Westridge Wildcat News
January 8, 2021
Message from the Principal
Hello Wildcat Families,
On Tuesday, the District announced the timeline of our gradual transition to in-person instruction, starting with elementary schools. Please see the table further down in this newsletter (below) for the first day of school for each grade level. We'll be providing more detailed information about in-person instruction in the upcoming weeks.
Please know we are teaching & leading while planning & collaborating for our return to in-person learning - to ensure the safety of all students and staff! I am so excited to see our students return to Westridge. We may not know all that 2021 holds for us, but we do know that our Wildcat Family will succeed together!
In Partnership,
Principal Montgomery
Save These Dates!
1/12 - Site/SAC Mtg
1/13 - Coffee with Kari & Gary 9am - 9:30am (link below)
1/15 - DEADLINE to register for the bus (more info below)
1/18 - Martin Luther King Jr Day - No School
1/20- 2021-2022 Registration opens for new students grades 1-5
1/21 - SSPAC Mtg 6pm - 8pm
1/25 - Library Lunch Break for K-2, 12 to 12:30 pm
1/27 - Coffee with Kari 9am - 9:30am
1/27 - LOSD CARES Workshop “Resilience Panel” 5 to 6 pm
1/29 - Teacher Grade Prep - No School
2/3 - World Read Aloud Day
2/24 - Registration opens for Kindergarten and Spanish Immersion Kindergarten
2/24 - Kinder Counts Information Night
Plans to Begin Returning to In-Person School
Starting in February, LOSD will begin our gradual transition to in-person instruction, starting with our elementary schools. We are planning for February to give teachers, families and staff time to prepare, as well as public health time to ramp up to support in-person schools.
1. Please see below for the Return to School Timeline for Hybrid/In-Person Learning. Additional information and details will be coming soon.
2. When students return to Westridge, it will be for the hours listed below:
Monday-Tuesday --- Thursday-Friday
AM Hybrid/In-Person = 8:00 am - 10:45 am (ELA, Math, SEL only)
-OR-
PM Hybrid/In-Person = 12:45 pm - 3:30 pm (ELA, Math, SEL only)
3. Students will not report to school on Wednesdays. Students will continue to work virtually (from home) on multi-synchronous Wednesdays.
4. Music, PE, & STEM all remain online (1 synchronous and 1 asynchronous).
5. Bus service (transportation) is available (see section below to register).
For more information about our district and school blueprints, AM/PM Hybrid schedules, health and safety protocols, and more, please visit the district website Roadmap to Reopening.
Critical Message from the Westridge Office:
On that note, we are here to help make sure your child and you have the best year ever! Please contact us if you have any questions or concerns. We are in the office Monday through Friday from 7:30am - 3:00pm.
Jodi Steward and Andrea Murphy
Westridge Elementary School Office
503-534-5371
Register for the School Bus
We're re-opening bus registration for the next week. We are encouraging families to walk, bike or carpool, when possible. If you think your LOSD student will need to take the bus to or from school at any time during the 2020-2021 school year, please register them now.
Click here to register for bus transportation for 2020-21 school year.
Registration will remain open until Friday, Jan. 15. After that, exact bus routes will be determined. The sooner people register, the fewer route changes need to be made once bus service begins. Thank you in advance for your prompt response in this essential preparation for in-person school.
Coffee with Kari and Gary
Coffee with Kari will resume in January 2021! Our first coffee time will be offered on Wednesday, January 13th from 9:00am - 9:30am. This is an informal time to just connect, ask questions, and learn together as we go through the school year. Bring a cup of coffee, or just call in and let's connect!
ID: 89488956670
Password: 537256
(US) +1 929-205-6099
Passcode: 537256
Spanish Immersion Kindergarten Registration & Lottery for 2021-22
For families interested in signing up their kindergarteners for the Spanish Immersion Program, please heed these important dates for the 2021-2022 school year:
- Application available on the District website: February 24, 2021
- Application Deadline: March 12, 2021, 3:30 p.m.
- Lottery Date: March 17, 2021, 3:00 p.m.*
- Lottery Notification: March 19, 2021
*Should the district receive more applications than spaces available, a lottery will be held. Those wishing to participate in the lottery must submit their application to the District Administration Office no later than 3:30 p.m. on Friday, March 12, 2021.
*Younger siblings of students currently in kindergarten through 4th grade of the Spanish Immersion program have priority for enrollment only at the kindergarten level. Sibling priority does not apply to current siblings on the waitlist. If you currently have a child enrolled in LOSD’s kindergarten through 4th grade Spanish immersion program, you will have the first choice for enrollment in the kindergarten program. You will not be entered into the lottery, but you must submit an application to the program prior to the March 12, 2021 (3:30 p.m.) lottery deadline to be assured a slot. Slots not filled from sibling applications will be available in the general lottery.
Visit the LOSD Spanish Immersion Website for more details.
LOSD CARES (Connection and Resilience in Education Series)
LOSD knows that this year has been extremely challenging for students and families. In partnership with the LOSD Wellness Team (school counselors, social workers and district psychologist) and community mental health partners, LOSD is developing a workshop series for parents and guardians to support, inform, and empower families on issues surrounding mental health. The event will be on January 27, 2021 from 5-6 pm. Workshops will be held virtually via Zoom and will include focused discussions and question and answer opportunities. Please mark your calendar for the first workshop Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2021, 5-6 p.m.: “Resilience Panel” with Pediatric Associates of the Northwest.
In the meantime, please complete this family interest survey: LOSD CARES Survey . Your input will help shape future workshops.
Also, the LOSD Wellness Team is sharing resources for families during the holiday season:
Keep the Holidays Happy During COVID-19
“You’re Doing a Good Job”Please contact your school counselor or social worker with any questions.
New Student Registration for 2021-22 School Year
Registration for the 2021-22 school year will begin soon.
- January 20, 2021 for registering new students enrolling into grades 1–12 who have never enrolled in Lake Oswego before and returning students enrolling into grades 1–12 who are not currently enrolled but will re-enroll for next year.
- February 24, 2021 for registering new students enrolling into kindergarten for the 2021-22 school year.
- Students who are currently attending LOSD during the 2020-21 school year do not need to register for the 2021-22 school year.
LOSD is pleased to offer online registration through its parent portal, ParentVUE (contact your resident school for help with logging in). See the Registration & Verification page of the LOSD website for guidance.
Kindergarten Counts 2021-2022:
- Kindergarten Information Night (Kindergarten Counts) is on February 24, 2021. Each elementary school will hold an incoming kindergarten information night for parents to learn about kindergarten and meet the school's staff. More information about Kindergarten Counts will be forthcoming.
Information about Kindergarten in LOSD can be found here
Grab & Go Meals Free for the School Year
Due to new flexibility from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), LOSD is able to provide free packaged breakfasts and lunches for all children who wish to participate in the Grab & Go meal service.
Free meals have been extended from December 2020 through June 2021 to all children ages 1 to 18, even if they are not enrolled in LOSD. One meal kit per child. Face covering required at pick up.
Meal pickups are every Monday (three days of meals) and Thursday (four days of meals) at the following schools:
- Lake Grove, 11 a.m. - 12 p.m.
- River Grove, 11 a.m. - 12 p.m.
- Lake Oswego High School, 11:45 a.m. - 12:45 p.m.
- Lakeridge High School, 11:45 - 12:45 p.m.
While it is not currently essential to complete either the USDA or Oregon Expanded Income application, we encourage families that might be eligible to do so at your earliest opportunity. You can fill out the application online. Go to: https://www.ode.state.or.us/apps/frlapp
Read Aloud Club with Mr. Kieser:
Starting January 13th, Mr. Kieser will host a weekly book read-aloud on Wednesdays from 11:00-11:30 geared for students in grades K-2, but everyone is welcome. Come for a story and connection with peers!
You can access all of Mr. Kieser's groups at this link or directly though your student's Clever account with these instructions!
Grade 3-5 Scratch Coding Club
Do you like to play computer games? Have you ever wondered how they were made? Come to our 3rd-5th grade Scratch Coding Club. We will use the Scratch website https://scratch.mit.edu/ to learn how to move a spirit and create different games. Come learn how to code in Scratch and share projects with your friends.
We will meet in Mrs. Bates Zoom Room on Fridays at 11 Am. I hope to see you there.
Mindfulness Club
Hello Westridge parents and students! I am excited to offer a new opportunity for social connection and skill building. I will be hosting a drop-in Mindfulness Group open to all students at the following times:
7:45-7:55 Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday
12:30-12:45 Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday
In each group, we will do a quick check-in, a short mindfulness activity and a stretch or yoga pose. You can access the group at this link, or use these instructions to access the link through your student's Clever account.
Trivia Club with Ms. Montgomery
Do you enjoy knowing all kinds of random facts about different things? Come join the fun at our Wildcat Trivia Club! Each week, Ms. Montgomery hosts a lunchtime club where kids can hang out and enjoy lunch while we show what we know about a different theme.
We will start the new year off with MARVEL trivia from 11:30 - 12pm on Thursday, January 14. Bring your lunch and have some fun sharing what you know about the MARVEL Universe!
You can find my Bitmoji in your Clever Classroom or follow the steps below OR here is my link if you want to have it handy-
https://loswego-k12-or-us.zoom.us/j/2721276503
Wear something Disney if you would like!
Social Time Munch and Crunch Lunch Clubs
Mr. Kieser hosts lunch groups for Kindergarten, 2nd and 4th grades. This is a time for all students in each grade to come together to have lunch, chat and do an activity together. Lunch Group is from 12:00-12:25 on the following days:
Kindergarten-Tuesday
2nd Grade-Thursday
4th Grade-Friday
Use this link or click on Mr. Kieser in your Clever Classroom to access any of Mr. Kieser’s groups:
https://zoom.us/j/5036503078?pwd=czVkb0lSUDdOUDVSeFE1bjB1bkJUQT09
Mrs. Bates hosts lunch groups for 1st, 3rd, and 5th grades. This is a time for all students in each grade to come together to have lunch, chat and do an activity together. Lunch Group is from 12:00-12:25 on the following days:
1st grade-Tuesday
3rd Grade-Thursday
5th Grade-Friday
Use this link or click on Mrs. Bates Zoom Room in your Clever Classroom to access: https://loswego-k12-or-us.zoom.us/j/3737960708
Westridge School Counseling Family Resources
Hello Westridge parents! Comprehensive Distance Learning has been a challenge for both parents and students. We want to provide as much assistance to you as possible, I have condensed several useful resources into the Westridge School Counseling Family Resources folder. Here you will find:
- An archive of all Social Emotional Learning lessons from the year, organized by character trait.
- Family activities to build connection and character
- Tips for parent and family self-care
- Webinars by myself and other Westridge staff.
This folder will be updated on a regular basis, so feel free to check it once in a while. If you have any questions or suggestions for useful resources, please contact me at kieserg@loswego.k12.or.us.
Gary Kieser, MA, LPC
School Counselor
Westridge Elementary School
503-534-2371, ext. 3932
Donating to Westridge PTSO
The Westridge Elementary PTSO (Parent Teacher Student Organization) is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization run by parent volunteers. Through parent and community donations, we help to fund field trips, technology, and over 30 school programs each year for the enrichment of Westridge students.
While in the midst of the ongoing COVID pandemic, we find ourselves in an especially unique position this year. Many of our community members have experienced financial hardships as a result of the pandemic. We realize that it may not be viable for your family to donate to our annual fundraiser, and thus, we are not hosting one during this academic year.
While our school year looks quite different this year, the need for resources to enrich the academic experience of each and every student is still very real. Therefore, we are still gratefully accepting donations. If you are in a position to donate and able to take advantage of your employer's corporate matching program, we encourage you to participate in giving. Your donations are incredibly valuable and allow us to support our teachers and students.
Thank you for considering donating to support our Westridge students. If you would like to donate at this time or at any time during the school year, please visit Tinyurl.com/wildcatfund.
Tech Support:
Tech Information Sessions
LOSD hosted two Tech Information Sessions covering the “how tos'' for getting started with distance learning. The session recordings and presentations are posted on the district site under Resources/Tech Support for Families.
Tech Support Ticket
A majority of tech concerns can be resolved by submitting a Tech Support ticket -- the link is on all school and district homepages for easy access to help with passwords, log-ins, hardware fixes, etc.
Google Classroom Guardianship
By now all parents and guardians should have received an email requesting you to accept guardianship of your student's Google Classroom. If you need assistance with this request, please submit a request through the Tech Support button. Note: accepting guardianship simply gives you the option of selecting how often you would like to receive summaries (weekly, daily, or no summary) of your student's Google Classroom activity. Only student accounts have access to Google Classroom.
ODE State Assessment Notice
Westridge Elementary
Email: kari.montgomery@loswego.k12.or.us
Website: https://www.losdschools.org/wr
Location: 3400 Royce Way, Lake Oswego, OR, USA
Phone: (503) 534-2371