Wednesday Express
Updated May 15
Please be sure to read all the way through the Express, as items are listed by date and new submissions may appear at the end.
Reminders...(new)
No School Days
Monday, May 27 - Memorial Day - No Extended Care
A Note from David Lowell (new)
By the time you read this I will have joined the 5th graders at Camp Hancock in Eastern Oregon to help chaperone their trip. When they return you may notice they have changed during their time away. When they return to school on Monday, they will be following the Middle School dress code.
While the 5th graders are away, the 4th graders have taken over the 4th and 5th grade wing for their International Fair. The Fair is the culmination of the 4th grade team’s renewal of their social studies curriculum, which has taken the students through an international issues simulation game, the Peace Games, and led the students through a project based learning experience about the continents. The 4th grade team will be advancing their skills this summer by attending a five-day Global Education conference this summer.
As we enter the last four weeks of school and your thoughts turn to appreciating your child’s teachers for all they have done, please review our gift policy located in the Student Handbook.
Gifts for Faculty Policy
While we are very appreciative of the high regard in which students and their families hold their teachers and coaches, we are concerned that student affection and gratitude be expressed in a manner that doesn't divide families according to financial means. We do believe that it is best for all if gifts be a simple expression of thanks and affection. Therefore, we ask that gifts be restricted to very inexpensive and/or handmade items. We also suggest giving a book to the library in honor of or in memory of a teacher or coach, or you can designate that your annual OES Fund contribution be a tribute gift. We do ask that you not give gifts of significant monetary value. Our faculty and staff always welcome your kind words and personal appreciation of their efforts.
Again, No Thursday Sing-A-Long Tomorrow! (new)
Mr. D is away at Camp Hancock this week with all of the 5th graders.
Childcare will still be available in the Common Hall tomorrow from 7:30-8:45.
The Sing-A-Long will be back next week, we promise!
Lost & Found - Check it out before we donate! (new)
Are you wondering where your son’s new orange coat is? How about those missing pink lacrosse goggles? There is a good chance these items (and many more!) are sitting in the Lost and Found. We have put all items that we have found on a table outside the LS office – please come by to claim them! After one week, all times will be donated to either the Goodwill or to needy children in Haiti. As always, please label your child’s clothing. Questions: Karen Meenan 503.249.1156
Check Out our OES LS Service Learning Blog! (new)
We are excited to launch our Service Learning Blog for the Lower School. It is our hope that this will become a gathering place: to share, connect and learn. We will post stories, key happenings and thoughts around Service Learning in our school and in the world. We hope you will join us as we seek to find the meaningful, enriching intersection of learning and service. Our first posts come from parent guest bloggers who were out in the field on Mount Hood Climb Service Day. Head over to the blog to read: Those Busy Beavers, The Ivy League, No Small Potatoes, The Everybody House and more!
Check it out here and, hey, while you are there, click on "follow" to receive an email whenever there is a new post.
This is the beginning of a conversation that we hope everyone will join.
Chaplain Jenny and Laurie Price
Don't Forget To Return Your Books!
Time to find those lost books! Overdue notices were sent home Friday, May 10. Please return finished books, or let us know if you would like books renewed.
All books must be returned by Wednesday, June 5.
Moving Into Coffees
Moving into Coffees begin on May 7th. Please review the schedule below and plan on attending the coffee for the grade level that your child will be entering into next fall. At the coffee you will have the opportunity to hear highlights of the year from the classroom and specialist teachers, as well as meet families who will have children new to OES in 2013-14.
DATE |
GRADE |
TIME |
LOCATION |
| Tues, May 7 | Moving into 5th | 8:00-9:00am |
LS Common Hall |
| Tues, May 21 | Moving into PreK | 8:00-9:00am |
LS Common Hall |
| Wed, May 22 | Moving into K | 8:00-9:00am |
LS Common Hall |
| Tues, May 28 | Moving into Pri | 8:00-9:00am |
Morris House |
| Wed, May 29 | Moving into 1st | 8:00-9:00am |
LS Common Hall |
| Mon, June 3 | Moving into 4th | 8:00-9:00am |
LS Common Hall |
| Tues, June 4 | Moving into 2nd | 8:00-9:00am |
LS Common Hall |
| Wed, June 5 | Moving into 3rd | 8:00-9:00am |
LS Common Hall |
Discovery Day 2013!
Celebrate the 20th year of an exciting afternoon
offered to Primary, First and Second graders at OES!
Who: Primary, 1st and 2nd graders
What: Students enjoy an afternoon of hands-on, high interest workshops put on by staff members, parents and professionals. Students select workshops from a catalog and are placed in two 1-hour sessions to learn a new craft, sport, skill or hobby.
When: Thursday, May 23rd, 12:15 – 2:30pm
Where: Students assemble at the covered playground area and are led to workshops held in classrooms, in the gym, and various spaces around campus. Snacks will be provided during a 15 minute break between the two workshops.
Why: This is a day for kids to expand their horizons, try something new, use their creativity and discover hidden talents. It’s an afternoon of active learning, enjoyment and fun! Some of this year’s workshop offerings include: Kickboxing, Needlepoint, Nursing 101, Marshmallow Shooters, Cool Science, Yoga and more!
We are looking for parent volunteers to help with set-up, supervise children as they walk to and from workshop locations, & assist the workshop leaders in classes. If you are interested in joining us on this exciting and popular day of discovery, please click here to sign up!
We are looking forward to another fabulous Discovery Day! If you have any questions, please contact or .
Volunteer Celebration
WALK FOR FUN! (new)
It's time once again for this fantastic Spring event that gets the whole LS student body moving!
What: A day of fun & fitness for the entire Lower School!
Why: Because we love to exercise and play as a community!
When: Friday, June 7th, 8:10am - 2:00pm
Where: OES Gym & Track
The kick-off pep assembly begins in the LS Gym at 8:10am. Students will then head out to the LS Track around 8:30 to start their laps for the day. Parents are welcome to attend the assembly and/or sign up as a volunteer.
We are in need of volunteers who have completed their background check. The day is divided into several shifts, requiring 4 parents per shift. Volunteers should plan on arriving 5-10 minutes early to prepare for their shift. Volunteers only need to be dressed for the weather...the PE department will provide the rest!
If you would like to volunteer for Walk For Fun, please click on the link and sign up for a shift! Volunteer for Walk for Fun
Come on out to encourage our wonderful kiddos as they run for Fun & Fitness!
If you have any questions about volunteering for this event, please contact Jaime Sales (jaimeksales at gmail.com).
Uniforms
At the May Lower School PAL meeting David presented the changes to the Lower School Uniform Policy. While much of the Uniform Policy remains the same, the details of the changes are contained in the Uniform Change Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document. Please review the document to ensure you have a clear understanding of the policy. The Uniform Change FAQ includes responses to the following questions:
- Why do we have uniforms in Lower School?
- Why change the uniforms?
- What is changing?
- When do the new guidelines begin?
- Where do I get uniform wear?
- What do I do with outdated uniforms?
- What are we doing to moderate the cost of the change?
The initial idea for reviewing the uniform policy came about as our identity and branding work questioned why we have a uniform that does not reflect our school colors. Through conversations with the Lower School Team Leaders and Grade Level Representatives, I have developed changes to the uniform that support our sense of community, the OES identity and simplify the uniform options.
Samples of the new kirk plaid skirt and light blue polo shirt and dress will be on display outside the LS office. Please come by and take a look. We will be discussing the changes at the upcoming Moving Into Coffees. Students will be informed of the changes in Chapel on Monday, May 13.
See the Dennis Uniform Flyer for sale dates on uniform wear.
Background Checks
Friendly reminder: NEW Parent Volunteers must have a background check first before they can volunteer in your class. It is easy and convenient and it is all done on line. You may forward the links below to your new parents.
Here are the links for Background Check information:
Background Check link
Background Check FAQ’s
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