Hoo Knew?

Dear OPE Families,

Welcome back, OPE families! It has been great having students back in the building and seeing the school come back to life. The halls are buzzing, classrooms are full, and students are getting back into the swing of things.

The first few weeks of school are always about getting settled, learning routines, building relationships, and getting comfortable with a new school year. Our students have done a great job getting started, and it has been fun to see their excitement and energy throughout the building.

Thank you for your partnership as we get the year underway. We’re off to a great start, and we’re excited for what’s ahead!

Sincerely,

Principal Harder

• After school plan changes need to be communicated to the office BEFORE 1:00. 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.
• When picking up your students after school, please do not park in the bus parking at the high school. They need it left open!

Thank you for sharing your amazing kids with us!

Welcome to 4th Grade!

We have had a great first week back to school. All of the classroom teachers have been participating in many activities to kick off the year and help the students get to know each other and their teachers. We have been very impressed with the kindness, generosity, and hard work we have already seen from our 4th graders.

Next week we'll be kicking off place value in math, Oregon regions in Oregon studies, and we will be focusing on a story called Reaching for the Moon in ELA. Please be on the lookout for your child's first spelling list and help them remember to study for their Friday tests. We highly encourage you to start having your child practice multiplication facts as well.

We are excited for a great year ahead and appreciate your support!

5th grade had a fantastic first week! We are so excited to meet all of our amazing students and can’t wait to get to know them better. Please be on the lookout for a weekly email from your student's teacher this week. Your student should be coming home with a handbook acknowledgement form in their backpack. Please sign it and return it to school. Don’t forget to flip it over and sign the technology agreement on the back. Your student cannot use a device at school until it is signed.

The 6th grade team enjoyed a solid first week as we all worked on getting to know each other and getting back in the school groove! 6th grade students will begin their block period program on Tuesday September 7. Synergy will take a few weeks before parents will be able to check grades in students’ individual classes as district staff work on transferring students into those classes.

Please check in with your students’ content area teachers for any early questions about progress. Look for emails from homeroom and content teachers as we move forward. A final important note is to save the dates for our outdoor school trip from March 16-19, 2027. This will be the week prior to Spring Break and we’d hate for anyone to miss out due to scheduling conflicts.

It has been wonderful welcoming our 4th–6th grade students back to school! The first week is all about getting comfortable, building connections, and settling into new routines.

As the school counselors, we are here to support students with their social-emotional well-being, friendships, feelings, and any challenges they may experience throughout the school year. Please know that your partnership is an important part of helping our students feel safe, supported, and ready to learn.

The first week of school can bring a mix of excitement, nervousness, and big feelings. Here are a few simple ways to help your child adjust to being back at school:

• Get back into a routine: Consistent bedtimes, wake-up times, and morning routines can make school days easier.

• Check in: Ask open-ended questions like, “What was one good thing about today?” or “Was anything challenging?”

• Prepare the night before: Packing backpacks and choosing clothes ahead of time can help mornings feel less rushed.

• Encourage breaks: Remind your child that it’s okay to take a breath, pause, and ask for help when needed.

• Celebrate small wins: Starting a new school year takes adjustment. Recognize their effort, growth, and courage!

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Wishing everyone a wonderful school year filled with growth, kindness, and connection!

Mrs. McKedy and Mrs. Top

Welcome back to music at OPE! It has been great to see familiar faces and greet those new to our school. I shared some welcome information with families via email about what to expect in music this year earlier this morning, but you can also find it here if you’ve not yet seen it. As we kick off our year together, here are some important reminders.

4th/5th Grade Recorder Orders - Due 9/11/26

Our 4th and 5th grade students will again be using soprano recorders in music this year. Recorder forms are due Friday, September 11. Families have three options:

• students may bring an appropriate recorder from home,

• purchase a new recorder from the school for $7, or

• borrow a recorder from the school for free and return it in June.

School-purchased recorders come with a case and are engraved with the student's name. If purchasing a recorder, please return the form with cash or a check made payable to Otto Petersen Elementary. Money sent to school should be in an envelope clearly marked with your child’s first and last name and homeroom teacher.

Fifth graders will begin recorder work in mid-October, while fourth graders will begin after winter break. Fifth graders who already have a recorder from last year or would like to borrow one do not need to submit a form; we will gather that information in music class. All other families should return the recorder form by September 11, either on paper or electronically at www.wilkinsmusic.net/recorders. Please contact Mr. Wilkins with any questions.

6th Grade Band -

We are excited to offer sixth grade band again this year! Band will meet four days a week (Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays), with rehearsals beginning Monday, September 14. Space is limited to the first 40 students, so students interested in participating should return their completed permission slip as soon as possible. Paper copies and additional information will be provided to interested students during music classes.

Families will need to have an instrument and band book available by the first rehearsal. We are once again partnering with Beacock Music for instrument rentals. Families should begin the rental process online at www.beacockmusic.com before pickup. Beacock will host an instrument rental pickup night at OPE on Tuesday, September 9, from 5-7 PM for instruments rented in advance. If you cannot attend, Beacock will deliver rented instruments and purchased accessories to school within a week of placing your online order. Please contact Mr. Wilkins with any questions.

Save the Dates!

Please mark your calendars for this year’s concerts and events listed below. I will send some additional information and reminders about each event as we get closer to the performance. We hope to see you there!

5th Grade Music Program

Thursday, March 11

6:15 PM: call time for students

6:30 PM: perform

4th Grade Music Program

Thursday, May 6

6:15 PM: call time for students

6:30 PM: perform

6th Grade Band Concerts

• Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2026 - 6:30 PM

• Tuesday, March 9, 2027 - 6:30 PM

• Thursday, May 13, 2027 - 6:30 PM

PE: As we kick off our physical education activities, this is a friendly reminder to all parents and guardians of 4th, 5th, and 6th grade students that proper athletic shoes are required on PE days to ensure your child's safety and comfort during active play.

Additionally, if your child is recovering from an illness or injury and cannot participate in class, please send a signed written note or an email to their PE teacher ahead of time so we can accommodate them with alternative activities. Thank you for your cooperation in helping our students stay safe and active! Coach K & Coach Ski

Dear OPE Families,

Otto Petersen Elementary provides Title I services to support students who may benefit from additional instruction in reading and/or math. Title I is a federally funded program designed to provide supplemental academic support and help students build the skills they need to be successful in the classroom.

How are students identified for Title I?

Students are identified for Title I support using multiple sources of information, including STAR assessment results, classroom performance, teacher observations, and other available student data. STAR is new to us this year and will be one of the tools we use to help identify specific areas where students may need additional support.

Our goal is to look beyond an overall test score and determine where a student is struggling and what specific skills or standards we can target during Title I instruction.

What does Title I support look like?

Students receiving Title I services may participate in small-group reading or math instruction based on their individual needs. Groups are flexible and may change throughout the school year as students make progress or as new areas of need are identified.

Reading groups typically receive approximately 30 minutes of additional targeted instruction. Math groups focus on building foundational skills and providing additional practice with grade-level standards.

Students receive Title I services during designated grade-level enrichment times built into the school day. This means students do not miss regular classroom instruction, specials, or recess to participate in Title I. Title I provides additional targeted support without taking students away from their core learning opportunities.

Monitoring Student Progress

Throughout the year, we will monitor student progress using STAR data, classroom assessments, student work, and other progress-monitoring tools. This information will help us determine whether interventions are working and when students are ready to move to a different skill group or no longer need Title I support.

Our goal is to work together with classroom teachers and families to provide students with the extra support they need while helping them build confidence and experience success.

If you have questions about Title I services or your child's participation, please feel free to reach out.

Vanessa Gonrowski
OPE Title I Reading & Math Interventionist

Welcome back to the library! It was so great to see familiar faces in the library, and lots of new ones. Mrs. Knutson loved hearing the excitement and impatience to check out books. We will start checking out on Tuesday.

Scappoose School District has a new District Librarian! Jessica Migliorini comes to us with 20 years of experience in education, including 15 years as a certified librarian working with youth age 0-18 and their families. She will work alongside our amazing Library Specialist, Mrs. Knutson, to support the staff and students of OPE in their reading and information literacy development. Mrs. Migs loves all the natural space that Oregon has to offer and she spends a lot of time outside, hiking and paddling. She has lots of favorite books, but one she always recommends for 4th-6th graders is Gregor the Overlander by Suzanne Collins.

Our OPE library has over 9,000 books full of imagination, stories and facts. Your student will attend a 30 minute library class, once a week. During that time we will learn about genres, digital safety, authors and more! Students are able to check out 3 books at a time and keep them for 2 weeks. At the end of those 2 weeks, they need to either return the book or talk to Mrs. Knutson about renewing the book. Adults will receive an email notification if their student has overdue books.

The OPE library is unique because it falls under two categories of age ranges for books. Many publishers split recommended ages between 5th and 6th grade. Books that are recommended for 6th grade and up will have a green dot on the spine, but all students are free to choose the books they feel are appropriate for them. Please review with your student what topics they are interested in and what books they bring home to make sure they match with your personal family values.

Looking forward to this school year, we would love to have some library volunteers to help us on a one time or weekly basis. Please email Mrs. Knutson (kknutson@scappoose.k12.or.us) to sign up. We also are happy to accept book donations for K-12 reading levels as long as they are in good condition! They can be left with the front office at any school, labeled for the library. And if you’d like to contribute new books or supplies to our library, we have a full Amazon wishlist of amazing stories that we would love to share with students.

Here’s to a great school year, full of new stories and wild imaginations!

The Scappoose Elementary Parent Organization (SEPO) is a nonprofit of volunteers who are passionate about supporting our students, educators, and classrooms. SEPO supports the three Scappoose School District elementary schools - Warren Elementary (Pre-K & Kindergarten) , Grant Watts Elementary (1st - 3rd Grade), and Otto Petersen Elementary (4th - 6th Grade). As a parent or guardian, you are automatically a SEPO member.

SEPO is proud to support all three elementary schools by sponsoring a variety of programs and exciting initiatives. ​Curious about all the things SEPO does?​ Watch our 2025 Spring Auction video ​and discover how SEPO makes a difference—and how you can get involved. Visit our website for updates and information.

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.

First SEPO Meeting of the Year!

Are you interested in learning about volunteering and/or supporting events for our elementary community? Join us on Thursday, September 10th at 7pm on Google Meet! This first SEPO meeting of the year will provide a space for introductions, a run-through of this year’s events, and an opportunity to sign up to assist. We look forward to seeing you there!

Video call link: https://www.seposcappoose.org/meetings--resources.html

Helping Every Student Grow in Reading and Mathematics

This school year, K-8 students will take the Star test in fall, winter, and spring. The test helps teachers understand each student's strengths and learning needs so they can provide the right instruction and support throughout the year.

Fall Interim Assessment Window

Kindergarten: 9/21/26-10/2/26

Grades 1-8: 9/8/26-10/2/26

What is Star?

The Star is an online reading and mathematics assessment that adapts to each student.

• When students answer correctly, questions become more challenging.

• When students miss questions, the assessment adjusts to find the level where they are ready to learn next.

Because every student receives different questions, the assessment provides a more accurate picture of what they know and what they are ready to learn.

What does it measure?

Reading

• Fluency

• Phonemic Awareness

• Phonics

• Key Ideas and Details

• Text Complexity

• Vocabulary

• Craft and Structure

• Knowledge and Ideas

Math

• Counting & Cardinality

• Algebraic Thinking

• Geometry

• Expressions & Equations

• Numbers & Operations

• Functions

• Ratios

• Number System

• Stats & Probability

How will the results be used?

Teachers use Star results to:

• Plan instruction that meets students' individual needs

• Identify students who may benefit from additional support or enrichment

• Monitor student growth from fall to spring

• Celebrate student progress over time

The assessment is not graded and is not used as a report card grade. It is one of several tools teachers use to understand student learning.

How can you help?

You can help your child by encouraging them to:

• Get a good night's sleep before testing.

• Eat a healthy breakfast.

• Arrive at school on time.

• Take their time and do their best.

• Work independently without help so teachers receive the most accurate information about what they know.

The goal isn't to get every answer correct—it's to understand what your child is ready to learn next.

What you’ll learn

Following each testing window, you'll receive a Star Family Report that explains your child's results in easy-to-understand language. It shows how your child is progressing over time and identifies skills they have mastered and skills they're ready to learn next.

Learn More

Watch this short family video from Renaissance Learning: