Ashland School District
Inspiring Learning for Life
Superintendent's Update 3-12-21
Ashland School District
En español. Utilice el botón "traducir" en la parte superior derecha.
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Email: Catherine.Carne@ashland.k12.or.us
Website: ashland.k12.or.us
Location: 885 Siskiyou Boulevard, Ashland, OR, USA
Phone: (541) 482-2811
Facebook: facebook.com/ashlandpublicschools/
Superintendent's Update: Quick Facts
- K5/K8's return to campus
- Ashland High School and Middle School March 29
- Spring Travel Advisory
- Public Access to Campuses - We Need Your Help
- Pick-Up and Drop-Off
- Student Highlight: AHS Senior Adelle Robison - NCWIT Award
- Sports and Athletics: Who's playing?
- Bond Update
- Sports and Athletics Guidance
March 12, 2021
Dear Ashland Families, Students and Community Members,
It was March 12, 2020, that we got the word to move schools to distance learning due to COVID-19. So much has transpired since then globally, nationally and locally. As you prepare for Spring break, I want to recognize the tremendous challenges our schools, families and community have navigated and the successes we have shared during this time. I also want to offer a brief update on the work and good news ahead.
I want to thank all of the K5/K8 teachers, staff, students, parents and guardians for a tremendously successful return to on-campus hybrid learning the last two weeks. I had the opportunity to visit each of our sites and see first-hand the joy in our youngest learners as they made their way from drop-off to their classrooms - our kinders for their very first time.
On March 29, Ashland High School and Ashland Middle School students, as well as upper grades at John Muir and WIllow Wind, will return to a hybrid campus model. Final details of individual schedules will be coming to you from the schools next week. AHS will have physically-distanced on-site campus tours for incoming 9th grade and any new students next week so watch your emails for details. AMS teachers are orienting 6th graders and other students new to campus through Zoom as well.
On March 5, Governor Brown announced the return of in-person hybrid or fully on-site learning state-wide. Under the current Oregon ‘Ready Schools Safe Learners’ guidance, schools must continue to meet the required physical distance of 35 square feet per student on-site and 100 or fewer peer contacts in a week. Districts vary in their capacity to serve students on-site in these constraints. The Governor’s order allows schools to offer full on-site or campus hybrid programs based on capacity. Schools must also continue to offer distance learning for families that request it. The state provides a dashboard showing schools' re-opening status here. The great majority of Oregon schools are likely to continue in hybrid models this school year.
On March 19, the Oregon Department of Education will release the 11th full revision of ‘Ready Schools Safe Learners’ guidance for Oregon schools for assuring student safety on campus. State guidance has continued to evolve as data around COVID transmission has been reviewed. While we don’t anticipate sweeping changes this year, we are hopeful for continued good news for Oregon students and families as schools throughout Oregon plan for the fall.
Summer plans? We are currently planning summer experiences for students K-8 that will focus on academics, enrichment, and engagement. We will share more details soon. The high school will offer credit retrieval opportunities as well.
Please take this Spring break to rest and engage in fulfilling activities to the extent your circumstances allow. Make sure your kids get the rest and recreation they need to be fresh for the months ahead.
Think too of the administrators and teachers, and allow them time with their families. Emails can wait until school returns on March 29. Everyone needs time to ‘sharpen their saws’ to be ready for the learning to come.
Thank you for making our schools great places for kids and the community. Have a safe and restorative Spring break and welcome back to campus.
Samuel
Samuel Bogdanove
Superintendent
Ashland Public Schools
Pronouns: He, Him, His
Spring Break Travel Advisory
It has been wonderful to have our K-5 students back on campuses the past couple of weeks and we are looking forward to the return of our secondary students to campuses on March 29th.
As we head into spring break, one thing to keep in mind is that there is still a travel advisory in place for the state of Oregon due to Covid-19. If your family will be traveling out of state, it is recommended that you self-quarantine for 14 days.
If your student is in quarantine but scheduled to start hybrid on the 29th, they may participate through CDL until the quarantine period is completed. As we see new variants develop, it would be a good idea to make sure your student is not affected before sending them to campus.
Public Access to Campuses - We Need Your Help
Please help us keep our campuses safe and clean for kids.
We are experiencing increased reports and evidence of inappropriate or illegal use of school campuses including:
- Individuals accessing construction zones at AMS and Helman
- Individuals accessing campuses during school hours
- Individuals bringing dogs onto campus or allowing their dogs to leave waste on playgrounds
- Individuals accessing campuses for purposes other than pick-up/drop-off during the school day
The above activities are unlawful and contribute to unsafe or unclean situations for members of the public and our students. Please assist us in keeping our campuses great places for kids and the community at appropriate times.
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC MAY NOT ENTER CONSTRUCTION ZONES UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES FOR SAFETY REASONS. INDIVIDUALS WHO FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THIS RESTRICTION MAY BE PROSECUTED UNDER OREGON LAW.
Pick-Up and Drop-Off
Because of the procedures required to check students into class and to check students out of class, it is critical that you stick to the drop off and pick up times your school has communicated.
Students must remain off campus until the allowable time communicated to you by your child's school, and they need to arrive during the drop off window.
We are also not able to accommodate early pick-up unless there is a true emergency or pre-arranged medical appointment. If you have a situation come up that requires late arrival or early pick up, it is best for your student to stay home that day.
Thank you for partnering with us to make this transition as smooth as possible!
Student Highlight: Adelle Robison - NCWIT Award for Aspirations in Computing
AHS Senior Adelle Robison won the 2021 Oregon and Southwest Washington Affiliate Award for Aspirations in Computing (AiC) for the National Center for Women and Information Technology (NCWIT). This is a spectacular achievement!
Congratulations, Adelle, for being recognized by NCWIT with the Award for Aspirations in Computing (AiC)! AHS instructor, Alex Roscher, says Adelle demonstrates an outstanding aptitude and interest in computing and technology. Adelle was selected by the regional affiliate based on significant demonstration of the following:
- Progression in computing experiences and technical skills
- Leadership through teams, clubs and teaching peers
- Participation in computing-related extra-curricular activities
Sports and Athletics: Who's playing?
BOYS' CROSS COUNTRY
BOYS' SOCCER
GIRLS' CROSS COUNTRY INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY
What are we building? Bond Promise Update - Construction is happening!
For resources and updates on construction progress, please check out the ASD Bond Promise Web Site or just drive by Ashland Middle School and Helman Elementary.
Helman Principal, Michelle Cuddeback, caught this Wall Raising on video!
Sports and Athletics Guidance
Sports seasons have been happening in Ashland since the fall under strict safety guidelines laid out by the OSAA. Our sports teams' safety metrics are tied to our county’s level of risk, rather than the school guidance we get from the 'Ready Schools, Safe Learners' guidance that ODE has provided. This year, we have operated in both the “extreme risk” and “high risk” categories, which have different expectations. See chart below: