3.14.2021

This and That:

TLC Weekly Newsletter: Here is a link to the latest newsletter. Of particular note in this issue:

Compacts at Conferences: As you likely know, part of being a school that receives Title I funds from the federal government is completing “compacts” with families each year (usually completed during fall conferences). Even though fall conferences were canceled this year, compacts are still required, so we will need to complete them at spring conferences. Debbi has updated our compacts, sent them to translation, and will have copies ready to send home after spring break. On April 1, we ask all teachers to send home a copy of the compact with each student to be signed by the student and parent and returned to school. The office will keep track of who has turned in a form. On Monday, 3/12, we will put a blank compact in teacher boxes for each student that has not already turned-in a signed copy. These are the only families that you will need to address compacts with during conferences. Please let Debbi or Kelle know if you have any questions.

Conference Interpreters: A big thank you to Melinda for working with our second language families to coordinate conference times. This is no small task! All teachers that need a Spanish-speaking interpreter should have received a communication from Melinda with conference times and have access to a google doc with all conference times for our Spanish-speaking families. Please contact Melinda or Kelle if you have any questions.

Conference Times: Please send conference dates/times home by this Thursday, March 18th.

Specialists and conferences: With conferences being virtual this year, it makes participation for our specialists more difficult this spring. Specialists… please have a conversation with Kelle this week about what your conference participation will look like.

Meal Service During Spring Break: Please share with your families that Nutrition Services plans to have 3 grab-and-go sites (Bend High, MVHS, and La Pine High) on Monday, March 22nd, 11:30-12:30 for Spring Break. They will serve 5 breakfasts, 5 lunches, and 5 suppers in 1 bag on that day. Thanks for your help getting the word out to families.

Child Abuse Hotline (From ODE): Please help us remind educators that the Oregon Child Abuse Hotline (ORCAH) is open and able to receive reports of child abuse 24/7, 365 days a year. The Department of Human Services has updated all of its mandatory reporter tools, including video, guides, and more.

Sharing Student Information (From the Tech Department): Don’t forget to use BLSend whenever you share student information electronically. If information needs to be shared that includes more than one piece of student information (name, assessment results(s), other identifiable info), then this should not be sent via regular email (Outlook) – but rather BLSend.

Field Trips (From Skip): Unfortunately, we cannot have any types of field trips this year. That would include class trips to neighborhood parks or nature areas. We need to be able to control the areas to ensure the safety of our students. Sorry for the inconvenience. From Kelle: 🙁

Short Article on Equity in the Classroom: This is a short read about detecting inequities in student participation and reducing implicit bias in the classroom. Here is a quote from the article:

In all of our work with teachers, we have yet to meet a teacher who says they are actively trying to marginalize students. And yet, we know this happens. As educators we must move with urgency to close the gap between intentions and action.

COVID/ Safety Related Information:

Questions/Concerns about COVID-19 related matters?: Please follow this flowchart. If in doubt about what to do, you can always check with Frank or Kelle. Frank is our Safety Team Lead, and Ann Hollenberg is our School Nurse. You can find our School Safety Checklist here. And here is a link to our COVID anonymous safety concerns form.

New CDC Guidance Regarding Vaccinated People: As you may have heard, the CDC recently came out with new guidance regarding vaccinated people. When the CDC puts out new guidance, it does not immediately apply to BLS; we are required to follow Ready School Safe Learners (RSSL) guidance. Generally, when the CDC releases new guidance, it begins a conversation at the state level within the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) about what language will be adopted in our state.  OHA and ODE work in conjunction with one another in applying new guidance to the next version of RSSL for all schools.  We expect a new RSSL update on 3/19 (the day before spring break). Once OHA takes a stance, then local health departments get involved.  BLS works closely with Deschutes County Health Services to align our practices to theirs.  Then, through Julianne/Tami/Lora,  something is shared with our school communities. A long story short, please don’t change any practices within our schools without first receiving direct communication from our district.

Visitors: A reminder that visitors this year are very limited. Except for a small group of people and organizations, our buildings and classrooms are off-limits. (**Note from Kelle Although principals were given the following reminder, I am not aware of this being an issue at Elk Meadow.)

To Do:

Staffing Preference Survey: Thank you to those of you who have completed the 2021-2022 staffing survey. Please be sure to have this done by this Thursday, March 18th.

Specialists: Meet with Kelle about conferences participation.

Important Dates: