Hallinan Elementary
Hawk Squawk Newsletter 10/6/22
Principal's Message
Dear Hallinan Families,
My favorite parts of the day are when I get to spend time with your wonderful children, our amazing students. The photo directly below of the whole school at our assembly last week brings me so much joy that I want to share it with you! It’s been a long time since we’ve been able to hold an all-school assembly. Last Friday, we brought everyone together as we wrapped up our month-long study of the character trait RESPECT. Each month we’ll look at a new character trait by studying and practicing it at Hallinan, and with your partnership, at home as well. In addition, our Librarian, Mrs Landau, will read books relating to the trait to our students during library time and our SEL (Social Emotional Learning) team will award certificates to students that embody the trait all month.
In October, we are diving into RESPONSIBILITY! Counselor Ms Erspamer, known as Ms E to many, creates the Counseling Corner section included in the newsletter once a month. Click on her slide below and you’ll find lots of information, projects and resources for your family.
Please don't miss our 2nd grade team, they are featured below next to student drawn portraits of them. Also, don't forget to complete the annual Volunteer Application for LOSD (all parents, guardians, grandparents & friends must complete) if you want to volunteer at Hallinan this year. A big thank you to all the volunteers - over 170 of you - that have already completed your applications! There will be so many volunteer opportunities this year - and we would love to have you all join us - please don't delay!
Melissa Griffiths
RESPECT!
Several of our students earned certificate awards for being purposeful with RESPECT in September. Let me introduce you to them: Elliot, Minoh, Gwen, Lucas, Francis, River and Drew. We are so proud of them!
Our 2nd Grade Team!
Action Items
- Stop by Lost and Found..... it's getting to be a jungle. We'll be donating items still on campus on 11/1.
- STEM Teacher, Mrs Doran is looking for shoe boxes! Any size is fine. Please send them to school with your child or drop them off in the office - thank you!
Save These Dates
10/7 - Picture Day
10/12 - Walk and Bike to School Day
10/14 - No School - Statewide Professional Day
10/19 - Jog-a-thon
10/20 - PTO Meeting at 8:30 am at Hallinan
10/21 - No School - Teacher Work Day
10/27-28 - No School - Elementary Conferences
10/31 - Harvest Fest
11/1 - Lost and Found Items Donated
Counseling Corner with Ms Erspamer
Click on the picture below, and then click on the smaller photos for Ms E's newsletter, information and resources.
Safety at Dismissal
My utmost priority is the safety of our students, staff and families. I know the parking lot is extremely busy at the end of the day. Please be vigilant and make sure to follow the dismissal rules:
Dismissal for K-5:
School ends at 2:40 pm on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday and at 2 pm on Thursday. We have several options for dismissal - car rider pick-up, walker pick up, bikers, Champions after care and bus rider pick up. Please make sure your child knows their go home plan each day.
Car riders: Car riders will meet their families in front of the main entrance. Families will queue up around the circle. To move the pick up line in an efficient manner, please post a sign in your front passenger window with your child’s full name and grade, this will help us locate them and help them to your car. Families must remain in their car and students must enter the vehicle from the right passenger side. Students must be able to buckle their own seatbelt. If your child needs assistance, please park your car and meet them in the walker pick-up area.
Walkers: Teachers will drop students off at the undercover area by the playground - please meet them there.
Bikers: Will walk their bikes to the undercover area.
Champions After Care: Teachers will drop students off in the Gym.
Bus riders: Teachers will walk bus riders to their bus. Please make sure students know their bus number and bus stop number. You can find all that information HERE.
The cul-de-sac by the playground is not a designated drop off and pick up area. The entire cul-de-sac is designated by the city as a no-parking zone to ensure that emergency vehicles are able to access the school if necessary. If you choose to meet your child at the undercover area, please park on the street (not in the cul de sac) and walk up.
Dismissal for Pre-K:
School ends at 3 pm on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday and at 2:30 pm on Thursday. It's imperative that families do not pass cars on the driveway in order to park in the lot. You must wait in the line until the fork in the road where families choose to either pick up in car rider line or to park. Please meet your students at their exterior classroom doors.
Lockdown Drill
We are grateful to have your students with us everyday and we take pride in providing them with an outstanding education. Part of our responsibility includes keeping them safe while they are on campus so they can stay engaged while learning.
On Wednesday, October 12, our teachers and students will be practicing the process of what we would do in an emergency Lockdown. Teachers will prepare students ahead of the drill and continue to reassure students that this is a drill and that everyone is safe at school.
If you would like to prepare your child ahead of time, here are some resources you can review as a family. For our Kindergarten through 3rd grade families, use this Lock Down Story Book to guide discussions and 4th and 5th grade families may watch and discuss this video.
A lockdown means there is a possible threat inside the school. This is not business as usual. Hallways are cleared, all classroom doors are locked, and lights are turned out. Students and staff are instructed to stay quiet and out of sight during a lockdown.
We follow the I Love U Guys Standard Response Protocol and partner with our School Resource Officer, James Euscher. We thank you for your help and cooperation, as we work to provide safe learning environments for all students in the Lake Oswego School District.
Picture Day is 10/7!
Picture Day at Hallinan is Friday 10/7. Please scan the QR code below or click on the photo below to visit Dorian's website to order photos.
New Application for School Volunteers
For the safety of children, volunteers are required to have an approved background check when volunteering in schools. To help streamline compliance with state and school board policies, which require that all volunteers have background checks and knowledge of other board policies -- as well as state-mandated proof of vaccination (or a qualified exemption) -- we are introducing a new all-in-one volunteer application and approval process through ou Raptor Visitor Management System. Submitting an online application initiates the background check process. Once submitted, applicants will receive an email upon approval of your background check and you will be given access through the onsite Raptor System at all schools. Please allow up to three weeks to process your approval.
Volunteers need to submit only one application for volunteering in all LOSD schools. Applications need to be submitted annually to capture changes in background checks, policies, and/or vaccination requirements. Thank you for applying promptly, and for your service to our students and schools. We are grateful for our volunteers. Volunteer Application for LOSD
PTO Information
Hello Hallinan Families!
Slice of Gratitude
Let's continue to thank our Jog-A-Thon sponsors! We have moved on to our fourth-tier donors! First, let's say a HUGE thanks to two amazing local small businesses! If you visit these shops please tell them how thankful ALL of Hallinan is for their wonderful and generous donations! Adisaya Thai is family-run and just up Mcvey Ave by New Seasons! And Luxe Atelier is Lake O's new high-end facial and natural beauty workshop located by Whole Foods!
Adisaya Thai
Luxe Atelier
Next, another HUGE thanks to Providence Health Hood to Coast Relay planners for including this school in their yearly donations! If you love being active, please check out their website! And Small Business Utility Advocates is a non-profit that represents and protects small business utility customers. Thank you to this non-profit for supporting our school!
Providence Health Hood to Coast Relay
Small Business Utility Advocates
WALK AND ROLL!
Let's not forget that this upcoming Wednesday, Oct.12th is our WALK and ROLL event!
When kids walk or roll their way to school, they can stop by the walk and roll table located outside under the covered area and enter in a raffle for a free bike helmet! Kids can also grab a tangerine snack and a sticker prize!
More details on Jog-A-Thon!
- The jog-a-thon is coming up fast! Mark your calendars for Wed., October 19th!
- We also need volunteers - check your inboxes for a sign-up genius in the coming days!
- If you haven't already, make sure you visit Pledgestar to send out your pledge requests - kids will earn 1 raffle ticket for each $20 raised that they can put towards some fabulous raffle baskets. The baskets cover a range of interests and include some fabulous community donations including a family four-pack of kayak rentals from Alder Creek Kayak & Canoe and a class pass to Little Kitchen Academy in Bridgeport Village! The baskets are on display in the front vestibule so stop by and check them out.
- Jog-A-Thon Schedule:
8:45 to 9:15 - Kinder & 1st
9:30 to 10 - Pre-K
10:15 to 10:45 - 2nd & 3rd
11-11:30 - 4th & 5th
TECH-SAVVY??? - We need you!
We’d like to offer a Facebook live stream option again this year but need a tech-savvy volunteer to take it on! If you’re interested, please reach out to Erin Saylor at saylor.erin@gmail.com
New Specialist Position Coming Soon!
Interested in helping directly with classroom needs? More details to come, but we will be sending out a SUG to parents who want to help our beloved and hard-working specialist teachers. This will be a simple program most likely centered around a drop-box of projects that need an extra hand. With the potential for other in-person hours down the line. Please keep an eye out for the SUG or email us at hallinanpresident@gmail.com if interested in receiving more details when we have them.
OBOB Team Registration
Lots of info this week! If you want your kids to LOVE reading, please read about OBOB below!
OBOB Registration Forms will be coming home with all 3rd-5th graders this week. Alternatively, you can complete the online form HERE. Links with more information and a YouTube example of an OBOB "battle" are below and listed on the registration form. Return physical forms to the office, or email them to Hallinan OBOB Chairs - Stephanie Hengstler and Elise Klein by Friday 11/18.
Oregon Battle of the Books is a statewide program designed to promote a love of reading! Teams of two to five students compete to answer trivia questions drawn from 16 books in a quiz-show style format. If your child is looking for a team, please let us know by indicating it on the form and we'll help build teams. Students are welcome to listen to audiobooks if they prefer that format. We are looking forward to a great OBOB event!
Links to Additional information
OBOB Website: https://www.oregonbattleofthebooks.org/
Video of am OBOB battle: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xtTsoHtGTLg
Stephanie and Elise - Your OBOB Co-Chair's
Tara Clasen and Shelby Setter
Hallinan PTO Co-Presidents 2022-23
Family Directory - Please Update your Information
It’s time to update your family information for the school directory and pay
your student(s) fees.
Here's what you need to do to login:
- Go to https://hallinanpto.membershiptoolkit.com
- Go to the Returning User section.
- Login in with your e-mail and password from last year.
- If you did NOT register last year, follow these instructions:
- Go to the New User section.
- Select "Create Account" and fill in the name, email, and password information.
- Click "verify my email" and then check your email for a link to complete the process. The link expires in 2 hours. If you do not receive the email, check your spam or junk folders.
- Once you have verified your email address, log back in and finish the registration process.
Action items:
- Complete the Parent/Family and Student Information.
- Complete the Directory/Publish Preferences.
- Please pay your Student Fees
- Consider donating to the PTO ($50/student suggestion) in the online Store.
Once the Primary Account is set up, the Primary User can "invite" other email addresses to access his/her account. This allows the Secondary User to have their own login information, but still have access to the family account. Please register and update your family data today!
Questions? - Please don't hesitate to contact Nicole Blum
District Information
October Nurse Notes
Hello LOSD Families! As we return to community gathering, we are seeing some cases of Lice and Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease. Please review the links below for more information on how to prevent, identify and treat either. Please see your medical professional for diagnosis, treatment and more information. Also, it is very important for you to bring your students medications to school if they may be needed during school hours.
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.
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 Special Education Advisory Committee representative. Please see here to learn how to contact your school representative.
Community Information
October
National Bullying Prevention Month includes activities, education, and awareness building for the entire month.
Mental Health Awareness Week educates and increases awareness about mental illness. It takes place during the first full week of October. World Mental Health Day, October 10, is day for mental health education, awareness and advocacy against social stigma.
World Cerebral Palsy Day, which occurs annually on October 6, reminds us that there are over 17 million people impacted by this disorder.
Indigenous Peoples’ Day, October 9, is a federal holiday in the United States that celebrates and honors Native American peoples and commemorates their histories and cultures.
Safe Schools Week, October 16-22 is observed and actively supported by local, state and national public officials and professional organizations.
Red Ribbon Week is an alcohol, tobacco, and other drug and violence prevention awareness campaign observed annually in October in the United States.
Halloween, October 31, also known as All Hallows’ Eve, in Gaelic culture, it is a celebration of the end of the harvest season and a time to remember loved ones who have died.
Yom Kippur, October 4-5, is the holiest day of the year in Judaism. Its central themes are atonement and repentance.
Shemini Atzeret, October 6-8, is a Jewish holiday.
Sukkot, October 9 - 16, is a Torah-commanded holiday celebrated for seven days from the 15th day of the month of Tishrei. It is one of the Three Pilgrimage Festivals.
Birth of Bahá´u’ llah, October 17, is one of nine holy days in the Baháʼí calendar.
Diwali, October 24, known as the "Indian Festival of Lights”, is a major Hindu holiday signifying the renewal of life, and the victory of good over evil. See below for a celebration at Lakeridge High School.
Safe Oregon
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.)
Hallinan Contact Information
Office Phone: 503-534-2353
Principal Melissa Griffiths - griffitm@loswego.k12.or.us
Administrative Assistant Lee Gates - gatesl@loswego.k12.or.us
Administrative Assistant Linda Stevens - stevensl@loswego.k12.or.us
Click here to see the updated LOSD Elementary School Student and Family Handbook