Weather-Related Delays/Closures

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A reminder that FGCS follows Forest Grove School District decisions
regarding weather-related closures and delays. If the District
announces a two-hour delay, as it did today, that means FGCS starts
the school day at 10:50 a.m. Students may arrive 15 minutes before the
start time as they do on regular school days. Dismissal will be at the
usual times and students should bring lunches as usual.

Some of you have asked why FGCS follows District guidance in this area
when we don't always have the same days off and are not required to
follow other District rules. The answer is that we simply do not have
the resources to assess weather conditions and make a judgment about
whether it is safe for students to come to school. FGCS students come
from all over the Forest Grove District, which includes rural and
higher elevations of Gaston and Gales Creek; we also have students
from Hillsboro and elsewhere. The District has employees who
literally drive the roads to make a determination about closures and
delays as well as any changes in bus routes; we rely on their
expertise and judgment.

It is not uncommon in Oregon to wake up to what looks like a terrific
winter storm only to have the sun break through and quickly melt all
the snow or ice away. Conditions in one part of town may be very
different from what you are experiencing in your neighborhood.
Sometimes what looks like a good decision at 5 a.m. seems unnecessary
- or inadequate - a few hours later. The district Superintendent makes
a judgment based on the information he has at the time with student
safety his primary consideration.

If you have any questions at FGCS practice in this area, please
contact Karen Torry at k.torry@fgcschool.org or 503-359-4600.

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Forest Grove Community School
1914 Pacific Ave.
Forest Grove, OR 97116
503-359-4600;503-359-4622(fax)
www.fgcschool.org

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Returning Student Form

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Dear FGCS Families - Several of you alerted us to problems with the
link to the Returning Student Form that was included in a message we
sent you yesterday. We need parents to fill out and return this form
to let us know whether you plan for your children to return to FGCS
next school year.

To find the form, please go to the school web site at
www.fgcschool.org. Click on Documents and look for the Returning
Student Form. The form is available in Word or PDF form.

To return the form electronically, please open and fill out the Word
document, then send it as an attachment to Karen Torry at
k.torry@fgcschool.org. You may also print the form, fill it out and
turn it in to the school office. If you are unable to open or print
the documents, please request a form at the school office.

Please return the form as soon as possible - no later than March 20.
Questions? Contact Karen at 503-359-4600 or k.torry@fgcschool.org.
Thank you!

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Forest Grove Community School
1914 Pacific Ave.
Forest Grove, OR 97116
503-359-4600; 503-359-4622 (fax)
www.fgcschool.org

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News & Reminders

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FGCS News & Reminders Dear FGCS Families - ENROLLMENT FOR NEXT YEAR: Enrollment at FGCS for the 2009-10 school year is open through April 1st for students entering grades 1st through 11th. If you know of families who may be interested in our program, please encourage them to look at our web site or call the school office for a tour. Current students are not required to re-enroll, but we are asking you to let us know whether or not you plan for your students to return to FGCS. Please fill out the Returning Student Form on the Documents page at the FGCS web site (link below) or request a form in the school office. This information will help us plan for next year's classes and know how many spaces are available for new students. Please turn in the form ASAP (no later than Fri., March 20) to the school office or by email to Karen Torry at k.torry@fgcschool. PE at PACIFIC: Level 2 and 3 classes, starting this week, will participate in a Physical Education class at Pacific University for seven weeks on Wednesdays. Students will leave school at 12:50 p.m. and return at 2 p.m. Adult volunteers are needed to walk with students between FGCS and Pacific. If you're available, please contact Vickie Jares at v.jares@fgcschool.org or 503-359-4600. FIRST WEDS. OPEN HOUSE: FGCS will host a Celebrations of Learning open house 5-6:30 p.m. Weds., March 4 at school. This is an opportunity for families and community members to visit the school, view displays of student work and learn more about our school's sustainable practices. Please join us! STUDENT BUILDING PROJECT - Materials Needed: FGCS high school students are working with geometry teacher Brook Waldman and Out & About coordinator Teresa Perrin to design and build large planter boxes for outside the high school building. We are seeking donations of building materials. We need 2x4 or 2x6 board (1st choice: untreated cedar; 2nd choice: other untreated wood) and exterior wood screws (various sizes). If you can help, please contact Brook at b.waldman@fgcschool.org or Teresa Perrin at t.perrin@fgcschool.org. IMPORTANT REMINDER Fri., March 6 (previously a teacher in-service day) will be a school day for students with dismissal at 1:05 p.m. for all students. This is a make-up day for December snow days. Please note that this is NOT a school day for other District schools, so bus transporation will not be available. YOUR PAPER = $$$ FOR FGCS: Bring in your paper recycling and help raise money for our school. We have a large paper dumpster (located in the school parking lot next to the trash dumpster) that accepts all types of paper except corrugated cardboard; FGCS is paid by the pound, so feel free to bring as much as you can and put it straight into the dumpster. Thanks for your support. Returning Student form

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PTO Meeting Thurs. at FGCS

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The FGCS Parent-Teacher Organization is meeting tomorrow (Thurs., Feb.
19) at 7 p.m. in the south classroom of the high school building (the
modular closest to the main building).

We apologize to those of you who weren't able to squeeze into the
meeting space at Grendel's Restaurant at our first meeting last month.
All future meeting will be held at FGCS in the high school room -
there's plenty of room, so please join us!

The PTO is still in need of a Secretary and Treasurer. If you'd like
to serve or know someone who might be interested, please plan to
attend the meeting. Hope to see you tomorrow evening.

Misty Lewis, PTO President
Tessa Anderson, PTO Vice-President
Carol Merez, PTO Volunteer Coordinator

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Forest Grove Community School
1914 Pacific Ave.
Forest Grove, OR 97116
503-359-4600;503-359-4622
www.fgcschool.org

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School Budget News

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Dear FGCS Families: It seems like every news story these days is about the struggling economy. Globally, nationally and locally, times are hard all over and every part of society is affected. In Oregon, public schools are particularly vulnerable to recession because they are funded mainly through state income taxes, which rise and fall with the economy. Rising unemployment over the past months means that the state has less money for schools than was expected at the start of the school year. FGCS now faces the unpleasant task of making substantial cuts in our operating budget for the current school year. At this point, we anticipate receiving about $70,000 less in state funding than expected. Some of our shortfall can be made up by tapping our contingency fund -- money set aside for unexpected expenses and revenue declines -- but there is simply no way to avoid making cuts without impacting classrooms. In deciding how to confront this shortfall, our top priorities are meeting our educational mission, protecting teacher salaries, and shoring up our contingency, which will be even more important as we head into more uncertain times. Through savings and two significant cuts, it looks like we will be able to meet these priorities. We will receive updated information after Feb. 20, when the state issues its next economic forecast, but at this point we do not foresee cutting the school year at FGCS. We have, however, made the difficult decision to lay off our part-time Level 1 classroom assistants and to significantly reduce our contracted janitorial service. Although these cuts reduce expenses, they don't eliminate work that needs to be done, so we are looking for creative ways to solve those problems. Teachers, staff and students all will be pitching in with classroom cleaning and we are looking for ways to use staff and volunteers to provide extra help in Level 1 classrooms, especially during literacy and math. More than ever, we need your help! Parent involvement and support has always been – and will always be – essential to the success of our school, but now is truly the time for all hands on deck (more information below on specific ways you can pitch in). We know that this year's reductions won't be the end of it. We anticipate additional cuts in the 2009-2010 school year, but we won't know what that means in dollars and cents until later in the spring or summer. We'll keep you informed as we learn more and we welcome your questions and ideas for how we can keep our school strong and growing through these tough times – please feel free to call, email or stop by to talk. Sincerely, Vanessa Gray, Principal v.gray@fgcschool.org 503-359-4600 Jon Stagnitti, FGCS Board Chair j.stagnitti@fgcschool.org 503-936-8281 How You Can Help There are as many ways to help FGCS as there are students and parents. Here are a few of our current needs that are even greater now that we've had to implement budget cuts: • Work one-on-one or in small groups with students in a Level 1 classroom during literacy or math time for one or two hours 9-11 a.m. Monday-Friday. Need is especially great in the Barn Swallows class (Miss Sherry). • Walk with students to a PE class at Pacific University. This is a special program being offered to our Level 2 and 3 students from Feb. 25-April 15. Our physical activity teacher, Rick Boudreau, needs adult volunteers to help him walk the five classes to the Pacific Athletic Center, leaving school at 12:50 p.m. and returning at 2:00 p.m. The classes are being taught by Pacific physical education students but extra adults are needed to provide additional supervision. • Supervise students at lunch and recess (all levels). • Donate groceries for student snacks and lunches (we try to keep food on hand for students who forget their lunches or missed breakfast and need fuel to get through the day). To help out with anything on this list, please contact Vickie Jares in the school office at v.jares@fgcschool.org or 503-359-4600. If you don't see anything that works for you – or if you have an idea for how you can help - please contact Vickie or our new FGCS-PTO volunteer coordinator, Carol Merez, at carolmerez@mail.com. Thank you!

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School on Monday

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Remember that this Monday, Feb. 16 is a school day at FGCS. This is
one of the days restored by the FGCS Board of Directors to make up for
days missed because of snow and ice in December (the other is Fri.,
March 6).

We recognize that Monday is also Presidents Day, a federal holiday
that some of you may have as a vacation day from your jobs and some
families may have made plans to be away that day. Please call the
school office at 503-359-4600 if your child will be absent.

As a reminder, we ask that you always call the school office - not
your child's classroom teacher - to report absences. Teachers often do
not have time in the morning to listen to voice messages or read
email, so messages to them may not be relayed to the office.

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Forest Grove Community School
1914 Pacific Ave.
Forest Grove, OR 97116
503-359-4600;503-359-4622(fax)
www.fgcschool.org

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Reminders

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A few reminders:

- The FGCS Board of Directors meets at 7 p.m. the second Tuesday of
every month in the high school building. The next meeting is tonight -
please check the Board page at the web site for the agenda.

- Mon., Feb. 16 is a school day at FGCS; this is a Board-approved day
to make up for days missed because of bad weather in December.

- After-school classes and clubs start next week. Please check the web
site at www.fgcschool.org for class descriptions and permission forms
(or request a form in the school office). Please note that some
classes take place off site.

- The newly formed FGCS Parent-Teacher Organization (PTO) will meet at
7 p.m. the third Thursday of every month in the high school building.
Please come and get involved in the PTO's efforts to support our
school. The next meeting is Thurs., Feb. 19.

- FGCS follows the Forest Grove School District's decisions regarding
school closures and delays. Please check the District web site at
www.fgsd.k12.or.us or listen to local broadcasts for information.

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Forest Grove Community School
1914 Pacific Ave.
Forest Grove, OR 97116
503-359-4600;503-359-4622(fax)
www.fgcschool.org

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After School Classes & Clubs

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Dear FGCS Parents:

We're pleased to announce that FGCS is offering a number of
after-school classes and clubs starting the week of Feb. 16. Some of
these activities will occur at school; others will take place off
site. Details and permission forms are available at our web site by
following the links below. You may also request a copy at the school
office.

Please contact Donna Van Dyke at d.vandyke@fgschool.org or Karen Torry
at k.torry@fgschool.org or 503-359-4600 with any questions. Thanks!

Class descriptions:
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Permission Form:
http://cts.vresp.com/c/?ForestGroveCommunity/8149b8c621/0bd00b73e6/c68e4f6e01

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Forest Grove Community School
1914 Pacific Ave.
Forest Grove, OR 97116
503-359-4600;503-359-4622
www.fgcschool.org

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Parent Survey Reminder

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Dear FGCS Parents - If you have already submitted a parent survey,
thank you!

If you haven't yet done so, we want to encourage you to complete the
survey by Friday, Feb. 6.

You may complete the survey online by following the link below or you
may fill out a paper copy. Paper surveys were sent home in your
child's progress report; extra copies are available in the school
office. Please place paper surveys in the box in the school office.
All surveys are strictly confidential. No identifying information is
requested and school personnel will see only summaries of overall
results, not individual responses.

We need input and ideas from all of you as we develop a strategic plan
to guide the development of our school over the next three to five
years. Thank you for your help!

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Forest Grove Community School
1914 Pacific Ave.
Forest Grove, OR 97116
503-359-4600;503-359-4622
www.fgcschool.org

Read the VerticalResponse marketing policy:
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