Oak Creek Elementary

Oak Creek Families,

Our third graders put on a wonderful music performance yesterday! Thank you to our families that were able to come and join us, and to Ms. McQuillen, for all your hard work. What a great way to head into the holiday week ahead!

Please make sure to read below for important information, including information about picture retakes, two "bee" opportunities, and more! If you have any questions, please see the FAQ section below, or feel free to reach out to myself or Tess Kristoffersson at kristoft@loswego.k12.or.us.

Thank you,

Barb Keeton

Updated in Every Edition:

• Principal's Message
• Dates to Remember
• PTO Corner

NEW In This Edition:

• Oregon State Assessment Opt-out form
• More OBOB Information

Repeated Information:

• Purposeful People: Gratitude
• Two "Bee" Opportunities!
• 3rd Grade Music Performance: Autumn Beauty

• Nurses' Note

• Holiday Outreach
• Recognitions and Observations in November

LOSD District News:

• "I Love Lake Oswego" Clothing Closet
• The Music Man
• SafeOregon
• Subscribe to Lake Oswego Schools App

December 2: Wreath Pick Up

December 8: Vision Screening

December 19-January 2: Winter Break - No School

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

Hey OCE!

Thank you for your donations to the PTO! In addition, we are excited to see many partnerships with businesses. We appreciate your contributions.

We need volunteers! If you are registered in the Raptor volunteer system and are available, please sign up on the links below.

Vision Screening Volunteers

Picture Retake Volunteers

Wreath Pickup Volunteers

Art Literacy Volunteers

You can still get your wreaths and centerpieces! Purchase locally produced holiday wreaths and centerpieces for yourself or as a gift. Order deadline is extended to November 20th, wreath pick up on December 2nd. Order now!

We are partnering with Minted for a fundraiser! Order cards and invitations on minted.com and save 20% on your order, while 15% of your order is donated to the Oak Creek PTO. Use code: FUNDRAISEOAKCREEK when ordering.

Questions? OakCreekElementaryPTO@gmail.com

Oak Creek Elementary PTO Executive Committee

Kirstin Martin / President

Amanda Schade / Treasurer VP

Samantha McCaskey / Assistant Treasurer VP

Page Donnelly/ Membership VP

Brooke Mattern / Communications VP

Holli Hansford / Co-Events and Enrichment VP

Barry Hansford / Co-Events and Enrichment VP

Steve Farnham / Co-Fundraising VP

Heather Shoyer / Co-Fundraising VP

Lauren Terpstra / Parental Involvement VP

Rachel Wilde / Secretary VP

Teressa Raine / Sustainability VP

Now that the OBOB teams are set, here is what comes next.

Step 1: Split Up the 15 books among the teammates. Here is the list of OBOB Books. There are many ways to do this. If you run out of ideas, please reach out to the OCE OBOB Team for recommendations!

Step 2: OBOBers begin meeting with teammates and other OBOB enthusiasts in the Library during lunch recess to discuss, read, practice, strategize. The schedule is as follows…

• 3rd Grade - Mondays lunch recess

• 4th Grade - Wednesdays lunch recess

• 5th Grade - Wednesdays lunch recess

Step 3: Students look for the OBOB Google Classroom invite and then join. Resources, schedules, and information will begin posting at that source after fall break.

Step 4: Adults! We are looking for volunteers. Our sign-ups reached around 90 plus readers this year. Let us know if you are interested in helping out THE OCE OBOB Team by communicating with the PTO! Please email: Kirstin Martin at oakcreekelementarypto@gmail.com

For all other questions please contact

The OCE School Librarian & OBOB Book Club Coordinator email: Darcy Benson at bensond@loswego.k12.or.us

The OCE OBOB teacher coordinator email: Megan Lovelace at lovelacm@loswego.k12.or.us

Warmly,

The OCE OBOB TEAM

Dearest Oak Creek Families,

This month, we will be investing our time and attention on the character trait: GRATITUDE in our Social Emotional Learning (SEL) lessons, classrooms, and throughout our school community.

Gratitude has been shown to be one of the best ways to reduce anxiety, increase happiness, & improve relationships.

The practice of gratitude is a tool that both grounds us and also inspires hope, peace, and joy. For when we are grateful, we are stronger to “be the good” to our world.

One way to think about Gratitude is “choosing to appreciate the people and things in our lives.” Practicing Gratitude can increase our well-being and our happiness.

Gratitude is 1 of 3 traits we will focus on throughout the year that helps students Be Well.

Throughout the school, we will be developing skills like emotion regulation, positive self-talk, and stress management. We are choosing Gratitude!

The definition students will be learning at school this month is Gratitude:

choosing to appreciate the people and things in our lives.

Thank you for teaming with us to empower our students socially and emotionally.

Together,

Roxanne Davidson

Ms. D 💙 Oak Creek Elementary School Counselor 💙 davidsor@loswego.k12.or.us

Two exciting upcoming opportunities!

The Who Was History Bee- Grades 3-5

Students in grades 3-5 will have the opportunity to participate in The Who Was? History Bee! Reading and participating in the Bee is a fun way to learn and test your knowledge about people in history. The Bee will start with a classroom competition the week of November 28th. Winners from each class will move on to the school bee the week of December 12th. The school finalist will write an essay the week of March 20th to compete in the Western Regionals.

Scripps National Spelling and Vocabulary Bee- Grades 4-5

Our 4th and 5th graders will have an opportunity to participate in the Scripps National Spelling and Vocabulary Bee. Classroom competitions will be the week of January 3rd. The top scorers from each class will participate in the school bee the week of February 6th. The school winner will then move on to the regional bee in March.

Check your student's Google Classroom for additional information and helpful study links. For questions, please contact our TAG Coordinator, Alix Swanson. (swansona@loswego.k12.or.us)

Please click here to: Learn when to keep your children home from school.

VISION SCREENING: Oregon Lions Sight and Hearing Foundation will soon be conducting their

annual vision screening of K,1,3,and 5th grades.

DONATE YOUR OLD GLASSES

On the day of your school's vision screening, please consider donating any old glasses you have to the Lions Club. Click for more information

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.

Oak Creek Elementary is able to offer resources to households that may need a helping hand over the holidays. Below is a brief description of holiday resources that are being offered. Please complete the form if you would like to be contacted to receive any of these services.

Use this link to complete the form:

https://forms.gle/Uk7iQzotLHrh84QT8

If you have questions please feel free to contact us. Your privacy will be respected.

Roxanne Davidson, School Counselor

davidsor@loswego.k12.or.us 503.534.2323

Kristin Guelsdorf, District Social Worker

guelsdok@loswego.k12.or.us. 971.204.9555

We have a lot to celebrate and acknowledge this month. All teachers and staff are encouraged to find ways to recognize these and other awareness opportunities to help create a culture of belonging in our schools.

American Indian Heritage Month is recognized National American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month in 1990 when President George H.W. Bush signed it into Public Law.

Epilepsy Awareness Month learn seizure first aid and find out how you can get involved.

America Recycles Day, Novembre 15,also known as National Recycling Day, is a national observance in the United States dedicated to promoting recycling across the nation.

American Education Week happens the week prior to the week of Thanksgiving. Each day of the week has its own theme, to celebrate our public school community. Festivities honor the team of people who work in our nation’s public schools, everyone from the bus driver and classroom teacher to the cafeteria worker and administrative staff, plus countless others. Celebrate public education and honor the individuals working to ensure that every student receives a quality education. It includes: Education Support Professionals Day and National Substitute Educators Day

Veterans Day is a federal holiday honoring military veterans. In 1938, the United States Congress made the 11th of November in each year a legal holiday - to be celebrated and known as "Armistice Day." Congress amended this act in 1954, replacing "Armistice" with "Veterans," and it has been known as Veterans Day since then.

World Kindness Day, November 13

Transgender Awareness Week, observed November 13-19, is a one-week celebration leading up to the Transgender Day of Remembrance, which memorializes victims of transphobic violence.

Survivor Day - International Survivors of Suicide Loss was designated by the United States Congress as a day when the friends and family of those who have died by suicide can join together for healing and support. This day always falls on the Saturday before American Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving

Native American Heritage Day is designated the Friday for all of us to understand the rich culture, tradition, and history of Native Americans and their status today, and to appreciate the contributions that First Americans have made and will continue to make to our Nation.

If we've missed a recognition opportunity, please email kristoft@loswego.k12.or.us.

LAKERIDGE HIGH SCHOOL is bringing "The Music Man" to our community! This family-friendly musical production will run November 10, 12, 17 and 19, 2022 for a total of 6 performances on the Lakeridge High School main stage. The cast for the show features Brock Woolworth as Harold Hill and Lizzie Bryan as Marian Paroo, along with a lively ensemble of musical and dancing talent.

Tickets can be purchased in advance at http://www.pacer-drama.org/.

I Love Lake Oswego Clothing Closet has received an overwhelming amount of support and donation during the pandemic. We want to give back to our community and encourage our community to lean on us not for just hard times, but for up cycling, sustainability, and for our environment. In the past the closet was just for students, and since the pandemic we have opened our doors to anyone within our community.

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

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.)

Stay connected to the district and your school(s) and receive urgent notifications by subscribing to the Lake Oswego Schools App.

Reach out to us if you have any questions or need anything!

• Principal; Barb Keeton: keetonb@loswego.k12.or.us
• Administrative Assistant; Terese Kristoffersson: kristoft@loswego.k12.or.us
• Administrative Assistant; Tanya Goodwin: goodwint@loswego.k12.or.us

Address: 55 Kingsgate Rd., Lake Oswego, OR 97035

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OakCreekPTA/

Interested in OCE Spirit Wear? Check out this website sponsored by our PTO! OCE Spirit Wear