Black Bear Bits
February 10, 2023
Important Dates
2/19: No School - President's Day
2/21: 5th Grade Tribute order forms DUE
2/21: PTA meeting 7:00 p.m.
2/25: Garden Work Party 9:00 - 11:00 a.m.
2/27: Memory Book order forms DUE
3/1: No School - Teacher PD Day
3/2: 2nd Grade Music Performance 6:30 -7:00 p.m.
3/3: Kindergarten Book Character Day
In this Edition
- Message from the Principal
- School Community Need
- Site Council News
- Kindergarten Registration
- 5th Grade ELL testing
- 2nd Grade Music Performance
- Help Bridge the Gap
- This Week at Tualatin Elementary (photo gallery)
- Walk + Bike to School (photo gallery)
- PTA News
- Memory Book Photo Submissions
- Health Room Clothing Needed
- Art Rutkin Elementary Open Enrollment
- Flu and Covid Information
- Volunteering at Tualatin Elementary
- Important LinkL
Message from the Principal
Black Bear Families,
Yesterday was an absolutely gorgeous sunny day. I hope you were able to get outside for a little bit of it. I was lucky enough to be able to do crosswalk duty in the afternoon and it felt amazing to be outside in the warm temperatures and light!
I want to introduce to you our new secretary, Emili Powers. She is now working in our office, filling the position previously held by our current head secretary, Amanda Thorderson. Emili has jumped in this week with both feet and has already been a valuable member of our office team. Welcome Emili!
I am also happy to share with you that our own Amanda Thorderson was selected as Tualatin Elementary Classified Employee of the Year! This is an annual award that goes to one of our classified staff that has exceptional ability and talents that make our school the home it is. Amanda certainly fits that description! She was nominated by Ms. Aggi, who wrote “Amanda is the glue that holds our school together.” Congratulations Amanda!
Last night, our fabulous fifth grade students had their concert for our families. It was a celebration of jazz music, playing some familiar songs and some tunes on the marimbas. A big thank you to Mrs. Hinkle for all of her work in preparing our students for this experience, and thanks also to Mrs. Livingston, Mrs. Wharff, Mr. Michaud, Mr. Hill and Ms. Olson.
As always, thank you for all that you do to support the learning of our little Black Bears. We couldn’t do it without you.
Working with you for our kids,
Jim
School Community Need
We are sad to report the passing of three year old Abraham Torres Hernandez over our Winter Break. The Torres Hernandez family has been a part of our community for the past decade. In order to assist the family, we’ve created a Go fund me for the family, and are sharing the link with our community to help cover expenses. Thank you for your consideration!
Join Tualatin Elementary Site Council!
Hello Families,
Site Council is looking for new parent members! What is Site Council you ask? The Tualatin Elementary Site Council is a group of teachers, parents and classified staff who work with the principal to develop, review and evaluate school improvement programs and make recommendations for how to use our school resources. Our Site Council’s main goal is to increase student achievement by improving instructional programs, plan professional development and foster family involvement. We also discuss school needs, enrichment opportunities and grant funding. Our Site Council meets each month after school from 2:45-3:30.
If you are interested in joining Site Council please email Amy Barnes the Site Council Chair at abarnes@ttsd.k12.or.us.
We look forward to new parents joining Site Council.

Kindergarten Registration
There will be a Kindergarten Kick off on May 25th, where families can meet teachers, tour the school, take a bus ride, and more! Information will be sent to families in May.
5th Grade ELL Testing
Nuestros estudiantes ELL de 5to grado tomarán ELPA del 21 al 24 de febrero. Ayúdelos a prepararse asegurándose de que descansen bien por la noche y coman un desayuno saludable.

Help Bridge the Gap for our Students!
The Foundation for Tigard Tualatin Schools (FTTS) annual Fund Drive is happening now! Donations from the drive help enrich our students' education. Your donations hire part-time teachers, support innovative teaching ideas and provide college scholarships.
The goal is to raise $75,000 during this year's Fund Drive! That will put the Foundation on track to give each school a $10,000 check for their School Grant, to be used to fund teacher hours that will bridge their most pressing instructional gap. More teachers, more learning!!
Check out all the ways that The Foundation for Tigard Tualatin Schools has helped Tualatin Elementary and donate today!
This Week at Tualatin Elementary
Kindergarten Registration! Parents and children came in for extra help with kindergarten registration. | Walk + Bike Winners Grand prize drawing winners: Mayka, Mattix, and Isaak | Recorders in Music Third graders are learning to play the recorders in Music! |
Walk + Bike Day
Memory Book Order DeadlineMemory Book & 5th Grade Tribute Order Form DEADLINES: -5th Grade Tribute order forms are DUE on Tuesday, February 21st -Memory Book order forms are DUE on Monday, February 27th Please return your completed orders and payments to your teacher or the front office. We have a limited number of Memory Books, so early orders will reserve your book. | BottleDrop Ongoing FundraiserYou can drop your blue bags of bottles off at any BottleDrop location anytime from here on and the funds will go straight to the Tualatin Elementary PTA! Additional bags can be picked up at the school. Feel free to take a bag to work and collect those cans in your offices and lunchrooms! Save the environment and support Tualatin Elementary at the same time! | Read-a-thon Committee MeetingsWe have only had three committee members active so far, and the more help we have the easier it will be for us to throw a successful fundraiser - so please sign up, and invite your friends! Next Read-a-thon Committee Meeting: Thursday, February 9 · 7:30 – 8:30pm |
Memory Book Order Deadline
Memory Book & 5th Grade Tribute Order Form DEADLINES:
-5th Grade Tribute order forms are DUE on Tuesday, February 21st
-Memory Book order forms are DUE on Monday, February 27th
Please return your completed orders and payments to your teacher or the front office. We have a limited number of Memory Books, so early orders will reserve your book.
BottleDrop Ongoing Fundraiser
You can drop your blue bags of bottles off at any BottleDrop location anytime from here on and the funds will go straight to the Tualatin Elementary PTA! Additional bags can be picked up at the school.
Feel free to take a bag to work and collect those cans in your offices and lunchrooms! Save the environment and support Tualatin Elementary at the same time!
Read-a-thon Committee Meetings
We have only had three committee members active so far, and the more help we have the easier it will be for us to throw a successful fundraiser - so please sign up, and invite your friends!
Next Read-a-thon Committee Meeting:
Thursday, February 9 · 7:30 – 8:30pm
Google Meet link: https://meet.google.com/amn-swtr-yen
NEW! Memory Book Photo Submissions
Photo Submissions - Deadline March 5th, 2023 - Please see below for specifics on the photo submissions we are now accepting and note our submission deadline date of March 5th, 2023. Your contributions will help make this year's Memory Book extra special!
We are accepting the following photos:
Art Lit*
Spirit Week/Days (Hat Day, PJ Day, etc)*
Kinder & 1st Grade Music Informances*
Classroom Field Trips
Garden
Walk & Roll Day
Are you volunteering in the school?...what a wonderful opportunity for you to document school happenings while our memory book volunteers can't be there. Please snap some pics and send them our way.
Please send your photo submissions to tualatinschoolphotos@gmail.com AND label with the following information: student's grade, teacher's name, student's first and last name and the name of the activity, i.e. 2nd grade, Fossati, John Smith, First Day of School.
Have other memory book questions, please reach out to Ashley Young at tualatinememorybook@gmail.com.
Health Room Clothing Needed
Art Rutkin Elementary Enrollment Open
TTSD’s newest elementary school is almost complete. Enrollment for Art Rutkin Elementary is open for the 2023-2024 school year. Please direct any questions or needs for information to Jamie Kingery, Art Rutkin Elementary principal, jkingery@ttsd.k12.or.us, 503 431-3508.

Flu and Covid Season is here!
With colder weather, comes more opportunity to spread cold, flu, and Covid-19 germs. We are seeing all three at Tualatin Elementary and ask you to do your part by following these recommendations:
- Please monitor carefully for the following primary COVID and Flu symptoms, and keep your student home if they exhibit any of the following:
Cough
Temperature of 100.4 or higher
Shortness of breath
New loss of taste or smell
Fatigue
Muscle or body aches
Headache
Sore throat
Nasal congestion or runny nose
Nausea or vomiting
Diarrhea
- Please contact the school for assistance with the following:
Information on testing – We have at-home tests available at the school
If you test positive for COVID-19
If you have questions regarding symptoms and exclusions
- Wash hands often, especially after coming in contact with body fluids. If soap and water are not readily available, use a hand sanitizer
- Cover coughs and sneezes
Where Can I Get a Flu Shot?
The Washington County website has a list of locations offering the Flu Shot and other Vaccinations.
Where Can I Get a Covid Vaccine or Booster?
Volunteering at Tualatin Elementary
We love our volunteers and are excited to welcome you back into the building this year! To volunteer at Tualatin, please follow the steps below. When your application is completed, you'll receive an email from the front office and you'll be able to schedule volunteer time at the school.
All volunteers must complete the checklist below to volunteer
- Complete a background check at: www.helpcounter.net/ttsd. (This needs to be renewed every three years.)
- Be vaccinated for COVID-19. Please provide vaccine documentation using the following link-TTSD Volunteer Vaccination Documentation or send a copy/photo of your card to the school office (athorderson@ttsd.k12.or.us)
- OR If you have a vaccination exception, please fill out the form that applies to you- Religious or Medical and submit to the following link- TTSD Volunteer Exception Documentation
When the above has been completed, contact me (athorderson@ttsd.k12.or.us or 503-431-4800) and I will send you links to the training materials.
Masks will be optional in the building for volunteers that are vaccinated. We ask that if you are sick or have any symptoms, that you postpone your volunteering until you are well.
Volunteers with a vaccine exception on file will be required to:
Wear a mask while on TTSD property OR;
Be given a rapid test at the time and location of their volunteer assignment.
Please contact Amanda Thorderson (athorderson@ttsd.k12.or.us or 503-431-4800) with any questions.
subject to supply chain disruptions
Pay for meals, see the school menu, apply for free and reduced lunch
Did you miss a past edition of the Black Bear Bits? Read them here!
Get information on school closures and delays.
See the approved calendar for the school year.