December 8, 2014

Keeping you up to date
on the latest news and
events in the Hillsboro
School District

STAFF EDITION
FEATURED STUDENTS: Patterson Elementary
Fifth-Graders

Patterson Pongsats Return to Earth

Mrs. Elliott's fifth-grade students at Patterson Elementary were very excited to receive their space-faring ping pong balls (aka pongsats) last Friday and opened them up to see the effects of extreme cold (down to -82 degrees F), altitude (over 100,000 feet), cosmic rays, and near-vacuum pressure on the contents of the pongsats. Back in September, the students had placed objects of their choice inside their pongsats, including soft items such as marshmallows, organic matter such as rosebuds and corn kernels, and hard items like candies and pencil leads. Then, they sealed up, decorated and forwarded them to JP Aerospace for an October 26 launch date. In all, 1700 pongsats from children around the country were launched by six balloons to the edge of space on missions 103-108. Dr. Jawad Khan (back left), a class parent, was instrumental in organizing this grand experiment. Click here to view some of the students' results. Click here to view more information about JP Aerospace's volunteer-based space program.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Monday
Dec. 8
Canned Food Drives Continue

Tuesday
Dec. 9
 
School Board Meetings
Sessions:
Executive 5:15 p.m.
Work 5:45 p.m.
Regular 7:30 p.m.
District Administration Center Board Room

Wednesday
Dec. 10
Lincoln Street Kinderkonzert
11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

High School Math Adoption Parent Night
6:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Hillsboro Main Library
(see related article)

Thursday
Dec. 11
Lincoln Street Grades 3-4 Concert/ Curriculum Night
6 p.m. - 7:15 p.m.

High School Math Adoption Parent Night
6:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Shute Park Library
(see related article)

Friday
Dec. 12
Orenco Family Movie Night

Minter Bridge Coffee with the Principal
8 a.m. - 8:30 a.m.

Eastwood Holiday Craft Night & Bazaar
6:30 p.m. - 8 p.m.

South Meadows Players Present "Legally Blonde"
7 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
(see flyer for more information)

Poynter Players Present "The Girl with the Golden Locks"
7:30 p.m. - 9 p.m.

Saturday
Dec. 13
South Meadows Players Present "Legally Blonde"
7 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
(see flyer for more information)

Poynter Players Present "The Girl with the Golden Locks"
7:30 p.m. - 9 p.m.

Sunday
Dec. 14
South Meadows Players Present "Legally Blonde"
2:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
(see flyer for more information)

Monday
Dec. 15
Hillsboro Schools Foundation Trail Blazers Night
7 p.m., Moda Center
Use promo code HSF to order tickets at http://trailblazers.com/HSF

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QUICK LINKS
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HIGH SCHOOL MATH ADOPTION PARENT NIGHTS
Options for the high school math materials adoption will be shared

Parents of current or future high school students are invited to attend one of two information sessions this week to learn about and experience what high school math might look like next year in our District. The first session will take place on Wednesday, December 10, 6:30 p.m., at the Main Library (2850 NE Brookwood Parkway), and the second session will take place on Thursday, December 11, 6:30 p.m., at the Shute Park Library (775 SE 10th Avenue).  
FIRST TECH DONATES $10,000 TO SUPPORT STEM EDUCATION

Many thanks to First Tech Federal Credit Union for their donation of $10,000 to support science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education at W.L. Henry Elementary School and Glencoe High School. Hillsboro Schools Foundation facilitated the donation and worked with District STEM Teacher on Special Assignment Sandie Grinnell to determine the recipients, who were chosen from among those who had submitted technology grant proposals but hadn't received funding. Each of the following received $5,000 to implement their grant proposal: W.L. Henry first grade dual language teacher Patricia Rivera for her grant "A Mini Can Make a Huge Difference," in which iPad Minis will be used to enhance instruction for students in grades K-2; and Glencoe science teacher Linda Wolf (pictured here with ninth grade biology students) for her grant, "Discover the Microbes Within," in which students will use Chromebooks to conduct biology research, record data, and engage in an interactive lab series.
STUDENT SPORTLIGHT: EMILY VALENCIA
South Meadows eighth-grader Emily Valencia is earning her elective credit by serving as an aide in the Life Skills classroom. Recently, she conceptualized a project in which she created personalized coloring books for each of the thirteen students in the class. Click here to read more about this motivated, bright, articulate, and caring student.
SIGN UP TO HOST AN HOUR OF CODE

In celebration of Computer Science Week, December 8-14, teachers across the District will be participating in this year's "Hour of Code." According to the event's website, the Hour of Code is a one-hour introduction to computer science, designed to demystify code and show that anybody can learn the basics. The Hour of Code movement is worldwide and last year 47,878,196 students participated! More than 2,500 Hillsboro students are already signed up for this year's event, and we hope more teachers and students will join the fun! The Hour of Code makes it simple with free pre-made activities and lesson plans. Click here to register for the Hour of Code and you will be sent all the information you need to get started. Also, please sign up on the HSD Hour of Code Form so we know who is participating throughout our District. Then, just find one hour this week to let kids code! If you have questions, please contact Technology Integration Facilitator Chris Hesselbein.  
SUMDOG'S NATIONAL HOLIDAY CONTEST

Sumdog is hosting a holiday math contest from December 12-December 18. The prize for the winning class in an iPad and every student who plays in the Holiday Contest will receive festive outfits for their on-screen avatar: Santa, snowman and reindeer! Click here  to enter.
'SPEAK UP. WORK SAFE.' VIDEO CONTEST FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS
Win cash for creative workplace safety messages

The Oregon Young Employee Safety Coalition, along with several other organizations, is hosting the annual "Speak Up. Work Safe." video contest. The contest is designed to increase awareness about safety on the job for young people. Participants are encouraged to use creative moviemaking techniques, while sharing the message that work shouldn't cost your future. The top three entries will take home cash prizes ranging from $300 to $500, and students will earn a matching amount for their school. Submission deadline is February 2, 2015. Click here for details and click here to see 2014 winning videos.
HEART HERO PROGRAM

Last year, three Liberty High School students had an idea for their senior project: work with Hillsboro Fire and Rescue to teach hands-only CPR to all 11th-grade students involved in the Health Services program at Liberty, and then have those 11th-graders partner with Hillsboro Fire personnel to train eighth-graders. Coined "Heart Hero," the program reached the intended audiences at Liberty as well as at South Meadows and Poynter Middle Schools. This year, the program is starting much earlier and the hope is that all eighth-graders can be trained. So far, trainings have taken place at South Meadows and Brown Middle Schools (pictured), with Evergreen and Poynter yet to come. The ultimate goal for Hillsboro Fire is to have all students in grades 8-12 trained in the hands-only CPR method.  
HIGH SCHOOL CANNED FOOD DRIVE CHALLENGE
Hillsboro Canned Food Drive 2K14
There's nothing quite like a good, old-fashioned contest to get students motivated! Each year, there is a friendly competition among the four Hillsboro high schools to see which one can collect the highest number of non-perishable food items for the annual Canned Food Drive. This year, the schools collaborated to create a video to help raise awareness and get students even more pumped up. The districtwide goal is 100,000 cans, with each school hoping to collect at least 25,000. If you'd like to help out your local school, please bring your donation to the school's office no later than Monday, December 15.
WEIGHT WATCHERS REGISTRATION

A new round of Weight Watchers will begin on Tuesday, January 13, 2015, at Tobias Elementary School. If you're interested in participating, please plan to attend the Information/Registration meeting on Tuesday, January 6, from 3:30-4:30pm. Please click here to see the flyer or contact Tobias office manager Theresa Kinnan (503-844-1310 x6898) for more information. Open to all HSD staff.
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503.844.1500
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