Oak Hills Newsletter
Week of February 13, 2023
Preparing for Inclement Weather
Beaverton School District Inclement Weather Information
When we have inclement weather, school schedules could be affected. School closure or delayed start decisions will typically be communicated to media outlets and posted on the district website, ParentSquare and social media by 5:30 a.m. The District makes decisions based on the ability to operate school buses safely, the ability of parents and students to drive safely, and the ability of students to walk safely. Decisions are made for the entire District. However, we encourage families to make transportation and attendance decisions for their children based on their own assessment of travel conditions at their locations.
For the latest inclement weather information:
- Check the district website. A page pop-up will be posted if there’s a change in school
- operations.
- The BSD Public Safety webpage has information about inclement weather procedures and snow routes.
- Follow us on: Twitter @BeavertonSD, Facebook @BeavertonSchoolDistrict or Instagram @beavertonsd
- Tune into media outlets for updates.
February Social Emotional Learning at Oak Hills
During the month of February, our students are having fun learning about and practicing inclusiveness, kindness, friendship, and integrity.
INTEGRITY
Later this month we will begin our 4th kindness concept, integrity. Students will use kindness and respect to explore strategies on how to make honest choices and persevere through difficult times.
We will continue to explore inclusiveness through the lens of kindness by treating others fairly and including them. Student learning also incorporates the idea of being special, unique, and one of a kind and why we can be proud of our differences.
One area that students have identified as an easy place to practice inclusiveness is the playground. As a reminder about how to use our own buddy bench, several students and staff read pages in the book The Buddy Bench by Patty Brozo to create a VIDEO that will be shown in all classrooms this week.
Earlier this month, classes met with our Student Success Coach, Mrs. McCarty in the SEL portable to practice strategies for being inclusive when playing board games in small groups. Our counselor, Mrs. Ray, visited K-3rd grade classrooms to read the book The Hugasaurus by Rachel Bright. Then students created their own dinosaurs. Ask your child what dinosaur they created and look for the many dinosaurs to be hanging in the main hallway of the school in the coming weeks.
Mrs. Ray also met with 4th and 5th grade classes for a lesson where they created Belonging Brochures. We also celebrated inclusiveness at Oak Hills during a whole school assembly where 4th grade students and teachers competed in a Minute to Win it cup stacking game, every grade level performed a cheer, and we watched a VIDEO with students showing our mascot, Lucky the Otter, on how to be inclusive.
Library News from Ms. Larsen
Oregon Battle of the Books (OBOB)
Congratulations to the Bobcats (3rd), The Burrito Dogs (4th) and the Book Worm Bunnies (5th) teams for winning their grade level battles! It was wonderful to see all the great sportsmanship and support by fellow classmates!
Onward to the school championship round!
The Championship Round with the Final Battle either on Feb 16th (and 17th if double elimination is needed). Parents of the final teams will be emailed a Zoom link to watch the final battle(s).
Author Visits in March
Thank you PTO for supporting two author visits in March! We will have our first author visit in person on March 3rd with local author Heidi Schulz! If you would like to purchase autographed books, please purchase on the link below from Green Bean Books. Books will be autographed and delivered to the child’s classroom before Spring Break. When you order please make sure to include steps:
Please fill-in your shipping address for credit card verification, this step is necessary for the order to be processed.
Select “Oak Hills School” under “Calculate Shipping Cost” so you get free shipping. Your books will be prepared for us to pick up and deliver to your child’s classroom.
All books ordered through this link will be signed by the author.
If you would like a signed book personalized to a certain name, please write a clear note in the comment box. For example: “Please sign this book to Ella”.
Please add “Deliver to (child’s name) Teacher: (last name)” in the comment box as well so we know which class to deliver the books to.
Every order received successfully will receive an email confirmation with an order number.
You may place an order through this link until March 9th: https://greenbeanbookspdx.indielite.org/heidi-schulz-author-visit
Read Across America Week Feb. 27th - March 3rd
We will be Reading Across the Rainbow during this week! Each day students are encouraged to wear a color for the day.
Monday - RED - Have you Red a good book?
Tuesday - Orange - Orange you glad you read?
Wednesday - Yellow - Yellow’ve reading books!
Thursday - Green - So many books get the Green light!
Or Blue - Lots of books Blue us away!
Friday - Purple - Don’t be purple-xed! Try a new book!
To keep in touch with all things Library, check out the LIBRARY WEBSITE for:
Helpful Library Links for students and parents
How to View Your Student’s Library Account (Slides 1-7), View the Library Catalog (slide 8), Put Books on Hold (Slides 9-10), Renew books (slides 11-12), Pay Library Fines (Slide 13)
OBOB Information
Ordering Books From Scholastic for your home collection
Donations
If you have questions please feel free to reach out to Ms. Larsen at leilani_larsen@beaverton.k12.or.us
Kindergarten Registration Now Open!
Click HERE for more information and to register for Kindergarten!
Save the date: Thursday, May 11th for Oak Hills' Kindergarten Round Up! More info to come in the Spring.
PTO News
PTO Meeting This Week!
Also, please come to the PTO meeting this Wednesday at 7pm! Again, we'll have an update from the principals and updates on clubs, field trips, and upcoming events. There will be light refreshments again since it was just nice to have a treat and visit last time. Here is the zoom link - hopefully everything will run smoothly!
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83364343917?pwd=QnU3MnVyL2s4QUVsOWJ6VzcvcXJFUT09
Meeting ID: 833 6434 3917
Passcode: otters
Family Bingo Night, 3/10
Bingo night is coming up! If you have any small, unopened kids prizes (stickers, pencils, keychains, figurines, etc) OR unused gift cards you would like to donate for prizes, please bring them to the front office and they can get them to the PTO.
Attention 5th Grade Families: We need photos for the memory book!
Attention: 5th Grade Families--Last call for Memory Book photos!
We are collecting photos for our 5th graders' memory book that they will get at the end of the school year.
Please add photos of this year's 5th graders to this Google Photos album (https://photos.app.goo.gl/jjeFh5NnBuVovo1EA) or email them to 5thgradeotters2023@gmail.com.
Please share photos in high resolution of school events, first day of school photos, field trips, OBOB, DI, Girls on the Run, etc.
More pictures of kids at home participating in distance learning are needed!
Last call for pictures taken before 2023 is February 15. Please send in photos from other 5th grade activities in 2023 as soon as possible.
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We are in the process of cleaning up our website www.oakhillspto.org. If you are not yet on the PTO distribution list, you can add your email at the side bar there or contact pto@oakhillspto.org.
PTO Volunteer Opportunities
Work Room Volunteers Needed
Our teachers' time is very valuable. Making copies, collating, sharpening pencils and hole punching, are not the best use of their time. Please sign up to help THIS THURSDAY so they can focus on the important stuff: our kids.
The Workroom Opportunities have been updated in MyImpact to show volunteers: where the workroom is, where staff leave their copy requests, and who to ask for help. Plans for some tours are in the works, but in the meantime, please sign up for Thursday morning workroom slots, with a friend who can figure it out with you. Teamwork makes the dream work or at least the copies get made. Please be fearless and sign up HERE today!
Seeking Crafty Paper Cricut Types
Ms. Larsen, our librarian, needs help making some bulletin board decor for Read Across America. If you are interested, please log in to MyImpact or contact Laura Hoffmann at OakHillsVC@gmail.com.
Still Accepting Applications! Choir Club for 4th and 5th Graders--Starts 2/13
The digital application was sent to families on 2/2 via Parent Square. Paper applications are available in the office.
Details about the club:
Let's sing and make community! Song selections may include 1 and 2 part singing of folk songs, rounds, and dance songs.
- OPEN TO 4TH & 5TH GRADES
- MONDAY & THURSDAY, 2:50-3:30 P.M.
- 2 EIGHT WEEK SESSIONS: FEB.13 - APR. 10 & APR. 17 - JUNE 8
- 25 STUDENT CLASS CAPACITY
- STUDENTS SELECTED VIA LOTTERY
- POSSIBLE PERFORMANCES IN SCHOOL
- $30/STUDENT FEE (SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE).
- VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
PTO After-School Club Opportunity and Updates (REPEAT)
Sign up for the second session of PTO Chess Club!
Next session of chess club starts on February 27th! It will run Mondays for six weeks, 2:35pm - 3:15pm, with the last session on Monday, April 3rd. This session is open to grades 2-5, with some caveats:
- Kids must already know how to play the game
- 2nd and 3rd graders must be released to a designated parent, sibling, friend, etc. They can't walk home alone.
We have room for 24 kids, IF we have another parent volunteer. Otherwise, we have to cap enrollment at 20 kids. If we get more signups than spots available, we'll use a lottery system to determine who gets a place. Please enroll via physical form (available in the office - please return there as well), or this signup link. Signups will be open through next Friday, February 17th.
5th Grade Flyups--Message from Tumwater Middle School (REPEAT)
5th Grade Fly-Ups - March 1st
Tumwater will host 5th grade fly-ups during the school day on Wednesday, March 1st for incoming students. Students will attend this event with teachers and students from their elementary school. Bus transportation to and from Tumwater is provided. Students will learn all about Tumwater and what it has to offer as they tour the school with our 8th grade Web Leaders! Following their visit, parents/guardians will receive a ParentSquare message from Tumwater Middle School with a link to a course request form. We ask that parents support their children in filling out these forms online by Monday, March 6th.
We invite families to visit the Tumwater Middle School Website for more information about events at Tumwater Middle School. In addition, please follow us on social media - Instagram and Facebook.
We also encourage our families to follow our Tumwater PTO on Instagram and Facebook. You can learn more about the Parent Teacher Organization by visiting their website.
Parent/Guardian Information Night - Wednesday, March 1st 6:30 - 8:00 pm
We invite parents and guardians of current 5th graders, living in the Tumwater attendance area, to attend our Tumwater Information Night on Wednesday, March 1st from 6:30 – 8:00pm. To accommodate our available space and your family schedule, please select a session that works best for you:
Session 1: 6:30 presentation followed by self-guided tour
Session 2: Self-guided tour followed by 7:15 presentation
5th Grade Flyups- Message from Five Oaks Middle School (REPEAT)
Please see the flyer below about the Family Night!
Important Dates--Mark Your Calendars
Friday, February 10 Progress Reports will be available on ParentVUE
Tuesday, February 14 Spirit Day: Kind Otters (Wear Otter apparel, kindness shirts, hearts, rainbows, etc); Buddy Classroom Activities
Wednesday, February 15 PTO 7pm (Oak Hills Gym)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83364343917?pwd=QnU3MnVyL2s4QUVsOWJ6VzcvcXJFUT09
Meeting ID: 833 6434 3917
Passcode: otters
Monday, February 20 No School for Students and Staff--In observance of President's Day
Tuesday, February 21 No School for Students--Staff Development Work Day
Wednesday, March 1 5th Grade Flyups/Field Trip to Tumwater and Five Oaks Middle School
Wednesday, March 1 Kick off to Read Across America
Friday, March 3 Author Visit
Friday, March 10 Virtual Author Visit
Friday, March 10 PTO Family Bingo Night 6-8pm
Wednesday, March 15 PTO 7pm
Thursday, March 23 Padres Unidos 6pm
March 27-March 31 Spring Break
Thursday, April 6 STEM Family Night
Thursday, April 13 No School for Students--Staff Development Work Day
Friday, April 14 No School for Students--Grading Day
Wednesday, April 19 PTO 7pm
Wednesday, April 26 Music Showcase (Kindergarten and 2nd grade)
Thursday, April 27 5th Grade Field Trip
Spring Parent Teacher Conferences
Wednesday, May 3 School in session for students--Parent Teacher Conferences (PM)
Thursday, May 4 No School for Students-Parent Teacher Conferences (AM and PM)
Friday, May 5 No School for Students and Staff
Thursday, May 11 Kinder Orientation Evening event
Wednesday, May 17 PTO 7pm
Friday, May 19 PTO Otterfest
Tuesday, May 23 3rd Grade Field Trip
Reading with our K-2 Early Readers
How to Offer Reading Support in the Classroom & at Home
Ms. Fisher did an amazing job last week presenting to Oak Hills volunteers about how to work with our early readers. If you are interested in reading with our K-2 readers, are a parent or family member reading with a younger student, please watch Ms. Fisher’s presentation.
Reading with K-2 Early Readers Presentation
Current Reading Times by Grade Level
Kindergarten - 8:45 to 9:15
1st Grade - 9:55 to 10:35
2nd Grade - 8:35 to 9:15 (not all 2nd grade teachers are accepting reading volunteers)
Get to school before Pick Up:
3rd Grade - 1:55 to 2:30
Tips for Reading Volunteers
You do not need to know a student in a classroom to volunteer in that classroom.
You do need to be a registered volunteer.
MyImpact is being updated to provide more details and logistics about EXACTLY HOW to show up and get in a classroom.
Be brave, go with a friend. Reading Help has been expanded to allow more than one volunteer per class on any given day. Show up with a friend; teachers will welcome any and all reading volunteers.
Folks with accents and multi-language speakers, you are welcome and encouraged to come and read with our students! We would love to have you!
Oak Hills is special, otherwise why would so many families choose to live so close to their parents?! Get Granddad and his pals to register to volunteer and send them to school to read with our students.
COMING SOON- We are in the process of setting up some days where PTO and Volunteer Committee members will welcome new Reading Volunteers in and show you where to go. No need to wait for us, if you are eager to get started, log in to MyImpact and get reading!
Friendship Day on 2/10; Spirit Day and Buddy Classrooms Connect on 2/14
In February, we will continue to focus on Inclusiveness, Friendship, Kindness, and Empathy.
On Friday, February 10th, classrooms will host a party and celebrate Friendship Day. Please read the message in the PTO section or contact your child's teacher for more information about volunteer opportunities.
What will take place on Friendship Day (2/10)?
* Students will deliver friendship letters and cards to their classmates. We are requesting that students include everyone in the class. Teachers will share a class roster with first names.
* We ask families to not gift any sweet treats or candy with the cards and letters. This guidance is in accordance to the District Wellness policy. We also want to be thoughtful about allergy-sensitive classrooms.
*Teachers will be keeping in mind the District Wellness policy and double checking food-related student allergies when planning snacks.
On Tuesday, 2/14, the theme for spirit day is Kind Otters. Students are encouraged to participate by wearing Otter, hearts, kindness, and friendship apparel.
All students will be engaging in a project with their Buddy Classrooms.
Immunization Exclusion Day- 2/15 (REPEAT)
Parents or guardians will receive a letter in early February if their child’s immunization record shows that he or she hasn't received the required vaccinations. Children won’t be able to attend school or child care starting February 15, if their records on file show missing immunizations.
The Beaverton School-Based Health Center and the Merlo School-Based Health Center are both resources for families in the Beaverton School District to get immunizations.
Changes to Going Home Plans (Repeat)
Absences and dismissal changes can be reported to us via the Oak Hills website. There are buttons where you can click and report an absence or changes to how your child will be going home. For dismissal, please report the changes before 1:30 PM since this is when we will be delivering the information to our teachers and students. Thank you in advance for utilizing this communication tool. It will free up our phone lines for families, staff, and community members who urgently need to get in touch with the office.
Oak Hills website:
Thao Do-Gwilliam and Erika Hansen
Email: thao_do_gwilliam@beaverton.k12.or.us
Website: https://oakhills.beaverton.k12.or.us
Location: 2625 Northwest 153rd Avenue, Beaverton, OR, USA
Phone: 503.356.2410