Message from the Superintendent
The news and images of the earthquakes in Turkey and Syria are devastating. My heart goes to those who have been killed, injured, and impacted by this tragedy.
World events can bring up concerns for our safety and security, and remind us of the importance of being prepared for the probable, possible, and unthinkable. In LOSD, we work closely with city, county, and state agencies and community organizations to continuously develop emergency response plans. An effective response requires preparation from all of us. We have a variety of resources on our website under safety and security. I encourage you to review them with your family and make a plan with your children, loved ones, and neighbors.
A significant development is preparing our school buildings so that they may serve as emergency shelters. As part of our capital bond improvement program, the new Lakeridge Middle School and soon-to-be-built River Grove Elementary and Lake Oswego Middle School are constructed to seismic level 4 to allow for immediate occupancy following a major seismic event. Additionally, all of our schools’ gymnasiums and covered areas have been retrofitted to the same seismic standards.
It’s times like this when I feel extra grateful to our Lake Oswego School District voters for supporting our 2017 and 2021 bond measures to make these improvements possible for our students and community. We truly are building our future together. Thank you.
Celebrating Lunar New Year
Last week was filled with Lunar New Year events, including Lakeridge High School Asian-American and Pacific Islander Student Union and Westridge PTSO volunteers hosting community festivals at their schools. At Oak Creek, Lake Oswego High School students hosted class activities including lessons about the event celebrated by numerous cultures in various ways around the world and hands-on lantern and red pocket-making crafts.
Excellence in Elementary Music Education
Congratulations to Forest Hills music teacher Allison Hedgepeth for being recognized as the state’s best elementary music teacher of the year. The Oregon Music Education Association (OMEA) awarded Allison its 2023 Excellence in Elementary Music Education Award, which recognizes an individual who has shown commitment to service in the profession and a focus on teaching children through music.
Allison has taught in our district since 2007 and is widely recognized for her musicianship, leadership, positivity, organization, and gift for mentorship and advocacy for students and colleagues. She has been deeply involved with the OMEA All-State Elementary Honor Choir, serving as a chaperone for seven years from 2012-2018, then serving as manager or co-manager of the ensemble ever since. She served as the elementary music coordinator for LOSD from 2016-2020. She strongly advocates for elementary music educators, especially our state’s youngest music education students. In 2018, she founded the OMEA District 14 Elementary Honor Choir and serves as manager to this day.
District to Submit Levy for May 2023 Ballot
The Lake Oswego School Board has officially authorized the district to place the Lake Oswego School Levy on the ballot for the May 16, 2023 election. The levy funds 15% of our annual general operating budget, which is equivalent to one-third of our classroom teachers. Voters' approval of the renewal would protect educational excellence in Lake Oswego without increasing local tax rates.
National Gun Violence Survivors Week Resolution
In recognition of National Gun Violence Survivors Week, the Lake Oswego School Board supported a resolution brought forward by student representatives from the Lakeridge High School Students Demand Action group. The resolution sets forth one of the district’s highest priorities of school safety, in particular, a focus on gun violence prevention through a model of leadership, information, and education. We honor and remember all victims and survivors of gun violence and uplift the resilient voices of survivors across the nation.
LOSD was one of the first districts in the state to enact policy KGBB prohibiting firearms on school grounds and continues to find ways to promote school safety. Learn more about our schools' policies and practices on the website under Safety & Security.
Workshop About Substance Use & Prevention: A Talk to Have With Your Child at All Ages
Children as young as elementary-school age are reporting the use of alcohol and illicit drugs. To support students’ social, emotional, and physical health, LOSD CARES is hosting a virtual workshop with Brian McCrady of the Clackamas County Prevention Coalition discussing substance abuse prevention for children in grades kindergarten through 12th grade.
During the 1-hour online workshop, parents/guardians will learn how to identify signs of substance, how to talk with their child about it, and how to find help. This workshop is for adults only and is relevant to parents/guardians of children in all grade levels.
Wednesday, March 15
11:30-12:30 p.m.
https://loswego-k12-or-us.zoom.us/j/81471437242
LOSD CARES is a connection and resilience education series hosted by our district's team of counselors, social workers, and psychologists to provide our families with greater access to mental health resources.
Be on the Lookout for Your YouthTruth Survey
It’s that time of year…Lake Oswego schools administer the YouthTruth every spring to help improve students’ experiences in our learning community. Responses from students, staff, and parents/guardians are incredibly valuable. Principals will be sending the survey link at the end of February, and we asked that you please take 15 minutes to complete it before March 24.
Importance of YouthTruth
YouthTruth (YT) is a national nonprofit that harnesses perceptions to help educators accelerate improvements. Student perceptions are empirically linked to academic outcomes, and student perceptions are leading indicators.
YT survey questions are grounded in research about what matters for student outcomes. The findings are used to inform our long-term strategic plan progress, curriculum and instruction, and professional development to improve practices.
The survey design has been rigorously tested for validity and reliability. Through developmentally appropriate questions, students in all grade levels provide feedback on engagement, academic challenges, relationships, belonging, culture, emotional and mental health, diversity, and inclusion. Elementary students will also provide feedback on instructional methods and middle and high school students will provide feedback on obstacles to learning and career and college readiness. Staff and parents/guardians will be asked to provide feedback on similar topics. All responses are anonymous.
Timing of YouthTruth
Lake Oswego YT surveys will open on February 27 and close at midnight on March 24. Students will complete their survey in school, and staff and parents/guardians will be emailed the survey to complete in their own time. Principals will provide school-specific survey links and parents/guardians are asked to take a survey for each school their student(s) attends.
Please contact your school principal with any questions about the survey. Thank you in advance for taking the time to provide your feedback.
Shout Out to Our Read-a-Thon Winners
Congratulations to all of our students who participated in the Winter Break Read-a-Thon! We all win when students read, and this event helped inspire many of our students to read more over the break. Forest Hills, Westridge, and Oak Creek earned school-wide doughnut parties for each raising more than $3,000 for the books read. We also want to recognize the following students who read the most books overall for the district and their grade levels. Way to go -- keep up the great reading!
District
Overall: Adhiraj Jadhav (Lake Grove) - 155
Runner-Up: Dhatri sree (Lake Grove) -145
3rd: Claire Iwataki (River Grove) - 101
4th: Samuel Dodge (River Grove) - 91
5th: Japhey Stokes (Lake Grove) - 88
Kindergarten
1st: John Thompson (Forest Hills) - 74
2nd (tie): Clover Mason (Westridge) - 70
2nd (tie): Owen Gardner (Westridge) - 70
3rd: Henry Tenzeldam (Oak Creek) - 66
1st Grade
1st: Adhiraj Jadhav (Lake Grove) - 155
2nd: Dhatri Sree (Lake Grove) - 145
3rd: Samuel Dodge (River Grove) - 91
2nd Grade
1st: Akeem Ioussifov (River Grove) - 54
2nd: Claire Martin (Westridge) - 52
3rd: Lauren Klose (Forest Hills) - 39
3rd Grade
1st: Claire Iwataki (River Grove) - 101
2nd: Brixton Sustakoski (Palisades) - 52
3rd: Ainsley Fisher (Oak Creek) - 44
4th Grade
1st: Jack Schuyler (River Grove) - 35
2nd: Graham McAllister (Westridge) - 24
3rd: Sophia Lin (Forest Hills) - 23
5th Grade
1st: Quentin Dausman (Palisades) - 57
2nd: Robbie Russell (River Grove) - 10
3rd: Selma Doran (Forest Hills) - 9
Immersion Program Applications Now Open
Elementary Immersion Program applications are now open. For the fall of 2023, Spanish Immersion is accepting applications for students entering kindergarten and Chinese Mandarin Immersion is accepting applications for students entering either kindergarten or first grade.
Be sure to first register with your resident LOSD elementary school before applying for an immersion program.
2023-24 School Year Registration Now Open
Registration for the 2023-24 school year is now open for new students who have never enrolled in Lake Oswego before and returning students who are not currently enrolled but will re-enroll for next year. LOSD is pleased to offer online registration through its parent portal, ParentVUE. See the Registration & Verification page of the LOSD website for guidance. Parents/guardians do not need to register students for 2023-24 who are currently attending during the 2022-23 school year.
The Oregon State Seal of Bi/Multiliteracy
With our rising middle and high school students forecasting their classes for next school year, now is a good time to bring attention to The Oregon Seal of Biliteracy and The Oregon Seal of Multiliteracy. The Oregon State Seals are awarded to graduating seniors who have attained literacy in two or more languages (including their native language) by the time they graduate. Since 2018, 150 LOSD students have earned these awards.
Find more information about the Oregon State Seal of Bi/Multiliteracy in LOSD. Students are encouraged to contact their school counselor, test coordinator, or World Language teacher.
Elementary Standards-Based Report Card
With the end of the first semester, elementary report cards will be available in ParentVUE on Friday, Feb. 10. LOSD uses a standards-based report card for students in elementary schools. This report card measures a child’s progress toward proficiency or mastery of the priority standards in Reading, Writing, Language, Speaking, and Math.
For more information about your child’s progress, please contact the classroom teacher. To find more information about standards-based report card click here.
Foundation Gala Tickets Now On Sale
All parents/guardians and community residents are cordially invited to attend the Lake Oswego Schools Foundation Gala.
Tickets are on sale now.
Foundation Board Applications Open
Are you interested in contributing to a dynamic volunteer organization dedicated to advancing our community's commitment to educational excellence? Please consider applying for the Lake Oswego Schools Foundation Board of Directors.
Please click HERE to access the online application form. If you are unable to access the online application, please contact woolfw@loswego.k12.or.us to receive a pdf version of the application.
LOSD COVID-19 Dashboard
Community Level: Low
If I Were Mayor Contest
Mayor Joe Buck, along with the Oregon Mayors Association (OMA), invite Lake Oswego students grades 4-12 to participate in the “If I Were Mayor...” contest where students can share their creative and inspirational ideas about what they would do as a mayor. Entries must be submitted by March 24, 2023. Click here for more information.
Calling Teen Artists: Outside the Art Room
The Outside the Art Room, Teen Art Showcase + Auction is back for its 6th year, and applications for artists are open! Any youth in grades 6-12 can apply to showcase and/or sell their artwork at the event on Friday, Feb. 24, 6-8 p.m. Find more information and apply to participate by Friday, Feb. 7. The program is hosted by the City of Lake Oswego Parks & Recreation department.
Hunger Fighters Food Pantry
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.
SafeOregon
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.
School Incident Reporting
LOSD Incident Reports are for students and adults to report incidents that occur in school. Incidents may be microaggressions, harassment or discrimination related to race, ethnicity, religion, age, disability, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, or any other aspect of identity. Find incident reports on each school's website under Find It Fast / Report an Incident.
Incidents may also be reported to an administrator, a trusted staff member, or anonymously to SafeOregon.com.
Lake Oswego School District
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