Cedar Reader
Cedar Park Middle School - October 2022
A Note About Some New Curriculum
Dear Families,
We are so grateful you are a part of the school community this year.
One of the aims at our school is to equip young people for all the realities of today’s world. With that in mind, we have partnered with CharacterStrong - an organization that provides training for educators and social & emotional learning curriculum for students. Their work in grades 6-12 focus on 3 main outcomes: increasing a sense of belonging for all students, improving skills that support student well-being, and deepening student engagement in their academics, in their school, and in their community.
Here’s what the data tells us:
A sense of belonging in school is one of the most important conditions for learning and a fundamental support for social and emotional well-being. Nearly ⅓ of all students report a weak sense of belonging in their schools. Roughly half of 6th - 12th grade students say they don’t enjoy coming to school most of the time.
Mental health challenges for teens have been increasing and 7 out of 10 teens in the U.S. (between 13 and 17 years old) have named anxiety or depression as a major problem among their peers. Student engagement drives learning and supports school success.
This curriculum was created to support school communities as they engage in the work of preparing young people to thrive in the 21st century. The research supports the effectiveness of social & emotional learning in schools to increase student’s academic success and college & career readiness. The lessons focus on developing skills and mindsets around building positive habits, understanding our emotions, and increasing empathy for people and communities who have lived different lives than us. The curriculum helps students think about things they want to improve in their school, their relationships, and their world and then provides tools for them to work individually and in teams to close the gaps they’ve identified.
One of the key parts of nearly every lesson is the “CharacterDare” for Middle School students and the “To Be List” for High School students. These are invitations near the end of most lessons to put the content that they are learning into action in the real world. If you ever want to play an active role in the CharacterStrong curricula, simply ask your student about the most recent CharacterDare or To Be List challenge. Maybe they’ll invite you to try one yourself!
To learn more about CharacterStrong, check out characterstrong.com to discover other resources for students and families.
Looking forward to a great year!
10/12 Walk/Roll to School
Why Should You Walk + Roll to School?
Thousands of BSD students and families participate in Walk + Roll Day each year. Whether you’re new to Walking + Rolling or you’re already a Walk + Roll Superstar, it’s always good to remember the endless benefits that come from active transportation. Here are just a few:
• _It’s fun – especially when you can get your friends and family involved.
• _It keeps you fit and prepares your brain for learning.
• _It boosts your endorphins and makes us happier.
• _It saves us money, otherwise spent on gas and car maintenance.
• _It often saves us time from sitting in traffic and in crowded parking lots.
• _It’s better for the planet – no air pollution, no fossil fuels burned. Just foot and pedal power!
• _It makes roads safer as more active road users are visible to vehicles.
Gather up your family or find some friends. Plan a route with low-speed and low-volume roads, use your school’s preferred walk/bike map to find your route. Ask your school about Walk + Roll Day on October 12th and find out how to win fun prizes! Whatever mode you choose, be Polite, Alert, Legal and Safe!
Important Dates for October/November
October 10 - Spirit Week (See Flyer)
October 12 - Walk/Roll to school (See Flyer)
October 13 - Cedar Park 5K Fundraiser!
October 13 - Rachel Carson Open House
October 14 - Staff Development day (NO SCHOOL for students)
October 14 - 7/8 Band @ Beaverton HS Football game
October 18 - PTC via Zoom @ 6:30 p.m.
October 19 & 20 - Parent/Teacher Conferences
October 21 - NO SCHOOL
October 31 - Halloween (Rules about costumes coming soon)
IB Learner Profile Traits Awards for September
Congratulations to the following students who got an IB Learner Profile Trait Award this month. They received a ticket to shop at the Pop-Up Store Friday, October 7th at lunch!
Counselor Corner
Connecting with Grade Level Counselors:
Our counselors have begun to offer open office hours for students twice a week. This is a great time for students to reach out if they need help, are concerned about a friend, or are feeling overwhelmed and stressed by this year. Counselors will be letting students in one at a time so they can speak to students individually and there is no appointment needed.
As a parent, if you are concerned about your student or your student has expressed their desire to talk with a counselor, you can encourage them to drop in. The Zoom links as well as dates and times are listed on the "Cedar Park Middle Students" course on Canvas. Additionally, you or your student can always contact your grade level counselor with a concern to set up an appointment with them outside of these hours.
A Note From Our Nurse
Meet your School Nurse
Introduction:
Hello Cedar Park Community! My name is Amelia Carnahan, and I am your School Nurse. I am excited to have the honor of serving your families during the 22-23 school year!
What is a School Nurse?
A school nurse serves as a medical bridge between school personnel, families, health care providers, and the community. My job is to advocate for student health and a healthy school environment. My goal is to advance the health, safety, and academic success of our students.
When to reach out to your School Nurse?
Please inform your School Nurse of any severe allergies, surgeries, accidents, or new health problems that occurred during the summer months or that may occur during the school year.
Important information for families:
Illness:
Please remember to keep your child home when ill. Please be familiar with our “Too sick for school” guidelines found here:
https://www.beaverton.k12.or.us/departments/teaching-learning/student-services/school-nursing
If your child is sick with a diagnosed communicable disease, please notify the school as soon as possible. This notification will greatly assist others, who, due to medical reasons and/or treatments, have weakened immune systems and may require immediate and specialized care.
Medications:
Medication may be administered to students who require it during the school day. Parents must transport medication to school in the original container and complete a Medication Authorization Form. Please provide emergency medication if prescribed for your student.
Students are allowed to carry and self-administer some emergency prescription medications IF permission is obtained, and the Self-Administration Medication Authorization form is completed and on file in school office.
More comprehensive information regarding medications at school found here:
https://www.beaverton.k12.or.us/departments/teaching-learning/student-services/school-nursing
Immunizations:
All students must be up to date with immunizations before the state exclusion day in February 2023. Students who are not up to date will be excluded from school. Please review your student’s immunization record with your healthcare provider and provide any needed documentation.
Please feel free to contact me regarding any health-related question or concern. You can reach me by email at: amelia_carnahan@beaverton.k12.or.us
Amelia Carnahan, BSN, RN
District Nurse
STEAM program
Eureka! is a 5-year STEAM program for female, and femme identifying youth. We work with youth from 7th grade through their Senior year of high school to support and empower them through our exploratory STEAM curriculum. Youth participate in a Summer camp, our year-round monthly learning sessions, and they have the opportunity to participate in STEAM related paid internships during their time in Eureka! Applications are open for youth in 7th through 10th grade.
Here is a link to our website with more information about our programs and links to our Eureka! application:
Girls Inc PNW: https://girlsincpnw.org/
Eureka!, 5-year STEAM program for 7th-12th grade youth: https://girlsincpnw.org/what-we-do/programs/eureka/
We would love the opportunity to table at your school during this back to school time, or share about our programs at upcoming community events. Please let me know potential dates that would work for tabling, and who would be the best contact at your school, if not yourself, to share about our programs. We also have digital flyers we can share with you to send out to your school community.
I look forward to hearing from you!
Best,
Emily