Wolverine News
January 18, 2022
West Orient Middle School
Website: gresham.k12.or.us/woms
Location: 29805 Southeast Orient Drive, Gresham, OR, USA
Phone: (503) 663-3323
Twitter: @WOMSwolverines
Dear Families,
Please carefully review the new article, Updated COVID Guidance for Schools. One important reminder: If you develop symptoms at any time, stay home. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to contact us at 503-663-3323. Thank you for your patience and understanding and for doing your part to keep our community safe.
Here's a look at important dates in the month of January:
- January 4: PTC Meeting, 6:30 PM, Virtual. (Link will be shared on our school website)
- January 17: Martin Luther King Jr. Day - No School
- January 27: Trimester 2: Midterm
- January 28: Teacher Meeting & Grading Day - No School
If you ever have any questions or concerns, I can be reached via email at catanese@gresham.k12.or.us or via phone at 503-663-3323.
Go Wolverines!
Ms. Elise Catanese
Principal
Wolverines are EPIC (Engaged, Persistent, Intentional, Career & College Ready)
Updated COVID Guidance for Schools
We have an update for you on changes to protocols and procedures we are following when it comes to isolation, quarantine, and contact tracing. Health experts continue to evolve their approach to treat COVID-19 as an endemic (when a virus is more manageable with greater population immunity) more than a pandemic.
These changes are from the Oregon Department of Education, the Oregon Health Authority, and the Multnomah County Health Department.
Changes to Isolation Guidance
Below are changes to the isolation requirements for those who test positive for COVID-19.
Students and staff can end isolation after 5 full days since symptoms of illness started and can return to school if they are fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medications and their other symptoms have improved.
Students and staff should continue to wear a well-fitted mask around others at home and in public places for an additional 5 days (day 6 through day 10) after the end of their 5-day isolation.
Changes to Quarantine Guidance
Below are changes to the quarantine requirements for those who come into close contact with someone who tests positive for COVID-19 in a school setting.
Students and staff who are identified as coming into close contact with someone with COVID-19 and ARE up to date with their COVID-19 vaccinations as defined by CDC will not need to quarantine.
Students and staff who are identified as coming into close contact with someone with COVID-19 and are NOT up to date with their COVID-19 vaccinations as defined by CDC should quarantine for 5 days or may qualify for Test to Stay.
Students and staff who tested positive for COVID-19 in the last 90 days do not need to quarantine if they are identified as a close contact with someone with COVID-19.
Those who come in contact with someone who tests positive for COVID-19 outside of the school setting and ARE up to date with their COVID-19 vaccinations as defined by CDC will not need to quarantine. Those who are NOT up to date with their COVID-19 vaccinations will need to quarantine for 10 days starting with the day that symptoms start for the positive individual.
In addition, all staff and students who are identified as close contacts should wear a well-fitting mask around others for 10 days from the date of their last close contact with someone with COVID-19 and watch for symptoms of COVID-19. Health authorities recommend getting tested at least 5 days after having close contact with someone with COVID-19. If they test positive or develop symptoms, they should follow recommendations for isolation.
One important reminder: If you develop symptoms at any time, stay home. For more details, including requirements for anyone who tests positive, please see Multnomah County’s quarantine chart.
These new guidelines have been implemented by Multnomah County and have been adopted by GBSD and the other six school districts in the Multnomah Education Service District.
Changes to Contact Tracing/Test to Stay/Test to Return
Schools have been advised to change course on contact tracing. This means you may not get a notification if your child is exposed. As resources allow, schools will prioritize contact tracing only in the following circumstances:
Exposures during mealtimes (breakfast and lunch) when masks can’t be worn.
Any indoor learning or extracurricular activities that do not include masks, such as band, choir, athletics.
Read the Multnomah County Health Department Letter on Changes to Contact Tracing
Test to Stay will continue to be available for identified exposures during the school day. Given the changes to isolation and quarantine guidelines, Test to Return is no longer applicable. We previously announced we would begin twice-weekly communications listing which schools have had COVID-19 exposures. Based on the changes above, these notifications are no longer applicable and will be discontinued.
During this period of high transmission of the Omicron variant in our communities, we know the best protections under these circumstances are vaccines, boosters, and masks to avoid serious illness. Please continue to monitor for COVID-19 symptoms and stay home if you have any of the symptoms.
Immunization Exclusion Day
Immunization Exclusion Day is February 16th, 2022. Your student(s) should be up to date with any of their required vaccinations to remain in school by February 16th.
If your child has recently received their vaccinations, or if you would like to check the status on your child's vaccination record, you can email Tamara Cochran @ cochran20@gresham.k12.or.us or feel free to contact the office at (503) 663-3323.
Here are some available School Based Health Clinics.
Girls Basketball Starting Soon
If your 7th or 8th grade student would like to participate, they will need complete the Out of School time form and have a current sports physical on file. Forms are attached below. Doctors/physicians may use their own physical form in place of the GBSD Physical Form.
OST (Out of School Time) Form - English
OST (Out of School Time) Form - Spanish
Homework Club
Homework club will be offered on Tuesday's and Thursday's from 3:40-4:40 PM.
To participate, students/parent must complete an OST (Out of School Time) form. Please complete and return to the office as soon as possible!
OST (Out of School Time) Form - English
OST (Out of School Time) Form - Spanish
Please call the school office if you have any questions, 503-663-3323.
Library News
Thanks to our successful bookfair, we have lots of new books to "check out" in the library! Kick-off 2022 by reading a great book!
Legacy Health Vaccine Clinics
Dear Families,
West Orient Middle School would like to provide as much information as possible on opportunities for our students and their families to receive the COVID-19 vaccination should they choose to do so.
Legacy Health will be holding COVID-19 vaccine clinics at North Gresham and East Gresham Elementary Schools during December and January.
See the Flyers below for details:
If your child has received updated Immunizations, including Covid, please send or email your documents to our Health Assistant Pamela Mattecheck at mattecheck@gresham.k12.or.us.
You can also FAX them directly to West Orient at (503) 663-2504. If you have any questions, please contact the main office at (503) 663-3323.
Covid Testing Consent Forms
Dear WOMS Families,
We are required to have Covid testing consent forms on file in the event we need to test your child for Covid.
Please note: Testing kits are only available for students that are symptomatic. We are not a COVID testing clinic and do not offer testing to families and community members.
Please complete a form and return or email authorized forms to mattecheck@gresham.k12.or.us
Covid Testing Consent English (Fillable)
Covid Testing Consent English (Printable)
Rights & Responsibilities Handbook
Dear Parents,
The Parent/Student Rights and Responsibilities handbook for the 2021-2022 school year is available to review.