Hallinan Elementary
Hawk Squawk 12/9/21
Principal's Message
CREATIVITY abounds at Hallinan!
In first grade, students built gingerbread houses. Each student was given 35 cents to make their gingerbread house beautiful on "home improvement day". Addition, subtraction and even multiplication were used as students tracked their spending. I love this creative way of including math throughout the day. I've added a few photos below.
Ms Franz's fourth grade class has been brainstorming all the ways in which they are creative. They picked the top four from each of their lists, drew pictures of themselves doing those activities and finally shared with their class. Brainstorming, drawing and speaking in one assignment - a fun time was had by all! Check out the photos below.
All grades have lots of opportunities to be creative in STEM. See below for a description of what each grade is currently working on and some more photos.
It's a joy to see students learning in such varied and imaginative ways. I am excited to celebrate their creativity with a Spirit Day, next Friday, December 17. I encourage students and staff to wear attire that speaks to their imagination and creativity. This could be based on a hobby, favorite sport, character, color or anything else they dream up. I hope this inspires your family to be creative at home!
Melissa Griffiths
STEM with Mrs Doran
- Kindergarten: Coding Stations! Students will rotate to a different station each day and will get to explore "unplugged" coding and various bots like Code and Go Colby, Dash the Robot, Cubetto and much more! So excited!
- 1st: Code and Go Colby and Make a Story using Scratch Jr.!
- 2nd: Design a Hanging Sculpture! We will use Tinkercad to 3D print a "cookie cutter" and will get our hands in some clay and use the kiln for the first time! Wahoooo!
- 3rd: Scratch and Makey Makey! We will learn how to code and create an animation of our name and use Makey Makey to create some awesome projects! This will be so fun!
- 4th: Last rotation of Video Mania! We will wrap up our Video Unit. Heads up: Get ready for Prosthetic Engineering in January!
- 5th: Seasonal Constellations and "Choose your Own Adventure!" Students will explore Stellarium, an amazing astronomy program and will then create a project that showcases how the constellation moves through the sky or shows the different brightness of the stars within their chosen constellation. SAM labs, 3D constellation cubes, Stop Motion --- OH MY! (they will pick one of these project choices).
See the photos below for some fun examples!
It just goes to prove......
Save These Dates
12/16 - Early Release Thursday - 2 pm
12/17 - Creativity Spirit Day!
12/17 - Lost and Found will be donated to a worthy cause
12/20-21/31 - No School
1/3 - Welcome back!
Action Items
- Check out the Lost & Found pile in the Vestibule at Hallinan by Friday, December 17 at 3:30 pm. All gear left at that time will be donated to a worthy cause.
PTO Information
I can't believe it's December already! We have lots of holiday activities and giving events happening now. Please read on for ways to participate!
Holiday Parties & Teacher Gifts
By now, you should have all received an email from your room parents sharing your class's plans for a holiday party and how to contribute to a class gift for your teacher. If you haven't received an email yet, please reach out to your room parents!
Contributions Towards Staff Gifts
The room parents are coordinating teacher gifts, but we also want to make sure our specials teachers (STEM, Music, PE, etc.) and staff feel the love as well! We're collecting contributions for their gifts though either Venmo (@hallinanpto / last 4 digits of phone #0945) or through Membership Toolkit (https://hallinanpto.membershiptoolkit.com/form/m/132985). The PTO will divide the collected funds evenly among gifts for all the staff.
December Giving at Hallinan
HOPES (Hands on Projects Encouraging Service) is pleased to support three meaningful outlets to give this December. We have such a caring community and every effort is loved and appreciated.
1. Snack Bags for Alder Elementary. Alder Elementary is located in Gresham and for the 3rd year we are partnering to help with the food insecurity at their school. Room parents will be sending out a Sign Up Genius for non perishable snack items (granola bars, oatmeal packets, applesauce cups/packs, dried fruit, fruit bars, etc) to fill snack bags to send home with Alder students during winter break. Families are invited to sign up and bring donated items into the classroom. Kids will stuff bags and also decorate and write messages on them. Bags need to be completed by the end of school on Wednesday, December 15th so they can be sent home with Alder students at the beginning of the winter holiday.
2. Toy Drive for Foster Child Program. We are partnering with DHS in Multnomah County to collect toys for the children currently in foster care. If you would like to participate, please bring your new and unwrapped toy to the bins inside the vestibule. All gifts will be delivered to kids in transitional care. Toys will be collected through Friday, December 17.
3. Donate Through Membership Toolkit. Want to give but don’t have time to shop? No problem! You can donate through Membership Toolkit and we will buy a gift card for the cause on your behalf. Simply go to https://hallinanpto.membershiptoolkit.com/open_forms and click on “December Giving” to make a donation.
Questions about December Giving at Hallinan? Email Debi Panning, debi01167@gmail.com. HOPES is a unique and special part of the Hallinan culture and we couldn’t make it successful without the passion and commitment from our families. You are AWESOME!
Volunteer Requirements
Volunteers need to verify the following requirements before volunteering in schools:
Complete Background Check through school Raptor system - if you have not already completed this, bring your driver's license or passport with you on your first day back to register.
Fill out this form: Sign Statement of Knowledge and Understanding of LOSD Policies - detailed information below.
Show/Send Proof of Vaccination to Lee Gates (gatesl@loswego.k12.or.us). LOSD will not be granting exemptions for volunteers due to requirements of weekly testing and distancing.
Statement of Knowledge and Understanding - LOSD District Policies
All contractors, volunteers, and visitors must agree to follow District policies, the most important of which are summarized or referenced below:
No smoking or other uses of tobacco products, alcoholic beverages or other controlled substances on District property, including parking lots and fields.
No firearms, fire pits, indoor barbecues, candles, fog machines, balloons or fireworks may be used on School District property.
Park in designated parking areas only. Violators will be towed at the owner's expense.
School Resource Offices
Oregon State Assessment Opt-Out Form
Every year, Oregon students take assessments to meet federal requirements. The purpose of these assessments is to provide data that schools can use to ensure each and every child is on track and achieving learning goals.
State law requires us to inform you that a form is available from the State Department of Education that allows you to opt your child out of the math and English Language Arts assessments for the current school year. Should you wish to opt out your child, fill out the form and submit it to the main office at your child’s school. Please note the submission deadlines listed on the form. Meeting the deadline will help the school with planning and preparation. If you wish your child not to participate in the science assessment for grades 5, 8, and 11, submit this request in writing to the principal of your child's school.
If you would like to opt out your child from state testing, have questions or want more information about state assessments, please click on the form below or contact your child’s principal or teacher(s).
Lake Monsters Robotics Team Holiday Cards
Thank you so much for your time and consideration. Your support helps our team conduct STEM outreach events at hospitals and underserved schools, build robots for competitions, provide scholarships to our team members, and so much more.
Chromebook or iPad problems?
Contact Information
Office Phone: 503-534-2353
Principal Melissa Griffiths - griffitm@loswego.k12.or.us
Secretary Lee Gates - gatesl@loswego.k12.or.us
Secretary Linda Stevens - stevensl@loswego.k12.or.us
If your child will be absent, please email your student's teacher and copy the office at halattendance@loswego.k12.or.us. Please list the date your child will be absent and any illness symptoms. See this guide for information on when to keep your child home from school.