The Current
LOSD News • Feb. 12 2021
In this Message:
Celebrating Chinese New Year
Honoring Presidents' Day Holiday
Holiday Grab & Go Meal Schedule
Recommended Quarantining After Travel
More Input Needed: Allocating SIA Grant Funds
Last Call: Bond Development Committee Interest
Update Regarding OSAA High School Sports
LOSD Pool to Reopen Feb. 16
TAG Advisory Committee Feb.17
SSPAC Meeting Feb. 18
Interact Club Talent Show Feb. 20
Kindergarten Counts & Registration Feb. 24
Spanish Immersion Kindergarten Registration Opens Feb. 24
LO High School Virtual Open House
QPR Suicide Prevention Training for Parents Mar. 2
You're Invited: Climate Change Discussion Mar. 4
Community Reminders:
- Rotary's SASEE Award Nominations
- Pacer Baseball Registration
- LO Little League Registration
- LO Softball Registration
Regular Reminders:
- Get Social: Follow, Share, Engage @wearelosd
- What's New at Community School
- Subscribe to Lake Oswego Schools App
- 3 Ws: Watch Distance, Wear Mask, Wash Hands
- Safe Oregon
Celebrating Chinese New Year
Today is Chinese New Year, also called Lunar New Year. It is a major holiday celebrated over 16 days culminating in the Lantern Festival. It is celebrated by Chinese, Koreans, and Vietnamese, among others, in our community and all over the world with music, dance, costumes, and firecrackers. 2021 is the Year of the Ox.
Honoring Presidents' Day Holiday
There is no school on Monday, February 15 in honor of Presidents' Day Holiday.
Holiday Grab & Go Meal Schedule
On Monday, Feb. 15, there is no school in honor of Presidents Day Holiday and there is no grab-and-go-meal distribution.
On Thursday, Feb. 18, the regular grab-and-go meal distribution will resume.
Recommended Quarantining After Travel
With many in our community transitioning to in-person learning and Spring Break coming up at the end of March, it’s a good time to clarify the statewide guidance for travel. It’s recommended that people who are not vaccinated and who travel outside of the state of Oregon consider quarantining upon returning home.
LOSD is asking people to consider quarantining, but it is not required. Schools will not be keeping track of travel plans. It is up to each person and family to decide. If students choose to quarantine, instructional materials will be provided while out of school.
Per the Oregon Statewide Guidance for Travel, people are recommended to practice self-quarantine for 14 days after arrival in the state and limit their interactions to their immediate household. People may consider ending quarantine if they have had no symptoms: after 10 days with no testing or after 7 days with an antigen or PCR test.
More Input Needed: Allocating SIA Grant Funds
Here’s an update on our SIA Grant ThoughtExchange. So far, we have 927 participants, 812 thoughts, and 42,857 ratings with one week more to go. Let’s see if we can double our participation!
There are some great ideas in this exchange, and we need your help to make sure we understand what’s most important to you. If you’re up for it, please head back into the exchange and rate more thoughts.
Please click here to jump back into the exchange and add stars to show how strongly you agree or disagree with the many thoughts. The exchange will be open until Thursday, Feb. 18 at midnight.
The results of this ThoughtExchange will help us understand your concerns and what you see as opportunities around how our SIA grant funds should be allocated for the 2021-22 school year. Everyone’s voice matters, so your participation is crucial and valued.
Last Call: Bond Development Committee Interest
Please complete this interest form by Tuesday, Feb. 16, 10 a.m.
Update Regarding OSAA High School Sports
Over the last week, we have received updated and revised guidance regarding indoor sports facilities, and as of today February 12, the Governor has moved Clackamas County from the “extreme risk” category to the “high risk” category. In addition, earlier this week the Governor removed the prohibition not allowing full contact outside sports. This means football can proceed; however, there are numerous specific guidelines for us to follow in order to "opt-in," and we are waiting to hear from Oregon Health Authority and Oregon Schools Activities Association regarding these specific guidelines.
In any case, we know these changes have positive implications for LOSD as we move forward to opening Season 2 on February 22. Soccer and Cross Country will begin their seasons on time, and now that we can open our gyms for a maximum number of 50 people for indoor sports, Volleyball can proceed with their season. We can also have a small number of student-athletes and coaches in our hitting facilities, Dance room, and Weight room. Although Water Polo is normally considered a fall sport, if we are able to have a season it most likely won’t start until April. Please look for more detailed information from our high school athletic directors.
LOSD Pool to Reopen Feb. 16
Community lap swimming in the LOSD pool will reopen Tuesday, Feb. 16. To participate, swimmers will need to purchase a community swim pass for a month, season, or year. Visit the district website pool page for rates, fees, payment options and to sign up to swim.
Pass holders may sign up for lap times using our new online scheduler. Space, hours of operation and time in each lane is restricted; to ensure access, lap swimmers are required to reserve your spot in advance of coming to the pool using the online scheduler.
Before visiting the pool, please review and be prepared to follow the new pool expectations and health and safety guidelines. Lifeguards on duty will be asking health screening questions.
Inclement weather closures will be communicated through signups.
TAG Advisory Committee Meeting
Wednesday, Feb. 17
6-7:30 p.m.
Please see the district calendar for a Zoom link to the meeting.
SSPAC Meeting
Thursday, Feb. 18
6-8 p.m.
Please see the district calendar for a Zoom link to the meeting.
Interact Club Talent Show
All are welcome to the Interact Club Talent Show Fundraiser supporting Sunshine Division, an organization that strives to help fight hunger, especially during the pandemic.
Saturday, Feb. 20
3-4 p.m.
The performance lineup will include many fun acts from our students, including a short theatrical play, unicycling and more. Tickets by donation accepted by clicking here. Any questions or concerns? Contact lointeractclub@gmail.com.
Kindergarten Counts & Registration
Mark your calendar for Wednesday Feb. 24 for registration and information night for students starting kindergarten in the 2021-2022 school year.
Registration for kindergarteners, and all students who are new to LOSD, will open online that day on the district website enrollment page.
An informational video, Kindergarten Counts, will be hosted virtually by each elementary school. Kindergarten Counts will provide parents and guardians an opportunity to meet the principal and kindergarten teachers. You will learn about several upcoming opportunities for your new student between now and the first day of school.
Plan to register and attend Kindergarten Counts at your student's resident elementary school. Visit losdschools.org to verify. LOSD welcomes kindergarteners who will be five years old by Sept. 1.
Spanish Immersion Kindergarten Registration Opens Feb. 24
- 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.
LO High School Virtual Open House
QPR Suicide Prevention Training for Parents
Parents and guardians of middle and high school students are invited to join Counselor and QPR Trainer, Marcy Watts, for a suicide prevention training called QPR. Suicide prevention training is one prong of LOSD's comprehensive suicide prevention policy. Our Wellness Team is always looking for new ways to reach out to our students and their families to support their mental health and provide resources. If you have other concerns that are unique from this topic, please don’t hesitate to reach out to your school counselor and/or social worker.
March 2, 2021
Two session times (only attend one session)
Morning 11:30 am to 1:00 pm
Evening 6:00pm to 7:30 pm
What does QPR mean?
As someone who may be in the best possible position to prevent a suicide, you will find that QPR is designed to help you save a life. QPR consists of these three skills:
Question...a person about suicide
Persuade....someone to get help and,
Refer....someone to the appropriate resource.
QPR is not a form of counseling or treatment. Rather it is intended to offer hope through positive action. By learning QPR, you will come to recognize the warning signs, clues, and suicidal communications of people in trouble, and gain skills to act vigorously to prevent a possible tragedy.
Registration for this class is limited to 60 people and is designed for parents and guardians of middle and high school students. If there is more interest we will set a date for a second training. Click here to register.
Important Note: QPR requires that all participants have their cameras on at all times during this training. Due to the sensitive nature of the topic, we need to ensure the safety and well being of all attendees. Feel free to reach out to Marcy Watts if you have any questions or concerns about this at wattsm@loswego.k12.or.us
You're Invited: Climate Change Discussion
Oregon author, Emma Marris, will be speaking about "Fighting Climate Change When Everything Feels Overwhelming" at the Lake Oswego High School Green Team meeting. All are welcome to participate in the session.
Thursday, Mar. 4
12-1 p.m.
https://loswego-k12-or-us.zoom.us/j/81921293040
Emma Marris has written for National Geographic, The New York Times, and Nature, as well as authored books on nature and people. Her newest, Wild Souls: Freedom and Flourishing in the Non-Human World, comes out this summer.
Emma Marris will elaborate on her belief in taking action in the face of climate change: We never used to have a "smoke season" in Oregon, but increasingly, climate change is making massive wildfires an annual occurrence in our state. This talk will present a realistic, science-based approach to tackling climate change that anyone can engage with--and it doesn't require feeling guilty all the time. The climate has already changed, and it will change more; some things will be lost. But much can still be saved. A good future for planet Earth is still achievable.
Until then, you might enjoy her Ted Talk or New York Times piece. You can read more about her here.
Rotary's SASEE Award Nominations Open
Lake Oswego Rotary Club is seeking nominees for this year's SASEE Awards, which honor service above self in educational excellence.
Do you know an educator, support staff member, student or citizen who demonstrates a commitment to education through work, projects and activities that emphasize "service above self?" LO Rotary Club wants to recognize and support the people who make education in Lake Oswego exceptional.
Please click here to learn more and nominate someone.
LO Rotary Club awards thousands of dollars in cash and scholarships in several SASEE categories. In each case, SASEE Award recipients have the opportunity to “pay it forward” by passing their monetary award on to their school or project.
- Teachers, administrators and support staff: $1,000 for their school or project
- Students: $1,000 for their school or project
- Citizens: $2,500 scholarships awarded in their names to students who also demonstrate "service above self"
Pacer Youth Baseball Registration
Registration is open for the Pacer Youth Baseball 2021 spring baseball season. T-Ball through 6th graders are welcome to register. Please visit www.paceryouthbaseball.org for more information.
Register by Monday, Feb. 15 to take advantage of the Early Bird Registration discount!
LO Little League Baseball Registration
Registration is open for the Lake Oswego Little League 2021 spring baseball season. Pre-k through 6th graders are welcome to register. Please visit www.lolittleleague.org/registration for more information.
LO Softball Registration
Lake Oswego Softball registration is open for the Spring 2021 Little League season (open to girls ages 4-14). Visit www.lakeoswegosoftball.org for more information. Final registration deadline is Monday, Feb. 15.
Get Social: Follow, Share, Engage @wearelosd
What's New at Community School?
The LOSD Community School is offering virtual enrichment programs and activities for students of all ages including culinary, STEM, arts, language, and athletics.
Subscribe to Lake Oswego Schools App
3 Ws: Watch Distance, Wear Mask, Wash Hands
SafeOregon
Parents 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.)
Lake Oswego School District
Email: info@loswego.k12.or.us
Website: https://www.losdschools.org
Location: 2455 Country Club Road, Lake Oswego, OR, USA
Phone: (503) 534-2000
Facebook: facebook.com/LOSDProud
Twitter: @LOSD_Proud