Dragon News

Message from the Principal

Greetings Findley Community~

Welcome to 2026! As we kick off a brand‑new calendar year of learning and growing together, it’s a great time to help our students build on positive habits that will support their success—both in and out of the classroom. Children thrive when routines feel predictable and encouraging, and even small steps can make a big difference.

Here are a few habits that can set students up for a strong start:

Consistent routines: Regular sleep, mealtimes, and homework/reading schedules help students feel grounded and ready to learn.
A calm start to the morning: In all the hustle and bustle to get out the door, it's good to remember that a few minutes to breathe, stretch, or share a positive intention can set the tone for the day.
Organizational check‑ins: Reviewing backpacks, folders, and planners each night helps students stay on top of materials and assignments.
Reading every day: Whether your child reads independently or you read together, daily reading builds language and confidence.
Celebrating effort: Encouraging a growth mindset reminds students that mistakes are part of learning and that persistence matters.

Thank you for partnering with us to make this year a positive, successful journey for every student. Together, we can help our learners shine!

With Gratitude,

Sherry Marsh, Ed.D

Principal

Findley

Every Student Belongs Board Policy ACB

Equal Educational Opportunity Board Policy JB

Educational Equity Board Policy JBB

Supporting Immigrant and Refugee Students and Families

Serving LGBTQIA+ Students

Make Winter Walking Fun!

Make a walk in the rain the highlight of your day with our Family Walking Guide. Visit our website to get all the ideas you’ll need to keep your family active this winter: https://www.beaverton.k12.or.us/departments/transportation/safe-routes-to-school/remote-learning/family-walks

🛑Parking Lot Reminders - We need your help! 🚘

Please remember:

Max speed anywhere in the parking lot is 10-15 mph - please be sure you are following this expectation at all times.
Please pull as far forward as you can before allowing your child to get out of the car. This helps us keep the line moving smoothly.

During arrival ~ Students should not exit on the driver's side of the car. If your child cannot exit on the passenger side please park and walk them to the crosswalk.
During arrival ~ Please walk your child to the crosswalk - students should not be walking through the parking lot without an adult.
At dismissal ~ Students are not allowed to enter the parking lot without an adult.

Thank you for helping us keep all our Findley Dragons safe!💜

Future Tumwater 6th graders

Dear Future Tumwater Families,

We are excited to welcome you and your children, our future 6th grade students, to Tumwater Middle School! We have planned several events for families and students to gain an understanding of the middle school program and build confidence about their new school. Please read more below about upcoming events that are designed to support a smooth transition to middle school.

Parent/Guardian TMS Information Night - Thursday, February 26th 6:00pm - 7:30 pm

We invite parents and guardians of current 5th graders, living in the Tumwater attendance area, to attend our Tumwater Information Night on Thursday, February 26th from 6:00pm – 7:30pm. In addition, please pass the word along to other families that you know, living in the Tumwater attendance area, that plan on enrolling for 7th or 8th grade next year. To accommodate our available space and your family schedule, please select a session that works best for you:

Session 1: 6:00 presentation followed by self-guided tour - meet content teams in classrooms!
Session 2: Self-guided tour - meet content teams in classrooms followed by 7:15 presentation

This event will include a presentation about what to expect in 6th - 8th grades at Tumwater Middle School, including core academic classes, electives, and co-curricular activities. You will also have the opportunity to ask questions as you take a self-guided tour - meeting staff members on each content team. Please keep in mind; this evening is designed for parents, not children. Our parking is limited so please consider carpooling, walking, or biking to this event.

5th Grade Fly-Ups - February 25th & 26th

Tumwater will host 5th grade fly-ups during the school day on Wednesday, February 25th (Oaks Hills, Terra Linda, Findley) AND Thursday, February 26th ( Bonny Slope, Cedar Mill & Private School). Students will attend this event with teachers and students from their elementary school. Bus transportation to and from Tumwater is provided. Students will learn all about Tumwater and what it has to offer as they tour the school with our 8th Grade Web Leaders! Following their visit, parents/guardians will receive a ParentSquare message from Tumwater Middle School with a link to a course request form. We ask that parents support their children in filling out these forms online by Monday, March 2nd.

We invite families to visit the Tumwater Middle School Website for more information about events at Tumwater Middle School. In addition, please follow us on social media - Instagram and Facebook.

We also encourage our families to follow our Tumwater PTO on Instagram and Facebook. You can learn more about the Parent Teacher Organization by visiting their website. You can learn more about TEMPO, our parent group that supports band and choir by visiting their website.

OBOB Battles Starting

📚 Let the Battles Begin! OBOB Volunteers Needed

Parents, it’s almost time for Oregon Battle of the Books (OBOB)—and we need your help to make the magic happen!

OBOB battles kick off Wednesday, January 21, and will take place every school day through February 3. To keep battles running smoothly, we’re looking for lots of parent volunteers to serve as battle moderators during lunch recess. - Sign up now!

🕰 Battle Times

3rd Grade: 11:30–12:00
4th Grade: 12:00–12:30
5th Grade: 12:30–1:00

👉 We need 8 volunteers per lunch period, per day.
You can volunteer for just one session or as many as you’d like—every bit helps!

✨ New to OBOB? No problem!
Moderating is easy, and training is built in. New volunteers will be paired with a veteran moderator, and you’re welcome to arrive at 11:15am for a quick overview before battles begin. It’s a fantastic way to see OBOB in action and cheer on our amazing readers.

⚠️ Please note: Volunteers may not moderate their own student’s battle.

This is a fun, fast-paced, and meaningful way to support literacy at Findley—and the kids love having grown-ups there cheering them on. We hope you’ll join us!

As with any volunteer opportunity, all volunteers must have completed and be cleared in the background check system. If you are NEW this year, please click on this link. Volunteer Application

Report Cards and Online Enrollment Verification

Report cards will be available on January 30th in ParentVUE. If you have not yet done your enrollment verification, you must complete that before you can view your student's report card. Please go to ParentVUE and be sure it has been done. If you need help, you can call our office at 503 356-2100. Remember that we don't know your passwords for ParentVUE.

Inclement Weather Policies

When we experience inclement weather, school schedules can be affected—either by a delayed start, early release or school cancellation. The district makes decisions based on the ability of:

The district to operate school buses safely.
Students and parents/guardians to drive safely.
Students to walk to schools or bus stops safely.
Staff to get to work safely.

Decisions are made for the entire district. However, we encourage families to make transportation and attendance decisions for their children based on their own assessment of travel conditions at their locations.

School delays or closures are typically communicated by 5:30 a.m. For the latest information:

Check the district website. A page pop-up will be posted if there’s a change in school operations. You also can find inclement weather protocols and snow routes online.
https://www.beaverton.k12.or.us/departments/communications-community-involvement/inclement-weather-information

Look for a notification on ParentSquare.
Follow us on the district’s Facebook and Instagram accounts.
Tune into media outlets for updates.

Thank you for your cooperation.

Available Food Resources for BSD Families

With the ongoing government shutdown, there’s uncertainty about how programs that support families, such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and other food assistance, may be affected. We understand this may cause concern for some families in our community.

As a reminder, every student has access to a free, nutritious breakfast and lunch each school day. We also want to share additional community resources that may help:

School-Based Food Pantries
The Oregon Food Bank (OFB) and Urban Gleaners (UG) operate several weekly or bi-weekly food pantries at our school sites. These pantries are open to everyone; families don’t need to attend that particular school to receive assistance. Pantries are located outside the schools on designated days. In addition, Aloha High School and Community School at Merlo Station Campus have pantries inside the schools, available to students only.

For a list of our school-based pantries, see the calendar attached to this ParentSquare message or visit our district website. For food pantries outside our schools, check OFB’s Food Finder.

Beaverton Resource Center
The Beaverton Resource Center (BRC) supports eight church-based pantries in Beaverton through the Care to Share Food Pantry Network. Phone: 503-591-9025

Salvation Army
The Salvation Army has opened its new Washington County HOPE Center, featuring a food pantry designed to serve up to 1,200 families per month. Address: 1440 SE 21st Ave, Hillsboro; phone: 503-640-4311

Join Findley Pack 718 for Fun and Friends!

Looking for a way for your child to make new friends, try new adventures, and unplug from screens? Want to meet other families in our community?

Cub Scouts is a parent-led, volunteer program that helps kids:

Develop good character & leadership skills
Learn citizenship & community service
Build fitness & confidence
Experience the outdoors and adventure

Pack 718 is chartered through the Findley PTO,

making it a wonderful way to connect with other Findley families.

Who can join?
Boys and girls in grades K–5. Dens are organized by grade level and meet 1–2 times a month for fun, age-appropriate activities like hiking, woodworking, first aid, knot tying, visiting museums, and more.

Pack Meetings
The entire Pack (K–5) comes together monthly on the 2nd or 3rd Tuesday at 7 PM at Findley. Scouts are recognized for their achievements, enjoy fun activities, and sometimes hear from guest speakers.

Special Events
Pinewood Derby car racing, Rocket Launch, community service projects, Blue & Gold Banquet, picnics, and more family-friendly adventures.

Learn More:
Website: pack718.com
Watch us in action: YouTube video

Join Today: Sign up here

Questions?
pack718leads@gmail.com
(971) 319-0827

Sparky's Steps to Safety

Sparky invites you to show our community that a safe crossing is the best crossing. Follow the footprints to designated street corners and avoid crossing midblock. Teach others how to stay safe while walking to and from school.

2025-2026 Findley Student/Family Handbook