Oak Hills Newsletter
May 25, 2018
Principal's Message
Dear Oak Hills Families,
Art Night is next Tuesday, May 29, from 6-8pm. This will be an evening to enjoy the art work students have made through our Art Literacy program and to make some fun art projects. I want to take a moment to thank Heather Wadia, Elizabeth Gowing, and Jen Harvey for organizing the Art Night and for Alex Harvey (Jennifer Harvey's son) for chairing the rock art activity. Thank you also to all the volunteers for helping with this event. Families will have the opportunity to preview art that will be sold at our upcoming Auction on June 8. I absolutely love the feel of our gym when it turns into a beautiful art gallery.
We will also have a ribbon cutting ceremony for the beautiful art mural in the entry way. This ceremony will begin right at 5:55pm. We hope you can join us in celebrating the volunteers who worked so hard to make the mural a reality for our school. I have included the story about the mural below.
Additionally, I would like to thank Rebecca Leibowitz, Jennifer Harvey, and Michelle Rowe and all grade level Art Literacy volunteers for teaching Art Literacy this year. Without their dedication to teach, students would not have had the opportunity to learn art methods, art history and the artistic styles of a variety of artists. This year students studied Vincent van Gogh, Frank Stella, Mary Cassatt, Ansel Adams, and Aboriginal and Mexican Folk Art. This focus for Art Literacy was color and value. As a hopeful artist myself, I am thrilled our children have had this wonderful opportunity at Oak Hills.
Have a wonderful Memorial weekend and see you Tuesday at Art Night!
Warm regards,
Sheila Baumgardner
The Story Behind Our Mural
Jennifer Harvey, one of our amazing Art Lit volunteers, has written a beautiful history of the mural that now graces our front entry.
In the Fall of 2016, a few Oak Hills Elementary School parents set about looking for more ways to expose our children to and involve them in art. While considering a variety of possibilities, Heather Lambert pointed out that the upcoming 50th anniversary of the establishment of Oak Hills Elementary offered a wonderful opportunity for the children and community to come together and artfully commemorate the school’s important position in our neighborhood and lives. Recent changes in the entryway to our school had made available a wall which the parents realized could accommodate a commemorative mural. With such a project in mind, our Art Literacy program coordinator, Rebecca Moon Leibowitz, applied on behalf of the Parent Teacher Organization for a grant from the Cultural Coalition of Washington County. The grant was awarded in 2017 and our principal Sheila Baumgardner and the school district offered their enthusiastic support. Following the success of the ceramic coral reef Art Literacy project of Spring 2017, Rebecca suggested that the mural could be achieved with individual clay tiles created by each student in the school. With a design created by Oak Hills parent David Ostler and Rebecca, the tiles were made by the students in their classrooms as an art literacy project, during which they also learned about how the art of Van Gogh inspired their image.
The drawing/design was enlarged and then a grid superimposed over it, breaking the image up into 651 rectangles/tiles. The rectangles were assigned an alphanumeric position. Each student was given a lump of clay which they rolled flat and cut to size using a template. Every student received a rectangular pattern taken from the grid which s/he then translated into clay. Each child made different, independent decisions about how to make the pattern s/he was following, adding bits of clay or carving in the design. The tiles were fired and then glazed by adult volunteers and fired again. Using the grid plan and the alphanumeric position assigned each tile, the mural was assembled on the wall by volunteers.
We are so grateful for all of the students, teachers and volunteers who have donated their time and have creatively collaborated to bring this project to fruition. We appreciate the logistical and financial support of the school district, particularly Tyler Sinner and his excellent crew, in executing its installation. Many thanks to the Cultural Coalition of Washington County and the Regional Arts and Culture Council. We look forward to the Oak Hills Tree welcoming students and visitors for years to come.
On behalf the entire Oak Hills Family we'd like to thank the following people for this amazing mural:
Rebecca Leibowitz for your dedication in overseeing this project.
Heather Lambert for your ideas and love of this project.
All of our volunteer art literacy teachers.
Ken Swenson for his clever solutions to the challenge. Chris Marshall for the painting the frame. Tia Hilts, Kyle Patterson, Annie Evans, Brenda Zak, Denise and Sydney Herrington, Tim Adams, Natsuko Shiba, Alyssa Nelson, Hillary Franks, Amelia Carnahan (and her dad) and Michelle McGhee who helped lay tiles.
Girls on the Run
Girls on the Run is a fun, after-school club that helps girls understand and access their inner strength through physical activity. For 10 weeks, girls train after school to run a 5-k. During that time, they meet with coordinators who help them train for the race, but also teach lessons aimed at building confidence and encouraging relationship building. After the training is over, girls are matched with a woman who acts as their running buddy to help them complete the 3.1 mile course. When they cross the finish line that day, they begin to understand that what seems impossible can be possible with goal setting and dedication. Congratulations to the girls who completed the Girls on the Run curriculum and race!
Mrs. Perrigan, Mrs. Rios and Ms. Nice were running buddies for some of the girls at Oak Hills!
Congratulations to our Marathon Runners!!!
State Testing Results
The administration of our state assessment will take place during the month of May.
Beginning this year, state test scores are available in ParentVUE! You will be able to see your child’s test results sooner than in prior years with less impact on the environment. For the English Language and Math tests, a student’s score is available in ParentVUE two weeks after both parts of the test are completed. Science test scores are available in ParentVUE three days after the test is completed. The Testing Information tab in ParentVUE has links to additional information about your child’s scores. If you need assistance activating a ParentVUE account, please contact the main office.
Students whose parents/guardians do not have an active ParentVUE account will receive a paper report of test scores. Paper score reports will be sent home with students on the last day of school. Score reports will be mailed over the summer for students with test results that arrive after the paper score reports are printed in June. Students with at least one parent/guardian with ParentVUE access may request a printed report by contacting Kay Jenkins by email at kay_jenkins@beaverton.k12.or.us or by phone at 503.356.4594.
Field Day
Dear Oak Hills Families,
Oak Hills Field Day is Friday, June 15th.
Please mark this date on your calendar.
We need lots of volunteers to run stations to make field day a success. Field day is a wonderful opportunity to join in a fun all-school event. A Field Day Sign Up Invitation will be sent out by our volunteer coordinator.
Field Day Schedule:
K-2 Volunteers 8:00-10:30
All-School Picnic (everyone invited) 11:00-11:30
3-5 volunteers 11:30-2:15
PS-As a reminder, all volunteers must have a completed background check.
Thank you ahead of time for your invaluable help at this end of school year event!
Stephanie Musser & Ryan Herd
Oak Hills Physical Education Specialists
Spring Auction on June 8th
We are pleased to announce we will be hosting an auction this year to support the construction of a new track at Oak Hills. Our auction, “Run like an Otter", will be held on June 8th, 2018.
In order to make this auction a success, we are asking for donations from families and local business owners. Please let us know if you have something you would be interested in donating! Do you have any gift cards left over from the holidays? Do you have a vacation home or time share we could use in our live auction? Would your company want free publicity by donating items or services for our silent auction? Your donations are tax deductible and would make a big difference to our community.
We are also looking for auction sponsors. Sponsorship can be in any amount. This can be your employer, your business, or a friend of yours that would like to contribute to our school.
Finally, we are looking for volunteers to help. Please email us and learn how you can make this year’s auction a success! oakhillstrack@gmail.com
Buy your tickets now to the “Run like an Otter” Auction on Friday, June 8th from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. at the Cornelius Pass Roadhouse. All proceeds from this event will go to constructing a new 1/4 of a mile all-weather track. Please join us for an event of dinner, drinks, entertainment, and a silent and live auction. We can’t wait to see you all there!
To buy ticket for the auction, please click on the following link; Oak Hills Auction or visit our website at www.oakhillstrack.com .
"Libraries Rock!" at the Library this summer!
The Cedar Mill Community Library and the Cedar Mill Community Library @ Bethany are hosting a Summer Reading Program and all children and teenagers are welcome to join, beginning on Friday, June 1, 2018. Every reader and pre-reader who participates will be able to earn some great prizes, including a free paperback book!
During the summer, both Cedar Mill Libraries will also be hosting special performances by musicians, magicians, and other creative performers. All programs are free of charge and a calendar of events will be available on June 1.
The Cedar Mill Community Library is located at 12505 NW Cornell Road, Suite 13, at the intersection of Cornell Road and Saltzman Road, behind Sunset Bingo.
The Cedar Mill Community Library @ Bethany can be found on at 15325 NW Central Drive, Suite J-8 in the Bethany Village Shopping Center off of NW Bethany Boulevard.
For more information, contact the Cedar Mill Community Library Youth Services Department at
(503) 644-0043 ext 112.
Check the library website http://library.cedarmill.org for our calendar of events, beginning
June 1st.
Volunteer Background Check Reminders
Just a reminder about which events need background checks this year. Thank you for your cooperation as we strive to keep our students safe. Don't forget to sign in at the computer each time you volunteer, even if it's just for a few minutes!
Field Day and 5th Grade Send Off:
Background checks are required for volunteers. Spectators with no background checks will be asked to stay in a designated area only. Your distance from the students will not provide you with great pictures if you are planning on taking pictures. Background checks will not be required for lunch with your student. Siblings can attend if you are not volunteering.
Field Trips:
Background checks are required.
Parent meetings and evening events:
No background checks are required. Siblings may attend.
I hope this clarifies things and thank you for your support. We love having you at our school, and we hope you will continue to volunteer at Oak Hills.
Dates for 2017-2018
5-28 Holiday
5-29 ART NIGHT 6-8pm
6-1 First Grade Field Trip
6-8 Spring Auction
6-11 PTO Mtg. 3pm (Budget Mtg.)
6-12 4th Grade Field Trip
6-14 5th Grade Bowling
6-15 Field Day
6-18 5th Grade Send Off
6-19 Last Day for Students
7-9 through 7-26 . Special Education Summer School (8:30am -12:30pm)
8-27 First Day of 2018-19 School Year