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Principal's Weekly Message
11/18/2022Hello Families & Partners -
November 13-19, 2022 marks Transgender Awareness Week, providing a moment to honor, celebrate, and uplift our trans community. This week of awareness leads into the Transgender Day of Remembrance on November 20, 2022. In support of creating a Sense of Belonging at Ockley Green, we are committed to using preferred pronouns and names to ensure that all our students are seen and valued as a part of our school community. In an article from Parents, “Using a child's correct gender pronouns is the easiest way to show that you respect who they are—this can shape their mental health for the rest of their lives. For a caregiver to acknowledge their identity can make the world of difference. According to The Trevor Projects' Research Brief: Gender-Affirming Care for Youth, there is a 29% decrease in suicidal ideation and a 56% decrease in suicidal behavior for youth when their chosen name is used.”
This week our Gay Straight Alliance provided information and Trans support buttons during lunch to raise awareness and spread the word about available resources throughout the school community. For more resources through PPS, you can go to www.pps.net/LGBTQ.
Fall Family Feedback Survey NEW
Site Council is again supporting our Fall Family Feedback Survey. This provides us information to help guide our work and appreciate you taking a moment to fill it out.
COVID-19 Screening Pause NEW
We just learned that there will be no OHSU COVID-19 Screening Spit Specimen collection during Thanksgiving week (November 22nd-24th). Please reach out if you have questions.
Restaurant Fundraising NEW
Tasty Fundraising Opportunity
Whether you're dining in or ordering take-out, this is a delicious way to make dinner easy, while simultaneously supporting an awesome local business AND Ockley Green!
Thursday, December 1st
Tamale Boy, Dekum location
11am to 9pm
15% of ALL sales donated to OG Supporters!
Menus, available here: https://www.tamaleboy.com/
dekum-classic Bus Route Change Info from Transportation NEW
You should have received this information directly if it impacts you, but I wanted to share out here too. There is a route change that will go into effect on 11/30.
OCG
203-A
Remove Stops: 5250 NE Martin Luther KIng Jr Blvd, 132 NE Lombard St
Dental Sealants Extension NEW
The dental sealant team will be returning to Ockley Green Middle School after the Fall Break, November 28th-29th. We will continue to call students down that have signed up for this service.
Conferences REMINDER
Ockley Green families will be using our conference website to schedule parent teacher conferences this year. They will be held in person on November 21 and online on November 22. If families choose to do their conferences online they will use the same conference website to login to their teacher’s digital meeting rooms. The website will go live at 5:00pm on Friday November 11. Please note the scheduling interface may look different for some teachers who have an older version of google.
https://sites.google.com/pps.
net/ockley-green-conferences OG Supporters Wreath Sale REMINDER
OG Supporters Wreath Fundraiser
Items ordered will be available for pick up at Ockley Green Middle School (Ainsworth Street) on Friday, December 2nd between 1-5 PM. For questions or to make other pick up/delivery arrangements please contact Muriah and Carolyn at wreathsale@ogsupporters.org
Proceeds from the wreath sale will help fund efforts to sustain a positive environment for students and staff at OGMS.
For students, this includes support of events and activities that foster a sense of pride, confidence, and belonging, including school dances (planned by 8th grade Leadership Class), and contributions to schoolwide cultural events. Wreath sale funds will also support Dragon Leader initiatives, which include planning and implementing team building and inclusivity activities to help 6th graders and new students feel connected to and supported within the OGMS community.
For staff, this includes a wide array of appreciation initiatives throughout the school year, including purchasing items to improve the staff room, recognizing staff during various job-specific appreciation events (such as National School Nurse Appreciation Day, Custodian Appreciation Day, etc.), supporting staff during conferences, and celebrating all staff each day during National Teacher Appreciation Week.
Important Dates
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November 21st (In-Person) & 22nd (Virtual): Conferences
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November 28th-29th: Multnomah County Dental Sealants
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December 5th: Picture Retake Day
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December 8th: Winter Band Concert
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December 11th: OG Dance & Band Performances at Pioneer Courthouse Square
In Partnership,
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Julie Rierson
Pronouns: she/her
Principal
Ockley Green Middle School
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