Stafford Scoop
August 24, 2021
A New School Year
Welcome to the 2021-2022 school year! I hope the summer months have been a time for you to have fun and rest up for the adventure of school that is about to begin. My family enjoyed a couple of camping trips and a few days in Bend. We tried to train our pandemic puppy (he's improving!), my husband and I celebrated our 20th anniversary, and now we're getting ready to send our oldest daughter to high school (the younger daughter will be in 7th grade). After the unique challenges we all faced last year, I truly hope this summer afforded you all a chance to reflect, breathe, and heal.
Watching some of our kindergarten and first-grade students gather on the playground out front recently has definitely made the coming school year more of a reality. They are very excited to meet new teachers and friends, as we all are. Some of our students have not been at Stafford since March of 2020 while others are new to the area. We are excited to welcome each and every child, knowing that this reconvening comes with different emotions. Next week our teachers will come back ready to intentionally plan first days and weeks that honor the varied experiences of the past year and a half. There will be time dedicated to getting to know each other and the routines that make our school the special place it is.
Included here is some preliminary information with more to come. We are still solidifying our staffing details so I will share those next week. Please note we have changed the Meet and Greet to Tuesday, September 7th from 10:00-11:00 am.
Our greatest goal is to make this new school year one that continually brings the community together for the greatest goal of supporting the children we share. Thank you in advance for sharing the joys of this year will surely be full of learning and new adventures.
With excitement,
Sara
Important Dates
August 31st: Teachers return to work inside the building
September 1st: Class Placement Letters mailed home
September 7th: Meet & Greet with Popsicles on the Playground (10:00-11:00)
September 8th: First Day of School (7:50-2:10)
September 11th: PTSA Sponsored Outdoor Movie Night (see details below)
September 15th: Early Release Day (dismissal at 12:10 pm)
September 22nd: Curriculum Night at 6:30 (details to come)
September 29th: Early Release Day (dismissal at 12:10 pm)
School and District Calendar
Last week, the WLWV School Board voted to add a specific Staff Professional Development Day prior to the start of school. The focus of the day will be on Care, Connection, and Community as we prepare to welcome students back to fully in-person learning this fall. The additional staff development day will take place on Tuesday, September 7 which means the first day of school will now be Wednesday, September 8. The last day of school is Monday, June 20, barring additional days added at the end of the year due to inclement weather.
Our school day begins at 7:50am and ends at 2:10pm. More information will come next week about arrival and dismissal details. If you plan on driving your student(s), the optimal drop-off time will be from 7:40-7:50.
We will have 12 Early Release Wednesdays for the 2021-22 school year (1-2 per month). These are Professional Growth Days used by our certified staff across the district. On these days, students are released at 12:10pm.
Please refer to the district calendar (link HERE) and our school calendar on our website for important upcoming dates.
Student Class Placement & Back-to-School Info.
We will be sending out teacher assignments on Wednesday, September 1st. Please understand the intentional care and time that was dedicated to this process. Each child’s sense of belonging and learning is of the utmost importance as we build these classrooms in anticipation of a fantastic school year.
Meet and Greet with Popsicles on the Playground
Save the date for Tuesday, September 7th from 10:00-11:00 when we will be hosting our Meet and Greet and PTSA Sponsored Popsicles on the Playground. This will be a time to meet your child's classroom teacher and drop off school supplies. Teachers will meet and greet students and families outside. After that, teachers will take just the students inside and give them a brief tour of the classroom followed by our PTSA passing out popsicles outside on the playground. We hope to see you there!
After parking, please make your way to the playground in the back. There will be staff members directing families where to go.
We encourage all those attending to wear masks even while outdoors. Students will need to wear masks to enter the building and visit the classroom.
2021-22 School Year Registration
Online registration for for the 2021-22 school year open. If you will be joining us for the first time, either with a kindergarten or 1st-5th grade child, HERE is the link to the online registration form.
Because home phone and cell numbers change so frequently, we need to ensure that the school has accurate contact information. Please log in to the ParentVue website and then click the link to access “Online Registration”. Students who finished the school year enrolled with us would use the "Update Data for Student(s) Listed" option. Students who unenrolled last year but are returning for the 2021-22 school year would select the "Register New or Inactive K-12 Student" option and review/update any information regarding your student(s).
Bus Schedules
Meals Still Free for All Families in 2021-22 — Meal Assistance and P-EBT Information for WLWV Families
The federal government has granted states the authority to provide Pandemic Electronic Benefits Transfer (P-EBT) for the entire 2020-21 school year. Oregon has received approval to begin providing benefits to eligible students. Benefits will be given to families of qualified students retroactively, providing food benefits to families whose children are missing the free or reduced-price meals typically provided at school.
P-EBT is now available for qualified West Linn-Wilsonville families (those who qualify for free and reduced lunch). Families who are eligible are encouraged to sign up for free and reduced lunch now to ensure they receive P-EBT benefits. Families who are signed up for free and reduced lunch are not required to fill out any additional information to receive P-EBT benefits. To learn more, please visit the nutrition services website, or access the informational flyer below.
Families can also begin signing up for free and reduced lunch for the 2021-22 school year beginning July 1. While meals will continue to be free for all students, signing up for free and reduced lunch gives families access to P-EBT resources. For sign-up information, please visit the nutrition services website.
Connect With Stafford
Website: https://www.wlwv.k12.or.us/Domain/16
Location: 19875 Southwest Stafford Road, West Linn, OR, USA
Phone: 503-673-7150
Twitter: @tigersstafps