May 4, 2018
Happy May Markham Families,
5th Grade Promotion! Our 5th graders are promoting to middle school. The promotion will take place on Friday, June 8th at 1:00 PM in the auditorium with a reception to follow in the cafeteria. We will then have a Clap-out at 2:45 where everyone lines the halls and celebrates our 5th graders as they parade by for the last time as Markham 5th graders. It is always with happy and heavy hearts that we celebrate them transitioning to middle school. They will certainly be missed, and we wish them much success in their middle school years.
Mr. Crabtree, Jackson’s Assistant Principal, recently visited and introduced the 6th grade program to our 5th graders, along with the forecasting materials. Our students asked great questions and impressed me with how ready they are to make the transition from elementary to middle school.
Our annual Staff vs. 5th Graders volleyball game is set for Thursday, June 7th. We will start at 1:30 in the big gym. All are welcome to come on out and cheer! Go Eagles!
Parent input for Class Placement Forms for the 2018-2019 school year will be available in the office starting Monday, May 7th. Filling out this form is totally optional. If there is information you would like our staff to consider for class placements for the next school year, please complete the form and return it to the office on or before Friday, May 18th. Please note: Markham does not honor specific requests for teachers. However, if you fill out the form, it will assist us in the appropriate placement for your child. All class assignments are tentative and subject to change if enrollment or other circumstances require class balancing. Class assignments will be mailed to families the week of August 13th.
The Markham Fun Run was a success! All grades were able to run outside before the heavy rain started. Everyone had a great time supporting our students. All proceeds support school programs. I would like to thank all of our students, volunteers, staff and parent cheerleaders who made this another great event. Thank you again Mr. Kern for the energetic music and timer.
This week we celebrated all Markham Staff for Teacher Appreciation Week. Thank you PTA for Tuesday’s breakfast and Starbucks coffee. Wednesday’s lunch was wonderful, and the Fruit Stand on Thursday with office supplies was magnificent!
Mark your calendars for the evening of Thursday, May 17th from 5:30 to 8:00 PM. It is the Markham World Tour Night! The evening will consist of our Spring Concert, K-2 Right Brain Showcase, Global Village exhibits from 8 countries. There will also be a Used Book Sale with books costing only 25 cents each. Adult books will be a Buck a Bag; fill the bag and it’s a buck, $1.00. The Used Book Sale supports our 5th Grade Promotion Reception. So come on out and enjoy a fabulous, fun-filled evening.
DATE CHANGE:
Our last Sharing with Shawn for the school year is Friday, May 11th. This is a week earlier than planned due to Ramadan. Please note the date change and plan on attending. We will have refreshments, so if you would like, please bring a beverage or snack to share. We meet in the Neighborhood Head Start classroom, Rm. 113 from 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM. This is a very informal and casual time together to get information and ask questions. SUN School sponsors us with childcare.
Our spring Connect to Kindergarten will be on Thursday, May 24th from 6:30 to 7:30 PM in the library. This is a parents only event.
Congratulations to Ms. Holton! She applied and was awarded a $4,500.00 grant through CenturyLINK to support her students with an online literacy program called Learning Ally. This grant also comes with reading coaching through the Shadow Project.
I want to thank Ms. Kathy Lippincott, our former Principal Secretary, for her service to our students, families and staff. I wish her well in her future endeavors. I would like to also thank Ms. MeKenzie Fife for filling in and assisting us in keeping the office running smoothly. Ms. Harrison is being trained by Ms. Fife and central office personnel to become the Principal Secretary. I hope to have the position of School Secretary filled soon.
News from Nurse Corcoran
We have had beautiful spring weather, and with it very high levels of tree and grass pollen. If you google "pollen count" it gives a nice 5 day graphic. Some students with asthma may need their rescue inhaler (Albuterol) during this time. Many believe a spacer isn't needed once the child is older, but everyone with an albuterol inhaler should use a spacer. kidshealth.org explains how the spacer helps.
People with asthma often use inhalers (also called puffers) to take their medications. A spacer (also sometimes called a holding chamber) is a device that makes using an inhaler easier and more effective. It attaches to the inhaler on one end and to a mouthpiece or mask on the other end. When the medication from the inhaler is released into the spacer, it's held inside until it's slowly inhaled through the mouthpiece or mask. It doesn't require special coordination that the use of an inhaler alone requires. A spacer also helps deliver the medication to the airways - instead of the mouth and throat - where it can work better with fewer side effects.
Important information out of our Communications Department regarding health care:
Starting Jan. 1, 2018, the Oregon Health Plan (OHP) is available to more children and teens younger than 19, regardless of immigration status. OHP is free health coverage for Oregonians who meet income and other criteria. It covers many health care services such as check-ups, tooth fillings, glasses and prescriptions. It also covers labs, x-rays and hospital care. It even pays for rides to and from the doctor’s office. Apply to see if you qualify. Help is free. A trusted and OHP-certified community partner nearby can help you apply. You can find one by calling 1-800-699-9075 or 711 (TTY). You can also go online at http://www.oregon.gov/oha/HSD/OHP/Pages/OHPcoversme.aspx
Flyers are available in the office in various languages. English flyer attached.
Enjoy the beautiful May weather,
Shawn Garnett
Principal
