On Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 14 and 15, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., 120 FIRST LEGO League teams - including four from HSD - will compete at the state championship tournament at Liberty High School, 21945 NW Wagon Way. Volunteers are needed! Please sign up using the FIRST volunteer system; volunteer coordinator Pat Schafer will assist you. Click here to learn more about the competition and here to read an article by Greg Anderson, coach of the West Union Flaming LEGOs team, about the importance of LEGO robotics from a parent's perspective.

Do you ever wonder how much recognition matters to students? Even things we may think are small gestures, like certificates, can be extremely meaningful to students. Knowing someone sees them and cares about them is a powerful motivator. This week, take a moment to find and connect with the "invisible" student in your class.

HSD welcomes your participation in the upcoming equity-focused dialogue session, Multiple Perspectives: An Interracial Dialogue, with a topic of: "What does the data tell us and how is that reflected in the day-to-day experiences of our students?" on Wednesday, Jan. 11, from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Administration Center, 3083 NE 49th Place. RSVP to Patricia Ramirez by Jan. 10 if you would like to attend. 

Parents, staff, students, and community members are invited to attend the Academic Program Development Open House on Monday, Jan. 23, from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Brookwood Public Library, 2850 NE Brookwood Parkway. At the meeting, you will have an opportunity to view the draft 2017-18 course catalog and forecasting sheets, and ask any questions you may have about the academic program development process. Please contact Assistant Superintendent Travis Reiman  at 503-844-1500 if you have questions or need additional information in advance of the meeting.

January is the month that we begin administering our annual state assessments. Assessments are an integral part of education in our state. Teachers and administrators use state tests, work samples, and other forms of assessments to measure how well students are learning and determine how best to support them moving forward.

The Higher Education Coordinating Commission, Office of Student Access and Completion (OSAC) encourages students to apply now for grants and scholarships at  OregonStudentAid.gov. OSAC awards more than $80 million each year in state-funded grants and privately funded scholarships to help students meet their college expenses. OSAC scholarship funds are available for graduating high school seniors, college undergraduate and graduate students, GED and homeschooled students, community college and vocational school students, single parents returning to school, and more. Applications are due by March 1 but students submitting their applications by Feb. 15 may be entered into a drawing to win a $1,000 OSAC Early Bird scholarship.

The Oregon Department of Education's Early Learning Division has launched the Brain Building Oregon website, featuring 12 resources intended to serve as helpful examples for parents and caregivers who are preparing children for kindergarten. Brain building is important in early childhood because the first few years of life show the most significant rate of growth for the human brain. During these early years, the groundwork is being laid for skills in literacy, language, math, and more.