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April 13: Reminders and Updates from the PPS Transportation Department
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Dear PPS Families,
As we prepare to have our middle and high school students back in buildings, the PPS Transportation Department would like to share some reminders and updates to help get your student to school safely and on time if they are riding a bus to participate in hybrid in-person learning.
Bus route and bus stop information for students in grades 6-12 will be available on the PPS Transportation website on or before April 14.
To limit the potential for COVID exposure and minimize the number of students on PPS buses, we ask parents/guardians, when possible, to transport or have their student(s) walk to and from school. To further reduce congestion at schools, we are asking parents of older students to drop off their student a couple blocks away and let the student walk safely to school from there.
Additionally, please review this Daily Self Screening Checklist for symptoms, reporting and stay home requirements before allowing your student on the bus.
Traveling To and From School on Buses for Hybrid In-Person Instruction:
- When traveling on a bus, students will be required to wear a mask unless a student’s disability does not enable them to do so.
- Food and beverage consumption are not allowed while on the bus.
- Select windows in the front and rear will be open to promote optimal airflow and ventilation. Buses are also equipped with HEPA air filtration systems to remove particles in the air.
- Students will load the bus by filling rear rows first. They will unload from the front rows to the rear to maintain physical distancing.
- Students will be asked to sit one student per seat. To maximize space, siblings may be asked to sit together.
- Buses will be cleaned after each route and again at the end of the school day.
- If your student is in high school and rides Trimet, their Hop Pass is currently active and will remain so until the end of the school year.
PPS has taken safety precautions for our students in the form of the following Standard Operating Procedures (SOP’s): Bus/School Entry Screening, Clean and Disinfect Vehicles, Bus Loading/Unloading.
For more information, please visit the PPS Transportation website. You can also contact us directly via email at transportation@pps.net or by phone at 503-916-6901. We have also created a short video that will showcase your student’s daily expected experience that you can view here.
Thank you.
Previous Reopening Updates
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March 31 Update for Grades 2-5: Hybrid Instruction Begins on Monday! Important Information and Updates
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Dear PPS Families,
We hope that you had a safe and enjoyable spring break. We have been working hard to put the finishing touches on the safe return of students to our schools for hybrid learning. We are excited to see students in grades 2-5 at schools, starting Monday!
For families whose students will participate in hybrid instruction, we have included below a number of pieces of information and reminders to help you navigate and prepare for the first days of in-person school this year.
Reopen Guide
You can find a COVID-19 risk factor guide by clicking here. The guide allows you to track COVID-19 rates in our community and includes a CDC tool and helps you weigh risks and benefits of the learning options available to you.
Reopen Visual Packet for Students and Families
We put together a series of instructional posters for students and families to review. These posters are light on text and focus heavily on images from actual PPS schools, to help familiarize you before the first day of hybrid. Subjects include:
- Riding the Bus
- Arriving at School
- What Your Classroom Will Look Like
- Walking Through Hallways
- Wearing a Mask at School
- Washing Your Hands
- Breakfast and Lunch
- I’m Not Feeling Well: What Should I Do?
- Leaving School
The last poster is a Daily Illness Self-Screening Checklist. Please note that all staff and parents/guardians of students are required to self-screen daily for symptoms of illness before entering school or getting on a PPS bus. The checklist breaks down exactly what to look for.
COVID-19 Case Protocol and Testing Consent Form
In the instance of a confirmed or presumptive COVID-19 case, PPS will follow our Case Protocol, which you can find by clicking here.
Additionally, PPS is requesting consent to test students for COVID-19 from families prior to the first hybrid instructional day. You can access a copy of the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) consent form by clicking here.
Once you complete and sign the form, please email it to your student’s school secretary. You can find that information on your school’s website. If you are unable to submit electronically, you can also print and submit a paper copy of the consent form to your student’s school secretary or send it with your child on the first day of hybrid instruction.
This is only needed for students who are coming into school for hybrid instruction.
Meals and Transportation
We shared with families last week important details about how students in both hybrid and distance learning will access meals this spring. We have served millions of meals since the pandemic began and look forward to continuing to provide this essential service to our students in the months ahead. Our Nutrition Services teams are ready!
You should have also received an email Sunday evening from Transportation Services, regarding instructions on how to find your student’s bus route and pickup times, instructions on how to ride the bus, requirements for families meeting our youngest students at stops, and more. You can find that message in your inbox or by clicking here.
Videos
We hope that you take a moment to watch the reopen videos available to you. The videos show a typical hybrid setup at PPS schools, how to safely ride the bus, and more. You can find the videos and much more information at pps.net/reopen2021.
Finally, please remember that the health of our schools depends on every family. So let’s work together to keep our schools and community safe. If a child isn’t feeling well, they should stay home. And when we are in our buildings, everyone has to wear a mask -- even if you’ve been vaccinated.
This month marks the first time in over a year that significant numbers of students and staff are together in our schools. And for many students, it will be their first time ever in a PPS classroom. Even in more normal times, the first days of school can be emotional and it often can take a day or two to smooth out a few rough edges. We hope you can join us in being flexible, focusing on health and safety, and appreciating the excitement of the start of school, the joy of learning, and the milestone of safely welcoming students and staff back to our classrooms.
More to come this week, including from individual schools. Please keep an eye on your inboxes over the next few days.
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March 31 Reminder: Masks Are Required During In-Person Hybrid Learning
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Dear PPS Families,
The countdown for in-person hybrid learning continues. We want to remind you that all staff and students are required to wear a mask during hybrid learning. This helps us maintain a safe and healthy school environment for everyone and is a requirement for in person learning.
Tips for students:
- Masks should cover both your nose and mouth.
- Masks need to have two layers of material.
- No mask? No problem! Let your teacher know (in advance) and we will get one for you. We will also have them available at the front entrance in case you forget.
- If you are having problems with your mask, let your teacher know.
- Keep your mask on unless your teacher tells you it’s OK to take it off.
- Please do not share your masks with anyone.
Families: If your student is not able to wear a mask due to a medical condition or disability, please coordinate directly with your student’s teacher.
Wearing a Mask – Resources Available
We prepared some materials that can help your student and family transition into in-person hybrid learning:
- Reopening packet
- Video: How to Wear a Mask at School
- Social Story: I Can Wear My Mask Safely
- Flier: Tips for Wearing a Mask (PK-12)
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March 30 Update for PK-1 Families: Health and Safety Reminder — Consent Form
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Dear PPS Families,
We are excited to see students at schools, starting this Thursday and Friday! We want to share some health and safety reminders with you. All staff and parents/guardians of students are required to:
- Self-screen daily for symptoms of illness before leaving their homes to enter a school or getting on a PPS bus. The Daily Illness Self-Screening Checklist describes exactly what to look for.
- If a staff/student presents symptoms or has been exposed to COVID-19 within the past 14 days, they should stay home and report their symptoms to the school or appropriate supervisor, and contact their healthcare provider.
- In the instance of a confirmed or presumptive COVID-19 case, PPS will follow our Case Protocol, which you can find by clicking here.
COVID-19 Testing Consent Form
As we return to in-person instruction with hybrid, PPS will request consent to test students for COVID-19 from student families prior to the first hybrid instructional day.
- OHA COVID-19 Testing Consent Form (English)
- OHA COVID-19 Testing Consent Form (Spanish)
We will be sharing the consent form in other languages as soon as the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) releases them.
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March 29: Hybrid Instructions Begins This Week! Important Information and Updates
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Dear PPS Families,
We hope that you had a safe and enjoyable spring break. We have been working hard to put the finishing touches on the safe return of students to our schools for hybrid learning. We are excited to see students at schools, starting this Thursday and Friday!
For families whose students will participate in hybrid instruction, we have included below a number of pieces of information and reminders to help you navigate and prepare for the first days of in-person school this year.
First, a reminder to all K-1 families that Monday through Wednesday of this week are asynchronous learning days. Students participating in hybrid learning will begin hybrid either Thursday or Friday of this week (PK students participating in hybrid will be in-person on Thursday and Friday); families should receive their schedules from schools by today, if you have not already.
Reopen Guide
You can find a COVID-19 risk factor guide by clicking here. The guide allows you to track COVID rates in our community and includes a CDC tool and helps you weigh risks and benefits of the learning options available to you.Reopen Visual Packet for Families and Students
We put together a series of instructional posters for students and families to review. These posters are light on text and focus heavily on images from actual PPS schools, to help familiarize you before the first day of hybrid. Subjects include:- Riding the Bus
- Arriving at School
- What Your Classroom Will Look Like
- Walking Through Hallways
- Wearing a Mask at School
- Washing Your Hands
- Breakfast and Lunch
- I’m Not Feeling Well: What Should I Do?
- Leaving School
The last poster is a Daily Illness Self-Screening Checklist. Please note that all staff and parents/guardians of students are required to self-screen daily for symptoms of illness before entering school or getting on a PPS bus. The checklist breaks down exactly what to look for.
In the instance of a confirmed or presumptive COVID-19 case, PPS will follow our Case Protocol, which you can find by clicking here.
Meals and Transportation
We shared with families last week important details about how students in both hybrid and distance learning will access meals this spring. We have served millions of meals since the pandemic began and look forward to continuing to provide this essential service to our students in the months ahead. Our Nutrition Services teams are ready!You should have also received an email last evening from Transportation Services, regarding instructions on how to find your student’s bus route and pickup times, instructions on how to ride the bus, requirements for families meeting our youngest students at stops, and more. You can find that message in your inbox or by clicking here.
Videos
We hope that you take a moment to watch the reopen videos available to you. The videos show a typical hybrid setup at PPS schools, how to safely ride the bus and more. You can find the videos and much more information at pps.net/reopen2021.Finally, please remember that the health of our schools depends on every family. So let’s work together to keep our schools and community safe. If a child isn’t feeling well, they should stay home. And when we are in our buildings, everyone has to wear a mask -- even if you’ve been vaccinated.
This week will mark the first time in over a year that significant numbers of students and staff are together in our schools. And for many students, it will be their first time ever in a classroom. Even in more normal times, the first days of school can be emotional and it often can take a day or two to smooth out a few rough edges. We hope you can join us in being flexible, focusing on health and safety, and appreciating the excitement of the start of school, the joy of learning and the milestone of safely welcoming students and staff back to our classrooms.
More to come this week, including from individual schools. Please keep an eye on your inboxes over the next few days.
Thank you.
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March 28: Reminders and Updates from the PPS Transportation Department
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Dear PPS Families,
As we prepare to have students back in buildings, the PPS Transportation Department would like to share some reminders and updates to help get your student to school safely and on time for hybrid in-person learning. K-5 student bus routes and bus stops will be available on the PPS Transportation website on March 29th. Routes for other grades will be available the week of April 12.
To limit the potential for COVID exposure and minimize the number of students on PPS buses, we ask parents/guardians, when possible, to transport or walk their student(s) to and from school. To further reduce congestion at schools, we are asking parents of older students to drop off their student a couple blocks away and let the student walk safely to school from there.
Additionally, please review this Daily Self Screening Checklist for symptoms, reporting and stay home requirements before allowing your student on the bus.
Traveling To and From School for Hybrid In-Person Instruction:
- When traveling on a bus, students will be required to wear a mask unless a student’s disability does not enable them to do so.
- Food and beverage consumption are not allowed while on the bus.
- Select windows in front and rear will be open to promote optimal airflow and ventilation. Buses are also equipped with HEPA air filtration systems to remove particles in the air.
- Students will load the bus by filling rear rows first. They will unload from the front rows to the rear to maintain physical distancing.
- Students will be asked to sit one student per seat. To maximize space, siblings may be asked to sit together.
- Buses will be cleaned after each route and again at the end of the school day.
- Kindergarten students are required to be met at the bus stop for drop off. Kindergarten students are required to wear a yellow bus tag to let drivers know they must be met.
- 1st-3rd grade students should wear a white tag to let drivers know the student’s correct stop, but they are not required to be met. If families prefer to meet their 1st-3rd graders, their students are allowed to wear a yellow tag, as well.
- IMPORTANT: If there is not a parent at the bus stop, students with yellow tags will be returned to school.
- The school can print bus tags for students and bus drivers will also have extras if needed. Parents needing their student’s bus tag updated should contact their school.
- If your student is in high school and rides Trimet, their Hop Pass is currently active and will remain so until the end of the school year.
PPS has taken safety precautions for our students in the form of the following Standard Operating Procedures (SOP’s): Bus/School Entry Screening, Clean and Disinfect Vehicles, Bus Loading/Unloading.
For more information, please visit the PPS Transportation website. You can also contact us directly via email at transportation@pps.net or by phone at 503-916-6901. We have also created a short video that will showcase your student’s daily expected experience that you can view here.
Thank you.
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PPS Meals Update: How to Access Meals Starting Week of March 29
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Dear PPS Families,
Meal access is critical for many of our families and we are working to ensure that meal access continues for all students, whether or not they return to school for hybrid in-person instruction or if they remain in distance learning. All school meals will continue to be free for all students in all schools, and no student ID or names are needed to receive meals.
Once a student returns to hybrid in-person instruction, meals will be served at their school at the end of each of their in-person sessions.
If a student is staying in distance learning -- or if their hybrid in-person learning has not begun -- they should visit any of our new meal distribution sites between 3:30 and 4:30 p.m. on school days to pick up meals. The list of meal distribution sites is below.
However, students in distance learning will also have the option to pick up meals from their school. Families should contact their student’s school to find the schedule for meal distribution.
New Meal Distribution Sites
For the remainder of the year, grab-and-go meals will be available between 3:30 and 4:30 p.m. on school days for all children in the community (PPS students and children not enrolled at PPS) ages 1-18.
The sites for curbside distribution:
- Beaumont Middle School, 4043 NE Fremont St.
- Franklin High School, 5405 SE Woodward St.
- George Middle School, 10000 N Burr Ave.
- Harriet Tubman Middle School, 2231 N Flint Ave.
- Hosford Middle School, 2303 SE 28th Pl.
- Ida B. Wells High School, 1151 SW Vermont St.
- Jackson Middle School, 10625 SW 35th Ave.
- Jefferson High School, 5210 N Kerby Ave.
- Lane Middle School, 7200 SE 60th Ave.
- Leodis V. McDaniel @ Marshall High School, 3905 SE 91st Ave.
- Tabor Middle School, 5800 SE Ash St.
- Ockley Green Middle School, 6031 N Montana Ave.
- Robert Gray Middle School, 5505 SW 23rd Ave.
- Roosevelt High School, 6941 N Central St.
- Roseway Heights Middle School, 7334 NE Siskiyou St.
For more information or if you have questions, please visit the PPS Nutrition Service website. You can also email nutritionservices@pps.net or call 503-916-3399.
Thank you.
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Reminder about March 29-April 2 Schedule for PK-5 Families
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Dear PK-5 Families,
We hope you are enjoying a safe and restful spring break, and are getting excited for the launch of our hybrid in-person instruction model in April. In the meantime, we want to remind you about the learning schedule for next week.
Following spring break:
- Students in PreK, kindergarten, and 1st grade will engage in asynchronous learning March 29-31, then begin the hybrid in-person instruction schedule on April 1 and 2. Your school will follow up with more information about the specific schedule for April 1 and 2.
- Students in grades 2-5 will engage in asynchronous learning March 29-April 2, then begin the hybrid in-person instruction schedule on April 5.
We will be in touch again soon with more resources to prepare you and your student for the rest of the school year. You can also visit our PPS Reopen webpage for important updates and information about reopening.
Thank you.
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March 19 Update: A Few Reminders and Notes as We Begin Spring Break
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Dear PPS Families,
As we shared last night, the PPS Board of Education approved the agreement that allows us to move forward with our plans to begin hybrid in-person instruction in April. We are happy to share this positive news before spring break and are so excited to safely welcome students and staff back into our buildings soon. Thank you to all of our students, families, educators and other staff for your continued perseverance over the past year – we couldn’t have gotten this far without your strength and support.
We want to remind you that, following spring break:
- PreK through first graders will engage in asynchronous learning March 29-31, then begin the hybrid in-person instruction schedule on April 1 and 2. Your school will follow up with more information about the specific schedule for April 1 and 2.
- Grades 2-5 will engage in asynchronous learning March 29-April 2, then begin the hybrid in-person instruction schedule on April 5.
- Grades 6-12 will continue to follow our Comprehensive Distance Learning (CDL) model after spring break until the week of April 19, when we will begin the hybrid in-person instruction schedule for those students. Please check your email for the 4th Quarter Learning Choice form to let us know your preference for hybrid in-person instruction or continuing with distance learning.
We will share more information in the coming days to prepare you and your student for the rest of the school year. In the meantime, please visit our PPS Reopen webpage for important updates and information about reopening.
We wish you a safe and peaceful spring break.
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March 18 -- Board of Education Approves Plan: Hybrid In-Person Instruction Will Begin in April
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Dear PPS Families and Staff,
We are very pleased to share with you that this evening, the Board of Education approved the agreement between Portland Public Schools and the Portland Association of Teachers (PAT) that clears the way for hybrid in-person instruction to begin at PPS schools starting April 1 and 2 with PreK through first grades. Grades 2-5 will begin April 5; grades 6-12 will begin hybrid instruction the week of April 19.
The Board’s vote came after approval of the agreement by PAT members.
A large majority of our families have indicated that they are ready for in-person instruction, and we have spent many months planning the safe return of students and staff to our schools and classrooms. We are excited to begin hybrid instruction soon!
We will continue to share details with you in the coming days.
Thank you.
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March 18: Meal Service Update for Spring Break and Beyond
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Dear PPS Families,
We want to make you aware of some important updates and upcoming changes to our meal service. Because of spring break, meal service will be paused next week (March 22-26). Please be sure to stop by one of our current meal distribution sites on Friday, March 19, between 3:00 and 4:30 p.m. to pick up seven days’ worth of meals to cover spring break.
With the upcoming transition to hybrid learning, the last day for home meal delivery will be Friday, March 19. The PPS Nutrition Services department is incredibly thankful for their partnership with the PPS Student Transportation department over the last nine months to make this offering possible for our students and families.
Meal service will resume with new locations and service times the week of March 29. We will share more information about the new locations and services times soon. Whether your child participates in the hybrid learning model or continues with distance learning, school meals will remain free for all students in all schools, regardless of eligibility. No student ID, names or other information is needed to receive meals.
For detailed information about our meal service, please visit the PPS Nutrition Services website. You can also email nutritionservices@pps.net or call 503-916-3399 with any questions.
We wish you a safe and restful spring break.
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Reminder about March 19 for PK-1 Families
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Dear Pre-K, Kindergarten and First Grade Families,
We just wanted to send you a reminder that tomorrow, Friday, March 19 is an asynchronous learning day. Teachers will not be available for live, online lessons as they will be participating in training to prepare them to deliver hybrid instruction. Teachers will provide direction and asynchronous content to students for the day.
After spring break, asynchronous learning will continue March 29-31 as teachers continue to prepare for the start of hybrid instruction on April 1. Teachers will again be providing direction and asynchronous content to students for those three days.
Thank you.
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March 17: Updates, Facts and Details from Our Tentative Agreement to Reopen Schools
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Dear PPS Families,
As we shared with you on Monday, Portland Public Schools and the Portland Association of Teachers (PAT) have reached a tentative agreement to reopen PPS schools for in-person hybrid instruction, beginning with our youngest students on April 1 and 2, 2021. As a reminder, students who participate in a hybrid model spend time in both distance learning and on campus for in-person learning.
The tentative agreement is contingent upon votes by PAT members and the Board of Education. The Board vote is scheduled for Thursday, March 18 at 6 p.m. following ratification by PAT members.
Please note that grades K-1 will have asynchronous learning days Friday, March 19 and again on March 29-31. On April 1 and 2, K-1 students will have a combination of synchronous and asynchronous instruction for their specials classes (art, music, PE, and library). Grades 2-5 will have asynchronous learning days March 29 - April 2.
We know that you might have questions about the tentative agreement, which you can find by clicking here. Here are a few highlights:
TIMELINE
- Pre-K through Grade 1 classrooms will begin in-person hybrid instruction on April 1 and April 2.
- Grades 2 through 5 will begin hybrid instruction on Monday, April 5.
- Grades 6-12 will begin hybrid instruction the week of April 19.
- Students in hybrid instruction will be assigned into morning or afternoon cohort groups (all middle and high school cohorts will have in-person instruction in afternoon groups).
- Our phased-in return meets the requirements of the governor’s recent executive order and allows for professional development, building preparation and critical planning time for educators.
SCHEDULES
- In-person instruction for grades PK-5 will consist of 2 hours and 15 minutes of daily in-person instruction (except on Wednesdays).
- In-person instruction for middle school and high school will take place in the afternoon. In most cases, students who participate in in-person instruction will be on campus twice a week for 2.5 hours. We continue to be bound by physical distance requirements, which limits the number of students we can place in classrooms. It is our goal to get our secondary students in the building twice per week, and we continue to problem solve where space is posing a challenge.
- Our middle and high school schedules allow for continuation of learning and applied learning activities. In-person time with teachers will allow students to have interaction with their teacher and peers to explore topics more in-depth as well as get assistance with material that may present a challenge. Students will have opportunities to interact with peers in small, physically distanced groups.
- The structure of middle and high school hybrid schedules does not require teacher changes with the exception of teachers who may be on leave.
- You can find examples of middle school and high school hybrid instruction schedules by clicking here.
HEALTH AND SAFETY
- We are prepared to safely welcome back students and staff.
- We have followed science-based guidelines since the onset of the pandemic, and we continue to listen to public health experts, including our PPS Health Advisory Panel.
- We will have HEPA Air Purifiers for every room or space where students are designated to meet with educators.
- All schools will have a School Nurse or School Health Assistant on campus.
- Each building will have a Safety Committee, including PAT members. They will be required to do a full walk-through of each building by March 19.
- We will have rapid COVID-19 testing for all symptomatic staff and students - and we’re following OHA protocols for contact tracing and isolation.
PROCESSES AND PROTOCOLS
Things will look different at school for students in hybrid learning. New signage, hand sanitizer stations, smaller class sizes with students and teachers physically distanced, and of course, students and staff will be masked. Over the coming days, you can expect a number of messages and resources to help get you ready for your child’s first day on campus this year.
THE TIME IS RIGHT
Over 70% of families, including over 60% of families of color, told us in our elementary grades survey that they are ready for in-person instruction for their students. Case rates continue to fall in Multnomah County and Oregon. We have spent months preparing to return to classrooms. And 100% of school staff have now had access to COVID-19 vaccines.
We have gradually and successfully introduced on-campus opportunities for students over the last few months: athletics, performing arts, and Limited In-Person Instruction (LIPI). In small doses, we have once again experienced the magic of face-to-face instruction and interaction, and we are delighted to exponentially increase these opportunities through hybrid instruction.
We would prefer to open fully, to all students at once. However, at this time we are not allowed to do so under the Oregon Department of Education’s Ready Schools, Safe Learners guidelines, which include requirements regarding case metrics in Multnomah County and the 35-sq-foot (aka “the six-foot rule”) social-distancing requirement that physically limits the number of students that can be in a classroom at one time.
NEXT STEPS
We will let you know once the Board of Education votes on the tentative agreement Thursday evening. Until then, please feel free to visit our PPS Reopen page or share questions or comments with us by visiting our PPS Let’s Talk page. Thank you.
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March 15 Message from Superintendent Guerrero: PPS and PAT Reach Tentative Agreement to Begin Hybrid In-person Instruction
Dear PPS Families and Colleagues,
I am very pleased to announce that Portland Public Schools and the Portland Association of Teachers (PAT) have reached a tentative agreement to reopen PPS schools for in-person hybrid instruction, beginning with our youngest students on April 1 and 2, 2021. Grades 2 through 5 will follow beginning April 5, while grades 6 through 12 will begin hybrid instruction the week of April 19. This agreement is contingent upon votes by PAT members and the Board of Education.
Our agreement comes after months of planning, preparation, and bargaining with PAT and other labor partners. As a result of these discussions, as well as significant input and feedback from families, we have a strong plan for safely returning students to schools. In most cases, elementary-age students will be on-campus to receive in-person instruction four days a week, in either a morning or afternoon class session; there may be some exceptions to this model at certain schools depending on parents’ expressed preferences for hybrid vs. continued distance learning.
PPS will reopen with a hybrid model on the following calendar:
- Pre-K and Head Start classrooms will begin in-person hybrid on April 1, with 3 hours of daily in-person instruction (except on Wednesdays).
- Grades K and 1 student groups will commence on either Thursday, April 1 or Friday, April 2. Students will be assigned to either a morning or afternoon student group for in-person instruction each day (except on Wednesdays) with continued distance learning instruction for all students in music, arts, P.E., and library.
- All students in grades 2 through 5 who have elected to participate in a hybrid model will also be assigned into morning or afternoon groups, which will begin on Monday, April 5.
From the onset of the pandemic, we have made our decisions in strict alignment with public health guidelines and followed the advice of health experts, including our own PPS Health Advisory Panel. For months, we have taken the necessary steps to begin welcoming back students and staff to our buildings as safely as possible. Since January, our teachers and other student-facing staff have had the opportunity to be vaccinated after the governor prioritized these groups - near the top of the list - once vaccines became available.
The time is right for us to reopen our schools.
Our reopening plan includes time for school staff to review and understand protocols and routines. A key element of reopening buildings is improving air quality, as air flow is critical to reducing the spread of the virus. We have had HVAC experts walk through all school buildings, made some HVAC improvements where needed, increased ventilation, and invested in HEPA air purifiers for every classroom.
We have prepared our school buildings by installing signage, protective barriers, check-in stations, and hand-sanitizing stations. Our schools have implemented numerous protocols and practices involving physical distancing, cohort sizing, and meal distribution in a COVID-safe manner. Each school will have a School Nurse or School Health Assistant on site. In addition, we will continue hiring additional custodial staff to join our hardworking custodians in making sure our buildings are as clean and well-maintained as possible.
Our teams have been diligent, thoughtful and thorough in planning for the reopening of our schools. We won’t be returning to perfect classrooms, but we will be returning to safe ones.
Our plan honors our shared commitment to health and safety and maintains flexibility at the building level to better address individual school communities' expressed needs and preferences. And importantly, our plan lets families decide whether they prefer their children finish the remainder of the school year online or through in-person hybrid instruction.
Whatever families choose, their children will continue to have access to high-quality instruction, mental health and social emotional supports, nutritious meals, access to services provided by our community partners, and the opportunity to participate in athletics and performing arts activities that have resumed on our campuses in recent weeks.
The past 12 months have tested us all. We are now reaching a significant milestone toward the ultimate goal of a full reopening of schools. We could not have arrived at this moment without the creativity and dedication of our educators, school staff, school-based and central office leaders, families, and the students we all serve. So we thank you.
We will have many more details to share in the next day or two, as the plan is voted on and details are finalized. Until then, I hope you share my excitement in knowing that the beginning of in-person instruction at PPS is less than three weeks away.
Guadalupe Guerrero
Superintendent -
March 5 Update: Gov. Brown Announces Return to In Person Learning, Later Tours Sitton Elementary
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Dear PPS Families and Colleagues,
We proudly welcomed Governor Kate Brown to Sitton Elementary today for a tour of our limited in person instruction classrooms there and to look at the health and safety measures the school has implemented in anticipation of hybrid learning this spring. Our thanks to Principal Dana Nerenberg for hosting us at her wonderful school.
Earlier in the day, Governor Brown announced that all Oregon schools will reopen, at least in hybrid form, in late March (grades kindergarten to 5) and in mid-April (grades 6-12). PPS, and all school districts in Oregon, await further details as we continue our planning work, now months in the making, to welcome back students to safe and supportive learning environments this spring.
Given the significance of today’s announcement from Governor Brown, it’s understandable that you might have concerns and/or questions, whether you are a student, educator, staff member or family member. Along with other school districts across the state, we are anticipating more detailed guidance from the governor and the Oregon Department of Education. We will share those details with the PPS community as soon as we receive them.
Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic more than a year ago today, everyone at PPS has worked to support our students and families, providing learning in the safest manner possible given community health metrics. We have been continuously engaged in planning for the eventual and safe reopening of our schools. We have aimed to be safe, prudent and responsible throughout this pandemic, and soon it will be time to begin seeing more of our students in person. With safe practices and routines in place, we believe students will benefit from being on campus and seeing their classmates once again.
We remain grateful for your flexibility, creativity and understanding over the last year. Much more to come next week.
We wish you a safe and peaceful weekend.
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February 26 Update: We Are Planning for Hybrid Instruction in 4th Quarter
Dear PPS Families and Staff,
This week, Superintendent Guerrero and senior leaders presented a COVID-19 school reopening update to the Board of Education. The update largely focused on the district’s plan to offer hybrid instruction to middle and high school grades by mid-April. This follows a similar announcement two weeks ago regarding kindergarten through 5th grades.
HYBRID INSTRUCTION TO START IN APRIL
In short: PPS plans to open classrooms to hybrid instruction in April for families who prefer their students to experience in-person learning this school year. Our plan is in response to improving COVID-19 trends in Oregon and the Portland metro area. It is aligned with guidance from the Oregon Health Authority and Oregon Department of Education, and vetted by public health experts including our own Health Advisory Team. The plan also reflects the input of our families, who in our most recent survey of kindergarten through 5th grade families, show that 69% want some sort of in-person instruction made available to students.
Please note we cannot bring all of our students and personnel back into our classrooms at the same time under current Oregon Department of Education pandemic safety rules. We will have much more information, including example school schedules, available to families as we finalize discussions with our teachers union.
Our hybrid learning option for families is pending agreement with the Portland Association of Teachers and contingent upon the number of COVID-19 cases in our region remaining below current public health guidelines and requirements. Changes to any of these in the coming weeks could postpone our proposed start to hybrid learning.
STUDENT AND STAFF SAFETY
For families considering hybrid learning for their students, it’s important to know that PPS continues to collaborate with public health experts and agencies and our PPS Health Advisory Panel. We also continue to follow Ready Schools, Safe Learners guidance from the Oregon Department of Education.
You can find out details about our hybrid health and safety planning by clicking here.
We will be in touch with more information next week. In the meantime, we wish you a safe and peaceful weekend.
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February 19 Update: K-5 Hybrid Option Survey Deadline Extended to February 25
Dear PPS Families,
As we shared last week, we are continuing to offer increased in-person learning opportunities for students, with a goal of launching hybrid instruction to kindergarten to fifth grade students in April. We have a few updates for you this week:
- We’ve extended the response deadline for the 4th Quarter Learning Model survey for K-5 families. The survey gives families the opportunity to let us know if you prefer your student to participate in hybrid learning or remain in Comprehensive Distance Learning (CDL). The survey will remain open through Thursday, February 25.
- If you have not already received the survey, or if you need support in filling it out, please email research@pps.net. We would be happy to assist you.
- PPS staff will make phone calls to individual families, ensuring you are aware of our options available as outlined in the survey, starting next week.
- We have posted a set of Frequently Asked Questions about hybrid learning. You can find it at pps.net/hybridfaq. Questions and answers are available in all six of our supported languages.
You can find more information, including health and safety measures we are taking to support in-person learning, sample student hybrid instruction schedules and more, in our February 9 presentation to the Board of Education.
We wish all PPS families a peaceful remainder of the week as our community recovers from yet another challenge stemming from last weekend’s winter storm. We will continue to provide you with regular updates as we get closer to launching hybrid instruction at PPS.
Thank you.
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February 10 Update: Re-Opening, Hybrid Learning Plans for Grades K-5
Dear PPS Families,
We want to share with you emerging plans for a partial reopening of classrooms, starting this spring. Last evening, Superintendent Guerrero and district staff presented this update to the Board of Education. On Friday, we will ask families with students in kindergarten through 5th grade what their preferences are for their students’ learning options for April, May and June of 2021.
Beginning in early April, families with students in kindergarten through 5th grade will have the option to participate in “hybrid” learning, attending school in person four days per week for about 2+ hours per day. For families who prefer to have their student continue the school year in online-only Comprehensive Distance Learning, students will still have that option available.
Due to space constraints and more complex class schedule considerations, we are not yet ready to share updated plans for hybrid learning for middle and high school students.
IMPORTANT for Families of Kindergarten through 5th Grade Students:
On Friday you should receive a survey from your school that will ask you to share your learning model preference, including a hybrid option or continuing Comprehensive Distance Learning, for your student in April, May and June. The survey will also ask about student learning and support needs.
Please respond to that email survey no later than February 22 so that PPS can plan staffing, bus routing and other logistics. Thank you.
Our hybrid learning option for families is pending agreement with the Portland Association of Teachers and contingent upon the number of COVID-19 cases in our region remaining below current public health guidelines and requirements. Changes to any of these in the coming weeks could postpone our proposed start to hybrid learning.
WHAT IS THE HYBRID OPTION?
Our hybrid learning option allows students and teachers to interact in person in a way that follows and maintains public health rules and guidelines during the COVID-19 pandemic. Hybrid learning is a continuation of the increasing on-campus opportunities we have made available to PPS students, following athletics and performing arts training and Limited In-Person Instruction (LIPI). While hybrid learning does not mean a full return to an in-person school environment, we are excited about the potential to see many more students in classrooms.
We also understand that some families might not be ready for their students to return to in-person learning, as COVID-19 concerns remain in our community.
Here are details about PPS elementary grades (kindergarten to 5th grade) Hybrid Learning Option:
- Students will be assigned an AM or a PM time slot to attend school 4 days a week for 2 hours and 15 minutes each day. When not in school, students will continue with distance learning activities.
- We will attempt to keep teachers and students together as much as possible.
- Each in-person school day, morning and afternoon learning blocks will consist of a Social Emotional Learning check-in, followed by Language Arts, then Math.
- Students assigned to an in-person morning block will continue their learning in the afternoons from home, by participating in asynchronous learning for Art, Music, Physical Education, Science, and Social Studies.
- Bus transportation will be available to all students who are eligible.
- The plan also includes learning opportunities for students with disabilities and English language learners.
If you are wondering why hybrid learning includes morning and afternoon blocks, it’s because we cannot bring all of our students back into our classrooms at the same time under the Oregon Department of Education’s pandemic safety rules.
Please click here to see an example weekly calendar for a student participating in our proposed hybrid learning model.
IMPORTANT: Families can also choose for their student to remain in online-only Comprehensive Distance Learning for the remainder of the year.
HYBRID LEARNING: STUDENT AND STAFF SAFETY
For families considering hybrid learning for their students, it’s important to know that PPS continues to collaborate with public health experts and agencies and our PPS Health Advisory Panel. We also continue to follow Ready Schools, Safe Learners guidance from the Oregon Department of Education.
You can find out details about our hybrid health and safety planning by clicking here.
NEXT STEPS
Kindergarten through 5th grade families should expect to receive an email from their school by Friday asking them to share whether they prefer their student participate in hybrid learning in April, May and June, or remain in online-only Comprehensive Distance Learning through the end of the school year. Please look for that email and respond by February 22.
Since last March, our decisions have been informed by science, made in accordance with public health guidance and restrictions, and centered in racial equity and social justice. Our highest priority is protecting the health and safety of our students and staff while maintaining a continuity of learning. This is the case with our hybrid planning, as well. Survey results from families will help us finalize our in-person options, including the hybrid model, and also bolster classroom and other supports our students most need.
We will continue to provide meals, computers, internet access and access to mental health and other supports to students in all grades. You can find information about many of these supports by clicking here. Please reach out if you or your student is in need. We are here to help.
This school year has required tremendous flexibility and resilience from everyone, including our educators, families and, especially, our students. We are excited about welcoming more students into their schools this spring, and we are grateful for the support that you continue to provide to them, and to us. Thank you.
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January 26 Update: Vaccinations, Expanding In-Person Opportunities and Plans for Hybrid Instruction
Dear PPS Families and Staff,
We promised to provide you an extensive update before the end of the second quarter. Following a number of developments, including those involving state mandates and Oregon’s vaccine rollout, we are eager to share with you what our plans are for the coming weeks.
In short, we will begin the third quarter of the school year (Q3) by continuing Comprehensive Distance Learning, while expanding in-person opportunities for some students, starting with programming at 19 school sites initially and hopefully expanding to all schools by March. We are also accelerating our plans to partially reopen a number of schools to hybrid learning by early April, for our youngest learners (with students alternating during the week between in-person and distance learning).
This message includes sections on:
- Current public health metrics and guidelines
- Health and safety measures at PPS
- Vaccination plan for educators and school staff
- Expanding on-site opportunities, including limited in-person instruction, athletics and performing arts
- Maintaining continuity of learning
- Supports for students and families
- Learning recovery plans
Health Advisory Panel, Oregon Health Authority Recommendations, Current Metrics
As has been the case throughout the pandemic, we remain in continual contact and collaboration with multiple public health and governmental agencies, including Governor Brown’s office, the Oregon Health Authority, Oregon Department of Education, Multnomah County and OHSU, along with our district’s Health Advisory Panel.
COVID-19 has impacted our community in a number of ways, and we are not yet done with this pandemic. Recent data shared with our Board of Education show that COVID case numbers remain high in Multnomah County, and it is as important as ever for all of us to follow good public health practices such as wearing masks, washing hands and keeping socially distant.
Since last March, our decisions have been informed by science, made in accordance with public health guidance and restrictions, and centered in racial equity and social justice. Our highest priority is protecting the health and safety of our students and staff while maintaining a continuity of learning.
As has been the case throughout the pandemic, we remain committed to opening schools once it is safe and feasible to do so. Two recent changes at the state level now allow us to accelerate our reopening plans.
Updated ODE Guidelines
First, the Oregon Department of Education updated its Ready Schools, Safe Learners guidance on January 19. In this most recent update, the Oregon Department of Education adjusted the public COVID-case thresholds, based on the framework from the Harvard Global Health Institute. The county metrics continue to serve “as the best tool for determining when cases are down enough to return to in-person instruction.” (ODE update)
We are pleased that the adjustments will allow for an immediate expansion of in-person activities at our schools. Specifically, the raising of the COVID-case threshold for mandatory distance learning to 350 or more cases over a two-week period coupled with the downward trend in cases in Multnomah County allows us to move forward. As of January 16, the two-week county case rate was 293.6.
An additional note: we are watching closely, alongside public health experts, the new COVID-19 variants that are now showing up in the U.S. Those variants could affect any or all of our planning for spring.
Health & Safety Measures
Safety continues to remain at the center of the state’s guidance. While the COVID-case thresholds were adjusted, the remaining safety requirements and protocols within Ready Schools, Safe Learners remain mandatory. There is a lengthy list of requirements we are prepared to implement, these include:
- Entry screening at the entrance of every school
- Contact tracing sign-in for COVID protocol
- Facemasks (except for medical need/disability) for all students and adults
- Isolation spaces for symptomatic individuals
- Social distancing: 35-square feet per person to allow for physical distancing
- Establishing stable cohorts or groupings of students in order to:
- Minimize the number of cohorts with which a student interacts
- Ensure that students do not interact with more than 100 people in a week, including deliberate scheduling, grouping and more restricted movement on campuses
- More rigorous cleaning protocols, including hand sanitizer availability
- Improved air-quality measures (including upgraded HVAC filters and air purifiers in spaces without good ventilation)
- Reinforcement of recommended public health and good hygiene practices, and reinforcement via messaging, posters and signage
Vaccination Plan for School Staff
Second, and very importantly, COVID-19 vaccines are now being distributed in Oregon. We said in the fall that one important aspect of re-opening classrooms was access to vaccines for educators and school staff. Governor Brown has decided to prioritize this access for educators, given the critical importance of opening schools safely.
Portland-area health care systems are now collaborating with school districts, including PPS, to provide vaccinations to educators, school staff and our community-based partners who work with students and families. Vaccinations start this week. Depending on the quantity of vaccine doses made available to health providers in Oregon, it will take at least four weeks before all educators and staff have the opportunity to receive both rounds of the vaccines, which is fully effective two weeks after the second dose.
For staff and families who have general questions about COVID-19 vaccines, we put together a special vaccines webpage that includes a number of resources. We will also be co-hosting a virtual Vaccination Panel Conversation with Multnomah County and the Coalition of Communities of Color on Friday, January 29, from 5:00 - 6:30 p.m. You can watch the conversation by tuning into our PPS YouTube channel.
Expanding On-Site Opportunities for Students to Return to School
As we permit for the student-facing staff to have the opportunity to receive both doses of vaccine, observe the health metric trends that guide our re-opening, and continue to work with our labor partners to come to agreement on how we will proceed with safely returning to school, we are pleased to announce the start, and ongoing rollout and expansion, of limited in-person instruction (LIPI). We will introduce and open LIPI across schools in three phases. You can find information, including the participating schools and start dates, in this phased schedule here.
Our LIPI Phase 1 begins this week at Madison High School. We are rolling out on-site programming by prioritizing student populations with the highest needs. We will continue to phase in schools as required individual campus plans are approved, to ensure all required ODE safety guidelines are observed, and as we test protocols and arrange for transportation and other student supports. We are grateful to the educators and other staff who have volunteered to participate in this in-person offering and are working to accelerate our rollout as quickly as we can safely do so.
If you are not familiar with this term “LIPI”, it is an on-campus model supported by the Oregon Department of Education and designed to meet the needs of specific groups of students based on needed educational, relational, social-emotional, curricular, instructional, and/or assessment supports. Staffing, including by educators, is on a voluntary basis. Here are a few other LIPI facts:
- LIPI cohorts will consist of no more than 20 students;
- Participating students are limited to two cohorts per week per site;
- All students and educators must observe mask, physical distancing requirements and follow our safety operating procedures;
- Each LIPI session will run for about two hours.
Safety is central to all LIPI planning. Schools must complete a detailed safety and reopening plan that we must submit to the Oregon Department of Education for approval. This plan includes building and classroom site plans, staff and family engagement protocols, staff training outlines, mandatory walkthroughs following guidelines from OHA and the Centers for Disease Control, custodial plan and much more. As each school has its individual plan approved, additional schools will begin offering limited on-site programming also. LIPI represents the latest on-campus programming added at PPS schools this school year.
In addition to new on-site limited instruction opportunities, PPS continues to offer athletics training, which has been welcomed by our student athletes. Expansion of athletics, including a possible return to (modified) full practices and, eventually, team competition, is contingent upon the consolidated guidance of the Oregon Health Authority and Oregon School Activities Association (OSAA). The following modified athletic seasons have been identified by the OSAA, but are dependent on health metrics permitting these activities:
- OSAA Season 2: February 22 to April 10 for the following sports: football*, volleyball, soccer, and cross country
- OSAA Season 3: April 5- May 22 for baseball, softball, track & field, tennis and golf.
- OSAA Season 4: May 10- June 26 for basketball*, swimming, and wrestling*
- *Full contact sports, like football, are currently prohibited by OHA.
Our thanks to the students, coaches, athletic directors and other staff who have followed the guidelines and safety practices that have allowed for some much-needed team activity and training.
In addition to athletic activities, the district’s Visual and Performing Arts (VAPA) team will begin offering outdoor opportunities for high school choir and band members, also beginning in the month of February. We are excited to start hearing the sounds of our student musicians at our high schools.
We are eager to welcome students to our new LIPI programs, both for the specific benefits these opportunities afford students and as next steps toward introducing hybrid instruction in our schools. The health and safety practices and protocols used for LIPI programming, like those related to athletics training and performing arts activities, will carry through as more students and staff return to our school buildings.
Additional Notes on Health & Safety Planning
Understanding the importance of deliberate and enhanced health and safety practices and protocols, our teams have worked for months to make school buildings safe for students and staff. Our facilities, maintenance, custodial and other teams have spent countless hours adjusting and adapting our physical spaces in anticipation of welcoming students back to our hallways and classrooms.
The PPS Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) include guidelines and protocols covering entry screening, busing, cleaning and disinfecting schools, contact tracing, physical distancing, personal protective equipment (PPE), restroom use, ventilation and much more. You are invited to visit our SOP home page, which is updated regularly, for more information.
Students and staff entering schools will notice a number of new things including:
- Special signage and floor markings to ensure social distancing
- Hand sanitizer stations
- Special sign-in and sign-out protocols
- Plexiglass and other physical barriers
- Reduced number of desks in classrooms to maintain social distancing (required by the State of Oregon to be 35-square feet)
- Dedicated space for students or staff who show to be symptomatic during the day
- Regular cleaning of often-used surfaces
As part of optimizing our buildings’ HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) systems, we reviewed a number of technologies to improve airflow and added things like portable air filters when needed. While we continue to look for ways to further improve HVAC performance, all PPS school buildings meet current public health air quality standards set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Centers for Disease Control, Oregon’s Occupational Health and Safety Association, and Multnomah County.
KGW-TV recently toured Harriet Tubman Middle School with our Chief of Schools, Dr. Shawn Bird. You can watch the tour by clicking here to see a visual example of how school buildings are being prepared to welcome back students. And you can expect to see a number of new, district-produced illustrations and videos over the next few weeks, as we open more schools and classrooms.
We will soon share more detailed information that explains things like what our physical classroom environments will look like and updated school bus riding procedures that we will be observing during this pandemic. In the meantime, our teams continue to do outstanding work to allow us to open our buildings safely for students and staff.
Planning Underway for a Hybrid Model of Instruction
All of these health and safety measures are important to our ability to eventually re-open schools to a hybrid model instruction, where students alternate during the week between in-person and distance learning. Our goal is to offer hybrid instruction during the third quarter, beginning with a number of elementary schools in March. We will prioritize our youngest learners, who are most developmentally in need of in-person instruction. We hope to eventually offer hybrid instruction at all elementary and middle schools.
Comprehensive Distance Learning (CDL) will remain an option for students whose families prefer that their students remain on-line, full-time for the duration of this school year. Within a week, we will be making available an online registration form for families of elementary and middle school students to gauge the level of interest in students participating in either remote or hybrid models of instruction. Please look for an email from us in the coming days. We will also reach out to families through direct communication from schools and through our culturally specific community partners. It is important that we know your preferences for hybrid or distance learning, so that we can plan for staffing and transportation accordingly.
High school schedules and the state requirement that students may not interact with more than 100 other students at school make offering hybrid learning to high school students much more complicated; but we are working on several scenarios that would include at least some level of on-campus learning for high school students. We intend to share more details of a proposed model as we work through some of the constraints involved with implementing a hybrid model at the high school level.
Maintaining a Continuity of Learning and Connection via Comprehensive Distance Learning
As we work toward additional opportunities for in-person instruction, Comprehensive Distance Learning continues for all of our students. We are proud of our teachers, administrators and support staff for providing a multitude of virtual learning experiences for their students and finding creative ways to keep students engaged during this unprecedented time.
Something that was made clear last spring after launching CDL was the critical importance of students feeling connected to their teachers and their school community for success in online learning. To cultivate a sense of community, elementary schools are implementing morning meetings, middle grades are engaging in advisories or social emotional learning (SEL) connections, and our high schools shifted to four courses each semester to allow students to make greater connections with their teachers. Across all grade levels PPS has integrated SEL into our instructional model. We regularly provide opportunities for students of all ages to share their feelings and concerns. Resilience lessons, as well as other social emotional learning curriculum, morning check-ins, and circle times have provided students with specific ways in which they can communicate their feelings and concerns during this pandemic.
We know that distance learning lacks some typical aspects of in-person learning. To support students and educators across the district, core content areas were honed to focus on the most critical work in each grade, and central office content teams are supporting educators with daily lesson materials optimized for online delivery. Those same teams are doing regular feedback loops with educators and making course adjustments as we proceed through the school year.
To ensure that online learning is well rounded, Visual & Performing Arts and Physical Education are still part of our students’ experience. These content areas are focused on bringing joy, movement, and creativity to each day.
This pandemic necessitated a historic shift to digital learning platforms and the use of technology tools to deliver instruction. Besides providing computer laptops or devices to every student in the district who needed one, we began the school year by providing our educators with professional development on learning the tools and resources available to gain confidence and support with the skills necessary for the effective delivery of distance learning.
In the fall, dashboards were created for our schools and our school support teams to monitor and facilitate student engagement. Throughout the fall and winter, 88-90+% of our students in grades 6-8 engaged with the Canvas learning platform on a weekly basis.
And, at the conclusion of the first quarter, student grades in our comprehensive high schools were largely consistent with past performance.
As we approach the third quarter, there will be two additional opportunities for us to gauge students’ progress and experiences in Comprehensive Distance Learning. At the start of February, we will offer a remote administration of the MAP assessments in Reading and Mathematics for our students in grades 3-8. This is a voluntary opportunity for our students and parents that will allow us to learn about students’ growth and achievement during Comprehensive Distance Learning, and will help us plan for learning recovery opportunities. The MAP assessment is an opportunity to better understand and plan for students’ learning needs. The data will only be used for planning purposes and will not be used for evaluative purposes. Finally, MAP assessments are important to our planning for the second semester, and our Learning Recovery Plan, in math and language arts and whether we should focus on broader areas of the curriculum or revisit critical content in new ways. The administration of MAP assessments is structured to have minimal impact on instructional time and is designed to account for the fact that students are working in very diverse learning environments at home.
In addition, the Successful Schools Survey will launch in the second week of February. As in the past, this survey will provide families, students and staff an opportunity to provide feedback on their school connections, trusting relationships and a sense of belonging during this school year.
Supports for Students and Families
We understand, and hear frequently from parents, that this pandemic has been difficult for many of our students. Our students’ social emotional and mental health is always a primary concern for us. No matter whether in CDL or in-person learning, we continue to offer many types of support to students and families. These include Social Emotional Learning (SEL), counseling and mental health supports, academic supports, access to basic needs, computers and internet access, and meals.
Our schools have counselors and social workers available for students to talk to. These professionals can help calm nerves and anxiety, provide someone to listen and help connect students to other community resources. We also have partnered with numerous mental health providers, including culturally specific mental health partners, who provide support through teletherapy for mental health needs. If you find that you or your child are in need of this support, please reach out to your teacher or school counselor. They will help connect you with support.
We developed a way for students to have quick access to emotional wellness resources and support at the click of a button. Please share this valuable and potentially life saving app with anyone you know: Youth App Resource
If you notice that your student is becoming distant or showing other signs of depression, we invite you to take advantage of the resources below.
One helpful resource is How Teens can protect their mental health during COVID19. If your student continues to show signs of depression or shares suicidal thoughts, please call the Multnomah County Mental Health Call Center at 503-988-4888. Their team of mental health professionals are prepared to help anyone experiencing mental health issues at any time, in any language.
- Free, 24/7 mental health support
- Interpretation services for non-English speakers
- Referral to low-cost or sliding-scale agencies
- Help finding mental health providers
- Information about non-crisis community resources
We also know that many families are struggling with food, clothing and shelter needs. Here is a link to a listing of resources and services available to families in Portland: Emergency Relief Services for PDX
We offer a number of other student and family supports directly and in partnership with culturally-specific community organizations. You can find our Menu of Student and Family Supports by clicking here.
All of these resources and supports will continue to be available to PPS students and families, and I hope that if you or someone you know is in need, you will reach out to your student’s teacher, school counselor or school administrator. We are here to help.
Learning Recovery Plans
Finally, we know that distance learning has been challenging for students, staff, and families at PPS and across the country. While some students have found distance learning to be an ideal model, for most students and educators there is no fully adequate replacement for in-person, face-to-face learning, relationship-building and engagement.
It is critically important that students have all necessary support to help them stay on track. That’s why our instructional teams are constructing a number of learning recovery opportunities for students, including, but not limited to, expanded in-person summer programming we hope to make available for students in June, July, and August. In a future communication, we will share details about these additional extended learning time opportunities, and other supports and guidance we intend to make available to students, as we transition our focus and plans to making up for lost instructional time during this pandemic.
Appreciation and the Road Ahead
We know that this update contains a great deal of information, but we want to give you a full picture of our plans for the weeks ahead and a look at the remarkable amount of behind-the-scenes work that has gone on for many months now.
The last year has been tremendously challenging to us as individuals and as a community. And for educators, the lost opportunities to engage students face-to-face has been the toughest thing we have ever faced in our careers.
As difficult as things have been, we are profoundly grateful for our educators, counselors, social workers, administrators, secretaries, nutrition workers, bus drivers, custodians, and so many others, including parents, volunteers and community partners, for their dedication during this unprecedented time to support the children, youth, and families of PPS.
We are inspired by the perseverance demonstrated by our students, who have faced the pandemic and its myriad impacts on their school experience with great courage and determination. Just last week we received 2020 graduation data that showed yet another year-over-year gain by PPS students. This positive trend, one that has continued over recent years, is testament to the hard work that our students and staff have put in to ensure our scholars meet graduation requirements and earn their diplomas, both before and during the pandemic.
We are encouraged by recent developments, including vaccine access for our educators and school staff, and what they mean to our community finally moving beyond the disruption to public education caused COVID-19. We are growing in our confidence that we, with the support of our labor partners, will be able to move to hybrid instruction this spring. We are also optimistic that this new federal administration will prioritize support and COVID relief funding to K-12 public education to assist us with confronting this pandemic and help us better ensure we are able to implement a comprehensive set of supports and learning recovery opportunities for our students.
And we are grateful for the collaboration of colleagues who are leading school districts here in Oregon, and across the country, as we all attempt to develop solutions to the common challenges that we all face.
We will be in touch in the coming days with more details to specific school communities as we open limited in-person instruction at identified sites. In the meantime, thank you for your continued patience and understanding.
Reopening Videos
Reopening Posters
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Español| Tiếng Việt| 中文| Русский| Soomaali
Click the image below to see instructional posters for students and families to help familiarize you before the first day of hybrid:
Reopening Timeline
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Reopening dates for in-person learning:
■ Grades PK-1: Thursday, April 1
■ Grades 2-5: Monday, April 5
■ Middle, high school: Week of April 19
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Español
El primer día para que los estudiantes comiencen el aprendizaje híbrido:
- Desde Pre-Kínder a 1º grado.: El jueves, 1º. de abril.
- Desde 2º. a 5º grado.: El lunes 5 de abril.
- Secundaria y preparatoria: La semana del 19 de abril.
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Tiếng Việt
Ngày đầu tiên học sinh bắt đầu học kết hợp:
- Lớp Mầm non-1: Thứ Năm, Ngày 1 tháng Tư
- Lớp 2-5: Thứ Hai, Ngày 5 tháng Tư
- Trung học cơ sở, trung học phổ thông: Ngày 19 tháng Tư
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中文
学生开始混合学习的第一天:
- 学前班至1年级:星期四,4月1日
- 2年级至5年级:星期一,4月5日
- 初中、高中: 4月19这一周
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Русский
Первый день для учащихся, приступающих к смешанному обучению:
- Классы PК-1: четверг, 1 апреля.
- 2–5 классы: понедельник, 5 апреля.
- Средняя школа: неделя, начинающаяся с 19 апреля.
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Soomaali
Maalinta ugu horeysa ee bilaabayaan ardayda waxbarashada isku-dhafan:
- Fasalada Xanaanada Caruurta ilaa fasalka 1aad(PK-1): Khamiis, Abriil 1
- Fasalada 2-5: Isniin, Abriil 5
- Dugsiga Dhexe, dugsiga sarre: Todobaadka bisha Abriil 19
Other Materials
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Read: Superintendent's Report to Board
Click to read the transcript of Superintendent Guerrero's March 9 report to the Board of Education on reopening (to watch the presentation, click here)