Patterson Elementary
Parent Blast - January 11, 2022
Updates & Thank You
Thank you for your partnership in working through this COVID surge. At Patterson we have been able to keep cases, close contacts and quarantines low and this in large part to the hard work of our community. Our staff has been working hard to tighten and maintain safety protocols at school. Our office team was trained on and started implementing the Test to Stay protocol to reduce quarantine times. Our families have done a great job calling in signs, symptoms and close contacts to our attendance and office lines, as well as sending in vaccination cards. Our goal in HSD and at Patterson, is to keep students in school, in-person and we are doing a great job - thank you!
We need your help at recess:
We continue to be allowed to remove masks when outdoors, but are still required to have students (and staff) distance. This is a struggle for most primary students when they are playing. Please help us out by reminding your children to space out from peers and/or to wear their mask. Staff will be reminding students of this and letting them know that they need to wear a mask if they are not able to distance.
Recently there have been some changes to close contact, un-vaccinated, asymptomatic quarantine. Students in this group can now test between days 3-5 and return on day 6 if they send us a negative test. This has been reduced by 2 days.
The state has brought forward the Test to Stay program and we have volunteered to pilot/start this prior to full implementation. This program allows us to do the following:
- Test students and staff that are deemed close contact at school with parent permission
- Test students and staff that have a primary symptom at school before sending them home with parent permission
- If the person is a close contact, unvaccinated, is asymptomatic and gets a negative test, they can remain at school and will NOT have to quarantine
- If the person has a primary symptom and gets a negative test, they will go home until symptom free (follow Too Sick For School Guidance).
- If the person has a primary symptom and gets a positive test, we can contact trace at school quickly and the person will go home to start their quarantine.
Yesterday we were able to keep 16 students at school!
If a student or staff member is fully vaccinated and asymptomatic, they do not need to quarantine if deemed a close contact.
Tomorrow night we have our monthly Booster Club Meeting. You may attend in-person or use this Google Meet link to attend. I will be reviewing this protocol and answering question at the end of the meeting. You can also email them to me.
Google Meet joining info
https://meet.google.com/jaa-txsa-fyy
Or dial: +1 415-604-1018 PIN: 512 760 825#
Last Friday we sent home the letter attached below to all fourth and fifth grade families. We will continue to accept feedback/input from these families through Thursday, January 13th. We hope to share changes next week and are in the final stages of hiring for this position. Unfortunately I am unable to provide individualized responses to every parent in this situation. My response will be short, but my intent is not to be stand-offish. Please know that I am reading through every one and considering this feedback as we make class changes.
Here to serve,
Jamie Lentz
Principal, Patterson Elementary
Important Dates
- January 12 - Booster Club Meeting, 6:30 pm (see below)
- January 14 - No School for Students, Student/Staff Support Day
- January 17 - No School, Martin Luther King Jr. Day
- January 28 - No School, Teacher Grade Day (Report Cards)
- January 31 - No School, Teacher Work Day
- February 1 - First day of the second semester
- February 6 - Report cards coming home
Booster Club News
Patterson Spirit Wear orders were delivered to teachers Thursday afternoon. We had some mistakes with ordering quantities and sizes delivered. If your order has been impacted by this, you will be contacted by Martha Gilbert. We did not sent home partial shipments as we wanted to contact you first. If you have any questions about your order, please email her at mjeangilbert@gmail.com.
Thank you all for your support and have fun wearing your Patterson gear! We may have some extras available for purchase, come to the next Booster Club meeting on Wednesday, January 12 to find out more details!
Please take a few minutes to fill out this off-site auction survey and help us plan!
Booster Club Meeting
Wednesday, January 12th, 6:30 pm
Join in person or use the Google Meet link below to join virtually.
Google Meet joining info
https://meet.google.com/jaa-txsa-fyy
Or dial: +1 415-604-1018 PIN: 512 760 825#
REVIEW: Smarter Balanced Assessment (State Testing)
3rd - 6th graders will take the SBA Math and SBA Literacy assessments in May. 5th graders will also take the OAKS Science test in May.
Kindergarten - 6th grade students that are English Language Learners (ELs) and have not previously passed the English Language Proficiency Assessment (ELPA) will also take the ELPA in March.
We encourage all students to participate in these assessments. While no single test can give a complete picture of your child’s progress, statewide tests provide educators and administrators with information about what educational approaches are working and
where additional resources are needed. Your child’s participation is important to ensure schools and districts receive the targeted resources they need to help all students succeed. If you do not want your child to participate, please read and fill out the attached form and send to Mrs. Lentz - lentzj@hsd.k12.or.us.
REVIEW: Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE)
As part of our health education program, our district provides age appropriate, comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) for all students, K-12. All instruction is based on Oregon Law and the Oregon Health Education Standards and Performance Indicators adopted by the Oregon State Board of Education in December of 2016.
Three key laws guide our sexuality education efforts:
Human Sexuality Education (2009),
Healthy Teen Relationships (2013), and
Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Education (2015)
In communication with superintendents and principals, the Director of the Oregon Department of Education, Colt Gill, explained that “These laws provide for consistent instruction, are based on the most current evidence and best practices, and equip students with the knowledge and skills to realize their health, well-being, and educational goals. Sexuality education supports young people with skills to delay sexual initiation, prevent unintended pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections (STIs), promote their own health, and reduce sexual violence, harassment, and bullying.” In the Hillsboro School District, we are committed to the delivery of this content by skilled, caring, and dedicated staff, in safe, inclusive environments.
HSD’s Comprehensive Sexuality Education Plan includes the right of parents/guardians to be notified of upcoming sexual health lessons, to review instructional materials, and to propose alternative learning activities for their student(s) if they choose to.
Our CSE lessons will begin mid-March at Patterson. We are currently finalizing dates and times for each class and will send them out by the end of January.
As a parent/guardian, we encourage you to learn more about our K-12 Comprehensive Sexuality Plan and teaching materials. To make this as easy as possible, we have posted documents on our Comprehensive Sexuality Education Plan website that outline the standards, curricula, and instructional materials used at each grade-level. (Note: If/when materials cannot be posted online due to copyright restrictions, you may call the school and make an appointment to view them in person.) Remember, parents/guardians have the right to utilize our opt-out process if they wish to have their student(s) participate in alternate activities during sexual health instruction (Opt-Out Form).
If you have any questions/concerns about the health curriculum, please don’t hesitate to reach out!
Additional Information
HSD’s Health Education Overview
ODE’s Health Education Website
ODE’s Sexuality Education: Frequently Asked Questions
HSD’s Resources for Families
New Teacher Coming to Patterson
We have had some challenging numbers in 4th and 5th grade this year and ultimately had to start with a blended classroom. This fall we have welcomed additional students in these grades, and we will be welcoming more families back at the end of the first semester. In response to this increase and to best serve our students, we will be adding an additional teacher to the 4/5 team. Mrs. Lentz and the team have been meeting to determine how to best utilize this additional staff member and will be sending a letter home to our 4th and 5th grade families this Friday, January 7th, to communicate our plan and next steps.
Please reach out to Mrs. Lentz if you have any questions - lentzj@hsd.k12.or.us.
REVIEW: Crystal Apple Nominations Open
Below you will find information from the Chamber on Crystal Apple Nominations for 2022. As always, please reach out if you or your child would like help nominating one of our amazing staff members.
Nominations are now being accepted for the 2022 Crystal Apple Awards, sponsored by the Washington County Chamber of Commerce. Crystal Apple Awards celebrate excellence in education and are awarded to staff in the categories of licensed, classified, and administrator. If you know a staff member who goes above and beyond to enhance the educational experience of students, please nominate them by Monday, Feb. 28, 2022. Additional information can be found on the Chamber’s website or by contacting Sara Zwicker, director of special events, at 503-726-2145 or SaraZ@WCChamber.org.
REVIEW: Vaccination Status Update Available
Community Resources for Families
Food Pantry
Attendance Line
Thank you to our families for calling students in sick on our attendance line and sharing symptoms. This has helped us to communicate with families regarding timelines for return and kept our building safe and healthy. If you have not done so already, we encourage you to save our attendance line number in your phone: 503.844.1385
Paul L. Patterson Elementary School
Email: lentzj@hsd.k12.or.us
Website: https://www.hsd.k12.or.us/patterson
Location: 261 NE Lenox St, Hillsboro, OR, United States
Phone: 503-844-1380
Facebook: facebook.com/PattersonHSD
Twitter: @PattersonHSD