School Schedule and Homework Policy Change Feedback Request

School Schedule and Homework Policy change feedback request

This month, we received a recommendation from school administration to change the school start time to an hour earlier in the day and to change the “No Homework” policy to a “Homework Options” policy.  Because these changes will affect everyone, we’d like to hear your thoughts on these so we can make sure we’ve covered all the bases.  Your comments on the tech policy were very helpful to us and we are hopeful that you will take a few minutes to send us any thoughts or information you might have on the subject of the school schedule and the homework policy.

 

To make your comment, go to the board feedback page on the website or click on this link: http://www.fgcschool.org/feedback/index.php

Just to remind you of the process, these comments will be reviewed by the board and school administrators.  You will get a synopsis of the comments and our decision in a subsequent email.

Thanks again for your input!

FGCS Board

 

 

Proposal to change the “No Homework Policy” to a “Homework Options Policy”

Draft 6-17-08

Our intention in developing the no-homework policy was two-fold. One, we wanted to recognize the compelling research that shows no correlation between learning and homework. And two, we wanted to foster in students a genuine love of learning that can be undermined by forcing homework upon them. Based on feedback from parents and students this year, we propose to amend our homework policy. Rather than having a no-homework policy, next year we will have a homework options policy that will allow for students to tailor their homework to their needs and interests.

During the initial PLP planning session, the teacher will discuss with the student and family whether they want homework and, if so, the teacher will provide options to choose from. Teachers will provide some options for homework for students based on classroom work, but this is not the only type of homework students could do. Families and students may decide that appropriate homework for them is related to an extracurricular interest. Students will commit to the type and amount of homework specified in their PLP.

 

School Schedule Change

Draft 6-17-08

 
So that our schedule can accommodate students who want to participate in extra curricular activities at the middle and high school levels, we propose to change our daily schedule so that we start and release from school earlier. We propose a start time of 8:00 am and release times of 2:15 for Level I, 2:30 for Level II, and 2:45 for Level III and IV.

 

 

 

 

Summer Activities and Fall Sports

Dear FGCS Families:

 

            We hope you are enjoying the early days of summer vacation. Below is information about some activities available in our community for students over the summer as well as information about a free summer meals program and registration for fall sports at the middle school and through community-based recreation programs. If you learn about other opportunities in the community, please email Karen Torry at k.torry@fgcschool.org for inclusion in future notices.

 

Summer Activities

 

FREE One-Day Nature Observation Art Camps for students entering 4^th-8^th grades. Camps are June 25 or June 26 at Tillamook State Forest Center (free bus transportation provided from Forest Grove). Registration forms and details are available at Valley Art Association, 2022 Main St., Forest Grove.

 

Pacific University Children’s Summer Theater Camp 9 a.m.-noon July 14-25 for ages 5-13. Cost is $200 for the entire two weeks, $125 for one week, and $25 per day. Please contact Caitlin Quinn @ costumes.cquinn@pacificu.edu or 253-686-8159 for more information.

 

Forest Grove Dance Arts: A schedule of classes can be found at http://www.forestgrovedancearts.com/Summer_Class_Schedule_2008b.pdf or call 503-352-4682 for more information.

 

Skyhawks Sports Camps at Lincoln Park, Forest Grove

 

Ages 4-7 multi-sport camp July 7-11

Ages 3 ½-4 soccer camp July 21-24

Ages 5-7 soccer camp July 21-25

Ages 6-12 soccer camp Aug. 4-8

See http://www.skyhawks.com/ for costs and registration.

 

Hillsboro Parks & Recreation Department offers a wide variety of art, music, theater, sports and recreation programs at sites across Hillsboro throughout the summer. For a schedule, costs and registration, call 503-681-5397 or visit http://www.ci.hillsboro.or.us/ParksRec/.

 

 

 

 

School District Summer Food Program
Anyone age 18 and under is eligible for free meals through Forest Grove School District's summer food service program. The program is funded through the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Oregon Department of Education. Meals are available at Fern Hill Elementary School, Joseph Gale Elementary School, Neil Armstrong Middle School, Lincoln Park and Rose Grove RV Park. Dates and times are:

Fern Hill, 4445 Heather Street, June 23-Aug. 1 (Monday through Thursday). Breakfast 8-8:30 a.m.; lunch 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Joseph Gale, 3130 18th Ave., June 24-July 24 (Monday through Thursday). Breakfast 8-8:30 a.m.; lunch 11:30 a.m.-noon

Neil Armstrong, 1777 Mountain View Lane, June 23-Aug. 1 (Monday through Friday). Breakfast 8-8:30 a.m.; lunch 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Lincoln Park, 2500 Sunset Drive, June 23-Aug. 1 (Monday through Friday). Lunch noon-12:30 p.m.

Rose Grove RV Park, 3839 Pacific Avenue, June 23-Aug. 1 (Monday through Friday). Lunch noon-12:30 p.m.

 

 

Neil Armstrong Middle School Athletics – Summer/Fall 2008

Football: Conditioning Camp @ NAMS Monday, 8/25 through Wednesday, 8/27 5-7 p.m., with gear issued on August 28 from 4-7 p.m.  Paperwork must be turned in and fees paid at the NAMS office to receive gear.

Volleyball: Meeting in the gym September 2 2:35-4:45 p.m.

Practice for all sports (Football, Soccer, Volleyball) begins Wednesday, September 4 at 3 p.m. All paperwork and fees must be turned in prior to practice.

Fees (change from last year): Each sport will cost $45.00 plus a one-time $3.00 catastrophic insurance fee. Registration forms are available in the NAMS main office or can be printed from the website @ http://neilarmstrong.nwresd.org/

 

Fall Soccer Registration

          Registration for 2008 fall soccer season through FC West is open and continues through July 15. Information and registration forms are available at Frye’s Action Athletics, 2016 Pacific Ave., or you may register online at www.oysa-fcwest.sportsaffinity.com. Cost is $70/child for U6-U14 with a maximum fee of $150/family.

 

 

 

Board Agenda/Building Announcement

Dear Community School Families and Friends:

 

I am writing to let you know about changes in the plans for expanding our school building. 

 

As many of you know, for the past several months we have been working with our landlord, Preston Alexander, on plans to renovate the top floor of the building to add four classrooms, restrooms, offices and meeting space. After consulting with contractors, architects and engineers, however, we have learned that the structural work required would be so extensive – and expensive – that we can no longer pursue that plan. However, we have quickly shifted gears to a new plan that will ultimately provide an excellent solution for the school’s long-term needs.

 

We are not moving – we will continue to occupy our current building, which we have all come to love. But, instead of remodeling the top floor, a brand-new building will be constructed on the same property to house additional classrooms.  Plans are currently in a great deal of flux - any specifics I would give you now would likely change, so I ask for your patience as we work out the details. We will send out an update along with a site plan as soon as possible; for now, I can tell you that we believe that the end result will be a vibrant school campus we will all enjoy for many years to come.

By now, you are probably thinking that there’s no way to finish a new building by September and you’re probably right.  So, in addition to firming up the plans for a new building, we are also working to secure temporary space for the additional classrooms we need in the fall. We have not yet decided which classrooms will be in temporary spaces, but will notify you as soon as possible.  Because the first day of school is 2 ½ months away and we need only limited space, we are confident we will find the space we need. After all, last year when we learned our building wouldn’t be ready for the first day of school, we planned a week of outdoor school and found temporary space for six classrooms in less than two weeks!  In comparison, this should be a cinch.  We have several options we are exploring. But, as always, if you have any suggestions or ideas, please contact me at t.oday@fgcschool.org or Karen Torry at 503-359-4600 or k.torry@fgcschool.org.

Although this is not the kind of news we’d like to be giving you, we continue to feel very fortunate. Few charter schools have the kind of permanent facility we have secured in our first year and fewer still have a landlord like Preston, who has repeatedly demonstrated his commitment not only to our physical facility but our mission.

 

Thanks again to all of you – students, parents, volunteers and community members –   for making this a great first year.  And here’s to an even better one next year.

 

Attached you’ll find the agenda for the board meeting on Tuesday, June 16.

Terry O’Day, Chair

FGCS Board of Directors

 

 

 

 

Pizza Day Change

Pizza day this week has been changed to Thursday, June 12 (the last day of school). Please send a lunch with your student on Wednesday, June 11.

 

 

 

Volunteers Needed for Play Yard Art Project

Dear FGCS Families and Friends:  Our students, under the direction of art teacher Teresa Perrin and with the help of many volunteers, have created a beautiful flock of birds - wooden silhouettes of our classroom birds (barn swallows, tree swallows, peregrine falcons, kestrels, barn owls and great-horned owls). Now we are looking for volunteers to help the birds take flight as a beautiful outdoor display on our play yard fence.

 

Teresa needs adult volunteers with power drills (with a Phillips head screwdriver attachment) to help affix the birds to the fence 9-10 a.m. Monday-Wednesday this week. Our goal is to have all the birds in place by the last day of school on Thursday. If you can help, please come to school at those times, email Teresa at t.perrin@fgcschool or leave a message for her at 503-359-4600. Thanks to all of you who have helped with this project so far - it will be a beautiful addition to our school.

 

P.S. A reminder that Thursday, our last day, is a full school day with the usual release times. 

 

 

 

Field Day & All-School Picnic - Reminders

Dear FGCS Families and Friends:

 

    Our Field Day and All-School Picnic is scheduled for Tuesday, June 10 at Lincoln Park. Please make sure your students wear appropriate clothing for physical activity and sturdy shoes - no flip flops or sandals!

    Volunteers are needed between the hours of 9:15 a.m. and 1:45 p.m. to walk with students from school to the park, supervise activity stations, serve food, clean up and walk with students back to school. To help with activities, please contact Ann Olson at 503-686-4751 or a.olson@fgcschool.org. To help with the picnic, please contact Donna Van Dyke at 503-359-4600 or d.vandyke@fgcschool.org

    This year, we are pleased to be able to provide lunch free of charge to students, staff and volunteers, but cash donations to help cover expenses would be welcome. Lunch choices will be hamburger or veggie burger, fresh fruit and vegetables, chips and juice. Please let Donna know if you'd like a veggie burger, so we can be sure to have enough. Students are also welcome to bring their own lunches if they prefer.

 

 

 

Reminder No School Friday

Dear Families,

There will be no school for students on Friday, June 6. It is a grading day for the teachers.

 

 

ATTACHMENT Subject: Urgent Reminder: Return B Street Forms ASAP!

Dear FGCS Families,

A reminder that parents must sign and return the attached form by Monday, June 9 in order for your student to participate in our bridging ceremony at B Street Farm on Wednesday, June 11.  If you can't open and print this document, you may request one in the school office.  

In order to use the B Street Farm, Pacific University requires parents of all students to sign waivers and requires FGCS to have plenty of adult volunteers on hand. These forms must be submitted to Pacific prior to the event.  You will see that this is an all-purpose form created by Pacific for all users of the Farm, so that the final three bulleted items do not apply to our event on June 11th. Students must bring in a signed waiver in order to participate in this event.

We also need several volunteers for each classroom to meet Pacific's requirements. This day is especially important for students who are bridging up, so parents of those students have an opportunity to both help the school and be part of this event with their students - but all volunteers are welcome!  Please e-mail Gretchen at g.ziemer@fgcschool.org if you are willing to volunteer on June 11^th from 12:30-3:00.  Please also contact Gretchen with any questions or concerns.  Thanks!

 

 

 

 

Subject: Urgent Reminder: Return B Street Forms ASAP!

Dear FGCS Families,

A reminder that parents must sign and return the attached form by Monday, June 9 in order for your student to participate in our bridging ceremony at B Street Farm on Wednesday, June 11.  If you can't open and print this document, you may request one in the school office.  

In order to use the B Street Farm, Pacific University requires parents of all students to sign waivers and requires FGCS to have plenty of adult volunteers on hand. These forms must be submitted to Pacific prior to the event.  You will see that this is an all-purpose form created by Pacific for all users of the Farm, so that the final three bulleted items do not apply to our event on June 11th. Students must bring in a signed waiver in order to participate in this event.

We also need several volunteers for each classroom to meet Pacific's requirements. This day is especially important for students who are bridging up, so parents of those students have an opportunity to both help the school and be part of this event with their students - but all volunteers are welcome!  Please e-mail Gretchen at g.ziemer@fgcschool.org if you are willing to volunteer on June 11^th from 12:30-3:00.  Please also contact Gretchen with any questions or concerns.  Thanks!