The Howler Vol. 35
June 9th, 2023
From the Principal
Greetings Grant Watts Community,
What an amazing year we’ve shared together- it’s hard to believe there are only a few days of school left this year. The feeling is bittersweet for many of us, as we see our amazing third graders finish out their run at Grant Watts and head up the hill to OPE. They’ve shared Night of the Notables and participated in the fourth-grade fly-up to Petersen this week. Here’s wishing all of our departing students the best of luck in their future endeavors. You will always have a home at Grant Watts!
We want to remind any families with an incoming Kindergartener to make sure they complete the registration process as soon as possible. Our intention is to keep siblings together, though we are filling up our classrooms quickly for next year.
Finally, I would like to extend my sincere congratulations to three treasured educators whose children graduated from Scappoose High School this year. Clara Aguirre, Keri Hall, and Hattie Schrotzberger all watched their seniors walk across the stage last weekend, and we couldn’t be more excited for their families and the future that lies ahead. I have a special spot in my teacher heart for Carlos Aguirre, and seeing him walk through our graduate procession filled me with so much pride. Way to go Class of 2023!
We hope to see many of you at our annual Small Fry Olympics on Monday and remember dismissal next Friday is at 11:40 am. Lunch will be served to all students prior to dismissal.
Thanks for all you have done to support our learners at Grant Watts this year. We are already looking forward to the next one!
Respectfully,
Principal Small
Small Fry Olympics MONDAY JUNE 12TH
Coach Bruno and Coach Cole have been busy training students for the Small Fry Olympics! The students are excited to demonstrate all they have learned this year in PE. The Small Fry Olympics will occur on Monday, June 12, 2023.
- Grade levels will be split as follows: K/1 from 8:30 am to 11:00 am, then 2/3 grades will go from 12:00 pm to 2:45 pm. Please come and sit under the trees to support your child in these non-competitive events.
- All spectators will be required to check in and wear a visitor sticker while attending the event. Please check in with staff in between Grant Watts and Otto Petersen or at the crosswalk between Scappoose High School and Grant Watts.
- If you are coming to watch Kindergarten or 1st grade in the morning, please do not park in the bus turnaround at the high school. This is a busy place from 8-8:30 with buses coming in and out of that lot. You are welcome to park in any other parking lot on campus.
- If you are coming to watch your 2nd and 3rd graders, we are unable to dismiss the students to you from the field at 2:45. Please wait until the 2:55pm dismissal bell to pick up your child. Thank you for your cooperation on this as your student wraps up their day.
Night of the Notables
Shout out to all of the third graders who spent countless hours researching, preparing, and presenting at the Night of the Notables. Families and community members thoroughly enjoyed learning from you!
School Counseling Updates
Our May and June Focus is on “Leaders”
The character traits related to being leaders are; collaborative, humble, solution-focused, action-oriented, and civic minded . We will be working on these skills throughout the focus period and relating this back to our Positive Behavior Interventions and Support systems.
Career Expo
Students will participate in our annual Career Expo on June 15th, 2023
We are thankful for the presenters who have volunteered!!
There will be many sports camps added throughout the summer-keep your eyes out on the Scappoose School District APP and website.
Kids Bowl Free
KIDS BOWL FREE-You can register your child to bowl 2 free games a day-www.KidsBowlFree.com
Camp Invention
Here is a link to a fun week long STEM focused camp held at Petersen Elementary
Soccer Camps
Registration is open for the first of many Soccer Kids Camps-follow Columbia County United on Facebook or go to this link for more information; https://columbiacountyunited.teamsnapsites.com/
Basketball Camp
Registration is open for Scappose Youth Basketball camp! Click here to register. This is for kids entering grades 3-9 next fall.
UPDATE: Now open to incoming 1st and 2nd graders! Register as a third grader online.
Youth Sports Camp
Summer Resources
Here is a link to a list of summer resources, activities, and supports;
The transition from school to summer and back to school lends itself to many feelings! If your child is expressing concern about the transitions, please feel free to reach out to me for ideas of how to ease the transition. Some ideas; identify and acknowledge the feelings, keep some routine, encourage physical activity and calming activities depending on your child’s needs, and use positive, empowering messaging.
Have a TERRIFIC Summer!
PLEASE, if your child or your family are experiencing challenges, please reach out to me for support.
Tami McDonald, School Counselor, tmcdonald@scappoose.k12.or.us
971-200-8002
Free Books!
PLEASE - RETURN YOUR BOOKS BEFORE SUMMER BREAK!!
Mrs. Nudo needs to inventory the library! Thanks!
FREE BOOKS FOR ALL OUR SSD STUDENTS: Many thanks to our classified employees for helping us secure FREE and awesomely NEW books for all our students! This week all our Gray Wolves were able to choose a new book to bring home compliments of First Book, American Federation of Teachers-Oregon Chapter and our classified union local chapter! We are so grateful we got to participate, now we get to help keep the joy of reading going over the summer with a new book! Enjoy!
RETURN YOUR BOOKS ON TIME AND YOUR CLASS CAN WIN A PRIZE-WINNERS!: CONGRATULATIONS to Mrs. V, Mrs. Ziels, Mrs. King and Mrs. Backus–their classes had the fewest overdue books in the month of May, all the classes will get a small prize for their hard work!
WHO LOVES ICE CREAM? AMAZING BOOK DETECTIVES DO!!: Final contest of the year–the first class in our school who returns ALL their books and clears ALL their Library fines will win Ice Cream for the classroom! **If your family is unable to pay your library fines, please let me know so we can help you resolve your account–we are here to help! 🙂
LOOKING FOR SUMMER READING OPPORTUNITIES?: Our school libraries will not be offering Summer Reading Challenges this summer, but our District Librarian Website has a page that highlights many Summer Reading Opportunities! Also, please remember, you can always find other library information there too! You can also explore all the books we have available in our libraries by going to Destiny Discover and typing in our location (Oregon) and then putting in the school library you want to search. If you ever have any questions, please reach out–I am here to help and be your partner in providing the best library experience for your children. Thank you!
Happy Reading! ~ Mrs. Nudo
Profile of a Graduate focus: being a LEADER
For our final book of the school year, classrooms will be reading Knots on a Counting Rope by Bill Martin Jr. and John Archambault.
In this story, a grandfather retells the story of a young blind boy’s birth, his first horse, and an exciting race.
Enjoy the story at home! Knots on a Counting Rope
Thank you to GWPO for building our classroom libraries!
Megan Moga
LET’S CONNECT!
Email: GWPOScappoose@gmail.com
Facebook: @GrantWattsParentOrganization
Website: www.GWPO.org
Staff Spotlight
Let’s fill the kindness buckets of our Special Education Team! Ms. Anna, Ms. Brittany, Ms. Carrie, Ms. Jacqueline, Mr. Justin, Ms. Keri, Ms. Laurie, Miss McDonald, Ms. Poppy, Mrs. Rask, Ms. Sam, and Ms. Spencer work with students throughout Grant Watts. We are beyond grateful for them all!
Volunteer Opportunities
If you are interested in volunteering, please fill out the GWPO Volunteer Form.
SHS Graduate Walk
One of the best traditions at SSD is the annual graduate parade! Last Friday, the 2023 SHS graduates walked the halls at all of the SSD schools where many of their educational journeys began. Seniors were greeted with high fives, hugs from former teachers, cheers, happy tears, pure joy, and an entire district bursting with pride!
Onlookers could feel a sense of true accomplishment from the Seniors and a dream to aspire to from the younger students. The walk was a reminder to our Seniors of just how far they have come! We are so proud of their hard work and accomplishments and wish them all the best as they spread their wings! Congratulations SHS Class of 2023!
FORM DUE BY JUNE 12TH
As we start wrapping up the year, we are beginning to plan for 2023-24. We understand that your student’s after school plans may change between now and September. By filling out this form now you help us get a head start on the upcoming year. It also helps the bus company to be able to work out next year’s routes in a timely manner. Please fill out this transportation form here by Monday, June 12th, with your best estimate of your after school plans for next year.
If you have questions regarding transportation, please reach out to Kailee or Anne in the office at 971-200-8002.
Thank you!
Attendance and Transportation Reminders
- Kailee Klobes: kklobes@scappoose.k12.or.us
- Anne Flores: aflores@scappoose.k12.or.us
- Your child's teacher
We appreciate your support in making sure we know where your students are during the school day. Thank you!
If your student will be staying home for any reason, please call the office at 971-200-8002 on the morning of their absence to let us know. Thank you!
If you would like to have your child tested for COVID, you can schedule a test with our district nursing staff by calling the OPE front office at 971-200-8003.
COVID Testing Consent Forms:
Immunization Rates
Curriculum Corner: The Great Body Shop
Each year, we share with families information about our district-approved health curriculum, The Great Body Shop. You may have seen some of the fliers going home from your child’s classroom, as there is an opportunity built into each issue to continue the discussion at home. Our materials arrived late this school year, so most classrooms are just getting started, and not following the attached schedule. You are encouraged to reach out to the school with any questions you might have, and may opt your child out of any/all lessons. Please note, the standards are written in adult language, but the student materials are developmentally appropriate by age/grade level.
The Great Body Shop Health Education Program
Oregon Statewide Assessments
Each year, schools are required to participate in administering the Oregon Statewide Assessments. These tests include Math and English Language Arts (Grades 3-8 and 11), Science (Grade 5, 8 and 11), ELPA (eligible students only) and Extended Assessments (eligible students only).
For Math and English Language Arts, parents may OPT-OUT by preference. For exemptions for Science, ELPA21 or Extended Assessments, they must be based on a disability or religious reason per the Oregon Department of Education and approved by the District Test Coordinator.
Parents can find these forms below:
Grant Watts At a Glance
First Student Transportation
First Student Phone #: 971-290-4020
First Student Feedback Page: https://www.scappoosek12.org/bus
22/23 Bus Routes
FirstView Bus Tracker App
We have tested and can now share the FirstView bus tracking app with you!
Please see this configuration guide with step by step instructions on how to see where your child's bus is.
Your district code is MQ7B
Please be aware, one limitation of the system is that each bus can only have one route assigned. That means that on early release Wednesday, the app will not show the bus. This is a known issue, and the developers are working to resolve it.
FirstView has a great customer service team, and they are the ones to contact for support. The district cannot help with any issues during the installation or use of the app.
Contact FirstView Monday – Friday (Support provided in English only):
o Calling the toll-free phone number 888-889-8920 from 7:00 a.m. EST to 5:00 p.m. EST
o Emailing Customer Support at support@firstviewapp.com
o Using the in-app “✉” button to provide feedback
My MealTime Breakfast and Lunch Accounts
Parent Helpline: 800-755-0904
Apply for free and reduced meals HERE
Community Resources
Upcoming Events
- Friday, June 9th-Latino Movie Night 8:30-10pm (info below)
- Monday, June 12th- Small Fry Olympics
- Monday, June 12th- 2023/24 Transportation Survey Due
- Tuesday, June 13th- 1st Grade Field Trip to the Oregon Zoo
- Thursday, June 15th- Career Expo and Educational Fun Day
- Friday, June 16th- Last Day of School-EARLY RELEASE at 11:40am!