Titan Times Newsletter

Website: http://stweb.gresham.k12.or.us
Location: 1440 SE Fleming Ave, Gresham, OR, United States
Phone: 503-261-4600
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SpringwaterTrail/
Twitter: @STHS_Titans

Hello Springwater Community,

I can’t believe we have only had 8 full days of school! It has been a busy, wonderful 2 weeks. Please keep an eye out for Springwater’s Titan Times (this publication) each month. It will include important information about upcoming activities and events and provides us an opportunity to share the wonderful happenings of Springwater Trail High School.

As we look ahead to the rest of the month, our first site council meeting is on Tuesday, September 25th at 7am. These meetings are an opportunity to hear updates about the school, get your questions answered, and contribute any ideas or thoughts you have on how to improve Springwater. If you’d like to receive reminders about these meetings, please email or call Koryna in our office (herreid@gresham.k12.or.us).

On Thursday, September 27th, students have the opportunity to travel down to Portland Center Stage to watch the play, “The Color Purple.” The play is free but students must request a sack lunch or bring some money for the food carts. Only students with completed permission slips may attend the play. Please call the office if you have questions.

Coming Soon: We are finalizing a quick reference guide that aims to answer the critically important (but often confusing) question: Where and how do I find information about my student’s academic progress? The addition of Google Classroom over the past several years has been a wonderful tool for teachers, students, and parents. However, it has also created confusion, at times, when students and parents try and locate student academic progress information. For example, when should a parent look in Synergy ParentVue/StudentVue and when is it best to look in Google Classroom? The reference sheet we are creating will help point parents and students in the right direction so they can efficiently and accurately stay on top of their student’s grades and assignments. And, as always, please reference the course syllabi or reach out directly to the office or your student’s teacher with questions.

Each year I am impressed and humbled by the wonderful students who enroll in our school. This year’s 9th graders and transfer students are no exception. I am excited to welcome a new group of Titans and am looking forward to an exciting, engaging school year.

Please don’t hesitate to reach out to your student’s teachers, the main office, or me by phone or email if you have questions or concerns. We are here to support you and your student.

Sincerely,

Ryan Blaszak

Springwater Main Office: 503.261.4600

PSAT Wednesday, Oct. 10th will NOT be a late start - all buses will run on the regular schedule. All sophomores will be taking the PSAT in the morning . This test is a 3 1/2 hour test on reading, writing and math. Your child was given a practice test booklet. Please take some time to look through the booklet and encourage them to look at the test questions .

Juniors are encouraged to take this test, especially if they are thinking about applying for university admission their senior year or have a 2.5 cumulative GPA or above.

Juniors need to sign up in the office. The cost is $16 to take the test. Students on free and reduced lunch will not be charged. They can register before school, after school and during lunch. They will not be allowed to do so during class.The deadline to register is Monday, Oct. 8th.

All Freshmen, Seniors and Juniors not taking the PSAT will have a regularly scheduled day.

Four reasons to take the PSAT

1. It sets students up to be better prepared to take either the SAT or ACT - which is required for university admissions

2. Students get feedback from College board regarding their scores, how they compare to others and where they can improve

3. Most students find they score better than they thought they would, which is a great motivator for college and career planning.

4. It is the only opportunity to determine if a student is a National Merit Scholar and Hispanic National Merit.

Yasmine Reyes - Attendance Secretary

My name is Yasmine Reyes. I speak English and Spanish. When I was in high school, my favorite subject was math, specifically Algebra 1. I attended and graduated from Liberty High School in Hillsboro. In July, I got married and moved to Portland. I worked as the Bilingual Counseling Secretary at Hillsboro High School (Hilhi) for 4 years. I am very excited to be this year's STHS Attendance Secretary.

Timothy McLeod - Custodian

I have 5 children that I raised in Montana. I come to Springwater from being a custodian at Dexter McCarty Middle School and District Office. I enjoy being outdoors in my free time. Im excited to get to know the Springwater Community.

Andrew Collmer - Integrated 1.5 Math

It truly is refreshing to be teaching one period at Springwater Trail High School. The staff and students are very welcoming and I appreciate that as communities of people that look after each other are really important to me. My family lives and goes to school in this community and have done so for over twenty years. I love to travel, be on the rivers, and explore all the northwest has to offer. On any free weekend you might find me in the mountains or at the beach or hanging with my family at home.

Crystel Weber - English/Journalism Teacher

Hello!!! I am so incredibly excited to be here at Springwater (just ask anyone who interviewed me). This is my sixth year teaching, and my fifth year with the district. For the last three years, I was at REY Academy (the district's alternative placement), and helped start up and develop that program. I am really sad to be leaving my family there, but I am enthusiastic and eager to start a new family here. I completed the equity certification program a couple of years ago, and I try to attend as much PD as I can as I'm a sucker for collaboration. A few tidbits about me: I am an avid Oregon Ducks football fan (although my husband is a Beaver - football season can become quite contentious); I am obsessed with Harry Potter and young adult dystopian literature; I have a year-old golden retriever named Zeppelin and he's the cutest dog to ever dog (fight me!); and french fries are life. So far this has been the best start to a school year ever, and I am hopeful that this will be the best year ever!

Vickie Vogl - Career Coordinator/Attendance Liaison

I like to introduce myself I am Vickie Vogl Mom of two grown kids and Grandma to 2 amazing granddaughters. I have lived and been a part of the Gresham/Barlow area for the last 34 years and love the community we live in.

I enjoy being out side camping, quad riding and being out on the water boating or fishing, mostly when the weather isn’t rainy.

I have work for Gresham/Barlow School District for going on 17 years I am excited to be a part of the Springwater Trail High School community. I am your new Career Coach/Attendance Liaison. Please come by room 15 any time.

On Thursday September 27th STHS has received 100 tickets to see the play The Color Purple at Portland Center Stage. There are a few key details about the performance that need to be addressed. The 1st is that the play is 2.5 hours long, meaning that those attending will not get back to STHS until around 3:20. Students that would like to attend NEED to have their own transportation home!!! Secondly, there are only 100 tickets available. This will be a first come/first served event. If you would like to go your student will need to get a permission slip from the office, get it signed acknowledging that they will have a ride home and return it to the office ASAP.. The first 100 that do this will be able to go, after that their name will go on a wait list in the order their slip was received. As with other PCS trips we will be hitting the food carts beforehand so those attending will either need $ for lunch (about $8-$10), bring their own lunch, or sign up for a school-provided sack lunch in the office. STHS will also be supplying sack lunches for those students that forget to do either of those two things. This is another great opportunity to head to downtown PDX and experience some culture (and get out of the classroom).

During the week of October 1 schools in our district will be sending home Individual Student Reports (ISR) to 9th & 12th grade families. The Individual Student Report includes information about how well your child performed on state assessments last year and includes their scores for the Smarter Balanced Assessment in English and math. The ISR will only display your child’s scores for last school year and will not display their scores for each year they have taken the Smarter Balanced Assessment.

Please take a moment to review your child’s ISR along with any additional information that is included on the report. Please note that ISR’s are only being sent home with students who participated in State level assessments last year. If you do not receive your child’s ISR please contact the school office for assistance.

FREE Breakfast is available for ALL Students. Swing by the cafeteria anytime between 7:15am - 7:30am to eat breakfast.

Additional academic support is available at Springwater Trail High School, on Mondays and Tuesdays from 2:30pm-3:30pm. This additional time will allow students to utilize school resources such as the library and student computers for homework, studying, reading, etc.

Transportation home at 3:30 is available on Mondays but students MUST sign up in the office prior to noon on Mondays to receive a ride home.

Students will need to have their own transportation home on Tuesdays.

Wednesday school is also available every week and we encourage students to utilize this time to meet with their teachers, retake quizzes, and get homework help. Transportation home at 3:30 is available but students MUST sign up in the office prior to noon on Wednesdays to receive a ride home. If you have questions regarding after school support, please call the office at 503.261.4600.

Yesterday advisor Crystel Weber conducted interviews for the 2018-2019 yearbook staff.

Please congratulate the following students:

Editor in Chief: Rylea Payne

Visual/Photo Editors: Madelyn Bartels and Dakota Elsner

Copy Editor: Jakob Mohr

Copy Manager: Kaleb Watson-Nims

Social Media & Events Managers: Lizzie Stowell and Lindsay Averett-Morasch

See flyer below for information about the Makers Gone Pro event.