Maplewood Memo
January 3, 2024
PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE
Happy New Year!!!
These first few days of the new year have been busy. Students are settling back into routines and teachers are looking forward to mid-year assessments to see how much their students have all grown. It is a busy time with conferences and we also have a report card coming home at the end of the month again! No rest for the weary!
January is an important month in school as it is a time when we can celebrate the hard work from fall learning pay off. We can also see which students may need some additional support or extensions. Below are a few pieces of data to celebrate:
PTA has generously donated funds to hire a company called Reading Results to work with our 1-4 grade students who need a little reading boost. Their results show incredible growth for these students and many of them will be exited from Reading Results because they have reached their grade level in reading. Maplewood is very grateful for Reading Results and the great work they are doing with our students. Thank you Maplewood PTA!!
We also received our FIT (Fidelity of Implementation Tool) results. The FIT is an evidence-based tool that measures the extent to which a school implements MTSS for equity-based inclusive education. It can be considered an inventory of current practice. We'll use the data to inform our Schoolwide Continuous Improvement Plan and other work at the building level. The district will look at district-wide data to highlight areas for further intentional support. (Please click HERE for more information about the FIT assessment.)
As you can see from the graph below, we have made some considerable gains in many areas. This is exciting to be able to see our hard work pay off.
The graph below shows the PPS district wide feature scores on the FIT assessment.
The feedback is not intended to be used to compare one school’s implementation level with another’s. At the same time, many building leaders have asked to see district-wide FIT data for schools comparable to theirs. As such, below is a chart that includes last year’s feature scores for all schools, non-designated schools as well as PK/K-5s.
Our growth and success is a result of the hard work from our staff and students. A big thank you to them for all they do! We also can’t neglect the hard work of parents and guardians to help their child with their learning journey. It takes a team and boy, do we have an amazing team. Go team Maplewood!!
As always, please feel free to reach out with any questions or concerns. kgalloway@pps. net
Warmly,
Kit
SAVE THE DATE
January 13
Parents Night Out, 6:00-9:00pm
January 15
No School - MLK day
January 16
PTA Mtg. 6:30pm
January 29
No School
January 29
Brinner 5:00-7:30
February 6
Coffee and Pastries with Kit - Gym 8:00am
February 13
Dine Out - Laughing Planet
MAPLEWOOD AUCTION
Your Foundation team is excited to kick off the new year with ticket sales for our annual school auction. Keep a lookout for more information on ticket specials we'll be offering and ways to get involved in your child's classroom art project that will be available for purchase at the event. We wish everyone a safe and happy end of the year and please reach out if you have any questions or would like to get involved or support the Foundation. Thank you!
For more information please go to http://www.maplewoodfoundation.com/ or email us at maplewoodfoundation@gmail.com.
With appreciation,
Maplewood Foundation Team
STAFF NEWS
From all of us at Maplewood, we would like to give a huge THANK YOU to all of our Maplewood community for the generous and thoughtful gifts you provided for all of us. We are so humbled and grateful to be part of this wonderful community.
We are most appreciative,
All of your Maplewood School Staff
ART
Happy New Year 2024!
We have started the new year with Disco Balls - yep, you heard that right! Like the ‘ball drop’ on NYE in New York City! Click this link to the history of the disco ball if you’re interested! Here is a sneak peek of what we’ve started:
I hope your year has gotten off to a good start!
Best,
Ms. Smith
FACE of Maplewood
PPS held their second Family Advisory Council on Education (FACE) meeting on December 6th.
Here were the meeting goals:
Participants will have an opportunity to process through the impact of the strike and share with District Leaders
Participants will continue to better understand the purpose and structure of FACE
Participants will share their perspective about their student’s learning experience with Math
Participants will engage in a discussion about Middle School Math programming to inform our direction for Math sequencing and Compacted Math
If you are interested in learning more about FACE or would like to discuss in more detail the topics covered in our meeting please feel free to reach out to me Katie Unger (Katie.unger3@gmail.com)
NUTRITION SERVICES
OFFICE SCHEDULE
Maria Belgrave (mbelgrav@pps.net) works Monday through Thursday.
Shannon Riley (sriley@pps.net) works Tuesday through Friday.
Julie Ries (jries@mesd.k12.or.us) Health Aid- Monday through Friday 8:00am - 2:30pm
Chris Khodadadian (ckhodadad@mesd.k12.or.us) School Nurse - Thursday 8:00a-12:00p
Please be sure to include both Maria and Shannon in communications regarding your children.
SCHOOL NEWS
MALEWOOD'S BIKE BUS
Bike Bus is riding every Friday, even through the winter! The bike bus meets about 1.5 miles from Maplewood and picks up kids along the way as they blast music and make their own way to school. But behind the party-like atmosphere of the bike bus lies real benefits for students. Education Week just put out a great video that includes student interviews and you can watch it here.
The winter walk and roll to school day is during the second week of February, and Maplewood will be celebrating it on 2/9 We encourage all Maplewood students to bundle up and join. We'll have some swag and, as always, a lot of fun!
Any questions, please contact Rob Kinney at kinneyrobert@gmail.com.
VOLUNTEER NEEDS
Volunteer Needs:
- One-on-one/small group academic support
- Social/emotional breaks for kids
- Brinner!
*More information and sign-up spots are here: https://www.maplewoodpta.com/volunteer/. Or contact Lauren at Maplewoodvolcoord@gmail.com.
Thank you!
Lauren
YEARBOOKS
https://buytheyearbook.com or use the envelopes sent home in backpacks recently (more available in the school office).
This year’s book is $23 (early bird rate before January 31, 2024; $26 after). Books are distributed to students at the end of the school year.
PARENTVUE RACE UPDATE
As we look at our school assessment data, we noticed that there are many students whose race is not correctly recorded in our system. Please be sure to update this information asap so our data reflects our true demographics.
Click on “Yearly Verification”
Click “Verify Online”
Follow the prompts to update your information.
OBOB
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 December 15th, but we left a week of wiggle room before break for anyone needing team adjustment or placement. Every student that wants to participate will be placed on a team, we want any and all students to participate! Team forming will be facilitated by teachers and Ms. Kordahl when needed. We will hold battles during recess time starting in February with the goal of sending our winning 5th grade team to regionals!
In January we will put out a call for volunteers to help moderate battles! All battles will take place between 11:30am and 1:15pm, keep this in mind if you are interested in helping!
The book list for this year is available in the library or on our new OBOB webpage. Below is the new official Maplewood OBOB website, as well as Ms. Kordahl's padlet page, both contain all sorts of great info. 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,
Heather J, Manda B, Darcie G, Lauren C, Christy W, Megan P and Katie U
MW OBOB site:
https://www.maplewoodpta.com/obob/
Ms. Kordahl’s Padlet:
ENROLL FOR 2024 HEALTH COVERAGE
Enroll your Family for 2024 Health Coverage by January 15, 2024
Individuals and families will have the opportunity to enroll in, renew, or change their health insurance plan for 2024 during the upcoming Marketplace health insurance open enrollment period, which is Nov. 1, 2023 through Jan. 15, 2024. Open enrollment is the only time when anyone who is not offered coverage from a job or a public program like the Oregon Health Plan or Medicare can enroll in health coverage through OregonHealthCare.gov, often with financial help.
Health insurance covers essential health benefits critical to maintaining individual health and treating illness and accidents. Health insurance helps to reduce medical and prescription drug costs, making health care more affordable and thus more accessible.
Health coverage also is important for students because:
Having health insurance is linked to better health (study here).
Health insurance coverage helps boost test scores among children from low-income households (study here).
Expanded health insurance coverage has led to historic reductions in racial disparities in access to health care (study here).
Trained community groups, Tribal health organizations and insurance agents are available to help Oregonians enroll in coverage through the Marketplace during open enrollment. There is no cost for their services. Many of them offer services in multiple languages. These “Enrollment Assisters” also can help people transition to private health coverage if they have experienced a qualifying life event. This includes people who are losing Oregon Health Plan benefits as the state works to renew each of its current members. Click this link to find an Enrollment Assister near you and who speaks your preferred language.
PTA
PTA Current & Upcoming Events
Oregon Battle of the Books PTA Book Fundraiser (3rd - 5th grade students) - The PTA has partnered with Annie Bloom's to make purchasing our Oregon Battle of the Books (OBOB) titles super easy! Books are available now to be ordered through our Maplewood Store and sent home in your child's backpack in early November. Want books as a gift? No worries, pickup options are available. Please email with any questions.
Please visit the PTA website and Maplewood Facebook page for all PTA events and information.
For any question, please contact Maplewood PTA at: maplewoodptareflections@gmail.com
Upcoming Events:
1/13/24: Parents Night Out
1/29/24: Brinner (5:00-7:30pm)
2/13/24: Dine-Out @ Laughing Planet
Coffee and Pastries with Kit — First Tuesday of Every Month @8am in the Gym (next one is 2/6/24)
For After School classes - please visit the PTA site or Maplewood Facebook Page.
Thank you!!
Amber
AUCTION
We can't wait for you to join us on Saturday, March 2nd, for our annual school auction fundraiser!
Early Bird ticket sales run from January 1-15. After that prices will go up to $60 for a single ticket and $120 for couples tickets. Tickets cover dinner and two drinks.
We are still looking for donations big and small!!
Donate to the auction
We welcome (and greatly appreciate) donations for our annual spring auction. Please consider donating a service, item, wine, spirits, an experience, or vacation property. Our team works very hard to procure amazing donations for the annual auction and welcomes your support. Please email us at maplewoodfoundation@gmail.com if you have donations or would like to help plan the auction.
Monthly recurring donation
A monthly donation is the most convenient and effective way to give to Maplewood. Even small monthly donations make a big impact over time. Set up your monthly recurring donation here.
One-time contribution
This is a great option for grandparents, extended family, and loving neighbors to support your Maplewood student. Make a one-time contribution here.
By check
We are happy to receive donations by check made out to Maplewood Foundation and dropped off at or mailed to the school:
Maplewood Foundation
7452 SW 52nd Ave, Portland, OR 97219
Matching employer contribution
Ask your employer if they have a matching program for donations to nonprofits. Click here for a list of already participating employers.
FOUNDATION
Ways to Support Foundation
Monthly recurring donation
A monthly donation is the most convenient and effective way to give to Maplewood. Even small monthly donations make a big impact over time. Set up your monthly recurring donation here.
One-time contribution
This is a great option for grandparents, extended family, and loving neighbors to support your Maplewood student. Make a one-time contribution here.
By check
We are happy to receive donations by check made out to Maplewood Foundation and dropped off at or mailed to the school:
Maplewood Foundation
7452 SW 52nd Ave, Portland, OR 97219
Matching employer contribution
Ask your employer if they have a matching program for donations to non-profits. Click here for a list of already participating employers.
Fred Meyer Rewards Program Contribution
If you shop at Fred Meyer and are part of their rewards program, you may designate those reward savings to the Maplewood Foundation. It’s super easy and you can learn more here (sign in and search for Maplewood Foundation or IF500): https://www.fredmeyer.com/i/community/community-rewards.
BottleDrop Donations
Individuals can donate funds from their BottleDrop account balance to your Give account by logging into their account and using this link or connecting with the Foundation for bag tags.
Student Health
(Translations are linked here):
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Dear Families and Students,
We are so glad to have you back at school! We also wanted to remind you about actions you can take to stay healthy so you can stay in class and be ready to learn:
Illness: Please keep your child home when they have symptoms that may exclude them from school.
Student health conditions: Please update the school and nurse if there has been any change in your student's health condition during the time of the strike.
Student medications: Please replenish medications that your student may need to receive during the school day. Also, remember to pick up your student’s expired medications from the school.
State-required vaccines/immunizations: Ensure your student is up-to-date on all school-required immunizations. Students who do not provide proper immunization documentation by February 21, 2024 will be excluded from school. Primary care providers - including Student Health Centers and Multnomah County Health Department - provide no- to low-cost vaccinations to students.
Access to health care: Multnomah County Student Health Centers and the Benson Wellness Center remain open during regular hours. Student Health Centers are a great place for students to receive sports physicals, well-child visits, school immunizations (shots), COVID-19 testing, vaccines & boosters, mental/behavioral health, age-appropriate reproductive services, routine lab tests, and prescription refills.
Health care coverage/insurance: People of any age or immigration status may be eligible for full Oregon Health Plan (OHP) benefits. OHP is Oregon's Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program. Click here to learn more about eligibility, and to apply or report changes online. Families who do not qualify for OHP can sign up for health coverage during the Oregon Health Insurance Marketplace open enrollment period, occurring now through January 15, 2024. Financial help for Marketplace plans also may be available. Find out what coverage and savings you can get - and find free, local help - at OregonHealthCare.gov.