HPE Family Newsletter
Click here to download a PDF version of this letter.
April 2, 2023
Dear Families,
I hope everyone had a restful and fun spring break. We are now gearing up for the end of the school year, which includes plans for outdoor learning, the book fair, and state testing. We have also begun preparing for next year, which includes planning for preschool enrollment, kindergarten registration, and staffing. Stay tuned for important updates as the end of the school year can become extremely busy.
Report Cards/Grade Day/Spring Conferences
The end of the third quarter is Thursday, April 6. Grade Day is Friday, April 7 and there will be no school for all students. Report cards and any relevant assessment reports will be emailed to families by Tuesday, April 18. Spring conferences are April 19 and 20 and will be in-person, unless you request a virtual conference. Spring conferences are intended for meeting with families regarding students of concern, celebration, or by parent request. Conferences are 30-minutes each and will be 1:00-4:30 and 5:00-7:30, with the last conference being scheduled at 7:00 p.m. Please look for an email from your student’s teacher by Friday, April 7, with details to schedule a conference.
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. The OSAS scores are an important indicator of student progress in meeting grade-level benchmarks. 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. To help your student prepare for testing, be sure your child attends school regularly, arrives on time, gets good sleep, and eats nutritious meals and snacks.
Homeroom Placement Form, 2023-2024
If you are interested in sharing any information you feel would be helpful in determining your child's homeroom classroom placement for next school year (2023-2024), please complete the Homeroom placement form by April 30, 2023. Teacher assignments are subject to change; please do not request a specific teacher on this form.
Kids Heart Challenge/American Heart Association Fundraiser
The Kids Heart Challenge has officially ended and we want to thank everyone who donated to this cause. Hudson Park students raised a total of $5,587.76! We will be celebrating with a schoolwide assembly April 6 @ 2:00 p.m. Finally, the remaining prizes students have earned will be delivered in two to three weeks.
Briarcliff Pool
Bring your kids to Open Swim April 19 & 20 during Spring Conferences for uninterrupted time with your student’s teacher. Open Swim times during conferences will be 1-3 and 4-7 p.m. Click here for the April 2023 Briarcliff Pool schedule.
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.
Hearing Screenings, K-3
Hearing screenings for students in kindergarten through third grade will be held on Tuesday, April 25 and Thursday, April 27. If any hearing concerns are observed, families will be notified via a referral letter. If you do not wish to have your child screened, please notify the Student Services office at 503-556-9121. If you have any questions about the screening process, contact the Speech and Language team at 503-556-0196 ext 423.
Sixth Grade Outdoor School
Our sixth grade students participated in Outdoor School at Camp Collins March 6-10. This week of outdoor learning was funded by a grant through the Oregon State University Extension Service. We are appreciative of director Nancy Leishman, who organized an amazing camp! In addition, our sixth grade teachers, camp presenters/volunteers, high school counselors, and MidCo Bus Company were key players in making this camp successful.
School Closure Make-Up Days
As a result of the weather-related school closures this year, 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 plan for making up the remaining three snow days is to be determined.
Health Guidelines
Click here to view the health guidelines on when to keep your student home if ill.
Kindergarten Registration, 2023-2024
Kindergarten Registration Night has been scheduled for Wednesday, May 10 from 5:30-6:30 p.m. in the Hudson Park kindergarten classrooms and library. Please bring your incoming kindergarten student to the event. To enroll in kindergarten for the 2023-2024 school year, students must be 5 on or before September 1, 2023. Any kindergarten age-eligible student currently enrolled in Rainier Preschool or Head Start has been automatically enrolled for kindergarten for 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. Online registration for next year will open May 1, 2023.
Reading Incentives & Interventions
Following the Recommended Nightly Reading Minutes outlined below will help your student easily meet the Kindles for Books reading goals. Questions about the Kindles for Books Program? Email the program coordinator, Louise Johnson, louise_johnson@rsd.k12.or.us. If your student is not interested in the chance to earn a Kindle, we also have the Book Series Incentive Program. Students who read 5 books in a series and keep a record of their reading on the Book Series Bookmark are able to choose a small prize and have a book series recommendation poster displayed in the main hallway. Questions about reading support? Email Louise Johnson, louise_johnson@rsd.k12.or.us.
Attendance
Thank you for recognizing the importance of regular attendance at school, and for notifying the school when your student will be absent. Attendance calls are made daily to families @ 9:00 a.m., so please call the attendance line and excuse your student by 8:30 a.m. Please note that students’ attendance is monitored and letters are sent to families with excessive or unexcused absences.
English Language Learners
English Language Learners in all grades completed 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
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.
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
April 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.