The Current

Message from the Superintendent

School Board Meeting, Appreciation Month

Learn About Serving on LO School Board

Kindergarten Counts Info Nights Jan. 18

Elementary Immersion Info Night Jan. 25

Budget Committee Seeking New Members

Help Support Lake Oswego Schools Levy

Board-Appointed Committee Meetings

Save the Date: First Annual Foundation Gala

Health Information:

• Medical Guidance from Health Authorities
  
• LOSD COVID-19 Dashboard
  
• Community Level: Low

After-School Programs

• Bingo Night at Lake Oswego High
• Pacer Dance Team Junior Clinic
• Lake Oswego Little League Registration Open
• LO Softball Registration Open

Community Reminders:

• Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration
• Annual SASEE Awards: Call for Nominations
  

Regular Reminders:

• What's New at Community School
  
• Hunger Fighters Oregon
• Safe Oregon
  
• School Incident Reporting
  
• Get Social with LOSD

It’s School Board Appreciation Month, a special time to recognize and celebrate the heroes who serve our learning community.

As superintendent of LOSD, I am truly grateful to work with such an exemplary board. The directors of the Lake Oswego School Board are some of the most thoughtful, professional, caring, and fearless people serving in education. They work tirelessly and courageously to advocate for students, staff, and families. When I think of our board, I think of integrity and grace.

Please join me in thanking our directors: Chair Neelam Gupta and Vice Chair Brian Bills, and Directors Kirsten Aird, Liz Hartman, and John Wallin, as well as Student Representatives Samantha Jarquin and Jacob Stuckey. They dedicate considerable time and talent to help steward our district’s continuous development and leadership in educational excellence. We look forward to showing our appreciation at the school board meeting next Tuesday.

Tuesday, Jan. 10

Executive Session (private) 5:30 p.m.

Contract Review Board 6:00 p.m.

Regular Session approximately 6:10 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.

Lake Oswego School Board elections are coming up in May of 2023. Our current directors are hosting an informational session for people interested in serving on the board on Tuesday, Jan. 10, LOSD Central Office Boardroom, 5-5:30 p.m.

For more information about the LO School Board, please visit the district website School Board page or the Oregon School Boards Association at www.osba.org.

Mark your calendars for Kindergarten Counts Open Houses.

Wednesday, Jan. 18

6-7 p.m.

Forest Hills, Hallinan, Lake Grove, Oak Creek, River Grove, Westridge

Our neighborhood elementary schools are hosting the information night for parents/guardians of students entering kindergarten in the fall of 2023. Meet the principal, kindergarten teachers, and school leaders and learn more about our kindergarten program.

New student registration opens that same day, January 18. Please visit the Registration page on the district website for more information about the registration process and deadlines.

All are invited to the Elementary Immersion Program Information Night the week following Kindergarten Counts.

Wednesday, January. 25

Chinese Mandarin Immersion Information 6-6:45 p.m.

Spanish Immersion Information 7-7:45 p.m.

Palisades World Language School

Parents/guardians are welcome to attend both or either session of interest. First, register your student with your neighborhood elementary school before applying for the immersion program.

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.

New student online registration opens on January 18. Please visit the Registration page on the district website for more information about the registration process and deadlines.

LOSD is currently accepting applications for an open position on the Legal Budget Committee. The Legal Budget Committee consists of members of the LO School Board and five citizen members who are charged with reviewing and approving the budget for the upcoming school year. Citizen members are appointed to three-year terms and typically meet three to four times in the spring.

Click here for an application or visit the district website, Business Services Department. Applications are due Feb. 2, by 4 p.m.

The Renew Lake Oswego Schools Levy campaign team is looking for volunteers to help support the upcoming Lake Oswego Schools Levy, which is up for renewal in the May 2023 election. As a renewal, Lake Oswego voters' approval of the local measure would not increase property tax rates.

The levy brings in 15% of LOSD's annual general operating fund, which equates to about 135 teaching positions. Needless to say, funding from the levy is critical to our way of school, providing the resources for class sizes, school days, program offerings, and instructional services and support.

There are many ways you can contribute to the campaign efforts. If you are interested in getting involved, please contact mary.kay.larson@loswego.k12.or.us!

All are welcome to observe the board advisory committee meetings.

Wednesday, Jan. 11

5:15-6:45 p.m. - Sustainability

7:00-8:30 p.m. - Health & Resiliency

Thursday, Jan. 12

5:15-6:45 p.m. - Culture of Belonging

7:00-8:30 p.m. - Equitable Academic Outcomes

All four meetings are held in the LOSD Central Office Boardroom.

Please take a few minutes to review the information and resources below regarding Oregon Health Authority (OHA) and Center for Disease Control (CDC) updates and resources for respiratory viruses, including Influenza, Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), Monkeypox (mpox), plus Hand, Foot, and Mouth disease (HFMD). Information can also be found on our District Nurse website page.

Oregon health officials recently issued a call to action in response to the rapid spread of RSV and Influenza virus. State health officials recommend that people:

• Stay home when sick.

• Cover coughs and sneezes with the inside of your elbow, or with a tissue that you immediately throw away after use.

• Clean and disinfect all high-touch surfaces, including doorknobs, faucets, chairs, countertops, and tables.

• Regularly wash hands with soap and water or use hand sanitizer, especially after coughing or sneezing into a tissue.

• Avoid sharing cups, water bottles, and other drink containers, or eating utensils.

• Get a flu shot and stay up to date on COVID-19 vaccinations, including new bivalent boosters. There is no vaccine for RSV.

• Consider wearing a mask in crowded indoor spaces.

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).

It’s Time To Dance! All youth grades PreK-8 are welcome to participate in the Lakeridge Pacer Dance Team (PBT) Jr. Dance Clinic.

Saturday, Feb. 18

10 a.m.-1 p.m.

Lakeridge High School

Participants will learn a routine and perform together at the varsity boys' basketball game on Feb 21. Registration and details: www.lakeridgedance.com

Registration is open for the Lake Oswego Little League Spring 2023 baseball season. Pre-K through 6th graders are welcome to register. Please visit www.lolittleleague.org/registration for more information.

Lake Oswego Girls Softball registration is open for the Spring 2023 Little League season (ages 4-14). Visit www.lakeoswegosoftball.org for more information. Register by January 3rd to take advantage of the league's Winter Special and save $25 per player (final registration deadline is February 12).

Commemorate the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. with a special community-wide celebration.

Sunday, Jan. 15

2 p.m.

Lake Oswego High School Auditorium

The event will feature D.J. Avelanche as M.C., a keynote address from Portland State University Professor with specializations in race, social movement, and gender Dr. Shirley Jackson, musical performances by premier male vocalist Alonzo Chadwick Sr., and artwork created by community members.

Find more information on the City of Lake Oswego Library website.

Each year, the Rotary Club of Lake Oswego presents SASEE Awards to individuals in our community who exemplify Rotary's Service Above Self by an exceptional contribution in support of education. As in the past, SASEE Awards are presented in three categories: Students, Educators, and Community Citizens. To nominate a worthy individual, please visit rotarySASEE.org.

The LOSD Community School is offering virtual enrichment programs and activities for students of all ages including culinary, STEM, arts, language, and athletics. Check out this week's edition.

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.

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.

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.