Black Bear Bits
February 25, 2022
Important Dates
2/28: Memory Book Orders Due
2/28-3/4: Read Across America Spirit Week
3/1: First day of Women's History Month
3/1: OBOB Final Battle
3/13: Daylight Savings Time Begins
3/17: St. Patrick's Day
3/21-25: No School - Spring Break
In this edition...
- Letter from the Principal
Read Across America Spirit Week
- OBOB Final Battle!
- Memory Books on Sale Now!
- PTA Needs YOU!
- Kindergarten Registration
- Pre-K Registration
- Black Bears for Equity
- Site Council Needs You!
- February PAX Paw Prize Winners
- Virtual Parenting Support Speakers Series
- Help Bridge the Gap for Students!
- Updated Covid Information
- Sign up for OHSU Covid Screening
- Reporting Covid-19 Vaccinations to the School
- Screen for Covid at home
- NEW Exclusion Guidelines
- Flu and Covid Vaccines Available
- Packed with Pride Needs Our Help!
- Important Links
Letter from the Principal
Dear Tualatin Black Bear Families,
We are very excited to celebrate Aggi Hendriks, who is Tualatin Elementary School’s Classified Staff Member of the Year. Aggi has run the Tualatin Elementary kitchen for over 20 years. She works alongside families in our school sustainable garden, she teaches after-school cooking classes for students in our TEAF program, she mentors CE2 students, and she goes above and beyond to ensure that no food goes to waste. We are grateful for all she does for our community. Each school’s Classified Staff Member of the year will be honored during the School Board meeting on Monday, February 28th at 6:30 PM. Join the celebration on Monday evening to show your support. Students are more than welcome.
Read Across America Week!
Many of our classes have different reading activities planned next week, February 28-March 4. We invite all our families to enjoy reading together at home as well. Our staff is always happy to see students do so much extra reading around this fun time of year. We encourage our students and families to continue this extra reading practice at home for the rest of this school year. Time reading at home is one of the best ways to support your child’s success as a learner. I am including a fun activity that will help make reading at home even more fun. When students have fun reading they will not only become stronger readers, they will also strengthen their love of reading for a lifetime.
READING RECIPE:
This is a recipe for success in reading. Ingredients: storybook, paper or computer, pen or pencil. This activity is called “PASS IT ON.” Everyone in the family takes a turn reading with this fun activity. First, choose a fun book that the entire family will enjoy. Second, brainstorm 15 instructions and which direction to pass the book with your child. Write each instruction on a slip of paper and put the slips in a bowl. Instructions can be anything from reading while standing on one leg to reading the whole page while smiling to reading the words while singing. Third, pick someone to read the first page of the book aloud. That person draws a slip from the bowl and passes the book according to the instructions. You may choose to discard or return instructions to the bowl. Continue drawing slips and passing the book until you finish the story, or run out of instructions.
COVID-19 Update: Today, the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) announced they have moved up the date they will lift the statewide masking rule for indoor public spaces and schools to March 19. You can find the full announcement here.
TTSD will be presenting a plan at the March 14 School Board meeting that will detail how the district plans to move forward upon lifting of this rule. We will do this work prioritizing staff and student safety and minimizing disruption to in-person learning while beginning to lift indoor restrictions.
Important notes:
Masks will continue to be required indoors through Friday, March 18, 2022.
All planning of new district guidance will be driven by Washington County data regarding the spread of COVID-19 in our community.
The district sent out a survey on Friday, February 18, asking for feedback from our families, staff, and students. The survey will be open through Friday, March 4. Look for a report on the feedback collected in the March 4 Community Newsletter.
Time to Register Kindergarten and PreK Students: Registration is Open - Please contact our office at 503-431-4800 for any registration support. We are here to help in any way we can. Enrollment is online at: https://www.ttsdschools.org/Domain/3516
Have fun reading,
Mr. Kingery
Principal
Read Across America Week
Are you looking for fun ways to celebrate Read Across America Week (2/28-3/4)? Here are some suggestions for celebrating the magic of a story!
Storywalks: Storywalks are kids’ books that have been deconstructed, page by page, and set out along a path or street. Families get to “read” a book together while also getting outside and taking a lovely walk in a park! WIlsonville parks have a few different Storywalks available!
Reading obstacle course: Book fun, physical activity, and physical distancing all in one! Take advantage of empty parking lots or sidewalks and chalk up (or paint, duct tape) a path that gets kids hopping, jumping, spinning, balancing, marching, dancing, and zigzagging. Your chalk walk could include a variety of steps and directions based on literary references from fairy tales or folk tales, like Mufaro’s Beautiful Daughters; be focused around books that really move, such as We’re Going on a Bear Hunt; or be an inspired interpretation of a title like Firebird or Jabari Jumps.
Virtual Storytime: Tigard Public Library is hosting a virtual storytime every Tuesday and Thursday from 10:30-11. Registration is required.
New reads: Looking for a new book to read together? Here are some books that feature kids of all kinds doing amazing things! Links will take you to a youtube read aloud of the book.
The Electric Slide and Kai - Kai wants to learn how to dance the electric slide before a family wedding. Will his family help him find his moves?
The Youngest Marcher - Read about Audrey Faye Hendricks, the youngest Civil Rights Activist, and learn that you’re never too little to make a difference.
Carmela Full of Wishes - Carmela finds a dandelion on her birthday, and her brother tells her to make a wish. Will she be able to make the right wish?
Need more amazing titles? This is a list of amazing books with diverse characters to dive into and celebrate Read Across America.
OBOB Final Battle!
Our Final Eight OBOB teams battled it out and two teams prevailed to reach the final battle to be held at our Virtual OBOB assembly on Tuesday, March 1! The the two top scoring teams were: The Flying Black Pigs and The Oracles. We also want to say great job to the OBOB Cheetahs who originally tied for 2nd place. We are so proud of all of the teams that participated. We have had a great OBOB year where students have read lots of great books.
We want to give a big thank you to the Tualatin Public Library and The Tualatin Library Foundation for our OBOB books. They generously donated 80 books this year for OBOB. Their support of our students and our library is greatly appreciated.
Last call for Memory Book orders!
The deadline to turn in your order form and $20 payment is Monday, February 28th. Don’t miss this chance to reserve a copy for your child. Extra order forms are available in the office, or you can print the order form included in the Black Bear Bits attachments. Please make checks payable to the Tualatin Elementary PTA.
Any questions? Contact Amber Nickle at tualatinmemorybook@gmail.com
PTA Needs YOU!
The PTA is most immediately recruiting for the following:
- Read-a-thon Team: Our annual read-a-thon will begin in March but volunteers are needed in April to pass out prizes
- Art Lit: Next year, our incredible Art Lit coordinators will move on to other responsibilities so we will need new coordinators to take over this vibrant program in our school.
- 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.
Kindergarten and PreK Registration Update
Kindergarten information and registration is online at: https://www.ttsdschools.org/Domain/3516
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 complete the Preschool Program Interest Form 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
Black Bears for Equity
Join our Site Council!
Site Council is looking for new parent members! What is Site Council you ask? The Tualatin Elementary Site Council is a group of teachers, parents and classified staff who work with the principal to develop, review and evaluate school improvement programs and make recommendations for how to use our school resources. Our Site Council’s main goal is to increase student achievement by improving instructional programs, plan professional development and foster family involvement. We also discuss school needs, enrichment opportunities and grant funding. Our Site Council meets each month after school from 2:45-3:30.
If you are interested in joining Site Council please email Amy Barnes, the Site Council Chair, at abarnes@ttsd.k12.or.us. Once you have expressed interest, parents will vote to approve all new parent members and the first meeting for new members is on Thursday, March 31st.
We look forward to new parents joining Site Council.
February PAX Paw Prize Drawing
This month's winners were:
Stuffed Animal: Riley in LePore's class
LED Lights; Jayda in Mr. Michael's class
Virtual Parenting Support Speakers Series
Parenting Together Washington County, Washington County Kids, and the Cedar Mills and Bethany Libraries are engaged in launching two Parent Learning and Support Series beginning in March. Explore the topics by clicking on the PTWC Events Calendar links below. Additionally, The Oregon Child Development Coalition is sharing their upcoming Abriendo Puertas series facilitated in Spanish. Registration is required and space is limited. Details on dates topics and registration are contained in the posted flyers and or embedded Events calendar links. Please share widely and connect a family today!
Washington County Kids Virtual Parenting Support Series Flyers – Begins March 1st
Register for the specific topics of interest or all sessions
Cedar Mills and Bethany Library Parenting Support Series – Begins March 8th
OCDC Abriendo Puertas Parent Learning and Connection Series - Begins March 2nd – May
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
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.
- 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
NEW Exclusion Guidelines
If your child presents with any of the following symptoms at home or at school, there are specific exclusion guidelines we will follow.
Assume COVID, if the following symptoms are present: shortness of breath, cough, fever, loss of taste or smell, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, sore throat, and/or runny nose.
Primary Symptoms: (any ONE requires a negative covid test to return)
Fever greater than 100.4
Chills
Cough
Shortness of breath, difficulty breathing
New loss of taste or smell
Secondary Symptoms: (any TWO require a negative covid test to return)
Runny Nose or congestion
Sore Throat
Headache
Fatigue
Muscle or Body Aches
Nausea or vomiting
Diarrhea
If your child has any of the above primary or secondary symptoms, please keep your child home and contact the school.
With any one primary symptom or two secondary symptoms, your student will need a negative covid test AND be symptom-free for 24 hours to return
With any one secondary symptom, please keep your student at home and monitor for any additional symptoms. If not additional symptoms, student must be symptom-free for 24 hours before returning.
Vomiting or diarrhea require a 48 hour exclusion after the last episode
COVID-19 Vaccination Clinics and Testing Sites
Need a COVID-19 test? Don’t go to the emergency department.
NHC’s Tualatin High School School-Based Health Center (SBHC)
is offering no-cost COVID-19 vaccines and boosters for TTSD families, ages 5 & up. The vaccines are free regardless of insurance status.
Tualatin High School SBHC * Clinic access from the North Parking Lot 22300 SW Boones Ferry Rd
- The first and second doses of the Pfizer COVID vaccine will be provided to both students and family members over the age of 5 years old.
- Booster doses will also be available for those 16+ years of age and older who completed their initial Pfizer or Moderna series at least six months ago or their initial J&J vaccine two months ago.
Please make an appointment by calling 503-941-3180 to schedule.
- Appointments are strongly recommended, but not required.
- Please bring your vaccination card with you. This is for your benefit and home records.
- Want more information about the COVID vaccine?
- Call us at 503-941-3180 or read this article from the CDC: Myths and Facts about COVID-19 Vaccines
Tektronics COVID-19 Vaccinations for Ages 5 and Up
14200 SW Karl Braun Drive
Building 58, Beaverton
Monday - Saturday 12:00 - 7:00 PM
Sunday 11:00-4:00 PM
- All three vaccines are available
- No appointment needed
- No cost
Beaverton Resource Center
This clinic takes place on Fridays inside the Beaverton Resource Center
13565 SW Walker Road.
All three vaccines are available, including boosters, third doses, and Pfizer vaccines for kids 5-11.
You can walk-in
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