Westridge Wildcat News
Friday November 4, 2022
Message From the Principal
Hello Westridge Community,
We had an incredible assembly today from the North Star Dance Company. This was a powerful experience for our students of all ages, and they'll be excited to talk to you about it this weekend. On Monday I was walking around to the different Harvest Parties in classrooms and everyone was having fun, decorating pumpkins. It's been a week of celebration, in spite of the rain.
On that note, as we step into these rainy days of November and December, I want to remind everyone how important it is get our students to school on-time. Our tardiness has been growing the last few weeks, with more kids showing up to school late. Mornings are a critical time, where teachers set the agenda for the day, and step into a Math or Language Arts block-- we want to make sure all students are present for that.
Much thanks everyone and enjoy your weekend!
Noah
In This Newsletter:
Save the dates!
Native American Heritage Month
Last call for OBOB
History and Spelling Bee information
What's up, Westridge?
Evereve and Holiday Fundraiser
Suicide Prevention Training
Kids Story Time
STEM News and Needs
Continuing Reminders:
Counselor's Corner
Nurse Notes
Music Man
Picture day infoMeet the Westridge Staff!
Reporting Tardies and absences
Statewide Assessment Notice
Save the Dates!
11/6: Evereve Shopping Fundraiser (info below)
11/7: Kids Storytime: Respond to Racism (info below)
11/9: 5-7pm Kindergarten Mom's Night Out
11/9: 6-9pm 3rd Grade Parents Night Out
11/9: 6-8pm 4th Grade Parent's Night Out
11/11: No School: Veterans Day
11/11: 2-4pm 2nd Grade Dads Day out
11/11: 12-2pm 2nd Grade Students Meet up
11/17: PTSO General Meeting 7pm at Westridge Library and on Zoom
11/21-11/25: No School
12/2: PIcture retakes
12/13: Vision Screening (Grades K/1/3/5 only)
12/19-1/2: No School (Winter break)
PTSO Event's Page Calendar can be found here for more info on Parents Nights out and Meet Ups!
National American Indian Heritage Month:
Today the PTSO had the great pleasure of hosting Northstar Dance Company for our first school-wide assembly. We hope that your student enjoyed this unique opportunity to experience Native American music, dance, and culture in honor of National American Indian Heritage Month. If you like to learn more about the Native American experience and history, please visit these websites and our local library.
The Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde
National Museum of the American Indian and Native Cinema Showcase
Last Call for OBOB!
Final day to sign up is Friday November 11th. Every team member needs to be signed up by their parent or guardian.
We want everyone who wants to participate to have the opportunity. Please reach out if we can be helpful in sorting out a team for your child.
Please note the dates: battles begin at lunch recess in mid-January and then we will have the remaining battles on Saturday February 4, 2023.
Sign up here: http://tinyurl.com/wrOBOB23
Please email Rebecca Weinstein rebeccaweinstein2@gmail.com with any questions.
5th Grade Graduation Holiday Fundraisers!
It's time for Holiday Fundraisers! Our annual fundraiser kicks off next week and we are bringing back Teufel Wreaths for your holiday evergreens. In addition, we are adding Ripcity Popcorn to offer more holiday goodies to celebrate our entire community. This campaign is a 2 week fundraiser with big prizes for your student; so get family, neighbors, and co-workers ready:
November 1st: Student Order Forms sent home
November 16th: Student Order Forms must be returned
December 2nd: Order Pick-Up Event
Dearest Westridge Families,
This month, we will be investing our time and attention on the character trait: GRATITUDE in our Social Emotional Learning (SEL) lessons, classrooms, and throughout our school community. Gratitude has been shown to be one of the best ways to reduce anxiety, increase happiness, & improve relationships. The practice of gratitude is a tool that both grounds us and also inspires hope, peace, and joy. For when we are grateful, we are stronger to “be the good” to our world.
One way to think about Gratitude is “choosing to appreciate the people and things in our lives.” Practicing Gratitude can increase our well-being and our happiness. Gratitude is 1 of 3 traits we will focus on throughout the year that helps students Be Well. Throughout the school, Westridge Wildcats will be developing skills like emotion regulation, positive self-talk, and stress management. We are choosing Gratitude!
The definition students will be learning at school this month is Gratitude: choosing to appreciate the people and things in our lives. Through our monthly Counseling Lesson, students will learn about having Gratitude for our emotions and for Coping Skills. We can bravely use those coping strategies when feelings overwhelm us.
Our monthly letters include activities to explore GRATITUDE further as a family.
Enjoy connecting together with the PurposeFull Pursuits inside the PreK - Grade 5 Gratitude Family Letters!
Thank you for teaming with us to empower our students socially and emotionally. We are all the Heart of Westridge. Please reach out if you or your student would like more support. You can also fill out this form to Request for Family Resources.
Together,
Gary Kieser
Westridge Elementary School Counselor kieserg@loswego.k12.or.us
Nurse Notes:
WHEN TO KEEP YOUR STUDENT HOME FROM SCHOOL
Please follow this link to see when and for how long to keep your student home due to various symptoms.
Oregon Lions Sight and Hearing Foundation will soon be conducting their annual vision screening of K,1,3,and 5th grades. Click for more information.
On the day of your school's vision screening, please consider donating any old glasses you have to the Lions Club. Click for more information.
Is your child up to date? Check here and be sure to update school records before you leave for Winter Break.
Meet the Westridge Staff!
Each week we will get to know a few Westridge staff members with a Q&A session!
This week, we met up with our "specials" teachers, Lindsey McMahon, Monique Jacobs and Katie Lang!
Lindsey McMahon:
Q: What is your job here at Westridge?
A: Music Teacher
Q: How long have you worked at Westridge?
A: Six years
Q: Where did you grow up?
A: Portland, Oregon
Q: What did you do after high school?
A: Sang for 10 years as an opera singer!
Q: Tell me about your family or any pets!
A: Partner Greg, daughter Mo, son Henry and a cat named Tom
Q: What are some interesting or fun facts about you?
A:I am a lefty, love cooking, speak German, love the Steelers, and can bowl over a 200!
Q: What are somethings you love to do in your free time?
A:Read!
Monique Jacobs:
Q: What is your job here at Westridge?
A: PE Teacher
Q: How long have you worked at Westridge?
A: This is my 4th year
Q: Where did you grow up?
A:Everywhere! I was a military brat!
Q: What did you do after high school?
A: I went to college-Western Oregon University
Q: Tell me about your family or any pets!
A:I've got a husband, 3 kids (all girls), and a dog named Walter.
Q: What are some interesting or fun facts about you?
A:I was born in Iceland. I used to teach middle school math and I was also a yoga teacher. I lived in New York City for 2 years, where I worked at Starbucks, taught Universal PreK, and 5th grade.
Q: What are some things you love to do in your free time?
A: I like to workout:-) I walk everyday to clear my head. I dream up big ideas-large road trips or remodeling the house and then try and make them happen.
Katie Lang:
Q: What is your job here at Westridge?
A: STEM Teacher
Q: How long have you worked at Westridge?
A: This is my first year
Q: Where did you grow up?
A: Torrence, CA
Q: What did you do after high school?
A:I went to college at Loyola Marymount in Los Angeles for education. I worked for a year in Hawthorne, CA before moving to Nashville, TN for a couple of years with my husband.
Q: Tell me about your family or any pets!
A:I married my high school sweetheart, JR! One of our first dates was going to a musical, and we've been going to plays and musicals ever since. I have a 7th grader, Heidi, a 4th grader, Tess, and a 1st grader Paige, and a little pound puppy named Zoe!
Q: What are some interesting or fun facts about you?
A:I like trying new things, going new places, and am always up for an adventure. Variety is the spice of life.
Q: What are some things you love to do in your free time?
A: I like trying new things, going new places, and am always up for an adventure. I like to camp, hike, snowboard, play games and read!
Safe Oregon
Parents-guardians who have concerns about a student’s well-being are encouraged to reach out to their principal, and 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.
(Students should also be aware that intentionally providing a false report is a serious offense.)
Stay connected with the LOSD AP:
Contact information for the Westridge PTSO
Find us on Facebook!
Follow us on Instagram @westridge.ptso
Email: westridgeptso@gmail.com
Yearbook Photos: yearbookwestridge@gmail.com
Westridge Elementary School
Email: hurdn@loswego.k12.or.us weaverl@loswego.k12.or.us
Website: https://www.losdschools.org/wr
Location: 3400 Royce Way, Lake Oswego, OR, USA
Phone: 503-534-2371