Oak Creek Coyote News
August 17, 2021
Oak Creek Families,
I hope you're having an amazing summer and getting ready to get back into the swing of school! As the new principal at Oak Creek Elementary, I am excited to get started with the 2021-2022 school year and to get to know you and your child(ren)! This is the beginning of my 25th year in education, and I am so pleased to be joining the team here at Oak Creek. I have heard many wonderful things about this community and I know we are going to have a great year!
I know there is always excitement around teacher assignments, so please be aware that those placements are still be finalized. Due to a glitch in our system, some families may have been able to see an assigned teacher for their student in our Clever system. If you or your student notices a 2021-22 homeroom assignment on any district system or website this week, it may not reflect their actual homeroom teacher. Schools have temporarily placed students to gauge class sizes, but schedules are currently changing. Because of daily withdrawals and new registrations, our class lists change and update constantly as we are trying to balance classrooms. We apologize for any confusion. Finalized teacher assignments will be available in ParentVue on Wednesday, August 25.
Additionally, please make sure to read the rest of this newsletter outlining important dates and information for returning to school.
If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to myself or Carrie Beach at beachc@loswego.k12.or.us.
Thank you,
Barb Keeton
Principal, Oak Creek Elementary
Dates to Remember!
August 13: Bus Registration Due (please still register past due date)
August 16: School Board Meeting
August 17: Virtual LO Sign Ups Due (info below)
August 26: Smart Start 1:00-3:00pm (info below)
August 26: 3:00pm-4:00pm School Supply Drop off and Grade Level Meet and Greet for all students and families under the covered area at Oak Creek
August 30: First day of school!
September 6: Labor Day- NO SCHOOL
September 22: Back to School Night (more info coming soon!)
October 8: No School (Professional Day)
October 14: School Picture Day
October 28/29: No School (Conferences)
School Arrival and Dismissal Times
Following are the arrival and dismissal times for each school level. Arrival and Dismissal procedures specific to Oak Creek will be communicated shortly!
Elementary
MTWF: 8:20 a.m. - 2:40 p.m.
TH: 8:20 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Middle School
MTWF: 9 a.m. - 3:55 p.m.
TH: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
High School
MTWF: 8:25 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
TH: 8:25 a.m. - 3:05 p.m.
Click here for the full schedule on the district website.
FAQ's
When does school begin? School starts for all students on Monday, August 30.
When will we hear who our child's teacher is? Placement is still being finalized. You will hear from your child's teacher by Wednesday, August 25.
What is the daily schedule?
First Bell - 8:10 am: Students are welcome to enter their classroom.
Tardy Bell - 8:20 am: Students 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 gym.
Early Release on Thursdays - 2 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.
Will Extended Care be open? Yes! Extended Care will be held at Oak Creek Elementary. Additional information and registration can be found on the Community School Extended Care website here.
School Supply Lists
Additionally, for fifth grade students, we have quite a few backpacks filled with supplies that are available on a first come first serve basis. Please call 503.534.2323 or email beachc@loswego.k12.or.us if you would like to pick one up!
Kindergarten Meet and Greet
The PTO is Planning an Oak Creek Kindergarten Playdate!
Kindergarten Parents: Please watch for more information about an opportunity next week to mingle with other students and parents, plus chat with members of the PTO and learn about ways to get involved during the 2021-2022 school year.
Save the Date: Smart Start August 26
Smart Start is an opportunity specifically for our students with 504s and IEPs, and their parents and guardians, to make introductions with their teachers and to feel prepared for the start of school. For the 2021-22 School Year, Smart Start is in person Aug. 26, 2021, from 1-3 p.m.
Teachers will be familiar with your student’s plan and accommodations. To help better know your students, please complete the attached one-page profile or create one on your own ahead of time, and give it to the teacher at the Smart Start introduction.
Also, to assist in your family’s preparation for the new school year, please click here for a Smart Start checklist for parents and guardians of students with 504s and IEPs.
School Supply Drop off and Meet and Greet
Join us on August 26 from 3:00-4:00 on the Oak Creek covered area where students and families will have an opportunity to drop off their school supplies and meet their teachers!
LOSD DISTRICT NEWS
Register for the Bus!
Please click here to register for the bus for the 21-22 school year. Please register TODAY so that the bus barn (Student Transportation of America) can build their routes in a timely manner.
For questions about the bus, please contact Student Transportation of America at 503.387.5078
Virtual LO Sign Ups Due Aug. 17
Sign ups are now open for 2021-22 Virtual LO. Please click here to sign up your student for the online learning program -- complete one form for each student.Sign ups are due by Tuesday, Aug. 17, 5 p.m., to allow time for students to receive materials.
Visit the district website home page trending topics, Virtual LO for more information.
Extended Day Service
Registration is open for LOSD Extended Day Service (before and after school) for the 2021-22 school year on the district website under Extended Programs or by clicking here.
Extended Care will be hosted by LOSD Community Schools at Oak Creek and River Grove Elementary Schools. Students attending Lake Grove and Forest Hills will be bused from and to Oak Creek Elementary, and students attending Hallinan, Palisades and Westridge will be bused from and to River Grove Elementary.
Elementary Strings:
Strings is back! The LOSD Beginning Strings Program is an after school program for students in grades 4 and 5 during the 2021-2022 school year who have no previous playing experience on an orchestral string instrument. Students will select and learn to play either the violin, viola, cello or upright bass after school in a group format three days per week. When students move up to orchestra in middle and high school, the orchestra class will occur during the school day.
View important program details here: Begin Your Musical Journey!
Calendar dates for 2021-2022 (link)
Parent-Student Info nights:
- Wednesday, Sept. 1 and Tuesday, Sept. 7, Uplands Elementary, 7 p.m.
- Come and try the instruments and learn about the program! (attendance is optional)
Registration via Community Schools will open mid-August 2021
Free Meals for All Students
This school year the Lake Oswego School District will be offering breakfast and lunch meals (one breakfast and one lunch per student per day) at no charge to all students. Breakfast meals will be served in Grab-n-go style as students arrive to school. Lunch meals will offer healthy tasty entrees, fresh fruits and vegetables with a seasonal rotation of local farm produce and organic products when available.
For information about Food Services, please click here to visit our web page.
For information about part-time job opportunities in Food Services, please click here to visit the employment web page.
Annual State Testing Notice from ODE
Back to School Clothes at Clothing Closet
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.
Hunger Fighters
The pantry will be open all summer for contactless curbside pickup every Saturday from 1-2:30 p.m. Visit the website for more info. www.hungerfightersoregon.org
SafeOregon
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.
(Students should also be aware that intentionally providing a false report is a serious offense.)
Subscribe to Lake Oswego Schools App
Stay connected to the district and your school(s) and receive urgent notifications by subscribing to the Lake Oswego Schools App.
About Oak Creek
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/