Welcome and Welcome Back!
I am so very excited to welcome everyone – new and familiar faces alike – to Pacific Crest for the 2021-2022 school year.
I hope that this finds you well, relaxed and still enjoying a well-deserved summer break. Though I’ve been back in the office for a few weeks, I am still riding high off the memory of a great time in Kauai with my family and a wedding in Mendocino County where I was lucky enough to spend a long weekend with 15 friends I made in middle school, which served as a great reminder that the work we do here at Pacific Crest shapes lives for decades to come.
My plan for the year is to communicate with all staff on weekly basis via this blog so that everyone has all of the information they’ll need in one handy location. There will be some weeks where the entry is longer than others, but I do think that this method will allow everyone to access the information in a way that is digestible for them. This one is going to be on the longer side, as there is a lot of new information to kick off the year, but I’m going to break the text up by putting some links in to Google Docs/Forms that will host some info.
New Staff
We have FIFTEEN new staff members hired as of today to join us for the upcoming school year, with two positions yet to be filled; we are in the final stages of hiring a Spanish teacher, who I expect to introduce in next week’s communication, and currently have a Choir opening to replace the recently-retired Melissa Jacot.
Additionally, we have a few familiar faces in new places: Ami Zepnewski will be teaching one period of ELD in addition to her Japanese courses, Carey Kraybill will be teaching all of our Design and Modeling courses, Mark Segesta will be joining us full-time in 7th grade Science, Jane Shein will be joining us full-time in 6th grade Science, and Renee Skjersaa will be teaching two sections of Computer Science as part of our 6th grade wheel in addition to one section of 6th grade PE/Health.
Launch Week Schedule
I am so excited to start this school year in person after last year’s remote start.
There are some details that remain to be worked out in regards to the launch schedule, but I want to give you as much information as I have now. Details for your requirements can be found here. Please be sure to fill out BOTH Google Forms at the bottom of the page.
On Tuesday, August 31st, the kickoff that had been scheduled for Bend High has been moved to a virtual format. Details on this will come via email directly to the Superintendent’s Office. We will likely host a watch party for this at PCMS, but are waiting for details so we can make plans to do so.
We’ve broken the Launch schedule into a few days so that we can have meaningful conversations about the work ahead of us this year while also providing individuals and teams the time they need to get ready.
Bell Schedule
I thank Renee McCoy and Sarah Girard for all their hard work on this huge undertaking and I am hoping that it will be ready to share with y’all as part of next week’s communication. We will have Advisory kick us off each morning for 30 minutes (except on Wednesdays, when we’ll run a 1-7 schedule). More information about how this year’s Advisory is going be structured will be shared during our launch.
Earlier this week, the start and dismissal times for middle schools was sent out to our community. The contract time for full-time certified teachers is 8:30 – 4:30 each day. Part-time and classified staff can see me to discuss their hours as needed. This adjustment to the middle school schedule was made to accommodate our transportation department’s severe lack of bus drivers. They are currently looking for bus drivers if you know of anyone who would be interested. I expect this schedule to be the one we use the entire year.
Current Internal Openings
Speaking of positions to be filled, we have a number of extra-duty positions that are open. Most pressing (in my mind) is an ICCL position. This is a two-year commitment that will require approximately two hours of work each week outside of your teaching schedule. See me if you are interested in learning about the application process, as the application paperwork is not as straight-forward as every other position in the district.
We are also looking for a 7th Grade Football Coach, a 7th Grade Volleyball coach, a Lunch Supervisor, TWO Yearbook Advisors, and a Drama Club Advisor – all of these are extra-duty positions that come with a stipend. See me if you are interested or have questions. None are currently posted.
COVID Information
I really wish this section was longer. There are still a lot of unknowns compared to last year, but we do know that masks will be worn indoors at all middle schools for the foreseeable future to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. Similarly, we will continue to maintain three feet of distancing in all classes to the maximum extent possible. Lunches will be outside and we are currently working on a backup time when the weather (or air quality) does not permit that option. Quarantine requirements have lessened considerably compared to last year, which should help minimize disruptions to the learning environment. Anne Marie and I will share updates with you as we receive them, and we plan to have a one-page document outlining the current requirements for you to review during our Launch week part of which will be a Q-and-A session during that time to answer any outstanding questions.
The bottom line is, we need to stay safe so we can stay open.
Wrapping Up
We’ll go into this in more detail at the launch, but I am a big believer that “clear is kind” when it comes to communication. I will be honest and transparent with you this year and hope that you will return that kindness to me by approaching me with any comments, questions, and/or concerns that you might have. We continue to forge our trail as we move forward on many things, so there may not always be an obvious or immediate answer, but I will share the best thinking that is available in those instances.
I am honored and humbled to do this work with y’all. See you soon. – RK