Foster Fox Files

Shelley Nurre, Principal

Website: https://shsd55or.gov/foster/

School Hours: 7:45 a.m. – 2:15 p.m., Monday through Friday (excluding Wednesdays)

Early Release Wednesdays: 7:45 a.m. - 1:15 p.m.

Breakfast begins 7:30 a.m.

Classroom doors open 7:45 a.m.

At Foster, we believe leadership is about service, responsibility, and setting a positive example. That’s why we created our Fox Leader Program — a student leadership opportunity designed to empower our 5th and 6th graders to help shape our school culture.

Earlier this year, interested 5th and 6th grade students were invited to apply to become Fox Leaders. As part of the application process, students shared what makes them strong leaders and why they wanted to serve our school community. Students were selected based on their attendance, responsibility, positive behavior, and teacher recommendation.

We are proud to have a dedicated team of Fox Leaders who now serve as role models throughout our school. You’ll see them assisting with school events, helping younger students, supporting staff, and representing Foster with pride.

Rachel M for daily morning supervision

Carissa W for filling popcorn orders on Wednesdays

Ashley D for filling popcorn orders on Wednesdays

Lee G for filling popcorn orders on Wednesdays

Rubia C for filling popcorn orders on Wednesdays

We appreciate your partnership and dedication to our Foster Elementary community!

3/8 (Sun): Daylight Savings Time begins (Turn your clocks forward one hour)

3/23-3/27 (M-F): No School-Spring Break

3/30 (Mon): K-2 Awards Ceremony 1:35-2:15

Upcoming Events:

4/8 (Wed): 11:15 release-Parent Conferences in p.m.

4/9-4/10 (Thur-Fri): No School-Parent Conferences

Get ready for a week full of fun and school spirit! Here’s a quick look at our dress-up themes:

• Monday, 3/16 – Mix and Match Day: Show off your creativity by wearing fun, mismatched patterns, colors, or clothing items! The wilder, the better!

• Tuesday, 3/17 – Tie-Dye or Tiaras Day: Choose your style—rock your brightest tie-dye or dress like royalty with tiaras and fancy flair!

• Wednesday, 3/18 – Wacky Hair Day: Spike it, color it (temporarily!), braid it, or style it silly—let your hair do the talking!

• Thursday, 3/19 – Vacation Day: Dress for your dream getaway—school appropriate beachwear, tourist gear, sports jerseys, or travel-themed outfits are welcome!

• Friday, 3/20 – Book Character Day: Celebrate reading by dressing up as your favorite book character. We can’t wait to see those literary looks!

We’re excited to see our Foxes show their spirit all week long! 🦊

📌Current enrollment: 265 (Loss of 5 students from January)

📌February average school-wide attendance: 87% (Goal 97%)

Kinder: 80% (4 percentage points loss from January)

1st grade: 85% (3 percentage point loss from January)

2nd grade: 87% (3 percentage point loss from January)

3rd grade: 89.5% (1.5 percentage point loss from January)

4th grade: 87% (4 percentage point loss from January)

5th grade: 89.5% (1.5 percentage point loss from January)

6th grade: 86.5% (0.5 percentage point loss from January)

At Foster, our Foxes are learning that just like trees in the forest, we grow stronger over time! 🌱 This month’s Fox Focus character trait is Growth Mindset and Grit — the power of believing we can improve through effort, practice, and perseverance.

In the forest, a fox doesn’t give up if it doesn’t catch its prey on the first try. It learns, adjusts, and tries again. That’s grit! Our students are practicing the same skill — understanding that mistakes are not failures, but opportunities to learn and grow.

🌿 What Is a Growth Mindset?

A growth mindset means:

• Believing our brains can grow stronger with practice 🧠

• Understanding that effort leads to improvement

• Learning from mistakes instead of giving up

• Using the power of “yet” (I can’t do this… yet!)

🍂 What Is Grit?

Grit means:

• Sticking with something even when it’s hard

• Finishing what we start

• Showing determination and resilience

Throughout March, students will hear messages, participate in classroom discussions, and be recognized for showing perseverance and positive self-talk. Listen for phrases like:

• “This is challenging, but I can try again.”

• “Mistakes help my brain grow.”

• “I won’t give up!”

🦊 How Families Can Support Growth Mindset at Home:

• Praise effort more than outcome (“I’m proud of how hard you worked!”)

• Share a time when you had to practice to get better at something

• Encourage your child to try one more time before asking for help

• Remind them that learning takes time — just like growing in the forest 🌲

When our Foxes show grit and believe in their ability to grow, there’s no limit to what they can achieve. Let’s keep encouraging our students to be brave, persistent, and ready to learn from every challenge!

Keep growing, Foxes — the forest is full of possibilities! 🦊✨