Crater Connection
February 11 , 2024
February 19th-President's Day- NO SCHOOL
March 15th-Staff Prep-NO SCHOOL
March 25th-March 29th-Spring Break-NO SCHOOL
A Note From the Principal
Good afternoon Crater community,
I hope you are having a great start to February!
This month holds a variety of exciting events and activities. We look forward to our upcoming school auction this Saturday – an event promising fun and engagement for everyone attending. We hope you are able to make this special event. Thank you for all of your support in making this event possible.
February also brings multiple field trips for students, offering valuable learning experiences beyond the classroom.
We're excited to announce our school-wide Kindness Challenge throughout February, fostering a positive and supportive environment for everyone. Make sure you ask your child about this challenge.
Additionally, Mr. Radke kicked off the Kids Heart Challenge this month, promoting heart-healthy habits among our students. Stay tuned for details on how your child can participate and contribute to this meaningful cause.
Wishing everyone a fantastic February!
Brian Wood
Antonia Crater Principal
YouthTruth Survey
Dear Parent or Guardian,
I am writing to ask for 15 minutes to complete an online survey to help us improve your child’s school. We have asked YouthTruth – a nonprofit organization that supports hundreds of schools and districts nationwide – to conduct an anonymous survey on our behalf.
Please take the survey before it closes at midnight on February 23rd, 2024, by clicking this link: ytsurvey.org/wesdv2family24
Please note:
- The survey needs to be completed in one sitting.
- We ask that one member of each household fill out the survey.
- If you have more than one child attending the same school, you may respond to the survey multiple times - once per child.
- If you write any comments, please do not include your name or anything else that might identify you. Your responses are anonymous and will be combined with the responses of other parents and guardians before being shared with school and district leadership.
I sincerely thank you for providing your feedback. Your response is incredibly valuable to us.
Please contact the school's main office if you have any questions about the survey or our plans for using your feedback.
Sincerely,
Brian Wood
Antonia Crater Elementary School, Principal
Lost and Found
If you child is missing any items, please come take a peak and see if their items are in the lost and found!
Newberg Dundee Public Schools School-Based Health Center
Juliette's House
Juliette's House will be visiting your child's school during the months of March and April. Please see the flyer below for more information.
Free Meals Return to All Newberg-Dundee Public Schools
Retroactively effective Jan. 1, 2024, all students at all schools in Newberg-Dundee Public Schools will once again be eligible for free meals.
Under the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP), the School District can provide school lunch and breakfast at no charge to all students. Schools or districts must have a required percentage of students identified for free meals and must agree to serve free breakfast and lunch to all students.
In the spring of 2023, the Oregon Department of Education notified the School District that it no longer qualified to provide free meals for all schools under CEP. Individual students at local schools and all students at Catalyst Alternative High School could still receive free meals. However, free meals were no longer available to all students at all schools districtwide.
Newberg-Dundee staff worked together for months to ensure that the percentage of identified students was calculated correctly to certify for CEP. Federal and state guidelines for CEP changed in late fall of 2023, which allowed the School District to request CEP recertification mid-year. After an intensive staff effort, ODE once again declared that the School District is allowed to provide free meals to all students at all schools within its boundaries. The district will not have to recertify for CEP again until April of 2027. Free meals are guaranteed until June 30, 2027.
Beginning on March 1, refunds will be given to families who purchased meals in January. However, any charges made before Jan. 1, 2024, such as in the fall, will not be cleared, so some families may still have a negative balance.
If you’re interested in donating your January payments to outstanding balances at your school:
Email Nutrition Services Secretary Charlynn Richlick by Feb. 16 at richlickc@newberg.k12.or.us.
Put the word “Donation” in the subject line.
Include the full names of your students and/or their ID numbers, the school that each child attends, and the amount that you would like to donate from your account.
The Importance of Regular School Attendance and Arriving to School On Time
Learning and development are lifelong journeys, and it starts right here at school for our students. School is where they acquire essential skills like reading, writing, and math, setting the foundation for a lifetime of learning. It's also a place where they build key relationships and master vital social skills. To make all of this possible, regular school attendance is crucial.
Why is attendance so important? Because students thrive academically when they attend school consistently. Consistent attendance and punctuality help children develop a strong work ethic, responsibility, and effective time management skills. These habits not only benefit them now but also set them up for success in the future.
In addition to attendance, punctuality matters. Being on time reduces disruptions for both your child and the whole classroom while also establishing the right mindset for the day. Students who start their day on time are more likely to be organized, focused, and ready to learn.
We appreciate your support in ensuring your child attends school regularly and arrives on time. Together, let's instill these essential habits that will benefit our children now and throughout their lives.
School Start/End Times
Doors open at 7:30 am
School starts at 7:40 am
School ends at 2:10 pm
Wed
Doors open at 8:30 am,
School starts at 8:40am
School ends at 2:10 pm
Student Volunteers Needed
Do you need to pick your student up early today?
Reporting Absences
Crater Families-
We now have a dedicated phone line for attendance.
You can call 503-554-4657 to access the attendance line directly, or you can call email or text your students attendance to craterattendance@newberg.k12.or.us.
As always, we can still be reached directly at the main office at 503-554-4650.