Westridge Wildcat News

Hello Westridge,

We've had a lot of communication this week, so I'll keep it brief! This month is Gratitiude Month here at Westridge, and I'd like to vocalize my gratitude for the collective here. I've been in my seat now for a little over two months and I want you (parents/ guardians, teachers, students) to know that I appreciate the positivity and collaborative response from this community. People talk district-wide about what a great place Westridge is and people come visit our school from all over. I've given tours to prospective families from Singapore, England, all over the world! I believe the 'special sauce' that makes this place so great is how well parents and staff work together to benefit the kids in our building. I've never seen anything like it. I point this out to simply acknowledge it, and to say that it's a beautiful thing that I'm grateful for.

Have a great weekend everyone,

Noah

New or Updated Information:

Save the dates!

Last call for Holiday Fundraiser

Gift Drive for Foster kids

Continuing Reminders:

Native American Heritage Month

Last call for OBOB

History and Spelling Bee information

Suicide Prevention Training

STEM News and Needs

Counselor's Corner

Nurse Notes

Music Man

Meet the Westridge Staff!

Reporting Tardies and absences

Statewide Assessment Notice

11/11: No School: Veterans Day

11/11: 2-4pm 2nd Grade Dads Day out

11/12: 12-2pm 2nd Grade Students Meet up

11/17: PTSO General Meeting 7pm at Westridge Library and on Zoom

11/18: 1pm 1st grade Parents meet up

11/19: 3pm 1st grade parents Craft & Sip

11/21-11/25: No School

12/2: PIcture retakes

12/13: Vision Screening (Grades K/1/3/5 only)

12/19-1/2: No School (Winter break)

PTSO Event's Page Calendar can be found here for more info on Parents Nights out and Meet Ups!

The Holiday 5g Fundraisers concludes next week. Please return your student's order forms for wreaths and popcorn by Wednesday November 16th. Thank you for your support of this FUNdraiser. MORE DETAILS (including updated PayPal QR code, ship-to selling flyer, extra order forms, and more) can be found at PTSO website/Holiday 5g FUNdraiser.

Questions: Westridge5gFUNdraiser@gmail.com

Today the PTSO had the great pleasure of hosting Northstar Dance Company for our first school-wide assembly. We hope that your student enjoyed this unique opportunity to experience Native American music, dance, and culture in honor of National American Indian Heritage Month. If you like to learn more about the Native American experience and history, please visit these websites and our local library.

The Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde

National Museum of the American Indian and Native Cinema Showcase

Naya PDX

Booklist provided by the Lake Oswego Public Library

Final day to sign up is Friday November 11th. Every team member needs to be signed up by their parent or guardian.

We want everyone who wants to participate to have the opportunity. Please reach out if we can be helpful in sorting out a team for your child.

Please note the dates: battles begin at lunch recess in mid-January and then we will have the remaining battles on Saturday February 4, 2023.

Sign up here: http://tinyurl.com/wrOBOB23

Please email Rebecca Weinstein rebeccaweinstein2@gmail.com with any questions.

The Who Was History Bee- Grades 3-5

Students in grades 3-5 will have the opportunity to participate in The Who Was? History Bee! Reading and participating in the Bee is a fun way to learn and test your knowledge about people in history. The Bee will start with a classroom competition the week of November 28th. Winners from each class will move on to the school bee the week of December 12th. The school finalist will write an essay the week of March 20th to compete in the Western Regionals.

Scripps National Spelling and Vocabulary Bee- Grades 4-5

Our 4th and 5th graders will have an opportunity to participate in the Scripps National Spelling and Vocabulary Bee. Classroom competitions will be the week of January 3rd. The top scorers from each class will participate in the school bee the week of February 6th. The school winner will then move on to the regional bee in March.

Check your student's Google Classroom for additional information and helpful study links. For questions, please contact our TAG Coordinator, Alix Swanson. (swansona@loswego.k12.or.us)

Parents/guardians of LOSD students are invited to participate in the QPR training led by our School Counselor Marcy Watts and School Social Worker Kristen Guelsdorf, both certified QPR trainers.

Spots in the session are limited. Reserve your spot by completing and submitting this form. A confirmation with more details including location will be sent by Thursday, Nov. 10. This training session is for adults only and for the parents/guardians of students enrolled in our district. In the form please let us know if you need accommodations to participate. Refreshments will be served.

Dearest Westridge Families,

This month, we will be investing our time and attention on the character trait: GRATITUDE in our Social Emotional Learning (SEL) lessons, classrooms, and throughout our school community. Gratitude has been shown to be one of the best ways to reduce anxiety, increase happiness, & improve relationships. The practice of gratitude is a tool that both grounds us and also inspires hope, peace, and joy. For when we are grateful, we are stronger to “be the good” to our world.

One way to think about Gratitude is “choosing to appreciate the people and things in our lives.” Practicing Gratitude can increase our well-being and our happiness. Gratitude is 1 of 3 traits we will focus on throughout the year that helps students Be Well. Throughout the school, Westridge Wildcats will be developing skills like emotion regulation, positive self-talk, and stress management. We are choosing Gratitude!

The definition students will be learning at school this month is Gratitude: choosing to appreciate the people and things in our lives. Through our monthly Counseling Lesson, students will learn about having Gratitude for our emotions and for Coping Skills. We can bravely use those coping strategies when feelings overwhelm us.

Our monthly letters include activities to explore GRATITUDE further as a family.

Enjoy connecting together with the PurposeFull Pursuits inside the PreK - Grade 5 Gratitude Family Letters!

Thank you for teaming with us to empower our students socially and emotionally. We are all the Heart of Westridge. Please reach out if you or your student would like more support. You can also fill out this form to Request for Family Resources.

Together,

Gary Kieser

Westridge Elementary School Counselor kieserg@loswego.k12.or.us

WHEN TO KEEP YOUR STUDENT HOME FROM SCHOOL

Please follow this link to see when and for how long to keep your student home due to various symptoms.

VISION SCREENING

Oregon Lions Sight and Hearing Foundation will soon be conducting their annual vision screening of K,1,3,and 5th grades. Click for more information.

DONATE YOUR OLD GLASSES

On the day of your school's vision screening, please consider donating any old glasses you have to the Lions Club. Click for more information.

IMMUNIZATIONS

Is your child up to date? Check here and be sure to update school records before you leave for Winter Break.

CONTACT YOUR DISTRICT NURSE

Each week we will get to know a few Westridge staff members with a Q&A session!

This week, we met up with Kara Benston, Alix Swanson and Lana Lervick

Kara Benston:

Q: What is your job here at Westridge?

A: Student Support Specialist

Q: How long have you worked at Westridge?

A: This is my first year!

Q: Where did you grow up?

A: Seattle, WA

Q: What did you do after high school?

A: I worked my way through school as a packaging systems merchandiser . I received a Bachelor's in Psychology from CIty University, then went to UW for my teaching certificate. Later I went back for my Master's in education.

Q: Tell me about your family or any pets!

A:I have 2 children, aged 19 and 15. I have 2 cats, 1 dog, and 2 frogs.

Q: What are some interesting or fun facts about you?

A: I've lived in 5 different states including Alaska for a short time.

Q: What are somethings you love to do in your free time?

A: I love spending time near water: kayaking, swimming, relaxing

Alix Swanson:

Q: What is your job here at Westridge?

A: TAG Coordinator

Q: How long have you worked at Westridge?

A: This is my 12th year

Q: Where did you grow up?

A: Lake Oswego (just down the street from Westridge!)

Q: What did you do after high school?

A: I went to the University of Oregon, then onto to graduate school at Lewis and Clark.

Q: Tell me about your family or any pets!

A: My husband and I have 2 kids- Kira is 6 and Koen is 3. Kira loves art, soccer, and LEGOs. Koen loves trucks and all things construction.

Q: What are some interesting or fun facts about you?

A: While in college I worked at a sleepaway summer camp in Maine just like the Parent Trap movie. I've also donated by hair 5 times, that's over 40 inches of hair donated to help make wigs!

Q: What are some things you love to do in your free time?

A: I love to go on walks and bike rides with my family.

Lana Lervick:

Q: What is your job here at Westridge?

A: Literacy Specialist

Q: How long have you worked at Westridge?

A: This is my second year

Q: Where did you grow up?

A: North of Seattle

Q: What did you do after high school?

A: University of Oregon (Go Ducks)/ Summer Camp Program Director/ Peace Corps in Benin, West Africa

Q: Tell me about your family or any pets!

A: I have an elderly yellow lab and two daughters (who go to Westridge)

Q: What are some interesting or fun facts about you?

A: I've done a lot of VERY low budget and sometimes perilous travel. (Safari with mechanical failure, Camel trek with non-participative camel, Dogon country with open alligator pit, etc)

Q: What are some things you love to do in your free time?

A: Downhill skiing

Please contact the office any time your student will be absent or be late for school. Anytime your child arrives at school after 8:20am, they will need to report to the office to get a tardy slip and report their lunch choices. When reporting absences, please email both Andrea and Jodi.

Office phone number and voicemail: 503-534-2371

Attendance Secretary: Andrea Murphy (murphya@loswego.k12.or.us)

Principal's Secretary: Jodi Steward (stewardj@loswego.k12.or.us)

Parents-guardians who have concerns about a student’s well-being are encouraged to reach out to their principal, and to maintain strong lines of communication and partnership between students, families, staff, and other resources.

SafeOregon is also an effective way to report a tip regarding safety threats or potential acts of violence to our students or schools.

https://www.safeoregon.com/

(Students should also be aware that intentionally providing a false report is a serious offense.)

Stay connected to the district and your school(s) and receive urgent notifications by subscribing to the Lake Oswego Schools App.

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Email: westridgeptso@gmail.com

Yearbook Photos: yearbookwestridge@gmail.com

All members of our community are committed to providing a safe and inclusive learning environment that cultivates empathy, creates challenging opportunities, and fosters lifelong learning.

Email: hurdn@loswego.k12.or.us weaverl@loswego.k12.or.us
Website: https://www.losdschools.org/wr
Location: 3400 Royce Way, Lake Oswego, OR, USA
Phone: 503-534-2371