The Owl Gazette

The Owl Gazette - Nov 6, 2026

Principal's Message:

Dear OPE Families,

We are looking forward to seeing you on Monday and Tuesday for parent-teacher conferences! This is a wonderful opportunity to connect, celebrate student growth, and discuss ways to support continued success. Thank you for taking the time to meet with your child's teacher.

The OPE Library is hosting a book fair the week of November 16th and we need volunteers! Make sure to scroll down to the library news section for more details and a volunteer interest form.

Sincerely,

Principal Harder

Veterans Day - Nov 11, 2026:

In honor of Veterans Day, we are recognizing and thanking the parents, grandparents, and other family members of OPE students who have served in our nation's military.

Reminder's From The Office:

Please check the lost and found when you come in for conferences. There are a lot of items looking for their homes!
We are in need of clean, gently used pants, shorts, and shirts. If you have any that your student has outgrown, we would like to them off your hands! This will help our students when they have a spill and need a change of clothes. Thanks!
After school plan changes need to be communicated to the office BEFORE 1:00 if possible. Students are not allowed to change their own after school plans.
Please use the opeattendance@scappoose.k12.or.us email for all communication regarding change of plans or attendance. This will assure that we don't miss information.

Dates to Remember:

Nov 9 - 10, 2026 - Conferences, No School
Nov 11, 2026 - Veterans Day, No School
Nov 17 - 21, 2026 - OPE Scholastic Book Fair
Nov 24 - 28, 2026 - Thanksgiving Break, No School

Fantastic 4th Grade:

This week 4th graders came home with their “Turkey in Disguise” at home projects. We have already seen some come back and we are very impressed with the creativity. These projects are due by next Friday, November 13th so we can proudly display them in the halls and our classrooms. The turkeys will come home the following Friday to make for some fun Thanksgiving decor. Thank you for your support!

We are looking forward to seeing everyone at conferences. If you have not signed up for a conference please make sure you do that as soon as possible.

Due to the short week next week we will not be focusing on a designated story of the week and we will not have a spelling test. We will instead be focusing our studies on Veteran’s day.

We hope all of our 4th graders have a restful 5 days off of school and come back on Thursday, November 12th ready to work hard up to Thanksgiving break.

Fearless 5th Grade:

We look forward to seeing everyone at conferences. We encourage all parents to make sure to sign up for a conference time to meet with your students' teacher.

5th grade has an upcoming art project and needs help sourcing material. We need clean dairy lids (think sour cream/cottage cheese/yogurt). Students will be using these as a stencil to make a holiday pie art project. Please send in these items next week if you are able to help us out.

In December we will also be in need of more household objects. Students will be making a cardboard animal. We will need small boxes (cereal, tissue, smaller Amazon boxes) and paper towel/toilet paper tubes. If you have any laying around please feel free to send them in whenever!

Spectacular 6th Grade:

In social studies the classes wrapped up their Neolithic Farmers simulation, with three groups coming out on top through smart investments and calculated risks! Our first unit test has been moved to next Friday. Study guides will go home this week, so help your students get ready to show what they know!

In Language Arts classes they are wrapping up their narrative writing unit. Students have worked hard crafting their very own spooky stories and evaluating haunting tales.

In Math classes work on ratio and proportions is getting underway in some classes while others are prepping for their first big test!

Finally, in science, we are exploring volcanoes and learning how the movement of tectonic plates shapes the environment here in the Pacific Northwest.

Counselor's Corner:

As we wrap up another grading period, this is a great time to celebrate your child's growth, reflect on challenges, and set new goals!

Preparing for Parent-Teacher Conferences:

Talk with your child beforehand. Ask what they feel proud of and what they would like to improve.
Come with questions about academic progress, friendships, work habits, and ways you can support learning at home.
Celebrate successes! Remember that growth isn't just measured by grades. Effort, responsibility, and perseverance matter, too.
Work together to set one or two goals for the next grading period.

Tips for a Successful New Grading Period:

Encourage your child to stay organized and keep track of assignments.
Establish consistent homework and reading routines.
Praise effort, improvement, and a positive attitude.
Check in regularly by asking, "What is something you're proud of this week?" or "What is one thing you want to work on?"

Remember, a report card is a snapshot of progress, not a definition of your child's potential. Every new grading period is an opportunity to learn, grow, and try again!

Thank you for partnering with us to support your child's success!

College and Career Spirit Week November 16th-20th

Thank you all for signing up! Presentation registration is now closed, and we have plenty of presenters! We are so excited for this event and appreciate your willingness to share your time and talents with our students!

College and Career Spirit Week Dress-up Days:

November 16th: Dream Job Day

November 17th: Dress like you're going to an Interview Day

November 18th: Hard Hat Wednesday Day

November 19th: STEAM Day

November 20th: College Gear Day

Music With Mr. Wilkins:

Fall conferences are coming up on November 9-10, 2026. Mr. Wilkins is available to meet with families to discuss their child’s progress in music. Band students are welcome to book a time for additional help on their instrument. For more information or to sign up for a time, please visit my booking page at https://bwilkins.youcanbook.me. Mr. Wilkins will also be available for drop ins during conferences between scheduled appointments. Please feel welcome to stop by the music room and say hello!

Our sixth grade band students will present their first concert of the year on Wednesday, December 9, 2026 at 6:30 PM in the SHS auditorium. Please mark your calendars and plan to join us! We are also planning to play a few pieces at our December assembly. Band families should keep an eye out for more information in the weekly email.

News From The Library:

The Book Fair is coming to Otto Petersen from November 16 - 20 (just before Thanksgiving break)! We will have all the latest books, including newly released favorites like Dog Man, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, and Babysitters Club! We invite everyone to shop after school during our Family Night event on Monday (Nov. 16) from 3:00 - 6:00 pm and enjoy special giveaways during that time. Students will have the opportunity to shop the Fair during their weekly library visit as well as lunch recess on Monday, Tuesday, and Friday.

Check out our Book Fair website to preview all the great books, sign up for an eWallet to shop the fair cash-free, or make a donation to Share the Fair to help a student in need. OPE needs the help of family and friends to make the Book Fair a success. Please sign up to volunteer here* and earn some extra Book Fair $$ as a thank you!

(*Reminder: All volunteers must have completed an SSD background check.)

Intermural News:

🏆 2v2 Four Square Tournament

We're down to the FINAL TWO! After a hard-fought semifinal round, The Girlys were eliminated, leaving The Cornutters and The Big Bros to battle it out for the championship. These two teams will face off next Thursday in front of the entire sixth grade to determine who will be the last team standing! It's time to settle the score and crown our champions. Who will take home the bragging rights? Stay tuned!

SEPO News:

Conference Support - Food Sign Up

Parent-Teacher Conferences will be held in all three of our elementary schools starting Monday, November 9th. SEPO will be hosting an Ixtapa catered lunch/dinner on Monday starting at 11AM for staff members to graze throughout the day and evening. Leftovers will likely be available for Tuesday.

We need help with the following: Picking up the individual food orders from Ixtapa and delivering them to their respective building prepaid by SEPO; setting up the food in the staff room of the respective building with serving wear, plates, cutlery, etc. provided by SEPO; donating and placing drinks in the fridge or on ice for staff members to grab; donating and setting up snacks/treats. Please sign up using the link here if you can help! Check Out Our Sign Up Genius Here!

Thank you!

2026 - 2027 SEPO Events Calendar

Volunteer Opportunities!

If you are interested in volunteering this year, please fill out the SEPO Volunteer Interest Form. Did one last year? Please do a new one!

Filling out the interest form ensures that you are on the SEPO mailing lists for this school year. By indicating interest in an event, you are not committing to anything - rather it will make sure that you are on the event specific communications. We also know that you may have specific skills that could be helpful that don’t fit in a “box” - please let us know what they are and we will connect with you!

In addition to the SEPO form, a Scappoose School District Volunteer Application is required. This background check is valid for two years.

The Owl Gazette