Whitford Newsletter

Greetings Whitford Familes, Students, and Community,

What a treat to work with your students this past month. It is amazing to thing that we have been working together for 30 days already. We have been working incredibly hard to develop connections with both students and families. This is the foundation of our work with our students. Thank you to those who have offered kind words and offered expressions of gratitude to our staff for their hard work. Teachers are amazing and committed to their craft and they show it every day.

Speaking of everyday, this year at Whitford and across the district, we are focusing our attention on student attendance. We need your child to be here every day. It will come as no surprise that studies show that students who attend school regularly find greater levels of success and higher levels of preparation for continuing learning and growth. Our expectation, which matches Oregon's Department of Education expectations is the students attend better than 90% of the year. Last year, 70% of our students met this goal. While this is an excellent result, we still have 3 out of 10 students who did not achieve this measure. We can and we must do better.

In the coming months, we will be presenting some different ideas for families to consider when it comes to school attendance. This month's ideas come from a website entitled "Attendance Works."

Did you know?

• Students should miss no more than 9 days of school each year to stay engaged, successful and on track to graduation.

• Frequent absences can be a sign that a student is losing interest in school, struggling with schoolwork, dealing with a bully or facing some other difficulty.

• By 6th grade, absenteeism is one of three signs that a student may drop out of high school.

• By 9th grade, attendance is a better predictor of graduation rates than 8th grade test scores.

• Missing 10%, or 2 days a month, over the course of the school year, can affect a student’s academic success.

What can you do to help?

• Talk about the importance of showing up to school every day.

• Help your children maintain daily routines, such as finishing homework and getting a good night’s sleep.

• Try not to schedule dental and non-urgent related medical appointments during the school day.

• Keep your student healthy. If you are concerned about a contagious illness, call your school or health care provider.

• If your children must stay home because they are sick, make sure they have asked teachers for resources and materials to make up for the missed learning time in the class.

Please know we are here to support you and your student when it comes to attendance. If there is anything we can do to help or you become aware of issues here at school that are creating reasons for your child to not want to come to school, please include us in finding solutions and answers.

Finally, please watch for news in the coming weeks about grading information as an our first reports cards will be coming your way in early November. Also, student-led conferences are fast approaching on November 5th and 6th. General information will be coming from both me, the principal, and more importantly, from your student's teams to sign up for an opportunity to "talk school" with teachers and your student. We hope that each of you will be able to find the time to meet with us. We look forward to those important discussions.

Thank you again for affording us the privilege of working with your amazing kids. It is an honor to do so.

Respectfully,

Zan Hess, Principal

Whitford PTO: Volunteers Needed for PTO Positions--Come to the Meeting this Tuesday to Volunteer!

Whitford PTO needs you! We have several key PTO roles that need to be filled, including president. Please review the open positions and come to the October 7th PTO meeting to volunteer for a position! The meeting is from 7 to 8 pm. You can attend the meeting in person or via zoom. Want to volunteer, but can't make this meeting - no problem, email whitfordptosecretary@gmail.com in advance of the meeting to express interest.

This year, BSD has launched a districtwide student mental health and well-being initiative called Believe You Matter. The focus area for the next few months will be suicide prevention. Yes, it’s a heavy topic but an important one. About 10% of BSD 8th graders and 13% of BSD 11th graders who participated in the 2024 Oregon Student Health Survey said they had considered attempting suicide in the past year.

Whitford will be hosting a QPR Suicide Prevention Training and we encourage you to attend. Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR) is a mental health intervention. BSD staff will share tools to help you support your child’s mental well-being.

Space is limited. See below for training details and registration link.

Whitford QPR Training for Parents/Guardians:

Date: Thursday October 9, 2025

Time: 6:00-7:30pm

Location: Whitford Library

Cost: Free

Limited Number of Spaces

Register here

Training Description:

Just as people trained in CPR and the Heimlich Maneuver help save thousands of lives each year, people trained in QPR learn how to recognize the warning signs of a suicide crisis and how to Question, Persuade, and Refer someone to help. Each year thousands of people, like you, are saying "Yes" to saving the life of a child, friend, colleague, sibling, or neighbor.

This training will teach community members how to recognize the warning signs of suicide and intervene with a suicidal person.

As a QPR-trained Gatekeeper you will learn to:

· Recognize the warning signs of suicide in your students and others

· Know how to offer hope

· Know how to get help and save a life

Note: this particular training is for parents/guardians only. We are working towards students having an opportunity to learn this information at another time.

Please register TODAY.

Thank you!

Thanks to BEF and our generous community, Whitford has been awarded funds for two different projects. Mr. Benuto's class will be learning from the past by recording personal and family history. Mr Bannister's class was awarded funds to make a calming space for students to take a break. A big thanks to BEF for helping our teachers and students succeed.

Here is a reminder from High Schools

Middle school students who come to high school games must be accompanied by a parent into the gates and must stay under the supervision of their parent the whole time. Also, no backpacks or wheeled recreational transports.

Recently we have noticed more than a handful of kids selling food at school: Takis, Gatorade, candy, etc.

We do not allow students to sell items at school for various reasons.

• School is not a marketplace.

• Junk food, the most popular item, is not healthy.

• There are multiple allergies.

• For some students, junk food has an extreme effect.

• We don't want kids bringing money or other valuables to school.

• The selling of food generally causes disruptions.

Ideally, students should only bring to school what you'd like them to eat at school, and we hope that won't be a family size bag of chips!

Thank you for your help keeping the focus on learning.

Picture retakes will be on October 28th from 9:40-1:00PM. To order prints, please go to mydorian.com

Nuestra reunión de Padres Unidos es el 16 de octubre a las 6pm - 7:30pm en la biblioteca. Los esperamos!

October 2025

Tue 10/07, 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm • Whitford PTO meeting

Wed 10/8 AVID FT for 7 and 8 grade to UP

Thu 10/09, 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm • Suicide Prevention Meeting

Fri 10/10 • No School - Staff Development/Workday

Fri 10/10, 11:00 am - 1:00 pm • Superintendent Search Committee Meeting

Mon 10/13, 3:45 pm - 4:15 pm • Urban Gleaners

Tue 10/14 6:30 p.m. at Highland Park Middle School OPTION SCHOOL OPEN HOUSE

Thu 10/16, 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm • AVID parent night

Thu 10/16, 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm • Padres Unidos

Tue 10/21 • OBOB information session -LUNCHES

Tue 10/21 Clubs begin

Wed 10/22 6:30 p.m. at Meadow Park Middle School OPTION SCHOOL OPEN HOUSE

Wed 10/22 • Mod Pizza Fundraiser Night

Thu 10/23, 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm • Choir Concert

Mon 10/27, 3:45 pm - 4:15 pm • Urban Gleaners

Tue 10/28, 9:40 am - 1:00 pm • Picture retakes

Fri 10/31 • No School - Grading Day

November 2025

Tue 11/04, 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm • Whitford PTO meeting - Nov 04

Wed 11/05, 3:30 pm - 4:30 pm • Superintendent's Coffee Chat

Wed 11/05, 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm • Parent teacher conf.

Thu 11/6 • No School for Whitford students

Thu 11/6 • Parent teacher conf.

Fri 11/7 • No School for Whitford students

Mon 11/10 • No School - Staff Development/Workday

Mon 11/10, 3:45 pm - 4:15 pm • Urban Gleaners

Tue 11/11 • No School - Veterans Day

Wed 11/19, 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm • 7 & 8 band concert @SOUTHRIDGE HS

Mon 11/24 • No School - Fall Break

Tue 11/25 • No School - Fall Break

Wed 11/26 • No School - Fall Break

Thu 11/27 • No School - Thanksgiving / Fall Break

Fri 11/28 • No School - Fall Break

Bring in this flyer, or order online through the MOD app or website, to use the fundraiser code provided and MOD will donate 25% of your bill to support this great work!

MOD Pizza: 12196 SW SCHOLLS FERRY RD
TIGARD, OR 97223

Our WEB Leaders continue to work with our 6th graders to build relationships and offer support beyond just the first days of school. We love to have their friendly faces and positive leadership at Whitford

Thank you to the volunteers who came in to help prepare library books for students! Your time and effort are greatly appreciated!

Do you have a student who loves to read—or one who just needs a little extra motivation? The Oregon Battle of the Books (OBOB) is a fantastic way for students to dive into great stories, work as a team, and challenge themselves in a fun, game-like competition!

Why join OBOB?

• Discover Amazing Books: Students read from a curated list of engaging titles across different genres.
• Build Teamwork Skills: Teams of 4 work together to prepare for trivia-style “battles” based on the books they’ve read.
• Boost Comprehension & Confidence: OBOB helps students strengthen reading comprehension and memory skills in an exciting, low-pressure environment.
• Make New Friends: It’s a great way to connect with other students who share a love of reading and friendly competition.

What’s in it for students?

• A chance to compete in school battles and possibly advance to regional competitions.
• Opportunities to practice leadership, collaboration, and quick thinking.
• Most importantly—lots of fun and a sense of accomplishment!

📅 Student Interest Session:
Date: October 21
Time: Second half of each grade's school lunch (Recess time)
Location: Whitford Library

Encourage your student to come learn more and sign up! Whether they’re an avid reader or just curious, OBOB is a welcoming and exciting experience for all.

Whitford Yearbook Cover Design Contest

All entries must be submitted to Ms. Wakeham by Friday, November 21st. You can submit by email, drop-off in the office, or visit me in room B3!

3 designs will be selected:

1st place: Front cover, 2nd place: Back cover, 3rd place: Inside cover

Winners will get a prize

Requirements:

• 8 ½ x 11 plain white paper with 1-inch borders

• Vertical design (up and down, not sideways)

• Colored Pencils or markers recommended

• Must contain “Whitford Middle School” and “2025 - 2026”

• Wordings and pictures must be a POSITIVE reflection of our school

Option Schools/Programs Application Window Opens October 13

Applications for 2026-2027 Option Schools/Programs will open and be available online on Monday, October 13. Students must reside within the Beaverton School District boundary or currently attend a Beaverton School on an approved Interdistrict Transfer to apply to an Option School/Program.

Students may only select one Option School/Program on their application. They should give careful consideration to their choice of school. Once an application has been submitted, no changes will be allowed. We strongly encourage online applications.

Applications must be received online or in the Option Schools/Programs Lottery – Teaching & Learning office no later than Friday, December 5 at 3:00 p.m. PST.

Current 5th-7th grade students and families who are unfamiliar with the Options/Programs application process are invited to attend an Option Fair. The Option Fairs will include a presentation on the application process and the opportunity to visit tables hosted by each Option School/Program.

Current 5th-11th grade students and families who are interested in specific Option Schools/Programs are encouraged to attend one or more Open Houses hosted at each Option School/Program. Visit the Option Schools & Programs webpage for more information and applications, as well as a complete list of Option Fairs and Open Houses.

Option Fair dates:

October 14 at 6:30 p.m. at Highland Park Middle School (presentation in English; interpretation available upon request at 503-356-3755).

October 22 at 6:30 p.m. at Meadow Park Middle School (presentation in Spanish; interpretation available upon request at 503-356-3755).

8th grade Counselor, Nikki Thrower, will be coming into classes in the next few weeks to talk with students.

Prevention works by strengthening protective factors and reducing risk factors at multiple levels (SAMHSA):

-Supports healthy social and emotional development

-Supports parents and strengthens families

-Prevents and addresses trauma

-Expands evidence-based programs in communities and schools

-Improves the safety, stability, and livability of community environments

If you have any questions or concerns please reach out to our Substance Use Specialist, Fanya Stein, fanya_stein@beaverton.k12.or.us or for more information go to:

https://www.samhsa.gov/substance-use/prevention/talk-they-hear-you/parent-resources

Fanya Stein
Substance Use Specialist

Open to boys and girls 1st- 8th grade. See attached flyer.

Indoor percussion is a dynamic activity that involves music, choreography, marching and more. There is no experience required to join (except for those wanting to play guitar). We will teach students the skills they need to perform with us! Our Try-It-Out days are on October 21st and 28th, from 6pm-9pm in the Southridge band room. These days are for students to try out any of the instruments they would like to, including drums, cymbals, mallet instruments (marimba) and synth/piano.

Any students grades 8th-12th that live in the Southridge attendance zone are welcome to join. Please see attached flyer for more information.