Forest Grove Family Falcon Update
March 2, 2023
Playworks training - noon duty supervisors and Mrs. Roach
Message from the Principal
Dear Forest Grove Falcon Families,
Teachers have been working diligently getting ready for parent-teacher conferences next week for some students and their parents to discuss progress and growth thus far. School wide testing for reading and math was finalized last month. In grade level teams (K-5th) with support teachers, we reviewed the English Language Arts and mathematics data results over the past two days. For each student in need, we created action plans to support their continued growth.
Last Friday, we also had our first of three student principals for a day. As you may remember, the PTAs annual mix and mingle event asks principals to donate items to raise funds for our schools. Among other things, I offered two principal experiences - Life of a principal. An additional principal experience was donated after the event and raffled off by FG PTA. The first principal for a day, Principal Black, as he chose to be called, was the principal last Friday. He was introduced to all the classrooms. He read in some classrooms; supervised the playground, supported students in making better choices; had lunch in the staff lounge before lunch time and participated in meetings. His participation in the Playworks training resulted in the adoption of schoolwide daily Openings and Closings in the classroom. Openings, and Closings are quick activities for the entire class to get ready for the beginning and for the end of the day. Thank you, Principal Black for your excellent one-day service to Forest Grove.
March grants us a holiday-free month and at Forest Grove Elementary, we plan to make every day count. We have a full month of instruction, fun and games at Forest Grove Elementary. Today, we are celebrating Read Across America by reading in pajamas. In the next couple of weeks, two other students will have the principal experience and will be principal for a day each on a different day.
We are proud of our students and continue to award Falcon feathers. They continue to impress us with great choices as they SOAR being Safe, On-task, Accountable, Respectful throughout the day.
If you have any questions, concerns, suggestions or commendations, you can use this email address created for FG parents: FGdeer@pgusd.org. When school is in session, the emails on this account will be checked daily during school hours. This is just one option. You can always drop by, call the office or email me directly, but we are looking to provide you with other options.
1, 2, 3...Go Falcons!
Yours in education,
Irene Preciado., PhD
Principal
Playworks - Junior Coach Training
Upcoming Events
Mar. 2 - PGUSD Board Meeting, 6:30 PM,
Join Zoom Meeting
https://pgusd.zoom.us/j/84102168734?pwd=NFhSRTZaVFJOWGkxeUh3MG1xQzQxdz09
Meeting ID: 841 0216 8734
Passcode: 618306
Parent Teacher Conferences - Minimum Days
March 6-10 -Transitional Kindergarten and Kindergarten ((Monday - Friday)
- Minimum Days - Students are released at 12:10 pm
- Minimum Days - Students are released at 12:10 pm
Mar. 10 - Intermediate Night, 6:00-8:00 (see PTA flyer below!)
Mar. 15 - Spring Photos
Mar. 15 - PTA Dine Out, Peppers (see PTA flyer below!)
Mar. 19 - PG PRIDE Taste of PG, Spanish Bay, 4:00 - 7:00 PM
Mar. 22 - Transitional Kindergarten and Kindergarten Virtual Parent Orientation Night (see flyer below!)
Mar. 29 - 5th Grade Parent Orientation PGMS Auditorium 6 pm
Playworks - at recess
Forest Grove Falcon Family Faculty/Staff Spotlight
Kristen Dempsey, Fifth Grade Teacher
Background and Education:
This is my 10th year of teaching! I have taught 4th, 5th, 6th and 8th grade (all on the East Coast), and last year I was thrilled to teach Kindergarten at Forest Grove with Mrs. Sweeney! I have a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education, a Bachelor’s Degree in English, and a Master’s Degree as a Reading Specialist/Consultant. I grew up and went to school on the East Coast, but am proud to now call PG my home!
Interests:
I love books! We have more books in our house than anything else, and you will find me reading any chance I can get. Currently I am reading Honorée Fanonne Jeffers' The Love Songs of W.E.B. Du Bois - a poetically beautiful novel. I also enjoy hiking with my family - my husband and I have a six-year-old daughter, an eight-year-old son, a ten-year-old daughter, and a new border collie! It's hard to say who has more energy - our kids or the puppy! I also love running and attempting to keep houseplants alive.
Please share one favorite elementary school memory:
I remember how good it felt to be cheered on by my entire fourth grade class as I attempted to beat the flexed arm hang record! I never forgot that feeling, and now I get the chance to pay it forward as I cheer on my own students every day at Forest Grove!
Mrs. Dempsey you make learning fun! Thank you for all the joy of learning and the involvement of student voice in your daily instruction.
Grade Level/Program Highlight
Fifth Grade - Mrs. Dempsey
The fifth grade class has been taking part in a World Culture series, highlighting and celebrating the many languages spoken by our families: Chinese, Farsi, German, Spanish, Japanese, Hindi, and Hebrew! Families and their students have shared language and cultural knowledge as guest speakers in Mrs. Dempsey's classroom prompting incredible conversations and promoting multicultural awareness and inclusion. Mrs. Dempsey hopes to make this a yearly tradition!
Message From Nurse Powley
A friendly reminder that a medication consent form should be completed with parent and healthcare signature for all over-the-counter and prescribed medications given at school. This includes cough drops and throat lozenges.
Katrina Powley, RN, BSN, CSN
PGUSD School Nurse
Office Reminders
All students are to arrive prior to 8:45 am. The school gates open at 8:30AM. The final bell rings and instruction begins at 8:45AM.
The student's start of the day for the student is impacted if they arrive late. Students miss the opportunity to stat class with their peers. They miss critical information and announcements for the day. Your efforts to get students to Forest Grove on time daily are greatly appreciated.
Ways to report a student absent :
a) ParentVUE app
b) 24 Hour Absence Line (831) 646-6559
c) Email fgattendance@pgusd.org
Gates open at 8:30 a.m.
Instruction begins at 8:45 a.m.
Please let the student know of any afterschool plans PRIOR to the school day to ensure classroom instruction is maximized.
Volunteer and Chaperone Clearance
If you plan on being a VOLUNTEER on campus or a CHAPERONE for a field trip, please be sure you are fingerprint cleared with our district and submit a copy of your Covid vaccine card to the District Office. To make an appointment at the District Office please call Kimberly Ortiz at 646-6553.
Before coming to campus to volunteer, please check with your child's teacher to schedule a time that works best for them.
Important Yearbook Information
We will be using a new company for creating & ordering yearbooks: TreeRing is a California-based company that plants a tree for every yearbook purchased. You will have the option to buy your yearbook directly through their website as well as upload your own photos to share with the yearbook team, class and your child(ren)’s personalized pages. Each yearbook comes with two personalized pages that are fully customized to your student(s). The pricing is the same as last year, $25 per book. There are optional upgrades such as hard covers and additional personalized pages.
In order to participate with photo sharing and to order your yearbook, you will need to set up your family’s TreeRing account from the link below:
Please note, their website is best supported on the Google Chrome web browser.
LINK: https://www.treering.com/purchase?PassCode=1016528930811036
Once you have signed up with TreeRing, you can start uploading photos from school events and activities through out the year! Email links will be sent out shortly - but in order to utilize the email links you must register on the TreeRing website.
Falcon Friends
Flyers
Peninsula Lacrosse Club is excited to provide PGUSD students with an inclusive opportunity to play rec lacrosse this spring. For our boys and girls ages 9-14, whether new to lacrosse or experienced, Peninsula LC is an amazing opportunity for kids to develop as skilled athletes and people, have fun, and compete against local lacrosse clubs. Below are the details:
Who: Girls & boys ages 9-14
When: March 1 - May 20
Where: Monterey
Cost: $299 | Scholarships & equipment available
For new players, Peninsula LC can provide lacrosse gear to use throughout the season. They can also provide you with recommendations if you’d like to buy your own.
If you would like to play, here is the link to register. You can also register at lacrossethebay.org. If you have questions, call (860) 558-2739 or email laxthebay@gmail.com.
Forest Grove Elementary School
Email: fgdeer@pgusd.org
Website: forestgrove.pgusd.org
Location: 1065 Congress Avenue, Pacific Grove, CA, USA
Phone: 831-646-6560