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HoodRiverNews.com • TheDallesChronicle.com • WhiteSalmonEnterprise.com Columbia Gorge News Wednesday,August26,2020 11 Gorge school districts announce adjusted fall opening dates as plans evolve for 2020-21 school year Oregon districts getting ready for online school year ■ Columbia Gorge Press School districts throughout Oregon are getting ready for a virtual, online return to school this fall, with varying dates and plans falling in place. Hood River County First day of instruction has been moved back to Sept. 14. Staff formally begins professional development for the distance learning system Sept. 1-4, and students will do individual orientations with teachers Sept. 8-11. In a letter to parents, the district stated that “in order to support our staff so they can successfully support your students with distance learn- ing, we are dedicating time to our staff to develop their skills and adapt their lessons to facilitate distance learn- ing. The district will use this additional time to ensure that all families have the supplies, technology devices, and internet access they need. Family Orientation activities for each student and family will also be hosted by the district. “Family Orientation is an opportunity for families to meet their student’s teach- er, learn how to access the digital platforms, and review classroom procedures and expectations. Our focus is to support our students, families, and so they have a successful start to the school year in this remote setting.” Superintendent Rich Polkinghorn said distance learning preparations will yield better results for students and families than what was experienced in the spring COVID closure of schools and switch to distance learning. He said, “Part of the professional development (sessions) is learning the management system” — in the district’s case Google Classroom. This streamlines it from the multiple platforms in play five months ago. “(Google Classroom) has a lot of features that were new this spring, and there have been upgrades to pro- grams, making sure teachers know how to use it. That alone is a shift from spring,” Polkinghorn said. “Teachers (had) used many different platforms, and a student might have had two or three platforms,” in the spring. Polkinghorn added, “All the curriculum we offer in the district has an online component as well, and while normally we might not need it, the teachers would just use the textbook, there is now a whole learning curve about using and making useful the online component of curriculum.” Polkinghorn said that, under staff development, attention will be put on the pedagogy — how do you teach. “There is lot to it, and as we started to build out the professional development schedule we realized pretty quick we needed to add a day, so we came up with the non-instructional work day." Asked about having stu- dents in (virtual) classrooms a week later than normal, Polkinghorn said, “We saw some relief from the state around required instruction- al time, and we want to max- imize our time with students but we want that time with students to be outstanding, We are taking the time to be planful and thoughtful and engage parents and com- munity so when we do get started we’ll be hitting the ground running.” Asked, given the changes and staff learning curve, if he thought the district will be “hitting the ground running,” Polkinghorn replied, “I do. I know our teachers and staff really want to do well by our students and there is a lot of commitment by our teachers to do it well. The students deserve it, they need it, the staff needs it, and there is a lot conviction.” The Dalles The first day of online instruction for North Wasco County School District 21 is Sept. 3, preceded by parent and student orientations Sept. 1-2. As mandated by the state, an “operational blueprint” for each school has been ap- proved by the school board. Plans were created “consid- ering the diverse needs and perspectives of students and families North Wasco County School District,” with parent input gathered through school surveys. Information was sent to parents via email, U.S. Mail, and also handed Horizon Christian out at meals-to-go distribu- Staff return Aug. 31. The tion sites, according to the Hood River K-12 private district’s blueprint docu- school has issued families a ments, which are posted on detailed school re-opening the district’s website. plan. Input was gathered Horizon initiated le- regarding the successes and gal action with two other Christian schools on Aug. 10, challenges with the distance learning from the last trimes- filing an emergency motion ter of the 2019-20 school year, for Temporary Restraining as well as feedback on pref- Order (TRO) and a prelimi- nary injunction against Gov. erences and comfort level for both in-person and distance Kate Brown’s K-12 school learning for the 2020-21 reopening restrictions. On school year. The survey Aug. 20, a judge denied the TRO at the hearing, granting data was utilized to inform planning at the building and a recess, which provides an opportunity for an injunction district level for the upcom- ing school year. hearing. Horizon will evalu- “Throughout the planning ate its case to decide if further legal action will be pursued, process we utilized an equity lens, keeping in mind the according to a press release needs and challenges faced from the school. by our underserved pop- That brings on Plan B for Horizon. Teachers will return ulations who are dispro- portionately impacted by to campus Monday, Aug. COVID-19,” according to the 31 for in-service training, blueprint. “We also looked at fine-tuning and focusing on the mission of the school “to are trimester three grading and engagement data to see provide a quality Biblically- which of our populations centered education, regard- less of the delivery method,” were disproportionately impacted due to the spring stated the release. Orientation week for K-12 closure.” An overview of the year’s and home school students will be Sept. 8-11. First day of “comprehensive distance learning” structure is also instruction for all levels will available on the district's be Sept. 14. website, as well as detailed reviews by age groups. ■ K-5th grades: According to the overview, students in kindergarten through fifth grade will be assigned a classroom teach, who will interact with students daily through Google Classroom K-5. Recorded video instruc- tion may also be provided. Student work and deadlines will be the same as the on-site classroom, although some lessons may be modified. ■ 6th-12th grades: Students are scheduled for a regular school day. Classes include both core content and elec- tive options. Students will receive instruction through live and prerecorded videos via Google Classroom and associated tools. Students will have scheduled check-in times for each class period to interact with school staff. Chromebooks will be assigned to each student who requests one, and the district is working with internet providers to provide a limited number of wifi hotspots or internet services to some families. In additions, students re- ceiving special education or other services will work with a case worker to assure ser- vices are available remotely. Distance learners will have full use of school services including counseling and intervention services. School meals will be available for pickup and may be delivered by specific bus routes. Dufur Students at Dufur School District No. 29 will start classes Sept. 14. In a letter to students and parents, Superintendent Jack Henderson said, “Following the guidance from state and local health agencies has been and will continue to be a key piece of our decision making.” Henderson noted the district begin the year fully online, and work to tran- sition to in person instruc- tion as quickly as possible. “When we re-open for on-site instruction, families will have the option to continue online learning or attend school in person, it will be the family’s choice,” he said. “The district will support families in the program of their choice. In partnership, we are dedicat- ed to educational excellence and life long learning, em- phasizing communication, trust, and respect.” South Wasco County Students attending South Wasco County School District No. 1 will begin work, online, beginning Aug. 31, accord- ing to Superintendent Ryan Wraught. “While we are disappointed that students will not immediately be returning to school, we agree that this is the best decision for keeping our students, staff and families safe,” Wraught wrote in a letter to parents. “Starting off the school year in this manner provides an exciting opportunity to focus on building relationships with our students. We will also be able to strengthen our online learning systems and ensure they are robust and effective while giving our district additional time to prepare for the return of students to classrooms. This strong start to online learning centered on equity will serve as a stepping stone to the implementation of the hybrid and in-class learning models that we have been preparing and will continue to improve upon. " Wash. schools adjusting to pandemic “The advantage of being a small school district in this situation is that the logistics are not as insurmountable as those in a large district. Lyle’s administrators and teachers alike have expressed the importance of getting ■ By Jacob Bertram Columbia Gorge News\ students reconnected with school friends and staff as Following a sudden in- crease in COVID-19 cases in well as helping them master the West Klickitat County and the new technology, if only for a single day a week,” wrote recommendations from the County Health Department, Deb Stenberg, communica- tions liaison for Lyle School area school districts adjust- District. ed their reopening plans “The current goal is to pro- in preparation for school starting in the next couple of vide all students who need the extra support and want weeks. in-person interaction at least Officials from Lyle School District are still holding firm one day per week on campus. on the plan to start the school We are currently limited to five individuals per room, so year in a hybrid format, the to accomplish this goal, staff only district in the western will be required to use every part of the county to do so, spare space in the school with some changes in place upon further guidance. Each and have para-educators providing small group work,” student may receive up to one day of in-person instruc- Stenberg said. Lyle School officials said tion per week, according to that a student can partici- the school’s website. Along with limiting classroom sizes, pate fully in school through district officials pushed back remote learning only due to new technology upgrades, the starting date to Aug. 31. In an Aug. 17 update on their a change from the remote learning model from this past website, district officials spring. claimed recent updates to Klickitat School Board their technological appara- members voted earlier this tus, including laptops and a “Viewsonic Board” additions week to start this school year to each classroom, as well as in a distance learning format, following decisions from the size of the school, offers them the ability to begin with neighboring districts as well as the latest recommenda- in-person instruction. tions from health officials. Klickitat County schools adjust reopening plans Call your locally owned independent mortgage broker today. Glenwood School District too decided to begin school in a distance learning model. Many area school districts decided earlier on in the month to begin instruction with a distance learning model, as guidance from the state showed Klickitat County was at higher risk of trans- mission, as notified by OSPI and the state department of health. Klickitat, Glenwood, Trout Lake, and the White Salmon Valley School Districts each have a distance learning model set up for the begin- ning of school and are draw- ing up plans to transition into a hybrid model of learning as the situation calms. School districts are indi- cating that they will follow guidance from the Klickitat County Health Department as well as guidance from the state, which includes OSPI and the State Health Department’s joint guidance on reopening schools. The latest guidance issued earlier this month shows Klickitat County as a high risk for COVID-19 transmission, due to the rate of positive cases. The guidance strong- ly recommends schools in such communities to open with a distance learning model, “with the option for limited in-person learning in small groups, or cohorts, of students for the highest need students.” District officials from White Salmon Valley, Trout Lake, and Glenwood have indicated that once the metrics used for deci- sion-making in this area falls below the high-risk threshold of 75 cases per 100K people in the county, a decision to move into a hybrid model of learning may be made. Below we list the essential information for each school district in Klickitat County. 541-490-4077 541-490-2832 541-806-0107 541-892-8808 nmls 38028 nmls 114033 nmls 1216376 nmls 1691008 LYLE Starting date: Aug. 31 Learning format: Hybrid model GLENWOOD Important Information: Starting date: Aug. 31 Learning format: Remote/ School has transitioned this year into a trimester system, Distance learning with the first trimester focus- Important Information: This week students will pick ing on core classes. Students up materials for school. can complete a year’s worth Wednesday, Aug. 26, students of credits in most subjects in with last names A-O will two of the three trimesters. pick up materials for school. District officials are asking Thursday, Aug. 27, students parents to help by taking with last names P-Z will pick their child’s temperature on up materials. If you do not days they will be in school, have internet, please contact providing clean masks and the district office. modeling social distancing, Website: www.glen- handwashing and mask wearing practices for little woodsd.org ones. If you have trouble accessing online instruction, KLICKITAT please contact the district Starting date: Aug. 31 Meals will continue to Learning format: Remote/ office. be provided five days a week. Distance learning Wesbite: www.lyleschools. Important Information: org/District/News/1277- Wednesday, Aug. 26, stu- Hybrid-Remote-Learning- dents will pick up materi- Planned.html als for school. Reopening conferences are scheduled for Thursday, Aug. 27 and TROUT LAKE Friday, Aug 28. If you do not Starting date: Sept. 8 have internet, please contact Learning format: Remote/ Distance learning Important Information: During remote learning, teachers will deliver instruc- tion three days a week and set aside the other two days for meeting will small groups and individuals in Google Meet sessions. Families may opt to participate in online only instruction for K-12 students. Website: www.troutlake. k12.wa.us/troutlake WHITE SALMON VALLEY Starting date: Aug. 26 Learning format: Remote/ Distance learning Important information: Parent/teacher conferences begin Wednesday, Aug. 26 and continue through the week. Students can pick up Chromebooks and other ma- terials starting Monday, Aug, 24. Schedules will be posted weekly. Distance Learning and Self-Directed Learning Expectations will be shared with families during Parent Teacher Conferences. Website: whitesalmonwa. apptegy.us/o/wsvsd/page/ road-to-reopening-2 TRASH TALK Q. We need help with event recycling. QA Ron Kurahara Mike Ellsworth Lorena Salgado James Nygren the district office. Students allowed on campus will be those with individualized educational plans, 504 plans, students who struggled with distance learning in the spring, and those with tech- nological barriers. Website: www.klickitat. wednet.edu/klickitat Any ideas? Heather, Hood River A. Heather, our program does offer free basic assistance to event managers to help them plan for event waste reduction and recycling. We also lend Clearstream event recycling receptacles for diverting redeemable bottles and cans. And for very small functions (15-30 people), we lend out “party buckets” with durable cups, plateware and cutlery. questions to: 11 3rd Street, Suite 101, Hood River 541-436-4706 Company Nmls #1851593 hoodrivermortgage.com (541)-506-2636 www.tricountyrecycle.com
