GOPHER PARENT NEWSLETTER
GRESHAM HIGH SCHOOL, NOVEMBER 17TH, 2021
PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE
We are still in need of parents for our GHS Parent Booster Club. The GHS Parent Booster Club will be responsible for:
- Volunteering "ticket-takers" @ athletic HOME contest
- Volunteering for the concession stand support @ athletic Home contest
- Fundraising ideas & support
- Discussion of upcoming events
- Bi-Monthly virtual meetings to discuss ideas, topics, and needs for our student body
Our Gopher Parent Booster Club will be an organization of parents dedicated to the improvement of Gresham High School. If you have any questions or would like to know more please don't hesitate to reach out. We would like to begin our Gopher Parent Booster Club after winter break.
Please send an email to: shelton13@gresham.k12.or.us
Subject line: Parent Boosters
Body: Just indicate that you would like to be involved in our GHS Booster Club
I will reach out to all parents prior to Winter Break.
PARENT TEACHER CONFERENCES ON NOV 23RD & 24TH (Virtual thru Google Meets)
Gresham High has gone paperless by scheduling parent-teacher conferences online. To schedule your preferred time for a parent-teacher conference,
1. Go to https://www.myconferencetime.com/greshamhs/.
2. Click on the name of your child’s teacher.
3. Select the desired date/time for your conference by clicking on “Sign Up.”
4. Submit the requested information.
If you have several children attending our school, click on “Register for Multiple Conferences” and follow the prompts to schedule your children for several conferences.
After you schedule a conference online, the date and time are reserved for you. If you entered your email address correctly, you will receive email confirmation of your conference.
If you are unable to sign up for a time and date online, please send an email to your student's teacher requesting necessary information for your student.
We have included a short video below on how to sign up a student through the My Conference Time program.
Our Teachers are looking forward to seeing you on either Tuesday 11/23 or Wednesday 11/24 at the time you choose.
RESTROOM UPDATE
We will begin to open bathrooms after Thanksgiving break. We will monitor all bathrooms with the hopes of appropriate use thereafter. Students who aren’t using the bathrooms appropriately will have consequences and privileges taken away.
Parents, please continue talking to your students about the importance of making the right decisions. We continue to have vaping, fighting and other behaviors not conducive to our school environment.
STUDENT ATTENDANCE
When students improve their attendance rates, they improve their academic prospects and chances for graduating (attendanceworks.org). As we move through November, GHS wants to emphasize the value of students building a rhythm of school with consistent and on-time attendance. Consistent attendance can help students build confidence in their learning and reduce overwhelming feelings of needing to ‘catch up.’
Please regularly review your student’s attendance with them to ensure their choices are setting them up for success!
CHECKING STUDENT ATTENDANCE IN PARENTVUE:
Handout on how to check absences in ParentVue (English)
It is essential that students attend all periods of the day. A parent can see their student’s period attendance pattern by going to the Attendance screen of Student/Parent Vue and clicking the ‘Detail’ button on the bottom right of the screen.
Unexcused (X) means that a student missed class without a parent/caregiver contacting GHS. This may mean that a student was “skipping” class or that the parent/caregiver hasn’t notified GHS of the reason for absence yet.
Excused (✓) means that a parent/caregiver notified GHS of the reason for absence.
Please notify the school if your student misses all or part of the school day.
Call the GHS 503-674-5519 messages can be left in English and Spanish.
Email Cindi Acott Thurman, GHS Attendance Secretary, at acott@gresham.k12.or.us . Messages should be sent from the parent/caregiver email on file with the school and can be translated from multiple languages.
TRAFFIC PATTERNS MIGHT BE IMPACTING ON-TIME ATTENDANCE
GHS starts at 7:35am--we know this is early! It is important that students & families build in time for the morning traffic that develops around the school. If traffic has been a factor in on-time attendance, our school bus system is a reliable way for students to ensure that they make it to the start of the day.
A student’s bus route information can be located in the Student Info section of Student/Parent Vue.
Have you dropped your student off at GHS lately? If so, you know that the morning and afternoon traffic can be difficult to navigate. To help with traffic, we are encouraging students and families to walk, ride their bike, or ride the bus in lieu of being dropped off. For those that still need to drop off, here are some hints, tips, and guidelines to create efficiency, help your student get to school on time, and to keep you and your student safe.
Use our designated student drop off and pick up areas on Main Ave, rather than navigating traffic on Division.
When flowing through the Division parking lot, stay close to the car in front of you and keep the line moving.
Encourage your student to be ready to get out of the car as soon as you pull up.
It is dark in the morning. If your student is crossing the street to get to school, put a reflective strip on their jacket or backpack- or be sure they are wearing light colored clothing.
Please avoid stopping lanes of traffic on Division or Main to drop off your student- keep traffic moving to the best of your ability and pull over or into the lot to drop off.
Be courteous to fellow community members! We are all in this together- patience, grace, and kindness are encouraged and appreciated!
SUPERINTENDENT SEARCH
SUPERINTENDENT SEARCH
Tell us what you think!
The Gresham-Barlow School Board needs your input to help with the process of selecting the next superintendent of schools.
The Gresham-Barlow School Board is conducting a superintendent search to replace Dr. Katrise Perera who resigned on June 30. While the board conducts the search, James Hiu is serving as Acting Superintendent.
Your participation is essential
The school board needs your input to help with the process of selecting the next superintendent. To gather feedback, the school board is using a tool called ThoughtExchange so as many people as possible can participate. You can participate in a variety of languages including Spanish or Russian.
The School Board wants to know:
What should the new superintendent know about our District, and what important skills and qualities would help them be most successful in the role?
To participate, visit: bit.ly/GBSuptSearch
KNOW YOUR SCHOOL PARENT MEETING
LATE START WEDNESDAYS
On late start Wednesdays please do not drop your students off before 8:15 am. Staff have meetings during the non-student time and students will not be able to access the building until 8:15 a.m. As the weather turns wet and cold, students will be left outside.
HAVE YOU ORDERED YOUR CAP & GOWN FOR GRADUATIION?
If you have already placed your order, Thank You!!
IN SCHOOL ORDER DAY IS NOVEMBER 19TH DURING LUNCH
Click this button to order online!
CONTACT US
Jostens
11914 NE Sumner
Portland, OR 97220
(503) 255-7120
SENIOR ALL NIGHT PARTY FUNDRAISERS
COUNSELING UPDATE
November 2021
As we go into the winter season, we want to let our families know that if you are in need of resources (food, clothing, school supplies, etc.) during these cold months, please reach out to your student's School Counselor so that we can help connect you with resources.
Schedule corrections
Schedule Corrections for semester 1 are closed. We encourage all students to look at their semester 2 schedule to see if there are any errors. Now is a great time to get these fixed before semester 2 begins. The form to request corrections is available here in this link.
All Students receive meals at no charge for the entire 2021-2022 school year!
Students simply select their lunch from the cafeteria and then checkout at with their student ID#.
Even with universal access to food, some families may benefit from completing a Free or Reduced Meal Application. Students receiving Free or Reduced program meal benefits are eligible for reduced or waived fees in school program activities and athletics.
Pass/No Pass Grade
Attention Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors: The Pass/No Pass forms will be available on November 29th. This option allows you to request one elective class to be taken as a Pass/No Pass grade instead of a letter grade in order to save your GPA from a bad grade. Deadline to submit the form is December 17th at 3PM. Please email your School Counselor for more information.
Does your student need credit recovery?
Credit Recovery is now Free! This is for students who have a final grade of “F” or "NG" in a previous class. Please click this link to fill out the Credit Recovery Form
We are here to support you! If you are in need of resources or support, please check our resource page.
Grief Group Starting
Our partner organization, Trillium Family Services, will be offering a group for students who are processing grief for the death of a loved one. If your student is interested, they should contact their counselor or Kate Poland, our social worker.
Important Dates:
Semester 1
11/29/21 - Pass/No Pass forms available
12/17/21 - Pass/No Pass forms DUE
1/24/22 - Final Exam week
Semester 2
1/31/22 - Semester 2 begins
2/11/22 - Deadline for Schedule Corrections
COVID-19 TESTING INFORMATION
Students who exhibit COVID-19 symptoms while at school will have access to a COVID-19 test.
Following are some important details to know about the COVID-19 test:
- The test is VOLUNTARY. Students must have a “COVID-19 Testing Consent Form” on-file before a test can be administered to a student. The form must be fully completed and signed by a parent or guardian.
- Testing is intended for students who are exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms.
- COVID-19 symptoms include fever of 100.4° F or higher, chills, cough, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing and new loss of taste or loss of smell.
- Students are required to administer their own test by swabbing their own nose. A testing administrator will oversee the process and provide verbal instructions to the student.
- Testing will be conducted in the school’s Care Room or a private space.
- Students who exhibit COVID-19 symptoms on-site and are tested (whether positive or negative result) will be sent home. Further instructions will be provided at that time.
- Students who develop COVID-19 symptoms while not at school may not get tested at the school. Testing is only available for students who are already on-site and are exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms.
- Please use this information to decide what is best for your student. If you have more questions, contact the main office at 503-674-5500.
ONE PAGE BELL SCHEDULE
WHO IS MY COUNSELOR/ADMINISTRATOR?
COUNSELORS:
A-B & ACTIVE ELL - Julie Conroy, Counselor conroy@gresham.k12.or.us
C- HA - Andrea Parra, Counselor (parra14@gresham.k12.or.us
He-M - Contact Laura Blaser
N-R - Kathryn Sayer, Counselor sayer@gresham.k12.or.us
S-Z - Laura Blaser, Counselor blaser@gresham.k12.or.us
Kate Poland, Social Worker: poland2@gresham.k12.or.us
ADMINISTRATOR:
- A - Go Tori Maehara maehara@gresham.k12.or.u
- Gr-O Cheeri Schacht schacht2@gresham.k12.or.us
- P-Z Erika Beddoe-Whitlock beddoe@gresham.k12.or.us
SCHOOL CALENDAR
To access our school calendar please click on the Gresham High School like below this article. This will take you to our home page on our website. Our calendar is located on the left hand side of the page.