FGCS Updates

Dear FGCS Families - It's been a great first week at school.
Everything has gone so smoothly -- thanks to all of you for your
cooperation and support. Some updates and reminders:

-- Levels 3 and 4: Work on the modular classrooms is almost - but not
quite - complete, so we are planning for one more week in our
temporary locations. Level 3 classes will remain at the Senior Center
and the high school at the UCC Church. We will notify you just as soon
as we have news that we can move into the new buildings. By the way,
your kids have received high marks from both of our short-term
landlords for being respectful guests and good stewards of our
temporary homes.

-- Student Pictures Sept. 19: Craig Huston Photography will be at
school Fri., Sept. 19 to take student pictures. Order forms were sent
home with Level 1 and 2 students today; forms for Levels 3 and 4 will
be sent home Friday, Sept. 12. Forms with payment should be brought to
school no later than the 19th. Please note: You may order a student ID
card for only $1.00, but (for some reason) this is not listed on the
form - please write in 'Student ID Card' and add $1.00 to your payment
total.

-- Enrollment Paperwork: New and returning families, please return
forms to the office immediately. Returning students should have
brought home a packet of forms this week; new student families
received them earlier this summer. Please stop by the office if you
need replacement forms.

-- Medications: Students are not allowed to carry any medications
(prescription or over-the-counter) at school. This school District
rule includes inhalers, topical creams and medications in pill or
liquid form. If a student needs to take medication during the day, a
parent or guardian must bring it to school with a doctor's
prescription or note. Please do not send medications, including
refills, with your student to school.

Lunch Volunteers Urgently Needed: Please help our hardworking teachers
take a lunch break every day - volunteer to supervise students having
lunch in their classrooms. If you really want to be our heroes,
volunteer to stay for after-lunch recess, too. Please contact Vickie
at 503-359-4600 or v.jares@fgcschool.org.

-- 4-H Leaders and Co-Leaders Wanted: FGCS is trying to develop 4-H
clubs at school this year to offer opportunities for students to
develop skills and engage in fun activities. We are looking for adult
volunteers to act as leaders or co-leaders. Please contact Donna at
503-359-4600 or d.vandyke@fgcschool.org if you'd like to get involved.

We Did It!

Dear FGCS Families - Once again, our school community came through!

The building is ready for our first day of school tomorrow. Many, many
thanks to the crew of parents and students who took time on a sunny
Sunday to move HEAVY furniture, configure computers, sweep sidewalks,
haul recycling and much, much more. One parent was even heard to say,
"This is fun!" Thanks, too, to our amazing teachers and staff who have
devoted so many summer hours to FGCS. We're all looking forward to a
great year with your children.

IMPORTANT REMINDERS
-- School starts for all students at 8:50; students may arrive
starting at 8:35 a.m. Dismissal is at 3:05 for Level 1, 3:20 for
Levels 2 and 3, 3:35 for Level 4. Please pick up your student
promptly. All students dismiss at 1:05 p.m. every Friday.

-- No drive-through pick up or drop off this week. Please park on the
street or in free city lots nearby and walk to school. Please don't
pass through the parking lot - it's still a construction zone.

-- Level 3 will meet at the Forest Grove Senior Center; Level 4 will
meet at the Forest Grove UCC Church. We will let you know as soon as
we're able to start classes in the modular buildings.

--Returning families: If you need to update contact or pick-up
information, ask for a form in the office. We must have written notice
of any changes.

See you all tomorrow!

Thank You, Volunteers!

Dear FGCS Families and Friends -

A huge thank you to the parents, students and other volunteers who
took time on a beautiful Saturday afternoon to assemble classroom
tables, haul trash, stamp books, set up computers, sharpen pencils,
dust and much much more. I am more grateful than I can express for the
amazing commitment you all show to our school community.

The final push is tomorrow - starting at 11 a.m., we will begin moving
furniture into one of modular buildings and start setting up those
classrooms. Students won't be in those buildings next week, but we can
hang dry erase boards and do other tasks. We'll also do a final
spruce-up around the building to make sure everything is set for
Monday. Please come by and help if you can. Tools that would help:
heavy-duty push broom, power washer, power drill with screwdriver
bits, power washer. If you have a trailer and could haul brush out of
the school yard, that would be a huge help.

Hope to see you at 11 a.m. tomorrow. Again, many thanks to all the
volunteers who gave their time today -

Karen Torry

Work Party P.S.

A quick P.S. to our earlier message about work days at school this
weekend - staff will also be on site all day today (Friday, Sept. 5th)
and will be happy to put volunteers to work. It's not glamorous but
it's all part of getting ready for the first day of school.

Many hands make light work ... hope to see you at school this weekend!

FGCS Teachers & Staff

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Forest Grove Community School
1914 Pacific Ave.
Forest Grove, Oregon 97116

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Lunch & Recess Volunteers

Dear FGCS Families - At our school, as at all public schools, our
classroom teachers work hard all day helping your children learn and
grow. Unlike other public schools, however, FGCS does not have funding
for staff to supervise students at recess and lunch - we rely on
volunteers. Without enough volunteers, teachers give up their lunch
periods and short breaks to do this important work. Last year we were
fortunate to have a core of faithful regular volunteers but this year
- with three new classes - we need a bigger group.

Please help our teachers by volunteering your time at lunch and
recess. The need is especially great during our first week of school
when staff will be supporting teachers in three locations and our play
yard is temporarily off limits during the modulars construction.
Morning recess are at 10:20 (Level 1) and 10:40 (Level 2). Lunch
periods begin at 11:20 (Level 3), 11:40 (Level 1), 11:50 (Level 4) and
12:10 (Level 2).

Lunch/recess duty is a fun way to get to know your child's classmates,
get some fresh air and make a real difference in our school community.
Our volunteer coordinator, Vickie Jares, will happily show you the
ropes. Please contact Vickie at 503-359-4600 or v.jares@fgcschool.org.
Thanks for your support!

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Forest Grove Community School
1914 Pacific Ave.
Forest Grove, Oregon 97116

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Work Party at School

Dear FGCS Families and Friends - Our modular buildings have arrived!
Crews will be hard at work the next few day getting them ready for
occupancy. Although Level 3 and 4 classes will still meet in
temporary locations next week, it's time to start getting the 'mods'
ready for classes.

Please come to school this weekend to help out. Staff and volunteers
will be here 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. (or until we drop) Saturday and Sunday.

Here are jobs that need to be done:

1. Assemble classroom tables (bring electric screwdriver or electric
drill w/Philips screwdriver bits)

2. Move classroom furniture into the modulars

3. Hang dry-erase boards and bulletin boards

4. Unpack and shelve books

5. Haul away recycling and trash (we'll pay dump fees if needed).

6. Pick up trash and pull weeds.

Please contact Karen at 503-359-4600 or k.torry@fgcschool.org if you
have questions. We look forward to seeing you this weekend!

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Forest Grove Community School
1914 Pacific Ave.
Forest Grove, Oregon 97116

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Important Updates and Reminders

September 1, 2008

Dear FGCS Families:

Happy Labor Day! At FGCS, most of us are celebrating the day
by laboring to get ready for the first day of school next Monday,
September 8th. Here are some updates, reminders and a request for your
help as we get ready to welcome 200 students next week.

UPDATES
Pick up/Drop off 1st Week of School: We have just been notified by the
contractor overseeing installation of the modular classrooms that work
will continue through the first week of school. For the safety of
student, staff and visitors, we are closing the parking lot and
drive-through lane for the first week while work is completed.
Students will enter and exit through the west doors under the canopy
(not the office door).
DROP OFF: Please plan to park nearby on the street or in free city
parking lots and walk your student to school. Please don't park in
business lots as your car may be towed. If your student is able to
safely walk unescorted from your car to school, please park in a way
that avoids backing up traffic and, most important, please make sure
your student takes a safe route.
PICK UP: Students will wait for pick up in class groups under and near
the canopy on the west side of the building. Please park nearby and
walk to pick up your student; do not walk through the parking lot.
Please note that unless students are authorized to self-release we
cannot allow them to leave school on their own at the end of the day.
We are sorry for the inconvenience this creates and assure you that
we are doing everything we can to resolve this situation as quickly as
possible. If you have questions or concerns, don't hesitate to contact
Karen at 503-359-4600 or k.torry@fgcschool.org.

IMPORTANT REMINDERS
TEMPORARY CLASSROOMS: Students in Level 3 (7th/8h) and Level 4
(9th/10th) will meet the first week of school in temporary locations
as we finalize installation of our modular classroom buildings, which
are scheduled to arrive Weds., Sept. 3rd.
Level 3 classes will meet at the Forest Grove Senior Center at 2037
Douglas St. To drop off students, turn onto Douglas Street from
Pacific Ave., drive past the senior center parking lot to 21st Ave.
Teachers will be waiting to greet students at the rear building doors
on 21st Ave. starting at 8:35 a.m. Students will dismiss from the
center at 3:20 p.m.
Level 4 students will meet at the Forest Grove UCC, 2032 College Way,
across the street from Pacific University, just two blocks from FGCS.
To drop off students, take Main St. to 21st Ave.,turn east on 21st
Ave., then turn right on College Way. Teachers will be waiting to
greet students at the entrance on College Way starting at 8:35 a.m.
Students will dismiss from this location at 3:35 a.m.

SCHOOL SUPPLIES: Lists of supplies students are asked to bring in are
posted at our web site: www.fgcschool.org. All students should bring
in their supplies during the first week.

ENROLLMENT PAPERWORK DUE NOW: New families should have turned in all
paperwork by now. If you have not yet done so, please turn these
documents in to Donna in the office as soon as possible.
CONTACT & RELEASE INFORMATION: If your email address, phone number or
other contact information has changed, please let us know right away
by calling the office (503-359-4600) or emailing our school secretary,
Donna (d.vandyke@fgcschool.org). Please also let us know if there is
any change in pick up or release plans for your student.

Looking forward to seeing you all next week!

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Forest Grove Community School
1914 Pacific Ave.
Forest Grove, Oregon 97116

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