Oak Creek Coyote News

Oak Creek Families,

Our team is committed to keeping students in school and we are working hard to make sure that happens. As I am sure you have heard, the current COVID-19 situation has created issues with staffing and I want to express my appreciation for the way our team members have juggled responsibilities to make it work. There is a lot going on behind the scenes so that the impact on students is minimized. I also want to thank parents for following protocols, including encouraging mask wearing and keeping their children home when it is warranted. Together I believe we will find our way through this. Thank you for partnering with us!

I hope you and your family enjoy the extra day this weekend!

If you have any questions, please see the FAQ section below, or feel free to reach out to myself or Carrie Beach at beachc@loswego.k12.or.us.

Thank you,

Barb Keeton

Principal

Oak Creek Elementary

Updated in Every Edition:

• Message from the Principal
• Dates to Remember
• Counselor Corner
• Message from Your PTO

NEW In This Edition:

• Dog Free Campus Reminder
• COVID-19 Protocols and Restrictions Extended
• 2022-2023 Registration for New OCE Students
• Application for Foundation Board of Directors
• Upcoming Health Lessons

Repeated Information:

• Kindergarten Counts Information
• Key Reminders from the District About COVID-19
• Car Line Request
• Advanced Math Students - Report Card Note
• i-Ready Winter Assessment
• Oregon State Assessment Opt-Out Form
• Student Illness Reminders: When to Keep Home from School
• Oak Creek FAQs

LOSD District News:

• Hunger Fighters
• How to Find LOSD Covid-19 Information
• Back to School Clothes at Clothing Closet
• SafeOregon
• Subscribe to Lake Oswego Schools App

January 17: No School: Martin Luther King Jr. Day

January 25: Fills Fundraiser - See note in the PTO Corner!

January 28: No School: Grade Prep Day

February 21: No School: Presidents Day

March 21-25: No School: Spring Break

April 1: 11:30AM Early Dismissal

April 7-8: No School: Conferences

May 27: No School: Grade Prep Day

May 30: No School: Memorial Day

June 10: 11:30AM Early Dismissal Last Day of Classes

Please remember that we have a dog free campus when students are at school. We have many students with allergies and/or fear of dogs, and there is always the potential for someone being bitten. Even the best dogs will sometimes behave aggressively if they are scared or overwhelmed. With so many people in on campus at arrival and dismissal, this is a very real possibility, and has happened in the past. Thank you in advance for leaving your dogs at home when you come to pick up or drop off your child.

LOSD is opening up its new student registration on Wednesday, January 19. That includes students who will be entering kindergarten in the fall of 2022. Information on Kindergarten Counts will be pre-recorded and posted to our school website by 5:00 p.m. on January 19. Click here for the Oak Creek School Website: https://www.losdschools.org/Domain/11

Our community is experiencing a level of positivity that is new in this pandemic and still our schools remain among the safest places where layered mitigation measures are being followed. We are extending our added measures of postponing volunteers and guests in our schools, limiting spectators at middle and high school extracurricular activities, and continuing with elementary school outdoor mask requirements for the time being, and will evaluate these protocols every two weeks. Based on cases reported to our nurses, and supported by public health findings, COVID-19 is being spread outside of school during social gatherings, amongst household members, and activities where oftentimes fewer protections are in place.

Please read the email message from our superintendent, Dr. Schiele, which was sent to families on January 1, regarding the district response to the spread of the Omicron variant of COVID-19.

Four key reminders from that message are:

1. Don’t go to School Sick Please don’t send your child to school with ANY illness symptoms, no matter how mild. This includes a runny nose or scratchy throat.
2. Required Face Coverings Our districts will continue to require masks in all buildings. Please make sure to remind your child to wear their mask over their nose and mouth at all times indoors (except when actively eating or drinking). Based on CDC mask recommendations (see Considerations for Children), we encourage the use of well fitting and comfortable masks for optimal protection.
3. Wash Hands Frequently Protocols and systems are implemented to ensure access to soap, water, and alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol available throughout LOSD school buildings. Schools will prioritize handwashing with soap and water after students or staff use the restroom and throughout the day, as appropriate.
4. Distancing ​​Physical distancing of 3 feet will be maintained in the classroom to the extent possible. Students and staff will be asked to be mindful of physical distancing throughout the school day. During meal time, physical distancing of 6 feet will be maintained.

Thanks to everyone for reminding your kids about the importance of following our safety protocols so that we can keep everyone healthy and safe. We'll keep reminding them too!

Registration for the 2022-23 school year (all grade levels) will begin January 19, 2022. This is for new students who have never enrolled in Lake Oswego before and for returning students who are not currently enrolled but will re-enroll for next year. Registration is online through ParentVUE. Parents do not need to register students for 2022-23 who are currently attending during the 2021- 22 school year.

Are you interested in contributing to a dynamic volunteer organization dedicated to advancing our community's commitment to educational excellence?

Please consider applying for the Lake Oswego Schools Foundation Board of Directors. The Foundation is seeking parents/guardians, students and community residents to serve on its Board of Directors. Board members must demonstrate a commitment to the Foundation, the School District and the Lake Oswego community.

The term for new board members will begin July 2022. Board members commit to a two-year term and may serve up to three terms. Please click HERE to access the online application form. The application provides more information about being a board member.

Interested people should submit applications by Friday, March 4, 2022. The Nominating committee will review applications and conduct interviews in the March time frame. If you are unable to access the application, please contact woolfw@loswego.k12.or.us to receive a pdf version of the application.

Our teachers use the adopted Health Curriculum, The Great Body Shop, to teach the required Oregon Health Standards to our students. THE GREAT BODY SHOP is a comprehensive health education curriculum which is sequential, developmentally appropriate, culturally sensitive, and medically accurate. The lessons align with Oregon’s Health Education Standards and are embedded with social-emotional learning. Watch your classroom teacher's newsletter for upcoming topics. If you would like to review the health curriculum, please contact the school office. More information, including an opt-out form if needed, can be found on the District website.

We are requesting that parents who are driving to pick up students in 2nd-5th grade, please avoid getting into the line before 2:40 (or 2:00 on Thursdays), even if they have younger siblings. We are trying to load students only in kindergarten and 1st grade before that time. When parents are waiting on older students who are not yet released from class, it grid locks our parking lot. We may have to start sending parents back out of the parking lot if they are here for older students too early. Thank you in advance for your help in creating a smooth and quick dismissal process for everyone.

Advanced Math Grades 1-5

For students advanced in math in Grades 1-5, the math teacher who has the advanced math student will fill out a form (see link below) and share it with the homeroom teacher as well as the building secretary. The building secretary will then upload it to Synergy as a report card document and will print a hard copy for the student’s file.

The homeroom teacher will include the following comment in the Math comments section of the report card: “(Student Name) has been placed in (Grade Level) Math. The advanced math grading sheet can be found by clicking on the Document tab in the ParentVUE portal.”

https://drive.google.com/open?id=11VbCQPMsbEv3QI6DFJ7dYztXceeC1HMSQgtym6unH3E

6th Grade Math and Above

For students advanced to a math class in the Middle School, the homeroom teacher will include the following comment in the Math comments section of the report card: “(Student Name) receives a grade directly from the middle school. Report Card on File.”

This Winter, all K-8 students in Lake Oswego will complete two online i-Ready assessments in class. One is for math and the other is for reading. i-Ready is a program that will help us determine your child’s strengths and areas for growth, personalize their learning, and monitor their progress throughout the school year. i-Ready allows us to meet your child where they are and provides us with data to inform and tailor instruction to accelerate growth. This is the second of three i-Ready assessments we give each year, and results will be shared with parents in February. For kindergartners, this will be their first i-Ready assessment. Our Winter i-Ready window is open from January 3-28.

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

Dear Oak Creek Community,

PTO Zoom Meeting

To join the PTO monthly zoom meeting next week January 18th at 6:30 pm, use this link.

Meeting ID: 846 8893 1127

Passcode: OakCreek

Oak Creek Dines

At Fills PDX on January 25th, satisfy your sweet AND savory cravings by Dining and Donating with Oak Creek. Make sure to check out their online menu, but be warned- the items are so delectable that you won’t want to wait until the 25th!

Directory Spot

If you WERE a DirectorySpot user last year, please log in (same username and password) to review your families new data for this school year. Please make sure you have the latest version of DirectorySpot to see the new features (check the app store for any “updates”).

If you are a NEW user, you have been set up and can download DirectorySpot for free from the App Store (iPhone users) or Google Play (Android users), or you can also access the data from the web.

Here at Oak Creek, the PTO uses DirectorySpot to share information with our school community. DirectorySpot is a mobile, private, and secure directory platform customized for our school. It’s purpose is to provide a way to communicate with families about events and activities at Oak Creek as well as tools to help people stay connected. All schools in the Lake Oswego School District use DirectorySpot for this purpose. It can also serve as a way to look up class lists by teacher and as an online family directory.

You can access the directory, once you have your account and password set up,via the internet here or via the Android or Apple app.

For your security, the directory is by invite only. As a new family to Oak Creek, you should have received an email on how to set up your account. The email detailed how you can download the app and directs your family to set up a password for your account. Only Oak Creek families and staff can access our directory. Information for the directory is pulled directly from the school district’s

enrollment data. If for some reason, information is missing or incorrect, you can

edit the information yourself at any time and choose which information you

wish to share or not share. If you log in and see your family’s data, note that you are the only one who can see this information aside from the DirectorySpot Oak Creek Admin.

If you have questions please refer to this helpful guide.

Still have questions?

Email us at ocedirectoryspothelp@gmail.com

Donations

To make a donation, please click here: OC Donation

Your employer may match your donation. Don’t forget your spouse’s company too!

Yearbooks

Yearbooks are up for pre-order and are $20 until February. Pre-orders will be unavailable, and you will need to purchase them in person for $25 each after they arrive. Pre-Order Here

Oregon Battle of the Books

We have added the option to donate $25 for a bundle of OBOB books to the school library. All students may use these books, not just those participating in OBOB. Order HERE. We are looking for helpers to record themselves reading the first book chapters. Book Titles Sign up in the volunteer sign up, below. More information is HERE.

Volunteers

We are still looking for volunteers. Please sign up HERE for events and activities you would like to participate in this year. No commitments required. Sign up and we will reach out to you. No volunteers are allowed in the school yet but as of January 2022 volunteers should be allowed into the school with proof of vaccination and ID!

PTO Website

Check out our new website. It is still under construction so check back for updates on this page. PTO Website You will find the link to the ordering site here also. We still have two positions available this year. Contact OakCreekElementaryPTO@gmail.com if you have questions or would like to join.

Thank you for your continued support and doing your part in our wonderful community.

Sincerely,

Oak Creek Elementary PTO Executive Committee

Kirstin Martin / President

Samantha McCaskey / Treasurer

Jesse Nguyen / Assistant Treasurer

Juli Webster / Membership

Rachel Wilde / Secretary

Wendy Jenkins / Parental Involvement

Iris Tilley / Sustainability

Grayce Moody / Communications

OakCreekElementaryPTO@gmail.com

Oak Creek is very fortunate to offer services for students or families experiencing need, thanks to the federally funded Title IA program, the Lake Oswego School District, generous donations from our community, PTO, Lake Grove Presbyterian Church, BeeLine Foundation, Love Inc., Kiwianas, and the Lake Oswego Rotary Club.

This form: OC Resources and Programs can be returned to your student’s teacher, the school counselor, or the front office. It will be kept confidential.

*****

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

Jodi Pope, School Counselor 503-534-2323 popej@loswego.k12.or.us

If your child will be absent, please email your student's teacher and copy the office. Please list the date your child will be absent and any illness symptoms. See the guide below for information on when to keep your child home from school.

What is the daily schedule?

First Bell - 8:10 am: Students are welcome to enter the building.

Tardy Bell - 8:20 am: Students who arrive later must check in with the office and receive a Tardy slip before going to their classroom.

Dismissal - 2:40 pm: Students taking a bus home will exit the building through lower doors, students being picked up by parents will exit the building through the top floor doors, students staying for after care will go to the assigned classroom.

Early Release on Thursdays - 2:00 pm

Will students and staff be wearing masks?

Yes, currently all students, staff and anyone who enters the building are required to wear masks. Additional information about mask requirements can be found here.

If you are still looking for an answer, please let us know by clicking here to submit your question.

We have made all of our COVID-19 information easier to find on our district and school websites. Look for the new LOSD COVID-19 Information graphic (above) and find information about guidance, protocols, notifications and more.

Included is a new COVID-19 Dashboard, which notes all active cases in each school currently. Active cases are people who have been diagnosed with COVID-19 and are currently in their 10-day isolation period. Once the isolation period is complete, the case is removed from the dashboard. The dashboard is updated with exposure notices.

Also included is the recording of LOSD's Information Session about exposures and quarantining. We anticipate making these Information Sessions regular events to make sure we address all of your questions and concerns. Look forward to notices about upcoming sessions.

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

Open Saturdays

9 a.m.-12 p.m.

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
• Secretary Carrie Beach: beachc@loswego.k12.or.us
• Secretary 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