Orenco Community Newsletter
January 12, 2021
Click the "Translate" button for this newsletter into 80+ languages.
News and Updates
Welcome back to School! We hope you had a relaxing break and found time away from the screens. We are excited to get started with 2021 as we wrap up the remainder of the first semester. Continue to reach out if you have questions, notice changes, or need help or support. We are in this together!! Stay safe!
In service to you,
Allison Combs, Principal
971-231-5383
Messages are checked several times a day: Office phone: 503-844-1370
Follow-up with Capitol/Washington, DC Events
"I would suggest parents ask the child, whatever age they are, what they’ve heard and how they feel about it. Take some cues from them. What you’re really trying to do as a parent is help the child understand the world and, to the extent possible, make them feel safe at home. So understanding the child’s worries and concerns is a good place to start.” Malcolm Gay in “Honest Assessment: How to Help Kids Deal with Frightening News Out of the U.S. Capitol” in The Boston Globe, January 9, 2021
Orenco Teachers are prepared to talk with students and create a safe space for processing and sharing about the events in Washington. While remaining aligned to our normal routines and staying political neutral, we are committed to discussions that are the heart of engaging, student-centered instruction. We are willing to talk to our students about the things that matter, to build trust, and to have conversations about how to participate in a democracy. Please reach out if you have a specific need or concern.
Allison Combs, Principal & Erin Hanson, Counselor
- How to talk to your kids about the chaos at the Capitol from National Geographic
- Talking to Children About Violence: Tips for Parents and Teachers from the National Association of School Psychologists
- An age-by-age guide on how to talk about difficult topics with your children from Motherly and Common Sense Media
Special Dates
Jan 28--Spirit Day: Mustache Day
Jan 28--End of semester
Jan 29--No school for students, Teacher grade-prep
Feb 1--No school for students, Teacher prep
Winter Testing Window
Coming Soon...
Save the Date! Family ART Literacy Event--February 26
Students will be able to submit their artwork to Art to Remember where their artwork can be made into treasures to cherish for years to come. A portion of the profits supports the school. There is no obligation to participate in Art to Remember.
All Materials are provided. Please RSVP and indicate how many individuals will be completing a project. 1 KIT=1 individual
Families will PICK-UP materials at Orenco in time for the event. If you cannot join, you can view the recording so you won't miss out!!
Signup here, which is also linked in the PDF https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080A4AA8AC22AB9-artliteracy3
Contact info@orencoboosterclub.org if you have any questions.
CDL Feedback--Monthly question
Please click on the link below to give us your thoughts or this link: 1 question survey
Justice Leaders and Character Traits
“Never be afraid to raise your voice for honesty and truth and compassion against injustice...If people all over the world would do this, it would change the earth.” ~William Faulkner
Orenco Teachers Awarded with Grants
News Around the Community
Crystal Apple Winner
We highlighted Mr. Mike Futter in December as a Crystal Apple winner. We also wanted to recognize another member of our Orenco community as a Crystal Apple winner this year, too! Una Maher is a HSD teacher and Orenco neighbor. Her children, Alannah and Sean, both attended Orenco from K-6 and are now at Liberty and Poynter. Una has been teaching since 1999 starting in Ireland and taught kindergarten for six years at Lincoln Street Elementary School. She helped create the K-2 program this summer at Hillsboro Online Academy and is currently teaching kindergarten with HOA. Congratulations to Una!Free Parents Workshop in January--FYI
One of our community partners is holding a FREE family workshop series every Tuesday in January. The topics all relate to mental health and are titled "How to help your kids engage in virtual learning". Families must sign up for each session on EventBrite. Spanish sessions are 5-6 pm and English sessions are 6-7 pm. Zoom links to join and other information in the following links.
Help Your Kids Engage Virtual Learning - Spanish Help Your kids Engage Virtual Learning - English
Spanish sessions:
English sessions:
School Counselor "Remind" Code
ONGOING ANNOUNCEMENTS BELOW
Absences and Attendance
Email: cardenan@hsd.k12.or.us
Student attendance is marked daily as: Synchronous or Asynchronous or blank if we cannot verify attendance. District calls go out by 6 pm if your child's attendance is not verified.
Remind app
HSD Coronavirus Updates
Stay updated with HSD information
Link: https://www.hsd.k12.or.us/coronavirusStudent/Family Tech Helpdesk
(Please ask your teacher, too!)
Self-Serve Materials Pick-up
Your teacher may have arranged a pick-up, too. Carts will roll out between 12 pm-6 pm daily if there are items to pick up. Walk to the South entrance--by the play structure and cafeteria entrance doors, not Birch Ave.
Free meals for all students
If you are struggling to find a close meal stop, please don’t hesitate to reach out and call Transportation at 503-844-1123.
For families living in the “walk zone”, there are meal stops available to them. They do not need to walk out of their neighborhood or to the schools to pick up meals.
TAG--Talented and Gifted
TAG Referrals are accepted any time.
Orenco TAG Coordinators: Joe Wilson and Mandi Bailey, wilsonjo@hsd.k12.or.us and baileya@hsd.k12.or.us
Booster News:
- JOIN Orenco Boosters through Remind: @orencobo
Update your contact information here for Booster info! https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/NPZN7BW
Did you know that you can support Orenco Elementary every time you shop at Fred Meyer? Just link your rewards card, or sign up for one if you don't have one. You still receive all the benefits as normal and IN ADDITION, Fred Meyer donates to the school. Follow the link below and search for Orenco Booster Club (Code BQ854)
Orenco participates in Box Tops 4 Education! No more scissors and cutting boxes! Use a downloadable app and scan receipts! https://www.boxtops4education.com/ Register and Select Orenco Elementary.
Ready Schools, Safe Learners
Principal Combs is available to answer any questions or concerns you have. Please don't hesitate to reach out! Email: combsa@hsd.k12.or.us
English Family/Caregiver guide for CDL: https://bit.ly/2CLmFNX
Spanish Family/Caregiver guide for CDL: https://bit.ly/3ghoWOw
Orenco Elementary School
At Orenco
We all belong,
We all learn, and
We all Succeed, because
We all get what we need.
Email: combsa@hsd.k12.or.us
Website: http://schools.hsd.k12.or.us/orenco/Home/tabid/2559/Default.aspx
Location: 7050 Northeast Birch Street, Hillsboro, OR, USA
Phone: 503-844-1370
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Orenco-Booster-Club-136235193790/
Twitter: @teamorenco