Back-to-School Night 9-23-09

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BACK-TO-SCHOOL NIGHT FOR FGCS PARENTS and GUARDIANS Parents and guardians of all FGCS students are encouraged to attend our Back to School Night from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Weds., Sept. 23, 2009. This event is an opportunity for parents and guardians to learn more about our program and how learning happens in our classrooms. We see parents and guardians as partners in their children's education and we look forward to working with you throughout the year. The evening is planned for parents and guardians only. Thank you in advance for making other arrangements for your children during this time. Each classroom will hold two group presentations to allow parents with students in more than one level to visit two classrooms. The first session will be 6-6:45 p.m., the second 6:45-7:30 p.m. Classroom teachers will talk about Personal Learning Plans (PLP) and the topics and themes students will be studying this year. Presentations will address plans for the class as a whole; individual parent-teacher-student conferences are scheduled for Oct. 8-9. If you would like to talk privately with your child's teacher before then, please schedule a separate time. Information about art and physical activity classes will be available at tables in the main building. Representatives from our Parent-Teacher Organization and Strategic Planning Committee will also be on hand to talk about how you can get involved in these important activities. Light refreshments will be served. We look forward to seeing you all on Weds., Sept. 23. ------------------------------- OTHER UPCOMING EVENTS -DUNK THE PRINCIPAL FOR A GOOD CAUSE! - Our own Vanessa Gray has volunteered to be a target in the dunk tank at 2 p.m. this Saturday, Sept. 19, at the annual Corn Roast Festival on the campus of Pacific University. Donations at the dunk tank will benefit the Family Resource Center. The festival runs from 1-5 p.m. Saturday and features food, kids' activities and entertainment. -CHALK ART FESTIVAL - 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Sat., Sept. 19. Sponsored by Valley Art Association in downtown Forest Grove, this is a great family event. $10 pays for 'rent' on a sidewalk square and a box of pastel chalks to create your own temporary masterpiece. Spaces are available on Pacific Ave. near school and throughout downtown FG. Roots & Shoots will also be flying giant peace dove puppets to celebrate International Day of Peace. -CHAPMAN SWIFTS - Level 4 teacher Greg de Nevers is encouraging families to take their students to witness a truly amazing natural phenomenon - the nightly gathering of thousands of Vaux swifts in the chimney at Chapman School, 1445 NW 26th Ave. in Portland. The swifts are tiny birds that summer in the Pacific Northwest and migrate every year to Venezuela for our winter. Greg is proposing an informal school picnic and swift-watching evening on Tues., Sept. 22. This event may be of special interest to Level 2 students who are studying migration this year and to Level 4 students who can earn extra science credit. Plan to arrive at Chapman by 6:30 p.m. Tuesday and stay until around 8 p.m. (the swifts begin gathering by the thousands around dusk). Bring a picnic, join other FGCS families and cheer on the swifts! Questions? Contact Greg at g.denevers@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 Read the VerticalResponse marketing policy.

Flu Season-Important Information

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Dear FGCS Parents and Guardians: The start of the school year often also means the start of the cold and flu season. Illness from the flu -- including the H1N1 or swine flu virus -- is expected to be widespread this fall and winter. As you know, flu viruses spread easily from person to person and school-age children are among the groups most likely to become ill. We are taking steps to prevent the spread of flu and other illness in order to keep school open and functioning as normally as possible. We need your help to do this. During the first weeks of school, all teachers and other staff are talking to students about the importance of good hygiene (frequent hand washing, covering sneezes, etc.) and we will reinforce these practices throughout the year. We will frequently sanitize door knobs, student tables and other surfaces to try to prevent the spread of germs. Teachers and staff, as well as students, will be expected to stay home when they are sick, so we're also taking steps to make sure all essential operations at school run smoothly when someone is out sick. Here are steps you can take to help keep your own family healthy and prevent the spread of illness at school: -Teach your children to wash their hands often with soap and water. The best way to teach this practice is to do it yourself. -Teach your children not to share personal items such as drinks, food or unwashed utensils, and to cover their coughs and sneezes with tissues.  If they don't have a tissue, they should cough or sneeze into their sleeve or elbow, not their hands. Remind them not to touch their noses, mouths or eyes because germs easily spread this way. -Know the signs and symptoms of the flu. Flu symptoms include fever (100 degrees Fahrenheit, 37.8 degrees Celsius or greater), cough, sore throat, a runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, and feeling very tired. Some people may also vomit or have diarrhea. -Keep children at home when they are sick. Any children who are sick at school will be sent home and will be expected to remain at home until at least 24 hours after they are symptom-free. This is for the protection of the sick child as well as others in the school community. We know that most parents work outside the home, so please make plans for someone to pick up and care for your children if you are not able to do so yourself. We will work with the Forest Grove School District and Washington County health officials to monitor flu conditions and take appropriate actions in response to confirmed cases of H1N1 or other flu illnesses. Currently, we do not expect schools to be closed in response to flu outbreaks but that situation may change and FGCS will follow the recommendations of District and county officials. For more information, please visit www.flu.gov, or call 1-800-CDC-INFO for the most current information about the flu. For more information about flu in our community, contact the Washington County Department of Health & Human Services at www.co.washington.or.us/HHS or call 503-846-8881. We will notify you of changes to our school's strategy to prevent the spread of flu. Meanwhile, if you have questions, please contact me at 503-359-4600 or k.torry@fgcschool.org. Sincerely, Karen Torry Director of School Operations click here

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Pizza Weds. Starts 9/16

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Good news! The FGCS Parent-Teacher Organization will again be offering
Pizza Wednesdays at school. Pizza Wednesday is a lunch alternative for
students that also helps raise money for outdoor school and other
outdoor learning opportunities for FGCS students. Here's how works:

-Students may order slices of cheese, pepperoni, Don Ho (Canadian
bacon and pineapple) or Combo (Italian sausage, mushroom and black
olives) that come hot from our local Pizza Schmizza. Slices cost $2.50
and students may order as many slices as they wish, but we can't
accept any special orders.

-Orders with payment must be placed in the locked fundraising box no
later than 9 a.m. Tuesdays to receive pizza on Wednesday - no
exceptions. Payment may be by cash (exact change, please) or check
(made out to FGCS with 'fundraising' written in the memo section).
Order forms are available at school in the main hallway (clear
wall-mounted box near the locked fundraising box) or on the Documents
page of the web site at www.fgcschool.org. You may order one week at a
time or for multiple weeks in advance.

-Pizza is served in the main building foyer but students return to
their classrooms to eat. Students are strongly encouraged to bring
their own reusable plates from home to reduce waste.

Thanks to our wonderful PTO volunteers for giving their time and
energy to support our school!

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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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Principal's Letter

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Dear Forest Grove Community School Families, When we created our school, we talked a lot about what name we should give it. As you can imagine, we wanted to get it right. Fortunately, it didn't take long for us to land upon the perfect name for our school: Forest Grove Community School. We knew immediately that the word "community" would have to be in our name because it embodies - in just one word- our mission and educational approach. Our students are out learning in the community every week. We are deliberate in our efforts to create community in our classrooms and our school. We build community with partners -- individuals, groups and organizations and, most importantly, parents -- to promote the education of our children, who are the stewards and caretakers of our future. Because community is such an integral part of what we do at this school, I was delighted to see so many of you at the school picnic last weekend. It was a fun and informal way for us to connect with each other and to establish or re-establish our friendships with each other. This year promises to be our best yet with a number of new opportunities and continued program developments including: o      New Teachers: We have three new staff members this year who are wonderful additions to our team. Read more about Greg de Nevers, Kristen Nelson, and Chris Stanton below. o      Out & Abouts and Outdoor School Going Strong: During a time when field trips and Outdoor School are being cut in other schools, we are continuing our programs. o      Expanded Art Education: Students in Levels 1, 2 & 3 will have art class twice each week. High school students will be offered an art elective. o      Playground Improvements: We have installed new equipment, benches, trees and a play deck that provide more ways for students to move, burn off energy, improve motor skills and to just have fun! Thanks again to the many parents who donated to our playground fund. o      Sunflower Garden: With some of the funds from last year's Fund Run, Level 1 teacher Sherry Reuter created a beautiful Sunflower Garden next to the school over the summer. This space will be used as an outdoor classroom. Other Fund Run proceeds will go to support Outdoor School. o      School Community Garden: Local company Woodfold-Marco has very generously allowed us to use a plot of land that they own on Main Street just south of 19th Ave. to create a garden. Over the year, we will develop our plans with the goal having raised beds ready for planting in the spring. We'll keep you posted on progress.   To those of you who are new to the school, welcome to our community. For those of you who are returning, welcome back. I look forward to seeing you all on Sept. 10 and to an exciting year of learning together.   Vanessa Gray Principal ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NEW HIRES: Greg, Kristen & Chris Greg de Nevers: Greg has been an educator most of his professional life working as a biologist and instructor in nature preserves before earning his master's in teaching at Lewis & Clark College. In addition to his strong science background, Greg brings strong writing abilities honed publishing natural science articles; proficiency in Spanish developed during his three years in Panama; and tai chi expertise from years of practice and teaching. Next year Greg will teach science, Spanish, tai chi, and will provide support to high school students during Friday study halls. Kristen Nelson: Like Greg, Kristen brings a broad skill set to the team. While at Pacific University, she majored in biology and minored in literature. She then went on to get her Master of Arts in Teaching at Pacific and was valedictorian of her class. She comes highly recommended to us from an innovative Beaverton high school where she taught language arts, science, and coordinated internships for students. She will teach language arts, math, and photography at FGCS. With her strengths in science, language arts and math, I am confident that Kristen will bring an integrated, place-based, and applied approach to high school education at FGCS. Chris Stanton: Chris grew up in the Portland area and earned his bachelor's degree from Whitworth University in Seattle. For the past three years, he has taught math, science, history and English at a private school for international students in Panama. Before that, he taught at middle schools in McMinnville, Sherwood and South Central Los Angeles. In Panama, Chris has worked to provide place-based opportunities for students, creating a field station in the jungles not far from his school. At other schools, he's coached soccer and led skateboarding and rock-climbing clubs. His hobbies are cycling, skateboarding, reading, rock climbing, backpacking, mountaineering, photography, walking with his wife, and playing with his two small boys

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Play Yard Open 11-12 Today

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The FGCS play yard will be open again today from 11 a.m. to noon for
students and their parents or other supervising adults. Non-FGCS
children and youth as welcome as long as there's an adult to keep an
eye on everyone.

We're inviting students to take a sneak peek at the yard with its new
play equipment, trees, benches and play deck before the first day of
school next week. We'd especially like students to give us feedback on
rules to make the play yard a safe, fun place for everyone. Hope to
see you between 11 and noon today!

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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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Family & Student Handbook

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The FGCS Family & Student Handbook is now available at the school website or by request in the school office. Follow the link at the bottom of this message to view or download the handbook. Please plan to review the handbook with your student before the school year begins. A few especially important items we want to highlight are listed below. Please refer to the handbook for more information or contact Karen Torry at k.torry@fgcschool.org or 503-359-4600. ----------------------------------- SCHOOL-FAMILY COMMUNICATION FGCS communicates with families primarily through email and our web site. Please check messages regularly to make sure you receive important information. If you do NOT have email access, please notify your child's classroom teacher and the school office to request paper copies of notices. STUDENT MEDICATIONS All medications - prescription and non-prescription - taken by students during the school day must be administered by a trained staff member. Parents must complete and sign paperwork before medications can be administered. Students may not carry ANY medications at school except inhalers (with a doctor's permission). LATE ARRIVALS/ABSENCES Students should be in their classrooms by 8:50 a.m. daily. If your student will be late or absent, please call the school office (not the classroom teacher) before 8:50 a.m. FREE & REDUCED LUNCH FORM All FGCS families are asked to fill out and return the form to determine eligibility for free and reduced lunch. Although FGCS does not yet have a school lunch program, we need this information to apply for grants and other programs. All information provided is confidential. SCHOOL DIRECTORY Student contact information will be published in the school directory unless parents notify us that they want the information withheld. Please refer to the student-family handbook for the directory form. USE OF STUDENT IMAGES Please notify us in writing (email is fine) if you do NOT want your student's photograph or name used in school publications, including web site, or in media coverage of FGCS. Contact Karen at k.torry@fgcschool.org or 503-359-4600 with questions. PACIFIC UNIVERSITY CONSENT FORM FGCS students participate in many activities on the campus of Pacific University. All students and volunteers must have a signed consent form on file. Forms are provided as part of student registration packets. Please return these forms with other registration forms. STUDENT CONDUCT FGCS holds high expectations for its students as scholars, stewards and citizens. Student behavior is expected to be safe, respectful and appropriate to the situation. Please review the student-family handbook for additional information and contact the principal if you have questions. STUDENT CLOTHING FGCS students go outside, rain or shine, every day, so should come to school dressed for the weather and for outdoor activities. Appropriate attire for a typical school day includes close-toed shoes, a water-resistant jacket or coat and comfortable clothes. Remember that Oregon weather is subject to sudden change, so come prepared. LUNCH/WATER BOTTLE Please send a nutritious lunch and reusable water bottle daily. Please don't send soda or any beverage in a glass container - we cannot recycle glass. FGCS Family & Student Handbook

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Visit Play Yard Today & Tomorrow

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Dear FGCS Families and Friends -

A reminder that we'll have a one-hour play time/open house at the FGCS
play yard 6-7 p.m. TODAY (Weds., 9/2) and 11 a.m.-noon tomorrow (Th.,
9/3). FGCS students with a parent or other supervising adult are
invited! Non-FGCS students are welcome with a parent or supervising
adult.

We hope you'll come to explore, play and give us your ideas for how to
share and use the play yard in ways that make it a safe, fun place for
everyone. At FGCS, we believe that children (like adults) respect and
follow rules better when they've had a role in creating them - so, we
need their help! Parents are also welcome to weigh in.

We hope to see you 6-7 p.m. this evening or 11 a.m.-noon tomorrow!
Please park on the street or in the free city parking lot off of 19th
Ave. just behind the play yard.

If you have questions, please contact Karen Torry at
k.torry@fgcschool.org or 503-359-4600.

P.S. Check out a story about our new play yard and sunflower garden in
this week's Forest Grove News-Times (www.fgnewstimes.com).

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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

Read the VerticalResponse marketing policy:
http://www.verticalresponse.com/content/pm_policy.html