UPCOMING DATES

LETTER FROM OUR PRINCIPAL

Dear Glencoe Families,

We’ve had another wonderful week of school, an actual full week. Everyone is settling in nicely and school feels officially underway. I am not sure if you noticed, but a crew of hard working volunteers spent Sunday spreading mulch in the beds around the school. The beds along Belmont and along the front doors on 51^st look fabulous. Thank you Maria Peterson for organizing the crew!

We had our first PTA meeting(s) this week and both meetings were well attended. The new board was introduced and we met some new families in attendance. PTA is an organization run by wonderful, hard-working volunteers who dedicate their time and efforts to support our school. They collaborate with the school staff and make decisions that benefit our school and we can’t thank them enough. If you want to be a voting member of PTA, please complete a membership form (hard copy or on-line). PTA also accepts donations which can be made in the same way.

One of the agenda items this month was the communication avenues we have at Glencoe. Families can get as much or as little communication as they wish. There are several ways to stay informed: our weekly school newsletter that comes from the office, visiting the school website, visiting the teachers’ websites, signing up for Konstella, and liking the Glencoe Elementary PTA Facebook page. If there is other timely information that needs to be communicated, we may send an email blast from the school office as well. 

I spent Monday morning in our Kindergarten classrooms, reading a story and practicing putting names to the faces of our youngest school members. I am getting close to knowing all of their names and have given them each the job of quizzing me when they see me. During my classroom visit, I read one of my favorite children’s books to each class, Bark George by Jules Feiffer. If you have a kindergartner, ask them what happened when George’s mother said, “Bark George.” I also spent time in the second grade classrooms. Students were generating ideas for their writer’s workshop time. Two classes were brainstorming topics that may spark a storyline. Students were listing their favorite places, such as a backyard tree house that may generate plenty of future stories. I know we have many authors at Glencoe and I can’t wait to read their stories!

This coming Tuesday is Picture Day at Glencoe. Teachers have an assigned time to take their class to get their pictures taken. You child will be (if they haven’t already) bringing home an order form this week. If you’d like to purchase pictures, you can complete the order form, pay with cash, check or on-line and return the form to your child’s teacher by Tuesday morning. All students will have their picture taken regardless of having a completed form on Picture Day. The company will not take late order forms through the office this year.   Don’t worry. If you forget to submit your form, you can still order pictures on line. 

Warmly,

Lori Clark

Glencoe Principal

HEALTH NEWS

The health room is in need of smaller size boy shorts and pants and girl shorts. Specifically for Kinder-2^nd grade boys, any size for girls. If you have any, please drop them off at the office. Thank you.

LIBRARY NEWS

Dear Glencoe Families,

We have 4 sets of World Book Encyclopedias that we need to move on. If your family would like one, you are welcome to it. Just bring a box to the library before or after school and we will fill it with the volumes for either 2001, 2008 (2 sets!), or 2012. We have kept a 2014 set for Glencoe Library. First come, first served. You can also “reserve" yours by emailing either Diane Newton-Prior dnewtonp@pps.net, or Cora Griffon cgriffon@pps.net

Glencoe students have access to the most up-to-date World Book information online from our/Glencoe's library page (resources), https://worldbookonline.com/ or the district's library department page. Look for this blue box! 

You can take these for any reason (art?), any age (Senior Center?). We want to keep them out of the dump, and they are in like-new condition.

FOUNDATION

Be a part of the fun! Join the Auction Team!

The Grow Glencoe auction team is gearing up for our March 7, 2020 event. We need your help making the school’s largest fundraiser the most successful yet!  Jobs big or small available, all are welcome! Our kick off meeting is September 24 at 7 PM at Sara and Andrew Weith’s – 5566 SE Morrison St. 

If you can’t make the meeting, but are interested in helping out, please contact us.

Co-chairs Susie Hoar (shoar@comcast.net), Sara Weith (saramae.weith@gmail.com), Andrew Weith (Andrew.weith@gmail.com) 

What is the Glencoe School Foundation?

The Glencoe School Foundation is the sister organization to our school’s PTA.  The PTA raises funds to help teachers and students with supplies, activities, events, field trips and other enriching activities.  The Foundation raises funds to pay for additional staffing support that is not allowed by PTA rules.  The Foundation aims to raise a net of $80,000 over the year through the Grow Glencoe Auction and other direct donations to pay for our reading specialist, increase hours for our valuable school secretary, on-site IT Support, and other much needed school and teaching staff.

Glencoe School Foundation, like all Local School Foundations, fall under the umbrella of The Fund for Portland Public Schools. Glencoe School Foundation contributes 1/3 of all funds raised, after the first $10,000, to be redistributed to PPS schools in the form of PPS Parent Fund grants in their equity fund. Glencoe School Foundation recognized that not all schools are in a position to fundraise at the same level, and is happy to support all Portland Public Schools. For more information, visit their website: The Fund for Portland Public Schools

Donate an item: 

Please join us in our effort to reach our fundraising goal of $80,000 this year by donating a gift certificate, service, vacation home, experience or item to be auctioned. If you have questions about what items are appropriate, please reach out to the contacts above.  Donations can be made here:

Donate an Item

Donate Money

Consider making a sustainable monthly contribution (100% tax deductible)

UPCOMING DATES

LETTER FROM OUR PRINCIPAL

Dear Glencoe Families,

We have finished our second week of school, and everything is running smoothly.  We now have our 68 kindergartners with us so our community feels much more complete.  Our Kinders are a wonderful group!  I have been able to spend a little bit of time in each of their classrooms this week as I try to learn each of their names.

Our other grade levels are getting back into the swing of things as well. They have spent some time building class agreements (or Bill of Rights as referred to in our older grades), learning classroom expectations and procedures specific to their classroom.  Every class has participated in PE, Music and Library as well so we are ready for our first full week of school this coming week.

Next week we have our first PTA meeting of the year.  To accommodate all families who would like to attend, we are holding a morning PTA meeting AND an evening meeting.  The morning meeting is scheduled for 8:15 am in the cafeteria AND the evening meeting is scheduled for 6:30 pm in the library.  The meetings will cover the same topics and information so you only need to attend one.  You do not need to join, or be a member to attend the meetings and they are a great way to keep up with school news and events.

There are also two trainings for our Parent Volunteers scheduled next week as well.  These trainings acclimate volunteers to the building, our policies and procedures, copy machines, laminator etc.  Again, one training is during the day and another is scheduled for the evening.  Please see our calendar for dates/times.

Last but not least, a few beginning of the year friendly reminders about arrival and dismissal times:

·         During drop off and pick-up, dogs need to be on a 6 foot leash (or shorter) and remain with families out front, on the small hill, just north of Morrison.  If you pick up out back, please wait with your dog on the big field out back.  We love dogs but drop off and pick-up times can get very crowded, and a combination of running children and excited dogs can lead to unexpected issues.

·         Please use the cross walk during drop off and pick up times for the safety of everyone involved.

·         Staff will ask students to remain out of trees, off fence lines and off of the storage box during school times (which includes their supervision duty during dismissal time).  Please help staff reinforce these expectations to avoid any accidents or injuries on our watch.

Warmly,

Lori Clark

Glencoe Principal 

PTA NEWS

We would like to thank the following companies for donating to our Community Care Day.

-Portland Nursery

-New Seasons

-Paadee

-Tusk

-Academy Theater

-Rose City Baby Acupuncturist and Wellness

Glencoe Chess Club 2019-2020 starts October 4. Parents interested in signing up for Chess Club this year should use this form: https://forms.gle/oTkdUKpGB7LEGrNh7

If you have any questions, please contact David Beffert at dbeffert@fulbrightmail.org

ART INFUSION

Art Infusion Kick-off is Sept. 17!

Art Infusion is Glencoe’s classroom art program taught by volunteers just like you.  The program is especially important because, while we do have music, Glencoe does not have a visual arts curriculum.  Volunteers are trained to teach each lesson before they head into the classroom.  All lessons and materials are provided.  No art experience is necessary.  And there is always Free Childcare and snacks provided during the trainings.

The first training takes place Sept. 17 at 6:30 pm in the cafeteria.  FIFTH GRADE PARENTS – PLEASE BRING YUMMY SNACKS!

Lessons this Month

Kindergarten: 5 Basic Elements (colored pencils)

First and Second Grade: N-Debele Houses (oil pastels)

Third and Fourth: Mehndi hand (gel pens)

Fifth: Bookbinding (journals)

Come make art with us and don’t forget to bring a friend! Questions?  Contact Rebecca Haas, Art Infusion Communications Coordinator, at rebecca@revolutionpr.com

UPCOMING DATES

LETTER FROM OUR PRINCIPAL

Dear Glencoe Families,

We have had a wonderful start to the school year!  We have 462 students registered this year, so it is a full house.  It has been great seeing everyone again and meeting quite a few new students and families. Students have been introduced to their classmates, built some community agreements for how they want to operate as a classroom, learned our school-wide expectations for all the common spaces, enjoyed at least one class of Music, PE and Library and are diving into their academic content areas. 

Whether you are a new family or not, you may have questions about the expectations at Glencoe and how we handle student conflict and/or unexpected behaviors.  Families can locate this information in our Family Handbook on the Glencoe Website.  You can also read Glencoe’s School Climate Handbook located on our website for more detailed information about our school climate policies, procedures and agreements.  The district is currently revising the Student Rights and Responsibilities Handbook that will also be available on our website when it is completed.

Although we had a busy three days, we were missing our Kindergarteners this week so our community felt a little incomplete.  We are looking forward to next Tuesday, the third, when the Kindergarteners show up for their first day of school.  The Kindergarten teachers have been meeting with their students and families this week in preparation for day one.  On Tuesday, starting at 8:05 we have a volunteer Kindergarten Parent Coffee in the cafeteria. This is not required but it is an opportunity to meet some other Kinder-parents, our PTA president, our Art Infusion Coordinator and get any unanswered questions out of the way. 

If you have not turned your dismissal form into the office, please do so by next week.  Even in the first three days, these forms have helped clear up some after-school confusions. 

I hope you enjoy your Labor Day Weekend and we will see you on Tuesday, September 3^rd.

Warmly,

Lori Clark

KITCHEN NOTES

Applications will expire on October 9^th, 2019. Please renew online here. If your application is not approved by October 9^th, you will be responsible for payment of café meals. Any questions please call Melissa at Glencoe or Betsy, the meal application specialist at 503-916-3402.

DOG OWNERS

There are 3 designated dog waiting areas after school. If you pick up out front, please wait with your dog at the top of the stairs at the South end of the building near Belmont or on the little hill in the front of the school near the crosswalk.

In the back of the building please wait with your dog on the field only.

GLENCOE FOUNDATION NEWS

Be a part of the fun! Join the Auction Team!

The Grow Glencoe auction team is gearing up for our March 7, 2020 event. We need your help making the school’s largest fundraiser the most successful yet! Our kick off meeting is September 2 4at 7 PM at Sara and Andrew Weith’s – 5566 SE Morrison St. Jobs big or small available, all are welcome!

If you can’t make the meeting, but are interested in helping out, please contact us.

Co-chairs Susie Hoar (shoar@comcast.net), Sara Weith (saramae.weith@gmail.com), Andrew Weith (Andrew.weith@gmail.com)

Please consider making a sustainable monthly contribution (100% tax deductible) to the Foundation athttps://fundforpps.org/donate-index-impact

Dear Glencoe Community,

Welcome to the 2019-2020 school year.  I am excited to be back for my 5^th year as Glencoe’s principal.  It is such an honor and joy to be part of Glencoe’s wonderful community. Staff have been back for almost a week (and some longer) participating in professional development sessions and preparing for students’ arrival.  We are so happy for the school year to get underway.

I am excited to introduce two new members to our community.  As many of you know from last Spring’s Newsletters we hired Ms. Anna DeVille to fill our Kindergarten position.  Anna is joining us after 9 years at Vestal Elementary and will be teaching Kinders in room 109.  This summer we interviewed several wonderful candidates for our 3^rd Grade position and were fortunate to hire Mrs. Wendy Connolly, who many of you know as Fiona and Ewan’s mom.  Wendy will be teaching third graders in room 201, upstairs next to the other Mrs. Connolly. 

Thanks to last year’s auction and our generous families, we were able to increase the hours of two staff members.  Chris Wulferdingen, our Reading Specialist will now be working .6 (an increase from .5) allowing her to serve more students.  We were also able to increase Amanda Shwetzer, our School Secretary from .5 to .75 staffing our front office with two secretaries for the majority of the school day. 

PPS has implemented a new Volunteer/Visitor System that will roll out to schools in phases this fall.  I am not sure when it will be installed at Glencoe but I wanted to prepare you for the changes.  The system will require all volunteers and visitors to show a government issued ID upon arrival (one time only).  The ID will be processed through a security system before entrance beyond the front office is allowed.  Once approved, volunteers/visitors will receive a printed badge indicating they checked-in as required.  The approved badge will be stored in the system for future visits.  After the initial visit, Visitors/Volunteers will sign-in at the Kiosk (as in the past) to receive their printed badge.  Until the system is implemented at Glencoe, we will continue with our current policy (sign in at the office and receive a lanyard/badge).  

Our annual Community Care Day was a great success.  I can’t express the level of gratitude I have for everyone who volunteered their time and all the work that was done.  It was an amazing day and one of the best turnouts we’ve had since I’ve been at Glencoe.  The Peterson’s lead the event and did a wonderful job getting the word out, organizing the clean-up, recruiting some true professionals (including Mr. Brockmeyer who pruned the large tree along 51^st) and grilling up some hot dogs for the volunteers!  I also want to give a shout out to Mr. Wright, who came out on Tuesday, with his son’s, Asher & Lucas to line the basketball court in preparation for recess on the first day of school.  Glencoe has so many wonderful families that help make Glencoe the extraordinary community that it is! 

Below is some additional information to help you and your child(ren) prepare for the new school year ahead:

·         Arrival:  As a reminder, the office opens for business at 7:45.  Students may enter the building at 7:55 unless specific arrangements were made with a teacher.  Students who choose to eat breakfast at school may enter the building at 7:45.  Staff will open ALL FRONT doors at 7:55 for students and families to enter.  We recommend that Kindergarten students enter through the main front doors.

·         Late Arrivers:  Students are tardy after 8:05 and must check into the office to SIGN THEMSELVES IN and receive an “office check-in” slip. 

·         Office Hours/Support:  The office is open from 7:45 – 4:00 for business.  We will have two secretaries in the office in the mornings, until 1:45.  Our Health Assistant, Allie Doran will be in the office every day from 9:00 – 2:00.  We will have a School Nurse every Friday.

·         Dismissal: Students are dismissed by their teachers at 2:20.  In order for dismissal to go smoothly it is important that your child’s teacher & child are aware of the after school plan.  All students will be walked outside by their teacher to a designated spot.  You can find the dismissal map on our website (or by contacting your child’s teacher).  Staff will verify students who are riding the bus as they board.  All students remaining at school after 2:27 will be brought to the office as there is no supervision outside after that time.  Remaining students will need to be signed out from the office by a parent/family member listed on the registration form.

·         Dismissal Plans:  All families are expected to complete a Student Dismissal form.  The sooner we receive the form, the sooner we can ensure your child follows their after school plans.  These forms can be found on our school website and in the opening day packet.  It is very challenging for the office to deliver last minute changes to after-school plans. Known changes to a dismissal plan must be communicated to the teacher or office first thing in the morning.  We know unexpected things happen that are out of your control.  We will do our best to get last minute changes to students. 

·         After School Classes:  Glencoe school is NOT responsible for after school programs offered by external organizations.  Registration for after school classes are handled by individual companies, not the school office.  A list of all after school activities at Glencoe can be found at this afterschool activities link.

·         Communication:  We strive to keep our community informed in a timely manner.  You will receive a weekly e-newsletter from Glencoe on Fridays to share upcoming events/reminders.  You can also find information specific to each classroom on the teachers’ websites.

On behalf of the entire Glencoe Staff, I want to again welcome you to the 2019-20 school year.  This will be my 28^th year to have a “1^st day of School” as an educator.   The first day of school is always very special.  I am excited to see all of our 1^st – 5^th graders on Wednesday, August 28^th and our Kindergartners on September 3^rd. 

Warmly,

Lori Clark

Glencoe Principal

In this week's PPS Pulse: Best of PPS Film Festival highlights student filmmaking; first day of kindergarten

Two teachers wanted to find a way to celebrate the filmmaking accomplishments of their students. That was the genesis of the first Best of PPS Film Festival that will be held Sunday starting at 4 p.m. at the Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd.).

This past Saturday a ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrated the opening of the newly modernized Grant High School. Grant was completed after a two-year construction period and is the last project from the landmark 2012 School Improvement Bond. 

The health of students is one of the biggest priorities for Portland Public Schools, and thanks to partnerships with health organizations, all of our students have access to free medical services.