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Dragon News
Findley Elementary School
September 29, 2023
Message from the Principal
We had our first all school spirit assembly today and OH what fun we had. Be sure you check out our Facebook and Instagram feeds for the highlights.
This edition of the Dragon News is FULL of new information about upcoming events. Please be sure to check it out so you are in the know.
Have a wonderful weekend!
Happy Friday,
Sherry Marsh, Ed.D.
Principal
New Information
Dragon Dash Updates
Hello Findley Families and Staff!
Your Findley PTO Dragon Dash team here with another update. We have already raised $51,867 as of 11AM Sep 27 and are climbing our way to 75% of our fundraising goal with only 1.5 week away from our Dragon Dash Day.
Can we hit 100% by then?
Class Participation:
This year ALL classes to reach 95% participation will receive a Class Party (donut or Pizza).
The first three classes to reach 95% participation are:
#1. Mr. Potocki's 5th Grade Class
#2. Mrs. Falkowski's Kindergarten Class
#3. Mrs. Lemons' 2nd Grade Class
You may continue to register on Pledgestar to help your Dragon's class reach 95% and earn a donut or pizza party. Please click the link pledgestar.com/findley to sign up and donate $1+ and help your classes win prizes.
Top Earning Class:
Based on % will get a Class Party and extra 20 minutes Recess Time. Mr. Potocki's class has made the most donations so far at an average of $144 donated per student followed by Mrs. VJ's with an average of $131 donated per student and Mrs. Falkowski with an average of $128 donated per student. Who will be the final Winner for the top earning class? We will find out soon.
Dragon Dash T-Shirts Class Colors/ and Running Time:
This year our students will be given Drago Dash T-shirts of their class colors on October 6, just in time to run in them. Below is a running schedule and class colors.
You may also donate through your Company Donation Site such as Benevity, instead of directly through Pledgestar. First, sign your student up on pledgestar, then, send a copy of the receipt to PTOFindley@gmail.com that includes the name of your student and their classroom teacher. This way we ensure the donations get credited to the correct student.
Dragon Dash Sponsor ASA-Oregon:
American Sports Academy - Oregon is owned and operated by Findley parents. Their primary goal is to build a healthy community among our business and the surrounding schools. We are thrilled to announce their support for the Dragon Dash 2023 with an exclusive offer for Findley Families that is available for a limited time only! All the purchase funds will be100% donated to Findley PTO Dragon Dash Fundraiser. Please click here American Sports Academy-Oregon Gift Certificate to purchase With this Premium Gift Certificate, we invite you to try the ASA - Oregon Experience for yourself through one of the following programs:
1. Soccer & Conditioning (PCC Rock Creek Main Gym)*
2. Martial Arts + Sports*
3. All-in-one Learning Center (Limited Space Available)l upon completion of purchasing and can be redeemed at ASA-Oregon.
We are FiNDLEY STRONG, GO DRAGONS!
BBQ Feedback
Our Dragon Dash Kick-Off BBQ had such amazing show of support from our school staff, volunteers, sponsors and families! We would love to hear about your thoughts and experience at this event to help plan in the future!
Please share some friendly feedback about the 1st Annual BBQ Party!
All the best,
Findley PTO
TAG Updates
In October, all 3rd grade students in Beaverton will be administered the Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT) Screener. This 30-minute test measures students’ learned reasoning abilities through verbal/picture analogies, number analogies and figure matrices.
Currently the main purpose for administering the CogAT is to identify students for TAG in the area of intellectual ability. Students who score at the 97th percentile or above on the CogAT screener will be invited to test with the full version of the CogAT; that is used for potential TAG identification. The full version of the CogAT will be given in November. For more information about testing, please contact your school’s TAG facilitator.
5th grade families can ask that their student take the CogAT Screener by completing this link.
Findley testing Schedule:
October 9th & 10th
Findley Chess Club Fall 2023
Do you want to learn how to play chess? Do you like to play chess with your friends? Do you know we have a chess club at Findley? Yes, we do!!! We are opening Findley Chess Club again this year!!! Our volunteer instructor is USCF Candidate Master, Jerry Sherrard, with over 15 years of tournament experience.
The first session will have 6 classes, meeting every Monday from 3:05 – 4:00 PM at Findley in Room 201 after school. Meeting dates are 10/9, 10/16, 10/23, 10/30, 11/6, 11/13. We welcome students with all levels and can accommodate up to 30 students (5 students per each grade).
If you could commit to the full attendance of 6 weeks, and pick up your kid on time at 4 PM, please submit your registration to findleychessclub@gmail.com with your kid's name and grade. The registration will be open on 9 AM October 2nd, Monday. It will be first come first served, and we will let you know the results by October 5th.
We also welcome parents volunteers to the classroom.
If you are interested, please contact findleychessclub@gmail.com
Repeat Information
Findley PTO
Findley PTO: Supporting our students by connecting parents, staff, and the community!
Visit our website at www.findleypto.com or email president@findleypto.com.
Want to know when your Students bus will arrive? Download the App!
A Message from our School Social Worker & Counselor
Dear Findley Families/Caretakers,
We hope the new school year if off to a great start for your student(s)!
This school year Ms. V and Mrs. Gotfried will be working together to support regular attendance. We wanted to share the districts message around attendance and also share with you our school protocol around attendance. You can also find this information in the Findley Family Handbook. Please reach out to Mrs. Gotfried or Ms. V with any questions or concerns.
emily_gotfried@beaverton.k12.or.us
victoria_sharan@beaverton.k12.or.us
Thank you so much!
From the Beaverton School District Website:
In BSD, we believe that attendance is an important life skill that helps students be successful in the classroom, graduate on time and be prepared for life beyond high school. The desire to attend school regularly starts with students feeling a sense of belonging. We want our classrooms, schools and district to be places where students develop meaningful relationships with staff and other students. But to forge those connections, students need to show up for school.
Chronic absenteeism is defined as missing 10% or more of school days for any reason (including excused, unexcused and behavioral absences). That's equivalent to about 18 missed days over the course of an academic year. In Oregon, more than one in six children are chronically absent from school. Research shows that children who were chronically absent in kindergarten and 1st grade are far less likely to read proficiently at the end of 3rd grade. By 6th grade, absenteeism is one sign that a student may drop out of school. By 9th grade, regular and high attendance is a better predictor of graduation rates than 8th grade test scores.
At Findley, our goal is to support families in regular attendance by problem solving and supporting families when needed to help overcome any obstacles or barriers to attendance.
Our school social worker and school counselor monitor attendance and respond with a tiered approach for 10% missed days, or below 90% attendance:
1. 10% or more missed school days: Teacher Outreach
2. Continued absences that fall below 90% attendance rate: Counselor or Social Worker Outreach
3. Continued absences after initial outreach: 2nd email or phone call from Counselor or Social worker
4. Continued support/problem solving needed to improve attendance: Administration Outreach
Change of Go Home Plans?
If you are changing how your student is going home, please make sure you contact the office. You may email fndly-communications@beaverton.k12.or.us or phone 503.356.2100.
Notifying the office allows them to know exactly where your student should be and helps us keep them safe!
Thank you for your help!
Job Opportunities in BSD
The Beaverton School District is hosting a job fair at the District Administrative Office (1260 NW Waterhouse Ave.) on Wednesday, October 11 from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Specifically, we are hiring Paraeducator II positions; these are aides who support our special education classrooms. Salaries range from $20.61 to $26.40 and include benefits. To learn more about the position, please visit our Careers website.
Emergency Kits for your Students
Medication Authorization Form
Medication submitted to the office in its original box if over the counter or in the original container with the prescription written on it with dosage.
The Medical Authorization Form must be on file with the medication. Please click on this link to print off this form when you bring in the medication. (We have them here as well)
Lower Parking Lot Arrival🚘
Please help us keep car drop off a smooth and safe process by remembering these few expectations:
- Please pull as far forward as you can before allowing your child to get out of the car. This helps with traffic flow. Even if your child goes in at the front of the school we need you to pull as far forward as you can to keep traffic moving.
- If your child can't exit your car on the right side, please park and have them use the crosswalk. Exiting on the left side is dangerous as cars are passing on that side.
- Please follow the guidance of Mrs. Cole and Mrs. Hargrave as they direct traffic. Their goal is to keep everyone safe and traffic flowing.
- Please do not stop in either crosswalk at any time.
Thank you so much!
School Meals
For information regarding school meals, please see here: 2023-2024 Meal Service.
To apply for meal benefits, lease see the Meal Benefits webpage to get started. The free and reduced-cost meal program offers many benefits beyond nutrition for participating families, including fee waivers, activity scholarships and school supplies. We encourage all families to take advantage of this option, if eligible.
Families are encouraged to keep a balance of $5 in their students' account for last minute milk purchases. While students will always be provided a lunch, regardless of balance on account, milk cannot be given without payment.
Arrival & Dismissal Maps and Procedures
Saltzman Lot is not available for parking, drop off or pick up during arrival and dismissal.
Dogs on Campus
Board Policy:
KGB - Public Conduct on District Property
16. Bring an animal into a district building without prior administrator approval and, where appropriate, only when proof of current rabies vaccination has been provided. Dogs are prohibited on district grounds. All other animals on district property are permitted with prior district approval only. Animals serving the disabled are permitted as provided by law.
TAKE A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION!
Families, let's work together to ensure our children's safety on the streets. Please remember to set a good example for our students by using the crosswalk instead of crossing mid-block when you are picking up your student. To help everyone remember, we will have painted footprints marking the safe route to cross the street. Thank you and stay safe!
ParentSquare Tutorials for Incoming Families
English ParentSquare 101 - https://youtu.be/UiX7gUTzeQU
Spanish ParentSquare 101 - https://youtu.be/Fg1iC4OL34E
Interested in Cub Scouts? Join Findley Pack 718!
Cub Scout Pack 718 is a part of the Scouts BSA program chartered under the
Findley PTO. The Scouting program focuses on helping kids learn character development, citizenship, sportsmanship and fitness, respect, personal achievement, and community service, through fun and adventure.
We are actively forming dens of all grades, boys and girls. You can attend our join night and info session on Sept 23th at 4:30 pm for more details in person. Find event details and RSVP via Evite.
Cub Scouts are grouped into dens at each grade level, and typically meet once or twice a month for age appropriate activities. Some example activities include hiking, woodworking, visiting a museum or a historical site, learning about the community & government, knot tying, first aid, and lots more.
The full Pack meets once a month where all Scouts come together for fun and activities, including picnics, Pinewood Derby car racing, Community service activities, Blue and Gold banquet, and Rocket Launch.
The Findley Cub Scouts are a volunteer, parent-led, organization focused on
helping our children develop. Our Pack 718 (http://pack718.com) has
more general information about Pack 718. You can see some of our scouts in action here: https://youtu.be/UT4bnboZI3E
To Sign Up, go to https://beascout.scouting.org and search for Findley. If you have any questions, contact pack718leads+findley@gmail.com.
Important Dates
October
4-Walk & Roll to School Day
6-Dragon Dash
13-No School, Staff Development Day
18-Great Shake Out-District-Wide Earthquake Drill
26-All School Assembly, Mix & Match Spirit Day, Fall Festival
27-No School, Grading Day
Findley Elementary
Email: sherry_marsh@beaverton.k12.or.us
Website: https://findley.beaverton.k12.or.us/
Location: 4155 Northwest Saltzman Road, Portland, OR, USA
Phone: 503-356-2100
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/findleyES