The Cat's Connection
April 2017
Take a Few Minutes and See What Our School is Doing!
I have recently been reflecting on the past three years at our school. Due to a somewhat tighter budget this coming year, I have had to really look at all we do and prioritize what it is that we want to accomplish and what we need to have to get there. Having lived through lean budgetary times (remember when we had no electives at the middle school?), I know what a slate of run-of-the-mill classes looks like. I also know that our students are better served by the variety of classes and subjects we have been able to offer the last three years, providing a well-rounded curriculum and an array of experiences so important for middle schoolers.
I am increasingly convinced that we added back the right things, and for the right reasons. Middle school is a unique time of life for our kids, and I believe the work we do to provide supports and engage kids puts our school on top of any school anywhere. My hope is that you will take a few minutes to read through this newsletter, knowing it's only a snapshot of the great work our staff is doing with our kids every day.
I invite you all out to our Spring Open House & Exhibition Night to see what our staff and students have been up to. We have come a long way, and we know we still have a ways to go, but we are all diligently working toward a point where all students are being successful in meaningful ways. I am impressed by the projects students are working on, and you will be, too!
I am thankful to have some of the best and brightest working for our kids at LaCreole! Their commitment is amazing, and our school is better because of them. Coming up next week is Teacher Appreciation Week, so if you are able to come to Open House, please thank your staff for all that they do for our kids.
See you at Open House and Exhibition Night!
THURSDAY - SPRING OPEN HOUSE & EXHIBITION NIGHT!
Great Things Going at LaCreole
Awesome Community Support! Thank you to McDonald's and Beaulaurier Enterprises, Inc.!
A big THANK YOU to Randy Beaulaurier of Beaulaurier Enterprises, Inc., owner/operator of McDonald's restaurants, for the $650 grant they awarded our school to support STEM activities. We've been able to purchase some Sphero's, engineering kits, and other items due to their generosity. THANK YOU!
Congratulations to the winners of the Friendship Art Contest!
Clink on the bar below to see our young artists' amazing work!
6TH GRADE: Morgan Helfrich, Isabell Saxton, Maggie Sosa Santiago
7th GRADE: Jaden English Hall, Sarah Hewitt, Mariyah Hill
8TH GRADE: Krista Cook, Ivy Bassett, Jenny Torreblanca
Thanks to Ms. Shook for providing students with this opportunity!
PROUD OF OUR KIDS!
Kahl Murdock earned a spot to the World Robotics Competition for the second consecutive year. He will be headed back to Tennessee.
Wyatt Button will be headed to New York City to be a part of the National Honor Choir held at Carnegie Hall!
Congratulations and good luck!
Cats of the Month
Congratulations to our February Cats of the Month!
Alyssa Jones - 6th Grade
Thelma Wallis - 7th Grade
Hadley Nelson - 8th Grade
A big thanks to Mr. Harms for highlighting our FANTASTIC Cats!
Congratulations to our March Cats of the Month!
Ben Fink - 6th Grade
Kaylie Spangler - 7th Grade
Brandon Garrison - 8th Grade
A big thanks to Mr. Harms for making our Cats feel like royalty!
New Innovations Council - Hidden Talent Challenge!
I have been wanting to have students and staff lead an innovations team that brings ideas like this to life and builds upon the learning culture of our school. I have used this group to pilot our newly formed Innovations Council this year, and this small group has shown great leadership and planning for what we hope will be an event to highlight our students' hidden talents. Next year, I hope to add to this group and build upon student and staff ideas for how to innovate the way we do school at LaCreole. I am very proud of this group and look forward to the Hidden Talent Challenge coming up May 25. This will be a family event, and all are encouraged to attend.
Who's Got Talent? Hidden Talent Challenge!
We will have our first ever Hidden Talent Challenge on May 25 from 6 - 8 p.m. at LaCreole. This is a family event. Cost to get in is $2.
Auditions will be held May 10 after school. All participants must audition. Acts must be school appropriate with a maximum time of three minutes. Sign ups will begin next week and we will have more information available around school and in the main office.
Olympics Wildcat Style!
Battle of the Books - Champions!
Congratulations to the Battle Cats, this year's Battle of the Books champions! Team members are Sydney Alamein, Shasta Simmons, Garrett Munkers, Evie Olliff, and Owen Abraham.
2017 BATTLE OF THE BOOKS
After a fierce final battle, the Battle Cats won this year's Battle of the Books by one point. They faced off against The Band of Books team of Molly Parsons, Rebecca Stevens, Kenna Rosenbalm, Merick Mangum, and Alli Davis.
Congratulations to all on a hard-fought challenge!
The "Jammies" are coming up!
The Jammies are coming up on May 18 at 7 p.m. in the cafeteria. We will be inducting our new Junior Thespians, giving awards to current thespians, and having performances by our drama students. Attire will be pajamas, and there will be a dessert buffet!
Upcoming Events - Mark your calendar!
4/26 - 6th Grade Choir Field Trip, Delphin Choir Festival
4/27 - Spring Open House & Exhibition Night, 6:00 - 8:00
4/28 - Activity Night
5/1 - 8th Grade Science Field Trip, Seal Rock
5/1-5 - Spirit Week
5/2 - 6th Grade Leadership Field Trip, Arboretum
5/10 - Hidden Talent Challenge - Auditions
5/12 - 7th/8th Grade Nowrthwest Choir Festival
5/16-17 - Wildcat Science Camp, Group 1
5/18-19 - Wildcat Science Camp, Group 2
5/25 - Hidden Talent Show
5/29 - Memorial Day Holiday
5/30 - Incoming 6th Grade Preview Night, 6:30 - 8 p.m.
5/30 - Band Concert, DHS Bollman
5/31 - 8th Grade Civil War Reenactment Day
6/2 - Activity Night
6/8 - Spring Choir Concert, DHS Bollman
6/9 - 8th Grade Portland Prowl
6/13 - Last Day 8th Grade - 8th Grade Recognition Night, 6 p.m.
6/14 - Last Day 6th/7th Grade - Field Day (school out 11:30 a.m.)
Spirit Week!
Activity Nights - only two more to go!
ACTIVITY NIGHT - April 28 and June 2
Doc Titus, DJ Extraordinaire, will be here, so you won't want to miss it!
We ask students to please remember:
- Only current LaCreole students may attend.
- There is a $5 entrance fee.
- Dress according to school dress code as this is a school function.
- Bring $$ for snacks, if desired. The Cat's Den will be open for business!
- Students must stay in the building, with supervision, during the entire event.
- Early leavers must sign out with an administrator and bepicked up by a parent/guardian. Students will not be sent out the door to meet a parent/guardian at another location. Students will not be allowed to walk home or to another location prior to 9 p.m. when the activity is over. No re-admittance.
- Follow school rules. Students with poor behavior will be asked to leave, and a parent/guardian will be contacted to pick up the student.
- Make prior arrangements to be picked up by 9 p.m.
- Students with behavior referrals will not be allowed to attend Activity Night. Students who need to make up lunch and after-school detentions will not be allowed to attend Activity Night.
BE READY! BE RESPONSIBLE! BE RESPECTFUL!
We could use volunteers! If you are interested in helping at Activity Night, please contact our front office at503-623-6662.
Calling all 5th grade families!
6th Grade Wildcat Science Camp!
Mark your Calendars for 6th Grade Wildcat Science Camp!
Wildcat Science Camp is designed for 6th grade students at LaCreole who want to experience learning in the outdoor classroom. Activities are planned and coordinated with teachers in order to align with the core curriculum goals for 6th grade, as well as experiencing outdoor fun!
Details
Location: Camp Tapawingo in Falls City
Dates: Session 1 May 16-17 or Session 2 May 18-19
Cost: $60 (payment plan is optional) due by April 14
7th Grade Zoo Trip
On Wednesday, June 7, 7th graders will be going to the Oregon Zoo to celebrate several weeks of studying the question, “Is the preservation of animals in zoos ethical?" Every content area in 7th grade will explore this question in some form during the weeks leading up to the zoo trip, and as a celebration of all that hard work we will take our students to the zoo to see the animals about which they have been reading, writing, and studying.
Permission slips are on their way. We need to have all permission slips and money returned by Friday, May 12. We also need chaperones! Information about chaperoning is included in the permission letter. Please consider coming along; we'd love to have you join us!
8th Grade Portland Prowl!
8TH GRADE RECOGNITION
8th Grade Recognition, for 8th graders who have a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or above, will be held in the Dallas High School main gym Tuesday, June 13, from 6 - 7 p.m. While this is an exciting time of transition, we want to remind parents and students that it is not necessary to go to any expense to prepare for the evening. Appropriate attire for students should be nice school clothes. Please follow the LaCreole dress code, which means no spaghetti straps or dresses shorter than finger-tip length, no sagging pants, etc. We strongly discourage extravagant fanfare as it detracts from the school focus of recognizing the academic achievement of our students. Seating is limited, so we ask that only immediate family members be invited. LaCreole students who do not have siblings participating are asked not to attend as they can send the 8th graders off during the school day as part of yearbook signing. Students not accompanied by an adult will not be admitted. We thank you for supporting our efforts to focus our attention on academic achievements. If you have questions, please call the LaCreole Counseling Center at 503-623-6663.
Reminder: All school fees must be paid by Friday, June 9.
Reminders
9TH GRADE FORECASTING
9th Grade Forecasting
Forecasting for 8th graders going to DHS took place on March 8. Students should have turned in their forecasting sheets by now. If your child did not complete this process due to absences, please contact the Counseling Center at 503-623-6663.