2021-2022 Principal's Newsletters

January 2022

December 17, 2021

Territorial Families, 

It’s hard to believe that we are starting the second trimester! I hope you and your family had a restful winter break, filled with fun family memories! 

I want to thank you for coming to conferences! It was fantastic to see so many of you and get to hear of your child’s celebrations and growth plans.  Speaking of growth, students will be taking their winter ECBM test the second week of January.  I am excited to see the growth they have made.  I know that a large part of that growth is a direct result of families' commitment to read every day with their child, and I want to thank you for that!  I am sure you have seen the below graphic, but I want to remind you of the impact that 20 minutes of reading a day can have on your child’s literacy skills. 

I am excited to see students tomorrow!  Get plenty of rest tonight and we will see you in the morning! 

Principal Sisler

November 17, 2021

It's hard to believe that we are already into the month of November! This month we recognize National school psychologist awareness week and we want to thank our district psychologist, Dr. Sue for all she does for Territorial and our district. 

There is a lot going on at Territorial.  Health screening reports went home recently, please check backpacks for those.  Picture retakes took place on November 16th.  Just a reminder that the Taste of Territorial Spaghetti feed and art show has been postponed and will not be held on 11/19 as posted on our school calendar.  We will give you more information when we have it. There is no school on November 25th or 26th. Territorial started it’s annual food drive on Nov 15th, and I am excited to report that we are well on our way of reaching our goal. Food pantry donations will go to our local Goldson Grange. 

Territorial was thrilled to welcome back school counselor Whitney Moss this month.  Mrs. Moss was out on maternity leave.  Mrs. Moss will continue with friendship groups, small groups and individual check ins.  In addition to this, Mrs. Moss is a fantastic resource for families.  If your child needs a warm coat, your family needs support during the holidays, or you are looking for an outside counseling resource, please contact Mrs. Moss at [email protected]. 

Territorial is also pleased to share that our very own Kinley Reich has been selected as one of the eight candidates in the 2021-22 statewide election for Oregon’s Kid Governor! Kinley’s platform topic is reducing food waste. As part of Kinley’s campaign she created a video outlining her three-point plan to reduce food waste.  I have included Kinley’s shopping list for Territorial families.  A shopping list is one of Kinley’s CAN strategies. C stands for compost. A stands for any leftovers? Save them for later or donate them to others. Finally, N stands for need, buy only what you need, and take this list to the store.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1wSreC_pFRhCmiU_wx7F8WMV3J9oLe_Q_/view

As the first trimester comes to a close, teachers are preparing for completion of report cards and Parent Teacher conferences with families on December 6^th and 7^th. Please use the following link to sign up for a time that works best for you.  https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0D48A4AA2AAAF5C52-parent1

 We appreciate our students and families and the time and energy they have put into making student learning possible this trimester.  By the same token, as Thanksgiving approaches and I reflect on the many things that I am thankful for, I would be remised if I didn’t mention my apperception for the amazing group of professionals that I am proud to work with every day.  Our teachers, our IAs, secretary, counselor, childcare assistants, custodian, and bus drivers go above and beyond to meet students’ needs and make Territorial a special place to learn and grow.  I am also grateful to be part of a district and community that are deeply invested in making sure that students succeed.

Kinley’s CAN do Needs Shopping List for Families:

“Buy only what you need.”

Hello Bobcat families! This is a shopping list that you and your family can use! If you follow my CAN do method then we can reduce food waste! C stands for compost. A stands for any leftovers? Save them for later or donate them to others. Finally, N stands for need, buy only what you need, and take this list to the store.

 We have an automatic water bottle filler here at school, and we have already saved 856 water bottles! Don’t forget to have your child to bring a labeled water bottle everyday. This proves we C.A.N. do this!

We are off to a fantastic start this year, with 120 students enrolled in grades K-5 and an additional 18 Territorial preschool spots filled.  It has been wonderful to meet so many new families. I want to note that despite the unpredictability that this pandemic has brought, we are finding much to celebrate.  We have students in the building full days, five days a week.  Students are learning, making connections with staff and peers, and engaging in fun activities! Thank you for your continued support!  Together, we’ve got this!

We would also like to thank families for getting their children to school and on time at 8 am.  Please know that we understand sick days, but we truly appreciate your efforts to get your child to school and on time, it makes a big difference.  Tony Scurto, Lane ESD Superintendent suggests working on household routines to make getting out the door easier; set out clothes and make lunches the night before, put keys and bags by the door, put permission slips and homework in backpack, and plan ahead. Easier mornings make it easier to get out of bed and into class (Scurto, T. Local Schools and Communities are Ready to Help.  OregonFamily.Com, September 2018).

Fall Easy CBM testing for students in grades K-5 is almost complete.  These assessments provide valuable baseline data for each student in Reading and Math, which will be used to measure student growth over the course of the year as well as identify those students in need of targeted interventions in order to achieve year-end grade-level standards.

Territorial’s Curriculum Night was Thursday, September 30th, Thank you to those that stopped by.  If you weren’t able to make it, teachers are sending information home so please look in kiddo’s backpacks. I also want to remind families that one of the most important things they can do to help their child be successful in school is to read with them for 20 minutes each day.  As you know, reading skills are critical to a child's ability to interact with the world, develop vocabulary, succeed at school, and express ideas and emotions through writing. And when good reading habits are established early, they last a lifetime, and families can help improve their child’s reading skills.  Set a daily time to read with your child.  Keep this time fun and simple.  It’s okay if they don’t know a word.  Sound it out together and keep reading.  Take your child to the library, or pick out a new book online or in the store. Help them develop a love of reading Finally, let your child see you reading.

Looking Ahead...

Friendship groups are just getting started.  Groups will focus on skills that benefit friendships such as; conflict resolution, choosing good friends, and solving problems.   

October 8th, 28th, and 29th are non school days. 

Territorial will hold their parent-teacher conferences on December 6th and 7th.  More information to come on that.

I am excited for what I know will be an amazing school year! Thank you for all that you do!  

Territorial Bobcats do their best! 

Warmly, 

Principal Sisler

Dear Territorial Students and Families,

 As principal of Territorial, it is my sincere pleasure to welcome each of you to the start of the 2021 – 2022 school year.   I hope that you had a restful summer, scattered with opportunities for family fun.  I speak for all the staff when I say, we are excited to have students back in our classroom and hallways filling them with energy and enthusiasm for learning.  It is our desire to help every child feel welcomed, connected, and part of the Territorial community.  Additionally, we strive to challenge each student to grow in his or her academic abilities.  It is our mission to sculpt a community of vibrant, joyful, and increasingly independent lifelong learners. We believe all students are capable of learning and learning at high levels, especially when they are taught to love learning. 

Students’ first day of instruction is September 7, 2021. We will have a Meet the Teacher and Supply Drop off on Thursday, September 2nd from 1pm – 2pm.  This is a great opportunity to check out our campus and meet your child’s teacher. K-2nd will have a $20 supply fee payable to TES.  If you are in need of assistance with school supplies, tickets for the “Project Hope Fair” are available at the Territorial School Office.  This event will be held at Laurel Elementary on August 28th from 1:00-3:30 pm.  Students with tickets can get free school supplies and other back to school items. 

Staff Changes

This year we have a few classroom changes.   Rebecca Hoehn will be our 2nd grade teacher.  Rachel Meek will be providing 1st graders with morning instruction in Reading and writing.  Ms. Peale who is job sharing with Mrs. Meek, will provide afternoon instruction in math, science, social studies, and health.  Ms. Peale will also continue to be our K-5 PE teacher, providing students with PE twice a week.  Similarly, Mrs. Grimsley will provide 4th graders with morning instruction in Math, science, social studies, and health.  Ms. Dietrich who is job sharing at the 4th level will provide afternoon instruction in reading and writing.  Ms. Dietrich is also our K-5 music teacher, and will provide students with music two mornings a week.  Mrs. Moss, our school counselor, welcomed Hudson Moss into her family last June and will be on maternity leave until the beginning of November.  Mrs. Hartle will be her long term sub until she returns. Mrs. Hartle will assist in facilitating PBIS (Positive Behavior Incentive and Supports) and friendship groups.   All other teachers will remain in their current teaching positions; Pam Nelson - Kindergarten, Lisa Young - 3rd grade, and Sherrene Kulm – fifth grade.   

School Schedule

Just a reminder, we will be returning to our regular school schedule, M, T, TH, & F: 8:00 - to 2:35.  Wednesdays students will be dismissed from school at 1:50.  Early dismissal allows teachers to participate in professional development and collaboration to support and improve instruction.  The only exceptions to this will be on September 8th and November 24.  These two Wednesdays will be full days, with students being dismissed at 2:35. 

Parent Drop off and Pick up at Territorial

Arrival: Bus riders will be released from the buses at 8:00.  We will then start processing students that are being dropped off via the double car line that we used last year.  If you are choosing to walk your child to their classroom door, please stay in the double lines. Once you get to the front of the line you can park your car in the lower lot and walk your child up to their classroom door.  Please make sure that you wear your mask and model a social distance of three feet when in the building.  We ask that you drop your child off at the door allowing for instruction and classroom routines to start promptly once they pass through their classroom doors.  If you have a kindergartener or 1st grader we ask that after their first day of school, you drop off at the foyer doors, this is due to the small foyer space.  Students can then take the interactive sensory path to their classroom door.  

Dismissal: Bus riders will be released at 2:35, and will promptly load the bus.  Parents picking up students will once again utilize the double car line we used last year.  Students will walk down to Student Pick Up, and load cars there.  If you have a prearranged teacher meeting/conference, please stay in the double lines.  Once you get to the front of the line you can park your car in the lower lot.  We ask that you remain in your car until all students have been picked up as staff are supervising students at this time. 

If you need to pick up or drop off your child during the time that the gate is locked (8:30-2:30), please call the office to arrange, 541-998-8371. You will need to park in the lower parking lot and use the button at the gate to buzz the front office.   

I am grateful to have wonderful parents and staff who collaboratively work together each day to do what is best for students. It is truly a privilege to be a part of a community where parents, teachers and students care for each other and strive to build positive relationships that support academic and social growth. Thank you for all you do to make our small school a special place for everyone. Please feel free to contact me at 541-998-8371 or [email protected] if you have questions or concerns.

Sincerely,

Annette Sisler
Territorial Elementary Principal