Express Newsletter

Thank you for joining us for Lower School Back to School Night. The event was well attended and the evening informative. Though I am sorry we could not host BTSN in person, I heard from several parents and teachers that they appreciated the great accessibility to the event by conducting it via videoconference.

The Specialist Slideshow is linked here. If we had been able to conduct BTSN in person you would have had the opportunity to hear from the specialist teachers. The slideshow introduces you to the specialists and their program. 

Today is our first Lower School Gathering of the year. I hope the rain will hold off long enough so we can hold it outside on the turf field. Until Lower School students are vaccinated we are planning on holding Gathering outside or by Zoom with students in their classrooms.

Our first Lower School Parent Partnership meeting is next Friday, September 24 from 9:00 to 10:00 am via Zoom. Kristin Deshmukh, Lower School Parent Partnership Chair, has organized an informative meeting around the theme of wellness. Beth LaFond will come and speak to Lower School lunch and snacks. Chris and Kirstin will address social emotional learning in strategy and recess workshops. I hope you can join us.

Thank you for figuring out your morning routine and getting your children to school on time. We start Lower School at 8:00 (8:45 on Wednesday) each day. We are still working on maximizing the efficiency of drop-off, particularly on Wednesdays. Having you here ready to drop your child off at 7:45 (8:30 on Wednesday) will help.

Division Daily Schedules

• Lower School 
  • 8:00 – 3:00  All days except Wed 
    • (Drop-off begins at 7:45. Ends at 8:00)
  • 8:45 – 3:00  Wednesdays only
    • (Drop-off begins at 8:30. Ends at 8:45)
• Middle School
  • 8:10-3:15  All days except Wed
  • 8:45-3:15  Wednesdays only
• Upper School 
  • 8:25-3:10  week 1 and week 2 All days except Wed
  • 9:10-3:10  week 1 Wednesdays
  • 8:35-3:10  week 2 Wednesdays

Lower School Chapel - A Note from Interim Lower School Chaplain Jenny Cleveland - I am thrilled to be back in the Lower School this year as the Interim LS Chaplain. Chapel will be livestreamed every Tuesday and you are welcome to join us, as you are able.  The meeting will open at 8:05 and Chapel will start at 8:10am. We are encountering some technical difficulties with Google Meet and may need to switch to Zoom. Look for a communication before Tuesday that will include the link to Chapel.

You might wonder where Chapel is taking place. The OES Chapel is being used during the day for MS and US music classes right now, so we are live streaming from the LS Dining Commons. Chapel is one of the ways we gather and build community, living into our Episcopal tradition, so it is actually a meaningful and exciting opportunity for the LS to be gathered in the same place (albeit in individual classrooms) for this important weekly community celebration. As the children now know, we are all gathered together for Chapel, even though we are not in the OES Chapel! 

Lower School Helpful Hints

Sibling Pictures - Siblings pictures will take place on Tuesday, September 28 from 7:30 – 8:00 am.  Parents who wish to have their siblings picture taken should contact Eric Holden directly by email: maryhollandstudios@gmail.com or by phone: (503) 238-5957.  Pictures will be taken behind the new Athletic Center. Parents will park in the Athletic Center parking lot and walk their children to the photo shoot. 

Lower School Begins at 8:00 am (8:45 am on Wednesdays) - Starting on Monday, 9/20 (second attempt!) if your student arrives on campus after 8:00 (8:45 on Wednesdays) you will need to come to the Lower School main entrance and call the Lower School Office, 503.768.3143. Lyn or Michael will confirm completion of the wellness check and let the student into the building.

Walkers - If you are walking your child onto campus be sure your child checks in with a duty teacher on the walkway to confirm completion of the wellness check and attendance.

Masks - Thank you for tending to the masking of your children, getting them comfortable with wearing them, providing well fitting masks and those that provide good protection, three-ply or medical/ procedure grade masks.

Nut Aware Campus - There are 15 children across the Lower School with severe peanut or tree nut allergies. No foods with nut ingredients should come to Lower School.

Extra set of clothes in backpack - With the stock in the Used Uniform Closet well depleted, please consider having your child pack an extra change of clothes in their backpack, just in case.