Oak Creek Elementary
Coyote News - August 1, 2022
Principal's Message
Oak Creek Families,
August is here and we are very excited about the new school year starting soon! I know some of you already have many questions, so here is summer edition of our weekly newsletter to help answer some of them. For those of you who are not yet ready to even think about school starting, it will be here waiting for you when you are! Either way, I hope you are all making the most of your summer and time with family and friends.
Read below to find more information about summer activities and the start of the school year! We hope you all have a great summer! To make sure you see everything, click on the message so that it opens in your web browser. If you have any questions, please see the FAQ section below, or feel free to reach out to myself or Carrie Beach at beachc@loswego.k12.or.us.
Thank you,
Barb Keeton
Principal, Oak Creek Elementary
In This Message:
Updated in Every Edition:
- Principal's Message
- Dates to Remember
- Message from Your PTO
NEW In This Edition:
- Welcome to the New School Year/Key Dates
- Early Release Days (Every Thursday)
- Kindergarten Orientation (8/29-8/31)
- Back to School Night - 10/18 (5:30-7:00 pm)
- Recruiting School Advisory Committee (SAC) Members
- School Supply Lists for 2022-23
- Champions: Extended Care at OCE
- Champions: Recruiting New Staff Members
- Summer Kinder Play Date at OCE
- Riding the Bus to School
- LO Public Library Summer Challenge
Repeated Information:
Summer Office Hours
Summer Reading Info
- Save the Date: Smart Start - August 25th
2022-2023 Enrollment Verification
Not Coming Back to Oak Creek?
2022-2023 Registration for New OCE Students
State Assessment Score Report Info
LOSD District News:
- Hunger Fighters
- How to Find LOSD Covid-19 Information
- Back to School Clothes at Clothing Closet
- SafeOregon
- Subscribe to Lake Oswego Schools App
Dates to Remember!
August 24: 1st-5th Graders receive "Welcome to My Class" email from their teacher
August 25: Smart Start; 1:00-3:00 (for students on IEPs and 504s)
August 25: Meet and Greet; 3:00-4:00 (all K-5 families)
August 29: 2022-2023 First day for all students; Grades 1-5
August 29-31: Kindergarten Orientation (more information will be send directly to kinder families)
August 31: Kindergarteners receive "Welcome to My Class" email from their teacher
September 1: First day of school for all Kindergarteners
September 5: Labor Day; No School
Reminder: Early Release Days EVERY Thursday
School is from 8:20-2:40 every weekday, EXCEPT for Thursdays, which end at 2:00 so that teachers and staff can collaborate in their Professional Learning Communities (PLCs).
Summer Office Hours
Aug. 1-4: Office open 9am-12pm
August 5-12: Office closed
Normal office hours will resume Monday, August 15th (7:30-3:30).
Summer Library Hours!
Tuesday, August 2nd, 3:00 - 5:00 PM
Come down the stairs from the parking lot or up the ramp from the playground, around the path, and enter through the library’s back door. We are excited to see you there! All summer check outs are due 8/31/22.
August 29-31: Kindergarten Orientation
For Kindergarten Orientation, families will be scheduling a 40 minute time slot for their child to come in and meet the kindergarten teacher team, see the school, and participate in some activities during one of the days, 8/29 or 8/30. Some of the activities will include assessments on letter names, letter sounds, name writing, number identification, counting objects, and other early academics.
Rosters will be created on day three (8/31 - no school for Kindergarteners on this day) based on data gathered from days one and two. Parents/guardians will receive a "Welcome to my Class" email from their Kindergarten teacher on 8/31.
The first full day of school for Kindergarteners will be on Thursday, 9/1 (don't forget this day, and every Thursday, is an early release day - students are dismissed at 2:00 on Thursdays).
Oak Creek Kindergarten Supply List
More detailed information will be sent directly to Kindergarten families about Orientation, so please be on the lookout. We are so excited to begin working with our new Kindergarteners!
Extended Care at Oak Creek Announcement
We are pleased to announce that Champions will provide before and after-school programming for our Oak Creek students next school year. Champions’ accredited programs have more than 30 years of experience providing high-quality out-of-school-time services that balance education and fun in a safe, enriching environment. Their school-year program will be conveniently located right here at Oak Creek.
Guided by Champions’ passionate teachers, our students will have the chance to explore their curiosity and interests and build confidence and community through hands-on projects and activities. In addition, time will be set aside each day for homework support/completion, healthy snacks, and fitness.
For a closer look into the Champions experience, click here for a virtual tour of the program.
Families may register for Champions on our website, or by following this link: enroll here.Riding the School Bus!
Student Transportation of America (STA) provides bus transportation for Lake Oswego School District (LOSD). Our bus drivers look forward to getting to know your child and being a part of their amazing school experience. Students who live further than 1 mile away from their resident elementary school are eligible for transportation services. However, service is typically provided much closer to avoid crossing busy streets. For transportation related questions, please contact STA at 503-387-5078, or check out the district website: https://www.losdschools.org/domain/66
Bus registration is not necessary.
Access points -- or what most call bus stops -- are made available by mid-August. Look for an email from LOSD notifying you when access points are posted on the district and school websites under losdschools.org/transportation.
Help prepare your child to ride the bus.
Select the access point(s) that work best for your family.
Visit your access point before school starts to help familiarize your child with their designated stop.
Look for visual clues to help identify when it’s their time to get off the bus.
SAC: School Advisory Committee!
We are looking for new School Advisory Committee (SAC) members to begin next school year (2022-23). If you are interested in serving, please complete the application (see link below), and send it to Principal Barb Keeton at keetonb@loswego.k12.or.us
School Advisory Committee Application
The SAC serves as a collaborative forum to advise the principal and/or school board on specific initiatives or priorities as needed by school or district leadership. For more information on the School Advisory Committee (SAC), please click here.
Summer Reading!
Summer Library Reading Challenge
SAVE THE DATE: Smart Start - Thursday, Aug. 25, 1-3 p.m.
Smart Start is an opportunity specifically for our students with 504s and IEPs, and their parents and guardians, to make introductions and connect with their teachers and to feel prepared and welcomed for the start of school. For the 2022-23 School Year, Smart Start is in person Aug. 25, 2022, from 1-3 p.m.
Teachers will be familiar with your student’s plan and accommodations. To help get to know your students, please complete the attached one-page profile or create one on your own ahead of time, and give it to the teacher at the Smart Start introduction.
Also, to assist in your family’s preparation for the new school year, please click here for a Smart Start checklist for parents and guardians of students with 504s and IEPs.
See you on Aug. 25!
Champions: Recruiting New Staff Members
We are so excited to have Champions Learning Program joining the Oak Creek family, partnering with us to lead our Before and After School Program. The enrollment, thus far, is more than double what was anticipated, so Champions is still needing to hire SEVERAL more staff members to ensure all enrolled families can be supported.
They have added large Cash Commitment Bonuses for staff hired between now and the start of school. In addition, they will provide 2 weeks of free tuition to a Champions family, for any referral hired. They even are offering donations to the Charity of your choice if you refer someone who is hired on to the Champions Team.
If you, or someone you know, loves connecting with children, this is a great Part Time Job with Full Time Benefits. Think about who you would recommend and trust with your own children…. They might be the perfect person interested in working a few hours a day.vFor more details on the above incentives, to apply or to send a referral … please reach out to the Area Manager:
Stephanie Scanlon.
Email: stephanie.scanlon@discoverchampions.com
The links to the postings are below.
2022-2023 Enrollment Verification
This benefits both families and schools by:
- Ensuring that schools have accurate information to reach parents and other contacts in both emergency and non-emergency situations. Verification is important even if your address or contact information has not changed over the past year because the school may have incorrect information from a previous year.
- Confirming parent email addresses for Google Classroom and other applications to participate in your student's learning.
- Enabling distribution of key information in the district's K-12 Family Handbook.
If you have forgotten your ParentVUE password, go to the login page, click "I am a Parent," then click "Forgot Password." If you are unsure whether you have a ParentVUE account, contact your student's school. For assistance with the verification process, refer to the user guide on the LOSD website or contact your student's school.
Not Coming Back to Oak Creek?
2022-2023 New Registrations
State Assessment Score Reports
This summer, LOSD will deliver students’ state assessment results online through ParentVUE rather than mailing paper. This is in keeping with the district’s strategic goal of sustainability and mirrors how we deliver report cards. Your child’s assessment reports will appear on your ParentVUE Documents page in late July. As you review your student’s English Language Arts, math, and science scores, please keep in mind:
- An achievement level of 3 or 4 is considered to be on track for the student’s grade level.
- Scores on state assessments are only one measure of a student’s academic progress. We use these scores in conjunction with classroom work and other daily, weekly, monthly, and term assessments to understand your student’s strengths and areas for improvement.
Oak Creek Resources and Programs
Oak Creek is very fortunate to offer services for students or families experiencing need, thanks to the federally funded Title IA program, the Lake Oswego School District, generous donations from our community, PTO, Lake Grove Presbyterian Church, BeeLine Foundation, Love Inc., Kiwianas, and the Lake Oswego Rotary Club.
This form: OC Resources and Programs can be returned to your student’s teacher, the school counselor, or the front office. It will be kept confidential.
*****
If you have any questions please feel free to contact us. Your privacy will be respected.
503-534-2323 davidsor@loswego.k12.or.us
PTO CORNER
Message from PTO! (June message repeated)
Dear Oak Creek Community,
We are coming to the end of the school year. I would like to thank our 2021-2022 PTO! Jesse, Juli, Wendy, Iris, and Grayce will be moving on. Thank you all for serving our community! Rachel, Samantha, and Kirstin will return for the 2022-2023 school year.
Yearbooks
Yearbooks are arriving! Your students will be bringing home their yearbooks from school if you preordered one or more. We did order extras for those of you that missed the pre-order. The books will be $25 each. Look for the yearbook table in front of the school.
Engraved Bricks
Have you seen the cool personalized bricks in front of the school? Have you wished you could get one installed for your kiddo? If so, here’s your chance! The PTO is again selling personalized bricks this year. Bricks can be purchased through the online PTO store at Order Form. Once you have ordered a brick, use this google form to send us the message you want on it HERE, or feel free to email Iris Tilley at itilley@barran.com with any questions.
School Supplies- Orders Due June 10th!!
Returning Oak Creek families can now purchase School supplies for next year. Here is the link for school supplies: Supplies. These supplies will be ready at the beginning of next school year. You will not need to worry about having to find your student's supplies during the shipping crisis.
Spiritwear
Are you feeling like showing some school spirit? Here is a link to our Oak Creek Spiritwear.
Don't miss this chance to save on our entire Oak Creek Elementary School tie-dye lineup! All tie-dye short sleeves, tie-dye long sleeves and tie-dye hoodies are $5 off now though May 8th.
Donations
To make a donation, please click here: OC Donation
Your employer may match your donation. Don’t forget your spouse’s company too!
As tax season approaches, we remind you that all PTO donations are Tax Deductible.
EIN: 81-3009316 (for tax records)
PTO Website
If you are interested in joining the PTO please reach out via email and check out our website- PTO Website, OakCreekElementaryPTO@gmail.com.
Thank you for your continued support and doing your part in our wonderful community.
Sincerely,
Oak Creek Elementary PTO Executive Committee
Kirstin Martin / President
Samantha McCaskey / Treasurer
Jesse Nguyen / Assistant Treasurer
Juli Webster / Membership
Rachel Wilde / Secretary
Wendy Jenkins / Parental Involvement
Iris Tilley / Sustainability
Grayce Moody / Communications
LOSD District News
"I Love Lake Oswego" Clothing Closet Open to Entire Community!
I Love Lake Oswego Clothing Closet has received an overwhelming amount of support and donation during the pandemic. We want to give back to our community and encourage our community to lean on us not for just hard times, but for up cycling, sustainability, and for our environment. In the past the closet was just for students, and since the pandemic we have opened our doors to anyone within our community.
Visit https://www.ilovelakeoswego.com for more information.
SafeOregon
Parents-guardians who have concerns about a student’s well-being are encouraged to reach out to their principal, and to maintain strong lines of communication and partnership between students, families, staff, and other resources.
SafeOregon is also an effective way to report a tip regarding safety threats or potential acts of violence to our students or schools.
(Students should also be aware that intentionally providing a false report is a serious offense.)
Subscribe to Lake Oswego Schools App
Stay connected to the district and your school(s) and receive urgent notifications by subscribing to the Lake Oswego Schools App.
About Oak Creek
Reach out to us if you have any questions or need anything!
- Principal Barb Keeton: keetonb@loswego.k12.or.us
- Secretary Carrie Beach: beachc@loswego.k12.or.us
- Secretary Tanya Goodwin: goodwint@loswego.k12.or.us
Address: 55 Kingsgate Rd., Lake Oswego, OR 97035
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OakCreekPTA/
Interested in OCE Spirit Wear? Check out this website sponsored by our PTO! OCE Spirit Wear