Falco December Newsletter 2019
Newsletter for Five Oaks and Rachel Carson Middle School
A LETTER FROM THE PRINCIPAL
Dear Five Oaks and Rachel Carson Families,
It is the middle of December and Winter Break is just around the corner. I know students are looking forward to sleeping in and having some downtime with family and friend. After the Winter Break, there will only be a few weeks before we end the semester with our return in January. I know teachers and students are working hard together to get assignments and projects done. This will allow teachers to assess student work for semester marks.
Many of you went to the band concert last week. It was very well attended and the bands sounded fantastic. Nice job to Greg Hall and his students! Many students asked me the next day what I thought of the concert. I could not be prouder of the students and the hard work they put in to prepare for their amazing performance.
The administration is constantly evaluating the needs for Five Oaks and Rachel Carson. During some of our parent meetings some of you have asked about the Five Oaks/Rachel Carson "Action Plan". It is comprised of actions we have taken to address student behavior as well as focuses on the safety of students and staff. It is a working document which is constantly evolving to meet our school needs. There are continual school and construction updates located on the Five Oaks website at fiveoaks.beaverton.k12.or.us
Some actions have needed District support and/or resources while others are a focus for our school without outside intervention. Ronda Haun, former Highland Park Principal and former Human Resources Administrator, has come in to consult with me. She has a fresh set of eyes to help the administration team with any areas that we have identified as challenging for us. I have appreciated her insight and support.
We will continue to work to make changes and adjustment to improve our school. Here are a few focus areas which have been implemented:
· Addition of an encore class to reduce class sizes
· Adjustment of master schedule to stagger passing times and reduce the number of students in 2nd lunch
· School-wide assembly on inclusion and respect of others
· Anti-harassment talks in PE classes
· Administrator chats within classes on expectations
· Incident reporting available to students on Canvas
· Teaching and re-teaching of school-wide expectations through Advisory
· Discussions in Advisory and IS classes to answer student’s questions regarding Rachel Carson and Five Oaks
· Combined leadership group of 8th grade Five Oaks and Rachel Carson students working with counselors
The following is a list of focus areas we are currently working on:
· Revision of evacuation routes due to construction changes
· Internal audit of supervision schedule
· Consistent hall passes in classrooms
· Review of Tracker progress
· Review of Student Support Plan
· Review of effective techniques for supervision
· Saturday School to begin in January
· Community Building Lessons
We have recently received additional resources from the District, due to the ongoing construction, with an additional full-time Campus Security personnel. To ensure the highest level of student and staff security we will be evaluating and examining our campus supervision schedule. Remember there are construction workers working at all hours. Please drive cautiously and slowly when entering our parking lots. There will be considerable contract and construction work done during Winter Break when the school will be vacant of students and staff. The latest status report I have been given is that restrooms will be renovated at this time and ready mid-January. Also, the entry vestibule should be completed by the end of January.
I want to take a moment to thank the parents that have contacted me to offer suggestions, concerns, and support. There are many parents that want to become more involved at both Five Oaks and Rachel Carson. We are working on additional opportunities for parents to become involved.
I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday season. I am looking forward to spending more time with my family, including my grandsons that live in Idaho. I look forward to our return in January.
Principal Brock
December
12 - Band Concert (TH) 7:00
23 - Jan 3 School Closed-Winter Break
Diciembre
02 - Desarrollo del personal (M)
12 - Concierto de banda (TH) 7:00
23 - 3 de enero Vacaciones escolares de invierno - Escuela cerrada
January
1-3 School Closed-Winter Break
6 School Resumes (M)
10 SOM Grade Level Assemblies (F)
15 PTO Meeting (W) 6:30
20 Holiday-No School (M)
22 AVID Family Night (W) 6:30-7:30
24 Punctuality Party (F)
27 No School-Grading Day (M)
EDUCATOR OF THE MONTH
REPORT CARDS ARE GOING PAPERLESS
The Beaverton School District is transitioning to electronic report cards for all students. Progress period 1 is the last time paper progress reports/report cards will be mailed. The electronic report cards will be accessed through ParentVUE (mobile and desktop). Parents/guardians who have not yet set up a ParentVUE account will need to do so by January 2020.
There are resources and guidance on how to set up a ParentVue account. Please view the FAQ for instructions on setting up an account.
There are several benefits to moving to paperless report cards. Families will be able to view grades days after grading days, rather than wait up to two weeks for a report card to come by mail or in their child’s backpack. In addition, moving away from paper is environmentally friendly and cost-effective for the District.
LAS TARJETAS DE CALIFICACIONES ESTÁN EN LINEA
El Distrito Escolar de Beaverton está haciendo la transición a las boletas de calificaciones electrónicas para todos los estudiantes. El período de progreso 1 es la última vez que se envían por correo los informes de progreso / boletas de calificaciones en papel. Se accederá a las boletas de calificaciones electrónicas a través de ParentVUE (móvil y de escritorio). Los padres / tutores que aún no hayan creado una cuenta ParentVUE deberán hacerlo antes de enero de 2020.
Hay recursos y orientación sobre cómo configurar una cuenta ParentVue. Consulte las preguntas frecuentes para obtener instrucciones sobre cómo configurar una cuenta.
Hay varios beneficios al pasar a las boletas de calificaciones sin papel. Las familias podrán ver los días de calificaciones después de los días de calificación, en lugar de esperar hasta dos semanas para recibir una boleta de calificaciones por correo o en la mochila de sus hijos. Además, alejarse del papel es ecológico y rentable para el Distrito.
Please contact the school if you need help setting up or accessing your ParentVUE account or need assistance with a printed copy.
December 2019 PTO Update
Happy December!
The next meeting will be Monday, Dec 16th at 6:30pm. We will be voting on open board positions-secretary, FO volunteer coordinator and President/VP. We especially need a secretary so consider if you have the time to attend monthly meetings and take notes. Please join us if you are interested in helping out in ANY way or just want to connect with other parents and get some one-on-one time with administration/teachers. We will also be planning our one large catalog fundraiser scheduled for late January/early February so stay tuned. This month we funded the Blazer night out incentive trip for students. Our January meeting will be Wednesday, Jan 15th at 6:30pm.
We are an officially registered school with the Anti-Defamation League and we are now forming our committee of students
It's not too late to participate in No Place for Hate! We are an officially registered school with the Anti-Defamation League and we are now forming our committee of students, staff and parents to help us rally the entire school around the goal of creating a welcoming community committed to stopping all forms of bias and bullying. We have a stellar student team and are still looking for parents who would like to join our committee. Contact Tina Chavez to find out how you, too, can help our efforts. cristina_chavez@beaverton.k12.or.us
Somos una escuela oficialmente registrada con la Liga Anti-Difamación y ahora estamos formando nuestro comité de estudiantes.
¡No es demasiado tarde para participar en No Place for Hate! Somos una escuela oficialmente registrada con la Liga Anti-Difamación y ahora estamos formando nuestro comité de estudiantes, personal y padres para ayudarnos a reunir a toda la escuela en torno al objetivo de crear una comunidad acogedora comprometida con detener todas las formas de prejuicio y acoso escolar. Tenemos un equipo estelar de estudiantes y todavía estamos buscando padres que quieran unirse a nuestro comité. Póngase en contacto con Tina Chavez para averiguar cómo usted también puede ayudar a nuestros esfuerzos. cristina_chavez@beaverton.k12.or.us
After School clubs are offered on Tuesday's and Thursday's. They begin right after school and end at 4:45pm. Your student must have transportation either through an activity bus or parent pick up. If parents are picking up, you must be at the school by 4:50 as teachers and staff need to go home. Please have your student check in with Mrs. Redding in the main office to verify if they have been assigned an activity bus route. They can be added if needed, but it takes a week to be set up through transportation.
Also, students interested in participating in a club MUST sign up every time for attendance reasons. Sign ups are posted by 7:30 am on Tues/Thurs in the cafeteria and are displayed until 11am.
CLUBS DESPUES DE LA ESCUELA
Los clubes después de la escuela ahora se ofrecen los martes y jueves. Comienzan justo después de la escuela y terminan a las 4:45 pm. Su estudiante debe tener transporte ya sea a través de un autobús de actividades o que sus padres vengan por ellos. Si los padres están recogiendo, debe estar en la escuela a las 4:50 ya que los maestros y el personal deben irse a casa. Haga que su estudiante se registre con la Sra. Redding en la oficina principal para verificar si se les ha asignado una ruta de autobús de actividades. Se pueden agregar si es necesario, pero se tarda una semana en configurarse mediante el transporte.
Inclement Weather Information
When any inclement weather event occurs the Superintendent and designated District administrators are frequently communicating. We will drive the roads early in the morning to evaluate current travel conditions, check in with our neighboring school districts and confer with our weather service to better understand the latest weather forecast. All of this happens before any decisions are made.
When there is a 2-hour delayed opening of school and buses are on snow routes:
- There will be no bus service for the following elementary schools: Bonny Slope, Nancy Ryles and Sato.
- The following classes are canceled:
- AM Early Intervention
- AM Preschool Classes
- AM Health Careers & Auto Program
- Terra Nova Program is canceled all day.
- Transportation bus drivers will report 1 hour later than scheduled. Transportation non-driving staff will report at their regular reporting time.
- All administrators and supervisors will report at regularly scheduled time, or as soon as it is safe to travel.
- All Custodial and Maintenance staff will report to work at their regular reporting time, or as soon as it is safe to travel.
- All Nutrition Services staff will follow their school site specific Nutrition Services plan for reporting to work.
- Students and all other employees will report two hours later than their regular reporting time.
- If road conditions are unsafe to drive where you live, report to work when conditions improve. Notify your supervisor if you will be late or unable to report. Employees unable to report on time due to weather conditions will use Personal Time Off (PTO) or emergency leave to account for missed time.
- Principals will need to consult with their Executive Administrator and the Deputy Superintendent for Operations and Support Services prior to allowing any evening event or activity to take place
When school is on time and buses are on snow routes:
- All schools operate on regular daily schedules.
- All staff report as regularly scheduled.
- If road conditions are unsafe to drive where you live, report to work when conditions improve. Notify your supervisor if you will be late or unable to report. Employees unable to report on time due to weather conditions will use Personal Time Off (PTO) or emergency leave to account for missed time.
- There will be no bus service for the following elementary schools: Bonny Slope, Nancy Ryles and Sato.
- Terra Nova Program is canceled all day.
Principals will need to consult with their Executive Administrator and the Deputy Superintendent for Operations and Support Services prior to allowing any evening event or activity to take place.
When an early dismissal of school is necessary:
- Night custodians will not report unless directed to do so.
All District personnel will be dismissed at their normal time, unless otherwise notified by their supervisor/administrator. Each school is responsible for assessing the needs of staff for early release and is to develop a plan to provide adequate coverage to meet the needs of students until all students are picked up.(Please consult the 2019-20Inclement Weather Early Dismissal/Closure Procedures.
All activities and events are cancelled.