Springville Saga
Springville K-8 Parent Newsletter (10/19/18)
Principal and Assistant Principal's Message
Dear Springville K-8 Community,
We hope you are enjoying this amazing fall weather! We want to express our thanks for your generosity in donating to the Jog-a-thon. Our PTO reports that we have earned over $40,000 for our school with 100% of participation (thanks to our Jog-a-thon fairies for sponsoring those last few students)!!
In the Saga this year, we would like to share more information about our school, our vision and our practices. To start, we are often asked, "What is EL?" EL Education (EL) is an approach that promotes rigorous and engaging curriculum, inquiry-based teaching techniques, and a strong school culture. The EL framework brings to life a three-dimensional vision of student achievement that includes mastery of knowledge and skills, character, and high-quality student work. EL Education promotes active classrooms that are alive with discovery, problem-solving, challenge, and collaboration.
In EL classrooms:
Learning is active.
Students are scientists, urban planners, historians, and activists. They investigate real community problems and collaborate with peers to develop creative, actionable solutions.
Learning is challenging.
Students at all levels are pushed and supported to do more than they think they can. Excellence is expected in the quality of their work and their thinking.
Learning is meaningful.
Students apply their skills and knowledge to real-world issues and make positive change in their communities. They see the relevance of their learning and are motivated by understanding that learning has purpose.
Learning is public.
Through formal structures of presentation, exhibition, critique, and data analysis, students and teachers build a shared vision of pathways to achievement.
Learning is collaborative.
School leaders, teachers, students, and families share rigorous expectations for quality work, achievement, and behavior. Trust, respect, responsibility, and joy in learning permeate the school culture.
(adapted from the EL Learning website)
We are privileged to serve the Springville Community! Enjoy your weekend!
Robin Kobrowski and Ellen Arnold
Upcoming Events
- October 18-25: Springville Book Fair (schedule below)
- October 23-26: 6th Grade Outdoor School
- October 24-26: 7th Grade Field Study
- October 24-25: K-5 and 8th Grade Parent-Teacher Conferences
- October 25-26: No School for all students
- October 29-November 2: Katoh School Students Visit Springville K-8
- November 2: Middle School Dance
- November 8: Springville K-8 Options Information Open House
- November 9: Grading Day - No School
- November12: Veteran's Day Holiday - No School
Parent-Teacher Conferences
School conferences have arrived! Your child's teacher should have contacted you to arrange a time to meet. Springville families can expect to see variety of conference models based on the age/grade of the student. In some classrooms, teachers alone will meet with parents. In others, students will be involved in the conference and leading conversation about their learning. In all classrooms, parents should collaborate with teachers to set goals for the year. We look forward to the opportunity to partner with all families!
Option School Application Process for 2019-2020
The Beaverton School District is nationally recognized for high student achievement and innovative programs. Beaverton students in grades 6-12 have the opportunity to investigate learning options that best fit their academic needs. Students can choose their neighborhood school or apply for one of a number of learning options. Transportation is provided.
Applications for the 2019-2020 school year are available. Please plan to attend one or more of the open houses that are available (link below). Students may only select one option on their application, so it is important to do some early investigation of the options online.
All applicants must reside within the Beaverton School District boundaries. Current Beaverton School District students are able to apply online using their student ID. Resident students not currently attending a Beaverton school, or who do not have Internet access, will need to complete a paper application available online, or at any school office. Please give careful consideration to your choice of school. Once an application has been submitted, no changes will be allowed.
Current Springville 5th graders are given preference to attend Springville for 6th grade, however, students must still submit an application.
Applications must be received no later than Friday, December 7, 2018 at 4:00 p.m. (PST).
OFFICE OF LEARNING OPTIONS
Information Line: 503.356.4440 • FAX: 503.356.4415
New Options Application Timeline
Mon., October 15, 2018 ------- Applications for the 2019-2020 school year will be available.
Fri., December 7, 2018 ------- Applications due no later than 4:00 p.m. PST.
Wed., December 12, 2018 ------- Electronic Lottery conducted for the 2019-20 School Year.
- Acceptance or wait pool notifications will be sent via email.
- Students who are not selected via the lottery will be emailed a Second Consideration application for the school for which they applied.
Thurs., January 10, 2019 ------- Second Consideration applications due to schools.
Wed., January 30, 2019 ------- Deadline to accept/decline enrollment – by 4:00 p.m. PST
Teacher Collaboration Spotlight
This past week, five of our teachers facilitated professional learning sessions for other teachers. Two of the sessions focused on informal reading assessments and providing targeted reading instruction using district adopted materials. The third session gave teachers an overview of how to create an EL Demonstration Board. Sessions like these allow teachers to focus in specific areas of their work that they would like to grow and improve.
We want to thank our community for your ongoing support of this time for our staff. Teacher collaboration is directly connected to increased achievement for students, and we are seeing these benefits. We so appreciate having the time to learn together to create a high quality education for ALL of our students!
Collaborate
Reading Tool Kits
Demo Board
Health Curriculum -- Erin's Law
At Springville K-8, we teach children important skills for getting along with others and doing well in school. It also helps our school be a safe and supportive place where everyone can learn.
An important component of our new health curriculum is to help children protect their bodies, get support when abuse has occurred, and report to a trusted adult. In accordance with Erin’s Law, we are educating children about sexual abuse and promoting awareness within our communities. The Oregon Department of Education has required all Oregon schools to comply with Erin’s Law.
In these lessons, students will learn three types of skills:
• Personal Safety. Students will learn ways to determine if a situation is safe or not. Students will also practice strategies to avoid peer pressure in unsafe situations.
• Touching Safety. Students will learn about safe, unsafe, and unwanted touches, and rules about touching private body parts. They’ll also learn to say no to unsafe or unwanted touches, and to tell an adult if someone breaks rules about touching private body parts.
• Assertiveness. These lessons will also give students a chance to practice asking an adult for help, telling an adult about an unsafe situation, and being assertive to get out of unsafe situations.
Your child’s teacher will be sharing these sexual abuse prevention lessons with you prior to teaching them, but you can also find them on fightchildabuse.org. The requirement of Erin’s Law is four lessons a year at each grade level, K-12. Instruction is scheduled for February through May, 2019.
Please contact your child’s teacher if you have any further questions or for opt out information. Thank you for helping us to make our school a safe and supportive place where everyone can learn.
Springville Book Fair!
The Fall Springville Book Fair is here! The hours next week are:
Monday Oct. 22nd 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm
Tuesday Oct. 23rd 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm
Wednesday Oct 24th 3:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Thursday Oct 25th 8:30 am to 4:00 pm
Springville Spirit Wear!
Visit the new online store to shop for Springville themed t-shirts or sweatshirts. You can purchase items online or use the form that will be sent home with students next week. Also, if you prefer to try on sizes before buying you can visit the Team Uniforms store to try something on. The address is: 12965 NW Cornell Rd.
Wednesdays are Springville Spirit Wear days!
Springville PTO Crew News
Arrival and Dismissal Reminders
- Morning is a busy time at Springville. To cut down on congestion in our drop off loop, we strongly encourage you to walk to school. Gather your friends and neighbors and make a "Walking School Bus"! For students who have a bus route, we encourage you to take the bus to and from school.
- For parents that are dropping off students, please do NOT get out of your car curbside to let children out of the car. If you need to get out of your car, please park in a marked parking place and walk your student/s across the crosswalk.
Dismissal:
- In order to ensure and safe a smooth dismissal, we ask that parents of kindergarten and 1st grade students on sidewalks leave a wide opening for the classes to walk through. It becomes very congested and it can be difficult for teachers to walk their students past the families waiting for pick up.
- We ask that all parents to please refrain from picking up your student between 2:45 and 3:05 in the office. It is disruptive for our teachers and students to interrupt the end of the day classroom routines.
- Please do not park in the parking spaces along Joss marked NO PARKING. Our school buses need clearance to exit the staff parking lot.
We also ask that cars drive slowly and carefully through our crosswalks, stopping for parents, students and staff. Thank you for your help to ensure safety at these busy times of day!
Talented and Gifted (TAG) Parent Information Forms
Every year students are considered for Talented and Gifted services in Beaverton School District. These services are provided by your child's classroom teacher(s). If you think your child might qualify, you may wish to complete the Parent Information Form that is available in our school’s office or attached below. Completing this form gives our school TAG committee more information about your child, but it is not required. All qualified students will be considered regardless of its completion.
Oregon law and District policy define gifted students as those who score at or above the 97th percentile on a standardized, nationally normed test of mental ability and/or academic achievement. Behavioral, learning, and/or performance information is also considered before a student is identified for TAG services.
The Parent Information Form must be completed and returned to our school’s TAG facilitators, Amanda Grock or Jenn Tonges, or the school’s office by October 24th.
Springville Family Handbook 2018-19
Automatic Translation in 20+ Languages!
DISTRICT NEWS
Budget Listening and Learning Session - Hold 'Em Exercise
Budget Listening & Learning Session
Hold 'Em Exercise (Audience Participation)
Monday, Oct. 29, 2018
6:30 - 8:00 p.m.
Statewide - Although Oregon is experiencing a strong economy and stable job market, the state budget is facing tremendous pressure from the PERS obligation. Currently, there is no revenue reform to help cover these rising costs and the projected kicker would reduce the ending fund balance of the current biennium.
Timeline: The Governor’s budget will be released by December 1st. The Co-Chairs Budget is usually released by late February and Legislature meets February through June. Final State budget is due by June 30th. Beaverton will start the staffing process in late February. Adopt budget by June 30.
There are also many unknown factors that will impact the budget for 2019-20:
- State Funding Level
- Increases to utilities
- Construction market conditions driving up maintenance and repair costs
- Costs for contractual obligations for staff
- Health insurance increases
Costs that we can estimate currently include:
- PERS increase
- Length of school year
- Current service level including step costs
Local Background
Enrollment: Beaverton School District has had relatively flat enrollment for the past few years. However, our enrollment is steadily growing on the borders of our district and declining in the center of the district. Our student demographics are also changing. Our students in poverty are decreasing as housing costs increase. We are also seeing a decrease in our English Language Learners. These changes have a negative impact on our State School Fund (SSF) allocation.
Student Achievement: In 2018, greater percentages of Beaverton students meet or exceed state standards on the Smarter Balanced and Oregon Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (OAKS) than their peers statewide in all subjects tested at all grades. We are also seeing improvement in our subgroup data. BSD graduation rates continue to be higher than the state average and the gap between BSD and the state is increasing.
Current Service Level: Beaverton has added nine instructional days to the school calendar during the last three years. Five of these days were additional days to the licensed contract. This is in alignment with School Board and Governor’s priorities. Our salaries and benefits have kept pace with the economic demand of the area.
Instructional Investments:
- Student Success Coaches at all elementary schools to address increased social and emotional needs of our students.
- CTE and High School Success - in response to Measure 98, Beaverton has increased Career and Technical Education opportunities at our high schools. We have also invested in graduation mentors to increase graduation rates and attendance.
- Early Learning - Beaverton has invested in ten pre-kindergarten classes at five elementary schools.
- AVID - (Advancement Via Individual Determination) All secondary schools have AVID tutorial classes and schoolwide AVID strategies have been implemented.
- Future Ready - Full secondary 1:1 device implementation and increased elementary technology strategies and devices. The Future Ready initiative necessitated technology infrastructure upgrades and modernization funded primarily through the bond.
- Social Workers and Counselors have been increased to support increased student needs.
- Professional Development - New curriculum adoptions have been supported with professional development for all teachers. Early release implementation has increased collaboration and professional development across the district.
Operation & Support Services Investments:
- Custodial staffing has increased commensurate with the addition of square footage in new facilities, maintaining staffing at the minimal 2012-13 funding level per square foot.
- Increased maintenance staffing resulted in an immediate improvement in client satisfaction. These increases have slowed but not reversed the growth rate of deferred maintenance.
- Operational costs have increased in response to additional buildings and square footage, upgrades to heating and cooling units, increased instructional days, unfunded mandates, community use of schools, and security and seismic updates. Operational budget increases have not accompanied these additions.
We will continue to communicate with the community throughout the budget and 2019 legislative process.
Springville K-8
Email: robin_kobrowski@beaverton.k12.or.us
Website: https://www.beaverton.k12.or.us/schools/springville/
Location: 6655 Northwest Joss Avenue, Portland, OR, USA
Phone: (503)356-2480
Facebook: facebook.com/SpringvilleK8
Twitter: @Springville_K8