Elmira High School

Late last night school districts received notification from ODE, directing us to shift from delivering supplemental materials, to one of distance learning for all.  This is going to take some time for our team to unwrap all of the challenges around this and get a plan in place.

For now, our supplemental materials will stay up on the COVID-19 CLOSURE page.  In the coming days I would anticipate families will receive another phone call/survey so we can assess the technology resources our families have available to them, including devices, internet connectivity, and cell service.  Plans will be made for families that have none of these things, to ensure all students have an opportunity to continue their education.

We will continue to work through this ever evolving landscape.  We ask for your patience and flexibility during this transition.

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

Families and Students:

Over the past few days the district staff have made significant progress.  In the main menu above, you should now see a tab that says “COVID-19 CLOSURE.”  This page will contain information and links on most topics around school closures going forward, including all supplemental learning resources.  We will update these supplemental learning resources each Wednesday.  The first update from the initial information available now, will be April 8th. The only thing not currently included in these links are “printable packets.”  We hope to have those available by Wednesday, April 1st.

As I mentioned in the last update, all families should expect a call tomorrow or Tuesday.  If you do not receive a call by the end of the day Tuesday, please contact your respective school between the hours of 10:00 AM and 2:00 PM beginning Wednesday, April 1st.  If you have multiple students in the District, you will probably receive multiple calls.

Thanks for your continued patience as we navigate this new way of doing things.

Families, please share the information below regarding information that will be coming out over the next few days on a wide range of topics related to our closure. Thanks for your patience as we navigate these challenges.

1. MEAL SERVICE: Meal service continues tomorrow and Monday at our 4 locations that we have previously shared. We are looking into possibly increasing this late next week and could implement bringing lunches around on school bus routes, stopping at respective bus stops. We will keep you posted if we get this place, and share the information immediately. The only change in regards to serving meals that we have recently received from ODE and our Federal Partners is that we no longer have to physically see the children. Parents can pick up meals for their children without them being physically present.
2. SUPPLEMENTAL LEARNING: This weekend, I will be publishing a new page on our website that will share a wide range of topics related to school closure issues. One of them will be supplemental learning resources for all grades K-12 in most subject areas.
3. PHONE CALL: Expect a phone call from your child’s homeroom teacher (or some other staff member) on Monday. In this call, we will be touching base, answering any questions that we can, and most importantly, asking if you can access the online resources we have posted. If not, would you like resources mailed home once a week. Please understand these are simply resources to keep your student(s) engaged and make things easier for parents. They are not required, they will not be graded, and they will not be turned in (although students can certainly share with their teachers some of the things they did during this closure when they return).
4. 12TH GRADERS:  State leaders are prioritizing creating a pathway to graduation for High School seniors. As soon as that information is released from ODE, we will share it and begin to have one on one phone calls with our senior students and families to discuss their path.

Finally, in speaking with several teachers today, they are eager to find new ways to support and engage with their students in the days and weeks to come. We will be publishing an updated list of contact information for all our staff. All teachers will begin maintaining virtual/remote “office hours” from 10 AM – 2 PM daily where they will be available to communicate via email or phone with students and parents.

Gary Carpenter, Superintendent, FRSD 28J

New for next week, the district will have FOUR sites where meals can be picked up.  To be able to do this, we had to work to get ODE approval, and jump through a few hoops.  A big thanks to our Chartwells staff for their assistance, as well as First Student who will be helping with bus drivers.  All sites will continue to operate from 11:00-12:30 M-F.

The four sites are.

1. Veneta Elementary:  Site will continue to operate as it has been.
2. The Noti store parking lot:  A school bus will be at this location with meals from 11:00-12:30
3. The church parking lot at 25391 Jeans Road:  A school bus will be at this location with meals from 11:00-12:30
4. The Farm Store Parking lot at 87774 Territorial Hwy.  A School bus will be at this location with meals from 11:00-12:30

School offices will be open this afternoon from 1:00 to 4:00 today for parents or students who need to come pick up a personal item from a classroom or locker.

Feel free to email your building administrator if you need to make other arrangements to pick up an item.  Please do not come to the school if you are not feeling well or have any symptoms of an illness.

Lisa Leatham – Veneta Elementary – lleatham@fernridge.k12.or.us

Michelle Marshall – Elmira Elementary – mmarshall@fernridge.k12.or.us

Olivia Johnson – Fern Ridge Middle School – ojohnson@fernridge.k12.or.us

Rick Gardner – Elmira High School – rgardner@fernridge.k12.or.us

FRSD Families:  Some general information and updates:

1.  Meal service begins tomorrow at VES– Drive through and pick up only.  Kids must be in car.  Ages 1-18 are served! 11:00-12:30
2. Virtual or remote learning:  At this time, the district is not pursuing this option.  That may change if the mandated school closure extends.  One important perspective I would share with parents around the topic of continuing academics during the closure is this.  It is OK if parents want to engage in this, and try to support their students academically.  It is ALSO just fine to allow your kids to be kids during this closure.  The way adults respond and act around this pandemic can cause significant stress and anxiety.  There is absolutely no reason to add to that stress and create conflict between parents and students by forcing academic time.  Every child is different, so some may welcome this, however for most, simply having a 30 to 60 minute reading time (especially at the elementary and middle school level) of some fun book that they would enjoy is plenty. Your child is going to get far more during these two weeks off during this stressful time, by just being allowed to be a kid.  Bottom line, keep the academic stress low.
3. The district office will remain open through the closure, schools will not.  Staff will return to the buildings on Monday, March 30th.  If something changes around the mandated closure, we will notify folks immediately.
4. Assuming students return on Wednesday, April 1st, expect that Friday “non-school” day to be changed to a school day.  More information to come as decisions are made.
5. Continue to practice social distancing and appropriate hand washing and other measures during this break.
6. Feel free to contact the district office if you have specific questions at 541-935-2253, or email me at gcarpenter@fernridge.k12.or.us

Gary Carpenter, Superintendent-FRSD 28J

Below is updated information.  Please keep in mind that as we have seen over the past few days, things change rapidly.  The district will continue to put out information here, through Superintendent Carpenter Facebook, and through the use of our phone dialer system.

• The Governor has ordered schools from Monday March 16th through Tuesday, March 31st, resuming Wednesday, April 1st.
• In Fern Ridge we are going a step further and closing today, Friday, March 13th.  The primary reasons include:
  • Staffing shortages for us to operate effectively
  • To support the concept of social distancing immediately, rather than waiting.
• All FRSD staff will report to work today, Friday, March 13th.  Schools and classrooms will be open for anyone that needs to come in and get anything they left in their classrooms, lockers, e.g. textbooks, personal items, etc…
• We will be working with our food service company to explore any opportunity we can to continue to provide services next week.   More info on that coming.
• When schools are closed, all school activities are cancelled and any outside organizations using the facilities are cancelled as well.

As a follow up to the previous post regarding Governor Brown’s order, below is a summary of that order as it relates to schools.

• Large gatherings (250+ people) are suspended through April 8th.   This applies to organized public gatherings, not stores, malls, etc.
• Schools are not being closed, but non-essential school activities such as parent meetings, allowing spectators at sporting events, and field trips are cancelled.
• The Governor emphasized that school closure will be a last resort.
• The Governor emphasized that these measures are being taken to:  1.  Slow transmission of COVID-19 and 2.  Preserve hospital capacity for the most severely impacted individuals.

Below is what that will look like in Fern Ridge, at least for the next couple days or until guidance changes, or further guidance is given.

1. All non essential school activities are cancelled or postponed.  This includes auctions, dances, athletic competitions, performances and field trips.
2. High School athletic practices will continue as an extension of the school day, and “social distancing” will be practiced.
3. All athletic competitions are cancelled through April 8th.
4. Our food service company, Chartwells, is researching any recommended changes to when and how we serve meals as an additional protective measure.
5. Our staff will be reviewing ways they can integrate social distancing best practices at their buildings.
6. For some essential school activities, such as school board meetings, we will be incorporating reduced agendas and the meeting location will likely be moved to a larger space.  That information will be posted soon.

To be clear, we are taking every step possible so that we can continue to provide high-quality education and opportunities for all of our students and keep our schools open.

We realize that this decision will impact every school community, and we know that many of the events that are being suspended are ones that schools, students and families look forward to all year long. Suspending these events is consistent with guidance from health authorities, and we believe it is a prudent and responsible step to take at this time.

Friday, March 6th is a no school day at Elmira High School.   As an additional reminder Day Light Saving Time begins on Sunday, March 8th  so don’t forget to set your clocks ahead an hour Saturday night.