Bonny Slope Elementary
April 20, 2020
____________________________________________
PRINCIPAL AND VICE PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE
Dear Parents,
As we passed out Chromebooks over the past two weeks, I could see the emotion and exhaustion in your faces. Coming to school, seeing familiar faces, wishing for a year that was meant to be instead of one that limits human contact was a lot for anyone to grasp. While Zoom can connect us in ways that would not have been possible years ago, it is no substitute for what we had and will have months from now. We are working on finding ways to keep the connection between staff and students remotely and will continue to do so until we can get back to business as usual. We want our students and their families to know that they truly matter to us and that we miss everyone SO much!
This week is Volunteer Appreciation Week. We are working on a staff thank you which will be sent out within the next week. The volunteers at Bonny Slope give a tremendous amount of their time to ensure that the students have an enriching experience and a community that feels connected. We want all of our volunteers to know that we appreciate the time and energy you spend for students and families at Bonny Slope. You are second to none and a very important part of our community. Thank you!
Teacher’s learning curves have been quite steep over the past month, and so have the learning curves of the students’ parents. We know that most parents are not trained classroom teachers and have found being their child’s tutor rather difficult if not frustrating. Additionally, being able to give feedback to your child “in the moment” is not always welcomed by your little learners. This not completely different than what we experience at school. The difference? Many students are more likely to challenge their loved one at home than their loved teacher at school. They understand the role of the teacher at school. The parent at home has a much broader and different role. Give yourself grace when trying to move your child forward with academics. Much learning comes from time, reflection and experience. Ask questions, cheer your learner on when facing difficult assignments, and know that we will have your back and support your child’s learning when they return to school. While our teachers are not able to give feedback to their students in the same manner they could without the virus, we know your feedback in helping students feel positively about their learning will have a lasting effect.
Some have asked what the difference is between Phase 2 and Phase 3 learning. Phase 2 learning was supplemental and optional lessons that covered previous learning. Phase 3 learning covers new standards with new learning. Parents are asked to support their child by having them participate in lessons and by giving feedback similarly to a tutor. This learning happens at a time that work best for the family. Lessons are recorded if students cannot participate in live Zoom meetings. Students that do not have access to internet are given other means to learn such as packets. This is called asynchronous learning.
This Friday is a teacher workday/professional development day. Originally, we were going to have a parade throughout the attendance areas of Bonny Slope this Friday. However, because this day is for teacher learning and planning, we will move the parade to Friday, May 1st at 10:00am. Maps, information, etc. will be sent out later this week. Additionally, please note that teachers will not be contacting students on this day.
Have a child whose birthday was in March? Jim and I will have “breakfast with the principals” for March birthdays this Wednesday. Students will get the Zoom invite from their teacher sometime before Wednesday morning. We chose breakfast to avoid interfering with class times. If your child cannot make this early morning get-together, no worries. We will have make-up birthday lunches when we return in the fall! April birthdays will be celebrated soon!
As we start to form classes for next year, grade level teams use a number of data points about each student. If you have input that will help understand your students specific needs please fill out this form by May 15th. Parent Input Form 2020-2021
Wishing everyone good health, sunny days, and a week filled with learning!
Janet Maza and Jim Hiller
___________________________________________
COUNSELOR'S CORNER
From Counselor's letter sent 4/15/20
Dear BSE Parent/Guardians, April 15, 2020
I have heard from many teachers over the last week about how rewarding it has been connecting with students and families. They have seen favorite stuffed animals, new lego sets that have been created, and introduced to pets galore. I have also been able to connect with several students by an individual check-in, phone call, guidance lesson and/or zoom lunch bunch. Even though it has been nice not having to rush them back to class after 20 mins or cleaning up my office from the random food scraps left behind :); it is definitely not the same.
I am guessing that many of you have been facing additional challenges negotiating a new schedule along with your regular home and work demands. I know that some families don’t yet have a device and/or access to the internet. I’ve heard from other families that their children cannot get online due to family expectations around internet use when parents are not available to supervise their children. I know that many of you are still leaving your homes for work and others of you are working from home and can’t support your children during the workday. Personally, I have found it quite difficult to support my 7-year-old with his homeschooling expectations while trying to work from home. I create a schedule every night for our day and something always happens. The computer isn’t working properly, I can’t find the right password for the google meeting, Flynn doesn’t understand his classroom assignment, it’s snack time, it’s lunchtime, etc… I am trying to give myself some grace, but it is hard. It is hard for everyone involved, yet I see many opportunities for kindness, creativity, family togetherness, exercise and connecting with others.
Mrs. Williamson (Student Success Coach/Reading Intervention Teacher) and I have been providing Social Emotional Learning lessons to all students through the teacher’s preferred classroom platform. She is working with grade K-2 and I am working with grades 3-5. Social-Emotional Learning is the process through which children and adults acquire and effectively apply the knowledge, attitudes, and skills necessary to understand and manage emotions, set and achieve positive goals, feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain positive relationships, and make responsible decisions. We hope this will make things a little more balanced in your household.
Sincerely,
Tiffany Rodgers
Resources for Parents:
Sometimes the best way to build our own resilience is to send our best intentions out for those around us. Send some loving-kindness into the world with this practice for adults.
Self-Compassion Break Practice for Adults
____________________________________________
Student Plans for 2020-2021 School Year
To help us plan for next year please complete this short form to let us know your student's current plan for the 2020-2021 school year.
____________________________________________
UPDATES from Beaverton School District
Below is information for your reference that has been sent previously by BSD.
Phase 3 - Remote Learning
On Monday, April 13, 2020, we will begin Phase 3 of our Remote Learning Plan that will carry us through the remainder of the school year, June 12, 2020.
Attached you will find three documents, the Remote Learning Parent Letter, What Does Remote Learning Look Like, and the Four Pillars of Remote Learning. We know this is a lot of information, and you will have a lot of questions. We have created a form for you to ask those questions on our Remote Learning webpage. Please feel free to submit your questions at any time and we will work to answer them as quickly as possible.
What Does Remote Learning Look Like
Four Pillars of Remote Learning
Student Help Desk is Available
Please contact the Student Help Desk if your student(s) need help with BSD student devices or applications. Students can email the help desk at shd@beaverton.k12.or.us or call (503) 356-4656 for support. Ensure you include a student/parent name, school, student number, and a phone contact number. Please visit this link for more information.
Chromebooks For Elementary Students
Parents or guardians of elementary students still needing a Chromebook should inform their child’s teacher. Teachers will collect this information and schools will follow up with you for Chromebook pick-up instructions.
If students and families need access to translation and interpretation services, please use this phone number list to leave a message with a bilingual facilitator or complete this online form and someone will contact you. Additionally, all translated COVID-19 related materials can be found on the COVID-19 Resources webpage under each of the language tabs.
#bethelightOR
Every Friday night April 10, 2020 through June 12, 2020 at 8:20 p.m. (20:20 military time), all BSD stadiums will light up for 20 minutes in honor of our seniors. Please do not congregate on or near stadiums and observe all social distancing rules.
Grab and Go Meals/Bus Stop Meal Distribution Update
K-12 students and children ages 1-18 years old may pick up meals at any of the dedicated sites for the Grab and Go Meals. Meals are also available at a number of bus stops. Children do not have to be a student at a particular school to receive meals. Here is a link with more information. Beginning Monday, April 13, Westview High School will be added as an additional Grab & Go school site.
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
If your family has been financially impacted by the coronavirus crisis, you may qualify for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or SNAP. SNAP offers food benefits to eligible, low-income individuals and families. Those qualifying for SNAP benefits are automatically qualified for school Meal Benefits as well. See if you are eligible and learn how to apply for benefits by visiting: oregon.gov/DHS/ASSISTANCE/FOOD-BENEFITS
Schools are Closed/Trespassing
As per Governor Brown’s direction all schools are closed for the remainder of the school year. Community members continue to gather on school property – in parking lots, fields, and stadiums – and this is trespassing. District Administrators may contact law enforcement and report trespassers as needed. Approved events where community may come to schools include Wi-Fi access for families, Chromebook distribution, and other school led events.
Remote Learning Photos
We want to take this opportunity to remind our families to respect the privacy of other students, and not to take and/or share photos/screenshots of children who are not their own during Remote Learning activities, including virtual classroom instruction and meetings.
The District policy remains the same for Remote Learning - any student who has been opted out of Directory/Media Exclude will not be included in any photographs or videos shared by schools or the District.
The Wellness Weekly
We hope you and yours are safe and well. We appreciate all you are doing every day to maintain that safety and wellness for you, your family and your school community. You matter and your work matters. We know this pandemic is associated with increased uncertainty and stress. We also know using trauma-informed approaches (like resilience) to promote wellness we can actively grow those parts of our brains that will help us weather adversity and bounce back better when we can finally get back to being in the same room with each other.
To that end, please read the first issue of The Wellness Weekly https://www.smore.com/4vew1.
Safe Routes to School WE Walk Challenge
Thank you to our District Families for participating in the first week of the Safe Routes to School April #WEwalkchallenge! So many amazing photos of flowers were submitted! The winner for week #1 is Anna Hoffmann, kindergarten student at Oak Hills Elementary. She will receive a new bike helmet when school resumes! Congratulations, Anna!
This week we are encouraging families to submit photos of insects and bugs and will select another helmet winner at the end of the week.
Budget Committee Meeting - April 20, 2020 - Public Comment Open
The Budget Committee will meet on Monday, April 20, 2020 at 6:30 p.m. to discuss the budget for the fiscal year July 1, 2020 to June 30, 2021.
With the COVID-19 state-wide restrictions and in keeping with the efforts of social distancing to reduce the spread of the coronavirus, the meeting will be conducted virtually, rather than in person. Please use the following link for the livestream feed during the meeting:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGCsl4R0vYcEcVMkLBl-cqQ
The purpose of the meeting is to receive the budget message and to receive comment from the public on the budget. Any person may make public comment on the proposed programs with the Budget Committee.
The Budget Committee will only accept written comment or testimony for the April 20, 2020 meeting. Please submit comment or testimony electronically to https://forms.gle/6Km9Tohpvt5PZwCF7 or by USPS mail addressed to the Beaverton School District Budget Committee, 16550 SW Merlo Rd., Beaverton, OR 97003. Clearly label as public comment or testimony. All public comments submitted by 5:00 p.m. on April 17, 2020 will be presented to the Budget Committee at the April 20, 2020 meeting. The Beaverton School District Budget Committee remains committed to the public comment process and will consider all public comments submitted.
A copy of the proposed budget document will be available on the Annual Budget webpage on or after April 17, 2020.
Virtual Town Hall Q&A
The Beaverton School District will host a Virtual Town Hall on Wednesday, April 22, 2020 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. The event will be livestreamed on Facebook. Community members can ask questions in the comments. Administrators on hand to answer questions in real time include: Superintendent Don Grotting, Deputy Superintendent of Operations & Support Services Carl Mead, Deputy Superintendent of Teaching & Learning Ginny Hansmann, Associate Superintendent of Business Services Mike Schofield, Chief Information Officer Steve Langford, Executive Administrator for Student Services Danielle
Middle School Boundary Adjustment Process Postponed
Due to the closure of the District for the remainder of the current school year, the Middle School Attendance Boundary (MSBA) Advisory Committee will not resume its meetings during the time of school building closure. If reopening of school buildings is authorized by Governor Brown, the District will reconvene the MSBA advisory committee in August 2020. The District will post notice of the next committee meeting at least ten (10) days prior to the meeting. Opportunity to submit written comment will resume at the same time notice is posted.
Student Enrollment
The Beaverton School District began the Remote Learning Plan on Monday, April 6, 2020. As of that date, teachers began working with students. Schools are to begin processing student enrollments to ensure we are serving those students new to our community and those who were made inactive during the COVID-19 school closure.
For students returning to the Beaverton School District (who were withdrawn) please contact your school for re-enrollment guidance. For students new to the Beaverton School District, please visit the Online Registration Webpage.
Staff will mark students active in this situation, and make the effective enrollment date Monday, April 6, 2020. Requests to withdraw a student from the Beaverton School District will be processed in the same way as before school closure. Please contact your school regarding withdrawals. Oregon requires children to be either enrolled in a public school, private school, or registered as a homeschool student with their local Education Service District.
Donate to the Beaverton Schools Community Resources Fund
The Beaverton School District is now accepting donations from the greater Beaverton community to support community-wide efforts to provide food boxes, toiletries and other essential items to our families during this emergency situation. Food Banks are working hard to remain stocked to feed communities. There are many Beaverton families who struggle economically even in the best of times, and this fund will enable the Beaverton School District to work with community partners to serve our families. We use this fund to triple the buying power and thus increase the amount of families we can serve, a number that increases daily. Pass this on to friends and neighbors (we can also honor matching dollars!)
To make a donation to the Beaverton Schools Community Resources Fund, visit
https://or-beaverton-lite.intouchreceipting.com/,
Select “Beaverton School District” under School
Select “Beaverton Schools Community Resources Fund” under Item
Add a donation amount
Click on Buy
Click on Checkout
We started by serving 200 families and are currently serving 650 families. WE would love to serve more ...and more often. Please consider donating to the Beaverton Schools Community Resources Fund today! Together WE are better!
Bonny Slope Elementary
Principal: Janet Maza
Assistant Principal: Jim HIller
11775 NW McDaniel Rd.
Portland, OR 97229
Phone: 503.356.2040
Attendance: 503.356.2041
Attendance email: