Hollydale HERO Highlights
A news publication for the parents and students of Hollydale
Home of the Heroes
Email: ramirez26@gresham.k12.or.us
Website: https://www.gresham.k12.or.us/hdes
Location: 505 SW Birdsdale Dr, Gresham, OR 97080
Phone: 503-661-6226
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HollydaleElementarySchool
Twitter: @Hollydale_ES
A Word from the Principal… Ms. Ramirez — September 2021
September 17, 2021
Dear Hollydale Families,
It has been exciting to see all of our students back these past two weeks! There are so many wonderful things happening in our classrooms all through the building. Staff and students are rediscovering the joys of working together in person!
Along with the fun of working together also comes the challenge of doing so in a pandemic. We are happy to report that our team is constantly monitoring our routines and adjusting to provide the safest learning environment for all students and staff. We appreciate your support as we ensure that safety guidelines and protocols are followed all over the school campus. This includes social distancing wearing face coverings when on district property. By working together we can all do our part to mitigate the spread of the newest variant of COVID-19.
On the district webpage, you will find a link to the COVID dashboard which is updated every Sunday to reflect the current total of active COVID cases by school as well as the entire district.
We thank you for your continued patience and cooperation in following staff directions regarding the flow of traffic during arrival and dismissal times. Please remember to be courteous and aware when driving/waiting on Birdsdale Drive that you are not stopped in front of, or blocking, anyone's mailbox.
Additionally, we truly appreciate your understanding as we strictly adhere to the guidelines as set out by Multnomah County, the State of Oregon, and the CDC. We are working hard to respond as quickly as possible to the ever-changing situations.
Please continue to watch for information to come via email and social media Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
If you have any questions or would like to connect with me, please do not hesitate to reach out to me via email at ramirez26@gresham.k12.or.us or by phone 503-661-6226. It is an honor to be a member of the Hollydale community and I look forward to working with each of your children.
Welcome to our New Hollydale Staff!
Introducing our newest Hollydale Heroes:
Sandra Adams - LE 1 Special Ed Assistant
Courtney Baron - Special Ed/Resource Room Teacher
Megan Clohessy - Care Room Attendant
Teri Coleman - 4th Grade Teacher
Heather Diaz - 3rd Grade Teacher
Cameron Dupon - 4th Grade Teacher
Palmer Haffner - Music Teacher
Martha Kahler - 1st Grade Teacher
Jake Kopra - PE Teacher
Angeli Kumar - Title I Assistant
Ryan Monroe - 4th Grade Teacher
Jess Nguyen - Health Assistant
Hannah Schoen - 1st Grade Teacher
UPCOMING IMPORTANT DATES
Friday, September 24 - No School for Students; Teacher In-Service Day
Tuesday, September 28 - School Picture Day
Thursday, October 7 - No School For Students; Teacher In-Service Day
Friday, October 8 - No School For Students
Free Breakfast and Lunch
Free breakfast and lunch are available for all of our students for the 2021-2022 school year. However, if a student brings a cold lunch from home and wants just a carton of milk, they will need to purchase one for 50¢. If your student is interested in eating breakfast at school, breakfast starts at 8:15 am weekdays M, T, Th, F and 9:15 am on Wednesday (Late Start).
Counselor's Corner
Welcome to a new school year! It’s so nice to see our returning students and welcome new ones to Hollydale.
After a year of online and hybrid learning, plus a long summer off, the transition back to school can be difficult for many students. One way that parents and caregivers can help kids adjust is by setting up consistent bedtime, homework, and check-in routines.
• Bedtime routines: Most grade-school-aged children need between 9 and 10 hours of sleep per night and a consistent routine helps their body adjust to the school day. Kids who are tired during the day will have a harder time learning and thinking. Set a bedtime and stick with it every weekday. Avoid putting computers, i-pads, phones, or TVs in a child’s bedroom. These things can encourage a child to stay up past their bedtime and disrupt the quality of their sleep.
• Set a routine for homework: Many students need a little downtime after school to rest and have a snack. Homework time should come next so that students aren’t completing it right before bed and possibly running out of time. Save computer or television time for later, when homework is completed.
• Daily Emotional Check-Ins: The past year and a half has been stressful and full of change for many families and kids. Parents and caregivers can help by checking in with kids on a regular basis. An emotional check-in means asking your child not only what their day was like, but how they are feeling about things in general. This helps kids become more aware of their emotions, an important life skill. You might simply ask, “What feelings did you have today?” and follow up with, “Was that an easy or difficult feeling to have?” and “How did you manage that feeling?”
If you have any concerns about your child, I’m happy to help. Feel free to contact me by phone or email.
Christine Fitch, M.Ed.
Licensed School Counselor
Hollydale Elementary School
503-661-6226 x 2290
Notes from the HEALTH ROOM
Introducing Jessica Nguyen
Hi there! I’m Jess, and I’m Hollydale’s new Health Assistant! Some of you may recognize me from last spring as the Care Room Health Assistant. For the new school year, I am so thankful for the opportunity to be able to transition my work to the school’s Health Room. I graduated from the University of Washington with a Bachelor of Science degree in Public Health, and I aspire to pursue a career in pediatrics. Through my prior experiences, I've enjoyed working with kids both in clinic and in education. I'm excited to greet all the wonderful students again, and I'm happy I can continue to be a part of the Hollydale Hero team!
(503) 661-6226 ext. 2285
Introducing Megan Clohessy
Hi, I'm Megan! I'm the new Care Room Attendant and I'm excited to be working with you all. Please contact me if you have any questions.
(503) 661-6226 ext. 2273
Prescription Medication
If your child will need to take prescription medication during school hours: 8:15 am - 3:05 pm, please contact our Health Assistant, Jessica Nguyen, at (503) 661-6226 ext. 2285 or email nguyen74@gresham.k12.or.us to set up an appointment to drop off medication and fill out the required paperwork.
Multnomah County Student Health Center
The Student Health Center closest to Hollydale Elementary is at Centennial High School, where they are offering students in-person healthcare and telehealth services for families with or without insurance from 8:45 am to 4:45 pm weekdays. Call (503) 988-5488 to make an appointment.
Student Health Centers are also open at David Douglas, Parkrose, Roosevelt, and Reynolds high schools. They offer convenient physical and mental health care services to all Multnomah County students ages 5-18 regardless of where they attend school.
There are no out-of-pocket costs. Services include:
- COVID-19 testing
- Physical exams
- School immunizations
- Mental & behavioral health services
- Sports physicals
- Treatment for illness and injury
- Vision, dental, and blood pressure screenings
- Age-appropriate reproductive health
- Routine lab tests
- Prescription medications
- Health education, counseling and wellness promotion
- Fitness, nutrition education, and counseling
- Referrals for healthcare services not provided at the clinics
Click here for more information: multco.us/health/student-health-centers
CONNECT WITH THE PRINCIPAL
Email: ramirez26@gresham.k12.or.us
Website: https://www.gresham.k12.or.us/hdes
Phone: 503-661-6226