Black Bear Bits
March 11, 2022
Important Dates
3/12: Garden Work Party 9:00-11:00 a.m.
3/13: Daylight Savings Time Begins
3/14-18: 5th Grade Science Testing
3/15: PTA Restaurant Fundraiser-Chipotle 4:00-8:00 (show flier!)
3/15: PTA Meeting 7:00 p.m.
3/17: St. Patrick's Day
3/21-25: No School - Spring Break
3/31: Site Council
In this edition...
- Letter from the Principal
- Updated Covid-19 Guidelines
- PTA Restaurant Night-Chipotle
- Garden Work Party
- Lost and Found
- Vestibule Safety
- Kindergarten Registration
- Pre-K Registration
- Volunteering Requirements
- Tigard Essential Needs Drive
- Site Council Needs You!
- PTA Needs YOU!
- Free Food Boxes for Anyone in Need
- Help Bridge the Gap for Students!
- Updated Covid Information
- Sign up for OHSU Covid Screening
- Reporting Covid-19 Vaccinations to the School
- Screen for Covid at home
- Flu and Covid Vaccines Available
- Packed with Pride Needs Our Help!
- Important Links
Letter from the Principal
Dear Tualatin Black Bear Families,
Please take time to read the entire Black Bear Bulletin this week.
With all the updates and new information, this has been a full week, to say the least. Most importantly, this week we have been celebrating our classified staff members. We are so grateful for the support from our wonderful PTA who provided many tasty treats, snacks, and beverages in the staffroom and a wonderful staff spotlight on social media each day. School could not happen without our amazing classified staff who support students across every location including our office, classrooms, cafeteria, maintenance and playground. Thank you for all you do for our school community.
COVID-19 Update:
Monday, March 14, 2022, masks will be optional at school and on school buses
School staff will be working with students to maintain a safe and respectful school day that allows for masking choices to be supported - wearing and not wearing
Please discuss your family plan for masking with your child prior to Monday
Any negative behaviors regarding masking will be responded to appropriately by adults
Please see “Updated Covid-19 Guidelines” in this newsletter regarding symptoms and testing
Welcome Back Volunteers:
All approved background checks are good for 3 years.
Contact your child’s teacher for scheduling opportunities in advance to support the classroom.
Please contact our office if you still need the volunteer training
Please see “Volunteering Requirements” in this newsletter
Announcement from Mr. Kingery:
It is bittersweet for me to confirm that this will be my last year as principal at Tualatin Elementary. Many of you know that this is my 11th year as a Black Bear. I am very grateful for the time I have been part of this amazing school community. I have learned a great deal from every student, staff member, and family over the years. There are countless memories that put a permanent smile on my face and fill my heart. I could not imagine a better school community to be a part of in my first position as a principal. I am happy to say I will still be a principal with TTSD; I will be moving to the soon-to-be-completed Art Rutkin Elementary School in Tigard set to open in 2023. Here is the TTSD announcement from yesterday. Please contact me with any questions or need for details.
With Gratitude,
Mr. Kingery
Principal
Updated Covid-19 Guidelines
Please make note of the following updated Covid Exclusion guidelines,
effective March 14, 2022.
Primary Symptoms:
Fever greater than 100.4 or chills
Cough
Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
New loss of taste or smell
Non-Primary Symptoms:
Headache
Nausea or vomiting
Diarrhea
Fatigue (tiredness)
Sore throat
Muscle/body aches
Congestion or runny nose
If your child is COVID-19 positive, all of the following must apply before returning to school:
Your child must remain home for at least 5 days after the onset of symptoms or positive test result, AND
Be fever free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medications, such as Tylenol or ibuprofen; and
Symptoms must be improving.
It is recommended that your student wear a mask on days 6-10.
If your child has any TWO of the above primary symptoms, the Tigard-Tualatin School District requires your child to stay home for 5 days after the onset of symptoms, unless:
You provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test result OR A doctor’s note indicating a different diagnosis and that COVID-19 is not suspected; or proof of COVID-19 infection within the last 90 days, AND
Be fever-free for 24 hours without use of fever-reducing medications, such as Tylenol or ibuprofen;
Symptoms must be improving.
If your child has any ONE of the above primary symptoms, Tigard-Tualatin School District requires your child to stay home until:
Symptoms are improving
Fever must be resolved for 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medications such as Tylenol or ibuprofen.
If your child has any of the above non-primary symptoms that persist for more than one day, parents or guardians should consider evaluation by the child’s healthcare provider, who can determine if viral testing is advised. See attached flyers for guidance on when your child can return to school.
Please contact the office for testing resources, including on-site and at home tests kits, if needed.
Garden Work Party!
Our Sustainable School Garden needs you and your family!
Plan to attend the Garden Work Party. on March 12th at 9-11:00 a.m.
We will be spreading garden compost donated by Pro Gro Mixes and Materials. We will also be doing some general care activities.
Why should you come? Here are 7 good reasons:
It’s the beginning of the gardening season. Learn from Mr. Taylor the importance of feeding your soil with this basic gardening activity.
Find Leprechaun gold while you’re working.
See where food comes from and learn how to actively help improve a little corner of the World…our school garden.
Enjoy lite snacks.
Meet Tualatin Highschool Key Club members, joining us again!
Experience our garden with your family and friends.
Show your school spirit while getting our garden ready for spring planting!
Bring your gloves and water bottle. Tools, buckets and wagons provided.
Lost and Found
Vestibule Safety
- When you enter the vestibule, please use the call button (located to your right as you enter the front doors) to reach the office.
- If you are exiting the office and someone is waiting in the vestibule, please do not hold the door open for them. We will buzz them in after we have determined their purpose and identity.
- As we have many new families and staff, you may be asked to present your ID prior to picking up your child. Please know this is for your student's safety. If you are picking up your student for the first time from the office, please be prepared to show your ID.
- If someone other than the parents are picking up the student in the office, please let us know who they are ahead of time so we can make note and check their ID as well.
- Please always enter the school through the vestibule and front office so we are always aware of who is in the building.
Thanks so much for your assistance in keeping our students safe!
Kindergarten and PreK Registration Update
If your PreK student is in one of Teacher Adam’s classes then you are already registered for this fall. Contact our office with questions.
Pre-K Registration
TTSD PRESCHOOL
Free Preschool for Children ages 3 to 5
The Tigard-Tualatin School District in partnership with Community Action offers free preschool classes for qualifying families.
Please fill out our electronic Preschool Interest Google Form online
OR
complete the Preschool Program Interest PDF and send the completed form to:
- preschoolinfo@ttsd.k12.or.us or
- deliver to your neighborhood Tigard-Tualatin Elementary School or
- mail to Early Learning Coordinator TTSD
6961 SW Sandburg St, Tigard, OR 97223
Volunteering Requirements
We are excited to welcome volunteers back into our school! Please note that the following must be completed prior to volunteering on site:
Note: All volunteers must complete the checklist below to volunteer
- Complete a background check at: www.helpcounter.net/ttsd. (This needs to be renewed every three years.) You will also need to complete the Child Abuse online training.
- Be vaccinated for COVID-19. Please provide vaccine documentation using the following link-TTSD Volunteer Vaccination Documentation or send a copy/photo of your card to the school office (athorderson@ttsd.k12.or.us)
- When the above has been completed, contact the school office (athorderson@ttsd.k12.or.us or 503-431-4800) and we will give you documents for the Volunteer COVID training through Tualatin Elementary.
Masks will be optional in the building for volunteers. We ask that if you are sick or have any symptoms, that you postpone your volunteering until you are well.
Tigard Essential Needs Drive
This event benefits the Portland Rescue Mission and the Tigard Tualatin School District Family Resource Center
Saturday, March 12 from 9 AM to 1 PM
Tigard Public Works (8777 SW Burnham Street)
What is an Essential Need?
Just that—the things that you need right now are what others need too. COVID-19 has impacted us all in different ways, but we can still take care of each other. Join the City of Tigard and drop-off a donation for people in our community who could use some extra help and support.
View a list of request items: www.tigard-or.gov/donate
Join our Site Council!
Site Council is looking for new parent members! What is Site Council you ask? The Tualatin Elementary Site Council is a group of teachers, parents and classified staff who work with the principal to develop, review and evaluate school improvement programs and make recommendations for how to use our school resources. Our Site Council’s main goal is to increase student achievement by improving instructional programs, plan professional development and foster family involvement. We also discuss school needs, enrichment opportunities and grant funding. Our Site Council meets each month after school from 2:45-3:30.
If you are interested in joining Site Council please email Amy Barnes, the Site Council Chair, at abarnes@ttsd.k12.or.us. Once you have expressed interest, parents will vote to approve all new parent members and the first meeting for new members is on Thursday, March 31st.
We look forward to new parents joining Site Council.
PTA Needs YOU!
The PTA is most immediately recruiting for the following:
- Read-a-thon Team: Our annual read-a-thon will begin in March but volunteers are needed in April to pass out prizes
- Art Lit: Next year, our incredible Art Lit coordinators will move on to other responsibilities so we will need new coordinators to take over this vibrant program in our school.
- Fun Run: This is the biggest yearly fundraiser we hold and the most fun for our families. Help coordinate or join the team as we plan for an in-person event!
- Join the PTA board! This is where all the fun and planning starts! We most urgently need a Secretary--we've been without one for 2 years now!
If you are interested in joining any of these committees or joining the board, please contact the PTA at tualatinpta@gmail.com You may also call the office for more information.
Free Food Boxes for Anyone in Need
In partnership with OHA and Washington County Emergency Services, St. Anthony Catholic Church and School is distributing FREE FOOD BOXES for anyone in need.
WEDNESDAYS 3:00PM - 5:00PM
LOCATION: 9905 SW McKenzie Street, Tigard, OR 97223
PHONE: 503-639-4179
WEBSITE: https://www.satigard.org/outreach
- Limit 2 boxes per car
- 300 boxes available each week
- No requirements. No questions asked.
- Boxes come with a variety of non-perishable food items
Help Bridge the Gap for our Students!
The Foundation for Tigard Tualatin Schools (FTTS) annual Fund Drive is happening now! Donations from the drive help enrich our students' education. Your donations hire part-time teachers, support innovative teaching ideas and provide college scholarships.
The goal is to raise $75,000 during this year's Fund Drive! That will put the Foundation on track to give each school a $10,000 check for their School Grant, to be used to fund teacher hours that will bridge their most pressing instructional gap. More teachers, more learning!!
Check out all the ways that The Foundation for Tigard Tualatin Schools has helped Tualatin Elementary and donate today!
Updated Covid Information
OHSU Covid Screening--You can still sign up!
If you are interested in participating in the weekly OHSU screening, you can join at any time. Additionally, your student can participate whether they are vaccinated or unvaccinated. If you would like to sign up, contact your student's teacher and we'll send a packet home.
If you have any questions, please contact the office. (503-431-4800)
Reporting Covid-19 Vaccinations to the School
Screen for Covid Symptoms at Home
Every day before your child leaves for school, check for symptoms of Covid. If your child exhibits any of the following symptoms, keep them home. Please call the attendance line (503-431-4770) to let us know what symptoms the child has so we can help you determine how long the child will need to be out of school. Requirements can be found in the attachments to this newsletter.
- Fever or chills
- Cough
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Fatigue
- Muscle or body aches
- Headache
- New loss of taste or smell
- Sore throat
- Congestion or runny nose
- Nausea or vomiting
- Diarrhea
COVID-19 Vaccination Clinics and Testing Sites
NHC’s Tualatin High School School-Based Health Center (SBHC)
is offering no-cost COVID-19 vaccines and boosters for TTSD families, ages 5 & up. The vaccines are free regardless of insurance status.
Tualatin High School SBHC * Clinic access from the North Parking Lot 22300 SW Boones Ferry Rd
Please make an appointment by calling 503-941-3180 to schedule.
Tektronics COVID-19 Vaccinations for Ages 5 and Up
14200 SW Karl Braun Drive
Building 58, Beaverton
Monday - Saturday 12:00 - 7:00 PM
Sunday 11:00-4:00 PM
- All three vaccines are available
- No appointment needed
- No cost
Packed with Pride Needs Our Help
Volunteers are needed and appreciated. Opportunities include helping to:
* unload and stock food items
* pick up donations from our grocery store partners
* fill the food boxes
* help check-in station with your Spanish/English bilingual skills, every other Wednesday, 5:00-7:30p
* move and load boxes into cars at handout
* help with some schools needing to make home deliveries every other Wednesday evening
Email packedwithpridecommunity@gmail.com to be included in our weekly email about volunteer opportunities. Thank you in advance for your helping hands.
Tualatin Elementary School
Email: tualatinoffice@ttsd.k12.or.us
Website: https://www.ttsdschools.org/tualatin
Location: 20405 SW 95th Ave
Phone: 503-431-4800
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TualatinElementaryGarden/
Twitter: @TuES_BlackBears