• Student and Family News, November 1

    11/1/2021

     

    Hello Ida B. Wells Families,

    Welcome to the first week in November!  This Friday marks the end of the first quarter.  We have Tutorials on Wednesday and Thursday. Please check in with your student(s) to see what final assignments or assessments they are trying to finalize before the end of the quarter. As you all know, there is no school on Friday - our teachers will spend the day grading and planning. Here is a bit of inspiration I shared with our staff today. I hope you enjoy it, too! Have a great week.

    Filip

    OUR SCHOOL
    November Schedule
    Please note these calendar items for the month of November:
    November 4 - Last Day of 1st Quarter
    November 5 - No School for Students, Teachers, End of Quarter Grading
    November 11 - No School for all, Veteran's Day Holiday
    November 12 - No School for Students, Staff Development
    November 22, 23, No School for Students, Parent-Teacher Conferences
    November 24-26, No School for all, Thanksgiving Holiday
    Parent/Teachers Conferences 
    School Conferences will take place Monday, November 22 and Tuesday, November 23.  They will be ALL virtual again this year with morning, afternoon and evening slots.  This gives parents a lot of flexibility with scheduling as slots do not have to be scheduled simutaneously.  IBW office staff, teachers and volunteers are currently working on scheduling priority conferences. Scheduling will be open to all IBW parents/guardians November 12 at 5pm through Nov. 18th  at 5pm.  Instructions on how to schedule conferences will be sent out as we get closer.     Just a head's up that conferences take place the same week as the Thanksgiving holiday and there is no school for students for the entire week.
    Grad Night 2022 - Tickets on sale now!
    PTA Grad Night 2022 is a safe all-night celebration free of drugs, alcohol, tobacco and weapons, for the graduates of Ida B. Wells High School. Grad Night 2022 will begin after the Commencement Ceremony on June 9th, 2022. This traditional event is a wonderful night filled with fun activities, prizes, great food, and memories our students will keep for years to come. The graduates will leave on buses from IBWHS at 10ish pm (more details to follow) to a secret location. Graduates will be returned to Ida B. Wells High School no later than 6 am on June 10th.

    Save Money, Register Early!
    All students need to sign up for the event to attend.

    *Sign Up by March 15th, 2022 tickets for the event are $99
    *Beginning March 16, 2022 tickets for the event are $125
    *Full and Partial Scholarships are available- students must fill out a registration forms to apply

    Questions? Please email ibwhsgradnight@gmail.com|
    School Photos - please pick up purchased photos ASAP 
    We still have several already-purchased Lifetouch photo packages in the Main Office.  If you still have not picked up your photos, please come to the Main Office before or after school or during lunch and get your photos!
    Chromebooks now available in College and Career Center and Library!
    Chromebooks are now available in the College and Career Center and the Library. Staff in both spaces can help with logins, daily checkouts, replacements, repairs, or checkouts for the year. Here is the schedule regarding where you can checkout Chromebooks during each part of the day. 

    Before School- CCC or Library
    AM Classes- Library
    Lunch- CCC or Library
    PM Classes- CCC
    Flex- CCC or Library
    After School- CCC or Library
    If the library or CCC is closed, please try the other location for checkouts. In the rare instance that neither space is open, Chromebook checkouts are not available until we reopen.
    COVID-19 Updates
    UPLOAD VACCINATION INFORMATION
    The option for parents to upload their student’s Covid 19 Vaccination Card in ParentVUE is available in the Yearly Verification screen. Directions can be found HERE
    PPS COVID DASHBOARD
    With our ongoing commitment to keeping you informed, we have built an improved and more informative COVID-19 Monitoring Dashboard: PPS COVID Dashboard
    COVID-19 TESTING AT IBWHS- Please return forms to the main office
    There is no Covid-19 testing at IBWHS unless symptoms appear after a student arrives at school and a COVID-19 Testing Consent Form is on file for the student.  A new form needs to be completed for the 2021-2022 school year.  Completed forms can be turned into the Main Office.
    K-12 COVID-19 SCREENING 
    K-12 students can sign up to get free weekly COVID-19, PCR tests through their school during the 2021-2022 school year. The Oregon Health Authority (OHA) has contracted with OHSU to provide these tests to participating K-12 schools in Oregon.  Ida B. Wells High School will be participating in this important program.  Parents can Opt their students in to this program by completing the attached forms (Opt in form + OHSU Authorization form) and returning both forms to the main office at In the coming days we will be communicating the process for students who opt in to this program.

    Opt-In form for 15+ years old:  Opt IN 15+ (1).pdf .

    Opt-In form under 15 years old students: Opt IN younger than 15 (1).pdf 

    OHSU Covid Test Authorization form:  EN Auth Form (1 of 2) (1).pdf 

    FAQ Sheet about the program:  OHSU-K12-COVID-19-Testing-Program-Introduction-English-091621 (3).pdf 

    Update on Free COVID-19 Screening Testing Program (10/25)

    Dear PPS Families,  We want to provide you with an update on our free COVID-19 screening testing program, which is a partnership between the Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU) and PPS. Screening testing provides early detection of COVID-19, even when individuals have no apparent COVID-19-like symptoms.   
    We recognize that many of you have signed up to have your student participate in this weekly testing program. However, across the nation, partners like OHSU are facing unprecedented disruption in their supply chain resulting in delays. We apologize for the impact this is having on our community and appreciate your patience. 
    As a reminder, testing is one tool among many to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Despite the availability of this program, the best tools to protect individuals against COVID-19 are vaccination for those eligible, physical distancing, masks, proper ventilation and airflow, hand hygiene, and staying home if ill or exposed to someone with COVID-19. It’s also important to remember that if your student has tested positive for COVID-19 in the last 90 days, you should NOT submit a sample. Doing so has the potential of returning a false positive result due to the sensitivity of the test. 

    To learn more about the free COVID-19 screening testing program, please visit OHSU’s program page here.
    Thank you.

    Dr. Esther Omogbehin and Margaret Calvert
    Regional Superintendents of Schools

    Attendance
    Kathy Lommen is our attendance clerk.  She can be reached at klommen@pps.net or 503-916-5294 (Please DO NOT leave messages regarding attendance on the main line, 503-916-5280 as those may not be received in time)
    Here are a few updated attendance pointers:
    ROBOCALLS: If a student was marked absent in a class before lunch, a robocall is sent at 1:00pm.  For missed classes after lunch, the robocall goes out at 5:30pm.  If you receive a robocall:
    1) if the absence is excused and a parent/guardian forgot to contact Kathy, please call her to excuse the absence
    2) if a parent/guardian receives a call but your student believes this is an error, please have your student contact the teacher of the class for that reported absence to receive more information.
    3) if you received a robocall but already contacted attendance, you do not need to contact us again.  We appreciate your patience as we work through daily attendance issues.  

    ABSENCES
    If a student is out due to illness, please contact Kathy ASAP.  She will then send the Parent/Guardian a Symptom Tracking Tool to identify what symptoms the student is exhibiting.  

    Please email Kathy within 3 days to excuse any other types of absences
    ARRIVING LATE
    1)  If a student is tardy or arriving late to school after an appointment, etc, please go directly to  class.  DO NOT STOP IN THE OFFICE.  Parent/Guardian, please email Kathy to notify her if this late arrival is excused.
    2)  If a student misses 25% or more of a class, that is considered an absence not a tardy.
    LEAVING SCHOOL EARLY AND NOT RETURNING FOR THE DAY
    If an appointment during the day is unavoidable:
    1) Parent/Guardian, please call Kathy as far ahead as possible with the details. You should not enter the building to pick up students.
    2) We will call students out of their classroom at the time instructed by the parent.  Students should not leave their classroom until called out.
    3) The student should come to the office and sign out and meet parent/guardian outside or student drivers can leave campus.
    LEAVING AND RETURNING MID-DAY
    Please follow the first 3 steps above but when you return, please sign back in at the Main Office.
    Lost and Found
    If you are missing something, you can check our Lost and Found in Room 139 (across from the gym)
    Yearbook Information 
    2021-2022 YEARBOOKS
    There’s still time to pre-order your 2021-2022 yearbook before prices increase from $55 to $65 on January 1st. Pre-orders can be made on SchoolPay.
    NAME CHANGES/SCHOOL PHOTO OMISSIONS 
    If you would like a name listed in the yearbook that is different from what is currently listed in StudentVue/Synergy, please email khigbee@pps.net directly from your school email with the request. If you would not like your school photo included in the student section of the yearbook, please email khigbee@pps.net directly from your school email with the request. IMPORTANT: The deadline for these changes is no later than November 20th.
    SENIOR PHOTOS FOR 2021-2022 YEARBOOK
    Yearbook senior photos are due by January 1st. Photos should be high resolution (300 ppi), portrait aspect, and no smaller than 3”x5” sized. Content is up to each student so long as it is school appropriate. Photos should be emailed to ibwseniorphoto@gmail.com. Be sure to include the first and last     name of the student in the subject line. If you don't want to submit a photo, your Lifetouch school photo will be used instead. If you have any questions, please contact khigbee@pps.net
    SENIOR ADS FOR 2021-2022 YEARBOOK
    It’s never too early to start planning to celebrate your senior with a senior congratulatory ad in the yearbook. Ads are still being sold at Covid hardship rates of $210 for a full page, $110 for a half page, and $60 for a quarter page. Ads can be purchased and created at https://www.balfour.com/student-info?smi=62107 If you have any questions or need any help, please contact Keith Higbee: khigbee@pps.net
    2020-2021 YEARBOOKS
    We still have copies of the 2020-2021 yearbook for sale (cash or check) in room 142 before school, during lunch, and directly after school. Don’t miss out on your chance to own a yearbook that will hopefully be like no other. Contact khigbee@pps.net if you have any questions or need to arrange for pick up alternatives.
     ACADEMICS
    AP Exams - Register Now! Deadline is November 1st
    Students who are planning to take AP Exams MUST register for AP Classroom and the AP Exams by November 1st.     AP CLASSROOM & AP EXAM Registration & Payment: AP REGISTRATION SLIDESHOW.  VIDEO Instructions  You can also use the  ONE-PAGER Student Checklist if you’d prefer. (Student Checklist copy for personalization)
    TESTING THIS YEAR:  Currently, the College Board is only allowing in-person pen & paper testing this year.  There is no online option.   Most exams will be at the Portland Expo Center again this year.

    Tutor.com → FREE online 24/7 individual tutoring & homework help in all AP Classes!    

    • Great News! Students taking AP & IB classes now have access to Tutor.com via your Canvas Course for 1:1 tutoring 24 hours a day and 7 days a week. It’s super simple to use and many students have already started using this on their own!

    • Short video overview for students

    COUNSELING
    College and Career Center
    CAREER LEARNING THIS WEEK
    W, 11/3/21, 11:45-12:30:  PCC Building Construction Technology Program. with Shannon Baird 

    Building Construction Technology (BCT) is the only program of its kind in the Portland area offered by an accredited institution with three unique areas of study and these degree options: Hands-On Building Construction Technology, Construction Management, Design/Build Remodeling

    No pre-registration required; Simply click on the link. For full session descriptions and presenter information, please check the Future You 2 Go Calendar  

    Ida B. Wells Career Happenings Newsletter https://www.pps.net/Page/16186 for all of the latest job, internship, and career learning opportunities or via our College & Career Slide Deck updated weekly.  Please contact Jessica Wade for more information. Thank you!
    From our Social Worker, Brittni Locke
    IBW PANTRY RESTOCK
    Our social worker maintains a pantry for supplemental student support, please help us restock now that school is back in session.  This link tells you what we need and how to help:https://volunteersignup.org/X7J3W  If your student or family needs support, please message Britni Locke at blocke@pps.net.
    ASSISTANCE WITH RENT OR UTILITIES
    Rental Assistance
    The Oregon Emergency Rental Assistance Program will cover up to 12 months of past due rent and three months of forward rent, once all past due rent is paid. The program will also cover past due utility costs including electricity, gas, home energy services, water, sewer, trash removal, internet and bulk fuels.
    1. To apply directly for rental and utility assistance online visit: oregonrentalassistance.org (application is available in English, Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese and Russian).
    2. Provide proof that you applied to your landlord to avoid eviction for 90 days while you wait for the rental assistance (Multnomah County). Renters have until February 28, 2022 to pay overdue rent (for April 2020 to June 2021). If you receive an eviction notice, call the Eviction Defense Project at 888-585-9638 to understand your rights and receive free legal assistance.

    Direct Utility Assistance
    Utility companies are also offering their own assistance programs, regardless of household income or other requirements to qualify.

    For questions or other referrals, please call 2-1-1 or visit 211info.org. You may also contact your school counselor or social worker if you need more information or resources.

    FOOD ASSISTANCE
    If you or your family are in need of food assistance, Neighborhood House continues to do bi-weekly deliveries from their food pantry. This is a free service. Here is the link to the online form. Please note, clients need to fill out a new order form for every delivery, up to twice per month. As of July 2021, the Neighborhood House Food Pantry has begun allowing limited inside shopping. Click here to find out more about in person shopping, including hours and address.
    I am also excited to share that Meals4Kids is now delivering on the west side in Portland! The Meals 4 Kids program serves qualified children and families within the City of Portland experiencing food insecurity who are also experiencing any of the following: 
    • Chronic condition or illness of caregiver or child
    • Lack of facility to prepare meals
    • Lack of ability and/or transportation to access food resources such as foo pantries
    • Other barriers impacting access to food resources and/or ability to prepare meals
    The Meals 4 Kids home delivery program delivers nutritious meals, milk, bread and fresh fruit directly to the homes of families in need each week on weekdays between 9AM and 2PM. 
     
    To request service, complete the form at the bottom of this linked page. Meals on Wheels People staff will call you to review your eligibility in the program. If you had additional questions, please call 503-953-8115 or email meals4kids@mowp.org.  
     
    Additional resources available: 
    FAMILIES & COMMUNITY
    One of the greatest attributes of Ida B. Wells HS is our parent involvement.  For descriptions about each of our 3 parent organizations - Boosters Club, Foundation and PTA and their role at Ida B. Wells and how you can get involved, please click here: Ida B. Wells HS Parent Organizations
    Booster Club
    VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR THE IBW BOOSTER CLUB CHRISTMAS TREE SALE! 
    The Booster Club holds an annual Christmas tree sale and it raises over $30,000. All proceeds are returned to IBW clubs, sports and activities. The sale runs Friday-Sunday for 3 weeks starting November 26. 

    This effort takes many volunteers and is a great way to give back to the community.  We ask the individual clubs/teams to take shifts to staff, so you if you are associated with a specific club/team, look for them on the schedule. Otherwise, please look for a shift that says “Anyone”.  https://signup.com/go/FTDoZtg

    Tree Sale

    IBW GEAR - WEDNESDAY POP-UP STORE IN NOVEMBER
    All the latest IBW gear is available to order online www.schoolpay.com/link/IBWgear and you will be able to pick up orders or shop the racks at their "store" at the IBW Field House on Wednesdays from 3:30pm-6:00pm.  The Wednesdays they will be open are 11/3, 11/10 and 11/17.   Ida B. Wells Gear makes great holiday gifts and the Boosters will also have merchandise for sale at their annual Tree Sale at A-Boy which opens on Friday, November 26.
    BOOSTER CLUB MEETING - NOVEMBER 8
    Next, a reminder that our next meeting is Monday, November 8th at 6:30pm via Zoom.  Here are the credentials:
    Meeting ID: 816 8318 0228
     
    We have grant requests to consider, a preview of the Tree Sale and a recap of the year so far.
    Foundation
    FALL FUNDRAISER
    Our “Giving Guardians” Fall Campaign is off to a rousing start.  As a reminder, the mission of the foundation is to enhance the classroom experience for our students and the foundation is the only way to raise money to increase staffing at IBW.  We ask families to donate what they are able to help fund additional teachers and staff at IBW.

    IBW Foundation Direct Donations: Donate to IBW Foundation 
    SPRING AUCTION EVENT
    We have begun planning for our spring auction event.  While we do not yet know exactly what that will entail, we are looking for parents and community members able to contribute.  We are specifically look for:

    -Graphic Designers—to help coordinate and develop school related content

    -Procurement coordinators/assistants

    We look forward to sharing more information about the spring auction event in the coming weeks.

    Questions? Email Brad Nelson, IBW Foundation Chair, bknelson@cascadeautoglass.com. 

    PTA 
    PTA HOSPITALITY
    Teacher Appreciation Gifts
    Parent Teacher Conferences will be virtual again this year, the PTA Hospitality committee wants to do a little gifty for all staff members.  We need about $2900 for a branded item, gift card and some treats for the whole staff.  If you're able to contribute, you can Venmo (@jchrist18) or PayPal (jess_jon@msn.com).  Or message jess_jon@msn.com for drop-off of cash/check options.
    Hope to have assembled for delivery just after Thanksgiving break.
    Drop-off Breakfast for Teachers & Staff
    Breakfast for the Teachers & Staff on 11/5 (no school day for students) is a drop-off event.  Please sign up here:  VolunteerSignup - Online volunteer signup sheets - IBW Staff Breakfast November 5th signup sheet
    PTA PARENT EDUCATION NIGHT - THIS THURSDAY!
    Ida B Wells PTA invites you to our first Parent Education Night of the school year via Zoom     

    Topic: Meet the IBW Career and College Counseling Team
    Date/Time: Nov 4, 2021 7-8pm
    Meeting ID: 408 626 2115; Passcode: PTA
    ATHLETICS

    Fall Sports
    The Fall season is now wrapping up. Congratulations to our Varsity Volleyball and Women's Soccer teams for qualifying for State.  Both  the Men's and Women's Varsity Cross Country teams also qualified for the State Meet which is this Saturday at Lane Community College in Eugene. Go Guardians!!
    Winter Sports Registration - Basketball, Swimming and Wrestling begins November 15! Register Now!!
    The Winter sports season officially begins Monday, November 15.  You must have a registration completed in FamilyID and a valid physical on file before you may participate in Basketball, Wrestling and Swimming. This is especially important for basketball which conducts try-outs. Wrestling and Swimming are both non-cut sports.  https://www.familyid.com/organizations/ida-b-wells-high-school  SchoolPay is also open to pay the PIL Pay to Play Fee for Winter sports.  However, you should not pay the fee for basketball until teams are announced. 

    Pre-season opportunities for Winter Sports
    Our Winter coaching staffs are looking forward to connecting with our IBW student-athletes.  Here are some pre-season opportunities:
    MEN'S BASKETBALL
    Open Gym every Tuesday and Thursday 6:00-8:30pm at Jackson Middle School 
    WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
    Open gym every Tuesday and Thursday 7:15-9:00pm at Jackson Middle School (CHANGE IN LOCATION WHILE IBW GYM FLOOR IS BEING REBRANDED)
    WRESTLING
    Open Mat Hour on Mondays at 6:30pm in the IBW Wrestling Room.   
    IBW Dance  - Tryouts this Friday, November 5
    Up next for the dance team is November 5th tryouts.  We would love to add more dancers for our competition season. Tryouts are at the Rieke Elementary Gym, Nov. 5th, 2:00pm-3:00pm.  Doors open at 1:30pm and will close at 3:30pm.  Please wear comfortable clothing and bring a mat, a mask, a water bottle, and any type of dance shoe or street shoe you prefer to move in.  Come in, find a place anywhere in the room to roll out your mat, and begin stretching on your own.  At 2pm, we will then have a brief time for group instruction of choreography before individual/partner auditions begin.  Please bring 16 counts of your own choreography to present with your own music or in silence during the last portion of your audition.  The first two portions of your audition will consist of simple technique and the choreography you just danced during our group instruction. 
    IBW Snowboard Club and Team - Register Now!
    Please see the brand new website for our IBW Snowboard Club for more information and how to register: https://www.ibwsnowboarding.org/.  You can also find their website on their page on the IBW Athletic Website https://www.ibwathletics.com/snowboarding.  Registration forms can be turned into the main office.  
    STUDENT ACTIVITIES 
    IBW 2021-2022 Clubs
    There is still time to get involved in a club (or two, three or more!).  Here is the current list of 2021-2022 Clubs  This list is still being completed so check the website often under Student Activities/Clubs and Activites for updates.

    2022 Spain Cultural Journey
    I am so excited to share this incredible opportunity with Ida B. Wells Spanish students* for the summer of 2022.  In collaboration with Walking Tree Travel, I am planning to chaperone a student trip to tour the north of Spain for twelve days in June, 2022.  

    The itinerary includes hiking on the Camino de Santiago, visiting the Basque country, kayaking in the Bay of Biscay, visiting some of Spain's most renowned museums and experiencing the unique art and architecture of Barcelona.  This adventure will be packed with culturally rich and memorable activities!   The following link has detailed information about costs, dates, itinerary, accommodations, safety and support.  https://walkingtree.org/programs/2022-ibw-spain-cultural-journey/
     
    Please email me directly at adurham@pps.net if you are interested in this travel opportunity.  Once I have a list of interested students, I will set a date for an informational meeting where families will have an opportunity to ask questions directly to Gabriel Duncan, our program coordinator with Walking Tree Travel. 
    ¡Vamos a España!
     
    Amy Durham
    Spanish Teacher

    *This trip is NOT a PPS District sponsored event.  
     
    Ida B. Wells senior Elle Smith is a published illustrator
    Elle has been an art student since her freshmen year, and has her first children’s book “The Piano” coming out February 3, 2022. “The friendly piano is thrilled when a young musician named Katie first presses its keys. As Katie and the piano become daily companions, her musical skills grow and grow. Together they play beautiful music to match her every mood. But when Katie moves away for college, the piano is left behind, untouched and silent. What happens next helps the piano—and young readers—see learning as a never-ending cycle and music as a life-long source of joy.” Learn more here - https://www.blackrosewriting.com/childrensmg/thepiano
    The Piano

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