The Lumberjack Edge
Cedar Mill Elementary School
August 17, 2018
Dear Cedar Mill Community,
Welcome to the opening of what promises to be another wonderful school year! At this time in the summer, there is much anticipation of what is to come and I am as excited as Cedar Mill staff, students, and parents to kick off the 2018-19 school year on August 27th.
As shared in my last communication, there was a lot of activity in the building this summer in regard to security upgrades and other infrastructure improvement projects in the first grade modular. As with any construction project, there are some times obstacles and delays, and in our case the security upgrades may not be fully operational by the first day of school; however, the completion should follow shortly after the start of the year.
It's been an exciting summer of learning for many of out teachers. Two staff members attended the Reading Institute at Columbia University's Teachers College which supports our district adopted curriculum. This week, five Cedar Mill teachers attended a Homegrown Writing Institute in Beaverton with staff developers from Teachers College as well. Several of our teachers also spent time in professional development with Cathy Fosnot last week, who is the lead author of our adopted math curriculum. There is definitely a buzz about the staff to share the new learning with others as well. We are also excited to kick off the PTC-funded InnovatED Classroom set ups and appreciate all the volunteers who are putting in time and sweat equity to get the carts up and running.
It was especially fun to see our newest Lumberjacks in the building for Camp Kindergarten. The building is so quiet without the halls and classrooms brimming with students, staff, and volunteers. I eagerly await for staff to report back on Monday and for us to greet the new year on August 27th.
Look forward to seeing you at Stop, Drop, and Smile on the 23rd!
Sincerely,
Amy Chamberlain
Principal
In This Issue
- Upcoming Events
- BSD Back to School Information Packet
- Stop, Drop, and Smile Open House
- PTC Back to School Coffee
- Office and School Hours
- Staggered Start for Kindergarten
- PTC Fun Run
- BSD Parent Resources
- Transportation
- School Lunch and Nutrition Services
- Classroom Assignments and School Supplies
- School Arrival Procedures
- School Dismissal Procedures
- Volunteering
- Emergency Procedures
- School Messenger
- ParentVue
- Community Flyers
- PTC-Parent Teacher Club
Attachments:
- PTC Fun Run FAQ
- 2018-19 Cedar Mill Activities Calendar
- 2018-19 BSD Calendar
- 2018-19 Supply List
- BSD School-Based Health Center
Upcoming Events
August
23rd: Stop, Drop, and Smile Open House (4:00-5:00)
23rd: PTC Hosts BBQ (5:00)
27th: First Day of School (grades 1-5 and Kinder A-L)
28th: First Day of School (Kinder M-Z)
29th: First Day for all Kinder students together
30th: PTC Welcome Back Coffee (8:30-9:15)
31st: Lumberjack Spirit Day
September
3rd: No School - Labor Day
5th: Early Release Begins (1:35pm)
6th: Back to School Night (6:00-8:00)
11th: PTC (6:45pm)
19th: Gotcha Store Begins
21st: Fun Run
28th: Passport Testing
Welcome New Staff
Mrs. RayAnn Armony - Paraeducator: Mrs. Armony served as a long-term substitute in Kindergarten at Cedar Mill last year and is joining us this year as a paraeducator in the Resource Room.
Mrs. Su Hargrave - Student Success Coach: Mrs. Hargrave spent the last 16 years of her 26 years in education at Findley as a 5th grade teacher. She will be supporting both Cedar Mill and Findley Elementary Schools around Social/Emotional Learning.
Mrs. Hval - 4th Grade: Mrs. Hval is joining our 4th grade team, filling in for Amy Duitsman who is doing well but taking a leave of absence this year. We are excited to have Mrs. Hval join the team and she will be the teacher assigned to the class all year.
Ms. Megan Phillips - 2nd Grade: Ms. Phillips is not new to Cedar Mill but enters the new school year with a new name, as Ms. McCoy got married over the summer. Congratulations to the newlyweds!
Stop, Drop, and Smile Open House/PTC Hosted BBQ
Doors open at 4:00 for our open house event for families and students to stop by their classroom to say hello, drop off school supplies, and proceed to the playground to enjoy a hot dog. Classrooms are open from 4:00-5:00 for this event but families are encouraged to join the community event on the school playground afterwards.
School Supplies purchased through the SchoolKidz will be available for pick up in the cafeteria at Stop, Drop, and Smile. We ask that families check for the accuracy of the order in the gym prior to taking supplies to the classroom. Supplies not picked up at the event will be delivered to the classroom prior to the first day of school.
School and Office Hours during the School Year
School Hours:
8:30am-3:05pm (M/Tu/Th/ F)
8:30-1:35 (Wed-starting 9/5)
Office Hours:
8:10am-3:30pm (M, Tu, Th, F)
8:10am- 1:30pm (W-starting 9/5)
Staggered Start for Kindergarten
Monday, August 27th:
First Day of School - 1st-5th Grades
Kinder with last names A - L (Kinder with last names M-Z stay home)
Tuesday, August 28th:
First Day of School for Kindergarten with last names starting with M-Z (Kinder with last names A-L stay home)
Wednesday, August 29th:
All Kindergarten students attend
Transportation
School Lunch and Nutrition Services
The Beaverton School District's Nutrition Services department nourishes minds by providing appealing, nutritious meals for students while they are in school.
Good nutrition is essential in the learning process, and our mission is to help ensure students are ready to learn.
For menus, meal pricing, and other school lunch information, visit the BSD Nutrition Services website.
Class Assignments and School Supplies
How do I find out who my child(ren)’s teacher is if I am not able to attend Stop, Drop, and Smile?
On August 23rd, families will receive an electronic welcome letter from their child's teacher as notification of class assignment prior to our Stop, Drop, and Smile event. Access to class assignment on ParentVue will be accessible around noon on the 23rd as well.
Can we come at a different time to pick up our materials and drop off supplies?
School Supplies purchased through the SchoolKidz will be available for pick up in the gym at Stop, Drop, and Smile. We ask that families check for the accuracy of the order in the gym prior to taking supplies to the classroom. Supplies not picked up at the event will be delivered to the classroom prior to the first day of school. Students may bring other purchased supplies on the first day of school.
Can we call the school office and find out our child(ren)’s teacher?
We ask that you NOT call the school office for this information. Our secretaries are very busy preparing for the first week of school. We apologize if this seems unreasonable, but appreciate your understanding.
School Arrival Procedures
UPDATED: On each student's first day of school only, parents may walk students to class.
•Students should not arrive on campus before 8:10am when supervision begins.
•Cars entering the parking lot prior to 8:10am must park in spaces to allow buses to enter.
•Morning recess is on the playground from 8:10-8:25am each morning.
•Breakfast is served in the cafeteria until 8:25am.
•Students are expected to be in class, ready to learn, at 8:30. This is when the instructional day begins.
School Dismissal Procedures
It is VERY important that your child AND his/her teacher know your child’s daily dismissal plan. Thank you for sending a note the first day of school to notify the teacher of your child’s dismissal plan. Here are some departures to consider:
•Bus: Meaning your child will travel home on the bus. Don’t forget to include the bus number!
•Office Pick Up: Meaning your child will meet a parent, guardian, sibling, neighbor in front of the school at dismissal.
•Walker: Meaning your child knows the route home and travels a safe and walkable route.
•Daycare: Meaning your child is dismissed to daycare. Please indicate which daycare provider (Student Stop, Kinder Care...)
•Drive Thru Car Pick Up: Meaning your child will be picked up in a car by parent or guardian. (Please note that car pick up students are dismissed after all other groups due to parking lot restrictions. Car pick up does not occur until all buses have left the parking lot, around 3:12pm (1:42 on Wednesdays).
•For safety reasons, parents may not meet their child in the classroom at the end of the day or wait in the hallway outside of the classroom.
•Written notice from a parent/guardian is required ANYTIME there is a change in dismissal, including after school enrichment classes on site.
Volunteering
Parents are strongly encouraged to volunteer at Cedar Mill. No experience is required, just a willingness to help and a desire to do what is best for students. All volunteers are required to complete a background check and application. This background check is required even for volunteers helping out with activities such as chaperoning a field trip, helping out with a class party, and after school events, etc.
All Beaverton schools use an online system called Better Impact, or mVP, at (myvolunteerpage.com) If you are a parent or guardian of a child at Cedar Mill, you need to complete the Parent/ Guardian Volunteer Background Check and Application. For more information, visit the BSD Volunteerism & Community Engagement page. Instructions for community volunteers are included there as well.
BSD Emergency Procedures-Standard Response Protocol
Maintaining a safe school environment is a priority of the Beaverton School District. Many factors are critical to fostering a “Safe School Climate”. We collaborate with our community partners to review and enhance the District’s safety practices, emergency readiness and response. The BSD and our community partners have been nationally recognized for our collaborative team work and innovative programs.
A critical ingredient in creating a safer school environment is classroom response to an incident at school. Weather events, fire, accidents, intruders and other threats to student safety are scenarios that are planned and trained for by students, teachers, staff and administration, in partnership with our first responders.
Beaverton School District employs the Standard Response Protocol (SRP) and is based upon four actions: Lockout, Lockdown, Evacuate and Shelter. Each has specific staff and student directives that are unique to the action. The SRP is not based on one individual possible scenario but on the response to any given scenario. One large benefit of the SRP is the standard language used by all responders; this includes students, parents, staff and first responders. The protocol also allows for a predictable series of actions as an event unfolds.
For more information on the Standard Response Protocol, please visit the Emergency Protocol page the BSD Public Safety website.
SchoolMessenger
ParentVue
Community Flyers
Cedar Mill PTC
Cedar Mill Elementary School
Email: amy_chamberlain@beaverton.k12.or.us
Website: https://www.beaverton.k12.or.us/schools/cedar-mill/
Location: 10265 NW Cornell Rd, Portland, OR, United States
Phone: 503.356.2050