The Current

Message from the Superintendent

Family Favorite Summer Activities in Lake Oswego

Community Safety Message: Secure Gun Storage

eBike Safety and Unlawful Behavior Concerns

"One Lake One Love" Band at Starlight Parade

Board Recognizes Student Rep Jacob Stuckey

Pride Month Resolution

Math Adoption Complete

Report Cards, State Assessment Scores Found In ParentVue

Last and First Days of School Schedule

Time to Register for Elementary Strings Program

Save the Date: Smart Start 2023

Before You Go: Verify Your Student's Information

Health Information:

• Reminders from Our District Nurses
• Medication Pickup
• Immunizations for Next School Year

Enrichment & Recreational Programs

• LO Youth Basketball Camps
• Registration Open for Spring, Summer Enrichment & Recreation
  

Community News:

• LO for LOVE Looking for Board Members
• Color Run at Lake Oswego High School
• LO Library Summer Reading Program
  
• You're Invited: Native American Cultural Events

Regular Reminders:

• Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: 988
• Hunger Fighters Oregon
  
• Safe Oregon
  
• School Incident Reporting
  
• Get Social with LOSD

Students, staff, and families worked hard this school year, establishing routines, fostering social skills, and learning healthy habits.

As we head into summer, we encourage students to connect with friends and family, be active, get creative, stay safe, and enjoy nature! I polled my team for their favorite family summer activities to share with our learning community. We hope our short list in this newsletter sparks some ideas. One of my summer pastimes is growing flowers and vegetables in my family's plot at Luscher Farm. Maybe I'll see you there!

To help inspire others, we would love it if you sent us a photo and a short paragraph on something you do this summer. We’ll post it on @weareLOSD social media to share your ideas with more families.

We’ve also created Bingo cards with summer activities and play ideas. Download a Bingo card from our website and mark your child’s activities over the summer. Students who turn in their completed Bingo cards to school will receive a fun badge at the start of the new school year. We also have printouts of the Bingo cards at the reception desk of the LOSD Central Office.

Summer in the Pacific Northwest can be spectacular, and our area is extraordinary. Please enjoy it safely and responsibly, and return to school in September, ready to learn and grow!

Following are some favorite summer activities on school age-appropriate, location, and access. Please Google search these suggestions for more information, directions, and timing.

Visit Luscher Farm for the 2023 Pollination Celebration on June 22 to celebrate national pollinator week! The event features educational sessions on pollinators, bird walks, bee identification and talks, crafts and activities for kids, sweet treats from Kona Ice, live music, and more. The celebration concludes with a special pollinator parade for kids.

Lake Oswego Festival of Arts, June 23-25, kicks off summer with three days full of creative and fun activities that engage kids in art-making, theatre, dance, and games. Be sure to check out masterpieces from our school programs on display at the Lakewood Center!

Lake Grove Swim Park offers swim lessons for all residents of Lake Oswego, and it's a lovely way to behold the beauty of the lake. One person fondly refers to it as Camp Oswego, as it looks like a scene from a teen summer movie.

Read a book or be read to during story time at the Lake Oswego Library. Extend your trip to the library with a picnic at Rossman Park down the street. Or, check out the Rover Pop-Up Library, which can be found at Lakeridge Middle School and Westlake Park throughout the summer.

Lake Oswego Farmers Market on Saturdays is a bounty of healthy and indulgent treats and live entertainment. Make it a destination for a long walk or bike ride downtown.

Pick up a soccer game after dinner at a neighborhood field, such as Freeponds Park near Hallinan. It's fun for kids to burn energy before bedtime while parents relax on the sidelines or get into the action!

Independence Day Holiday in Lake Oswego on July 4th offers fun from sun up to sun down. Start your day at the Lion's Club pancake breakfast at George Rogers Park before heading to State Street for the Start Spangled Parade that concludes in Millenium Plaza for more festivities. That evening is the Independence Day Illumination Concert and Lazer Light Show at Foothills Park.

Lake Oswego Summer Concert Series offers something for everyone, and the Concerts in the Park on Wednesdays are entertainment for the whole family! Concerts are free every Wednesday evening in July at Foothills Park and in August at Westlake Park. Bring a picnic dinner and find a spot to meet with friends, make new ones, dance, sing, or run around.

Go to the beach without leaving town! The Willamette River beachfront along George Rogers Park is a great place to play in the sand and dip your toes in the river. Bring your own or borrow a kayak or stand-up paddleboard available for rent at the park.

Get a free Slurpee on July 11th from 7-Eleven. It explains why you'll see a lot of kids hanging out at the convenience store that day!

Parks, parks, and more parks! You could visit one park a week in Lake Oswego and still have more to experience. Did you know that Lake Oswego has over 600 acres of developed park property, undeveloped and passive parklands, natural parks, and open spaces, including 45 acres of recreation facilities: an Adult Community Center, Indoor Tennis Center, and outdoor swim park. Each park offers something different, whether climbing structures, athletic fields, tree-lined trails, water features, or covered spaces, to make your fun.

Our fantastic parent clubs host playdates at our schools throughout the summer. Some meet-ups are by grade level, and others are for everyone in town at the time. Check out newsletters and social media for what parent volunteers have planned.

Find a ton more fun through Lake Oswego Parks and Recreation. Summer events for the family include Movies in the Park and the Gnome Hunt.

Venture out of the bubble for a walk or bike through Champoeg State Heritage Park in Newburg. It has miles of wide paved trails in a majestic historical setting. On your way to and from the park, you'll pass several orchards with u-pick and farm stands. The peaches are perfect for eating over the sink or making cobblers.

The Four T-Trail -- trail, tram, trolley, and train -- is a favorite way to explore Portland. Unfortunately, the trail is closed indefinitely just south of the Zoo and I-26 due to a landslide. Portland Parks is working on a solution, so keep this gem of activity on your radar for when it reopens.

As summer approaches and children and teens may be more often at home alone or visiting friends’ houses, Lake Oswego School Board Chair Neelam Gupta and City of Lake Oswego Mayor Joe Buck and Police Chief George Burke remind residents of the importance of safe gun storage, noting that secure firearm storage is always an adult responsibility. Learn more at https://besmartforkids.org/.

Gun violence is the leading cause of death for children and teens. Chair Gupta, Mayor Buck, and Chief Burke urge parents and caregivers to practice responsible gun storage by securing firearms in their homes and asking about the presence of guns in the homes of family and friends. Secure gun storage can save children’s lives by preventing unintentional shootings and gun suicides. Responsible firearm storage means that guns are stored, unloaded, locked, and separated from ammunition.

June is National Gun Violence Awareness Month. Chair Gupta, Mayor Buck, and Chief Burke remind residents of the following statistics:

• Every year across the country, 350 children under 18 unintentionally shoot themselves or someone else, and nearly 77% of those incidents occur inside the home.¹
• More than 700 children die by gun suicide each year. In the overwhelming majority of these incidents, the gun used was one that belonged to someone in their home.²
  
• Research shows secure storage that removes access to firearms for those at risk is critical for suicide prevention. In some cases may be accomplished by storing firearms unloaded and locked up using a locking device, such as a cable lock or gun safe.³
  

Free gun locks are available for Lake Oswego residents from the Lake Oswego Police Department.

This summer, our community leaders encourage all Lake Oswego adults to help protect Lake Oswego kids through secure gun storage.

Lake Oswego Police are seeing a significant increase in the use of “e-bikes” in Lake Oswego. With increased use, they also see increased unsafe and unlawful behavior, particularly by young people.

They have asked our help in bringing awareness to the safety rules, including:

• You must be at least 16 years old to operate an e-bike.
• A helmet is not required for anyone over 16 (but is recommended).
• You must have approved lighting if it is operated under limited visibility.
• E-bikes are NEVER allowed on sidewalks (ORS 814.410).
• Riders MUST use a bike lane if one is adjacent to or near a roadway (ORS 814.420).
• E-bikes are allowed on bike paths and in crosswalks.

An E-Bike is defined as having fully operative pedals for human propulsion and an electric motor with a power output not more than 1,000 watts. To be considered an E-bike, it must also not be capable of going faster than 20 mph on level ground without assistance (i.e., pedaling). If it can go faster than 20 mph or has a motor with a power output of more than 1,000 watts, then it is considered a moped and would require an Oregon Driver's License to operate it.

Some other information to consider before operating an E-Bike can be found in ORS 814.400 Application of vehicle laws to bicycles, ORS 814.486 Endangering bicycle operator or passenger, and LOC 32.10.810 Requirements for Operation of Bicycles Generally. The Oregon Department of Transportation has also compiled a helpful chart that lists the guidelines for Electric Assisted Bicycles, bicycles, scooters, mopeds, and more. You can find that here.

We are so proud of our high school bands coming together to represent our community in the Starlight Parade last Saturday.

The Starlight Parade is one of the most popular events of the annual Portland Rose Festival. From floats to marching bands, every parade participant illuminates themselves for the evening event that draws hundreds of thousands of spectators.

Student-athletes from Lake Oswego and Lakeridge High Schools created the "One Lake One Love" slogan and logo about ten years ago. The students intended to create a rallying phrase to recognize that while our high schools may be cross-town rivals, we come together to represent our district and support each other when up against other teams. Find the One Lake One Love banner in the reception area of the LOSD Central Office.

The LO School Board recognized Student Representation Jacob Stuckey at his last board meeting Monday. Jacob, a current sophomore at Lakeridge High School, has served on the board for the past school year, providing insights and perspectives from students in shaping board policy and district decisions. Jacob will continue his service as an officer for Lakeridge ASB in the 2023-24 school year. Thank you, Jacob!

The LO School Board invited members of the Lakeridge High School Genders and Sexualities Alliances (GSA) student-run organization to join in reading the resolution recognizing Pride Month in our district. GSA unites LGBTQ+ and allied students to build community and organize around causes. We are proud of how our learning community is making the world a more inclusive and accepting place for everyone. We strive to create a culture of belonging that inspires all our students to be critical thinkers who contribute positively to our complex world.

The LO School Board approved the recommended new K-12 mathematics textbooks and materials, including those for Pre-calculus, Discrete Mathematics, AP Statistics, AP Calculus, and AP Calculus BC. All materials are being ordered and used in our classrooms starting in the 2023-24 school year.

Families will be able to find their child's report cards in ParentVUE next week and State Assessment Score Reports later this summer.

If you have forgotten your ParentVUE password, go to the login page, click "I am a Parent," then click "Forgot Password." If you are unsure whether you have a ParentVUE account, contact your student's school.

Last days of 2022-23 School Year

June 12: Last day for grades K-11, and a half-day dismissal schedule:

• Elementary school half-day dismissal: 11 a.m.
• Middle school half-day dismissal: 12 p.m.
• High school half-day dismissal: 1 p.m.

First days of 2023-24 School Year

Sept. 5: First day for grades 1-5, 6, and 9
Sept. 6: First day for grades 7-8 and 10-12
Sept. 8: First day for all kindergarteners

Find the district calendars for the 2023-24 and 2024-25 school years on the district and school websites under Find It Fast / Calendar. Please note that kindergartners in Lake Oswego begin with a Kindergarten Orientation and a staggered start during the first week of school. At the end of the summer, your school’s main office will send information about your child’s orientation appointment time during September 5-7. The first day for all kindergartners will be on Friday, September 8.

LOSD Beginning Strings and Elementary Orchestra offers classes before school for students in grades 4 and 5 interested in playing violin, viola, cello, or bass. Our beloved Strings program has been a jewel of our district for over 30 years and we are excited to see our promising young musicians take up a string instrument next fall! Please see the website for details and sign up your student today to prepare for classes starting in the fall.

Smart Start is an opportunity specifically for our students with 504s and IEPs, and their parents and guardians to make introductions and connect with their teachers and to feel prepared and welcomed for the start of school. Smart Start is in person on Thursday, Aug. 31,12:30-2:30 p.m.

Teachers will be familiar with your student’s plans and accommodations. To help get to know your students, please complete the attached one-page profile or create one on your own ahead of time, and give it to the teacher at the Smart Start introduction.

Also, to assist in your family’s preparation for the new school year, use the Smart Start checklist for parents and guardians of students with 504s and IEPs. See you on August 31!

We know people appreciate hearing from us. However…52 students in our system have workplace switchboards listed as their family's primary numbers. If possible, please do your coworkers a favor and put your personal line as the primary contact when you verify your student's information.

Log into ParentVUE and review/update your students' information through the Register/Verify tab. If you have forgotten your ParentVUE password, go to the login page, click "I am a Parent," then click "Forgot Password." If you are unsure whether you have a ParentVUE account, contact your student's school. For assistance with the verification process, refer to the user guide on the LOSD website or contact your student's school.

Medication Pick Up

Absolutely ALL medications, prescription and over-the-counter, left in the health room must be picked up by the end of the school day, June 12th, 2023. Only parents and guardians may collect the medications. They cannot be sent home with students. Medication Authorization Forms for next year are available on the district web page.

Immunizations for Next Year

Please review the OHA requirements and information on required immunizations for students. Please arrange to complete immunizations and update Synergy over the summer to avoid exclusion in 2024.

If you want to speak to your school nurse, click here: contact your district nurse

LO Girls Youth Basketball Camps for 3rd-8th Graders. LO high school basketball coaches are hosting three sessions of basketball action through drills, contests, scrimmages, team activities, and more. To learn more and register, click here: dates and registration.

LO Boys Youth Basketball Camps for 3rd-8th Graders. LO high school assistants and youth coaches are hosting two sessions for skill development, drills, small-sided games, contests, scrimmages, and more. Save the dates:

Session 1: July 17-20, 9 a.m.-12 p.m.

Session 2: August 7-10, 9 a.m.-12 p.m.

Registration via the Community School website is coming soon!

Lakeridge Youth Football is open to students rising to Kindergarten through 8th Grade in the fall. All skill levels are welcome. Register soon to receive early bird pricing. Registration

• Grades K-2 flag football
• Grades 3/4 play rookie tackle
• Grades 5-8 play tackle.

Questions? Sunday, June 4, at 5:30 p.m., at the main Lakeridge High School football field, meet Varsity Coach Spencer Phillips, the incoming youth coaches, and LYF board members to

learn more about our program. Hear about the program's commitment to safety and sportsmanship.

For more information, please visit https://www.lakeridgeyouthfootball.org/.

LOSD facilities are used by community vendors and our schools to offer students enrichment and recreational opportunities after class and during breaks. For a full list of offerings from our schools and community vendors for elementary, middle and high school students, please visit the Community Programs on the district website.

The Summer Library Challenge “Find Your Voice” is the Lake Oswego Public Library’s 2023 summer reading, learning and exploration program for ALL ages and abilities. It will take place beginning June 1 and ending August 31. Sign up online at lopl.org/summer to track your summer reading, complete outdoor challenges and enter your scavenger hunt finds.

The Lake Oswego Public Library is located at 706 Fourth Street, Lake Oswego. For more information, contact the Children’s desk at 503-697-6580 or visit the Lake Oswego Library website.

There are two exciting events highlighting Native American culture happening in Clackamas County through a partnership with the Native Wellness Institute. On June 9, there will be a Coastal Jam where five tribal families will share about Native canoe culture, and a meal will be served. On June 10, there will be a full Pow Wow with singing, dancing, and feasting. Both events are free and open to everyone.

Our trauma-informed school counselors provide support and are available for anyone who needs to talk at school. Additionally, if you or someone you know needs help, please access the resources about grief posted on losdschools.org.

For immediate help, call the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, a United States-based suicide prevention network of over 200+ crisis centers that provide 24/7 service via a toll-free hotline. The number 9-8-8. It is available to anyone in suicidal crisis or emotional distress.

Visit the food pantry at 4 Monroe Parkway, Suite A. Deliveries are available on Mondays.

Shop in hours:

• Wednesdays 5-7 p.m.
• Friday 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.
• Sundays 3-5 p.m.

Learn more at hungerfightersoregon.org.

Reach out to your principal with concerns 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/ Be aware that intentionally providing a false report is a serious offense.

Report microaggressions, bias, harassment and discrimination in a school related to race, ethnicity, religion, age, disability, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, or any other aspect of identity:

• Incident Report for Elementary School
  
• Incident Report for Middle Schools
  
• Incident Report for High Schools
  

Incidents may also be reported to an administrator, a trusted staff member, or anonymously to SafeOregon.com.

LOSD has ramped up its social media presence. Please join us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram @weareLOSD

Email: info@loswego.k12.or.us
Website: https://www.losdschools.org
Location: 2455 Country Club Road, Lake Oswego, OR, USA
Phone: (503) 534-2000
Facebook: facebook.com/weareLOSD
Twitter: @weareLOSD

You are receiving this message because you are the parent or guardian of a student in the Lake Oswego School District. We hope you will assist us in our efforts to communicate efficiently and economically by continuing to receive these messages. If you need to change your parent email address, please contact your school.