February 2, 2015

Keeping you up to date
on the latest news and
events in the Hillsboro
School District
FEATURED STUDENTS: United Nerds of South Meadows
The 14th annual Intel� Oregon FIRST� LEGO� League (FLL) Championship Tournament was held January 17-18 at Liberty High School. There were 117 teams from across the state and region participating in the event, which asked teams to construct and program their LEGO� robots to compete in various missions, and present research on an innovative solution to improving learning and education. Three Hillsboro teams - the United Nerds of South Meadows, Team Thunder from Farmington View, and the Robo Raiders from Imlay - came home with awards. The United Nerds won first place for mechanical design, Team Thunder won the ORTOP Young Team Award, and the Robo Raiders won both the first place Google Research Award and the second place Rockwell Collins Robot Performance Award. News coverage of this event can be found on KPTV and in the Hillsboro Tribune.  
UPCOMING EVENTS
Monday
Feb. 2
2nd Semester Begins

Hilhi Winter Recognition/Court Assembly

Oregon Health Plan Enrollment Event
3 p.m. - 8 p.m.
By appointment - 503-846-4418
266 W Main Street

Discussion Group for TAG Parents
6:30 p.m. - 8  p.m. Mondays - March 2
(see flyer for more information)

Citizens Curriculum Advisory Committee
7 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
District Administration Center, 3083 NE 49th Place

Wednesday
Feb. 4
Free Orchards 3rd- Graders to Portland Youth Philharmonic

Jackson Elementary Dads & Donuts
7:15 a.m. - 8 a.m.

Imlay 3rd/4th- Graders to Portland Youth Philharmonic
8:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.

Prospective Board Member Brown Bag Information Meeting
12 p.m. - 1 p.m.
District Administration Center, 3083 NE 49th Place

North Plains Awards Assembly
12:45 p.m. - 1:15 p.m.

Thursday
Feb. 5
"Preparing for a Successful Transition to Kindergarten" Event
5:30 p.m. - 7 p.m.
Clackamas ESD Springwater Conference Room
13455 SE 97th Avenue, Clackamas (register here)

Quatama Principal Chat
6 p.m. - 8 p.m.

Minter Bridge Multicultural Night
6 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

Hilhi Parent Forecasting Event

Lincoln Street Dual Language Night

Mooberry Family Literacy Night

Friday
Feb. 6
Butternut Creek Hearing Screening

Mooberry Coffee with the Principal
8 a.m. - 9 a.m.

Witch Hazel Coffee with the Principal
8 a.m. - 8:30 a.m.

Hilhi Coffee Chat
8 a.m. - 9 a.m.

Jackson Elementary Family Game Night
6 p.m. - 8 p.m.

Hilhi Theatre Presents "The Taming of the Shrew"
7:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.

Saturday
Feb. 7
Free ACT Testing for 11th-Graders
(See your counselor to sign up and for more information)

Kaiser Permanente's "Give Kids a Smile" Event
8 a.m. - 1 p.m.
(Click here for more information)

K-6 "TAG You're It!" Activities
9 a.m - 12 p.m.
Lincoln Street Elementary School, 801 NE Lincoln Street
(Click here for more information)

Farmington View Pop Can/Bottle Drive
10 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Hilhi Theatre Presents "The Taming of the Shrew"
7:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.

Glencoe Winter Dance
8 p.m. - 10 p.m.

Monday
Feb. 9
South Meadows "Pennies for Patients" Fundraiser Begins

Imlay Hearing Screening

North Plains "Be Kind to Animals" Spirit Week Begins

Discussion Group for TAG Parents
6:30 p.m. - 8  p.m. Mondays - March 2
(see flyer for more information)

Have your own story to tell?
QUICK LINKS
Hot News: previous issues

  
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stayconnected@hillsboro-oregon.gov
FEBRUARY SUPERINTENDENT VIDEO MESSAGE
February 2015 - A Video Message from Superintendent Mike Scott, Hillsboro School District

Superintendent Mike Scott discusses legislative advocacy and budget planning, and introduces Chief Financial Officer Adam Stewart to review the budget forecast.  
HILLSBORO SCHOOL DISTRICT POSTS IMPRESSIVE GRADUATION, DROPOUT RATES
The Oregon Department of Education released graduation rates for the 2013-14 school year on Thursday, January 29, and Hillsboro's overall average topped 80%*. Hillsboro's graduation rate is the highest out of the six largest school districts in the state, and we have the second-lowest dropout rate of 2.15%. Assistant Superintendent Steve Larson attributes the strong performance to a continued focus on our Bilingual Program Model, standards-based teaching and learning, and professional learning communities, in addition to the outstanding work of our Care Teams and Graduation Coaches. Click here to read more.

*Note that the current graduation rate calculation includes students who earned a modified diploma. 
CELEBRATE NATIONAL COUNSELOR WEEK FEBRUARY 2-6

School counselors are integral members of the education team and make a tremendous impact, helping students thrive in the areas of academic achievement, personal and social growth, and career development. Celebrate National Counselor week by showing your appreciation to our school counselors!
THE BUNDY SISTERS ARE PROUD TO BE HSD

Former Hillsboro School District students Kiersten Bundy, now known as Lovey James, and Kendyl Bundy are proud to be a part of the Hillsboro community. The sisters attended Imlay Elementary School and Lovey went on to attend Brown Middle School before both signed up for online school, which allowed them to better accommodate their busy schedules. Lovey has qualified for this season's Hollywood Week as a contestant on "American Idol" and Kendyl is pursuing a career in acting/modeling.

 

Lovey recently performed for Imlay Elementary and noted what a great time she had while there. Lovey encouraged the students to accept others' differences and to be kind to all, and the students were delighted to sing along with her. The girls both said they are proud to be HSD with such a supportive community, and are excited to show the world the talent that's home-grown in Hillsboro.
SCHOOL BOARD ADOPTS LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES

Stable and adequate funding for K-12 education tops the list of five priorities

At their meeting on Tuesday, January 27, the Board unanimously approved a set of priorities for the 2015 Legislative Session: 1) provide stable and adequate funding for K-12 education; 2) maintain the current structure of Gain Share; 3) streamline the inter-district transfer process; 4) clarify, streamline and support state reporting requirements; and 5) provide additional funding for any new requirements. Chief among these priorities is ensuring sufficient funding for K-12 education in the 2015-17 biennium.

 

The current proposal of the Joint Ways and Means Committee falls $150 million short of what would need to be allocated to K-12 education at the state level for Hillsboro to stay flat for the next two years. To read more about the legislative priorities and to see the legislative priorities brochure, please visit the Budget Matters page of our website.
BOARD APPROVES ISSUANCE OF PENSION OBLIGATION BONDS
The District has an unfunded actuarial liability (UAL) with the Oregon Public Employees Retirement System (PERS), totaling $39.86 million, as of December 31, 2013. In 2005, the District issued pension bonds to pay off the PERS UAL at that time. The proceeds from the bonds were placed in a side account at PERS to offset future rate increases. Through 2013, these pension bonds have saved the District nearly $23 million. The District now has an opportunity to refinance what remains of the UAL in hopes of saving additional money in the future. At their meeting on Tuesday, January 27, the Board approved the refinancing by a vote of 6-1. The District's projected savings from the issuance of pension obligation bonds is approximately $10.4 million over the life of the bonds. 
K-6 'TAG YOU'RE IT!' EVENT FEBRUARY 7
Elementary students who have been identified as Talented & Gifted (TAG) are invited to participate in the "TAG You're It!" event taking place on Saturday, February 7, from 9 a.m. to noon at Lincoln Street Elementary School.  Grades K-3 class options include iMovies, coding, and owl pellet dissection; grades 4-6 options include poetry, Cubism (art), stop motion animation, squid dissection, and Chinese language and culture. Parents are invited to attend a presentation on the emotional stages of TAG students.  Pre-registration is required by February 2. Contact District TAG liaison Angela Allen with any questions.
SAVE THE DATE FOR THE 2015 ROBOEXPO

Join Hillsboro Mayor Jerry Willey and Team Shockwave for this annual celebration of robotics and the unveiling of the team's newest FIRST� Robotics Competition robot. The event takes place on Tuesday, February 17, in the Glencoe High School cafeteria from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Enjoy a spaghetti dinner, silent auction, and robot exhibitions from Hillsboro's K-12 teams.  
A publication of the
Hillsboro School District
Communications Department
503.844.1500
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