The Howler Vol. 12
November 30th, 2022
Greetings Grant Watts Community!
We hope that you and your loved ones enjoyed a restful and happy Thanksgiving break. It’s hard to believe that December is already here. The weather certainly feels like winter, and we even saw a couple of snowflakes at school Tuesday morning. Please stay tuned for changes in bus routes or daily schedules if we do get inclement weather on a school day. Thank you for making sure your emergency contact information is updated with the front office… just in case.
Our Grant Watts Character Champion trait for the months of November and December is caring. Students are learning about this important characteristic through classroom discussions, sharing picture books, and participating in activities like supporting our local Humane Society. You can also teach about kindness and caring at home through both your words and actions. Pointing out acts of kindness you see in our community is also helpful for children to build this important skill. Here’s a link to an article if you’d like some additional information.
While the illness and absence rate at Grant Watts seems to have, thankfully, improved, there is still much going around in our community. Nurse Brenda has asked that we share the following:
In response to Oregon’s acute shortage of pediatric intensive care beds, state health officials recommend that people:
Stay home when sick.
Cover coughs and sneezes with the inside of your elbow, or with a tissue that you immediately throw away after use.
Clean and disinfect all high-touch surfaces, including doorknobs, faucets, chairs, countertops, and tables.
Regularly wash hands with soap and water or use hand sanitizer, especially after coughing or sneezing into a tissue.
Get a flu shot and stay up to date on COVID-19 vaccinations, including new bivalent boosters. There is no vaccine for RSV.
Consider wearing a mask in crowded indoor spaces
Thanks for all you do to support our learners at home. We appreciate you sending such delightful and caring children to us every day.
Respectfully,
Principal Small
Grant Watts Giving
Throughout the year, but particularly during the holidays, we encourage our students to be caring. Our character emphasis during this time is also on Caring. Our school has opportunities for students and families who are able to participate.
Columbia Humane Society Giving Tree
Our Giving Tree will be set up by 12/1. There are tags on the tree that kids/families are welcome to take and fulfill the need that is listed on the back. Can’t make it by to pick a tag? You can head to this link to see their wish list; https://drive.google.com/drive/u/0/my-drive
Please send items in between Dec. 12-16
Students will have an opportunity to give their donation directly to the Humane Society when they visit our school.
We will also be collecting monetary donations inside the front entrance-students get to choose if they add to the dog or cat container with their donation. Will the DOGS or CATS get the most donated? These funds will be given to the Columbia Humane Society.
Social Emotional Learning Guidance Lesson
Our lesson focus is on caring and we will be decorating paper placemats. These placemats will be donated to Meals on Wheels and Brookdale Senior Living
Some classrooms may opt to have students bring a toy to donate to the Share and Care Program-please check with your child's teacher or watch for announcements in their classroom newsletter to see if they are participating.
Scappoose Fire Department Share and Care Program
The holiday season can be a challenging (and expensive) time-if you are in need of assistance please contact our Scappoose Fire/Kiwanis Share and Care Program-please head over to this link to apply; https://www.srfd.us/share-care
PLEASE, if your child or your family are experiencing challenges, please reach out to me for support.
Tami McDonald, School Counselor
971-200-8002
Music's Melodic Moments
Third Grade Families: The winter concert is next week on Tuesday, Dec 6th at 6:30. Please bring your student to Scappoose High School by 6:15. They will meet up with their teacher in the cafeteria.
I have some needs that I need help with:
I need help with moving instruments from Grant Watts to Scappoose High School on Monday, Dec 5th. I have one volunteer so far who will be meeting me at my classroom at 3:05. We will then load up instruments and transport them to the high school. I need at least one more helper, two would be optimal.
I need help with stage decorations. I am looking for a blow up snowman (2 would be fantastic) and 6-8 bags of cotton batting (used for quilting). So far I have no snowmen and no batting.
I need two volunteers who would be willing to give out programs. I have one student so far who is willing, so one more is needed.
I would love for students to come to the concert with a winter hat (stocking cap), if they have one, and a scarf.
Please, help your student to have a good concert experience, by having them practice their songs and lines (if they have them) at home every day from now until the concert.
If you can help with the above mentioned items, please let me know at twilliamson@scappoose.k12.or.us
It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!!
GRATITUDE: This week we are wrapping up our study of Indigenous Heritage Month with lessons on Gratitude. We are focusing on a book called We Are Water Protectors and learning about gratitude for things we may take for granted, like water. We learned about a Navajo woman who delivers water to her community in New Mexico that doesn’t have running water–such a compelling story about how lucky we are to have what we have, and how kindness and gratitude can truly change the world! Good stuff!
FALL READING CHALLENGE: We have approximately 2 weeks left for our reading challenge. If you need more recording sheets, please let me know or please CLICK HERE to print at home! I hope you are having fun reading!
BACK WITH THE BOOKS!–We are back into our regular Library routine this week. Please return your books, so we can be checking out on our Library Days which are: Wednesday and Thursday. Remember, there are book return bins in the hallways that kids can drop their books in any day! Please make sure your books are in the bins by 8:15 am on your library day, or even better the day before your library day. Please help your child develop a return routine for their books–thanks!
Happy to be back in the library with all of you ~ Mrs. Nudo
Greetings, Gray Wolves!
We have been seeing great growth in the reading room! Check out these students taking control of their learning! Start thinking about how to continue this learning at home, especially over the winter break coming up.
Megan Moga
Monthly Meeting: Thursday, December 1st @7PM
We look forward to seeing you at our VIRTUAL ONLY monthly meeting, this Thursday! We have several upcoming events to discuss! Zoom Link
Holiday Staff Treat Boxes
One of the greatest gifts is holiday sweets made with love! Have a go-to family cookie recipe? Or a favorite treat you enjoy sharing? We would love to include your homemade goodie in holiday treat boxes for our Grant Watts staff! Sign Up Here!
On Monday, December 19th please bring your holiday treat by noon to the Grant Watts library. Volunteers will be curating boxes with a variety of yummy sweets to deliver to every one of our amazing staff members. Please be mindful that there are about 55. Thank you so much for your contribution!
Teacher Amazon Wishlists
‘Tis the season of giving! Thinking about surprising your student’s teacher or another staff member with a holiday gift? Not sure where to start? Check out the Staff Wishlists!
Volunteer Opportunities
If you are interested in volunteering, please fill out the GWPO Volunteer Form.
Picture Retakes Friday, December 2nd
- If your student was absent on picture day, bring a big smile and fill out this online order form!
- If you would like to have your child's pictures redone, please bring your original packet of photos back to school on retake day.
Safety First
The bus barn let us know that some of our students have been chasing/racing buses on their bicycles in the bus lane in the mornings. This is of concern as it is dark at that time, and these students do not have any reflectors on their bikes. Please remind your two-wheeled commuters to park their bikes up in front of the school and walk to the back, as well as to wear appropriate safety gear. Thank you!
Attendance Reminders
- Kailee Klobes: kklobes@scappoose.k12.or.us
- Anne Flores: aflores@scappoose.k12.or.us
- Your child's teacher
We appreciate your support in making sure we know where your students are during the school day. Thank you!
Oregon Statewide Assessments
Each year, schools are required to participate in administering the Oregon Statewide Assessments. These tests include Math and English Language Arts (Grades 3-8 and 11), Science (Grade 5, 8 and 11), ELPA (eligible students only) and Extended Assessments (eligible students only).
For Math and English Language Arts, parents may OPT-OUT by preference. For exemptions for Science, ELPA21 or Extended Assessments, they must be based on a disability or religious reason per the Oregon Department of Education and approved by the District Test Coordinator.
Parents can find these forms below:
Grant Watts At a Glance
First Student Transportation
First Student Phone #: 971-290-4020
First Student Feedback Page and Bus Tracking: https://www.scappoosek12.org/bus
My MealTime Breakfast and Lunch Accounts
Upcoming Events
- Friday, December 2nd- Picture Retakes
- Tuesday, December 6th- 3rd Grade Music Concert (SHS Auditorium)
- Tuesday, December 13th- GWPO Holiday Light Scavenger Hunt
- Tuesday, December 20th- Educational Fun Day and Holidays Around the World
- Tuesday, December 20th- Holiday Sing Along
- Wednesday, December 21-January 3- Winter Break