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Quarter 3 of the 2024-25 School Year

It’s hard to believe that we are already half way through the 2024-25 school year! Fall was an amazing time connecting with families, creating classroom communities, and setting the stage for a successful year.

As we focus on the coming quarter (up till Spring Break) there are a lot of fantastic things to look forward to.

Important Dates

• 2/4: Site Council (3:45-4:30)
• 2/5: Menlo Eats Out at Chipotle on Halsey (4-8pm)
• 2/7: No School (academic progress meetings and family communication day)
• 2/7: Lunar New Year Celebration at DDHS (5:30-7:30pm)
• 2/13: School Board Meeting at DDHS (7-10pm)
• 2/14: No School (Professional Development Day)
• 2/17: No School (President’s Day)
• 2/19: Menlo PTO Meeting (6-7pm)
• 2/26: PBIS Assembly/Golden Awards (2-3pm)
• 2/27: Class Group Pictures
• 3/3-3/7: Classified Appreciation Week
• 3/4: Site Council (3:45-4:30)
• 3/12: Menlo PTO Meeting (6-7pm)
• 3/13: School Board Meeting at DDHS (7-10pm)
• 3/14: No School (Conference Prep)
• 3/19: Early Dismissal (1:40pm)
• 3/19: Conferences (4pm-8pm)
• 3/20: Conferences/No School (8am-8pm)
• 3/21: No School
• 3/24-3/28: Spring Break/No School

Calendars

You can find the most up to date calendars here:

• Menlo Park: https://mn.ddouglas.k12.or.us/school-calendar/
• David Douglas School District: https://www.ddouglas.k12.or.us/events/

Weather

As winter weather continues, let’s review how DDSD handles weather-related closures and delays to ensure we are all prepared. 

It is important that you stay connected. Please take the time to check your ParentSquare contact information and your notification settings. 

Here’s a reminder of how we decide on delays or closures:

• Transportation staff assess road conditions across our district early in the morning.
• The Superintendent will make the decision to cancel school, or if the weather is expected to improve, we may opt for a 2-hour delay. 
• Families will be notified instantly via ParentSquare, with updates on our website, Facebook, Instagram, and local media. 

If you have any questions about ParentSquare, please reach out to our school office at 503-256-6506

For more information, visit our School Closure Procedures webpage.

Conferences

Spring conferences (3/19-3/20) will be coming before we know it! This is a fantastic time to connect with your classroom teacher to talk about how your student is doing, and set them up for success for the last quarter of the year! Teachers will be reaching out in the beginning of March to schedule times. As in years past, in person and virtual options are available. 

Conferences will be the week of March 17th: 

• Wednesday 3/19 – School Releases at 1:40pm, Conferences 4am -8pm 
• Thursday 3/20 – Conferences 8am – 8pm
• Friday 3/21 – No School
• Week of 3/24 – Spring Break

Site Council & Safety Team

Site Council and Safety Team is a group of teachers, classified staff and parents who get together monthly to discuss safety, monitor the School Improvement Plan, and look at/approve teacher development fund requests. A major aspect of the group is that they built and monitor Menlo’s School Improvement Plan (a document that focuses on goals in the areas of Reading, Math, and Behavior Discrepancies in order to help Menlo be the best school it can be). Site Council meets monthly after school 3:45-4:30 and is open to Menlo Park School Community Members. If you are interested in coming to a meeting please reach out to the office more more information or connect with Sheri McGahey (Site Council Chair/Student Achievement Specialist). Meeting minutes are posted regularly.

Upcoming Meetings

• Feb. 4, 2024
• Mar. 4, 2025
• Apr. 15, 2025
• May 6, 2025
• Jun. 3, 2025

Menlo Park PTO

The Menlo Park PTO is a group of community members that get together to organize events and raise funds for Menlo Park (and the garden program). 

• Location: Menlo Park Elementary, Room 7 
• Pizza and Donuts will be available for all who attend
• Everyone is welcome—no membership fees or RSVP to attend
• Champions are available to provide childcare during the meeting! 
• If you have questions, please email menloparkfamilyclub@gmail.com.

This is a great opportunity to get involved and help make a positive impact in our school community. We look forward to seeing you there

Upcoming Dates:

• 2/19: Menlo PTO Meeting (6-7pm)
• 3/12: Menlo PTO Meeting (6-7pm)

Food Pantry

Menlo Park is fortunate enough to host a weekly food pantry. This resource is open to all community members. It is on Thursdays 2:00-3:30. It is hosted out of the cafeteria, and the entrance is in the back of the school near the exterior cafeteria doors.

Principal Circles 

In the morning after morning announcements, I have had the opportunity to go into different classrooms to lead a community building circle. This has been a great way to connect not only as a class, but as a larger school community. I have enjoyed getting to know our students better and building relationships with all students at Menlo Park.

State Testing

Every year grades 3-5 participate in state testing, focusing on English Language Arts (ELA), Math, and Science (for 5th graders only). Testing will begin after Spring Break, with different weeks focusing on a different portion of the test. More information on classroom/grade specific schedules will be coming!

Contact information 

If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact us. You can reach out via the following links: 

Principal: sarah_phillips@ddsd40.org

Main Office: 503-256-6506 

Family Request for Support

If your family is in need of support please click here for assistance.

Please fill out this form if you need support for your student or your family.  We cannot guarantee that we have the resources to meet your needs, but we will do the best we can!  If you have a question about something relating to your student or the school but you don’t know who to ask, please use this form and we will get your question to the right person!  

Por favor complete este formulario si necesita apoyo para su estudiante o su familia. No podemos garantizar que tengamos los recursos para satisfacer sus necesidades, ¡pero haremos lo mejor que podamos! Si tiene una pregunta sobre algo relacionado con su estudiante o la escuela, pero no sabe a quién preguntar, utilice este formulario y le enviaremos su pregunta a la persona adecuada.

Пожалуйста, заполните эту форму, если вам нужна поддержка для вашего ученика или вашей семьи. Мы не можем гарантировать, что у нас есть ресурсы для удовлетворения ваших потребностей, но мы сделаем все, что в наших силах! Если у вас есть вопрос по поводу вашего ученика или школы, но вы не знаете, к кому обратиться, воспользуйтесь этой формой, и мы передадим ваш вопрос нужному человеку!

Vui lòng điền vào biểu mẫu này nếu bạn cần hỗ trợ cho học sinh hoặc gia đình của bạn. Chúng tôi không thể đảm bảo rằng chúng tôi có đủ nguồn lực để đáp ứng nhu cầu của bạn, nhưng chúng tôi sẽ cố gắng hết sức có thể! Nếu bạn có câu hỏi về điều gì đó liên quan đến học sinh của mình hoặc trường học nhưng bạn không biết hỏi ai, vui lòng sử dụng biểu mẫu này và chúng tôi sẽ chuyển câu hỏi của bạn đến đúng người!

ParentSquare

We have been using ParentSquare as a major mode of communication. Classrooms can post info, and families can message with teachers in an easy way.

The ParentSquare app is the easiest way to use the platform. It is free on Apple Store and Google Play.

You can register without the email invitation. Just visit parentsquare.com/signin (or install the ParentSquare app) Follow the prompts to sign up. 

Go Pumas!

Sarah Phillips,
Principal
Menlo Park Elementary
sarah_phillips@ddsd40.org
503-256-6506

Nick Erickson,
Assistant Principal
Menlo Park Elementary
nick_erickson@ddsd40.org
503-256-6506