Whitford Newsletter
April 7, 2021
Principal Message
April 2021
Hello Whitford Families,
It’s hard to believe that Spring Break has passed, the NCAA basketball tournaments are over, and major league baseball opening day has come and gone. However, we are just a few weeks away from welcoming our hybrid students back into our building.
I had the opportunity to see and meet with the Whitford staff for three days of professional development at the end of March. It was exciting to see familiar faces and not just rectangular faces on my screen. There was a boost of energy and anticipation as if it was August getting ready for the first day of school.
In some respects, we will be treating the first few days of hybrid as the first days of school. Students will need to get oriented with the school, their in-person teachers, and all the COVID-19 safety measures that need to be put in place in order for everyone to stay safe.
I want make our priorities for the last eight weeks of school very clear. Our first priority is safety. So much as changed with all the COVID-19 protocols, we will spend time teaching, reteaching, and answering questions so students feel confident that our school is safe and any anxiety is diminished. This, on top of regular middle school safety, is enough to keep us all busy for many weeks.
Our second priority is addressing the social emotional health of all of our students, both those in front of us as well as the students who remain at home. We will have advisory lessons, classroom discussions, icebreakers, and other activities that build community. We are also using our counselors to focus on students who are at home in CDL. We are well aware that anxiety and depression is rising in our students and we are working on systems to help any student who might need support during the transition to hybrid or who continues at home.
Our third priority is bringing back some sense of academics as we all used to know it. This has been a difficult year for students and teachers as we all learned how to teach and learn very differently. We will continue to carefully press students to get back into academic habits and “doing school” like we remember before March of 2020.
What can parents do to help? Here are a few ideas to work on with your student over the next few weeks to prepare for hybrid.
- Practice wearing a mask for longer periods of time.
- Get in the habit of going to bed earlier and getting up earlier.
- Limit or eliminate screens after a certain time in the evening.
- Make sure your Chromebook is charged nightly.
- Parents, talk with your student about how different school might look and not to be shocked with changes that in all likelihood won’t be what they were hoping for. Start by reviewing the new schedule that will be in place for Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday.
- If your child is feeling anxious, let them know we are all doing this for the first time and we all have grace and understanding.
- Watch and review the video about what to expect when you return in person https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d3vregy4WXk
Finally, on Wednesday, April 14th from 6:00-7:00pm, I will be hosting an English back to school information session for student and parents to hear about some of the changes and what to expect upon your return to campus.
The Spanish version will be the following day, Thursday, April 15th from 7:00-800pm.
We are excited to see students again. It’s not a long period of time, but it’s the first step of getting back to some sense of normalcy. I also want to thank all the teachers, parents, students, relatives, support staff, and anyone else who has supported this CDL process.
Be well,
Brian Peerenboom
Principal
What will HYBRID Look Like?
Our LITT teacher, Ben Lloyd put together a video for what HYBRID will look like at Whitford.
Which Days Will your Student Attend?
How to check your hybrid/CDL choice and your attendance group.
1) Go to Parent Vue
2) Go to Student information
3) Scroll to the bottom
4) Select Additional information
Please contact the school office if you are having trouble locating this information.
New Schedule Starting April 19th
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday
Wednesday Schedule Beginning April 21st
Student Immunizations
Whitford Student Newspaper
Below you will find the April edition. The News section has some amazing work around current events and Women’s History Month. Of course, if you’ve never read Radek’s food articles, they are incredible.
https://sites.google.com/bsd48.org/twt-issue-whitford/home?authuser=0
Thank You Parents and BEF for Funding Another Technology Class Project
Tyler Smith, Technology Teacher, was funded another exciting project from Parents and BEF.
This project provides the opportunity for our students in 6th, 7th, and 8th grade to design, develop, and create their own products. A vinyl cutter, 3D printers, and CNC router will give our students an exciting experience to be creative in their designs, while simultaneously learning important career building skills. Not only is this an extension of our district CTE programs, but it provides a unique opportunity for our younger students to experience this as well.
Whitford Science Fair
Thank you very much for your support at home while your child(ren) worked on these projects. Their hard work is quite evident when you view these videos and slide presentations. We are so proud of our Whitford students! Enjoy!
https://sites.google.com/beaverton.k12.or.us/whitfordscienceengineeringfair/home
UpGrade Parent Information Night
Wednesday, April 7th 6:00 - 6:45pm. on Zoom
ID - 544 250 3893 Passcode - VooDoo
(An invitation was sent home last week to all UpGrade families.)
We hope to see you then. Mr. Sieg
State Testing
Beaverton School District will be participating in state testing this year for students returning to school. More information about state testing will be forthcoming. The forms to opt out of testing are below.
SPANISH
Lifeworks Present Strengthening Families Spring Classes
TAG Testing
Every year students are considered for Talented and Gifted services in the Beaverton School District. These services are provided by your child's classroom teacher(s). Oregon law and District policy define gifted students as those who score at or above the 97th percentile on a standardized, nationally normed test of mental ability and/or academic achievement in reading and/or math. Behavioral, learning, and/or performance information is also considered before a student is identified for TAG services.
TAG testing in math and reading will take place at Whitford at the end of April. Teachers have been collecting evidence on how your student responds to differentiation within their distance learning classroom. This evaluation may include file reviews, teacher and student observations, a collection of work samples, and/or individual or group assessments. If your student’s teacher has nominated your student for TAG testing in reading or math, you will receive a letter requesting permission to test by the beginning of April.
Parents also have the right to request TAG testing in the areas of math or reading for their student. If you feel strongly that you would like your child to have the opportunity to qualify for TAG services, you must complete the Parent Information Form that is linked here. Forms should be emailed to kelley_mckay@beaverton.k12.or.us. Forms must be received by Thursday, April 15th by 4:00pm. Please feel free to contact Kelley McKay if you have any questions. If you have specific questions about testing for the SUMMA program, you should contact Heidi Hanson at the district office.
Students are Back in School -- Drive Carefully
As students return to schools for in-person learning this month, arrival and departure times may be different than you are used to. While traffic and activities around Beaverton schools may look different, one thing is for sure – kids are out and about in our community. Some kids may be returning to school buildings while others will be continuing to learn remotely and taking breaks outside during the day. Safety is everyone’s responsibility! Kids are everywhere. #DriveLikeIt.
Driving Safety Tips
Our community needs everyone to drive safely, be alert, and follow traffic laws, especially when observing students walking, biking, skateboarding, and scootering. Let’s work together to keep our students safe!
· Stop for school busses when red lights flash. Both directions of traffic must stop.
· Watch your speed. 20 mph is the school zone speed limit.
· Be ready to stop at all times. Kids may dart into the street without checking for traffic.
· Stop for people at intersections and when asked by the crossing guard. Check your blind spots before turning and behind your vehicle before reversing.
· Drive for conditions – This time of year is often rainy and foggy limiting visibility for drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians so keep those headlights on to help others see you.
Inter District Transfers
Inter District Transfer forms for 2021-2022 are available beginning April 1, 2021. There are TWO ways to apply for an Inter District Transfer. More information is available on the TRANSFER website.
For more information call Nicole Will or Cris Filer, 503.356.4413
Upcoming Events
*April 7 Upgrade Parent information night 6-6:45PM Zoom
ID - 544 250 3893 Passcode - VooDoo
*April 8th Outdoor School Campfire 7PM
https://beavertonk12.zoom.us/j/88486497890?pwd=My9jc3JIY251ckRsWDFjT3ZDM0VDZz09
Meeting ID: 884 8649 7890 Passcode: 333539
*April 14 Back to School meeting with the Principal 6-7PM English
(Zoom meeting information coming out next week)
*April 15 Back to School meeting with the Principal 7-8PM Spanish
(Zoom meeting information coming out next week)
*April 19 Hybrid Begins – Group 1 (Monday/Thursday)
*April 19 – New time schedule for all Whitford Students
*April 20 Hybrid Begins – Group 2 (Tuesday/Friday)
Pademic Funding for Families
- Nutrition Services continues to offer free MEALS to all BSD children aged 1-18 with no Meal Benefits application required. This will continue until the end of the 2020-2021 school year.
- New Information: The Pandemic Electronic Benefits Transfer (P-EBT)program, through DHS, will offer MONEY to families who qualify for Meal Benefits. The money is being offered to help families purchase groceries during the pandemic.
- Families who meet the criteria in this list for the 2020-2021 school year will receive P-EBT funds. No application or further action is needed by families who:
Have students only at CEP schools (families who have students at CEP and non-CEP schools need to apply for the non-CEP students to receive funds)
Have children who qualify for SNAP or TANF benefits
Have children with Homeless, Foster, Migrant, or Runaway status
Have applied and been approved for Meal Benefits at any time during the 2020-2021 school year. - Families who do not meet any of the above criteria need to apply right away for Meal Benefits if they wish to be considered for P-EBT funds. Online applications are strongly encouraged, using www.schoolcafe.com. The SchoolCafe website supports English and Spanish applicants.
- Paper Meal Benefits applications, in both English and Spanish, are available at all meal pickup sites and all school offices.
- For more information, follow this link: https://www.beaverton.k12.or.us/departments/nutrition-services.
- If you have questions, please call Meal Benefits at 503-356-3957 or email to NS-MealBenefits@beaverton.k12.or.us.
- Los Servicios de nutrición continúa ofreciendo comidas gratuitas a todos los niños de BSD de 1 a 18 años sin necesidad de solicitud de beneficios de comida. Esto continuará hasta el final del año escolar 2020-2021.
- Nueva información: El programa Pandemic Electronic Benefits Transfer (P-EBT), a través del DHS, ofrecerá DINERO a las familias que califican para beneficios de comida. El dinero se ofrece para ayudar a las familias para comprar comestibles durante la pandemia.
- Las familias que cumplan con los criterios de esta lista para el año escolar 2020-2021 recibirán fondos P-EBT. Ninguna solicitud o acción adicional es necesaria para las familias que:
Tener estudiantes solo en las escuelas CEP (familias que tienen estudiantes en las escuelas CEP y no CEP necesitan solicitar para los estudiantes que no son CEP para que reciban fondos)
Los niños que califican para beneficios SNAP o TANF
Tener a niños con condición de personas sin hogar, adoptivos, migrantes o niños desaparecidos
Han solicitado y sido aprobados para beneficios de comida en cualquier momento durante el año escolar 2020-2021.
- Las familias que no cumplan ninguno de los criterios anteriores deben solicitar de inmediato beneficios de comida si desean ser consideradas para los fondos de P-EBT. Se recomienda que las solicitudes sean en línea, utilizando www.schoolcafe.com. El sitio web de SchoolCafe apoya a los solicitantes de inglés y español.
- Las solicitudes de beneficios de comidas de papel, tanto en inglés como en español, están disponibles en todos los sitios donde se levantan las comidas y en todas las oficinas escolares.
- Para obtener más información, siga este enlace: https://www.beaverton.k12.or.us/departments/nutrition-services.
- Si tiene preguntas, llame a la oficina de Beneficios de comida al 503-356-3957 o envíe un correo electrónico a NS-MealBenefits@beaverton.k12.or.us.