TTSD Community Newsletter
March 17, 2023
Learn what inspires women at TTSD to work in education!
Crystal Weston is one of TTSD's school board members. Her responsibilities include carefully reviewing policies, budgets and other items by using evidence and considering the student, parent, and community member voices to make decisions that supports all students and the school personnel they rely on. Crystal's inspiration for working in education is that, "(she) had the privilege of quality public school education," she stated. She wants to support the institutions that work to provide our young people with those same opportunities. "Students count on us to prioritize their well being, including ensuring a supportive school environment, curriculum options that work for them and learning critical thinking skills that will help them be productive citizens. I think our next generation holds great promise, and we owe it to them to support their futures," Crystal said.
Kathy Stallkamp works in the Tualatin High College and Career Center at Tualatin High School and her title is School to Career Coordinator. She work with students on their post-high school plans, whether they choose college, military, trade, work or a gap year. Kathy helps research and evaluate options, apply to college and trade schools, help with college funding, connect students to military recruiters and the workforce. "I love my job because I make a difference in student's lives everyday. I expose them to opportunities they didn't know existed and help them see the possibilities they didn't know they had. There is nothing that inspires me like seeing a student who didn't think college was an option get accepted into a school, hearing a student talk about a career I've exposed them to, or seeing their smile when they have been awarded a scholarship," Kathy says. She states that student enthusiasm for information and opportunities is contagious and motivates her to help them as much as she can.
Important Dates
March 27 to 31
No School - Spring Break
April 10
Regular School Board Meeting 6:30 PM
Also streamed live on the TTSD Youtube Channel
Board meeting agendas can be found here
Previous Board Meeting - March 13
Recorded session can be found here
Board Agenda in English and Spanish
The first day of school for the 2023-24 school year will be:
- September 11 for PreK
- September 5 for Grades 1-6 and 9
- September 6 for all students Grade 1-12
The full calendar can be found here.
We are excited to inform you that Superintendent Dr. Sue Rieke-Smith announced on March 15th that Lenichtka "Len" Reed will be the District's new Director of Human Resources starting July 1, 2023. Reed, serving currently as the District’s Associate Director of Human Resources, will step into the position held currently by Debbie Ebert who announced she is retiring at the end of the 2022-2023 school year.
“In her time with TTSD, she has been transformative in creating pathways for growth and in creating innovative practices for recruitment and retention. In partnership with Director Ebert, Len has focused on prioritizing employee engagement, career development, and retention coming out of the pandemic. Her commitment to building and sustaining a diverse and inclusive workforce aligned in a collective commitment to student success will prove a seamless transition into the director’s role," said Superintendent Rieke-Smith.
“I am excited to take on this new role and honored to advance the district’s work dedicated to building and sustaining a welcoming and inclusive workforce,” said Reed. “I look forward to working in partnership with our administrators and associations to create a culture, throughout our district, where staff feels valued, seen, heard, and empowered. By improving employee engagement, our staff will be better invested to care for our ever-growing diverse student population and our students will see themselves in our educators.”
Music in Our Schools Month (MIOSM) is to celebrate what students are doing in their musical programs and to bring awareness to the importance of music in education.
At Tualatin Elementary, students learn to play various instruments such as marimbas, ukeleles, and recorders, in addition to learning how to sing, create, compose, and work together as a team. Staff at Tualatin Elementary are also participating in a survey this year about how music has impacted their lives and the responses will be displayed on a bulletin board in the school's cafeteria. Student performances for Tualatin Elementary can be found recorded on YouTube here. Templeton Elementary students created their own rhythm patterns using rhythm cards and reading them while playing drums. They used Kente cloth rhythms ('kente' meaning eighth notes and 'cloth' for quarter notes) and took turns working with a partner. Metzger Elementary students can be seen wearing Kente clothing (row three, center photo) learning about Ghanian drumming on treshi drums with the help of guest artist Alex Addy.
Fowler Middle School is planning to hold their Spring Band concert at the Fowler MS Commons on March 23rd at 7:00 PM with performances from their intermediate, advanced, and jazz bands.
Tigard High School has hosted multiple shows of its musical adaptation of Spongebob Squarepants called, "Spongebob: The Musical" where students performed songs of different musical artists to recreate the type of musical hodgepodge exhibited by the original television series. More information on the musical can be found here. Tualatin High School held a Holiday Band Concert this past December with the performance recording being found here. Both Tigard and Tualatin High School band concert performances can be found posted here.
Thank you to our musical staff for incorporating music into our students' education and an awesome job to our students!
Food boxes will be distributed two times a month — on the 1st Wednesday of the month and on the 3rd Wednesday of the month from 5 PM-7:30 PM at the Tigard High School parking lot shared with the swim center.
Mark the following Wednesday distribution dates on your calendar:
- March 1
- March 15
- April 5
- April 19
- May 3
- May 17
- June 7
- June 21
Community time is 7 PM-7:30PM. There will be NO distribution on March 29 and May 31. Please do not line up before 4:30 PM to allow the staff at Tigard High to exit the parking lot without being blocked in by the car line. More details here.
The Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT), in coordination with the City of Tigard, is lowering the speed limit from 40 mph to 30 mph on OR 141 (SW Hall Boulevard) between SW 92nd Avenue and SW Pfaffle Street.
The new reduced speed limit will go into effect the week of March 20, once crews install new posted speed limit signs.
What to expect:
- ODOT sign crews will install new speed limit signs along SW Hall Boulevard between SW 92nd Avenue and SW Pfaffle Street.
- Existing 40 mph speed limit signs will be replaced with 30 mph speed limit signs.
- During installation of new speed limit signs, expect short term shoulder closures on SW Hall Boulevard between SW 92nd Avenue and SW Pfaffle Street during the day between 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. while sign crews install the new signs.
More information here.
Oregon Career Information System (CIS) is the state’s official career information delivery system – providing occupational and educational data and materials to help Oregonians learn about the world of work and education. The organization works with schools, colleges, social agencies and businesses who provide career guidance and employee development services. Everyone including you, your children, and your neighbor's dog can access Oregon CIS to find out what career best suits your interests, how to plan for that career, and additional information on other careers as well. The portal can be accessed here.
From Wobble Pods to Vine Climbers, your vote will decide!
The Pick Your Playground program allows for community members to select and vote on what new playground features Jurgens Park will have. Community members are expected to see the new features for the park within the next year. The survey can be found here.
The City of Tualatin will hold its craziest fun run for kids ages 5-15 this June 10, 2023. The Blender Dash will include a mix up of everyone's favorite themed runs, including color, foam, mud, obstacles, and.....zombies! Every participant will receive a race number, colorful sunglasses, and a Blender Dash bandana. Make sure to wear clothes and shoes you don't mind getting dirty as no one will come out of this clean!
More information can be found here.
Oregon Health Authority (OHA) announced that workers, patients and visitors in health care settings will no longer be required to wear masks starting April 3.
OHA is rescinding provisions in OAR 333-019-1011 that require workers in health care settings – such as school-based health centers, mobile clinics, counseling offices – to wear masks. The requirement has been in effect since August 2021. Some health care settings may continue to require masks even after the requirement is lifted.
People at higher risk for severe disease, or who live with someone at higher risk, should still consider wearing masks in health care or any settings, to better protect themselves and those most vulnerable around them.
More information here.
Oregon Department of Education requests and invites for public comment by March 31, 2023 for their new set of small proposed amendments to Oregon's Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA).
Some proposed changes include:
- Continue to reflect changes to Accountability section to show student growth calculations for ELA and Math
- Revise the accountability section to reflect changes to English Learner Progress calculations.
- Revise the definition of “inexperienced educator” to align with definitions used by the Teacher Standards and Practices Commission (TSPC).
All proposed changes can be found here. You can submit your comments using this survey here.
The City of Tigard is now seeking applications for our next Youth City Councilor, who will serve from July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024. I hope you will share this opportunity with an amazing student you know!
The opportunity is open to high school students who will be heading into their Junior or Senior year in September 2023. There are a number of students who live in Tigard but attend public or private schools. Along with the position description and essay questions, Mayor Lueb has posted a Tigard map to the website materials to check your home city.
This is a terrific opportunity to learn more about governance, local issues affecting your city and advise the City Council on community issues from a youth perspective. More details can be found here.
Our Affinity and Alliance Group programs are looking for community members for partnership! We have been able to stand up and work through spaces of care and belonging with the help of our community members, and we would like to expand that work! It takes all of us, all the time, always to ensure all within our community feels a sense of belonging, celebration, and support! More details and information.
The IRS wants to advise low and no-income individuals and families that normally don't file a tax return that it's not too late to claim pandemic-related tax benefits. Many low and no-income taxpayers have not received the 2021 enhanced Child Tax Credit and the 2020 and 2021 Recovery Rebate Credits.
An eligible family of two adults and two young children could receive up to $18,600 in combined refundable credits for 2020 and 2021. More information here.
More information on Free Tax Return Preparation and Filing here.
More information on tax-related identity theft here.
The Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) and Early Learning Division (ELD) have expanded eligibility for affordable child care through the Employment Related Day Care (ERDC) program. Students in high school no longer need to work to qualify for child care assistance. All students will receive additional child care hours each week for study time. Visit the website to apply online.
Learn more about how you are feeling. Resources are available if you need help through the Mental Health Screening Tool.
Tigard, OR 97223
503-431-4000