Bonny Slope Elementary

DECEMBER

12/8 Book Fair 8-4:30

12/8 OHSU COVID testing drop off - by 9 AM

12/9 December Birthday Lunch

12/15 OHSU COVID testing drop off - by 9 AM

12/15 Geography Club Check Day

12/15 Principal Chat 11:30-12:30 - Zoom

12/15 5th grade Choir Field Trip/Concert

12/16 *Winter Parties in Classrooms (1 hr) -PJ/Comfy Cozy Spirit Day & Assembly

12/17- 12/31 NO SCHOOL - Winter Break

JANUARY

1/3 Staff and students back from Winter Break

1/5 OHSU COVID testing drop off - by 9 AM

1/12 OHSU COVID testing drop off - by 9 AM

1/13 NO SCHOOL- Staff Development/Workday

1/16 NO SCHOOL- Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

1/19 OHSU COVID testing drop off - by 9 AM

1/20 January Birthday Lunch

You can also view up to date calendar information in Parent Square.

Dear Bonny Slope Families,

What can we do at home to help our child become a more confident, fluent reader?

Part 1

It is December and we are well into the school year. Our routines are in place, and a sense of normalcy is settling in. Parent teacher conferences are in the rear view mirror and families start to wonder, “What can we do at home to help our child become a more confident, fluent reader?”

So often I hear from parents, wondering how best they can help their students in the area of reading and they are surprised when I suggest some major foundational reading work comes from conversation and verbal interaction.

A child’s working vocabulary, otherwise known as lexicon, comes from exposure to words. The more a child hears and uses tier 2 and 3 words, the more they will recognize them on other

verbal interactions and reading. Tier 2 vocabulary are words such as obvious, complex, reasoned, national, or informed. In contrast, Tier 1 words are extremely common, almost ubiquitous-frequency words that require little or no explicit instruction. They are usually root words themselves and are not typically modified with prefixes and suffixes. Tier 1 words are basic words used in everyday spoken language, like the following: run see, book, good, school. Tier 3 words are domain specific words. Geology: volcano, magma, basalt, Physics: force, velocity, gravitational; Government: democracy, representative.

The suggestion is to elevate the level of vocabulary in everyday interactions. The more students are familiar with advanced terminology, the more they are able to decode, decipher and comprehend the words in their reading, making higher level text more accessible. Even at the youngest ages, students can and do learn advanced vocabulary, especially if their parents are purposefully exposing it to them regularly in daily conversations.

Here is your excuse for providing synonyms for the overused word: AMAZING! We want to be precise when we describe something. If it is the sunset and we see it (Spect), use spectacular, spectacle. If the sporting event features a star kicker- phenomenal (Phenom)!. Time to bust out the thesaurus and develop those future readers and writers.

Gently correct word and grammar when speaking

Grandma was right when she stopped you mid sentence to make certain you knew the correct usage of words. The gentle reminders and corrections help us with our very complex English language. This language has such a deep structure, compared to other languages, kids need all the help they can get. Learning the syntax of the English sentence structure is not automatic. We are not wired to just know when to use the word “good” or “well”, for example. Exposure to the correct usage and reminders when it is incorrect is how we help our future readers and writers. When your child says, “I did so good at practice today!”, a simple reply with , “What went well in practice today.” will do the trick. (Things are good, people do well. My grandmother will be so happy I shared that).

Play word games!

WORDLE has taken the world by storm. Even though we live in different states, my family competes with each other each day. What it does, while keeping us connected and having fun, is reinforce spelling patterns.

Phonemic awareness games help with reading foundation. Phonemic awareness is literally being able to tune in to the smallest sounds in words. Children who are able to manipulate sounds in words are better able to read with automaticity thus comprehend meaning with little effort. Those who struggle with blending sounds into words or segmenting sounds, just tell us we need more practice to create those neuropathways, so we can read with fluency. Phonemic awareness is the bedrock for spelling as well…. So play away!

Play alliteration stories: Have each person in the car add a word creating a story with the same letter/sound: All Alligators Ate Anchovies

Make up silly words: choose a word and replace the vowels with other vowels.

Pop, pip, pap, pep

Guess my word: b - l- e- n - d (child puts it together) BLEND. More advanced students could use work with morphographs: Pre de term in a tion (PREDETERMINATION)

Change my word: I’m thinking of a word that sounds like “stamp”. Take away the “st” and add a “ch what is my word (champ).

As you can see, there are many strategies for helping your child. The best strategies are embedded in everyday interactions. A conversation in the car, a game in the grocery story line and the treasured story time at bedtime are all excellent opportunities to develop your readers and writers.

Stay tuned for, “What can I do to help my child be a more confident and fluent reader?” Part 2, Practice makes Permanent.

Please feel free to reach out with any questions or concerns regarding your child’s academic experience at Bonny Slope.

Jennifer Oordt

Academic Coach

Beginning December 5th, our parent pick up location will be changing. Please refer to the map to see the new pick up areas. Kindergarten families will pick students up outside the “bus doors” on the west side of the building. First through fifth grade families will pick up in the front of the school near the main entrance.

Kindergarten families, please look for the letter on the sidewalk that matches the teacher’s name, and wait on the grass. Once you have your Kindergartener, you can walk to the porch if you have an older sibling to connect with.

Families of 1st - 5th grade students please wait in the covered area near the main entrance. If you look up at the top of the poles, you will see numbers that indicate where families should wait for each grade level. If you have students in multiple grades, please let your children know which number you will wait beside.

We are making this change to shorten our dismissal routes and hopefully also the time it takes for the dismissal process. We also want to utilize the under-cover space in the event of bad weather and return to the plan that was used prior to the pandemic.

The procedure for pick up will remain the same. Please park and walk (cars will not be able to access the front loop) to meet your children. Since space is limited and close to the parking lot, please keep children close to you as you depart, and help to clear the area when your children arrive.

Car pickup will remain the same, but students will be waiting in the Music Room instead of undercover. The process will stay the same for families driving to pick up. For walkers who meet siblings near the front of the school, please consider another meeting point, as parents will now be gathering there for pick up.

We are hopeful for a smooth transition to the new pick up locations and thank you for your help with this change!

We have updated our attendance policy to align with Beaverton School District attendance guidelines. Beginning in January, family vacations will be considered unexcused absence. According to our school district policy, JED:

Updated School Handbook Information:

Classroom instruction begins promptly at 8:30 am. Students are expected to be at school and on time every day that they are healthy. We appreciate your efforts to schedule appointments after school hours. Please do not enroll your child in after-school classes that necessitate regular early pickup. Calling classrooms during instruction is disruptive for every member of a classroom, including the teacher, and we want every student to get the most out of each day of instruction.

Attendance is very important to student success! Because of this, it is best if vacations are scheduled during school breaks. Absences Due to Family Trips or Vacations Will Result in Unexcused Absences . In the event that a student does have a planned absence due to a vacation, classroom teachers will not be expected to provide additional work for the student to complete outside of school.

Note: State of Oregon requirements and Beaverton School District policy requires that children who are absent for more than 10 consecutive school days be automatically withdrawn and parents must re-enroll upon returning to school. Parents are responsible for a child’s education during an extended absence.

We also appreciate your efforts to make sure students enter the school building no earlier than 8:15 am and no later than 8:25 am. Arriving by 8:25 am allows students to calmly report to class and get settled before the school day begins at 8:30 am.

Bonny Slope School Handbook

Shop our Book Fair on December 8 and support our school! Carts will be set up under the main stairs during the school day. Volunteer shifts are open in myImpact. For more information, as well as instructions for setting up e-wallet, visit https://bookfairs.scholastic.com/bf/bonnyslopeelementaryschool

Student Directory

This year’s Student Directory is now available online!

The URL and password required to access the Student Directory should have been sent directly to you by your student’s teacher.

Each year BSCO publishes a Student Directory to help connect families. It includes class lists, student and parent contact information, faculty contact information, recess and lunch schedules, and other important school reminders.

The contact info in the Student Directory comes from the info you most recently submitted to the Beaverton School District enrolling or verifying your student. If you told the District your address and/or phone number should be unlisted, you will also be unlisted in the Student Directory unless you submitted a Student Directory Change Request form.

Printed copies of the Student Directory will not be available this year.

Questions? Contact directory@bonnyslopebsco.org.

Winter Walk and Bike Preparation

Don’t let the cold weather keep you inside all season! Time spent being active outside can boost mood and mental health and keep kids focused on learning better. With some simple preparation, your children can still be active and stay safe and warm during our winter months.

• Wear a raincoat or poncho, and/or carry an umbrella.
• Carry a plastic bag to store wet gear during the day.
• Wear gloves and waterproof shoes. Carry (or store at school) extra shoes and socks to change into.
• Find an under-cover area to park your bike if possible. If not, bring a plastic bag to cover the seat. We also have bike seat covers if any parent groups would like to provide some at the school for children riding bikes this winter.
• Wear reflective gear and/or bright colors and use a light on your bicycle.
• Only walk or bike in the rain if you’re comfortable, as roads are slick and visibility may be reduced. Always remember to stop at the curb or edge of the street, look in all directions before crossing and keep looking for traffic until you have finished crossing.

pen

Looking to join a dynamic and collaborative team leading the education of our students?

Then please join us at the Beaverton School District Job Fair, December 6, 2022, from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and December 7, 2022, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. This event will be held in the White Oak Room at Beaverton School District Office, 1260 NW Waterhouse Ave. Beaverton, Oregon 97006.

We look forward to meeting you.

BSD is working with our generous community partners to provide gift cards to BSD families in need of food support over the winter break. Are you willing to make a donation? Any amount is appreciated.

Thank you for supporting BSD families!

Please visit our Season of Giving webpage for information on how to support BSD families.

11775 NW McDaniel Rd.

Portland, OR 97229

BSLP-Attendance@beaverton.k12.or.us