Falcon News
January 14th 2022
Upcoming Dates
JANUARY
Monday 17- Martin Luther King, Jr. Day--NO SCHOOL
Wednesday 19: Kindergarten Registration opens ONLINE!
Wednesday 19: Kindergarten Virtual Open House
Wednesday 26: Palisades World Languages open house (Virtual) for Kinder Spanish Immersion
Friday 28 - Elem Grade Prep Day -- NO SCHOOL
FEBRUARY
Monday 21 - President's Day -- NO SCHOOL
Message from Mr. Mangan
Dear Forest Hills Friends and Families,
As we enter this three day weekend in honor of Martin Luther King Jr’s birthday, I can’t help but to reflect on his determined spirit to make our country a better and more inclusive place for everyone. He was truly the embodiment of perseverance, which happens to be our character trait for the month at Forest Hills.
Our collective perseverance has certainly been put to the test during this pandemic. It’s been almost two years since we shut down, and the recent news about other schools returning to CDL has caused PTSD in some places. To prevent this from happening within our community, I want to share some bright news. This week we successfully covered the few staff absences we had with our resident and scheduled substitutes without having to ask our specialists to step in. I was even ready to join the fun, but was not needed. (Yes, I have a valid teaching license and over twenty years of elementary classroom experience - in case you were wondering.😊 )
We are also proceeding with plans for Friendship Day, Falcon Fridays, and more fun activities to take place this winter and spring. In addition, our PTO is busy planning all kinds of events for students and family participation and are looking forward to making announcements soon.
I want to reassure you all that it’s business as usual at Forest Hills and let you know that students are not only persevering, but thriving.
Enjoy the MLK Holiday and please stay safe and healthy!
-Jim
Friendship Day
Friendship Day on February 14, 2022
Forest Hills will be celebrating Friendship Day on February 14th with an afternoon classroom activity that includes a Valentine card exchange. The “mailbox” materials will be provided by our PTO for students to decorate. Students may bring their cards to exchange on Monday, February 14th. These cards should NOT contain any edible items, but may include small trinkets/games/toys. Please remember that students should bring in enough cards for each classmate. Look for any more specific guidance and list of student names from your classroom teachers.
CONTACT THE OFFICE FOR ILLNESSES, VACATIONS, APPOINTMENTS
Ms. Susan is our new Attendance Secretary!
2022 - 23 Registration
Kindergarten Counts
LOSD is opening up its new student registration on Wednesday, January 19. That includes students who will be entering kindergarten in the fall of 2022. Information out Kindergarten and how to register will pre-recorded and posted to the Forest Hills website by 5:00 on January 19th.
Now Accepting Applications for Foundation Board of Directors
Are you interested in contributing to a dynamic volunteer organization dedicated to advancing our community's commitment to educational excellence?
Please consider applying for the Lake Oswego Schools Foundation Board of Directors. The Foundation is seeking parents/guardians, students and community residents to serve on its Board of Directors. Board members must demonstrate a commitment to the Foundation, the School District and the Lake Oswego community.
The term for new board members will begin July 2022. Board members commit to a two-year term and may serve up to three terms. Please click HERE to access the online application form. The application provides more information about being a board member.
Interested people should submit applications by Friday, March 4, 2022. The Nominating committee will review applications and conduct interviews in the March time frame. If you are unable to access the application, please contact woolfw@loswego.k12.or.us to receive a pdf version of the application.
Contacting Nurses re: COVID-19, Keep Student Home Until Your Receive a Response
Dear LOSD Families,
Thank you for contacting our district nurses with your COVID-19 related concerns. Our nurses are responding to each inquiry in the order that they are received. Due to the high volume of calls and emails they are experiencing, please expect a delayed response of up to 24 hours.
If you are emailing regarding a positive COVID-19 case or exposure, please keep your student home until you receive a response. Please click here for the current school exclusion guidelines.
If your student has tested positive for COVID-19, please email the nurse for your student’s school the following information and a nurse will get back to you as soon as possible:
Student’s First and Last Name
School
Date symptoms started, if any symptoms
Date tested positive and where the test was taken
Thank you for your patience and cooperation.
Forest Hills School Nurses,
Ann Nelson nelsona@loswego.k12.or.us
Nikki Retzlaff retzlafn@loswego.k12.or.us
LOSD COVID-19 Dashboard Updates
In-Person Volunteering
While we have delayed the return of volunteers to campus for a time due to current COVID guidelines from the district, it's a fine time to complete the paperwork required to volunteer with us. See the details below.
Volunteers need to verify the following requirements before volunteering in schools:
Complete Background Check through school Raptor system - if you have not already completed this, bring your driver's license or passport with you on your first day back to register.
Fill out this form: Sign Statement of Knowledge and Understanding of LOSD Policies - detailed information below.
Show/Send Proof of Vaccination to Nicole Merino by clicking here: Proof of Vaccination. LOSD will not be granting exemptions for volunteers due to requirements of weekly testing and distancing.
Statement of Knowledge and Understanding - LOSD District Policies
All contractors, volunteers, and visitors must agree to follow District policies, the most important of which are summarized or referenced below:
No smoking or other uses of tobacco products, alcoholic beverages or other controlled substances on District property, including parking lots and fields.
No firearms, fire pits, indoor barbecues, candles, fog machines, balloons or fireworks may be used on School District property.
Park in designated parking areas only. Violators will be towed at the owner's expense.
Outdoor Mask Message
Counselor's Corner
Dear Forest Hills Families,
As we start the new year of 2022, we will be spending the month of January introducing the character trait of PERSEVERANCE in our Social Emotional Learning (SEL) lessons. The definition we will be using for Perseverance is: the ability to work through situations even when there are obstacles or challenges in the way.
A lot of research today is telling us that the highest indicators of success in our kids isn’t just about their grades or their IQ. The number one skill that helps people of all walks of life be successful is GRIT! Grit is the ability to persevere in the face of adversity or even failure.
Over the course of the month, we will talk about inspiring people who faced many failures before they found success. We will talk about what it means to navigate tough stuff, even when it feels overwhelming or really hard. We will talk about having a Growth Mindset; to see challenges and failure as an opportunity to grow instead of a brick wall.
Here are links for extension activities to explore PERSEVERANCE further as a family:
K-2 PERSEVERANCE Parent Letter (English) K-2 PERSEVERANCE Parent Letter (En Español) 3-5 PERSEVERANCE Parent Letter (English) 3-5 PERSEVERANCE Parent Letter (En Español)
Sincerely,
Hayley Drimmel
School Counselor
i-Ready Winter Assessment
This Winter, all K-8 students in Lake Oswego will complete two online i-Ready assessments in class. One is for math and the other is for reading. i-Ready is a program that will help us determine your child’s strengths and areas for growth, personalize their learning, and monitor their progress throughout the school year. i-Ready allows us to meet your child where they are and provides us with data to inform and tailor instruction to accelerate growth. This is the second of three i-Ready assessments we give each year, and results will be shared with parents in February. For kindergartners, this will be their first i-Ready assessment. Our Winter i-Ready window is open from January 3-28.
Immunization Exclusion Day:
February 16, 2022 is exclusion day for students that are not up to date with their required immunizations. If you have any questions about your child's immunizations, please contact Susan Locey at loceys@loswego.k12.or.us
For a list of required immunizations please visit our Nurses website here
POLAR PLUNGE 2/26/2022
Forest Hills Falcons will be participating again in the Polar Plunge to raise money and awareness for Special Olympics Oregon. These funds help provide sports equipment, jerseys, and fees for Special OLympics athletes as well as those associated with running Unified clubs and sports teams.
We are creating a team and all are welcome! We would love to have many families involved in fundraising and join us in the plunge!
Please contact Kasie Hansen for more information
Join team Freezing Falcons and Friends at
Upcoming Health Lessons
If you would like to review the health curriculum, please contact the school office. More information, including an opt-out form if needed, can be found on the District website.
Oregon State Assessment Opt-Out Form
Every year, Oregon students take assessments to meet federal requirements. The purpose of these assessments is to provide data that schools can use to ensure each and every child is on track and achieving learning goals.
State law requires us to inform you that a form is available from the State Department of Education that allows you to opt your child out of the math and English Language Arts assessments for the current school year. Should you wish to opt out your child, fill out the form and submit it to the main office at your child’s school. Please note the submission deadlines listed on the form. Meeting the deadline will help the school with planning and preparation. If you wish your child not to participate in the science assessment for grades 5, 8, and 11, submit this request in writing to the principal of your child's school.
If you have questions or want more information about state assessments, please contact your child’s principal or teacher(s).
Click here for opt-out form for Math and English Language Arts.
FAQs
FAQ's and Answers
What is the daily schedule?
First Bell - 8:10 am: Students are welcome to enter their classroom.
Tardy Bell - 8:20 am: Students must check in with the office and receive a Tardy slip before going to their classroom.
Dismissal - 2:40 pm
Early Release on Thursdays - 2 pm
Will students and staff be wearing masks? Yes, currently all students, staff and anyone who enters the building are required to wear masks. Additional information about mask requirements can be found here.
Subscribe to LO Schools App
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Stay in Touch with the PTO
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Instagram #foresthills.pto
https://www.instagram.com/foresthills.pto/
Facebook Forest Hills Elementary PTO
About Forest HIlls Elementary School
Email: milnerw@loswego.k12.or.us
Website: https://or01813384.schoolwires.net/Page/9
Location: 1133 Andrews Road, Lake Oswego, OR, USA
Phone: 5035342350