Oak Creek Coyote News
August 24, 2021
Message from the Principal
Hello Oak Creek Families,
We are less than a week from the first day of school, and the Oak Creek team is excited to welcome students to a fantastic 2021-2022 school year! Below you will find information about important events and routines that will help us all have a great start to the year.
Welcome New Team Members:
This year we have a number of members joining our team. We are excited to welcome the following people to Oak Creek:
Brittanie Bates and Ali Grimshaw; Student Support Specialists (replacing Jody Vanegas and Laura Wolf)
Roxanne Davidson; Counselor (replacing Diana Thompson)
Reese Freeborn; Educational Assistant (replacing Shanon Moguel)
Tanya Goodwin; Secretary (replacing Jan Siltanen)
Charlie Guinsanno, Anna Holycross, Devin Odman and Deborah Pegram; Special Education Assistants (new positions)
Kelsey Smith; Kindergarten (replacing Deidre Bengston, who moved to 2nd grade to replace Jaime Sutton)
Volunteers and Visitors:
At this time only students and staff are allowed in our school building. We are very eager to partner with you and welcome you back into the building as soon as possible. ODE is re-evaluating things every two weeks, and we will let you know as soon as guidelines change.
COVID-19 Protocols:
Our team is working hard to make sure that students have five full days of in-person learning each week this year. Following careful protocols will help us keep students healthy and keep them in school! If you have more questions, click here to review the health and safety guidelines from LOSD.
If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to myself or Carrie Beach at beachc@loswego.k12.or.us.
Thank you,
Barb Keeton
Principal, Oak Creek Elementary
Dates to Remember!
August 26: Smart Start 1:00-3:00pm (info below)
August 26: 3:00pm-4:00pm School Supply Drop off and Grade Level Meet and Greet
August 30: First day of school!
September 6: Labor Day- NO SCHOOL
September 22: Back to School Night (more info coming soon!)
October 8: No School (Professional Day)
October 14: School Picture Day
October 28/29: No School (Conferences)
School Supply Lists
Save the Date: Smart Start August 26
Smart Start is an opportunity specifically for our students with 504s and IEPs, and their parents and guardians, to make introductions with their teachers and to feel prepared for the start of school. For the 2021-22 School Year, Smart Start is in person Aug. 26, 2021, from 1-3 p.m.
Teachers will be familiar with your student’s plan and accommodations. To help better know your students, please complete the attached one-page profile or create one on your own ahead of time, and give it to the teacher at the Smart Start introduction.
Also, to assist in your family’s preparation for the new school year, please click here for a Smart Start checklist for parents and guardians of students with 504s and IEPs.
School Supply Drop off and Meet and Greet
We are looking forward to seeing you and our students this Thursday, August 26th between 3:00-4:00pm to drop off your student's supplies and meet their teacher! This will be a fun outdoor welcome-back to all of our amazing families, as well as a chance to get acquainted before jumping into the school year. Masks are not required outside, but are welcome. This event will be entirely outside. Please see designated areas for each grade level below.
- Kindergarten and Specials (PE, Music, STEM): Front of School
- First and Second: Undercover Area
- Third, Fourth, and Fifth: Back Field
We can't wait to see you!
Arrival/Dismissal Routines
Our first day of school will be August 30th. Families are welcome to drop students off beginning at 8:00 am, where students can line up with their teacher in physically distanced lines. Students will be let into the building starting at 8:10, and class begins promptly at 8:20. Students will continue to enter their classrooms through assigned entrances (see below). We are asking that parents and caregivers do not park and walk their child/ren in. We will have many warm and welcoming adults who will be there to support students through the arrival process.
Arrival/Dismissal Times:
Elementary
MTWF: 8:20 a.m. - 2:40 p.m.
TH: 8:20 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Click here for the full schedule on the district website.
Assigned Location for Lining Up and Entering the Building:
- Kindergarten and 1st Graders: At the front entrance under the overhang
- 2nd and 3rd Graders: Near the garden area (to the left of the front entrance)
- 4th and 5th Graders: Near the West door to the building near the bike racks (to the right of the front entrance)
Parent Drop Off Notes:
In order to help with student safety and traffic flow in the lot and the neighborhood, please:
- avoid arriving early.
- pay close attention to staff.
- pay close attention to pedestrians in the lot and neighboring streets.
- if driving, come north up Kingsgate only, then through the parking lot.
- encourage children who can to unbuckle car seats and get out on their own.
- support your children who need assistance unbuckling.
- say goodbye quickly and move safely out of the lot.
Buses:
All busses will arrive at the Melrose gate. Students will get off the bus at 8:10. We will have staff there to greet students and walk them to their teacher.
Walkers:
Walkers should arrive between 8:00-8:10, but not before. Parents will need to walk students to school. Only the Kingsgate Crosswalk will have a duty.
- Students will be walked by class to the the bus pick up area or the parent pick up area.
- Cars can begin lining up at 2:35.
- If you are meeting your child on foot, you can wait in one of the marked locations for your child to walk to meet you, (masks are not required, but strongly encouraged).
Breakfast and Lunch Routines
In order to keep our students safe we will be eating lunch outside as often as possible. When we do have to eat inside, due to rain or other weather related conditions, classes will spread out into the hallways to ensure 6 feet of distance is maintained between unmasked individuals.
Breakfast will not be provided in the morning. Instead, Food Service will provide one breakfast for each lunch ordered. Students who order a school lunch will also receive a Grab-N-Go breakfast to take home at dismissal to eat the following morning before coming to school.
Medication Drop off
If your child has medication that they must take during the school day, or emergency medications that the school must keep on hand (EPI pens, etc.), please bring these medications as soon as possible, in their original containers. Please double check for expired medications as we cannot receive expired meds. PLEASE read this document regarding what is accepted and what is not, prior to bringing medications to the school.
The office is open and available to receive medications from 7:00am-3:00pm. We will also have a table set up at Thursday's Meet and Greet, and outside on the first day of school, to receive medications. The process can take a bit of time, so please be patient as we work through this very important piece of your child's wellness and safety.
Questions about medications or procedures? Contact the Oak Creek front office staff at 503-534-2323 or email our District Nurse, Ann Nelson at nelsona@loswego.k12.or.us.
Technology
Please note that during the first week of school, staff members will be working hard to make sure all students have the appropriate and up-to-date technology.
Some things to remember regarding technology throughout the school year:
- Please be sure your students bring their devices to school every day, charged, and ready to go!
- If your student forgets their device, a loaner will only be provided for essential activities.
- Regarding damage: If the device gets damaged at home, please submit a tech ticket, if it gets damaged at school, one of our staff members will do that.
Thank you in advance for helping us make sure students have what they need to be successful learners!
FAQ's
When does school begin?
School starts for all students on Monday, August 30.
When will we hear who our child's teacher is?
Placement is still being finalized. You will hear from your child's teacher by Wednesday, August 25.
What is the daily schedule?
First Bell - 8:10 am: Students are welcome to enter the building.
Tardy Bell - 8:20 am: Students who arrive later must check in with the office and receive a Tardy slip before going to their classroom.
Dismissal - 2:40 pm: Students taking a bus home will exit the building through lower doors, students being picked up by parents will exit the building through the top floor doors, students staying for after care will go to the gym.
Early Release on Thursdays - 2:00 pm
Will students and staff be wearing masks?
Yes, currently all students, staff and anyone who enters the building are required to wear masks. Additional information about mask requirements can be found here.
Will Extended Care be open?
Yes! Extended Care will be held at Oak Creek Elementary. Additional information and registration can be found on the Community School Extended Care website here.
If you are still looking for an answer, please let us know by clicking here to submit your question.
LOSD DISTRICT NEWS
Extended Day Service
Registration is open for LOSD Extended Day Service (before and after school) for the 2021-22 school year on the district website under Extended Programs or by clicking here.
Extended Care will be hosted by LOSD Community Schools at Oak Creek and River Grove Elementary Schools. Students attending Lake Grove and Forest Hills will be bused from and to Oak Creek Elementary, and students attending Hallinan, Palisades and Westridge will be bused from and to River Grove Elementary.
Elementary Strings:
Strings is back! The LOSD Beginning Strings Program is an after school program for students in grades 4 and 5 during the 2021-2022 school year who have no previous playing experience on an orchestral string instrument. Students will select and learn to play either the violin, viola, cello or upright bass after school in a group format three days per week. When students move up to orchestra in middle and high school, the orchestra class will occur during the school day.
View important program details here: Begin Your Musical Journey!
Calendar dates for 2021-2022 (link)
Parent-Student Info nights:
- Wednesday, Sept. 1 and Tuesday, Sept. 7, Uplands Elementary, 7 p.m.
- Come and try the instruments and learn about the program! (attendance is optional)
Registration via Community Schools will open mid-August 2021
Free Meals for All Students
This school year the Lake Oswego School District will be offering breakfast and lunch meals (one breakfast and one lunch per student per day) at no charge to all students. Breakfast meals will be served in Grab-n-go style as students arrive to school. Lunch meals will offer healthy tasty entrees, fresh fruits and vegetables with a seasonal rotation of local farm produce and organic products when available.
For information about Food Services, please click here to visit our web page.
For information about part-time job opportunities in Food Services, please click here to visit the employment web page.
Annual State Testing Notice from ODE
Back to School Clothes at Clothing Closet
I Love Lake Oswego Clothing Closet is a donation-based closet that provides clothing items and hygiene products for residents, students, and employees that work or live within Lake Oswego.
Open Saturdays
9 a.m.-12 p.m.
Visit https://www.ilovelakeoswego.com for more information.
Hunger Fighters
The pantry will be open all summer for contactless curbside pickup every Saturday from 1-2:30 p.m. Visit the website for more info. www.hungerfightersoregon.org
SafeOregon
Parents-guardians 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.)
Subscribe to Lake Oswego Schools App
Stay connected to the district and your school(s) and receive urgent notifications by subscribing to the Lake Oswego Schools App.
About Oak Creek
Reach out to us if you have any questions or need anything!
- Principal Barb Keeton: keetonb@loswego.k12.or.us
- Secretary Carrie Beach: beachc@loswego.k12.or.us
- Secretary Tanya Goodwin: goodwint@loswego.k12.or.us
Address: 55 Kingsgate Rd., Lake Oswego, OR 97035
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OakCreekPTA/