Oak Hills Newsletter
February 23, 2018
Principal's Message
Dear Oak Hills Families,
I hope you enjoyed the snow days with your family. With the sunshine and signs of spring everywhere, I was truly surprised with the beautiful winter blanket of snow. I am glad everyone was safe. You may have wondered why the early release at 10:15am on Tuesday? Oak Hills is one of the first schools to release students. Our buses have to deliver our students and then go to the other late start elementary schools. This run is followed by taking middle school students home. Some of our special needs students travel 40 to 45 minutes on a regular day to reach home and thus, it was important the first run schools dismissed early. On a two-hour delay, our custodian, Eric Snider, makes sure the sidewalks right outside of the school and the ramps to the portables are safe. He shovels the snow and puts down a deicer. Mrs. Demartino and I show up at our regular time so we can answer phone calls and work with students who may have been dropped off early. Anyway, we are glad we are back and we look forward to a mild weather pattern in the future.
On another note, I understand there continues to be frustration around the requirement of a background check for volunteers. The simple way to remember this is If you are coming to school to watch your child perform and/or are having lunch with your child, you do not need your background check done and you can bring the younger sibling. For every other opportunity in the classroom or on the field, we need you to have your background check done. Siblings are, of course, welcome at any parent meetings as well. Please refer to this district document for further details. Additionally, we need you to check in at the computer and wear your volunteer badge to volunteer. Our lovely Volunteer Coordinator, Lindsey Burnham, will improve the interface on the computer this summer so it will be easier for you to sign up and check in.
These are not my rules or something from the PTO. This policy applies for the safety of all students in the Beaverton School District. Just to clarify things, here is the plan for volunteer opportunities for the rest of the school year:
Battle of Books Final Battle:
Background check is not required. Siblings can attend.
Field Day and 5th Grade Send Off:
Background checks are required for volunteers. Spectators with no background checks will be asked to stay in a designated area only. Background checks will not be required for lunch with your student. Siblings can attend if you are not volunteering.
Field Trips:
Background checks are required.
Parent meetings and evening events:
No background checks are required. Siblings may attend.
I hope this clarifies things and thank you for your support. We love having you at our school, and we hope you will continue to volunteer at Oak Hills.
Warm regards,
Sheila Baumgardner
Spring Conferences
Parent Teacher Conferences are fast approaching and we are using the online scheduler again this year. As a reminder, the official dates for conferences are below:
March 7, 3:30PM -7:30PM
March 8, 7:30AM -7:30PM (No School for Students)
To schedule your conference please click on the following link:
https://ptcfast.com/schools/Oak_Hills_Elementary_School_
Please follow the steps outlined on the website. If you are having issues with the website, contact your child’s teacher. Unfortunately, our schedule does not allow us to hold separate conferences for divorced or separated families. Please contact the office if there is a court order that mandates an exception to this policy. We look forward to seeing all families at these important meetings. Conferences provide an important opportunity for you to understand how your student is dong both academically and socially. We ask you do not bring your child to your meeting so you can have an honest conversation with your child’s teacher.
Local Option Levy
School Board Passes Resolution to Authorize Local Option Levy Renewal
The Beaverton School Board on Monday, Jan. 22, 2018 unanimously adopted a resolution to place a five-year Local Option Levy Renewal on the May 15, 2018 ballot. This is a vote-by-mail election. If approved, the Local Option Levy Renewal would allow Beaverton schools to preserve 300 teaching positions, maintain class sizes, and help ensure students are prepared for post-high school success. The levy renewal costs $1.25 per $1,000 assessed property value. Homes with the median assessed value of $238,000 would continue to pay less than $25 per month. The levy could raise approximately $31-$35 million a year. In 2013, voters approved a five-year local option levy to restore teaching positions that had been cut due to repeated state funding shortfalls. The levy has raised $128 million, and 100% has remained in Beaverton schools to fund approximately 300 teaching positions and reduce class sizes. In the 2017-2018 school year, 158 of these positions were allocated to Beaverton’s elementary schools, 53 to middle schools, 70 to high schools, and 18 to options schools.
For more information, please contact the Communications & Community Involvement Department at 503-356-4360.
About Beaverton School District
The Beaverton School District is nationally recognized for its high student and staff achievement and innovative programs. Beaverton is the third largest school district in Oregon with 53 schools, more than 41,000 students and almost 5,000 talented staff. Beaverton schools are dedicated to providing outstanding, challenging educational opportunities that prepare students to be college and career ready. The district enjoys strong community support with parents, citizens, community partners and businesses donating countless volunteer hours and services to help students succeed.
What this means for Oak Hills
- Currently 6 teachers in our building are supported by the Local Option Levy
- If it does not pass, our class size will increase by 6-7 students in each class
Kindergarten Registration and Round Up
We are so excited to begin welcoming our new students who will be kindergarteners next year. If you have a child who will begin kindergarten next year, stop by and get a registration packet in the main office. When you come, please remember to bring:
- Birth Certificate or Passport
- Immunization Record
- Proof of Address - gas/electric bill, lease agreement
We are also pleased to announce that we will have a kindergarten round up on April 27th from 8:30-10:00 AM. You and your future kindergartener can come and see the school in action. There will be activities for the student, information for parents, and a school tour led by fifth graders. Save the date and plan to join us!
Tentative Dates for 2017-2018
2-26 PTO Mtg. 3pm
3-7 Conferences 3:30-7:30 pm
3-7 Global Citizenship Committee 8-9 a.m.
3-8 No School for Students - Conferences 7:30 am-7:30 pm
3-9 School Closed
3-13 Technology Parent Committee 8-9 a.m.
3-22 STEM/Future Ready Night 6-8pm
3-26 to 3-30 Spring Break
4-10 Career Fair 8:15-10:30
4-10 Manning/Rios - Field Trip
4-12 5th Grade to BIZ TOWN
4-13 No School Assessment Day
4-16 thru 4-20 Book Fair
4-19 Volunteer Tea 1:15pm
4-19 Family Earth Night 6:30-8:30 p.m.
4-20 Rennie/Perrigan Field Trip
4-23 PTO Mtg. 7pm
4-27 Kindergarten Orientation 8:30-10:00 a.m.
5-2 Global Citizenship Committee 8-9 a.m.
5-8 Technology Parent Committee 8-9 a.m.
5-11 Fifth Grade Wax Museum
5-15 Third Grade (Cook/Porter) Field Trip
5-17 Music Program 6-7pm
5-21 PTO Mtg. 7pm
5-24 Third Grade (Willis/Standridge) Field Trip
5-28 Holiday
5-31 Art Night 6-8pm
6-11 Fifth Grade Bowling Party
6-11 PTO Mtg. 3pm (Budget Mtg.)
6-12 4th Grade Field Trip - Philip Foster Farm
6-15 Field Day
6-18 5th Grade Send Off
6-19 Last Day for Students
8-27 First Day of 2018-19 School Year