Hispanic Heritage Month
About Hispanic Heritage Month
We celebrate Hispanic Heritage to recognize and celebrate the histories, cultures and contributions of Hispanic Americans who have inspired others to achieve success. Hispanic Heritage refers to a person who is from or a descendent of someone from a Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, Central, and South America.
Fun Facts
- HHM is celebrated from September 15th to October 15th
- It started 1968 as Hispanic heritage week
- It expanded thanks to President Ronald Reagan in 1988 to make it a month-long celebration and was enacted into law
- Mid-September marks the anniversary that many Spanish speaking countries gained independence
Notable Hispanic Figures
- Rita Moreno – is an actress from Puerto Rico and one of the few performers to win an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and a Tony award, making her an “EGOT”
- Cesar Chavez - was a Mexican American labor leader and civil rights activist who dedicated his life’s work to what to the struggle of farm workers to improve their working and living conditions
- Lin Manuel Miranda - actor, composer, lyricist, and writer who created and starred in stage productions that blended modern musical forms with classic musical theatre. Perhaps his best-known work was Hamilton.
- Sonja Sotomayor - associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States of Puerto Rican descent. She is the third woman, first woman of color, the first Hispanic, and first Latina to serve on the Supreme Court
- Ellen Ochoa - American engineer, former astronaut, and former director of the Johnson Space Center. Ochoa became the first Hispanic woman to go to space, was the first Hispanic director and the second female director of Johnson Space Center.
Decorations and Hispanic Heritage Month activities are brought to you by the newest Westridge PTSO committee: Culture of Belonging. If you would like to get involved, please reach out to volunteerwestridge@gmail.com
Meet the Westridge Staff!
Andrea Murphy:
Q: What is your job here at Westridge?
A: Administrative Assistant and Educational Assistant
Q: How long have you worked at Westridge?
A: This is my 12th year
Q: Where did you grow up?
A: Portland, Oregon
Q: What did you do after high school?
A: I graduated from OSU and earned my bachelor's degree
Q: Tell me about your family or any pets!
A: I live with my husband and have two lovely daughters and one red cat!
Q: What are some interesting or fun facts about you?
A: I went to the Kennedy School for 6th grade, I speak a bit of german and I love to play board games!
Q: What are somethings you love to do in your free time?
A: Walking, hiking, tennis, pickleball, biking swimming, frisbee golf, reading and eating!
Jodi Steward
Q: What is your job here at Westridge?
A: Principal's Secretary
Q: How long have you worked at Westridge?
A: This is my 4th year
Q: Where did you grow up?
A: I was born in Missoula, Montana but grew up in Springfield, Oregon
Q: What did you do after high school?
A: I attended Southern Oregon University
Q: Tell me about your family or any pets!
A: My husband I have been married for 15 years. I have two daughters. Bridgette is a Freshman in high school and Abby is a Sophomore at University of Puget Sound. I also have a white French Bulldog, named Hank.
Q: What are some interesting or fun facts about you?
A: I played roller derby for almost 5 years, I played on the first ever women's soccer team at Southern Oregon University and I love to fly fish!
Q: What are some things you love to do in your free time?
A: I love to drive around my 1961 MGA on sunny days and I enjoy crafting on rainy days!
Laura Weaver:
Q: What is your job here at Westridge?
A: Principal
Q: How long have you worked at Westridge?
A: This is my 2nd year at Westridge, first year as Principal.
Q: Where did you grow up?
A:West Linn, Oregon
Q: What did you do after high school?
A: I attended college at University of San Diego
Q: Tell me about your family or any pets!
A: My husband Anton and I have been married for one year and we just had our first child, Ayla on September 1st. We also have a rescue mutt, Tucker who is 7(ish). I also have a niece, (Keira 5) and nephew (Kai 7) who live in Seattle.
Q: What are some interesting or fun facts about you?
A: I love travel (which was more frequent pre-Covid and pre-baby) and set a goal to visit every continent (except Antarctica) before I turned 35. I accomplished that with trips to South Africa (where I did a teacher exchange for a summer), Australia, Vietnam, Ecuador & the Galapagos, and several trips to Europe over the years - my first trip was to France for a month-long immersion when I was 17.
Q: What is something you love to do in your free time?
A: I am an avid reader, I like hosting events and cooking for friends and family, and I am excited about how things will shift as I adjust to motherhood!
Noah Hurd:
Q: What is your job here at Westridge?
A: Principal
Q: How long have you worked at Westridge?
A: This is my first year
Q: Where did you grow up?
A: Burney, CA
Q: What did you do after high school?
A: I went to college in Spokane, WA then was in the Peace Corps in Jamaica.
Q: Tell me about your family or any pets!
A: I have a wife and four daughters, five chickens, and two dogs.
Q: What are some interesting or fun facts about you?
A: I'm pretty clumsy-- I have a lot of scars to prove it. I have a collection of 1980's baseball cards that are worth almost nothing!
Q: What are some things you love to do in your free time?
A: I love hiking, biking and surfing. I also love spending hours in the kitchen cooking a good meal.
New Application for School Volunteers
For the safety of children, volunteers are required to have an approved background check when volunteering in schools.
To help streamline compliance with state and school board policies, which require that all volunteers have background checks and knowledge of other board policies -- as well as state-mandated proof of vaccination (or a qualified exemption) -- we are introducing a new all-in-one volunteer application and approval process through ou Raptor Visitor Management System.
Submitting an online application initiates the background check process. Once submitted, applicants will receive an email upon approval of your background check and you will be given access through the onsite Raptor System at all schools. Please allow up to three weeks to process your approval.
Volunteers need to submit only one application for volunteering in all LOSD schools. Applications need to be submitted annually to capture changes in background checks, policies, and/or vaccination requirements.
Volunteer Application for LOSD
Thank you for applying promptly, and for your service to our students and schools. We are grateful for our volunteers.
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: weaverl@loswego.k12.or.us
Website: https://www.losdschools.org/wr
Location: 3400 Royce Way, Lake Oswego, OR, USA
Phone: 5035342371