Marysville Message
Friday January 29, 2021
Dear Marysville Families
Happy Friday and end of Quarter 2,
Here we are halfway through this incredible school year and I imagine with the recent news about the possibility of returning to in person school, families have many questions about what will be happening next.
The very long document sent out by the district on Tuesday is linked below. I will do my best to summarize the main points.
PPS Update: Vaccinations, Expanding In-Person Opportunities and Plans for Hybrid Instruction
- We begin the third quarter of the school year (Q3) by continuing Comprehensive Distance Learning, while expanding in-person opportunities for some students
- Some hybrid learning will begin in schools by early April, for our youngest learners
- This will happen as long as COVID-19 cases in the area stay low
- All safety requirements and protocols within Ready Schools, Safe Learners remain mandatory in the schools
- The PPS Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) include guidelines and protocols covering entry screening, busing, cleaning and disinfecting schools, contact tracing, physical distancing, personal protective equipment (PPE), restroom use, ventilation and much more. You are invited to visit our SOP home page, which is updated regularly, for more information.
- Staff vaccinations have begun this week for K-1 and distribution staff
- Within a week, the district will be making available an online registration form for families of elementary and middle school students to gauge the level of interest in students participating in either remote or hybrid models of instruction. Please look for an email from the district .
What is still being figured out is how, where and by whom the different options will be delivered. There are many ongoing meetings to determine the best and least disruptive way to do this. We want to keep all the students connected and our community together as much as possible. I will let you know as soon as plans become more clear. I know that at Marysville the move to hybrid instruction won’t begin until April.
I have linked a CDC tool that may be useful for:
Please reach out to me directly with any questions or comments about the plans for in-person instruction at Marysville.
In the meantime we will continue to focus on student learning, equity and well-being in our community.
As an entire school we will be kicking off our second semester this year with participation in the National Black Lives Matter at School Week of Action. Of course Black Lives Matter everyday, and we believe it is important to fully participate in these activities that celebrate and affirm the achievements of the African American community.
Below is linked the introductory video for the week of action at Marysville.
Sincerely,
Cathy Murray
she/her/hers
JANUARY 29 MEAL SERVICES
On Friday, January 29 (a teacher planning day), meal services will continue as scheduled. Thank you for sharing updates with your school community.
For PPS families not near a meal pickup location or who need assistance accessing meals and would like to request home meal delivery, please contact nutritionservices@pps.net with:
Family name
Address (where meals should be delivered)
Contact phone number
Number of children in the household
School(s) attended
Requests submitted by end of day Monday, will begin receiving meal deliveries on the following Monday. For cancellations, changes or updates, please contact nutritionservices@pps.net. Please feel free to visit our website or contact us at nutritionservices@pps.net with any questions.
Friday January 29th Communities of Color: COVID Vaccine Panel Discussion
Dear PPS Families and Staff,
We hope you can join us this Friday, January 29, from 5:00 to 6:30 p.m., for our Communities of Color: COVID Vaccine Panel Discussion. This event will be co-hosted by PPS, the Coalition of Communities of Color and Multnomah County. Watch the discussion live via the PPS YouTube channel.
Interpreters will be available by calling the numbers below:
Spanish:
Dial-In Number: 1-720-465-5634
PIN Number: #573-974-060#
Vietnamese:
Dial-In Number: 1-240-407-7986
PIN Number: #821-784-240#
Cantonese:
Dial-In Number: 1-224-420-7579
PIN: #813-103-335#
Mandarin:
Dial-In Number: 1-515-218-2209
PIN Number: #492-735-121#
Somali:
Dial-In Number: 1-916-900-6541
PIN Number: #918-002-875#
Russian:
Dial-In Number: 1-470-228-0042
PIN Number: #395-568-254#
We hope you will join us!
New K-5 Report Cards
Dear Marysville K-5 Parents,
We are excited to share with you the new K-5 Report Card. The report card has been revised by a committee of teachers and parents with one of the main goals being to help families more easily understand how your students are doing as they progress through the elementary grades. Click here to see the new report in English, Spanish, Vietnamese, Russian, Somali, and Chinese.
A highlight of the new report card is that there is now only one marking system for grades.
Marking system for academic performance
Key for Academic Performance:
E = Exceeds - Demonstrates and applies STRONG grade level skills and concepts
M = Meets - Demonstrates and applies grade level skills and concepts
CM = Close to meeting - Demonstrates MOST grade level skills and concepts
N = does Not Yet meet - Demonstrates SOME or MINIMAL grade level skills and concepts
NE = No evidence - Student did not submit enough work to determine a grade for academic performance
Marking system for characteristics of a successful learner:
Key for Characteristics of a Successful Learner
X = Consistently demonstrates
V = Often demonstrates
/ = Sometimes demonstrates
_ = Does not yet demonstrate
NE = No evidence
Teachers will be using this new report card for Quarter 2 reporting. And you will receive the report card via mail in mid February. Please let us know if you have any questions.
K-5 Mathematics Curriculum Adoption
Hello PPS Community!
PPS educators at some of our elementary schools are in the process of field testing new mathematics instructional materials to be adopted and implemented at the start of the 2021-22 school year. Your child’s educator has volunteered their time to field test these new resources and implement them into their practice beginning second semester this year. Here are some things you can expect to see as a result:
Your child’s educator will be using resources different from what they have been using so far this year. They will continue to use these resources for the remainder of the school year.
The lessons may look a little different than what your student is used to thus far. Your student may be given a workbook and set of mathematics manipulatives (tools) for use during synchronous and asynchronous instruction.
All of the mathematics standards identified for your student’s grade level will still be taught.
Your student may see observers (district personnel) during lessons as part of data collection about the program being field tested.
Your student may be asked for feedback on what they thought about the new instructional materials.
Thank you for your support as we continue to strive to provide positive mathematics learning experiences for PPS students.
Kind regards,
Your PPS District Mathematics Team
At Marysville the new curriculum will be piloted in the 5th grade. We are so proud of Ms. Joy's and Ms. Quintana's work and dedication to mathematics instruction.
District Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) assessments
Dear PPS Parents and Guardians,
As we continue through Comprehensive Distance Learning (CDL), an important step for teachers is to understand your student’s most essential learning needs. To collect this valuable information, students in grades 3-8 will take Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) assessments. The MAP assessment is a low stakes test - this means that the results are not used for grading students or for school accountability purposes. If you have concerns about your student participating in this test, please talk with your student’s teacher.
Normally, the MAP assessment is conducted in the classroom setting but, because of distance learning, students will take this assessment at home. Testing will take place between February 1- 26. Younger children may need assistance from an adult in the home. Click here to review a parent guide about this assessment. Your student’s teacher will provide further information about when the test will be given. The district will provide your student’s scores to you following the assessment window.
Thank you.
PPS Long Range Facilities Planning
Portland Public Schools is currently developing a Long-Range Facility Plan that will align the District’s educational vision with future capital planning. This work is an opportunity to institute lasting change in our schools by re-envisioning teaching and learning environments.
The foundation of this process will be our community’s perception of the built environments and lived experiences. The district seeks to engage stakeholders from diverse racial/ethnic backgrounds in meaningful conversations about socio-spatial perceptions. These reflections and stories will shape the Long Range Facility Plan.
If you are a student, teacher, or community member interested in participating in a dialogue session and/or scheduling a class discussion, please visit pps.net/lrfp to register.
We look forward to talking with you soon!
Compassion Connect
clinic in the SE Portland area on Saturday, Feb 6.