Dear Families:

Today we will begin using Google Classroom to deliver instruction to the students of PPS.  We know many students still need access to chrome books.  The technology survey is available at PPS.net  It can be found on the Corona Virus Updates and Resources of the PPS website.  The technology survey is available in multiple languages. 

English: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfR9vU1RGTJigjBOlpYQwi4DHLNbZVJ07PdhAsj3c13VeqMxQ/viewform

Spanish: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfKwBw4EOByFMlHV307u3xHeJhQyYZmABEks9bpamgTyCnQLw/viewform

Vietnamese: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScSrkkmbuMvRQAmOmcxUQClowsqDqUi45vIEaN5HMczUUO43Q/viewform

Chinese: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdXRiYoFIwKpnZH8GhjImgUzW4DPNuKKuI5NF6IezkDqNgkjQ/viewform

Russian: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeuHYKsgwc06lbr6zZc-x0ujT2IoZxa-zNWz1K4ii7KH91vyA/viewform

Somali: Ma u baahan tahay in aad Kumbuyuutar uga daysanto ardaygaaga? Buuxi foomkani!

The goal for our first week of distance learning is to build community.  Teachers and staff will work toward developing a community of online learners.  All students should be logging into their Google Classrooms via "Clever."  You child has been accessing this all year.  A difference between logging into "Clever" from home rather than school is that when using school chrome books, "@student.pps.net" was automatically entered for students.  When logging in from home students will need to enter that themselves when entering their user name.

At this point teaching is asynchronous, which means students may login at any point during the day rather than a set time for each class.  Having taken online courses myself, I know this can be challenging.  Families will need to support their children in establishing a routine for learning.  As a staff we have created a suggested schedule for students.  We also included a blank template for families to use to create their own schedule.  

Sample Schedule 

Dear Families:

Our current world situation is unprecedented in our lifetimes. As a school community we have been working at operating as “usual” while addressing the unusual circumstances that accompany COVID-19. In the past few days, I have seen staff and students come together as we prepare to close school early for spring break. We know school closures may add stress to this already difficult situation. In this newsletter, you will find links for students to be able to work online and the school has allowed students to check out books. We wish you all the best and hope you will be able to enjoy this time with your family.

Scholastic Learn at Home
Scholastic has developed Scholastic Learn at Home online resources, designed to meet the needs of all of our K-12 students who are now prevented from attending their school campus environments for an indefinite period of time. This free resource provides all students 20* days’ worth of learning journeys that span the content areas so you can keep your students academically active while your buildings are closed. The Scholastic Learn at Home website does not require a username or password and is open freely to all, on any device. www.scholastic.com/learnathome

At Home Use Tech Letters
Students can continue to learn at home on the software that PPS provides, including STMath & Dreambox, Lexia Core 5 and MyON is a digital library. The At Home Use Tech letters is attached with log-in information. If you are not sure of your student’s ID number, you can look on ParentVue.

Building Closed for Cleaning
All PPS schools will be closed for cleaning for the next two weeks. No staff will be available at that time, which means that email and messages may not be returned. We will be back in contact when schools are permitted to open again.

Punctuality Promoters
Roseway Heights has been working to decrease tardiness to class. Arriving on time is an important skill in life and school. The challenge ends today with a special recess for the students that were eligible. We are pleased to report that over 500 students met the punctuality challenge!

8th Grade Points
Because middle school matters and eight graders start getting ready to transition to high school during the spring, the eighth grade teachers are starting a challenge for all eight graders. In this challenge, they will earn an activity at the end of the period. The period started today and it will end April 10th. The reward activity will be Friday, April 17th. Students will be held accountable for their timeliness to class, their preparedness, their engagement with the work and their respectful behavior. This will be tracked using a point system. Every student will start with 500 points. Students that do not meet expectations will have points deducted. This will be tracked by teachers and students can talk with the teacher if they lost points and want to make it up. The administrator supporting the eighth grade teachers with this system is Mrs. Santiago. Feel free to contact her with any questions or concerns. I have attached the link to look at the presentation that 8th grade was given today regarding this point system. Thank you for your support!

Lockers Update
Assistant Principal Breaker and I met several times with staff from the district regarding locker repairs. While contractors have been on site, many lockers are still not fixed. We have list of the lockers that still do not function properly and the district is working on long-term fix over the next two weeks. We apologize for the problems the locker situation as caused. We are doing locker cleanout today, so expect your child to bring things home.

I look forward to seeing everyone in April.

Regards,

Brenda

Dear PPS Family,

In response to the continuing COVID-19 health crisis in our state, today Governor Brown and the Oregon Department of Education announced that our school campus doors will not open again for the remainder of the 2019-20 school year. We all miss seeing our students in school buildings, but the health and safety of our students, educators, staff and the broader community, remains the highest priority. 

The District is offering a second round of Chromebook device pickup. Even if you did not already fill out a device loan survey, you may still pick up a device. We will begin distribution to high school students on Wednesday, April 8 and then to all students on Thursday, April 9. Please visit www.pps.net/devices for more times and locations.

Dear PPS Parents and Guardians,

We know this is a time of transition as we move from school buildings to home-based distance learning for the duration of this closure. In order to continue to work in similar ways with our students as we did in our buildings, principals, teachers and counselors will need to be able to communicate with you and your students while maintaining safety and privacy for all. Because of this situation, we are partnering with Remind to provide a simple platform for all of us to engage together. 

The disruption to daily life during the coronavirus crisis has hit all corners of society. For students, it has meant not being able to attend school. Staff in the PPS Student Success and Health department have gathered tips to help you help your student cope: