Wednesday Express
Updated September 1
Welcome from Mr. Lowell (new)
Welcome to the 141st year of Oregon Episcopal School. It was a pleasure to see all of you back on campus and ready for the new school year. All last week the faculty and staff were busy planning curriculum, organizing classrooms and gathering supplies, preparing to make this a great new year. Today was the wonderful reminder of why we do this work as the students returned full of enthusiasm and excitement about the new year
I would like to extend a special welcome to the parents and students who are new to Lower School. We know you are experiencing so many new things and that you may have many questions about them. There are several resources to help you get the answers you need. One of the resources is the Lower School Wednesday Express, our weekly communication about all things Lower School. The collection of resources and information below may help answer some of your questions. In addition, Jenny Strode, Lyn Zenisek, Chris O’Toole and I, are always happy to help. Please contact us via phone, email or simply stop by the Lower School Office.
David Lowell
Head of Lower School
A Note from Mrs. O’Toole (new)
Greetings Parents!
Welcome to the 2010-2011 School Year! It was so good to see new and returning families fill our classroom, halls and common areas yesterday. How the children have grown! Everyone looked refreshed and eager to start the new school year.
As Assistant Head of the Lower School I “wear many hats.” I’m here to serve students, teachers and parents. My office is in the First and Second Grade wing. Please stop by to say “Hello!” Feel free to connect via email if you have any questions or concerns. My email address is otoolec@oes.edu.
I look forward to an exciting year of learning adventures with you and your wonderful children!
Joyfully,
Chris O’Toole
Assistant Head of Lower School
Drop-Off and Pick-Up (new)
Please review the drop-off and pick-up information below from Jon von Behren to help our beginning and ending of day run smoothly. Of particular importance is your choice of parking or driving through the pick-up line to collect your child. There is ample parking on campus to allow you to pull into a space and park. Please do not park along the curb in the drop-off or pick-up zones.
Campus Traffic
One of every school’s ongoing challenges is to develop safe and efficient student drop-off and pick-up procedures. We continue to make the maintenance and improvements of these routines a high priority, and will deploy extra people during the opening weeks of school to help traffic flow smoothly and safety. We have made a couple of changes in the morning drop-off arrangements this year (please consult the map):
- In order to ease congestion at the Lower School drop-off point in the main lot, we have moved the bus unloading area to the lower drive adjacent to the Beginning School and Aardvark Community Park (area 5 on the map). This lower drive, which has been lightly used for car drop-off, will not be open to cars in the morning this year.
- You are encouraged to use the Loop Road parking lot (area 4) behind the gym to drop students in grades 3 – 12. The walk up the hill is an invigorating way for your children to start the day, and you’ll appreciate the easy in and out. Lower School parents, please note that this area will not be actively monitored, so it’s appropriate only for grades 3 and above.
Attendance (new)
Student attendance is reported to the Lower School Office by 8:15 a.m. The doors to Lower School classroom buildings lock at 8:00 a.m. If your child arrives on campus after 8:00 a.m. you will need to check your child in at the LS Office, pick up an access card to get into the building and escort your child to class. Thank you for helping us accurately account for your child.
Emailing & Calling in Change of Plans and Absences (new)
Please email or call in after school plans, absences, tardies and early dismissals. Plan changes that are called in by 2:00 p.m. will be included in the note that is delivered to classroom teachers, transportation, EC and After School Classes.
Email Jenny (strodej at oes.edu) - you will receive an email confirmation.
Call the LS office - 503.768.3143 (the number from last year is no longer in service - 503.768.3177)
After School Classes (new)
With the start of a new school year comes a new selection of classes to choose from after school. A registration form went home in today's Wednesday Envelopes. Registration forms can be faxed to LS, dropped off in the LS office, or brought by the After School Class office. Priority in classes will be given to those students who have completed their registration form and turned them in by September 7 at 5 p.m. (for classes over enrolled). You will not receive any sort of confirmation until Wednesday, September 15. If a class is over enrolled , we will contact you during the week of registration to give you an opportunity to choose a different class.
With over 70 classes to choose from there is something for everyone from PreK- Grade 12. From knitting to cooking classes your child will enjoy the extra enrichment after school.
Questions? Call Joan Lowe in the after school class office at 503-768-3145.
All School Handbook Online Now (new)
A downloadable PDF of the 2010-11 version of the OES All School Handbook is available on each division homepage, or click here for instant access.
All School Directory Update (new)
Your hardcopy of the new Directory will be available mid-September. Please use your parent portal to access any contact information you need before the printed directories arrive.
Privacy Notice
The OES All School Directory is for official School use, and for individual communication of a personal nature between members of the OES community. Use of the directory for any other purpose, including, but not limited to, reproducing and storing in a retrieval system by any means, electronic or mechanical, photocopying or using the addresses or other information contained in the directory (or PCR Parent Portal) for any private, commercial, or political mailing, is strictly prohibited.
How to Log in to the Parent Portal
Click on “Log in to OES” on the upper right corner of any page of the OES website. Click the green “Parents” button and then enter your username and password. If you have forgotten your password, you can request it there. If you have forgotten your username or don’t have a username and password, or if you have any questions about the Parent Portal, please contact registrar@oes.edu.
Recess Rodeo (new)
During the first three days of school our PE teachers have organized an active and engaging Recess Rodeo for the Lower School students in grades 1st through 5th grades. Students will review safe play on our playground structures and refresh their memories of rules for playground games.
Reminder...This Friday, September 3 is a Uniform Day! (new)
LS Back-to-School Picnic (new)
Friday, September 10
Time: 5-7:30 p.m.
Place: JV Soccer Field
No Uniform Day - wear your class colors to school and the picnic!
Pre-K - Red
K - Purple
P - Yellow
1st - Green
2nd - Blue
3rd - Orange
4th - White
5th - Black
Sponsored by both the Lower School and PAL, this is a family evening of food, fun and games!
Visit with new friends, old friends, new teachers and old teachers.
Volunteers Needed (new)
Parent volunteers are needed during the back-to-school picnic to help monitor the bouncy houses. We need 15 parents for 30 minute shifts beginning at 5:00 p.m. and last shift ending at 7:30 p.m.
If you can help, please contact Michele Ackerman(mdackerman at comcast.net)
A Special Music Assembly (new)
Friday, September 10th, 2-2:45 for Primary Through Fifth Grade
Is your son or daughter interested in learning to play a musical instrument?
Is your child unsure about which instrument to play?
Well we have a special treat in store! Sue Jensen, our Pre-K-12th Grade Music Department Chair, has arranged to have our band and orchestra instructors perform and share the joys of playing percussion, string and wind instruments.
Instrumental lessons are offered in after school classes, and other appointed times during the school day. Classes begin in just a few weeks, so now is the perfect time for your child to select an instrument and get on board with lessons! See Joan Lowe, Director of After School classes, or the OES web site for more details.
Parents, as always, you are welcome to attend this special assembly!
VCL Changes Its Name to PCL (new)
Over the summer, the Volunteer Common Link (VCL) changed its name to Parent Community Link (PCL) to clarify the role of the organization and its association with the divisional PALs (Parent Association Links). The purpose of the PCL is to build community, coordinate volunteers, and enhance communication between parents and the school. Find out more about the Parent Community Link. If you have any questions, please contact the PCL Chair, Jan Massaro.
FOESL Meeting– September 15 at 8:05 a.m. (new)
Friends of OES Library (FOESL) hopes everyone had a fabulous summer! We are looking forward to having our first meeting on Wednesday, September 15 at 8:05 a.m. Please come join FOESL in the Guild Room to discuss volunteering and Book Fair opportunities! Everyone is welcome and we are always excited to add friends to our special and fun-loving group! FOESL meets once a month, Wednesday mornings from about 8-9:30 a.m. If you have any questions, please contact the FOESL Co-Chairs: Diane Polscer (dpolscer at gordon-polscer.com or Kim Bissell (kim_bissell at msn.com).
3rd Grade Girl Scout Brownies (new)
All third grade girls welcome! Girl Scout Brownies will meet the third Thursday of each month from 3:00-5:00 p.m. brginning September 16.
Meetings will be held on-campus in the MS Project Room if not outside or on a field trip.
After school the girls meet leaders in the LS covered area. After meetings, they can be picked up at the LS covered area at 5:00 p.m. or be checked in to EC. Please notify the LS office with your pick up plans on the days your daughter attends.
Registration will be due at the October 21 meeting.
Please send any questions to Anna Schatz ( annaschatz1122 at gmail.com).
Books and Breakfast
As part of Books and Breakfast series hosted by the Community Diversity Committee, we will be reading and discussing the following two books during the next school year. These books will make great summer reads. More books will be announced during the year.
The Help by Kathryn Stockett
It is about African American maids working in white households in Jackson, Mississippi during the early 1960s. The stories of three maids intertwine to explain how life in Jackson, Mississippi revolves around "the help"; yet they are always kept at a certain distance because of racial lines.
My Abandonment by Peter Rocks
My Abandonment is inspired by the true story of a veteran and his daughter who lived undiscovered for four years in a tarp-covered, wood-framed structure in Portland's Forest Park.
Contact info for the Community Diversity Link Committee
Co-Chairs:
503.961.2731
and
503.936.2383
Back-to-School Information
New Family Guide - This guide is full of helpful information for returning families too!
Important Back to School Information
Extended Care Participation Agreements
Lower School EC Agreement (PreK - 4th grade)
Middle School EC Agreement (5th grade)
