Black Bear Bits
February 23, 2023
Important Dates
2/25: Garden Work Party POSTPONED
2/27: Memory Book order forms DUE
2/27: Spirit Week - Read my Shirt Day
2/28: Spirit Week - Be Green Day
3/1: No School - Teacher PD Day
3/1: Spirit Week- No School - PJ Day
3/2: Spirit Week - Wacky Day
3/2: 2nd Grade Music Performance 6:30 -7:00 p.m.
3/3: Spirit Week - Hat Day
3/3: Kindergarten Book Character Day
3/4: Garden Work Party 9:00 - 11:00 a.m.
3/6-3/17: Packed with Pride Food Drive
In this Edition
- Message from the Principal
- Kindergarten Registration
- Garden Work Party Rescheduled
- Read Across America Spirit Week
- 2nd Grade Music Performance
- Memory Book Ordering
- Memory Book Photo Submissions
- Packed with Pride Food Drive
- Flu and Covid Information
- Volunteering at Tualatin Elementary
- Important Links
Message from the Principal
Black Bear Families,
Well, we had quite the surprise this week with the sudden snow event we all experienced. On Wednesday morning, large snowflakes fell for about an hour while we were at school, and it created palpable excitement around our building! Growing up in Arizona, I didn’t have any snow day opportunities so seeing snow at school is still exciting to me!
I am happy to announce the start of our new first grade teacher, Shayla Hutchison. Her first day with us will be on Monday, February 27th. Shayla was a student teacher at Tualatin Elementary under the excellent tutelage of Michelle Hole. She has taught pre-kindergarten, kindergarten and fourth grade, and supported elementary students as a tutor during the pandemic. Most recently, she served as a Learning Specialist Assistant at Deer Creek Elementary. This background has given her a well-rounded teaching experience and we are excited to welcome her back to Tualatin Elementary.
With that, I hope you enjoyed your brief break from school, and we are eagerly anticipating resuming school on Monday.
Working with you for our kids,
Jim
Garden Work Party RESCHEDULED
Our first garden work party has been rescheduled due to our PNW snow event! Join us Saturday, March 4th, from 9:00-11:00 a.m.. Refreshments and tools provided. Bring family, friends, and water bottles. Plan to get dirty. We will be weeding, pruning and spreading mulch to get our garden beds ready for planting.
See you in the garden!

Kindergarten Registration
There will be a Kindergarten Kick off on May 25th, where families can meet teachers, tour the school, take a bus ride, and more! Information will be sent to families in May.

Read Across America Spirit Week
- Monday 2/27 - Read My Shirt Day - "Wear a Shirt with Words!"
- Tuesday 2/28 - Be Green Day - "Wear green or colors of the Earth!"
- Wednesday 3/1 - No School, PJ Day - "Read in your PJ's!"
- Thursday 3/2 - Wacky Day - "Wear wacky socks or mismatch clothes!"
- Friday 3/3 - Hat Day - "Wear your favorite hat!"
Memory Book Orders
We still have a number of Memory Books available for purchase. They are on sale for $20 each! Order forms went home with students and extra order forms can be found in the office or can be downloaded and printed. You can also pre-order online: www.BuyTheYearbook.com; enter school code: 709558.
Our pre-sales campaign (which reserves a memory book for your child) ends on Feb 27th. After this date we cannot guarantee that there will be enough memory books for everyone who wants one. We will continue to advertise our sales until they are gone.
LAST CALL for Memory Book Photo Submissions
Photo Submissions - Deadline March 5th, 2023 – There is one week left to submit your photos for use in the memory book. Please see below for specifics on the photo submissions we are now accepting. Your contributions will help make this year's Memory Book extra special!
We are accepting the following photos:
Art Lit
Spirit Week
Garden
Are you volunteering in the school?...what a wonderful opportunity for you to document school happenings while our memory book volunteers can't be there. Please snap some pics and send them our way.
Please send your photo submissions to tualatinschoolphotos@gmail.com AND label with the following information: student's grade, teacher's name, student's first and last name and the name of the activity, i.e. 2nd grade, Fossati, John Smith, First Day of School.
Have other memory book questions, please reach out to Ashley Young at tualatinememorybook@gmail.com.
Packed with Pride Food Drive
Tualatin Elementary Den leaders are heading up a food drive in support with Packed with Pride Food Drive happening, March 6th-17th.
Packed with Pride was developed by the foundation for Tigard Tualatin schools to provide food boxes to families impacted by the pandemic. Due to the need Packed with Pride continues to provide food to families. To do this they need the support of families and the community.
Items most in need-
- Peanut Butter
- Canned Sauces
- Soups/ Tuna Fish
- Rice and Pasta
Thank you for making a difference in our community- We could not do this without you!

Flu and Covid Season is here!
With colder weather, comes more opportunity to spread cold, flu, and Covid-19 germs. We are seeing all three at Tualatin Elementary and ask you to do your part by following these recommendations:
- Please monitor carefully for the following primary COVID and Flu symptoms, and keep your student home if they exhibit any of the following:
Cough
Temperature of 100.4 or higher
Shortness of breath
New loss of taste or smell
Fatigue
Muscle or body aches
Headache
Sore throat
Nasal congestion or runny nose
Nausea or vomiting
Diarrhea
- Please contact the school for assistance with the following:
Information on testing – We have at-home tests available at the school
If you test positive for COVID-19
If you have questions regarding symptoms and exclusions
- Wash hands often, especially after coming in contact with body fluids. If soap and water are not readily available, use a hand sanitizer
- Cover coughs and sneezes
Where Can I Get a Flu Shot?
The Washington County website has a list of locations offering the Flu Shot and other Vaccinations.
Where Can I Get a Covid Vaccine or Booster?
Volunteering at Tualatin Elementary
We love our volunteers and are excited to welcome you back into the building this year! To volunteer at Tualatin, please follow the steps below. When your application is completed, you'll receive an email from the front office and you'll be able to schedule volunteer time at the school.
All volunteers must complete the checklist below to volunteer
- Complete a background check at: www.helpcounter.net/ttsd. (This needs to be renewed every three years.)
- Be vaccinated for COVID-19. Please provide vaccine documentation using the following link-TTSD Volunteer Vaccination Documentation or send a copy/photo of your card to the school office (athorderson@ttsd.k12.or.us)
- OR If you have a vaccination exception, please fill out the form that applies to you- Religious or Medical and submit to the following link- TTSD Volunteer Exception Documentation
When the above has been completed, contact me (athorderson@ttsd.k12.or.us or 503-431-4800) and I will send you links to the training materials.
Masks will be optional in the building for volunteers that are vaccinated. We ask that if you are sick or have any symptoms, that you postpone your volunteering until you are well.
Volunteers with a vaccine exception on file will be required to:
Wear a mask while on TTSD property OR;
Be given a rapid test at the time and location of their volunteer assignment.
Please contact Amanda Thorderson (athorderson@ttsd.k12.or.us or 503-431-4800) with any questions.
subject to supply chain disruptions
Pay for meals, see the school menu, apply for free and reduced lunch
Did you miss a past edition of the Black Bear Bits? Read them here!
Get information on school closures and delays.
See the approved calendar for the school year.