Elmira High School

During this school closure we want to remind the community that our fields and athtletic facilities are also closed to the public.  The one exception to this is our track.  However, in order for the public to continue to utilize the track we ask that you follow these policies:

1. Social distancing guidelines as outlined by the CDC must be followed when using the track.
2. No bicycles allowed at anytime on the track surface or infield.
3. No dogs allowed at anytime.

We understand the need to provide a safe space for walking and jogging and we would appreciate your help by abiding by these guidelines.

Elmira High School’s office will be closed on Friday, April 17th due to a planned power outage for EPUD maintenance work.  Teachers and administrators will be working remotely that day and will be available by e-mail from 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM.  The voicemail system will be down from 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM.

Elmira High School is committed to making our distance learning for all available digitally to our students as widely as we can.

Elmira High School will begin our Chromebook Loan program this week.  The first round of Chromebooks will be made available to families that indicated a need for a device in our Household Technology Survey.

Our first round of handouts will take place from 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM on Wednesday, April 15th.

In order to receive a Chromebook on this first date you must have either completed the technology survey that was completed last week or have called the school by 10:00 AM Tuesday morning to indicate your need.

Families that have not completed the survey or called can still receive a Chromebook on Thursday, April 16th from 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM.  We do ask that if you haven’t completed the technology survey that you call 541-952-7022 to share your information with us or complete the survey on Thursday when you come to get your device.  Chromebooks will be available at the front of the high school and we ask that you maintain proper social distancing while waiting to receive your Chromebook.  A use agreement will be included with the device and is also available for you to view on Covid-19 Closure page on the FRSD Website.

April 13th is quickly approaching and our staff has been hard at work preparing for distance learning for our students.  We know that there will be growing pains as we work through this and our teachers will be providing students with lots of flexibility around due dates, and we are working hard to make sure that the work load is reasonable.  This post is to provide you with some important information for next week and the weeks ahead.

1. All EHS teachers have created a Google Classroom for your students’ classes.  This will be the primary place for your student to receive and submit their work.  For families with challenges related to technology we will provide packets, but we are hopeful that this platform will be accessible for the majority of our students through either a computer, tablet, or smart phone.
2. Teachers will be communicating weekly with your students using a conferencing platform called Google Meet.  Expect an invitiation for meetings that will begin sometime next week for some classes, full implementation of Google Meet will start the week of April 20th.  Students can call into this meeting with any telephone.  These meetings will happen during set times every week by class period.  The schedule is in the attachment below.
3. We are close to wrapping up our technology survey, once that data is compiled and we have protocols in place we will be distributing Chromebooks to families that need them.  This should happen sometime late next week.  In addition, we will be providing tech suppport for you as we move further along with our distance learning plan.  Please look for more information on our website next week,  in the mean time please call the high school with your questions.
4. If your student has received an invitation for a Google Classroom from their teacher please accept that invitation.  Many teachers are already posting announcements to their classroom in preparation for Monday.
5. On every teachers’ Google Classroom and in every packet, teachers will post a weekly plan that they will discuss during their weekly meetings.  Included in this plan will be learning goals, assignments, and tips for parents.  Teachers will have office hours every day from 8:00 AM – 4:0o PM so do not hesitate to reach out via phone or email if you have specific questions of your students’ teacher.
6. Please be patient with us as we roll out this process.  We know this will be messy at first and our initial goals are primarily to get your student comfortable with this new style of learning.  In a perfect world we would be together in class.  Our teachers are committed to providing their students with a quality experience during this time and are excited to get back to regular interactions with their students.  Please grant us the same patience and grace that we will be granting your children as we navigate this challenging time.
7. Homeroom teachers will be calling on Friday, April 10th to check in and see if you have any questions and need any help as we prepare for Monday.
8. Please do not hesitate to call if you have questions.  We are available everyday to answer your questions.

Distance Learning Class Schedule

Rick Gardner – Principal, Elmira High School

After Governor Brown’s announcement yesterday stating that K-12 schools will be closed for the rest of the school year, OSAA followed later in the afternoon with their announcement that the 2020 spring sports season also will unfortunately be canceled.  This also means that our district facilities will also be closed. We will be offering three options for the spring sports fee:

Option #1:  A full refund of the balance paid. The check will be mailed.

Option #2:  A credit of the balance paid to your student’s school account to be used at a later time for class fees, fall sports, field trip, etc.

Option #3:  Donate the balance to EHS Athletics.

In the next week, you will receive a phone call from a staff member at EHS that will ask which option you would like to choose for the balance of this sports fee. If you haven’t heard from anyone regarding your refund by Thursday April 16th, please feel free to contact our bookkeeper Julie Bothel at 541-935-8200 extension 2210 or email her at jbothel@fernridge.k12.or.us .  Coaches should be communicating with you and your athlete about time to come to get personal equipment, while maintaining safety with appropriate social distancing, from the softball and baseball facilities soon. Also, OSAA still needs to decide about the status of summer activities and so that announcement will be at a later date. If you have any questions please feel free to contact me also at 541-935-8200 extension 2202 or swartenbee@fernridge.k12.or.us.  I hope everyone is safe and healthy.

Of course the weather is beautiful and the fields look great.  Thank you for all of your hard work everyone! Stay safe.

EHS will be participating in “Be The Light” along with other schools around the state of Oregon. At 20:20 military time, each Friday night, the football field lights will be on for 20 minutes in honor of our 2020 seniors. As students, families, and community members drive by and see these lights, we hope that our students will know that we are thinking of them and miss seeing them each day!

If parents and students feel that they would like to drive on campus to see the lights, you must maintain social distancing to stay safe, please stay in your cars, park in designated parking spots, and be respectful to our campus and neighbors.

The last thing we want is to have to end this special gesture to our seniors because these guidelines are not being followed.

SCHOOLS CLOSED: At a 1:00 PM news conference, the Governor of Oregon closed our “physical schools” for the remainder of the school year.  Schools are now fully charged to provide “Distance Learning” through the rest of the 2020 school  year.

PATHWAY TO GRADUATION FOR OUR SENIORS: The state just released this 25-page document, that outlines the pathway to a diploma for our senior students.  If you would like to review the document, I have attached it here (click here).  Over the next 24 hours, I will be working on a 1-page summary of this document, along with EHS staff.  I will post that summary tomorrow and will share our plan here in Fern Ridge, which is aligned with the requirements of this document.

9TH-11TH GRADE GUIDANCE:  ODE has not released this specific guidance yet.  As soon as they do, we will share this information.

DISTANCE LEARNING: This will begin next week, Monday the 13th.  Teachers and administrators are working hard to roll this out.  Having said that, now that we know we will be using this model through the end of the school  year, we will be starting slow.  It will look different at the various grade levels. We will get better at this with each passing day.  Our staff is committed to serving our families and students for the next eight weeks or so with this model.  We also understand that not only is this a challenge and heavy lift for our staff, but it is a heavy lift for our parents and families as well.  We will work alongside our students and families in the days and weeks to come to meet your needs.

Gary E. Carpenter, Jr. Superintendent, FRSD 28J

As we begin to get our Distance Learning for All plan off the ground we understand that you may need access to books, supplies and other learning materials.  Elmira High School will be allowing access to the building by student last names beginning tomorrow and Thursday using the following schedule:

A-C   9:00-9:20

D-F   9:20-9:40

G-K   9:40-10:00

L-M   10:00-10:20

N-P   10:20-10:40

Q-S   10:40-11:00

T-V   11:00-11:20

W-Z   11:20-11:40

Please do your best to abide by the last names listed as we are charged with maintaining social distancing guidelines when students are present and we may have to limit access during these windows if we have a large  number of students come to get books and supplies.

If for some reason you cannot make it during these times on Wednesday and Thursday please call the school and we can work to arrange another time.

Beginning last evening EHS staff members are calling for an assessment of your home technology access and needs.  We will use this information to determine how best to serve our students during this challenging time.  We are still looking for more detailed guidance from the Oregon Department of Education around how to award credit, assess work, and award grades.  As soon as we know those plans we will be communicating that to families.  We will be sending more detailed information about our distance learning plan, access to the building to get books and supplies, and the plan for 12th grade later this week.  Thank you to everyone for your patience as we navigate this challenging situation.

Rick Gardner – EHS Principal