Westridge Wildcat Newsletter
Friday, March 3, 2023
Message from the Principal
Hello Westridge,
YouthTruth surveys are now open. We encourage you to participate in the survey as it is an incredibly valuable way to help us improve students’ experiences in our school. Please take the survey before it closes at midnight on March 24 by clicking this link.
Please note:
- The survey needs to be completed in one sitting; about 15 minutes to complete.
- We ask that one member of each household fill out the survey.
- If you have more than one child who attends the same school, you may respond to the survey multiple times - one time 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 they will be combined with the responses of other parents and guardians before being shared back with school and district leadership.
If you have any questions about the survey, or our plans for how we will use your feedback, please reach out. We sincerely thank you for taking the time to provide your feedback. Your response is incredibly valuable to us.
Thank you,
Laura Weaver
Save the Dates!
SCHOOL CALENDAR: LOSD SCHOOL CALENDAR 22-23
3/11: LOSD Foundation Gala (see more info below)
3/15: 5th Grade Field Trip to BizTown
3/16: 1st Grade Music Concert in the gym 5:30
3/16: PTSO Meeting at Westridge and on Zoom. We'll be voting on the bylaw amendments presented last month so please plan to attend
3/24: No School - Teacher Prep Day
3/27-3/31: Spring Break
4/10-4/14: Scholastic Book Fair
4/13-4/14: Conferences - No School
4/20: 3rd Grade Music Concert in the gym 5:30
5/18: 5th Grade Musical 6:30
5/19: 5th grade musical assembly - Time TBD
PTSO Event's Page Calendar can be found here for more info on Parents Nights out and Meet Ups!
Champions Spring Break & Summer Camp at Westridge
Registration for 23-24 school year - CHAMPIONS
Information for registration:
-Begins on March 14th at 9 AM.
-Families will need to go to: https://connect.klcschoolpartnerships.com/ to sign up for an account, pay the registration fee and choose a schedule for attendance
-Families will automatically be placed on the waitlist when they sign up and as staffing and space is confirmed we will release families each Friday throughout the summer
-As we release the wait list weekly, we will be prioritizing incoming Kindergartners that are siblings of current Champions families
-For any questions, reach out to Family Support: 1.800.246.2154
Nurse Newsletter
Handwashing
While hand sanitizer is a great option, it cannot replace good handwashing. Be sure to wash your hands after using the restroom,sneezing or coughing, or touching your face to help keep our community healthy.
Allergies?
If your student has a health plan that includes an Antihistamine (Benadryl), please be aware that you must provide it. If your child has an allergic reaction or potential exposure to allergen and you have not provided it, we will have to call 911 per the regulations and guidelines of OHA/ODE/CCESD.
If you would like to speak to your school nurse, click the link below for contact information.
Counselor Corner
Dear Westridge Families,
During the month of March, we will work together to practice the character trait of COOPERATION in our Social Emotional Learning (SEL) lessons, classrooms, and throughout our school.
As a school community, we will be examining how Cooperation looks, sounds, and feels. Cooperation is about assistance, support, collaboration, & teamwork. It is a necessary tool in our toolbox for creating a community that cares for one another and in turn creates a school community in which each Westridge Wildcat truly feels a sense of belonging.
The definition students will be learning this month is: COOPERATION: working together to reach shared goals. Students will be encouraged to use cooperation skills such as communication, self-awareness, and the ability to step up (or step back) when the time is right to best support whatever group you are working with.
March is also recognized as National Disability Awareness Month which we will honor by learning how our classroom communities are made strong by our diversity of learning styles and abilities. We each have different abilities, skills and ways of learning. We will direct our focus on inclusive practices and continuing our work with empathy & kindness. School Counselor-led lessons in March will be centered on cooperation through the critical lens of Disability Awareness.
Here is a link with PK-5 Family Letters to explore COOPERATION further as a family and here is a link with some wonderful children's books about disabilities for you to continue the conversations at home.
In Partnership,
Gary Kieser
School Counselor
A few friendly reminders
It's that time of year where it's helpful to remind our families of several policies in place to keep our students safe and behaviors in line with school expectations.
- Please do not drop students in the back staff parking lot.
- Please do not drop students off at school prior to 8:00am. We do not have supervision prior to 8:00am.
- Please do not allow students to play on the playground/field after school without adult supervision.
- Toys, pokemon or sports trading cards do not come to school unless it is a special day in class and teachers have given permission. They are not allowed at recess, or before school.
- Students may not use their phones or watches to text or call home during the school day. Students may use the office phone to call home, if needed.
- There are several RESERVED parking spots in our parking lot. Please do not park in these - even if "just for a minute."
Seeking Volunteers for Our Advisory Committees
We need you! Please consider applying for our school or district advisory committee for terms starting next school year. There is one application for all committees -- please mark the committee that is of interest to you. Only committees with vacancies -- School Advisory Committees and Long Range Facility Planning -- are listed in the application for this period. See the charters posted on the School Board Advisory Committees web page for more information about each committee.
Applications are due Monday, March 13 at 5 p.m. Recommendations and selections will be made in April. All applicants will be notified by May 1. Thank you!
Pants Needed!
Due to the weather, the field gets a little muddy this time of year! We are looking for gently used elastic waistband pants in all sizes. (SM-XL) so that kids can change if they slip or have an accident while at school. Donations can be dropped off at the front office.
Thank you so much!
LOST AND FOUND:
Please check the Lost and Found that is inside the school near the gym. Thank you!
Registration for the 2023-2024 school year is OPEN!
Online registration and more information can be found here
Note: If your child is currently enrolled in a LOSD school, you do not need to re-enroll for next year. Your child will automatically move up to the next grade in our computer system. The only exception to this is if your child is enrolled in the Pre-K program - then you DO need to enroll your child in Kindergarten. Please give us a call if you have any questions!
District Information
Dates and Holidays in February
Black History Month, is an annual observance paying tribute to the generations of African Americans who struggled with adversity to achieve full citizenship in American society.
American Heart Month is a time to focus on cardiovascular health.
National School Counseling Week, February 6-10, celebrates the unique contribution of school counselors in our school systems.
National School Resource Officer Appreciation Day, February 15, recognizes the partnership with our SROs and the relationships they build with the students and staff in helping keep schools and communities safe.
Presidents' Day National Holiday
You are cordially invited to attend! Tickets are on sale now.
We look forward to celebrating with you!
Oregon State Assessment Opt-Out Form
Each school year, Oregon students take assessments to meet federal requirements. The purpose of these assessments is to provide data that schools can use to ensure that every child is on track and achieving learning goals.
State law requires us to inform you that a form is available from the State Department of Education that allows you to opt your child out of the math and English Language Arts assessments for the current school year. Should you wish to opt out your child, fill out the form and submit it to the main office at your child’s school. Please note the submission deadlines listed on the form. Meeting the deadline will help the school with planning and preparation. If you wish your child not to participate in the science assessment for grades 5, 8, and 11, submit this request in writing to the principal of your child's school.
If you have questions or want more information about state assessments, please contact your child’s principal or teacher(s).
Click here for opt-out form for Math and English Language Arts.
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.)
Stay connected with the LOSD AP:
Westridge Information
Annual Application for School Volunteers
For the safety of children, volunteers are required to have an approved background check when volunteering in schools. Please click here: Volunteer Application for LOSD to start the online application and background check process.
Reporting tardies, absences and illnesses:
Office phone number and voicemail: 503-534-2371
Attendance Secretary: Andrea Murphy (murphya@loswego.k12.or.us)
Principal's Secretary: Jodi Steward (stewardj@loswego.k12.or.us)
Contact information for the Westridge PTSO
Find us on Facebook!
Follow us on Instagram @westridge.ptso
Email: westridgeptso@gmail.com
Yearbook Photos: yearbookwestridge@gmail.com
Westridge Elementary School
Email: weaverl@loswego.k12.or.us
Website: https://www.losdschools.org/wr
Location: 3400 Royce Way, Lake Oswego, OR, USA
Phone: 503-534-2371