Westridge Wildcat News
October 7, 2021
Message from the Principal
Hello from Westridge!
This week my heart is filled with gratitude for our PTSO who arranged and orchestrated an amazing Walk and Bike to School Day! A special thank you goes to Megan Caldwell, who took the lead in organizing such a joyful morning for our students. We were lucky to have firefighters, law enforcement, and Rocky the Wildcat present to help us celebrate!
Please make sure to check out PTSO’s messages below for important updates and information. Because of our PTSO we are Better Together!
Sincerely,
Jules Laaperi
she/her/hers
Principal
Save the Dates!
October 8 - Professional Day - No School
October 14- Run, Walk and Roll with Rocky the Wildcat
October 15 -Principal Coffee Chat: 9 am (Zoom Link below)
October 14- PTSO General Meeting
October 20: School Picture Day
October 21- School Wide Virtual SockHop
October 22- Early Release 11:00am (Elementary Prep Day)
November 12: OBOB Registration Deadline (more info below)
Action Items:
- Do you have a coat that your child has grown out of? Or a sweatshirt that is in decent shape? We will take it off your hands! Its cold and wet out and donations of rain coats, sweatshirts would be so appreciated! XS-XL needed, bring them by the office M-F 7:30-3:00pm.
Student Attendance:
If you need to pick your child up early from school, please let the teacher and the office know ahead of time.
Dismissal Update
STEM donations needed:
- fabric scraps
- shoe boxes
- cardboard egg cartons
There is a box to place items in the vestibule near the office.
Thank you!
Mrs. Melton
Innovation Facilitator
Oregon Battle of the Books Competition:
It is time to start forming teams for Westridge's Oregon Battle of the Books Competition this school year!
Each year, Westridge participates in the Oregon Battle of the Books (OBOB) competition for all 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders. This is an optional, fun enrichment activity, and a good way to read some great books with a team of school friends.
What is OBOB?
The Oregon Battle of the Books is a reading and trivia competition that serves as a statewide celebration of literacy and good books. 3rd to 5th grade students form teams of three to five members, then read and study from a common list of 16 books selected by the State OBOB committee each year. Teams square off in a series of "Battles" to show off how much they have learned by answering questions about the books. Watch out if you get a question wrong -- the other team then gets a chance to steal the points! Find this year's book list here: https://www.oregonbattleofthebooks.org/2021-2022-obob-title-lists/
Uncertainty for the 2021-2022 OBOB Season
Because we cannot know at this time what the health and safety protocols will be in the winter for LOSD, we do not yet know if we will be able to hold in-person battles or if the competition will happen virtually again, as it did last year. That said, we are committed to holding a competition sometime between the end of January and mid-February either way, and working out the details as we approach that time. Now is the time to form teams and start reading!
Registration
Follow this link to register your player for OBOB. Form
The Registration Deadline is Friday, November 12th.
We have found over time that it is best to have the children form their own teams (sometimes with parent assistance), but every year there are some interested kids who do not have friends interested in OBOB. Please still register your child if that is the case! We will do our best to match up players who want to participate.
How does OBOB work at Westridge?
- The OBOB competition at Westridge is funded by the PTSO, run by parent volunteers, and coordinated with Librarian Mrs. Calbreath and the 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade teachers
- Students form teams of 3 to 5 players in the Fall and begin reading the books
- Parent volunteers may hold voluntary practice sessions with the kids in December and January
- In each "Battle," two teams square off and answer questions in turn. Note that only a maximum of 4 players participate in each battle round. Teams of 5 will need to set a rotation
- The highest scoring teams in preliminary play move on to knock-out rounds to crown a school champion
- This year's competition is open to all 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students
Lake Oswego School Bond Measure information:
Dear Westridge Community,
What a great start to the school year. I have been amazed with our Westridge community and all we have accomplished in these first few weeks back in school.
I wanted to share with you information about the upcoming Lake Oswego School Bond measure on the November 2021 ballot.
A school bond is how school districts in Oregon typically fund major capital construction upgrades, updates and/or replacements of buildings. LOSD is on track to complete all capital projects promised in our 2017 bond measure -- on time and on budget. We are now turning our attention to the second phase of the three-part construction and capital improvement program.
The proposed Lake Oswego School Bond, if passed, would modernize classrooms, protect our capital investments, prioritize safety and security, and improve accessibility at all of our schools. It would also rebuild River Grove Elementary and Lake Oswego Junior High to relieve capacity and support best practices in education. If approved, property owners would pay an additional $0.92/$1,000 of assessed value annually. For the median home assessed value of $420,000 that is approximately $385 per year.
What would the bond do here at Westridge, if the measure passes?
Address priority capital repairs
Replace exterior brick veneer not replaced in 2020 renovation
Upgrade mechanical systems for comfort and efficiency
Improve accessibility
Make accessibility improvements to walkways, restrooms, parking lots, and entrances to ensure all students, staff, and community members can have access to public building
Update playground to make more accessible
Safe, secure campuses
Rekey exterior doors
Update fire alarm system
Building door hardware enhancements
Install additional cameras for sight improvement and video monitoring
Update campus communication broadcast systems
Modernize classrooms
Furniture replacement
Build garden
Continue technology infrastructure updates
Replace outdated computers
You can find more information, including a complete project list and Frequently Asked Questions, online at www.LakeOswegoSchoolBond.org.
CogAT Screening Coming:
October is Dyslexia Awareness Month
What is Dyslexia?
Dyslexia is a learning disability in reading. People with dyslexia have trouble reading at a good pace and without mistakes. They may also have a hard time with reading comprehension, spelling, and writing. But these challenges aren’t a problem with intelligence.
Children and adults with dyslexia struggle to read fluently, spell words correctly, and memorize rote facts such as multiplication tables, among other challenges. But these difficulties have no connection to their overall intelligence. While people with dyslexia can be slow readers, they often, paradoxically, are very fast and creative thinkers with strong reasoning abilities.
Dyslexia can’t be “cured” – it is lifelong. But with appropriate instruction, an individual with dyslexia can learn to read, write, and spell and can become a highly successful individual. Reading instruction that is based upon a systematic and explicit understanding of language structure, including phonics is shown to benefit all readers, including those with dyslexia.
Get the facts on Dyslexia from the International Dyslexia Association (IDA): Fact Sheets
Video: What is Dyslexia? https://youtu.be/zafiGBrFkRM
Ways to help your child at home: https://www.understood.org/en/learning-thinking-differences/child-learning-disabilities/dyslexia/dyslexia-strategies-you-can-try-at-home?_ul=1*jhht1b*domain_userid*YW1wLTY5YzJjRVMxUnU3YU03WDduMFdORVE
Each week in October, we will feature a message about dyslexia in this newsletter. If you have questions or concerns regarding your child’s learning, please contact the school principal and/or literacy specialist. Another great parent resource would be to contact your school’s Student Services Parent Advisory Committee (SSPAC) representative. Please see here to learn how to contact your school representative.Westridge Student Newspaper
Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month!
Come to our new Lakeridge Middle School (4700 Jean Rd, Lake Oswego, OR 97035) to Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15-October 15) with Spanish teachers Teresa Sánchez and Julie Pacheco-Toye in an evening full of fun and cultural learning.
Registration is free!
PTSO News!
Please join us in our annual fundraising by making your families donation at https://bit.ly/FundourWildcats, Deadline to donate is October 31st. Please remember that this may be eligible for a company match.
Thank you to all who participated in the National Walk and Bike to School Day on Wednesday. We had over 270 children participate. A big shout out to our local firefighters, police and our Fitness Committee for making the event so special.
The following students have won prizes from the raffle and can pick them up from their teachers.
K Blankenship - Riley M
1st Pauls - David M
2nd Hanberg - Lincoln M
3rd Carter - Zane A
3rd Shambaugh - Madison S
3rd Jakes - Elizabith
4th Trowbridge - Dylan D
4th Tran - Sean O
5th Harvey - Jack H
Follow us on Social Media for the color contest winners: https://www.instagram.com/westridge.ptso/?hl=en
UPCOMING EVENTS:
OCTOBER 14th 7PM- Virtual General PTSO Meeting budget will be voted on as well as talk of the open communications position.
OCTOBER 14th- Run, Walk and Roll with Rocky is our schools first ever Fun Run. This is not a fundraiser but an opportunity for our kids to move their bodies during Fall Fitness Month. Please make sure your child is in sneakers and rain attire if necessary.
OCTOBER 21 5-5:30pm Virtual Sock Hop Join us on zoom as we move our annual sock hop to your living room. Kids will have a chance to show off their decorated socks while practicing their favorite dance moves and burning off some Thursday energy. Look for the zoom link coming soon.
Get your Wildcat merch here!
COVID-19 Information:
Chromebook or iPad Problems?
ODE Annual Notice
SafeOregon
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.)
Subscribe to Lake Oswego Schools App
Stay connected to the district and your school(s) and receive urgent notifications by subscribing to the Lake Oswego Schools App.
Westridge Elementary School
Email: laaperij@loswego.k12.or.us
Website: https://www.losdschools.org/wr
Location: 3400 Royce Way, Lake Oswego, OR, USA
Phone: 5035342371