Westridge Wildcat News
December 6, 2019
In This Edition
- Important Dates
- Quick Reference Links
- Message from the Principal
- School News
- Office Information
- PTSO News
- District News
Important Dates:
- No School: Winter Break December 23rd-January 3rd
- No School: January 20th (Martin Luther King Jr. Day)
- No School: January 24th: (Grade Prep day)
Westridge Quick Reference Links:
HOLIDAY GIVING FOR THOSE IN NEED
The holidays are a time for giving. Westridge Wildcats will be accepting donations for organizations such as The Oregon Food Bank and Toys for Tots. One of our own Wildcat parents, Shannon Whitaker, is spearheading this effort in partnership with our Westridge Wildcat Leadership Team. If you would like to participate, please bring non-perishable goods and unwrapped, new toys to Westridge from December 2nd through December 13th.
Let’s line the hallways with cans of food (non-perishable) and collect as many toys in our office bins as possible for those less fortunate!
Toy donation ideas might include:
Ages 11-12
•Sports/Workout Equipment
•Gift Cards
•Headphones
•Purses/Make-up
•Drone
•Art Supplies
•Clothes
•Outdoor Games (spike Ball, yard jenga, etc.
Ages 9-10
•Nerf Guns
•Air Hogs
•Kids Tool Set
•Scooter
•Door Pong
•Remote control anything
•Pogo stick
Ages 6-8
•Treasure X Aliens
•Lol Dolls
•Legos
•Youth Sports Sets
•Pomsies Lumies
•Slime or science kit
•Wireless Karaoke
•Art Kit
•Terrarium Kit
If you would like more information about how your family can support this effort, please connect with Shannon at shanwhitaker@gmail.com
School News:
Getting to know your Westridge Staff:
Each week we will interview a team on our staff. This week, we met up with our Delta teachers, Jane White and Kathy Adams and our Learning Specialist, Maryellen Krull.
Maryellen Krull:
Q: Where did you grow up?
A: I grew up in Brooklyn, New York. I lived there until age 18, then went to upstate New York for college.
Q: Where did you go to college?
A: I went to 3 different colleges. State University of New York at Binghamton for my BA, Saint Mary's College of California for my MA, and Southern Wesleyan in Charleston, South Carolina for my Administrative M.ED.
Q: Did you go on any trips this summer? If so- where?
A: YES, took my daughters to the Grand Canyon and Las Vegas to visit my siblings. The Grand Canyon was absolutely breathtaking. I also drove cross country with my two young daughters
List 3 fun facts about yourself:
2. I've been to Ireland and Niagara Falls, Canada with my mom and 4 sisters and have been inside the Twin Towers, Statue of Liberty and Empire State Building
3.I didn't get my driver's license until I was 24
Kathy Adams:
Q: Where did you grow up?
A: I grew up in a tiny town in Northern California called June Lake. Lots of fishing and skiing and playing outside!
Q: Where did you go to college?
A: Portland State University - B.S. & M.S.
Q: Did you go on any trips this summer? If so- where?
A: We went to Maui this summer for 10 days and stayed in Lahaina. We also moved from Bend to Portland.
List 3 fun facts about yourself:
1. I love to run - especially longer distances - ran 10 marathons in 10 years (also had two children in that time span)
2. I love to dance - I will dance to anything (not always very well)
3. I love to play Pokemon Go - I'm almost to level 40....
Jane White:
Q: Where did you grow up?
A: I was born in Oregon but grew up in Sheridan, Wyoming.
Q: Where did you go to college
A. I went to Linfield College and Pacific University.
Q: Did you go on any trips this summer? If so- where?
A.I spent time on the Oregon coast and on Whidbey Island in Puget sound.
List 3 fun facts about yourself:
1. I like fabric arts. I knit, crochet and do hand quilting
2. I have ridden my bike across the state of Wyoming, from the Grand Tetons to Cheyenne
3. I once competed in the JR Olympic trials.
Office Information:
New cut off time for change of "go home" plan or bus passes:
If you need to change your child(ren)'s go-home plans or have a bus pass issued by the office, please let the office and teacher know via email by Noon. You can also call in to the office by Noon. If you have last-minute emergency changes, please call into the office instead of emailing. Thank you
STEM Lab Supplies:
- Shoe boxes
Reporting Absences
PTSO News!
Student Directory!
The student directory has gone green! Go to westridgeptso.membershiptoolkit.com to verify or add your family's information. Once your information is updated, download the membership toolkit app. This is the spot to find parent emails, class lists for parties, the PTSO newsletter and calendar.
Watch the PTSO newsletter this Sunday for details on upcoming teacher sign up parties and a holiday cookie exchange for our fabulous Westridge teachers and staff.
Amazon Smile
With the holidays right around the corner we know many of you will be buying gifts for all of the people on your list. Shop at smile.amazon.com and select Westridge Elementary School PTSO as your charitable beneficiary and we will receive a portion of your purchase. You can shop and support the Westridge PTSO at the same time! Thanks for your support!
District News:
Making Sure You Receive Important District News
The Lake Oswego School District newsletter The Current is emailed to all families every Friday afternoon. It contains important district-wide news and information. As of this November, it is now coming to you from LOSD's new director of communications, Mary Kay Larson, mary.kay.larson@loswego.k12.or.us.
Because Mary Kay is a new sender, the newsletter message is going straight to many people's Spam folders. To recover the message and start receiving it directly in your in-box, please follow these steps:
- Go to your Spam folder.
- Find the message to move out of Spam.
- Click on “not spam” and the message will move to your in-box
Please note, in Spam, the newsletter formatting is compressed as a way of protecting your system from potentially unsafe content. Moving the message out of Spam will open up the newsletter in full view.
After moving the message out of your Spam folder once (maybe twice), your system should start accepting the newsletter directly into your in-box.
Thank you!
Lake Oswego School District App:
Safe Oregon
The Oregon State Police is pleased to announce the availability of SafeOregon, a new school safety tip line program available to all public k-12 schools in Oregon. SafeOregon is a way for students, staff, or other members of the public to anonymously report and share confidential information of a threat or a potential threat to student safety. Trained staff are available 24-hours-a-day, 365-days-a-year reached through a phone call, text message, mobile application or website. The main goal of SafeOregon is to intervene at the earliest possible point in the life of a young person who is struggling, helping them when they need it, before the situation turns into a tragedy.
SafeOregon is designed to encourage Oregon students to share and respond to anything that threatens their safety or the safety of others, anything that makes a student feel unsafe, or if a student knows someone who feels unsafe. Here are a few examples: safety threats, violence, threats of violence, fights, drugs, alcohol, weapons, bullying or friends that talk about hurting themselves, harassment, intimidation, cyber bullying, or self-harm.
Tips can be submitted 24/7/365 through the SafeOregon.com web portal, by email to tip@safeoregon.com through the SafeOregon mobile application (available for android or ios device), or by calling or texting 844-472-3364. Tips are promptly analyzed and routed for the most appropriate follow up and urgency. This may be to school officials, law enforcement, community mental health programs, or other appropriate local or state agencies. Tip Line staff make sure follow-up is noted.
For more information, please visit safeoregon.com.
Additionally, it is a violation of ORS165.570 to improperly use the SafeOregon system.
Westridge Elementary
Email: kari.montgomery@loswego.k12.or.us
Website: https://www.losdschools.org/wr
Location: 3400 Royce Way, Lake Oswego, OR, USA
Phone: (503) 534-2371