Lake Oswego Junior High Newsletter
Important Messages and Events for the Community
Principal Message
We are excited to welcome our teachers back this upcoming week and share schedules with our students. Next week I will be sending specific information about our schedules that will be going live on Tuesday. Please be on the lookout for this newsletter on Monday of next week!
New Daily Schedule for LOJ and LMS for 2022-23
Over the past school year, both middle schools received feedback from staff, students, and parents regarding concerns and needs from our current schedule. With this information, we have worked with staff and district administration to create a new daily schedule for the next school year. The middle schools will still be on a trimester schedule, and the start and end times will be the same.
The new schedule will benefit our middle school students by allowing them to spend more time in a given content class (65 minutes instead of 45 minutes) and only having 5 classes in a given day to lessen workload and transitions each day. 65-minute classes will help transition students as they prepare for 90-minute blocks at the high school level. Furthermore, this increased time will allow for more collaborative engagement and learning in classes. Students will still have 7 courses and the same access to core instructional periods, fine and performing arts, world languages, and electives; on a given day, they will only attend 5 of those 7 classes and 2 of the classes “roll off” each day creating a 5-period daily schedule. Below are links to a video explaining a visual model of how the schedule works as well as a web tool that we’ll be using with students to help them keep track of their own schedules. We are excited about the possibilities of the year ahead. Enjoy the remaining summer days, and watch for more communication from us soon.
Individual Student Schedules available on Tuesday, August 23rd
Everyone is eager to see their students' schedules for this year. They will be available on ParentVue/StudentVue on August 23rd. Before that time, our counselors and office staff are working hard to make sure everyone had their required classes and that classes are appropriately balanced across the school day. Thanks for being patient as we finish up these important details
Personalized Schedule Webtool
After individual schedules are published, students can use the web tool linked here to create a personalized copy of the color-coded rotating schedule demonstrated in the video above. We'll also be helping students use this tool during the first days of school to make sure everyone knows where they need to be.
Important Dates
Open House: August 25, 4:00pm to 7:30pm
Smart Start: August 25 1:00pm - 3:00pm
School Pictures: August 25 (during Open House)
First day of school: August 29 for 6th graders and half day for new 7th/8th graders
Parent Club BBQ: September 15, 4:00pm - 8:00pm
Picture Makeup Day: October 25, 8:00 - 12:00
Open House - August 25 from 4:00 to 7:30
Pay student fees
Picture Day
Self Guided Tour
Parent Club Ice Cream Social
Student schedules will be available through Parent/studentvue on 8/25
Click on the link below for the school supply list, bell schedule and the forms you need to bring with you to the open house.
Student Accident Insurance:
Locker Sign Ups for Next Year
Students are able to take their backpacks to class in lieu of having a locker.
If you would like to request a locker, please fill out the locker request form below. Once assigned a locker the locker number and combination will be accessible in Parent/Studentvue under Student Information in August.
If we have more requests than we can accommodate, we will have students share lockers. The from provided allows an opportunity for students to request a potential shared partner.
Set up Meal Accounts
The universal free meals waiver with USDA expired on June 30, 2022. That means starting this school year LOSD will be serving meals under the free, reduced, and paid categories.
Please be sure to set up your student's meal account or apply for free/reduced meals. Look for Meals under Find it Fast on district and school website homepages for account setup and application information, and more.
SMART START 2022-23
Parent/Guardian Checklist
2022-23 School Year
This form is designed to assist parents and guardians of students with IEPs and 504s to identify and plan for important dates in preparation for the upcoming school year.
BEFORE ALL STUDENTS GO BACK TO SCHOOL
You will receive an introductory phone call or email from your student’s case manager between August 23-25, 2022. If you do not hear from your case manager by then, please contact Student Services at karen.stewart@loswego.k12.or.us.
The opportunity for students with IEPs and 504s to meet with your teachers before school begins is called Smart Start. This voluntary event gives students an opportunity to introduce themselves, as well as provide any important information about how they learn and how best to support them. Smart Start is Thursday, August 25, 1-3 p.m.
Students are encouraged to complete a one-page profile to share with your teachers during their introductory meetings. Please click here for a fillable elementary and secondary option that can be emailed or printed. Or, your student is welcome to make one of their own.
Transportation per IEP: Students who receive specialized transportation will receive confirmation of bus transportation plans from Student Transportation of American by August 26.
ONE-ON-ONE MEETINGS FOR ELEMENTARY STUDENTS
Elementary Smart Start meetings are Thursday, August 25 between 1-3 p.m. Students may visit with their teacher at any time during this time.
During your time with the teacher, you and your student will:
Make introductions.
Share your one-page student profile information.
ONE-ON-ONE MEETINGS FOR MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS
Middle and High School Smart Start meetings are Thursday, August 25 between 1-3 p.m. Students may visit with as many of their class period teachers as they choose during this open house.
Make introductions.
Share your one-page student profile information.
THE FOLLOWING IS A CHECKLIST OF WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT FROM YOUR CASE MANAGER AND THE STUDENT SERVICES TEAM DURING THE FIRST MONTH OF SCHOOL:
Principals will notify all families when final class assignments and schedules are posted.
All of your student’s teachers will have access to their IEP or 504. They will review the document in advance of your Smart Start appointment to facilitate an effective and efficient introduction. If you have questions or concerns about this, please contact your student’s case manager. If you are unsure who is your student’s case manager, please contact Karen Stewart.
Special education and related services will be organized with a finalized schedule during the week of August 29, 2021. If you have questions, please contact your student’s case manager.
**If you have questions or need assistance, please contact the Student Services Department at 503-534-2359 or email karen.stewart@loswego.k12.or.us.
Athletic Clearance Form
Middle School sports will be back this year with Volleyball and Cross-Country this fall, Basketball, and Wrestling in the winter, and Track and Field in the Spring. Middle school sports are all-comers, no-cut sports, and we welcome everyone to participate and improve with their teammates. Part of the registration process includes an athletic clearance form (each year) and a physician's clearance (every two years) is one section of the form. If you're headed to the doctor for a well-visit before school starts, you could take this form with you. It's available on our athletics website here.
Welcome back, and right off the bat, the Parent Club needs YOUR help! Please sign up for one or more opportunities below:
TEACHERS' WELCOME BACK BREAKFAST: Tuesday, Aug. 23rd 7:30 a.m.- 8:00 a.m.
Sign up here to drop off your favorite breakfast item or beverage at the front of the school: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60b0949adae29a5f58-teacher
OPEN HOUSE: Thursday, Aug. 25th 4-7:30 p.m.
The school needs some volunteers to help collect forms and school fees in the cafeteria. Dorian Studios needs volunteers to help manage the line and you'll get a discount on your photo package. The Parent Club also needs help with membership sign ups, handing out free ice cream, and merchandise sales. Please sign up here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f0e4ba4ac22aaf58-lojopen
BACK-TO-SCHOOL BBQ: Thursday, Sept. 15th 5-7 p.m.
LOJ Parent Club is eager to restart the Back-to-School BBQ, where new and returning families can meet each other and mingle. We need help with set up, grilling, clean up, and registration. Please sign up here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f0e4ba4ac22aaf58-backtoschool
You will get a chance to meet us at the Open House! For a smoother process, you can also complete the attached membership form and volunteer form (also available on Google form here) and turn it in at the Open House. We look forward to meeting you!
Sincerely,
Natasha Richmond, President
Megan Mann, Vice President
Elisabeth Jordan, Co-Treasurer
Tamara Beale, Co-Treasurer
Peggy Kmiec, Ex-officio member
VACANT, Secretary
PARENTVUE DIRECTIONS
Before you do anything else, please be sure to verify your student's information. All students who are enrolled for the 2022-23 school year need their information updated by September 9, 4 p.m. The only exceptions are students who are new to LOSD; information is verified during their initial registration process.
Log into ParentVUE and access the Register/Verify tab. 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.
Fee Waivers
Requests for resident fee waivers or fee reductions, except for the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), will be processed using the attached form. Please complete the form and submit it to the department or school which collects the applicable fee or fees.
SafeOregon/Incident Reporting
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.)
In addition, Our district has additional reporting forms. These are for parents or students to use to report issues related to racism, bias, or harassment incidents. These forms are on the district website and school websites:
Important Links
Lake Oswego Middle School
Email: millsk@loswego.k12.or.us
Website: https://www.losdschools.org/loj
Location: Lake Oswego Junior High School, 2500 Country Club Road, Lake Oswego, OR 97034, USAOur Address
Phone: 503-534-2335
Facebook: facebook.com/ourschool
Twitter: @lojSailors