. https://loswego-k12-or-us.zoom.us/j/81717275309

Last Friday we got to have a moment of celebration for our fifth grade students when we reopened our gym for it's first PE since March 11, 2020! Fifth graders were excited to shoot the first baskets in the space they hadn't been inside since their third grade year. The gym has been upgraded, although it looks much the same, to ensure that it will be safe even during a major earthquake.

Our amazing new Physical Education teacher, Tyler Sondelski, welcomed the fifth graders last Friday afternoon for a special reopening ceremony and then has hosted all the students in the gym for PE this week.

Physical education standards include becoming proficient in movement and motor skills, developing a life-long recognition of the role of exercise as a component of a healthy lifestyle, and developing respectful social behaviors. In student language, during PE class students learn new physical skills, and notice how they feel better after moving their bodies, as well as learn how to play games and be part of a team. This year, after our time apart during the past year and a half, these social skills matter more than ever. We are thankful that Mr. Sondelski is helping guide your children's growth in these areas.

Below see a less than two minute slideshow of last week's reopening ceremony.

We have been considering many different options on how to connect with our parents/guardians in a way that suits most everyone. Lake Grove's Back to School Night 2021 will be hosted via Zoom, Wednesday, October 13 at 6pm. You will receive a Zoom link from your child’s teacher. During Back to School Night, you will be able to view a short video from me with messages from all of the groups you would typically hear from in the gymnasium (followed by the classroom teacher's presentation). A second session will occur at 6:30pm for parents with multiple children.

If you have children at other schools, please note that each school may do Back to School Night a little differently this year. Schools will be considering the best options for the community when their nights are near.

Thank you for your understanding as we make decisions to minimize the potential for exposure in our schools with the need to connect with our community.

Dear Lake Grove Families,

This month, we are talking about the social-emotional skill of EMPATHY. During our SEL time, we will be referencing the following definition:

EMPATHY: the ability to understand and connect to the feelings of another.

EMPATHY is a crucial skill for being in a community with others and a powerful skill to develop in personal and professional relationships. We are focusing on a few key components of EMPATHY: knowing how we feel (and having the language to describe those feelings), understanding what others are feeling, and listening to others well so we can connect in more meaningful ways.

We will reflect on powerful images which will inspire conversations about emotions, connection, and friendship. We will learn about incredible people and what they have to say about EMPATHY. Most importantly, we will celebrate what makes us different and learn about the amazing things that bring us together.

Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions. I can be reached at postw@loswego.k12.or.us or 503-534-2357. For your reference, here are links for extension activities you may wish to explore further as a family:

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

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

What is Dyslexia?

Dyslexia is a learning disability in reading. People with dyslexia have trouble reading at a good pace and without mistakes. They may also have a hard time with reading comprehension, spelling, and writing. But these challenges aren’t a problem with intelligence.

Children and adults with dyslexia struggle to read fluently, spell words correctly, and memorize rote facts such as multiplication tables, among other challenges. But these difficulties have no connection to their overall intelligence. While people with dyslexia can be slow readers, they often, paradoxically, are very fast and creative thinkers with strong reasoning abilities.

Dyslexia can’t be “cured” – it is lifelong. But with appropriate instruction, an individual with dyslexia can learn to read, write, and spell and can become a highly successful individual. Reading instruction that is based upon a systematic and explicit understanding of language structure, including phonics is shown to benefit all readers, including those with dyslexia.

Get the facts on Dyslexia from the International Dyslexia Association (IDA): Fact Sheets

Ways to help your child at home: https://www.understood.org/en/learning-thinking-differences/child-learning-disabilities/dyslexia/dyslexia-strategies-you-can-try-at-home?_ul=1*jhht1b*domain_userid*YW1wLTY5YzJjRVMxUnU3YU03WDduMFdORVE

Each week in October, we will feature a message about dyslexia in this newsletter. If you have questions or concerns regarding your child’s learning, please contact the school principal and/or literacy specialist. Another great parent resource would be to contact your school’s Student Services Parent Advisory Committee (SSPAC) representative. Please see here to learn how to contact your school representative.

In order to ensure equitable opportunities, all second and third-grade students will be assessed this fall using the Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT) to screen for intellectual ability and eligibility for Talented and Gifted (TAG) support. This 60-minute in-classroom assessment measures reasoning and problem-solving skills in three different areas: verbal, quantitative, and nonverbal. Each area is designed to evaluate specific reasoning skills that strongly correlate to academic success. The district’s testing window for the CogAT screener will be October 11 through November 12.

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.

10/8 - Professional Day - No School

10/12 - LOSD School Advisory Committee Meeting

10/13 - Back to School Night 6pm

10/22 - Early Dismissal 11am

10/28-29 No School - Conferences

11/5 School Portrait Make Up Day

PREVIEW: GET READY FOR GIVING WEEK OCTOBER 18-22

GIVE BACK TO THE PLANET

GIVE BACK TO YOUR COMMUNITY

Giving Week is sponsored by the PTA’s Community Building and Social Responsibility committee in partnership with Lake Grove Food Friends (our school’s newly formed food bank led by Wendy Post). The week helps students focus on giving back to their community.

Join us to bring donated non-perishable food items and gently used or new clothing to your classroom.

ALL WEEK: Walk and Bike to school to show your love to our planet and our beautiful community!

Oct 18 Macaroni & Mitten Monday - Bring any pasta item and mittens

Oct 19 Tutti-Frutti Tuesday - Bring any canned fruits and vegetables and warm hats

Oct 20 Warm Wednesday - Bring canned soups and crackers, coats and jackets

Oct 21 Thursday/Rainday - Bring beans and rice and rain gear (raincoats, boots)

Oct 22 Friday Fun Day - Donate ANY non-perishable food item and ANY clothing item and join the lake Grove PTA. https://lgs.ejoinme.org/2021PTA

Questions about Giving Week? Contact lakegrovepta@gmail.com.

Paw Patrol is a fun way to spread school spirit by posting Cougar “Paw” signs on the lawns of your fellow Grovers. If a Paw shows up on your lawn, then you’ve been Pawed! Once signs are placed, it becomes the family's turn to pass the Paw on to the next family, along with an option to make a small donation to our wonderful school. Read the instructions that come with your Paws and after a couple days, pass it on. Look for more information coming soon on the PTA Facebook page.

The Scholastic Book Fair is right around the corner! Shop online and virtually October 15-28 to discover new books with your kids. Every purchase supports our school! Fair link & teacher wish lists will be sent out October 15.

THANK YOU PTA VOLUNTEERS!

Thanks to support from PTA volunteers, Alexis Baghdadi, Cory Woolman, Alexis Nicoli and Shannon Crain, several properties surrounding Lake Grove are sporting a new lawn signs encouraging safe speeds around campus. Thank you for helping to keep our kids safe on the neighborhood sidewalks—and where we have no sidewalks at all!

LAKE OSWEGO CLOTHING CLOSET

I Love Lake Oswego Clothing Closet is a donation-based closet that provides clothing items and hygiene products for residents, students of all ages, and employees that work or live within Lake Oswego.

Open Saturdays

9 a.m.-12 p.m.

2301 Hazel Rd. (next to Lake Oswego High School)

Visit https://www.ilovelakeoswego.com for more information.

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

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