Dear Eccles Families,

I have loved getting to see many of you at conferences this week. The beginning of the school year is an exciting time to build new relationships and embark on a new grade level of learning. We are happy to partner with you in this journey.

It is important to recognize the work our teachers put forth to prepare for conferences so you as a parent or guardian have a good understanding of your child’s strengths and areas for growth as a learner. This conference preparation happens in addition to the continual daily preparation of engaging learning experiences for your students. Thank you teachers for doing both, teaching and preparing for conferences, so that students have continued learning and families have clarity about their child’s progress.

Conferences encompass all three of our school goals: Relational Capacity, Literacy, and Community Engagement. Classroom communities have emphasized building relational capacity to start the year by building trust amongst students and clarity around expectations. Academic instruction is now well underway. Our school goal around literacy includes schoolwide use of AVID strategies and has been the focus of our Collaborative Time these first several weeks of the school year. Conferences are a great opportunity for you to see how your child is progressing as a reader and writer. Our last goal of Community Engagement is about how we partner with you as the parent and guardian to help create the most successful year possible. Thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedules to meet with your child’s teacher and support his or her learning this year.

I hope you have a great weekend.

Sincerely,

Kelly

Thursday & Friday, October 20-21: NO SCHOOL (Conferences & Comp Day)

Monday, October 24: Last Day for PTA Pie Fundraiser

Wednesday, October 26: PTA Pumpkin Carving Night (Eccles Playground, 4:30-6:30pm)

Monday, October 31: Classroom Halloween Parties (check w/teacher for more details)

Wednesday, November 2: Picture Retake Day

Friday, November 11: NO SCHOOL (Veteran’s Day)

Monday, November 14: Pie Fundraiser Pick-up (2:30-4:30pm)

Wednesday-Friday, November 23-25: NO SCHOOL (Thanksgiving Break)

Stay up-to-date with the Eccles calendar via our website or the Canby School District calendar page.

The best part of our day is when your kids walk through the door. Our first bell sounds at 7:45. At this time, students and families may enter the building and walk to class. There is a second bell that sounds at 7:55 which tells students it is time to get to class and get ready for the day. The third bell that sounds at 8:00 signals the beginning of class. Students should be in their seats and ready to learn. We understand that mornings can be a busy time, but we also know that being ready for class to begin at 8:00 is a strong first step to the start of a successful day.

Students who eat breakfast in our school cafeteria should arrive to school right at 7:45 so they have enough time to eat breakfast. At 7:55, there is very little time to get breakfast, eat it, and be to class on time.

If your child arrives to school at or after the 8:00 bell, he or she should check-in to the office and go to class on their own. To keep our buildings secure and our students safe, after 8:00 we require all adults in our building to check in at the office before entering the building.

Thank you for your help getting our students to school on time and keeping our school community safe.

Don’t forget, this coming Monday, October 24 is the last day to turn in your Willamette Valley Pie Company order forms for our PTA fundraiser. Profits from this fundraiser go back to supporting the school through field trips, classroom supplements, school enhancements, family fun nights, Scholastic News, and so much more.

You can help make the bellies of many family and friends happy during the upcoming holiday seasons AND support our school!

Meet Mrs. Thompson!

Mrs. Thompson is a member of our 1st grade teaching team. She has been teaching students for 27 years-22 here in Canby. Mrs. Thompson is a graduate of Eccles and so is her husband Bryan and both of their parents! She and Brian have three grown children: Brady, Cole, and Alexa. Brady is a chemical engineer, Cole is a dentist here in town, and Alexa is a 2nd grade teacher in Albany. Mrs. Thompson has a dog named Maizy who loves to camp and kayak, and two cats named Olive and Simba. Mrs. Thompson loves reading all genres and Jodi Piccoult, Lisa See and Barbara Park are some of her favorite authors. Mrs. Thompson’s motto is, “Life is short. Eat dessert first!” Say, “Hi!” the next time you see Mrs. Thompson.

Meet Mrs. Merris!

Mrs. Merris is one of our 2nd grade teachers. She has been teaching for 12 years-8 here in Canby. You will often hear Mrs. Merris say, “Ok, Friends!” She lives here in Canby with her husband Teddy, her son Quintin (an Eccles 4th grader), her daughter Emerie (an Eccles 2nd grader), and her daughter Maya (1 ½ years old). They also have two dogs: Floki and Max. She highly values kindness, honesty, and a sense of humor in her friends. Say, “Hi!” the next time you see Mrs. Merris!

We would like to invite you to volunteer with the art literacy program. There will be three artists this year, one for each trimester. You will be asked to attend an informational meeting where you will learn all you need to know in order to lead your classroom through the presentation of each artist. We will lead you through the entire lesson so you are confident with the process. You will see the keynote presentation, how to run it and learn about the art lesson. Then we will actually do the art project together. We will be able to answer any of your questions. When you teach the lesson in the classroom, the teacher will be there to help and assist you. No art skills or background is required.

First Meeting

Date: Thursday, October 27

Time: 1:00-2:30 pm

Where: Eccles Elementary School (check in at the front office for location)

First Artist: Norman Rockwell with the medium of colored pencil

Thank you so much for your help! Be sure to complete a volunteer application with the Canby School District, if you haven't already. We look forward to seeing you.

- Deana Calcagno and Ann Johnson

Looking to volunteer in your student’s classroom or for upcoming events? If you did not complete this process last year or are a new incoming family, an application must be submitted through the Canby School District.

Here’s what you need to know.

• This must be pre-arranged with the teacher and/or specialist that you are assisting.
• All new* volunteers must be registered and pass a background check in order to volunteer for any classroom, field trip, or activity on-site.
• All volunteers must sign in and out upon entry and exit of the school building.

We look forward to having you join us!

We are excited to welcome back our broadened meal selections this year, including the salad bar! Your children may qualify for free meals or for reduced-price meals, and now offer expanded income guidelines to qualify more families.

If you plan to have your child eat school-provided breakfast or lunch, please fill out a Meal Application online at https://www.ode.state.or.us/apps/frlapp - Our district ensures that our nutrition programs are easily accessible to all families.

> Click here to put money on your child's lunch account <

Meals will always be provided to students, no matter their application status or meal plan balance.

As school begins and we are starting to enter the cold and flu season, please remember to review our district and school health 'stay home guidelines'. If you have any questions about whether a student should stay home, please don't hesitate to contact the office and we can put you in touch with our Health Assistant or District Nurse. We appreciate your help in keeping not only your student, but all other students & families healthy this school year.

***Please remember to send in any medication for your students, which need to be signed in with our Health Assistant (prescription, non-prescription, inhalers, etc).