HPE Family Newsletter
Click here to download/print a PDF version of this newsletter.
March 3, 2023
Dear Families,
We have a busy spring ahead of us with many amazing learning opportunities planned for students. We look forward to collaborating with you as we continue to work together to support students.
Kids Heart Challenge/Optional American Heart Association Fundraiser
The Kids Heart Challenge has officially kicked off and we are encouraging ALL families to register and learn the life-saving skill of hands-only CPR. Take the challenge to move more or be kind and receive a FREE “Be the Torch” wristband. Click here or use the Kids Heart Challenge app to register. Check out ourvirtual envelope to learn more about the optional fundraiser and the thank you gifts students can earn when they collect donations. Thank you for all your HEART work supporting our fundraiser for the American Heart Association!
Sixth Grade Outdoor School
Outdoor School for sixth grade students begins next week! Students are super excited to attend the 4-night/5-day camp and have been learning about what to expect for the week at Camp Collins. We are appreciative of director, Nancy Leishman, and volunteer, Sherry Evans, along with sixth grade teachers, Mrs. Berg, Mrs. Johnstun, and Mrs. Kishpaugh, for their careful planning to make this a memorable week of outdoor learning. The high school counselors have also been busy training and planning a fun-filled week for our sixth graders. We are confident the memories made at ODS will last a lifetime.
Family Reading Night
We are excited to invite students and families to our upcoming Family Reading Night: A Place to Learn and Grow, which has been rescheduled for Thursday, March 30, from 5:00-7:00 p.m. in the Commons. This free event includes dinner from 5:00-5:30 followed by a Title I presentation, reading activities, a science walk, and more. Click here for the event flyer with more information. Please note, there will not be tutoring this day.
Health Guidelines
Click here to view the health guidelines on when to keep your student home if ill.
School Closure Make-Up Days
As a result of the recent weather-related school closures, we currently have five snow days that will need to be made up. We will make up two of the days on April 28 and May 26. The make-up dates for the remaining three snow days are to be determined.
Oregon Statewide Assessments, Grades 3-6
Students in grades three through six will begin the Oregon Statewide Assessments the week of April 10 and testing will extend through May 5. Oregon public schools test students in English language arts and math in grades 3 through 8 & 11 and science in grades 5, 8, & 11. Additional required assessments include an English language proficiency assessment for English learners and the Oregon Extended Assessment for students with significant cognitive disabilities. Click here to view statewide assessment information on our website.
Math Curriculum Adoption Update
We are currently in the process of reviewing potential math curricula for a district-wide adoption with implementation planned for the 2023-2024 school year. This year, we formed a Math Adoption Committee comprised of teachers and parents. The committee is currently reviewing six math curricula and will select a curriculum that best fits the needs of Rainier School District’s K-12 programs. The committee’s top recommendation will be presented to the Superintendent and his cabinet and if they agree with the Math Adoption Committee’s assessment, the committee will share their final recommendation with the school board during a public meeting in the near future. If you have any questions about this process, feel free to reach out to Ken Howell, Director of Teaching and Learning/HPE Vice Principal at (503) 556-0196 ext. 212 or by email at kenneth_howell@rsd.k12.or.us.
Kindergarten Registration, 2023-2024
We have begun to prepare for kindergarten registration for the coming school year. To enroll in kindergarten for the 2023-2024 school year, students must be 5 on or before September 1, 2023. Any student currently enrolled in Rainier Preschool or Head Start will be automatically enrolled for kindergarten next school year. Some additional information may be needed for these students. Any kindergarten age-eligible student new to Rainier School District will need to register online in order to enroll in kindergarten. More information will be coming soon regarding online registration and details about a kindergarten registration night in May.
Briarcliff Pool
The yearly pool fee during the 2022-2023 school year is $10.00 for one student or $25.00 per family for those students participating in swim lessons. If you haven’t already done so, please send your payment to the Hudson Park Elementary office. Swim lessons for second semester (January 31-June 15) include students in Rainier Preschool, kindergarten, sixth grade, and multi-age classes. Hudson Park swim lessons are part of the PE program for grades K-6. Parents/guardians may request for their student to opt out of swim lessons for medical or religious purposes and those requests must be made in writing and submitted to Mrs. Keplinger in order to be considered.
Reading Interventions
66 HPE students are receiving extra reading support from Mrs. Johnson and her team, and it is exciting to see students make progress. Daily reading at home, letter recognition, spelling games, and high-frequency word practice are valuable ways for you to support your developing reader. The Kindles for Books and Book Series Bookmarks Reading Incentives are ongoing and growing. If you are in the school building, take a moment to scan the bulletin boards and posters celebrating HPE readers! Email Louise Johnson, louise_johnson@rsd.k12.or.us, with any questions you may have.
English Language Learners
English Language Learners in all grades are completing the annual English Language Proficiency Assessment (ELPA Summative) in March. ELPA scores determine the need for continued English language support, which is provided by Louise Johnson, the ESL (English as a Second Language) Coordinator for the Rainier School District. Score reports and program notification letters will be sent home prior to the last day of school. If you have questions, please email louise_johnson@rsd.k12.or.us.
Counseling
If you feel your student needs counseling support, please contact Sara Gray to arrange for services by emailing sara_gray@rsd.k12.or.us or calling the Hudson Park Elementary office. Please be aware that due to the high need of counseling support at this time, there may be some delay in getting counseling services in place. That being said, please do not hesitate to reach out with any questions or concerns.
Volunteers
We are happy to have community volunteers back in our building! Thank you to each and every individual who helps out. Please visit the volunteer webpage linked here to learn how to become an approved volunteer. Keep in mind, it takes a few weeks for volunteer paperwork to be processed, so apply early if you’re planning to chaperone an upcoming field trip.
Attendance
Thank you for recognizing the importance of regular attendance at school, and for notifying the school when your student will be absent. Please note that students’ attendance is monitored and letters will be sent to families with excessive or unexcused absences.
Transportation
Please call 503.556.9140 with any transportation-related questions or concerns. Click here for bus route information, including the 2022-2023 Snow Routes.
Nutrition Services
To access the current menus, click here. Breakfast is provided at no charge for all students. Lunch for K-5 is $3.25 and for grades 6-12 is $3.75. To add money to your student's lunch account, click here to access Mealtime Online. You may also send a check or cash with your student to school and the money will be added to your student's lunch account.
Free and reduced lunch program applications can be completed online. Hard copies are also available at the HPE office. Please email Nutrition Services Director, Debby Webster, with any questions: debby_webster@rsd.k12.or.us
Student Services
If you have questions about student services, please feel free to reach out to Heidi Schafer, Student Services Director, 503.556.9121, or email heidi_schafer@rsd.k12.or.us.
School Schedule/Calendar
Important Dates
March Swim Lessons Schedule
Please reach out with any questions, concerns, or feedback.
Educationally yours,
Megan Keplinger
Principal
503.556.0196
Under Oregon law, (ORS, Chapter 339), all students between the ages of 6 and 18, who have not completed grade 12, are required to attend school regularly unless otherwise exempted by law. All students, five years of age, who have been enrolled in a public school are also required to attend regularly. “Regular attendance” means attendance which does not include more than eight unexcused one-half day absences, or the equivalent thereof, in any four-week period in which the school is in session. Oregon state law requires that we withdraw students who miss ten consecutive days of school. If a student is absent for any reason for ten consecutive days, they will be withdrawn from school and will have to re-enroll when they return.
In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.
Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the responsible state or local agency that administers the program or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.
To file a program discrimination complaint, a Complainant should complete a USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form which can be obtained online at: Filing a Program Complaint as a USDA Customer webpage, from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant’s name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 Complaint form or letter must be submitted to USDA by:
mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights 1400 Independence Avenue, SW Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; or
fax: (833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or
email: This institution is an equal opportunity provider.