The Growler

Inspiring future leaders to imagine and build a better world through thoughtful action and kindness.

• Booksgiving
• Winter Care Box Thank You!
• Need Support? Care Coordinators Can Help!
• Winter Music Concert- Save the Date
• Elementary School Boundary Change Update
• Volunteering at School

Thank you to all the families in our community that donated books to Booksgiving. Thanks to your generous donations, each student was able to receive three or four books that were new to them! This is a wonderful tradition that encourages sharing our resources and the love of reading. Thank you to Mr. Sagal for organizing it for us!

In the month of December, we have been focused on practicing empathy. Students will receive awards at our community assembly and have been practicing empathy by making donations for Booksgiving and the Winter Care Box Project, as well as practicing perspective taking in their interactions with others.

Next month our focus will be taking responsibility. Ask you student what it means to take responsibility, and how that might look at home, at school, and out in the community.

A huge thank you to all of the families and community members that contributed to our Winter Care Box project this year! Whether you sent in items for the classroom collection bins, signed up for a gift to give, donated money to the project, or helped organize all of the items for the boxes, we truly could not have done it without your support.

Our project was also supported by the Presbyterian Church, who donated over $1500 to buy protein for meals and gifts for children. Thank you!

This year, we supported 24 families and 57 children. I am so glad we can all share our resources within the community to ensure a happier holiday season for all. I am truly grateful for the generosity of spirit this brings to our students each year.

If you or your family are needing support with accessing assistance with basic needs, behavioral support, counseling or parenting, our Care Coordinator, Janeice Bouchard can help! Janeice is an incredibly kind and knowledgable person and can help connect you with resources here in the valley. This service is at no cost to you! You can talk to your child's teacher or Principal McCollom for a referral, or you can refer yourself. Contact Janeice at mailto:jbouchard@optionsonline.org or call 541-414-0900. Janeice is here at Bellview on Wednesday mornings.

The committee to decide what changes will be made to elementary boundary changes have met three times this fall. We reviewed demographic data provided by Flo Analytics and their projections for elementary enrollment over the next ten years, considered elementary school enrollment targets for balancing and looked at transfer rates in and out of each of our neighborhood schools, as well as student demographics and how those might change along with different boundary adjustments.

There will be an open house for the public January 12 to share the committee's findings and recommendations with the community. Boundary changes, once determined, will be implemented next year.

We are so happy to announce that we can have parent volunteers again! Yahoo! Here is the process:

How To Become a Volunteer:

Step 1:
Complete the Volunteer Registration Form, which includes Notice of Background Check forms
Once completed, please submit the forms and a copy of your driver’s license to the Office Manager of the school where the volunteer position is needed. Forms may also be mailed or faxed to the school office. If no school is specified, forms may be submitted to 885 Siskiyou Blvd., Ashland, OR 975250
Once you have passed your background check, you are clear to apply to volunteer for any position throughout the school year. No additional background check is necessary, however; it is necessary to repeat this process each school year.

Step 2:
The state of Oregon is requiring all volunteers in schools to be vaccinated. To be cleared as a volunteer in the Ashland School District, you must first submit copies of the front and back of your vaccination card to Haevian Lau at the district office: Haevian.Lau@ashland.k12.or.us . Please notify the school office if you need to request a religious or medical exception.

Step 3:
Mark your calendar with the agreed upon days and times. Please note that certain positions require training and a time commitment. Make sure you can fulfill the volunteer commitments before agreeing to the position.
Be prompt and dependable. Call ahead if you are ill or unable to keep your appointed times. When you commit to volunteering, people are depending on you.

Principal, Bellview School

She, Her

Email: christine.mccollom@ashland.k12.or.us
Website: https://www.ashland.k12.or.us/o/bes
Location: 1070 Tolman Creek Road, Ashland, OR, USA
Phone: 541-482-1310
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Bellview-Elementary-School-104141858437771