Whitford Newsletter
May 2021
Principal Messsge
We’re off and running. Back on April 19th, we began serving students in our hybrid model while at the same time working with our students who remain in CDL. According to staff, they feel the beginning of hybrid has gone well and students and staff feel safe with the protocols we have put in place. I also understand that students might not love the way hybrid is structured, but from my personal conversations with students, they are simply happy to be out of the house and at least around other kids their age.
Over the past three weeks, I have seen classes being held outside, more movement breaks outside, and several science experiments around campus. I want to applaud our teachers for their flexibility in leaning simultaneous teaching and their creativity in planning lessons that take kids outside or involve movement. Overall, our teachers and students are adjusting well to this new reality and I want to personally thank the teachers and families for allowing this smooth transition to hybrid learning.
You should have received an electronic letter last week indicating that we had a positive case of COVID-19 within our building. Upon learning of this information, our school nurse was immediately contacted and together we began contact tracing, interviewing students, staff, viewing bus video, and working with Washington County Heath making sure all guidelines were followed. Each time we have a confirmed case of COVID-19 in our building, I am required to send a similar letter. However, there might be cases where a student or staff member has been exposed or has been in close contact with an infected person outside of school and will be forced to quarantine. That situation does not require a letter to the community. Unfortunately, COVID-19 is still circulating around our community and due to confidentially, we will never release names to the public, staff, or other students.
Last week we celebrated Teacher and Staff Appreciation Week. We would like to thank the PTO, Jimmy John’s, parents, students, and other community members who were so generous in giving our teachers something special. Working here, I will tell you, we have an incredible staff who have worked extremely hard over the past year and who are so dedicated to your students. I might sound like a broken record, but Whitford is a special place where I feel fortunate to serve. This staff is inclusive, caring, diverse, rigorous, honest, and fun. They truly care for the well-being of all students and will go above and beyond the call of duty.
Thank you for partnering with us during these most unusual times.
Be well – Brian Peerenboom
Whitford Student Newspaper
Below you will find the latest issue of the newspaper. I want to draw attention to a couple specific pieces that I'm incredibly proud of students for their bravery and writing. I certainly did not have the courage and knowledge to produce such material at that age. I know those students would love to hear some shout-outs. -- Travis Rooke-Ley (Newspaper Advisor)
Somnang: The Problem with Our Beauty Standards (Opinion)
Karina: Student Poem (Whitford)
Samson: The Story Behind John A. Pelham Memorial Highway (News)
Josey: Sexual Assault Awareness Month (News)
Safe Routes to School Parent Survey
Dear Whitford Parents and Guardians,
It’s data collection time again for Beaverton’s Safe Routes to School program. The purpose of this program is to make walking and biking to school safe, convenient, and fun.
Parent’s and guardian’s input into how students travel to and from schools and their impression of the safety of the route is valuable as the city and county prioritize needed improvements for our roads.
The following link was generated from the National Safe Routes to School Center and will be used to give us a good picture of how students are getting to and from schools throughout the district.
The school’s survey will be open for responses until May 31.
We appreciate your help in giving us information to make our program effective for all Beaverton School District students.
Thank you,
Leah Biado-Luis
Beaverton Safe Routes to School Coordinator
Survey Link: http://www.saferoutesdata.org/surveyformparent.cfm?key=1609886
Estimados padres y tutores de Whitford,
Es hora de recopilar información nuevamente para el programa de Beaverton de Rutas Seguras a la escuela. El propósito de este programa es ir caminando y en bicicleta a la escuela de manera segura, conveniente y divertida.
El aporte de los padres y tutores acerca de cómo los estudiantes viajan de ida a la escuela y de regreso a la casa y su impresión de la seguridad de la ruta, es valioso, ya que la ciudad y el condado priorizan las mejoras necesarias para nuestras carreteras.
El siguiente enlace link fue generado por el Centro Nacional de Rutas Seguras a la Escuela y se utilizará para darnos una buena idea de cómo los estudiantes viajan de ida a la escuela y de regreso a casa, en todo el Distrito.
La encuesta de la escuela estará abierta hasta el 31 de mayo para recibir sus respuestas.
Agradecemos su ayuda al brindarnos información para que nuestro programa sea efectivo para todos los estudiantes del Distrito Escolar de Beaverton.
Gracias,
Leah Biado-Luis
Coordinador de Rutas Seguras a la Escuela de Beaverton
Enlace de la encuesta: http://www.saferoutesdata.or/surveyformparent.cfm?key=1609886
Congratualtions!!
Congratulations to everyone who competed in the Northwest Regional Science Expo, our state Science Fair! Further congratulations go to the following award winners!!
- Mason Lewis (8th grader), 1st place, Engineering
- Julia Masini (6th grader), 1st place, Animal Sciences
- Yuxuan Liu (8th grader), 2nd place, Animal Sciences
- Halle Longgood (6th grader), 2nd place, Physics
- Samson Naleway (8th grader, 2nd place, Behavioral and Social Sciences
- Maddie Rejab (8th), 2nd place, Chemistry plus the Naval Excellence in Science and Engineering Award
- Jenell Theobald (8th), 2nd place, Earth, Weather, and Mineral Science plus the Tom Owen Honorable Mention Award for Excellence in Statistics
- Akshara Ashok (6th), 3rd place, Medicine and Health Sciences
- Ruben Yoder (8th), 3rd place, Energy plus the Naval Excellence in Science and Engineering Award
- Evelyn Bickford (6th), Honorable Mention, Mathematical Sciences plus the Tom Owen Honorable Mention Award for Excellence in Statistics
- Emaad Khawaja (7th), Honorable Mention, Computer Science and Robotics
- Mailea Sass (8th), Honorable Mention, Behavioral and Social Sciences
- Julianna (Jules) Tai (8th), Honorable Mention, Environmental Science
Social Studies Curriculum Adoption
The Oregon Department of Education has adopted new standards for Social Sciences. The Beaverton School District is currently engaged in our Quality Curriculum Cycle to address these required changes.
Beaverton Middle Schools will be implementing Social Studies courses in the Fall of 2021 that are aligned to the 2021 Social Science Standards Integrated with Ethnic Studies. The district has conducted an extensive search for appropriate instructional materials to address the state standards, meet the BSD learning targets, and support meaningful and engaging Social Studies learning for all of our students.
To view the instructional materials provider finalists for our middle schools and to access their resources, please click here to go to our Social Studies Adoption resource page on our district website.
Annual BSD Parent Survey Opens May 16
Annual Parent Survey
Please take a few moments to complete the BSD Annual Parent Survey! Our goal is to ensure that every member of our school community feels welcomed, valued, and informed, so it is important for all parents/guardians to complete the survey.
A link to the 2021 Annual Parent Survey will be sent to all valid parent email addresses via School Messenger on Sunday, May 16. The deadline to participate is Wednesday, June 2.
Encuesta Anual de Padres de Familia
¡Tómese unos minutos para completar la Encuesta Anual de Padres de Familia del Distrito Escolar de Beaverton! Nuestro objetivo es asegurar que todos los miembros de nuestra comunidad escolar se sientan bienvenidos, valorados e informados, por lo que es importante que todos los padres o tutores completen la encuesta.
Se enviará un enlace a la Encuesta a todas las direcciones de correo electrónico válidas para padres a través de SchoolMessenger el domingo, 16 de mayo de 2021. La fecha límite para participar es el domingo, 2 de junio de 2021.
FREE Dental Sealants for 6th & 7th Grade Students
Virginia Garcia Dental Clinic will be at Whitford Thursday May 27 and Friday May 28 to screen 6th and 7th grade students for dental sealants and then to apply the dental sealants. Sealants are a fast and efficient method of protecting your child's teeth. The applied sealant acts as a barrier to prevent cavities from forming on vulnerable areas of the tooth.
If you would like to have your student take advantage of this service, please complete a form in the link below. Students who attend Hybrid school will be given a form this week for parents to complete.
THPRD Family Event at VOSE May 15th
Air Strike Football
Upcoming Events
5/12 7th Grade State Testing English/LA and Math 10:30-1:30
5/16 Annual BSD Parent Survey Opens
5/19 8th Grade State Testing English/LA and Math 10:30-1:30
5/26 6th Grade State Testing English/LA and Math 10:30-1:30
5/27 Dental Sealants for 6 & 7 grade students at Whitford
5/28 Dental Sealants for 6 & 7 grade Students at Whitford
5/31 Memorial Day -- No School for Students
6/1 Due to no school on Monday Tuesday 6/1 will be a Monday Schedule (A) day.
6/2 Due to no school on Monday Wednesday 6/2 will be a Tuesday Schedule (B) day.
6/7 Student Books and Textbooks due to the library
6/9 8th Grade State Testing Science 10:30-1:30
More information coming about the 8th grade celebration.