Falcon Flash
April 7th, 2023
Dear Forest Hills Friends and Families,
Welcome to springtime in Oregon! Well, the calendar says it’s spring, and at least we’ve been able to go outside for every recess this week.
Today during our Character Trait Assembly we celebrated students who exhibited characteristics of COOPERATION. Students from every classroom were recognized for “working together to reach shared goals” during the month of March. Throughout the month of April we will be learning more about the character trait of COURAGE, and with this in mind we handed out a new certificate called the Falcon Award. This is given to students that have been “UPSTANDERS” in our community. These are students who stand up for the rights and safety of others. This takes compassion, leadership and often a lot of courage. I’m sure you would agree that we need more upstanders in our world today.
I hope you all enjoy a wonderful weekend, and let’s hope for a few sun breaks!
Hope to see you at conferences next week!
Jim Mangan, Principal
SAVE THESE DATES
4/11: PTO Meeting--7:00 pm, Lake Theatre Cafe, 106 North State St
4/13 -14: NO SCHOOL-- CONFERENCES
4/21: Neon Nights Dance Party 5:30 - 8:30 pm
5/4: Talent Show & Art Exhibit **NOTE DATE CHANGE**
5/13: Round Up @ Barn Kestral
6/9: 5th Grade Promotion and End of Year Party
EVERY THURSDAY IS EARLY RELEASE-- 2:00pm
PTO Meeting on Tuesday, April 11th
Please join the PTO at 7PM on Tuesday, April 11th at the Lake Theater Cafe. Please join us to share what your committee has been working on as well as your ideas and feedback.
COURAGE-- APRIL'S CHARACTER TRAIT
Dear Forest Hills Families,
During April, we will turn our social emotional learning focus on Courage. One way to think about Courage is “choosing what is helpful, right, and kind even when it is hard or scary.” Courage is 1 of 3 traits we will focus on throughout the year that helps students Be Strong. Throughout the school, students will be developing skills like focusing, organizing, and goal-setting.
As we enter April, we will be talking about the virtue of Courage - to help our children be courageous and learn to conquer things that frighten or scare them. Children need reassurance that fear is one of our feelings and to help them understand that it’s okay to feel afraid. Courage isn’t fearlessness, but instead our ability to choose the right thing even when we are scared! The definition we will be talking about is: Courage is to choose what is helpful, right, and kind - even when it is hard or scary.
Have some fun connecting as a family this month while practicing Courage. Here are 3 “PurposeFull Pursuits” for you to complete together. How many can you do this month?
Reflect, think, and discuss with your student things you both would like to do, but find intimidating or scary. Maybe it’s a new hobby, trying a new game, sharing your art or invention with others, or going on an adventure somewhere. Give 1 of these things a try together and take a selfie to capture the memory!
Review Courage as a family! Remember that Courage is choosing what is helpful, right, and kind - even when it’s hard or scary. What’s something that you’ve been afraid to discuss with your student? Something that might be difficult to explain about our community or the world. Chances are they will hear about it eventually and it may come from someone who is less informed or less supportive than you. Have a courageous conversation with your student. It could be about bullying, the environment, uncertainty, etc. Remind them that love and support are 2 tools that we can use to practice Courage. Discuss as a family ways they can practice Courage around the issue you discuss.
We have all demonstrated Courage in our lives. Many of us have seen people practice Courage in ways that have inspired us. Stories are powerful tools for connecting as a family. Protect time this week to share stories about Courage with each other (you can use the story prompts to get started). At the end of the conversation, think of 1 way you can practice Courage this week. Pursuit #1 Pursuit #3 Pursuit #2 Reflect, think, and discuss with your student things you both would like to do, but find intimidating or scary. Maybe it’s a new hobby, trying a new game, sharing your art or invention with others, or going on an adventure somewhere. Give 1 of these things a try together and take a selfie to capture the memory! Story Prompts: ● A time I (or someone else) showed Courage was _____. ● An act of Courage that changed/challenged me was _____.
We believe involving families in our Social Emotional Learning is important. The letters linked below include activities and conversation starters for you to explore Courage as a family.
Thank you for taking the time to engage your family in these activities.. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions. I can be reached at drimmelh@loswego.k12.or.us.
Sincerely,
Hayley Drimmel
School Counselor
2nd Annual NEON NIGHTS DANCE PARTY
The 2nd Annual NEON NIGHTS DANCE PARTY is just a few weeks away and we can't wait to see you there! No need to RSVP this year but please consider signing up for one of the roles below to help make it an awesome experience for our Falcon Families! This is an after school hours event & volunteers do not have to also be registered with Nicole Merino/LOSD. Quick reminder - all students must attend with an adult - thank you!
Sign up to:
Set up food and decor (need 4)
Manage face paint line & help kids choose a design (need 4 - 90 min each)
Breakdown after dance (need 4)
Safe Oregon, Ways to Report Incidents
Parents-guardians who have concerns about a student’s well-being are encouraged to reach out to their principal and 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. Students should also be aware that intentionally providing a false report is a serious offense. https://www.safeoregon.com/
In addition, below are reporting methods for parents-guardians or students to use to report issues related to racist, bias, or harassment incidents.
· Incident Report for Elementary School
L.O. Public Library Visioning: Help Shape Our Future!
Lake Oswego Public Library has embarked on a library visioning process, guided by the voices of our community. What matters to you? There is still time to participate if you have not yet made your voice heard!
The goals of the Library visioning process are to:
- Understand the community’s needs for service and accessibility
- Determine the Library’s role to address community challenges and meet emerging needs
- Create a shared community vision for the future of Lake Oswego Public Library
Everyone in the community is invited to share their needs and vision for the future through one of the many opportunities to engage in the visioning process:
- Tell us what’s important to you via our 3-minute online survey
- Share your ideas and vision by posting on our online idea wall
- Discuss the future of the library in person at the Mayor’s Roundtable event on Thursday, April 20, at 5:30 pm in Council Chambers
- Monday, April 17, 6:00-7:00 pm
- Wednesday, April 26, 6:00-7:00 pm
At these final forums, we will be wrapping up the visioning process, reviewing and discussing preliminary consultant recommendations, and gathering additional feedback from participants to further shape the vision and recommendations for our library.
For more information including links to the virtual community forums, please visit https://berrydunn.mysocialpinpoint.com/lakeoswegopubliclibrary.
To purchase tickets and for more information visit www.foresthillsroundup.com.
Seeking Volunteers for Our Advisory Committees
We need you! Please consider applying for our school or district advisory committee for terms starting next school year. There is one application for all committees -- please mark the committee that is of interest to you. Only committees with vacancies -- School Advisory Committees and Long Range Facility Planning -- are listed in the application for this period. See the charters posted on the School Board Advisory Committees web page for more information about each committee.
Applications are due Friday, April 7th at 5 p.m. Recommendations and selections will be made in April. All applicants will be notified by May 1. Thank you!
State Testing: Opt-Out Forms
Opt-Out Form: Oregon State Assessment (math and reading)
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.
Opt-Out Form: 5th Grade Students ONLY: Science State Test
Please complete this form to opt your fifth grade student OUT of the science state test.
Please contact Tori Elliott, Student Support Specialist, with all questions: elliottv@loswego.k12.or.us
Oregon Administrative Rule (OAR) 581-022-1910
Did you know we have a school directory?
The Forest Hills school directory is found on DirectorySpot. Access your account in 3 easy steps:
1. Download the DirectorySpot app to your smartphone:
iPhone - http://goo.gl/5U2Tzq or Android - http://goo.gl/iBK9lY
2. Launch DirectorySpot, enter your email address as your Username, and click on "Reset Password."
3. Click on the link in your email to set your password, relaunch the DirectorySpot app, and login with your username and password.
Once your account is set up, be sure to bookmark the URL for easy web access:
https://www.directoryspot.net/schools/foresthillselementaryportland/
Nurse Notes
BIKE SAFETY
As the weather improves, it’s a great time to consider getting outside. Your District Nurses want to remind and encourage your student to ride their bike safely and remember to wear a helmet. These resources can help your student get off to a great start.
SUN SAFETY
While outside, be sure to protect yourself and your student from harmful UV. Visit this link to learn ways to safely enjoy the sun and what to do if your student gets a bit too much.
INDIVIDUALIZED HEALTH PLAN? - Watch for an Email
If your child has a LOSD Individualized Health Plan (IHP) developed in consultation with your District Nurse, please watch for an email! Your response is needed to confirm or update your student's plan. We appreciate your prompt response..
If you would like to speak to your school nurse, click the link below for contact information.
New Application for School Volunteers
For the safety of children, volunteers are required to have an approved background check when volunteering in schools.
To help streamline compliance with state and school board policies, which require that all volunteers have background checks and knowledge of other board policies -- as well as state-mandated proof of vaccination (or a qualified exemption) -- we are introducing a new all-in-one volunteer application and approval process through ou Raptor Visitor Management System.
Submitting an online application initiates the background check process. Once submitted, applicants will receive an email upon approval of your background check and you will be given access through the onsite Raptor System at all schools. Please allow up to three weeks to process your approval.
Volunteers need to submit only one application for volunteering in all LOSD schools. Applications need to be submitted annually to capture changes in background checks, policies, and/or vaccination requirements.
Volunteer Application for LOSD
Thank you for applying promptly, and for your service to our students and schools. We are grateful for our volunteers.
DISTRICT/COMMUNITY INFORMATION
GRATITUDE REVEALED
Thursday, May 4, 2023 from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM
**Doors open at 6:30 pm**
Hosted by LOHS parents and Gratitude Revealed film distributor, Kirt Eftekhar of Area 23a Films.
Q&A directly after the film
Suggested Donation: $8 for Students & $12 for Adults
Film Summary:
An epic journey forty years in the making, Gratitude Revealed from acclaimed filmmaker, Louie
Schwartzberg, the director of Fantastic Fungi, takes us on a transformational, cinematic experience of how to live a more meaningful life full of gratitude through his intimate conversations with everyday people, thought leaders, and personalities revealing gratitude is a proven pathway back from the disconnection we feel in our lives; disconnection from ourselves, our planet, and each other.
Does your child like to sing? Join the Windjammers (advanced choir) of Lake Oswego High School for a morning of music and fun on 4/22 from 9am-12pm at LOHS. Learn a pop song and choreography to perform with the Windjammers that night at their Variety Show! Registration is $50 and includes the camp, snacks, T-shirt, plus an adult admission to the evening show. Register by 4/18!
Lake Oswego Asian Cultural Festival on April 8th!
Mark your calendars! Lake Oswego High School’s Asian American Student Union is hosting their second annual Asian Cultural Festival on Saturday, April 8th! The event will feature free Asian food, music, and activities from over 30 organizations/restaurants between 2 pm and 6:15 pm, as well as cultural performances from 6:30 pm to 9 pm. The show features a variety of spectacular performances including lion dancers, taiko drumming, music, martial arts, and more!
Tickets for the performances ($5) are limited and can be purchased on their website, www.asianfestivallo.com. The first 100 tickets purchased with the promo code EARLYBIRD23 will get 20% off! Thank you so much! We hope you also choose to join us at our festival this April!
Elementary School Student and Family Handbook
CONTACT THE OFFICE FOR ILLNESSES, VACATIONS, APPOINTMENTS
Ms. Susan is our new Attendance Secretary!
Subscribe to LO Schools App
Stay connected to the district and your school(s) and receive urgent notifications by subscribing to the Lake Oswego Schools App.
Stay in Touch with the PTO
Stay in touch with the PTO on social media!
Instagram #foresthills.pto
https://www.instagram.com/foresthills.pto/
Facebook Forest Hills Elementary PTO
About Forest HIlls Elementary School
Email: merinon@loswego.k12.or.us
Website: https://or01813384.schoolwires.net/Page/9
Location: 1133 Andrews Road, Lake Oswego, OR, USA
Phone: 5035342350