GOPHER PARENT NEWSLETTER
GRESHAM HIGH SCHOOL, OCTOBER 21ST, 2021
Open House/ Building Dedication
Community Celebration
Please join the Gresham High School community, as we celebrate the Gresham High Building Dedication & Open House. There will be performances from:
Theatre
Band
Choir
Our New Spirit Squad
Classrooms will be open for walk-throughs, as you peruse the building. We are excited and long overdue for this event!
SUBSTITUTE SITUATION
How we can support
GHS has experienced a high rate of substitutes to begin the year. The metro area has a substitute shortage for various reasons. Due to the low volume of available substitute options, some classes experience a new teacher each day. We know this has had an impact on student engagement.
Students who have experienced a high volume of substitutes within a particular class should have received a “P” (Pass) for the 6-week progress report.
Students within this category have been notified via email. Please tell your student to check their Student accounts for this information.
We are continuing to work with local agencies and universities as we find substitutes that will support our mission of engaging students, providing relevant assignments, and being culturally responsive in their lesson planning.
We will continue to update you as we move forward in our process.
CELL PHONES
Classroom Teachers are experiencing a high number of students using their cell phones during class. Teachers will continue to reset proper use of cell phones in each classroom throughout the month of October. If we continue to see inappropriate use of cell phones during class we will go to a school-wide ban on cell phones during the school day. I will update students & families as we continue to monitor the use of cell phones.
RESTROOM CLOSURE
Due to continued student violations of vandalism, vaping and other inappropriate behaviors the Administrative team has decided to lockdown the multi-use bathrooms on the 2nd & 3rd floor.
As we continue to monitor the use of the restrooms we are continuing to see students making choices that aren't allowing us to open the multi-use bathrooms. Next week I will have a Google Meets during Advisory to provide students with an update.
We know this is not the majority of the student population. However, the “problem” is that we need to make a decision that impacts all of our students, in the name of safety. Please attend the next Know Your Schools- Parent Meeting for updates and answers to your questions.
Parent Booster Club
- Volunteering "ticket-takers" @ athletic HOME contest
- Volunteering for the concession stand support @ athletic Home contest
- Fundraising ideas & support
- 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 reach out:
Subject line: GHS Parent Booster Club
KNOW YOUR SCHOOL PARENT MEETING
Parent Meeting
Tuesday, November 2nd · 6:30 – 7:30pm
Google Meet joining info
Video call link: https://meet.google.com/typ-rpvq-eha
Or dial: (US) +1 413-893-3079 PIN: 338 071 180#
More phone numbers: https://tel.meet/typ-rpvq-eha?pin=4088813535105
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.
SCHOOL PICTURES & RETAKES
School Picture packets that were ordered at the beginning of the year are here. Packets that have not been picked up will be delivered during students' Advisory classes this week.
PICTURE RETAKES are this Friday, October 22nd from 8:00 am - 1:00 pm. If your student was did not get their picture taken at the beginning of the year please let them know to go to retakes.
GRESHAM HS SENIOR ORDER WEEK:
GRADUATION ONLINE ORDER WEEK HAS BEEN EXTENDED TO MONDAY, OCT. 25th
Pick up your extra tassels, yeardate key ring, and class of 2022 senior swag at school on Friday October 29th during lunch
Your graduation information packet was handed in advisory!! Extras are in the main office
NOW is the time to place your graduation package order including cap & gown, gradation announcements, and senior gear.
Order this week and you will be entered in a drawing go get your graduation order for FREE
CLICK HERE to Place your order graduation order ONLINE
IN SCHOOL ORDER DAY OCTOBER 29TH DURING LUNCH
FREE Cap, gown, tassel promotion
Order class ring and your cap, gown, tassel will be FREE
CLICK HERE to Design your class ring
Gresham HS Letter Jackets CLICK HERE
CONTACT US
Jostens
11914 NE Sumner
Portland, OR 97220
(503) 255-7120
PARENT CONFERENCES - NOVEMBER 23 & 24TH
Dates: 11/23 & 11/24
Appointments: We will send our virtual signup platform in November
Time: Virtual signup link will be shared soon
We will hold Parent Conferences virtually similar to last year. We will make sure to send the format in time for you to plan and get on your needed teacher's calendar. We look forward to meeting you virtually and providing the needed information for your student's success.
Student Body Cards
Students can purchase an ASB Sticker for their Student ID Card for $20.00. This sticker will allow a GHS student free entrance to all HOME regular season athletic events as well as reduce the price of tickets to school dances. Students can bring in cash to the Bookkeeper's office or you can purchase online and have your student stop by the office to get the sticker put on their ID card.
COVID UPDATES
We are asking parents to be sure to notify the Attendance office when your student has been notified by an outside agency or doctor’s office that they need to quarantine. The school is not automatically notified in those instances and student's absences are not being excused or marked correctly.
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
COLLEGE POSSIBLE
College Possible-
College Possible is seeking your students who might be a good fit for the program. College Possible supports students on their journeys to and through college. Groups meet after-school during the junior and senior years and are facilitated by a College Possible coach. You can learn more about the program in this Overview and Nomination Document.
College Possible seeks students that meet this criteria:
High school juniors
2.5 GPA or higher
Income-eligible: Pell Grant Eligible/ Free or Reduced Price Lunch Eligible
Interested in attending a bachelor’s granting institution
If your student might meet these requirements, please encourage them to apply online at www.collegepossible.org/join
Students to complete their applications prior to the deadline:
Deadline: November 5th
Follow the Student Recruitment team on Instagram @CPORclassof2023 for more information
COUNSELING UPDATE
Note from Hannah Anderson in the Counseling Office:
Hello Students and Families,
I am the Counselor for students with the last names He - M and I am writing to let you know that my last day at GHS is this Friday, October 22nd. I know that students and families reach out with important information and sometimes need support immediately so I wanted to make you aware and give instructions on who to contact. You can call or email our Counseling Secretary, Kelly Spaid, at spaid3@gresham.k12.or.us & 503-674-5508 and she will be sure to connect you with a Counselor. You can also contact our Counseling Department Chair, Laura Blaser, with questions at blaser@gresham.k12.or.us. Students will be notified as soon as a new Counselor is assigned.
I am so sad to leave Gresham High School but unfortunately a family move is taking me out of state. It has been a pleasure working with you and your students over the past 5 years and I wish you all the best!
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 - Hannah Anderson, CounselorM) anderson185@gresham.k12.or.us
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.