Black Bear Bits
March 18, 2022
Important Dates
3/16-4/2: Read-a-thon - Gather sponsors
3/21-25: No School - Spring Break
3/31: Site Council
4/4: Spirit Week - Black Bear Pride Day
4/5: Spirit Week - Cozy PJ and book day
4/6: Spirit Week - Wacky Hair Wednesday
4/7: Spirit Week - Story book Theme Day
4/8: No School - Teacher Work Day
4/4-10: Read-a-thon READ
4/4-7: Third Grade State Testing
4/11-14: Fourth Grade State Testing
4/14: Read-a-thon Reading Log and Money due
4/14: End of Third Quarter
4/15: No School - Teacher Work Day
In this edition...
- Letter from the Principal
- Parent Survey-New Principal Search
- 2022-2023 TTSD Calendar
- Vote for Site Council Reps
- Spring Break Activities for Families
- Read-a-thon Timeline
- Read-a-thon Spirit Week
- Kindergarten Registration
- Pre-K Registration
- Volunteering Requirements
- PTA Needs YOU!
- Help Bridge the Gap for Students!
- Updated Covid Information
- Updated Covid-19 Guidelines (3/12/22)
- Sign up for OHSU Covid Screening
- Reporting Covid-19 Vaccinations to the School
- Screen for Covid at home
- Packed with Pride Needs Our Help!
- Important Links
Letter from the Principal
Dear Tualatin Black Bear Families,
We hope you all have a restful and fun spring break with family and friends. Our staff will be recharged and ready to ensure each child’s success when students return on Monday, March 28th. We will revisit academic and behavior expectations in all locations around the school with each grade level. We actively teach all students our three school rules for being SAFE, KIND AND RESPONSIBLE PAX Leaders each and every day. If you have questions about Safe, Kind, or Responsible expectations here at school, please ask your child, or your child’s teacher.
ATTENDANCE:
Help your child reach their full potential by making sure they are at school on time every day. Regular attendance is very important to each student’s progress. Ensuring that your child is here at school every day and on time teaches them an important part of responsibility that they will need to succeed in and out of school. Being here on time every day at school helps to ensure that every child will be successful.
I am extremely grateful for all the kind words, well wishes and support following last week’s announcement that I will be moving to Art Rutkin Elementary School in Tigard after June this year. June will be an emotional month for me as it will be a time to reflect on so many great years as part of the Tualatin Elementary School community. I am thankful that I still have three months with everyone here. Here is the TTSD announcement from last week in case you wanted to see it and have not yet. Please contact me with any questions or need for details.
With Gratitude,
Mr. Kingery
Principal
Parent Survey-Tualatin Principal Search
Please here or on the button below to go to the survey and share your thoughts. Your feedback is confidential.
TTSD 2022-2023 Calendar
Site Council Voting
We are excited to present two parent members to the Site Council for your approval!
Please click here to vote and add them to Site Council!
Thank you!
Spring Break Activities for Families
Are you looking for fun activities to do during Spring Break? Here are some options that are all affordable, fun, and family friendly!
Take and Make Bags at Tigard Public Library (all month): Feeling crafty? Each bag (set out on the 1st and 15th of each month) has instructions and materials to make a craft!
World of Leonardo DaVinci at OMSI (Opens March 19): Explore one of the most creative and curious minds in history in this awesome exhibit at OMSI that showcases some of his most famous inventions and brings them to life.
Find a waterfall: Looking for a beautiful, family friendly hike? Wahclella Falls is a gorgeous, safe, shorter hike with stunning views and an awesome waterfall at the end.
Memoir Writing (March 20): Head over to Tigard Public Library and learn about some interesting people in their own words and then learn how to write your own memoir (best for grades 1-4)!
Visit a farm: Visit Triskelee farms and hang out with alpacas, goats, ostriches, rabbits, and more!
Daffodil Day (March 19-20): Welcome Spring with the city of Tigard! Meet in the center of Tigard and get a free flower from a city employee (10 am - 5pm or until flowers run out!
Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival: The annual festival with gorgeous tulip flowers returns with limited capacity to keep everyone safe.
Virtual Storytime (March 22, 24, 29, and 31): Join the Tigard Public Library as they sing songs, share stories, and have all sorts of fun!
Walk/Bike Paths: Get outside during Spring Break on these kid/family friends bike/walking paths!
2022 Read-a-thon Timeline
March 16- March 26:
Set up pledge star with students at https://pledgestar.com/tualatin/
Begin gathering sponsors!
March 28th - April 2:
Continue gathering pledges
Win prizes by completing read-a-thon worksheets in class
READ!
April 4th - April 7th:
Start turning in pledge sheets
Fill out the Reading Log!!
Read-a-thon spirit week!
April 11th - 14th:
Turn in your Read-a-thon sheets
Final week to turn in pledge forms
Class winners will begin to be tallied
Read-a-thon Spirit Week
Monday, April 4th
Black Bear Pride – Wear black and red or spirit wear items
Tuesday, April 5th
Cozy PJ and book day - Wear your favorite pajamas and take a break to enjoy some cozy reading
Wednesday, April 6th
Wacky Hair Wednesday - Let’s see your crazy hair. Be creative! Read a wacky, funny joke book and earn double reading time
Thursday, April 7th
Story book Theme Day - Dress as your favorite story book character and bring in your book to share with your class
Kindergarten and PreK Registration Update
If your PreK student is in one of Teacher Adam’s classes then you are already registered for this fall. Contact our office with questions.
Pre-K Registration
TTSD PRESCHOOL
Free Preschool for Children ages 3 to 5
The Tigard-Tualatin School District in partnership with Community Action offers free preschool classes for qualifying families.
Please fill out our electronic Preschool Interest Google Form online
OR
complete the Preschool Program Interest PDF and send the completed form to:
- preschoolinfo@ttsd.k12.or.us or
- deliver to your neighborhood Tigard-Tualatin Elementary School or
- mail to Early Learning Coordinator TTSD
6961 SW Sandburg St, Tigard, OR 97223
Volunteering Requirements
We are excited to welcome volunteers back into our school! Please note that the following must be completed prior to volunteering on site:
Note: All volunteers must complete the checklist below to volunteer
- Complete a background check at: www.helpcounter.net/ttsd. (This needs to be renewed every three years.) You will also need to complete the Child Abuse online training.
- Be vaccinated for COVID-19. Please provide vaccine documentation using the following link-TTSD Volunteer Vaccination Documentation or send a copy/photo of your card to the school office (athorderson@ttsd.k12.or.us)
- When the above has been completed, contact the school office (athorderson@ttsd.k12.or.us or 503-431-4800) and we will give you documents for the Volunteer COVID training through Tualatin Elementary.
Masks will be optional in the building for volunteers. We ask that if you are sick or have any symptoms, that you postpone your volunteering until you are well.
PTA Needs YOU!
The PTA is most immediately recruiting for the following:
- Read-a-thon Team: Volunteers are needed in April to pass out prizes
- Art Lit: Volunteers needed to teach Art Lit lessons in your child's classroom next year.
- Fun Run: This is the biggest yearly fundraiser we hold and the most fun for our families. Help coordinate or join the team as we plan for an in-person event!
- Join the PTA board! This is where all the fun and planning starts! We most urgently need a Secretary--we've been without one for 2 years now!
If you are interested in joining any of these committees or joining the board, please contact the PTA at tualatinpta@gmail.com You may also call the office for more information.
Help Bridge the Gap for our Students!
The Foundation for Tigard Tualatin Schools (FTTS) annual Fund Drive is happening now! Donations from the drive help enrich our students' education. Your donations hire part-time teachers, support innovative teaching ideas and provide college scholarships.
The goal is to raise $75,000 during this year's Fund Drive! That will put the Foundation on track to give each school a $10,000 check for their School Grant, to be used to fund teacher hours that will bridge their most pressing instructional gap. More teachers, more learning!!
Check out all the ways that The Foundation for Tigard Tualatin Schools has helped Tualatin Elementary and donate today!
Updated Covid Information
Updated Covid-19 Guidelines
Please make note of the following updated Covid Exclusion guidelines,
effective March 14, 2022.
Primary Symptoms:
Fever greater than 100.4 or chills
Cough
Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
New loss of taste or smell
Non-Primary Symptoms:
Headache
Nausea or vomiting
Diarrhea
Fatigue (tiredness)
Sore throat
Muscle/body aches
Congestion or runny nose
If your child is COVID-19 positive, all of the following must apply before returning to school:
Your child must remain home for at least 5 days after the onset of symptoms or positive test result, AND
Be fever free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medications, such as Tylenol or ibuprofen; and
Symptoms must be improving.
It is recommended that your student wear a mask on days 6-10.
If your child has any TWO of the above primary symptoms, the Tigard-Tualatin School District requires your child to stay home for 5 days after the onset of symptoms, unless:
You provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test result OR A doctor’s note indicating a different diagnosis and that COVID-19 is not suspected; or proof of COVID-19 infection within the last 90 days, AND
Be fever-free for 24 hours without use of fever-reducing medications, such as Tylenol or ibuprofen;
Symptoms must be improving.
If your child has any ONE of the above primary symptoms, Tigard-Tualatin School District requires your child to stay home until:
Symptoms are improving
Fever must be resolved for 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medications such as Tylenol or ibuprofen.
If your child has any of the above non-primary symptoms that persist for more than one day, parents or guardians should consider evaluation by the child’s healthcare provider, who can determine if viral testing is advised. See attached flyers for guidance on when your child can return to school.
Please contact the office for testing resources, including on-site and at home tests kits, if needed.
OHSU Covid Screening--You can still sign up!
If you are interested in participating in the weekly OHSU screening, you can join at any time. Additionally, your student can participate whether they are vaccinated or unvaccinated. If you would like to sign up, contact your student's teacher and we'll send a packet home.
If you have any questions, please contact the office. (503-431-4800)
Reporting Covid-19 Vaccinations to the School
Screen for Covid Symptoms at Home
Every day before your child leaves for school, check for symptoms of Covid. If your child exhibits any of the following symptoms, keep them home. Please call the attendance line (503-431-4770) to let us know what symptoms the child has so we can help you determine how long the child will need to be out of school. Requirements can be found in the attachments to this newsletter.
- Fever or chills
- Cough
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Fatigue
- Muscle or body aches
- Headache
- New loss of taste or smell
- Sore throat
- Congestion or runny nose
- Nausea or vomiting
- Diarrhea
Packed with Pride Needs Our Help
Volunteers are needed and appreciated. Opportunities include helping to:
* unload and stock food items
* pick up donations from our grocery store partners
* fill the food boxes
* help check-in station with your Spanish/English bilingual skills, every other Wednesday, 5:00-7:30p
* move and load boxes into cars at handout
* help with some schools needing to make home deliveries every other Wednesday evening
Email packedwithpridecommunity@gmail.com to be included in our weekly email about volunteer opportunities. Thank you in advance for your helping hands.
Tualatin Elementary School
Email: tualatinoffice@ttsd.k12.or.us
Website: https://www.ttsdschools.org/tualatin
Location: 20405 SW 95th Ave
Phone: 503-431-4800
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TualatinElementaryGarden/
Twitter: @TuES_BlackBears