Foundations Classroom
Foundations Classroom
Embedded Files
Welcome to Foundations!
Welcome to Foundations!
Here in the Molalla River School District, we believe every child is a seed of potential. We know that with the right soil and a lot of care, they can grow strong roots and bright futures.
But sometimes, a seed has to weather a few big storms before it can sprout. Some of our kids carry heavy burdens from difficult life experiences. These challenges can make it hard for them to feel safe enough to learn and grow in a traditional classroom. They might struggle to make friends, keep up with schoolwork, or manage big feelings.
That’s why we built the Foundations Classroom.
What is the Foundations Classroom?
What is the Foundations Classroom?
Think of our classroom as a greenhouse or a warm barn on a cold morning. It’s a special place designed to be a shelter in the storm. Here, we focus on “tending the soil” first—building a rich and nurturing environment where every student feels safe, seen, and connected.
We serve a small group of elementary students in a calm, supportive space. Our "farmhands"—the teachers and staff—are specially trained to understand the needs of children who have faced challenges.
Our main goal is simple: to help students build the strong social and emotional roots they need to thrive, both in school and in life.
What Makes Foundations Different?
We start connection before content
A child must feel safe before they can learn. Our first job is to build strong, trusting relationships. We partner with families because we know that we do our best work when we do it together.
We see behavior as communication
When a plant’s leaves are wilting, we don’t get mad at the leaves. We look to the roots to see what the plant needs. It's the same with our kids. Challenging behavior is not defiance; it's a signal telling us that a child has a need that isn’t being met. We don’t ask, “How do we stop this behavior?” We ask, “What does this child need from us right now?”
We build skills from the ground up
We meet every student where they are. We help them build the skills for managing emotions, making friends, and solving problems, one small step at a time.
The Foundations Classroom is like a greenhouse. Some students need extra care to grow strong. We want to create the right conditions — safety, support, and understanding — so students can shine and new growth can happen.
We are here to open new gates for our students, helping them move beyond past challenges. In the Foundations Classroom, we believe in weathering the storm, nurturing the soil, and trusting the growth.
We are so glad to be on this journey with you.
What can I Expect From the Foundations Classroom?
What can I Expect From the Foundations Classroom?
Our Approach
Prepare the Soil: Set up the environment to prevent challenges.
Plant the Seeds: Teach new skills and positive ways to meet needs.
Weather the Storm: Stay calm and supportive when students struggle.
Reflect and Reconnect: Help students make sense of what happened and return to learning.
Your child will learn in an environment set up to prevent challenges and support student success. We view behavior as communication and respond with tools that help students build skills, not just follow rules. Each student will have an individual support plan that grows with them. Strong relationships and social-emotional learning are at the heart of everything we do.
About the Foundations Classroom Tools
About the Foundations Classroom Tools
I also enjoy our school dances. It's great that kids can be focused in class, then loud and energetic on the dance floor.
Meet Dr. Joshua Hughson
Meet Dr. Joshua Hughson
Hello, I’m one of the school psychologists here in our district, and my work is all about helping children and families thrive.
My background is in child psychology, and I’ve spent many years running programs that bring families and school staff together.
Those programs showed me that when we all use a similar set of proven, positive tools, wonderful things can happen for our kids.
The Foundations Classroom Tools you’ll find here grew out of years of teamwork and success. Think of this space as a shared toolbox, filled with practical ideas that work—created to support you, your child, and our staff. While I will not be working directly with the daily Foundations Team, I will still be cheering them on and may continue to provide support behind the scenes so these tools keep making a difference.
Highlights from Regulation Grows from the Ground Up
Kids learn to stay calm and make good choices from the bottom of the brain up. First, they need to feel safe. Then they can connect with others. After that, they’re ready to learn, think, and talk things through.
Kids learn to stay calm and make good choices from the bottom of the brain up. First, they need to feel safe. Then they can connect with others. After that, they’re ready to learn, think, and talk things through.
Students learn to handle big feelings when adults show them how. When we stay calm, connect, and name emotions, kids feel safe — and that’s when real learning can grow.
Students learn to handle big feelings when adults show them how. When we stay calm, connect, and name emotions, kids feel safe — and that’s when real learning can grow.
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