Maplewood Memo
October 12, 2022
What's in the memo
1. Message from Principal Galloway
Kindness
2. Save the Date
3. School News
TAG // Speed limit // Yearly verification // School Site Council // Student Advisory Council
4. News from Staff
Counselor // Library // PE // Art // Cafeteria
5. Volunteer
Get approved // Lunch // Art classes // Maplewood Green-Spaces Cleanup // PTA Volunteers
6. Foundation & PTA
OBOB // Reading Friends // Maplewood School Costume Exchange // Swag Sale // PTA Meetings // Amazon Smile
7. Reading Friends
8. Health
Medications // Self-Screening Tool // OHSU Covid-19 Testing
9. After School Classes
Principal's Message
Greetings Maplewood Parents.
One of our school goals this year relates to the idea of being kind. We have been working hard on this idea and, thanks to our author visit from Trudy Ludwig we now also have some good tools to use when someone is being unkind (tools listed below.) At the parent session, Trudy also shared some additional resources which I copied below (Books, articles, and Blueprint for a Sincere Apology.) Additionally, the Maplewood Reads book for the month also focuses on Kindness and below you will find activities you can do at home with your child after reading Each Kindness. Our recess program, Playworks, is also working with students to solve problems. Many recess issues can be solved with “Rock It Out, “ which is the old game of Rock, Paper, Scissors. Please encourage your child t o use this as a tool when trying to solve a problem with a peer or sibling. It seems to diffuse the tension of a moment and allow kids to move on with their play in a fair way.
Thank you for your support in helping to make Maplewood a kind place where everyone feels they belong and are valued.
I also want to share that last night was Maplewood's first site council meeting. We covered a lot of ground and have some good goals in place for the year. All are welcome to attend the next Site Council meeting as it is open to the public. The dates are listed in the minutes which you can find here: https://bit.ly/3CsTha5
Warmly,
Kit
Unselfie: Why Empathetic Kids Succeed in Our All-About-Me World (Touchstone, 2017) by Michele Borba (I’ve attached the Educator’s Guide PDF for your to share, if you’d like with staff)
Thrivers: The Surprising Reasons Why Some Kids Struggle and Others Shine (G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 2021) also by Michele Borba. (PDF educators guide attached to this email)
End Peer Cruelty, Build Empathy (Free Spirit Publishing, 2018) by Michele Borba
Layers of Learning: Using Read-Alouds to Connect Literacy and Caring Conversations (Stenhouse, 2020) by JoEllen McCarthy.
The Gift of Story: Exploring the Affective Side of the Reading Life (Stenhouse, 2022) by John Schu
Article: “To Resolve Conflicts, Get Up and Move”: https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/to_resolve_conflicts_get_up_and_move . It’s posted on UC Berkeley’s Greater Good Science Center’s website.
“How Well Do You Read People” quiz available on UC Berkeley’s Greater Good Science Center (I shared some of them in my parent talk. I think your teachers would like to check this quiz and other resources on their website out.)
Save the Date
Every Tuesday
OHSU Covid Test Returned - Optional
October 13
Level Beer - Fundraiser
October 14
No School - In Service
Costume Exchange - Maplewood Gym
October 15
Swag Deadline - Last day to place your order
Yearly Verification Due
October 17-21
Maplewood in Motion Fundraiser
October 18
PTA Meeting 6:30pm
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84322901573?pwd=RmdkaVRzaDIxR0JudkNURTI5OEk2Zz09
October 22
Bi-Annual Green-Spaces Clean Up 10:00am
October 26
Monthly Parent Tag Office Hours 6:00pm
October 27
School Pictures
October 28
OBOB Team Registration Deadline
October 30
Fundraiser at Hammer & Stitch
November 09
Book Fair
November 11
No School Holiday Veteran's Day
November 21 & 22
Conferences
November 23, 24, 25
No School - Holiday Thanksgiving
School News
TAG
Parent Office Hours with the TAG (Talented and Gifted) Department
Ask questions and receive information related to TAG identification, services, processes, etc.
We will meet on Zoom, 6:00-7:00 PM on 10/26/22, 11/30/22, 1/25/23, 2/22/23, 3/22/23, 4/26/23, and 5/31/23.
Zoom link for Parent Office Hours with the TAG Department
We look forward to seeing you!
YEARLY VERIFICATION - IMPORTANT
Parent access to view gradebook and student information will be disabled after mid October if you do not complete your Yearly Verification. You can do this by logging into your ParentVue account.
If you have never logged into your PVUE you will need an activation key code, sriley@pps.net or mbelgrav@pps.net can provide you with your activation key code if you need it.
It is important that you update your correct address, contact numbers and emergency contact numbers.
Thank you!
Student Advisory Council
Author Bryant McGill once wrote, "One of the most sincere forms of respect is actually listening to what another has to say." The truth behind these words is powerful, and something we are striving to do better every day as educators for your children. Our students have wonderful things to offer, and it is vital we honor their ability to help us make Maplewood a better place.
We have all been there, being unheard in a situation where we feel we have something helpful to contribute. This is where the Student Advisory Committee at Maplewood was born! We recognize our students have so much to contribute to make this school better, and we need to give them opportunities to do so. Our plan is to have a rotating group of 5th grade students so all will have the opportunity to participate. Each group of students will meet together for 6 weeks, coming up with a problem or challenge to tackle, and working together to try and bring about positive change.
With our first meeting on Friday, September 28th, 3rd grade teacher Rebecca Wagner and Social Worker Jeremy Schlott met with our beginning group of 5th grade students. We had a wonderful time brainstorming school problems to try and solve, as well as coming up with a plan to decide on a new school mascot. We are excited for this new venture at Maplewood, it is going to be great! As always, if you have any thoughts, questions, or concerns, please let us know!
Oregon Battle of the Books at Maplewood!
OBOB is a statewide reading competition spanning 3rd to 12th grade. Each year new book titles are chosen by the state OBOB committee and they are always amazing! Grades 3-5 can participate in elementary school (3rd has 8 books, 4 & 5 have 16 books). Students form teams, read books and compete game show style answering questions about the books. It's a great way for kids to be exposed to a variety of great books, practice reading comprehension and demonstrate their sportsmanship.
Maplewood students have already started forming teams and reading books! We hope to have the teams finalized by October 28th, team forming will be facilitated by teachers when needed. We will hold battles during recess time starting in February with the goal of sending our winning 5th grade team to regionals! The book list for this year is listed below with 3rd grade titles in bold. Teachers will be discussing OBOB in class and the kids will also learn about it during their library time.
If you or your student(s) have questions please reach out to Ms. Elin Kordahl or the parent mOBOB committee.
Your Parent mOBOB Team,
Andrea B, Dana R, Manda B and Heather J
OBOB 2023 Book List
3rd to 5th Grade Division - (3rd grade titles in BOLD)
The Best of Iggy by Annie Barrows
The Dragon with a Chocolate Heart by Stephanie Burgis
From the Desk of Zoe Washingtonby Janae Marks
Harbor Me by Jacqueline Woodson
Kinda Like Brothers by Coe Booth
Letters from Cuba by Ruth Behar
Life of Zarf: The Trouble with Weasels by Rob Harrell
Me, Frida, and the Secret of the Peacock Ring by Angela Cervantes
Measuring Up by Lily LaMotte & Ann Xu
Rescue on the Oregon Trail by Kate Messner
Shirley and Jamila Save Their Summer by Gillian Goerz
Small Steps: The Year I Got Polioby Peg Kehret
Snapdragon by Kat Leyh
Spark by Sarah Beth Durst
Ten by Shamini Flint
A Wish in the Dark by Christina Soontornvat
Speed Limit 15!
Please be respectful of the speed limit and our neighborhood community. For the safety of your children, please do not drive more the 15 miles per hour when driving your children to and from school.
News From Staff
From the Counselor
Happy October!
Hope you are settling into the school year! I have started lessons for K-2 classrooms (3rd-5th will happen in the second half of the year) and classes visit my room once a week for half an hour. We work on identifying and taking care of our feelings, our relationships, and our community. One way we do this is by using the social emotional learning (SEL) program called Toolbox. Here is a LINK to a poster on our tools. Feel free to print this off and put on the fridge to prompt your student to use a tool when they face challenging situations or uncomfortable feelings. Along with Toolbox, we are also working on emotional regulation in all our classrooms. We are still trying to get beanbag chairs for each classroom's Cozy Corner where students can take short breaks and work on regulating before returning to the group. If you'd like to help with this project of outfitting Cozy Corners and their regulation boxes, here is the Amazon Wish List for that. As always, I am available to the Maplewood school community. Feel free to reach out with any questions or concerns (kcunninghamparm@pps.net).
Thanks!
Kendall Cunningham
Maplewood Elementary School Counselor
Library news:
1. Mistakes -- happen often. If you're certain your child has returned a book, but you are receiving district email reminders, or emails/calls from me, ask me to look on the shelf! For many reasons, the book may be out-of-sight on a shelf.
2. Email -- Students are reassured when I tell them I will email (or call) an adult at home to have them students look for books. At this time of year I contact 15+ families daily, trying to help families get into a routine. Your students love to read and want to take home *fresh* books each week.
3. OBOB has begun. The website for OBOB information is here: https://www.oregonbattleofthebooks.org/. And my padlet of information is here: https://padlet.com/kordahl1/9dgf9zq6m1ixa2mv
4. Teams: Forming teams is challenging for some of our students. Teachers, our school counselor, and I are ready to help. Please know that every student who wants to participate, will participate. Once teams form, we see where there is room and I offer those spots to students. It usually works out well, Maplewood students always welcome additional members kindly, and everyone seems to have fun and read good books.
Elin Kordahl
Teacher-Librarian & Computer Teacher
PE News:
In PE we're beginning a JUMP ROPE unit. Whoot! We're practicing with individual ropes, team ropes, thundersticks, and hula hoops (for the littles). If you have a jump rope at home it's a great time to pull it out and practice!
IMPORTANT- if your child has an INJURY that requires they sit out of PE, please send me a note! THANK YOU.
Remember to wear TENNIS SHOES on PE DAYS. Safety first!
Ms. Weatherill
From our Art Teacher, Ms. Smith
From the Art Room:
Grades 2-5 worked on art based on artist Eloise Renouf - you can find her prints framed and printed on fabric at IKEA! Our fall folk art trees were inspired by her art and used lines with warm or cool colors. See example below.
Grades K-1 worked on LINES, one of the elements of art. The beginning of the year is the perfect time to explore line, which is the building block for all of the other elements of art. Students explored creating different types of lines, like straight, curved and zigzag, using simple materials. By the end of classes we had a delightfully colorful, pattern-filled batch of artwork to display. See examples below.
I continue to be impressed with students' abilities and enthusiasm!
HeART stARTs with ART
Ms. Smith, She/Her
Half time hours M/Tu 7:45-3:30 W 7:45-11:45
Maplewood, ART Teacher Room 112
Volunteer
Volunteer info
We are excited to welcome volunteers into the building and classrooms this year. All volunteers must show proof of vaccination, clear a background check (https://www.pps.net/volunteer), and sign-into the Raptor system located at the main office on arrival and sign-out when leaving campus.
We can’t wait to have you in school with us!
Lunch Volunteers
We need 2-3 parents to volunteer for lunch duty, to help keep kiddos on task eating and give our teachers a break. Here are the time slots - message Lauren at 541-968-9140 or Maplewoodvolcoord@gmail.com to sign up!
K-1st: 11:20-11:45
2nd & 4th 11:50-12:15
3rd & 5th: 12:20-12:45
Volunteer in Art Class
Still looking for Art Special parent volunteers for the following classes:
K Miss Thomas Tuesdays, 12:30-1:15
K Ms. Tait Wednesdays, 10:10-10:55
1st Ms. Harmon Mondays, 1:30-2:05
5th Ms. Anderson Tuesdays, 10:10-10:55
Contact ssmith@pps.net
Maplewood in Motion
Maplewood in Motion pg. 2
Maplewood in Motion Pledge & Activity Tracker
Foundation and PTA
Maplewood Foundation
Foundation is SEEKING ADDITIONAL MEMBERS. If you have an interest in making a big impact at our school, are interested serving with other mission- and impact-driven parents with different backgrounds, skills, and capacities, and/or have an interest in advocating for more investment in our school and a more equitable future, then we could really benefit from having someone like you serve on Maplewood’s Foundation. Out primary focus is to raise funds to help close the gap in the school’s budget for necessary educational staff. See our website for more info:
http://www.maplewoodfoundation.com/.
If interested and/or have questions, please email (maplewoodfoundation@gmail.com) or call/text Jeannette Taylor at 503.901.9813.
Maplewood in Motion 2022 has kicked off!! On Friday your kiddo(s) should have come home with instructions and a paper form for gathering pledges (this was also sent electronically on Monday from Maria.) This is our first fundraiser of the year to raise funds for educational staff for next year. We hope you join us in moving in all the ways that make you feel awesome while supporting our wonderful school!
PTA Meetings
Join us at the PTA meeting every month to learn about upcoming projects, events, priorities, and to share your thoughts! PTA Meetings occur the third Tuesday of every month from 6:30 - 7:30 pm. Become an Oregon PTA Member; this supports our school and allows you to vote during meetings. (You don't have to be a member to attend meetings, just to vote.) https://www.oregonpta.org/membership
October PTA Meeting
Please join us at the next PTA meeting on Tuesday October 18 from 6:30 – 7:30 pm.
- Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84322901573?pwd=RmdkaVRzaDIxR0JudkNURTI5OEk2Zz09
- Passcode: PTA
- Full details at maplewoodpta.com/meetings/
Maplewood PTA
The Maplewood PTA strives to serve our school’s community of teachers, staff, parents, and students. We have lots of amazing things planned this year to support our school!
Stay up to date on events and more
Sign up for the Maplewood PTA email list
Follow Maplewood PTA on Instagram
Fundraising to Support Maplewood
Take this brief survey to let us know your preferences about which fundraisers you love (or don't) to help us plan out the 2022-2023 school year!
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/5XKDL66
Amazon Smile
Make sure you've selected "Maplewood Elem PTA" as your Amazon Smile donation recipient. Link: https://smile.amazon.com/charity/select/search?orig=&category=all&query=maplewood+elem+pta
Once selected, Amazon will donate 0.5% of your eligible purchases to Maplewood at no cost to you! Make sure you shop using smile.amazon.com. More information here: http://maplewoodpta.com/donate
Swag Sale
The annual Maplewood PTA spirit wear fundraiser sale is happening NOW through October 15th only! Maplewood PTA sells school spirit wear and other items throughout the year to help fundraise for our school and to donate Maplewood shirts to families in need. Please note this is the only time of the year Maplewood swag can be purchased! Place your orders today at the Maplewood Spirit Wear Store!Dine Outs
Level Up - Dine Out, Thursday October 13th, 3-10:00pm. 7840 SW Capitol Hwy. in the Village - 20% of all sales (includes t0-go beer and merchandise) will be donated to the Maplewood Elementary School PTA.
Hammer & Stitch - Dining for dollars, All day Sunday, October 30, Mention the Maplewood Dining for Dollars and 15% of your sale will be donated to Maplewood PTA.
2377 NW Wilson St., Portland,
PTA Reflections:
Participate in our friendly ARTS CONTEST at Maplewood! The theme this year is "Show Your Voice!" More information coming soon. If you have any questions, email Clémence at maplewoodptareflections@gmail.com
Level Beer Dine Out
Costume Exchane
Swag Sale
Maplewood in Motion
http://www.maplewoodfoundation.com/
Fundraiser - Oct. 17-23
Dining for Dollars Hammer & Stitch
Reading Friends
READING FRIENDS
The Maplewood Reading Friends Program is looking for volunteers to read with students during the 2022-23 school year. The Reading Friends volunteer works with a student once a week individually to help grow their confidence in reading out loud/more fluently.
The program starts after Thanksgiving and runs until the end of the school year.
The time obligation will be an orientation of approximately an hour, and then 30 minutes once a week with the student. The session is the same day and time each week.
Interested in volunteering? Please fill out this registration form at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/3FR52BM.
Any questions? Reach out to Kari and Clémence, our Reading Friends Coordinators, at maplewoodrf@gmail.com.
Health Room
Medications
A reminder from the health room. Please bring any medications that your child must take during school hours and consent forms to Health Office. This is for prescribed medications that must be taken during the school day. If your child is in grade three, four or five, you may fill out a form for them to self subscribe enhalers or cough drops. Please fill out appropriate form for permissions. You can contact Julie Ries our Student Health Aid (SHA) for more information. If you have any questions please contact the school, or email our nurse, Cheryl Bell at cbell@mesd.k12.or.us or Healthy Aid Julie Ries at jries@mesd.k12.or.us for further information.
Covid
COVID TESTING
PPS is partnering with OHSU again this year to offer free weekly COVID-19 testing for students. Participation in this program is completely optional, but encouraged, and is offered regardless of vaccination status. Participating students will drop off spit samples in pre-labeled tubes at school on Tuesdays each week, whether they have symptoms or not. Schools will begin collecting spit samples starting September 27th-29th.
What’s new?
Registration: Beginning today Parents/Guardians can start enrolling their students through OHSU’s NEW Online Portal. If you are unable to enroll for any reason, please call OHSU support at (503) 418-8500.
Test Tubes: New, pre-labeled test tubes with a scannable barcode will be mailed directly to your mailing address and should arrive within a week of enrollment. Test kits from last year cannot be used, so please throw them away.
Spit Samples: Spit tests can be collected either the night before or the morning of their school’s testing day.
Test Results: When the test results are available, you will receive an email telling you to log into the online portal www.labfinder.com/ohsu to view the results.
Additional drop-off locations: If you miss your weekly testing day, OHSU has added 3 drop-off sites around the Portland metro area.
Doernbecher Child Development Rehabilitation Center - 707 S Gaines Street, Portland, OR 97239
Primary Care Clinic at Gabriel Park - 4411 S Vermont Street, Portland, OR 97219
Richmond Family Health Center - 3930 SE Division Street, Portland, OR 97202
What stays the same?
There is no cost to families to participate.
OHSU uses highly accurate molecular testing, known as PCR.
Students will continue to bring their spit samples to school on the designated testing day.
OHSU nurses will call parents of all students who test positive or whose tests are inconclusive for the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19.
For more information about OHSU's K-12 Screening Program, visit their website at http://www.ohsu.edu/k12testing or contact the OHSU support team at k12covidtesting@ohsu.edu or (503) 418-8500.
Letisia Ayala Guillen, Health Services Coordinator, layalaguillen@pps.net