Douglas Gardens Newsletter

Dear Douglas Gardens Families,

As we approach the winter season, I find myself reflecting on the many things I am thankful for, and the Douglas Gardens community is at the very top of my list. I am truly grateful for the wonderful students you send to us each day. Our Douglas Gardens students are not only bright and curious, but they also embody kindness and respect.

I also want to express my appreciation for the incredible support and encouragement you provide to your children and to our school. You are and always will be their most important teachers, and your involvement makes a world of difference.

Regular attendance is crucial for your child's academic success and social development. When students come to school every day, they benefit from consistent learning experiences, engage in meaningful interactions with their peers, and develop a sense of routine and responsibility. Your commitment to ensuring your child is in school as much as possible helps them thrive and makes our entire community stronger.

I also want to remind you about our upcoming Parent Teacher Conferences on November 26 and 27. Mark your calendars so you don’t forget to attend! These conferences are a wonderful opportunity to connect with your child’s teachers, discuss their progress, and collaborate on ways to support their growth.

Our dedicated staff works tirelessly to provide a well-rounded education that encompasses both academic learning and social-emotional development. Through explicit lessons on appropriate behavior in all areas of our building, we aim to foster a positive and respectful environment. When we see students exemplifying these values, we celebrate their efforts with a "Mustang Moment." Each week, we hold a drawing to recognize students who have earned these moments, and it’s a joy to see their excitement.

We cherish the enthusiasm your children bring to school each day, and we are immensely grateful for our hardworking staff, who dedicate countless hours to prepare for teaching, supporting, and inspiring our students.

On behalf of everyone at Douglas Gardens, I wish you and your family a wonderful fall/winter season filled with joy and togetherness.

Warm regards,

Carla Smith

Nov 6 ELD Family Night 6-7:30

Nov 11 No School - Veterans day

Nov 12 Picture retakes - Gym

Nov 13 World Kindness Day

Nov 13 PTO Library 6:00

Nov 14 Ruby Bridges Walk to School

Nov 14 4th Grade Music Performance Gym

Nov 15 Early Release - Dismissal 12:30

Nov 19 Hult Center 3-5 Field Trip

Nov 22 Spirit Day - Sports Day

Nov 22 PTO Popcorn

Nov 25 Report Card prep day - NO SCHOOL (Elementary Only)

**Nov 26 Parent Teacher conferences 8:00 am-8:00 pm NO SCHOOL (Elementary Only)

**Nov 27 Parent Teacher conferences 8:00 am-12:00 pm NO SCHOOL (Elementary Only)

Nov 28, 29 Thanksgiving - No School

Dec 2-12 Fourth Grade Swimming

Dec 12. 2nd Grade Music Performance

Dec 13 Early Release - Dismissal 12:30

Dec 20 PTO Popcorn

Dec 20 Spirit Day - Pajama Day

Dec 23 - Jan 3 Winter Break

**Please mark your calendars for parent conferences. Our goal is to have every parent meet with their student's classroom teacher either in person or through a virtual meeting. More information will be coming soon.

On Thursday, November 14th, students and their families are invited to join us at 7:45 a.m. at the Jasper Road Trailhead, where we will then walk together as a group to Douglas Gardens at 7:50am.

Our walk will serve to celebrate the courage that six year old Ruby Bridges displayed when she walked into school in 1960, and to show our support for social justice, equity, and inclusion in our school.

In order to more efficiently serve parents and patrons, Springfield Public Schools website has been updated to include information, in part, pertaining to annual parent/student notification such as Student Responsibilities & Rights Handbook, A Note to Parents About Directory Rights, Parent Notice Concerning Student Records, HIV/AIDS Curriculum Announcement, Teacher Qualifications, Parent Review of Materials. To review the above information, please access the website at www.springfield.k12.or.us Parents and patrons may also contact the school office for printed copies of any of the above documents.

Parents/Guardians

We value your input and would love to hear your thoughts about our school community. Your feedback is vital in helping us improve and provide the best possible environment for our students. Please take a moment to complete the anonymous Douglas Gardens Parent Survey. Your insights and suggestions are greatly appreciated and will contribute to our continuous efforts to enhance our school. Thank you for your time and support!

Douglas Gardens

PBIS: At Douglas Gardens, we strive to support all students and staff by teaching and promoting positive behavior school-wide. We have three rules (Be Safe, Be Responsible, Be Respectful), which are reinforced daily and in all areas of the school. Douglas Gardens students will participate in lessons that teach expectations in all areas of our school. These lessons are focused on expected behaviors ranging from what it looks like to be responsible in an online lesson to how to treat other students kindly.

PBIS is a school-wide system used to teach our students positive, personal and social skills. We feel that school-wide expectations will help to maximize academic achievement and behavioral competence. The entire staff at Douglas Gardens will continue to work together to teach these lessons and help recognize students for meeting the behavioral expectations. As a result, Douglas Gardens staff and students have built a school environment where all students are not only safe but also have acquired the life skills to succeed and grow.

As the school year progresses we will continue to teach, practice and reinforce our expectations.

INCLEMENT WEATHER PROCEDURES

If snow or ice is predicted, designated staff monitor radar and forecasts and then take to the road between 4 and 6 a.m. to assess travel conditions on bus routes. The goal is to determine by 6:30 a.m. whether school will be closed, on delay, or operating as usual.

No news means no change. If you don't hear any information about Springfield Public Schools, you can assume that schools and busses are operating on their normal schedules. However, the decision of whether to send your child to school is always left to each parent. If you do not feel that it is safe to transport your child to school, contact the school to let them know.

After-school Activities:
If schools are closed due to hazardous weather conditions, all after-school activities are cancelled, including athletic games, practices, and building rentals.

Snow Routes:
Occasionally, the conditions do not warrant closing school, however some routes may not be safe to navigate a school bus. Families who live at certain higher elevations may need to bring their child(ren) to a lower elevation to catch the bus at an alternative location. The district has developed snow routes that may be used if hazardous road conditions exist. Snow routes may change from year to year and can be accessed online.

Additional information:
An additional information or specifics may be communicated through the FlashAlert system, district website, social media accounts, and if necessary via the auto-dialer system.

The district utilizes FlashAlert to notify media of any changes to the school schedule. Families and the community are also able to sign up to receive notification as they happen. Additionally, changes will be posted to the district's social media accounts, website and if necessary messages will be delivered via the auto-dialer system. Ensure that your contact information is updated at your student's school so you'll never miss a notification.

Flash Alert Messenger | SPS Facebook | SPS Instagram | SPS X (Twitter)

We want to thank you for a great event! Douglas Gardens families raised almost $9000 for our school and we couldn't be more excited. These funds will be used for many things. This year we plan to use the proceeds for things like the purchase of library books, music and P.E. equipment. Also, each teacher will be given funds for individual classroom interests. Funds will also be used to help support future classroom celebrations....These are just a few of the ways your donations help Douglas Gardens.