Dragon News

Message from the Principal

Greetings Findley Community~

Our first two weeks of the school year have been success! It has been so fun to see our students back in our hallways and classrooms. Students have been busy reuniting with old friends, creating new friendships and getting back into the rhythm and routine of school.

Speaking of routines; as we're getting our routines set up for success this new school year, I encourage you to find time in your students' day for play! Jonathan Haidt, in his book The Anxious Generation says that unstructured play is vital for kids' cognitive, physical, social, and emotional development. It enhances creativity, problem-solving skills, self-regulation, and resilience by allowing them to explore, make decisions, and build confidence without predetermined rules or expectations. It helps students learn to interact with one another and practice their social skills. They might start out saying they're bored, but they will find ways to fill the time. You'll be amazed at what they will build and create together. Let this be a year of unstructured play time!

Speaking of play, beginning Wednesday, September 17, Play.Fit.Fun. will be joining us for lunch recess. Thanks to you, our fabulous PTO, the coaches at Play.Fit.Fun. will be joining our recesses every Wednesday through the end of the school year to play games with students. The games they present and teach are not only fun…but simple and easy to play and manage. They are activities that are focused on all students, no matter their abilities and interest levels. Games focus on inclusion, social engagement, physical movement and most importantly FUN. This is a great opportunity for students to enjoy recess more and continue to build and practice healthy life habits! We are excited for this new addition to recess.

With Gratitude,

Sherry Marsh, Ed.D

Principal

Findley

Every Student Belongs Board Policy ACB

Equal Educational Opportunity Board Policy JB

Educational Equity Board Policy JBB

Supporting Immigrant and Refugee Students and Families

Serving LGBTQIA+ Students

Believe You Matter Initiative

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. That may not seem like a relevant topic for elementary school students, but sadly, it is. Last year, about a third of the 651 suicide screenings done in the district involved elementary students — some as young as five years old.

We implore all Findley parents/guardians to attend the Suicide Prevention Informational Night here at school on September 29, 2025 at 6pm. BSD staff will be sharing tools to help you support your child’s mental well-being.

If you are interested in attending our Suicide Prevention Information Night,

please register by using the button below.

Registration Form

Know the Facts about E-Bikes and E-Scooters

Electric bicycles and scooters are becoming increasingly popular. In the state of Oregon, children under the age of 16 are not allowed to ride any class of electric bike or scooter.

We strongly encourage all students and adults to wear a helmet when riding any set of wheels, motorized or not. If you are under the age of 16, you must wear a helmet when biking, scootering, or skating.

Know the facts, follow safety laws, and stay safe!

Bikes on Property

While we love the fact that parents are using electric bikes to bring their students to school, we are also asking that you adhere to the Bike policy and help us model safe bike etiquette for our students. Our student handbook covers bikes and scooters.

Bicycles, Scooters, Skateboards & Rollerblades

Students may ride their bicycles to the school. Once on the school grounds, bicycles must be walked directly to the bike racks and locked securely. Parents & Caregivers please walk your bike to the entry door your student will go through.

Thank you for helping our students remember this policy.

Student Health

Hello Findley Families! My name is Hunter Rudd and I am the school nurse. Welcome to the 2025-2026 school year!

When you have a moment, I would like to ask you to look at Beaverton School District’s student health webpage. This webpage includes helpful information about when to keep your student home for illness, immunization requirements and resources, head lice information, and medication policy information.

I highly recommend reading through that webpage for all the details, but to highlight a few important pieces of information:

Medication:

If you want to keep your child’s medication in the school health room medication cart, you must bring the medications in their original container. All prescription medications must come with a prescription label.
Medications/supplements that are not FDA approved will require a signed physician note/prescription as well.

Medications must be brought by a parent and cannot come to school in a student’s backpack or pocket!

Health Concerns:

If your child has a medical diagnosis that may require staff assistance or emergency treatment, please make sure to let me and the school office know.
Your child may need a health management plan (for conditions such as asthma, seizures, diabetes, or severe allergies as a few examples) and I will contact you to discuss this further once notified.

Illness/ “Too Sick for School”

If your child is sick, they may be required to stay home and not come to school. Please see the school district’s “Too Sick for School” guidelines to know when your child should stay home.
Note that for vomiting and diarrhea, if your child meets the criteria described they must stay home until they are symptom-free (no vomiting or diarrhea) for 24 hours.

Immunizations:

The state of Oregon requires that all students who attend school must be up to date with vaccinations or provide the required exemption waiver if applicable.
If your student is missing any required vaccines, you will be notified in advance so that your student is not excluded from school on the statewide exclusion day in February.

Please reach out to me through ParentSquare or email if I can support your student’s health in any way. Hunter Rudd, email: hunter_rudd@beaverton.k12.or.us

Join Findley Pack 718 for Fun and Friends!

Cub Scout Pack 718 is a part of the Scouting America Cub Scout program. Cub Scouts is a parent led, volunteer program designed to help kids develop good character, learn citizenship, engage in fitness, and experience leadership through fun, adventure, and community service. Pack 718 is chartered through the Findley PTO.

We are actively forming dens for grades K-5, boys and girls. You can attend our Joining Information Night on Sept 23rd at 7 PM for more details in person. Find event details and RSVP online.

Cub Scouts are grouped into dens at each grade level, and typically meet once or twice a month for age appropriate activities. Some example activities include hiking, woodworking, visiting a museum or a historical site, learning about the community & government, knot tying, first aid, and lots more.

The full Pack meets once a month where all Scouts come together for fun and activities, including picnics, Pinewood Derby car racing, Community service activities, Blue and Gold banquet, and Rocket Launch.

The Findley Cub Scouts are a volunteer, parent-led, organization focused on helping our children develop. The Pack 718 website (http://pack718.com) has more general information about Pack 718. You can see some of our scouts in action here: https://youtu.be/UT4bnboZI3E

Ready to join the adventure? Sign up today at https://beascout.scouting.org. For any questions, please contact contact pack718leads@gmail.com or (971) 319-0827‬.

2025-2026 Metro League Fan Letter

Planning to attend a middle school or high school sporting event in the Metro League this year?

Please be sure you have read the fan expectations and guidelines from the league this season.

The Thompson Rd realignment project has been completed. Now is the time to practice your new route to school. Our car drop off and car pick up lot will continue to be accessed via Old Thompson which now dead ends in our lower lot. As a reminder, our Saltzman lot (upper lot) is for buses ONLY during arrival and dismissal.

Additionally, we want to remind our school community that the only safe place to cross either Thompson or Saltzman is at the intersection where we have crosswalks and crossing guards. Lastly, pulling over and allowing students to exit vehicles using the shoulders of either Thompson or Saltzman is unsafe and causes unnecessary traffic jams. Families should drop students off in our lower lot (Old Thompson entry) following our pull ahead procedures ONLY. This keeps everyone safe. Thank you in advance for your cooperation.

We have three designated areas for pick-up and specific language we use when communicating go home plans. Please use the following information when communicating your go home plans:

Car Pick Up: This is for students who will be picked up and loaded into a vehicle AND students whose parents want to pick them up on foot near the lower lot. Designated by pink star on the map below. We encourage families to remain in their vehicles and allow us to load their students to minimize foot traffic and congestion in the parking lot. If you do plan to park and get out of your vehicle, please use the designated cross walks in the Thompson Lot. School staff will help you cross safely.
Flag Pole: This is for students who will be meeting their families or caregivers on foot and either walking or driving home. It is also a good spot for students to meet siblings. This area is designated by a green star on the map below. If you do plan to park and get out of your vehicle, please use the designated cross walks in the Thompson Lot. School staff will help you cross safely.
Bus Riders & Day Care Vans: Bus riders and those who attend ASA or Good Times afterschool programs will be loaded by school staff. We use the upper lot for this and this area is designated by an orange star on the map below. The upper lot is closed to families and caregivers during arrival and dismissal. (8:00-8:30am & 2:45-3:00pm).
Common Ground: This is our on site aftercare provider. If students are attending Common Ground, notify your child's teacher. K & 1 students will be escorted by our 5th grade Dragon Riders. 2nd-5th graders will be excused at dismissal to walk to Common Ground independently.
Other Day Cares: Other day care providers also provide pick-up services at Findley. Please let your child's teacher know if your student will be picked up by a day care provider and we will help them find their meeting place.
Walkers: Many students walk home. If this will be true for your student, students will be dismissed directly from their classrooms at 3pm. It is expected that students walk straight home. School staff will be out and about on school grounds to ensure all students leave the property after dismissal.

When your Go Home plans change, be sure to communicate with both the office and your child's teacher.After 3:15 any students left unattended will be brought to the office and staff will communicate with families.

Sparky's Steps to Safety

Sparky invites you to show our community that a safe crossing is the best crossing. Follow the footprints to designated street corners and avoid crossing midblock. Teach others how to stay safe while walking to and from school.

TAG Updates for 2025-2026

As was announced at the end of last school year, the BSD is transitioning from using the Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT) to the Naglieri General Abilities Tests (NGATs). This decision aligns with the BSD’s commitment to meet the needs of all students as described in our strategic plan.

In October 2025, BSD 3rd, 4th and 5th grade students will be screened for giftedness in their classrooms using one of three NGATs, unless families choose to request their children to be given the Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT).

3rd grade students will take the Naglieri General Ability Test - Nonverbal.
4th grade students will take the Naglieri General Ability Test - Verbal
5th grade students will take the Naglieri General Ability Test - Quantitative

During this school year (2025-26), families who want to request that their student take the CogAT must complete this google form link. Requests must be submitted by September 22nd. Please remember, students cannot be tested with the CogAT in consecutive years, so if your child took the CogAT during the 2024-25 school year, they will not be allowed to take the CogAT again this year. As of the 2026-26 school year, the district will only use NGATs.

If your student is on vacation or ill when their class takes the NGAT, we will have a make-up day for all tests missed at the school. If your student misses the make-up test, they will not be tested this year. Exceptions may be made for 5th graders upon the discretion of the District TAG Coordinator.

2025-2026 Findley Student/Family Handbook

New Fee for all Credit Card Payments

Starting this month, a convenience fee will be added to all online payments made with a credit or debit card via the district's online portal. The fee includes: