St. Paul Elementary Newsletter

Dear St. Paul Elementary Families,

The energy across our hallways over the first seven days of school has been nothing short of incredible. The first week of school was a resounding success, and seeing our classrooms buzzing with curiosity, laughter, and focused learning has been the best possible way to kick off our year together.

As part of our opening tradition, I make it a point during the first week to personally visit every single classroom. These visits serve two important purposes: we review our shared common area expectations to ensure our school remains a safe, respectful, and welcoming environment for everyone, and I give students the floor to ask anything they like about the school, our curriculum, or me personally.

For our older students going through this visit for the third time, asking about my floating coffee cups (which I tend to leave everywhere) and my daily sock choice has become a fun and beloved tradition! Our newest students bring their own wonderful brand of honesty. A couple of my favorite questions this year included, "How old are you?"—which was immediately followed by, "That’s older than my grandpa!", and "What is your favorite classroom?" To that, my answer remains completely unchanged: "The one I am in at the time."

These classroom visits have been a cherished tradition of mine for twenty-two years, and they truly remain a highlight of starting the school year for me. Connecting directly with your children reminds me of the rich, vibrant community we are all privileged to be a part of.

Speaking of community, a special thank-you goes out to the Elementary PTC for their generous support in building our school culture. This year, they provided St. Paul Elementary swag t-shirts for all students and staff, complete with our school maxims printed on the back. We officially kicked off Friday by gathering everyone together for a wonderful all-school picture in our new shirts, and the sense of unity and pride in the room was palpable.

Having our maxims; Build Community, Believe in Yourself, and Become a Lifelong Learner, printed right on our shirts serves as a daily reminder of who we strive to be as a school family. These maxims aren't just words on a page or a shirt, they are the guiding principles our staff and students live out every day, whether in the classroom, on the playground, or in our common areas. They anchor our school culture and remind us that when we support one another, believe in our potential, and foster a love for learning, we create a space where every single student can thrive.

Upcoming Notes & Updates:

• Next PTC Meeting: Please put October 6th on your calendars for our next PTC meeting!

• Back to School Night: We are currently meeting as a staff to determine if or when a Back to School Night will happen, and we will keep you posted as soon as details are finalized.

As always, my door is open to you. I am always available to parents for concerns, questions, or compliments, so please don't hesitate to reach out to me for any reason.

Thank you for sending us such remarkable children each day, for partnering with us, and for your continued support as we embark on another great year together.

Warmly,

Dr. Fisher, Elementary Principal

St. Paul Elementary

We would like to extend a heartfelt thank-you to all of our PTC members for the wonderful shirts! We absolutely love them and truly appreciate your generosity.

Thank you for all that you do to support our school and our students. We are so grateful for your kindness, time, and continued support. Thank you for everything you do! ❤️

The new St. Paul Elementary t-shirts were delivered to the staff and students last week!! What a great lookin' group!

The back of the shirts reference our School District's Maxim, to be a reminder of our core values.

If any parents and/or family members are interested in ordering one of these shirts for $20, please email ptc@stpaul.k12.or.us and include the size/s you'd like to order. We will be placing one supplemental order, on 11/2/26, so please have your orders in by 10/30/26! Payment will be collected when you pick up the shirt.

All shirts are unisex, and available in Youth S-XL and Adult S-3XL.

St. Paul Elementary School picture day is Thursday. Sept. 17th, 2026. Please make sure your student is prepared and dressed for the occasion! We do not use a green screen. Our background is a neutral gray, so there's no need to worry about your child’s clothing color. However, we recommend considering the gray background when selecting an outfit to avoid clashing colors or outfits that closely match the background.

Your Makeup/Retake Day is: Wednesday, Oct 7th, 2026.

How to Order:

• Direct Online Link: https://orders.portraitmasters.volumephoto.io/?gallerypassword=SPES0926

• School Code: SPES0926
  If you prefer, visit PortraitMasters.com, click on “Order” at the top, click on the red button that says “Click here to be taken to our ordering page,” and enter your code in the provided box.

Envelopes are also being provided if you prefer to pay with cash or check. If your student didn't bring home an envelope please let the school know. We will have extra envelopes with our photographers also.

The St. Paul Green Grazers 4-H Club will kick off a new year in October!

Members must be 9 years old by September 1, 2026 to register for a large animal project.

Large animal projects include: pigs, sheep, steer, dairy heifers and goats.

If you would like more information about the club and to be added to the email list,

please contact Angela Bell at ang.bell04@gmail.com or 541-968-7386. Thank you!

This might help, go to ROOMS RESOURCES FOR PARENTS & GUARDIANS below. For

additional support, email Leslie Curtis: leslie.curtis@stpaul.k12.or.us or call

directly: 503.540.1684.

Download the St. Paul Buckaroos app from

the iOS App Store or Android Play Store

and enable Notifications.

September:

• Thursday, Sept 17th: Picture Day

October:

• Tuesday, Oct. 6th: PTC Meeting at 3pm in the Multipurpose Room