The Current

Message from the Superintendent

Celebrating Earth Day Every Day in Our Schools!

Be Sure to Thank Our Volunteers

National Library Week: There's More to the Story

Kindergarten Deadline Approaching

School Board Meeting

Educational Data: English Learners

Previewing New TAG Plan

Promoting Autism Acceptance Month

Transition to Adulthood Information Night

Apply for Elementary Immersion Programs

Student Transportation of America Hiring School Bus Drivers

Lake Grove Swim Park is Now Hiring

Lakeridge and Lake Oswego High School Variety Shows

Movie Night Screening of Gratitude Revealed

LMS Theatre Presents Footloose, Youth Edition!

Health Information:

• Reminders from Our District Nurses
• LOSD COVID-19 Dashboard
  
• Community Level: Low

Enrichment & Recreational Programs

• Lakeridge Youth Football Spring Clinic
• Jr. Windjammer Camp
• Learn More About Lakeridge Cheerleading

Community News:

• Drug Take Back Event Spring 2023
• City of LO Arbor Month Art Contest
• Mental Health Forum
  

Regular Reminders:

• Hunger Fighters Oregon
  
• Safe Oregon
  
• School Incident Reporting
  
• Get Social with LOSD

Tomorrow is Earth Day, celebrated by billions of people around the globe. Let’s join together in promoting awareness and practicing sustainable living for the health of our environment.

Teaching and practicing sustainability is a strategic priority in our district, inspired by activism from our students who share grave concerns about our changing environment and care deeply about progressing our practices to protect precious resources. Thinking, behaviors, and practices are evolving in our schools, and we are always learning what we can do to adopt more environmentally-friendly ways of living.

In honor of Earth Day, hundreds in our community learned things to support the planet and get connected locally at our second annual Lake Oswego Sustainability Resource Fair at Lakeridge Middle School. In partnership with the City of Lake Oswego, Oswego Lake Watershed Council, and Lake Oswego Sustainability Network, we brought together more than 30 organizations to share resources and host activities for all ages at the interactive event. It was a wonderful example of how we can always learn something valuable from each other.

Lake Grove 5th graders participated in a fun and fulfilling day of service to spruce up school grounds for spring! Activities included adding dirt to the garden beds, pulling the invasive ivy from the planting location, cleaning up the front of the school, and planting bulbs in the new pots they gifted to the school, along with the additional pots around the school, and a campus litter clean up. Students were engaged and proud to help clean up and make the school look beautiful in time for Earth Day!

It's National Volunteer Week in the United States, a time dedicated to honoring all our community volunteers and encouraging volunteerism throughout the month. We are fortunate to have so many dedicated volunteers in our learning community. Thank you for all that you do to support our schools!

Next week is National Library Week, April 23-29. This year's theme is "There's More to the Story." Our libraries are full of stories in various formats, from picture books to large print, audiobooks to ebooks, and more. But there's so much more to the story! Our school libraries are lively, active, welcoming places for students and staff to find information, check out independent reading materials, and get technology help.

Learn more about our school libraries and librarians Miranda Doyle and Carrie Light, who presented at the School Board meeting on March 6 when they showed a brief video highlighting our libraries, described our staffing, collections, programs, collaboration with Lake Oswego Public Libraries, and the exciting future of our school libraries.

Register your student for kindergarten for the 2022-23 school year by Friday, Apr. 28. In the event that kindergarten enrollment requires a lottery due to over-capacity at any school, incoming kindergarten students must be registered by April 28, 2023, to be included in the tiered priority process. Please click here for Kindergarten lottery details.

Monday, Apr. 24

Executive Session 5:15 p.m.

Contract Review Board 6 p.m.

Regular Session following CRB at approx. 6:15 p.m.

Agenda posted on the district website

LOSD Central Office, Boardroom

The Lake Oswego School Board meetings are being held in person and are open to the public. In-person attendance is limited to those who occupy available seating first and observe meeting guidelines for conduct. Doors will open approximately 15 minutes prior to the start of the public session. All may observe the public session remotely by clicking here.

Board members take both written and in-person testimony. Click here for instructions for members of the public who wish to provide in-person testimony. Submit an email to the Board Secretary kelli.cranston@loswego.k12.or.us by 12 p.m. day of the meeting. IMPORTANT: Type “In-Person Testimony” in the subject line.

Integral to learning and improving is assessing data. In continued transparency, district staff shared an update on educational data related to English Learners at the School Board meeting. For the complete presentation, visit the School Board meeting agenda and video for April 10, 2023.

Learn more about our district's Talented and Gifted (TAG) plan that will align with the Oregon Department of Education's new template for all school districts. Our preliminary plan, being developed in collaboration with our district experts and parental input, was presented at the last School Board meeting for discussion and feedback. For the complete presentation, visit the School Board meeting agenda and video for April 10.

Autism Acceptance Month, previously named Autism Awareness Month, in April aims to celebrate and promote acceptance for the condition that occurs in one in every 54 children in the United States, including many students in LOSD. A few questions below build understanding; look for more throughout the month.

What does it mean to be an ally? Allies are listeners, learners, and supporters. Being an ally, first and foremost, means listening to and amplifying autistic voices because people who are autistic are the experts of their own experience. Allies prioritize the voices of people who are autistic above their own, and they learn more about autistic perspectives by seeking out content from autistic individuals–books, articles, blog posts, social media content, artwork, and others. Likewise, allies support people who are autistic, and autistic-led organizations by letting the experts take the lead. Allyship also means simply being kind, accommodating, and inclusive to autistic individuals in school and the community.

Families with a child experiencing a disability are invited to learn what school, employment, and independent living may look like when school services end. The information night is designed for teen and adult-aged students. Families and students of all ages are welcome to attend.

We are continuing to accept applications for our Spanish and Mandarin Chinese Immersion programs from students who reside within the district.

• Mandarin Chinese Immersion is accepting applications for students starting kindergarten or 1st grade in the fall of 2023.

• Spanish Immersion is accepting applications for students starting kindergarten in the fall of 2023.

On May 5, we will consider adding students who have requested a transfer into LOSD from outside of the district and have applied for our immersion program.

1. Register your student with your neighborhood elementary school before applying for the immersion program. New student registration is now open on the Registration and Transfer page.
2. Complete the Language Immersion application

Questions? Please contact Lisa Oliva at olival@loswego.k12.or.us.

The Lake Grove Swim Park, owned and operated by LOSD, opens for the 2023 season on June 17, open daily from 12- 8 p.m. through August 27.

The park is open to all LOSD students. Students under 7 years of age must be accompanied by a guardian who has access to the park. All Lake Oswego children are eligible for swim park swimming lessons, even if their household is not eligible for a park pass. Registration for lessons opens closer to summer.

In the meantime, the park needs lifeguards and other staff to operate. Please apply today for summer work.

See Lake Grove Swim Park on the district website for more information.

Join the community movie night screening of Gratitude Revealed, directed by renowned director Louis Schwartzberg whose credits include Fantastic Fungi and Wings of Life. The event is hosted by LOHS parent and Gratitude Revealed film distributor Kirt Eftekhar of Area 23a Films. Q&A directly after the film.

Thursday, May 4

7-9 p.m., doors open at 6:30 p.m.

Reserve tickets: www.tiny.cc/ticketsLO

Link to: MOVIE TRAILER

Lakeridge Middle School Theatre Arts is proud to present Footloose: Youth Edition!

May 11, 12, 13, 18, 19, 20, 7:30 pm

May 13, 1:00 p.m.

Lakeridge Middle School

Tickets are $12 for general seating and are available here: https://www.eticketexpress.com/event/lakeridgejh/footloose

Dress for the show! There will be prizes for the best 80's outfit at every performance.

Bike Safety

As the weather improves, it’s a great time to consider getting outside. Your District Nurses want to remind and encourage your student to ride their bike safely and remember to wear a helmet. These resources can help your student get off to a great start.

Bike Safety

Reduced Cost Helmets

Sun Safety

While outside, be sure to protect yourself and your student from harmful UV. Visit this link to learn ways to safely enjoy the sun and what to do if your student gets a bit too much.

Individualized Health Plan? - Watch for an Email

If your child has a LOSD Individualized Health Plan (IHP) developed in consultation with your District Nurse, please watch for an email! Your response is needed to confirm or update your student's plan. We appreciate your prompt response..

If you would like to speak to your school nurse, click the link below for contact information.

Contact your District Nurse

The LOSD COVID-19 Dashboard is updated. The dashboard shows the number of staff and students who have reported testing positive for COVID-19, regardless of school exposure.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) looks at the combination of three metrics — new COVID-19 admissions per 100,000 population in the past 7 days, the percent of staffed inpatient beds occupied by COVID-19 patients, and total new COVID-19 cases per 100,000 population in the past 7 days — to determine the COVID-19 community levels. Using this data, the COVID-19 community level is classified as low, medium, or high. Clackamas County is currently in low (green).

Join Lakeridge High School varsity football coach Spencer Phillips and the high school football team and staff for a fun and worthwhile football training experience! Athletes new to football are welcome.

Sundays, April 23-June 4 (excluding Memorial Day Weekend)

Evenings at either 4-6 p.m. or 5-7 p.m., depending on field availability

For grades K-8

$200 and includes a T-shirt

Registration link: https://lakeridgeyouthfootball.sportngin.com/register/form/431628692

Or find the registration at https://www.lakeridgeyouthfootball.org/camps

LOSD facilities are used by community vendors and our schools to offer students enrichment and recreational opportunities after class and during breaks. For a full list of offerings from our schools and community vendors for elementary, middle and high school students, please visit the Community Programs on the district website.

Students and children getting ahold of prescription pills is a serious concern. To help community members properly dispose of unwanted or expired medications, the City of Lake Oswego holds a one-day-only drug take-back event.

Saturday, April 22, 2023

10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Lake Oswego Adult Community Center, 505 G Ave., Lake Oswego

It is a drive-thru collection - please stay in your vehicles.

In addition to prescription and over-the-counter medications, the following will be accepted:

• Vape pens and E-cigarettes WITHOUT batteries will be accepted. Batteries must be removed beforehand, or they will not be accepted.
• Unknown medicines and veterinary medications.

The following items will not be accepted:

• Medications from businesses such as nursing homes, doctor’s offices, or any other institution or business - this collection event is for individual households only. If you have any questions, please get in touch with Bonnie Hirshberger at 503-675-3992 or bhirshberger@lakeoswego.city
• EpiPens, intra-venous solutions, injectables, inhalers, syringes, chemotherapy medications, vaping devices that have batteries that cannot be removed, or medical waste. For information on safely disposing of these items, call Metro Recycling at 503-234-3000.

Please put all pill/tablet medications into a sealed plastic baggie or leave them in their original container (if in the original container, cross out personal information). If you bring in a liquid, gel or cream medication, please put the bottle or tube in a sealable plastic bag to prevent leaks. For more disposal options, visit www.lakeoswego.city/police/drug-medicine-disposal(link is external)

April is Arbor Month and the City of Lake Oswego is currently hosting an Arbor Month Art Contest for students in grades K-5 residing in Lake Oswego. This year’s contest theme is Trees! Trees! Trees!

Students are invited to create a work of art featuring trees in the Lake Oswego urban forest. Entries will be displayed electronically at City Hall and the Public Library, and Mayor Buck will award prizes. Entries are due by Sunday, April 23, 2023, by 11:59 p.m. Winners will be notified on National Arbor Day, April 28, and prizes will be awarded at the Lake Oswego Farmers’ Market on Saturday, May 20.

Find information at www.lakeoswego.city/formslf/ArborMonthArt.

Clackamas ESD is hosting a virtual Mental Health Forum May 4, 8:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. The forum will include various topics related to children and youth mental health services. Multiple break-out sessions and a panel presentation by local service providers will follow the keynote.

An email with the virtual meeting room link will be sent out upon completion of registration and the day before the forum. This event is free to participants through CESD’s Student Success Act Technical Assistance Grant. Register here.

Visit the food pantry at 4 Monroe Parkway, Suite A. Deliveries are available on Mondays.

Shop in hours:

• Wednesdays 5-7 p.m.
• Friday 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.
• Sundays 3-5 p.m.

Learn more at hungerfightersoregon.org.

Reach out to your principal with concerns 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/ Be aware that intentionally providing a false report is a serious offense.

Report microaggressions, bias, harassment and discrimination in a school related to race, ethnicity, religion, age, disability, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, or any other aspect of identity:

• Incident Report for Elementary School
  
• Incident Report for Middle Schools
  
• Incident Report for High Schools
  

Incidents may also be reported to an administrator, a trusted staff member, or anonymously to SafeOregon.com.

LOSD has ramped up its social media presence. Please join us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram @weareLOSD

Email: info@loswego.k12.or.us
Website: https://www.losdschools.org
Location: 2455 Country Club Road, Lake Oswego, OR, USA
Phone: (503) 534-2000
Facebook: facebook.com/weareLOSD
Twitter: @weareLOSD

You are receiving this message because you are the parent or guardian of a student in the Lake Oswego School District. We hope you will assist us in our efforts to communicate efficiently and economically by continuing to receive these messages. If you need to change your parent email address, please contact your school.