Principal's Message 8.19.22
The start of our new school year is fast approaching. I always look forward to this time of year and I enjoyed helping my son choose a new backpack and tracking down all his teacher's requested school supplies this week. I even remembered to put money into his lunch account!
On Tuesday we will welcome teachers and staff to Lake Grove and I can't wait reconnect with them and to spend time learning and planning together. We look forward to connecting with some of you during Smart Start (1-3pm Thursday August 25) and/or Supply Drop Off (3-4pm Thursday August 25) and can't wait to see all of you for the first day of school (Monday August 29 for grades 1-5 and Thursday September 1 for Kindergarten).
As a reminder, first through fifth grade parents will receive an email from your student's teacher by the end of the day on Wednesday, August 24th. Kindergarten parents should have already received an email from the teacher and a link to sign up for their 40 minute visit.
If you can't find what you need to know here, please feel free to email or call our office with questions.
Be kind,
Principal Jennie Knapp
To-do List before school!
- Find your child's bus route
- Enter their bus stop information in this form
- Set up your student's meal account
- Make sure you are registered for ParentVue
- Mark your calendars for with important back to school dates (see the Save the Date section below)
Breakfast and Lunch Updates
School meals are no longer free. If you would like to purchase breakfast or lunch for your child you can put money into a SchoolCafe account for them. When they get their food from the line, your account will be charged. To enroll you need to know your child's school id number which can be found in ParentVUE (See below).
Be sure your child knows if you want them to have breakfast, since you will be charged $2.50 if they get breakfast at school (unless you qualify for free or reduced priced meals).
Teachers will ask students daily about their lunch choice to determine if they brought a lunch from home or they would like one of the following options:
- hot lunch - select one of two entrees
- yogurt lunch
- gluten-free lunch
- lactose-intolerant lunch
Here are the instructions on loading your student's meal account and here is the information to apply for reduced prices.
ParentVUE
ParentVUE ParentVUE allows LOSD parents to see information about their students’ class work, attendance, and more. Content varies by the student’s grade level. To log into ParentVUE, go to https://lo.cesdk12.org/losd/PXP2_Login.aspx
Once logged in, your student's ID number is visible on the home page (see photo below). You will need this number to create a meal account for your student.
Remember that class assignments and teachers are not finalized until Wednesday, August 24.
K-2 Devices (iPads)
If you need any assistance with technology, you can put in a Technology Work Order Request here: https://losdhelp.zendesk.com/hc/en-us
LOSD Beginning Strings & Elementary Orchestra
Beginning Strings or Elementary Orchestra?
Beginning Strings
Beginning Strings is offered after school for interested students in the 4th or 5th grade who have no previous playing experience on violin, viola, or cello.
No prior knowledge of music reading skills are required.
Elementary Orchestra
Elementary Orchestra is offered after school for interested students in the 4th and 5th grades who have at least one year of previous playing experience on violin, viola, cello, or upright string bass.
Students are expected to have a basic knowledge of music reading skills. This would include those who: have completed Beginning Strings; or have taken private lessons on one of the orchestral string instruments for at least one year; or have been in Elementary Orchestra before.
*Yes, 4th grade students with one year of experience/lessons can join the Elementary Orchestra!
5th grade students with no prior experience are also able to join the Beginning Strings classes!
Registration will be open late May through mid-June through Community Schools
Please register by September 10th, 2022 to secure your seat! First come, first serve.
Visit our website at www.losdschools.org/domain/59
Contact Information
Darian Todd
Lake Oswego School District Elementary Strings Program Coordinator
Thank you for riding the bus!
Student Transportation of America provides bus transportation for Lake Oswego School District (LOSD). Our bus drivers look forward to getting to know your child and being a part of their amazing school experience.
Students who live further than 1 mile away from their resident elementary school are eligible for transportation services. However, service is typically provided much closer to avoid crossing busy streets.
Bus registration is not necessary.
Access points -- or what most call bus stops -- are made available by mid-August. Look for an email from LOSD notifying you when access points are posted on the district and school websites under losdschools.org/transportation.
Help prepare your child to ride the bus.
Select the access point(s) that work best for your family.
Visit your access point before school starts to help familiarize your child with their designated stop.
Look for visual clues to help identify when it’s their time to get off the bus.
Set Up Meal Accounts, Applications
The universal free meals waiver with USDA expired on June 30, 2022. That means starting this school year LOSD will be serving meals under the free, reduced, and paid categories.
Please be sure to set up your student's meal account or apply for free/reduced meals. Look for Meals under Find it Fast on district and school website homepages for account setup and application information, and more.
Arrival and Dismissal Routines
We anticipate traffic being congested during arrival and dismissal this year -- especially the first week as we establish the routine. Thank you for being patient and considerate. Safety is our top priority.
Students will wait outside of the building, in designated areas, rain or shine until the first bell at 8:10 when they will be encouraged to walk to class.
Drivers may not enter the parking lot until 2:30 and must continue circling the neighborhood streets if they arrive earlier than that. We cannot block through traffic by stopping on the streets. There will be no parking, except in special circumstances. Email Principal Knapp if you need to request a parking pass.
Parents must remain in their vehicles. Staff will assist your child to load/unload if needed. If needed, please encourage your child’s developing independence with their own seatbelt and carrying their backpack.
Please pull up as far as possible along the route map linked here and have a sign with your students’ first and last name and teacher’s name displayed in your passenger side front window or on the passenger side dash board at dismissal. (We will provide signs during the first week of school or you can make your own.
If you are walking your child to/from school, please plan to say goodbye/meet them on the sidewalk by the red gate between the building and the field. Parents waiting to pick up walkers can wait in the parking spaces behind the silver fencing.
Be sure to communicate your regular go-home plans (and any changes) with your child’s teacher. After school teachers will walk students to the buses, to meet walking parents, or help them into cars for pick up.
Champions is Hiring
We are excited to have Champions Learning Program joining the Lake Grove family, partnering with us to operate their Before and After School Program in our school. The enrollment, thus far, is more than double what was anticipated, so Champions is still needing to hire SEVERAL more staff members to ensure all enrolled families can be supported.
They have added large Cash Commitment Bonuses for staff hired between now and the start of school. In addition, they will provide 2 weeks of free tuition to a Champions family, for any referral hired. They even are offering donations to the Charity of your choice if you refer someone who is hired on to the Champions Team.
If you, or someone you know, loves connecting with children, this is a great Part Time Job with Full Time Benefits. Think about who you would recommend and trust with your own children - they might be the perfect person interested in working a few hours a day.
For more details on the above incentives, or to apply or send a referral, please reach out to the Area Manager, Stephanie Scanlon at stephanie.scanlon@discoverchampions.com
Links to job postings are below:
Smart Start Thursday, August 25 1-3pm
Smart Start is an opportunity specifically for our students with 504s and IEPs, and their parents/guardians, to make introductions with their teachers and feel prepared for the start of school.
Smart Start will be held in person at each LOSD school, Thursday, Aug. 25, 2022, 1-3 p.m. Smart Start information
Save the date!
8/24 - Class lists finalized - look for an email from your new teacher in the afternoon.
8/25 - Smart Start 1:00-3:00pm
8/25 - Supply Drop-off and Meet and Greet 3:00-4:00pm
8/29 - First day of School for 1st - 5th graders
9/1 - First day of School for Kindergarteners
9/7 - Back to School Night 5:30 to 7:00pm
SUMMER MEET UPS BEGIN THIS WEEKEND!
The Lake Grove PTA is hosting informal meet-ups and playtimes as we transition back to school. This is a time for families to reconnect before school is back in session and for kids to play together outdoors with others at their grade level. All meet-ups are hosted by PTA volunteers and will be held at Lake Grove Elementary. Clackamas County is currently classified by the CDC as “low” community level for COVID-19, which means masks are optional at school-sponsored events. However, these levels are constantly in flux and the CDC updates its guidance weekly. Updates are available at any time here https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/your-health/covid-by-county.html.
Location for all meet-ups: Lake Grove Elementary Playground
Saturday, August 20, 10 a.m. to noon 1st Grade hosted by Kassidee Harrison
Saturday, August 20, 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. 2nd Grade hosted by Yan Liang
Sunday, August 21, 10 a.m. to noon 4th Grade hosted by Ali Koper and Erin Quandt
Sunday, August 21, 3:30 to 5:30 3rd Grade hosted by Liz Herman and Sara Wolfe
Sunday August 28, 10 a.m. to noon 5th Grade hosted by Shannon Crain
Sunday, August 28, 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. Kindergarten hosted by Courtney Blommer and Jessie O'Kane
THANK YOU to our volunteers for hosting these social gatherings and helping our Lake Grove community reconnect!
SCHOOL SUPPLY KITS AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE FROM PTA
The Lake Grove PTA pre-purchased two school supply kits per grade from 1st Day School Supplies for parents in need of an easy way to buy all supplies at one time as the school year approaches. These will sell out quickly! If you’d like to purchase a kit that includes all the supplies requested by Lake Grove teachers for your student’s grade level, please contact Jenn Hooper by August 25 at hooperj@loswego.k12.or.us. After talking with Jenn to secure your kit, make checks payable to Lake Grove PTA and drop your payment in the PTA box in the school’s vestibule. Your supply kit will be delivered directly to your student’s new teacher.
Kinder SOLD OUT
1st SOLD OUT
2nd $72.98: 2 available
3rd SOLD OUT
4th SOLD OUT
5th $80.98: 2 available
MARK YOUR CALENDAR FOR PTA GENERAL MEETINGS
Join us! Parents and guardians are welcome to join any or all PTA General Meetings. During these meetings, we hear from our principal and our volunteers report upcoming plans. The link for our Zoom meetings will be published the day of the meeting. In-person meetings will be held in the Lake Grove Elementary library.
2022-2023 School Year
All general meetings are planned for 7-8 p.m.
- September 20 via Zoom
- October 18 at the Lake Grove Elementary Library
- November 15 via Zoom
- January 24 at the Lake Grove Elementary Library
- February 28 via Zoom
- March 21 at the Lake Grove Elementary Library
- April 18 via Zoom
- June 6 at the Lake Grove Elementary Library
JOIN THE PTA TODAY
Families are welcome to join the Lake Grove PTA! Joining the PTA helps amplify your voice as our organization provides support to students, staff and teachers.
$20 Parent/Guardian Membership
Please consider making an additional donation to ensure PTA programs continue, including free yearbooks for all students and staff. We welcome additional donations at any level. A $25 additional donation is suggested.
Easily make your credit card payment via PayPal at https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/LGPTA and note “membership” on your submission. Paper forms for membership will be available at the Meet & Greet on Thursday, August 25 and will also be sent home with students at the beginning of the school year. Annual dues are also accepted by check. Drop checks in the PTA Box in the school entry way. If you have questions about the benefits of membership, email lakegrovepta@gmail.com.
VOLUNTEER WITH US!
The Lake Grove PTA is only as successful as the volunteers who manage and support our programs. We welcome new volunteers in all areas, including enrichment, community building & social responsibility, membership and fundraising. Once teacher assignments have been made on Wednesday, August 24, we will accept volunteers to serve as room parents. Sign up for all volunteer positions here.
For questions about volunteering, email lakegrovepta@gmail.com.
MEET YOUR PTA LEADERS AT THE SCHOOL SUPPLY DROPOFF ON AUGUST 25
We are looking forward to seeing families on Thursday, August 25 at the Meet & Greet/school supply dropoff event! Stop by the PTA tables to meet your new executive board and learn more about our plans for the year. Kids are invited to paint a rock for our rock garden.
Spirit Wear for sale at Meet & Greet; pre-orders available for pick-up
For any families who pre-ordered Cougar Spirit Wear in June, your orders will be available for pick-up at the event on Thursday, August 25. After the event, your items will be marked with your name and available for pick-up during office hours in the LGE front office.
A limited number of Spirit Wear items will be available for purchase at the event, including backpacks, youth and adult-sized t-shirts, hats and sweatshirts. Order forms for our Fall Spirit Wear sale will be available in September.
We appreciate all of the volunteers who have come forward to serve the Lake Grove students, teachers and staff during our next school year!
Co-Presidents: Lisa LeBlanc & Cheryl Sharkey
Treasurer: Lena Elbakshish
Assistant Treasurer: Chris Miller
VP or co-VPs of Fundraising: ________________
VP of Enrichment: Yan Liang
VP of Membership: Emily Nguyen
VPs of Community Building and Social Responsibility: Erin Quandt and Sarah Mehrabzadeh
Secretary: Virginia Tribanas
If you are looking for a way to get involved with our PTA, reach out to us anytime at lakegrovepta@gmail.com! Get in touch with us to learn more about these roles and any of the committees we have planned for the next school year.
WELCOME NEW FAMILIES!
Hello and welcome to the Lake Grove community! On behalf of our school community, our PTA is excited for you to join our school in the Fall. We look forward to meeting you at one of the upcoming events at Lake Grove.
Several Lake Grove families have offered to be resources for new families. These families can help answer your questions about Lake Grove and ease your transition. If you are interested in chatting with a “buddy family,” and in order to help our PTA pair you with the best match, please complete the following form to let us know more about you and your students. https://forms.gle/8o9dzJwxiv9rb5Nf9 Thank you and see you soon!
Sincerely, the Lake Grove PTA Board
Lake Grove Elementary
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
