Principal's Newsletter
Sam Barlow High School ~ October 2021
Sam Barlow High School
Website: https://www.gresham.k12.or.us/sbhs
Location: 5105 SE 302nd Ave, Gresham, OR, United States
Phone: (503) 258-4850
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sam-Barlow-High-School/106146596083423
Twitter: @BarlowPride
FROM PRINCIPAL BRUCE C. SCHMIDT, JR.
Well, here we are, almost a full month into the school year. The fall weather is settling in with cool nights and mornings and those glorious sun filled days we so enjoy. We are enjoying back to school events, the excitement of Friday night football games, and having students in the building full time for in-person instruction. Getting back to some of those traditional school experiences has been welcomed and appreciated.
This has been an amazing start to a school year. The students have been excited to be in the building, have been working to establish routines, and manage the day to day rigors of school. We know that the last year and a half has been rough for students and that the transition to getting up every morning, getting to the bus and to school, going from class to class, and using that brain all day long can be a bit tiring. Please be sure to check in with your students and see how they are managing the workload and schedule. We are far enough into the year to have built up some stamina, but the school year is a marathon and not a sprint. Building strength each and every day will be critical for long term success.
While we have enjoyed the start of the year it has not gone without challenge. We have been faced with Covid exposures, quarantines, and navigating a life in masks. Staff have been working hard to manage a transition to our new learning management system called Canvas, which will ultimately serve as a fantastic online resource for both students and families. We know it has been difficult for students who have faced a quarantine and we are doing our best to close those gaps and provide the best possible experience we can when students are absent. As with anything new there will be growing pains and we are definitely growing again this year. Thank you for your patience and understanding.
As we move through this school year please know we are here to support both you and your student. You can always reach out to your student's teachers for assistance or reference the contact information at the bottom of this newsletter to help determine who can best provide help when needed.
Be safe, stay healthy and Go Bruins!
SCHEDULE REMINDERS
- Wednesday, October 6th is a Late Start
- Thursday, October 7th NO SCHOOL for students due to a Grading Day
- Friday, October 8th NO SCHOOL for students due to a Statewide In-Service
SIX-WEEK PROGRESS REPORTS
Our school year is broken up into two semesters that are eighteen weeks long. During the course of the semester there will be two progress reports that will be recorded, with one at six weeks and a second at twelve weeks. Progress reports are designed to share how your student is currently performing in class and is not a permanent grade. This week marks the end of our first six week grading period. Grades for this progress report will be posted in ParentVue and StudentVue by Wednesday, October 13th.
On Wednesday, October 13th you should have received your student's progress report through ParentVUE. Please be sure to review your student's progress to either congratulate them on their performance, or strategize about ways to improve.
If you student did not perform to expectation, or is currently failing a class, please consider the following strategies to help them:
- Monitor grades at the end of each week and go over those with your student. Pay close attention to missing assignments. It is always better for students to turn in work that is partially done versus taking a zero on the assignment.
- Work with your student to set goals around performance. Try to make these goals a week at a time so you can "check things off the list" regularly showing progress towards a bigger success. Setting goals is a great life skill that will help everyone.
- Work with your student to set expectations that help them become a bit better each day. Using those daily successes builds into weekly goals, which then builds into long term success. This process is a great path to long term achievement.
- You can always reach out to your student's teachers to get additional help or ask questions about what your student can do to improve their grade.
Keep in mind that this is a progress report and there is time to both celebrate successes and recover if there is room to grow. The most important thing to do at this time is to check in with your student and have conversation about school, learning about what it is they are doing in class, and searching out support if needed.
BUILDING DEDICATION
In 2016 the Gresham Community voted to pass a school bond measure that resulted in just over 70 million dollars of construction and updates for Sam Barlow High School. We are excited to share those updates with the community on Saturday, October 30th at our Dedication Ceremony.
We will be hosting our Dedication Ceremony from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm with several great activities that will showcase the work that has been done to make Sam Barlow High School a phenomenal place for students and our community. See the agenda below:
11 am to 11:30 am Remarks and Ribbon Cutting in Front of School
- Principal (MC)
- School Board Chair or Designee
- Student
- Superintendent
- Barlow Sound to sing the National Anthem and Alma Mater
11:45 am -12:05 pm
- Musical Performance by Barlow Jazz Band in the Auditorium
11:45 am to 1 pm
- Self-Guided Tours
- Video Showing(s)
- Barlow Sound performs on Stadium Stairs in the Bruin Commons
We would love to see you celebrate and enjoy the amazing work that has been done at Barlow. Please join us for this dedication!
CLASS OF 2022
Seniors, the time has arrived, time to start planning for Graduation! Jostens has already mailed graduation packets home to Seniors. The packets include order information for your cap and gown, class ring and other Senior swag items. Orders can be placed online between October 5th-12th. Place your orders this week and be entered into a drawing to receive your graduation order for free.
Along with a cap and gown, students can also order a variety of apparel items if they choose. Apparel items ordered October 5th-12th will be available for pickup at Barlow on October 19th at lunch. This will only be pickup for apparel items, your cap & gowns, rings and announcement orders will be delivered in the spring. You can also turn in order forms on October 19th at lunch.
To access key dates and information regarding the Class of 2022, please visit the Senior Page on our website. You can also get more information about what Jostens offers on their website jostens.com.
KNOW YOUR SCHOOL
In order to connect with our school community, Principal Bruce Schmidt will be hosting a monthly parent meeting on the fourth Monday of each month. During this meeting, Mr. Schmidt will present on a variety of topics to inform participants of what is taking place at Barlow. These meetings are never "one way" as Mr. Schmidt will gather input from parents and guardians to help make the Barlow experience quality for all.
The meeting dates for the 2021-22 school year are: 10/25, 11/29, 1/24, 2/28, 3/28, 4/25, and 5/23. The meetings begin at 7:00pm and end at 8:30pm and will be conducted virtually through the use of Google Meets. Each month an invitation will be sent to you with an agenda via email outlining the topics for discussion along with the link to the Google Meet. We look forward to seeing you at the end of this month.
PARENT VUE
ParentVue offers parents and guardians the ability to check their student’s attendance, assignments, grades and demographic information online. It is a very convenient method for keeping track of your student’s academic performance.
Those who have accessed this service in the past will still have an active account.
If you have not used this service in the past we encourage you to set up an account. To get an account contact Brandie Seibel in Student Management at seibel6@gresham.k12.or.us and she will send you an Activation Key that will enable you to create an account online at your convenience.
If you have an account already, but forgot the password, simply go to the login screen of ParentVUE and click the forgot password link and a password reset process will be sent to you via email.
SCHOOL MEALS UPDATE
The Gresham-Barlow School District will offer breakfast and lunch at no charge for all students in all schools through June 2022! We still want families to submit an application for Free/Reduced-price meals because this helps the district get the most out of federal, state, and grant dollars.
Are you looking for part-time work while kids are in school? Nutrition Services is hiring friendly people to help support student success by providing nutritious meals. Apply online for a school kitchen near you.
SCHOOL ATTENDANCE
Sam Barlow High School recognizes the importance of consistent attendance as a driver of student success. Accurate attendance records are also an important part of maintaining student and community safety. We look forward to partnering with parents and guardians to support students as they rebuild the habits of attending school in person.
Please inform the Barlow Attendance Office of a partial or full-day student absence as soon as possible. Parents/Guardians may call the the Attendance line at 503-258-4860 to leave a message in your home language. A student may also bring a written note from a parent/guardian or doctor to the attendance window in the main office. Students can visit the attendance window before school, during lunch, and after school.
Barlow utilizes standard systems to inform parents/guardians of student absences through automated phone messages and the ParentVUE attendance screen.
COLLEGE AND CAREER CENTER
Sam Barlow High School is home to an amazing College and Career Center. Patty Neuenschwander, our College Coordinator, is consistently finding ways to connect students with scholarship opportunities, hosting presentations from colleges and universities, and helping students with the college application process. LindaLee Frazier, our Career Coordinator, works to provide students with exposure to career opportunities by linking local businesses to classrooms, hosting presentations from business leaders, and connecting students to apprenticeship programs, the military, and local job options. These two work tirelessly to provide opportunities for your student.
Please see their newsletter for incredible details and current opportunities:
MAIN OFFICE FAQ'S
What are the office hours?
7:00am - 3:30pm daily
Closed on holidays and some inservice days
What is the main office number?
503-258-4850
Can I leave a message for my student?
Yes. If necessary, we can take messages from a parent or guardian only. Messages will not be delivered to class except in an emergency, but will be held in the office. Students are paged during designated paging times, and it is the student’s responsibility to pick up the note.
Can I bring a present or send flowers/balloons to a student?
We are unable to accept gifts, flowers/balloons for students. We will refuse all attempted deliveries.
Can I deliver coffee/specialty drinks to my student?
No. We will not accept any Dutch, Black Rock, Country Coffee, etc.
Additional questions?
Please call us! 503-258-4850
WHO CAN HELP?
If you have concerns about your child’s schedule or other issues, the following are the staff to contact. Email is a quick way to get answers to the questions you might have.
COUNSELORS
A-D Shae Morris morris62@gresham.k12.or.us
E-K Erin Boelow boelow@gresham.k12.or.us
L-Ra Oscar Rethwill rethwill@gresham.k12.or.us
Re-Z Molly Ninneman ninneman@gresham.k12.or.us
LICENSED SCHOOL SOCIAL WORKER
Kimberly Louvin louvin@gresham.k12.or.us
HS SUCCESS COACH
Paul Quirke quirke@gresham.k12.or.us
ENGAGEMENT SPECIALIST
Ryan Alexander alexander9@gresham.k12.or.us
ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS
A-G Celeste Pellicci pellicci@gresham.k12.or.us
H-O Jason Bhear bhear@gresham.k12.or.us
P-Z Kelly Hart hart29@gresham.k12.or.us