Navigator News

UPCOMING DATES

Now - Dec. 10: Wish Upon a Star (more details below)
Dec. 9 (Tues), 5:00-7:00 PM: PTO Holiday Meetup at Lady Bird

Dec. 16 (Tues): Winter Concert

K-2 will perform from 5:30-6:00
3-5 will perform from 6:30-7:00

Dec. 22-Jan. 2: NO SCHOOL - Winter Break

Jan. 5 (Mon): First day back after break

Principal Message

Hi North Star Families -

December is flying by, with only two weeks until Winter Break! This time of year brings a sense of joy, energy, and excitement to our school community. Classrooms are engaged in meaningful learning, seasonal activities, and the completion of academic units. We remain grateful for the continued partnership of our families and the dedication our students show each day. As we approach the end of 2025, we look forward to a strong finish and many positive moments together.

Rooted in our vision and mission, this month’s newsletter highlights how Academic Growth, Meaningful Exploration, and a Culture of Care come to life across our school:

1) Academic Growth

Classes have been immersed in reading through their literacy and foundational skills learning blocks. Most classes are finishing the first module in the EL curriculum. Here's a look ahead of the next literacy modules for each grade level - each has a science focus:

Kindergarten: Weather Wonders

1st: Sun, Moon, Stars

2nd: Fossils Tell of Earth's Changes

3rd: Adaptations and the Wide World of Frogs

4th: Animal Defense Mechanisms

5th: Biodiversity in the Rainforest

Check out the photos below of the incredible learning activities and projects students have been doing!

2) Joyful Exploration

The Artist in Residence program is in full swing! Students are showing such determination, creativity, and curiosity as they make their pieces of pottery. The STEAM room has been transformed into a clay workshop and it's been wonderful to see the imagination in the students' work. We can't wait for the final products to come out of the kiln. Thank you, PTO, for supporting such a wonderful experience!

3) Culture of Care

Generosity and care are overflowing in our school community. Whether it is our Wish Upon a Star program, donations for the Bethlehem Inn, or the Shop with a Cop initiative, it's been amazing to see our community supporting of our students. Thank you for ensuring all of our students feel loved and cared for this time of year.

Connecting - If you would like to connect at any point in the school year, please feel free reach out to me. I am always more than happy to meet and talk about anything that is on your mind. My email is: beth.martin@bend.k12.or.us.

With gratitude,

Beth Martin

3rd Grade Performances with the book, "More Than Anything Else"

3rd graders learned about "Learning Challenges Near and Far" in the EL literacy module. The book, More Than Anything Else, by Marie Bradby explores the idea of opportunity and access to education through the eyes of a young Booker T. Washington. 3rd graders then performed their learning for parents and their kindergarten buddies.

2nd Grade Curiosity Cabinets after reading "The Shell Song"

2nd grade students are reading the book, The Shell Song, by Sharon Fujimoto-Johnson. The book highlights the importance of finding and collecting pieces of hope, big or small, even in the challenging times. Students are creating classroom Curiosity Cabinets as a way to share their curiosities and connect as a community.

4th Grade Reflections - "What Inspires Poets?"

4th Grade students are nearing the end of the poetry module in EL. The display in the hallway reflects much of their learning about poetry. A guiding question has been, "Can poetry heal?" For this display, students reflect on "What inspires poets?"

PTO Happenings!

Upcoming PTO Dates

Now - Dec 10: Wish Upon a Star (more details below)
Dec 9, 5 – 7:00 PM: PTO Holiday Meetup at Lady Bird

Find details, RSVP links, and volunteer sign-ups at northstarelementarypto.org/events

Thank you to everyone who joined us for STEAM Night! The building buzzed with curiosity, creativity, and hands-on learning. A huge thank you to Caitlin and Bryan for planning and leading this event with so much care, and to Griffin for the unforgettable claw machine. And thank you to all volunteers and community partners who helped bring the evening to life. Please upload any photos you’d like to share using the link: Photo Upload Link

Wish Upon a Star: Visit the Community Giving Tree in the front office to view our holiday wishlist, or click the link below to donate. Please bring new, unwrapped gifts to the office by December 10. Wishlist: https://forms.gle/9GfoCZUAQsW4gsn5A

Holiday Meetup at Lady Bird (Adults Only): Join your fellow North Star parents for a casual, adults-only PTO meetup on December 9th from 5–7 PM at Lady Bird (owned by North Star parents Amanda and John Gurnee). Come for a relaxed, fun night together! Dress is "Festively fabulous," completely optional, and very low-key. RSVP here

Share Your North Star Photos! Have great pictures from North Star events? We’d love to include them in this year’s yearbook. Please upload any photos you’d like to share using the link: Photo Upload Link

Event Leads Needed: We’re looking for leads for several upcoming events, including the Read-a-thon (February), Bingo Night (March), and Family Dance Night (May). If you’re interested, please reach out at: info@northstarelementarypto.org.

Thank You to Our Incredible Police Officers!

We have such deep appreciation for our SRO, Drew Fanaika, and all our local sheriffs and police officers. Officer Fanaika is frequently greeting students in the mornings and supporting students in ways that are not always visible, yet the impact is significant. In addition, several of our students were able to participate in the Shop with a Cop program. It was incredible to hear the stories of joy and happiness from our students after their time with Shop with a Cop.

A Note from our School Counselor

Happy December! I hope everyone enjoyed the break and had a lovely time with friends and family! November brought us a lot of joy and we are excited to be in the holiday season.

Classroom Guidance: Throughout December, students in grades K–2 will continue building their problem-solving skills through Kelso’s Choices. We’ll continue learning about Kelso’s Wheel and how students can use it to solve small problems in positive, healthy ways. For more information, visit kelsoschoice.com.

Grades 3-5 will be introduced to the Zones of Regulation, an emotion regulation curriculum that empowers students to identify their emotions and develop strategies to help manage big feelings. Please see the Zones poster below. For more information, visit zonesofregulation.com.

Lunch Buddy Program: Every student will have the opportunity to enjoy lunch with the counselors at least one time during the school year. Although completely optional, this is a wonderful chance for us to build relationships with students in a relaxed, fun setting. Lunch Buddies continues this month with our 1st and 3rd graders! If you prefer that your child not participate in the Lunch Buddy Program, please let us know by emailing Mrs. Filkins at kaily.filkins@bend.k12.or.us.

Please do not hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or concerns. I look forward to connecting with you!

Kaily Filkins, School Counselor

Job Opportunities!

Interested in working with some incredible students?!? If so, consider applying for our Inclusion Assistant positions. Each position is 6.5 hours a day with a pay scale of $24.36-$26.95. APPLY HERE. It's a job that's sure bring joy and connection!

Parking Lot

Please do not park along the curb in the parking lot during arrival and dismissal. If you wish to get out of your car to greet your child, park in the parking lot. It is important that the carpool lane is able to have continuous movement for both safety and efficiency. Thank you!

Volunteer Background Check

If you are interested in going on a field trip with your student’s class, or think you may be interested in the next few years, please fill out a volunteer background check! It takes 48-72 hours to clear, and is valid for two years. Please consider filling this out! If you have not filled it out, or it hasn’t yet cleared, you will not be able to go on a field trip or volunteer with your student’s class. There will be no exceptions.

https://www.bend.k12.or.us/district/organization/volunteer