Rascal News
October 2022
Salem Heights Elementary
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Important Dates
- September 15 - October 15: Spanish Heritage Month
- Oct 11: PTC Meeting, 6:00pm
- Oct 12: Fall Photo Day
- Oct 14: No School, Inservice Day
- Oct 21: Rascal Run
- Oct 26/27: Parent/Teacher Conferences, No School
- Oct 28: No School
- Nov 8: PTC Meeting, 6:00pm
- Nov 11: No School, Veteran's Day
- Nov 23-25: No School, Thanksgiving Break
- Nov 30: Picture Retake Day
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Wednesday, October 12th!
Picture Day information, online ordering, and our customer advocate team are all at your fingertips. Visit mydorian.com, search for your school, and click on the green Order button or yellow Help button associated with your picture day.
You can order online now and up to four (4) days after picture day (we will also be sending home paper order forms next Friday, October 7th).
Here are some helpful tips to make your picture day great!
- Schedule haircuts 7-10 days prior to picture day
- Wear simple clothing. Solid shirts or small patterns, along with sleeves, photograph best. A simple collared shirt is a timeless classic.
- Avoid logos and text on clothing. Graphics or wording may not photograph completely and can become partially cropped out of your picture.
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Salem Heights Rascal Run October 21!
How it works
In the weeks leading up to the Rascal Run, students ask for pledges from family and friends. Pledges can be for just participating, or per lap. On October 21st, students will run/jog/walk around the track at Salem Heights and volunteers will record their laps. If it is raining, we will run in the gym. Lap counts will be sent home and students begin to collect pledged money.
The week following the Rascal Run, students can begin to turn in their collection envelopes to the office on their way to class in the morning. We will also be accepting donations through the website (www.salemheightsptc.org). There will be a place to fill in the student's name. We will make sure every donation gets credited to a student.
The Rascal Run is intended for family and friends, the PTC does not condone or encourage door-to-door solicitation.
Please make checks payable to Salem Heights PTC
Look for Spirit Days the week of October 17 to October 21!
Incentive Prizes
Return a signed envelope → Get a special prize
Collect $10 → Adorable Mochi Squishy Toy
Collect $20 → Woodland Creature Key Chain
Collect $40 → Rascal Run Water Bottle
Collect $75 → Milk and Cookies Afternoon Break
Collect $100 → Silly String Mrs. James and Mr. Sorensen – Plus a special Guest!!
Collect $135 → 2022/2023 Rascal Run Hoodie Sweatshirt
ALL SCHOOL PRIZE: If we raise 10,000 everyone will earn a Pajama Day plus a special treat!
Important Dates
October 1st – October 20th Collect pledges from sponsors
October 21st Rascal Run
October 22nd – November 14th Collect money from sponsors and turn in envelopes
November 14th Last day to turn in envelopes to be eligible for prizes.
Want to Volunteer at the Rascal Run? Make sure you have your background check completed and look for messages from the PTC on volunteer needs coming soon!
Business Donations
If you own a business or know someone who does, please consider supporting our school!
We would love to thank you in our next newsletter, on our website, and add you as one of our school sponsors on the cover of our yearbook!

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Arrival and Dismissal at Salem Heights
Because the safety of our students is always our main concern, we wanted to share a diagram of Salem Heights' arrival and dismissal procedures.
7:20-7:50 Student Arrival:
Enter on 4th Avenue (church parking lot) and drop your child off:
-- Underneath covered area at the church
- Students can walk to the school entrance
-- Drive to the lower parking lot by Salem Heights Elementary
- Stay in left lane only, right lane reserved for buses & daycare vans only

2:20-2:35 Student Dismissal:
Enter on 4th Avenue (church parking lot) and either:
--Stay in church parking lot and drive to covered area at Salem Heights Church
- Students will be escorted to the church steps and supervised by our staff
--Park in church parking lot; walk to steps or school to pick up student

Tips for Smooth Arrival/Dismissal:
- At pick-up we will ask for ID if we don't know the pick up person
- Please do not park along red curbs or on the west side of the church near 4th Avenue
- The pick-up line often extends into the streets, please be patient as the line moves
- Please don’t park in neighbors’ driveways at any time, even if the driveway is open
- Don’t block streets, stop in intersections or crosswalks, and please obey crossing guards’ instructions
- Remind children to stop and look both ways before crossing streets, and to respect neighbors’ property – for example, don’t make shortcuts through neighbors’ yards
- When lining up to pick-up or drop-off students, leave at least three feet of space between your car and the nearest driveway opening
- Please drive slowly. Remember, the speed limit in a school zone when lights are flashing is 20 miles per hour.
We are fortunate that Salem Heights Church next door that is so cooperative and generous in helping us with our parking issues. Please help us keep that a positive relationship by being considerate of their property and rules, and encouraging your children to the do same.
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District Illness Guidelines

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FREE K-12 COVID-19 WEEKLY SCREENING PROGRAM
In partnership with Santiam Hospital, Salem-Keizer Public Schools is providing FREE K-12 screening for COVID-19.
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SKPS HONORS HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH
National Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated annually from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15 celebrating the contributions of Americans whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, Central America, and South America.
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FAKE FENTANYL: What parents & students need to know
FENTANYL BEING DISGUISED AS CANDY
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SMALL TALK – PREVENTING SUICIDE IN CHILDREN
You are invited to join a free half-day workshop for families with a focus on elementary-age youth. Learning objectives include:
- Appreciate how a child’s developmental stage affects their concept of death and suicide;
- Identify protective factors, risk factors and warning signs in children; and
- Confidently transfer care of a child to a caregiver.
Date, time and location:
October 22, 2022
9 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
4900 Bayne Street NE
Salem, OR 97305

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MENTAL HEALTH AND SELF-CARE
As we enter the winter months, it's important to check-in and ensure we are taking care of ourselves. SKPS has collected a few important resources to support mental health and self-care strategies. Remember, self-care is not selfish, it is self respect.
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THINK BEFORE YOU POST!
Recently, schools across the Salem-Keizer School District have experienced an increase in school threats, rumors of threats, and the spread of false information, which has been disrupting our learning environments and creating fear in the community.
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SAFEOREGON. FEEL SAFE. BE SAFE.
Salem-Keizer Public Schools partners with SafeOregon, a confidential tip line that gives students, parents, schools and communities a confidential way to report safety threats or potential acts of violence.
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OREGON HEALTH PLAN FREE FOR YOUTH
Through the Oregon Health Plan, youth 19 years of age and younger have access to free health coverage, regardless of immigration status if they meet the income requirements.
More information, including income requirements and how to apply for coverage, is available online.
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Repeated Articles
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School Schedule
(Repeated article from previous newsletter)
School will be from 7:50am-2:20pm, with students allowed in for breakfast starting at 7:20am.
We will have a late start every Wednesday, 8:50am-2:20pm. This is a district-wide schedule that allows for weekly staff meetings.
This year we will be switching from 3 to 2 lunch periods:
Kinder, 1st, 2nd:
Recess 10:10-10:40
Lunch 10:40-11:00
3rd, 4th, 5th:
Recess 10:50-11:20
Lunch 11:20-11:40
(Please note: due to space and time restrictions, we can't currently allow parents to eat lunch with their students at the school)
Office hours are 7:00am-3:30pm.
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Managing School Communication Notifications
(Repeated article from previous newsletter)
In the ParentSquare App:
Start by opening the Menu
This means you know any text notification will be immediately relevant to your school and child, and prevents those messages from become "white noise".
Whatever level of communication you choose, urgent notifications of weather or safety hazards will always be immediately pushed through, never delayed.
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Visitors & Volunteers
(Repeated article from previous newsletter)
After almost 3 years, we can finally welcome back classroom volunteers!!! We are so excited to have parents and families back in our school!
- Volunteers must have an approved background check with the district. These take approximately 2 weeks to process and last for 5 years. Use the link below to submit your background check.
- Whether visiting or volunteering, please arrange a time before-hand with the school, and check in (and out) at the office to pick up a name tag before going to the classroom.
- Walking Your Child to Class: we are allowing parents/guardians to walk their students to class on the first day of school, but after that please plan to say goodbye at the door.
- Due to space and time restrictions, we can’t currently allow parents to eat lunch with their student.
- You are encouraged to schedule a time with your child's teacher when you have a concern about your child’s educational program.
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Free School Meals for All Students!
(Repeated article from previous newsletter)
At Salem Heights breakfast and lunch are free for all students through the end of the school year.
Students wanting only milk will be allowed to take one, as long as they also take a fruit and veggetable of their choice.
This year we will be switching from 3 to 2 lunch periods:
Kinder, 1st, 2nd:
Recess 10:10-10:40
Lunch 10:40-11:20
3rd, 4th, 5th:
Recess 10:50-11:20
Lunch 11:20-11:40
(Please note: due to space and time restrictions, we can't currently allow parents to eat lunch with their students at the school)
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After School Care
(Repeated article from previous newsletter)

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Please Update Your Registration
(Repeated article from previous newsletter)
Even if your contact information hasn't changed, it is important to review your child's registration. Many items, like emergency contacts and their info, change from year to year. The district also makes updates to required information as our systems change. Please take a few minutes to make sure your child's information is up to date.
You can update your registration through our district's online portal: https://salkeiz.k12.or.us/parentvue-studentvue/
Parents using this portal for the first time may need an access code. Please call the office at 503-399-3187 and we can provide that informtion to you
You can also do so though the ParentVue app:
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HOW DO I STAY CONNECTED?
Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Salem-Heights-Rascals-109823547351844
Follow us on our school website: https://salemheights.salkeiz.k12.or.us/
Check your email inbox. Update your email in Parent Vue if it's not accurate.