Kellogg Families,

You’re probably aware of the impact the pandemic has had on staffing in all workplaces, including schools. The latest COVID-19 variant has only exacerbated the situation for every school, including Kellogg Middle School. I want to inform you of what this looks like for us and what we’re doing to support our students and staff.

First, we would like to thank our staff for all their hard work this past week. In the face of the challenges 2022 has brought, it is wonderful to be a part of staff that has such a can-do attitude. Thank you!

In PPS, this week we have had steadily over 100 unfilled teacher jobs and over 40 unfilled paraeducator jobs.

At Kellogg Middle School, we had about 20% of our staff out on Friday for various reasons.

I want you to know what we’re doing as we prioritize safety:

• Every time there is an absence, the administrator in charge of this building, decides to reallocate resources with the priority of student and staff safety and shift staff as needed.

• The district is allocating additional staff across PPS to schools that are experiencing similar circumstances. This week, staff from our central office are being sent to support us, and that number of people varies depending on the daily needs.

• The sub office has been busy trying to hire more subs. If you are interested in becoming a substitute teacher, here is more information.

• We continue to follow our district’s health and safety protocols when it comes to COVID-19. This means that we are monitoring students for visible symptoms, testing when we have consent, and reaching out to families when students need to be sent home. We know this is disruptive to your lives and their learning, and sending a student home is something that we do only when it’s necessary.

PPS is meeting twice a day to review metrics and needs around the district. On Friday it was announced that Roosevelt HS will go virtual next week. Also on Friday evening district leaders reviewed Kellogg’s along with other schools' data and informed us that we will continue to provide in-person learning on Monday.

Students are doing a great job masking which lowers the number of students impacted significantly. Keep that mask up and over your nose Cougars!

We will continue to keep you up to date on any changes. #KelloggStrong

Sincerely,

Gina Roletto

Nicole Ayala

Assistant Principals

To review

Essentially:

• If staff or student were exposed to a positive COVID case within the school community, the protocols for Test to Stay apply.
• If staff or student were exposed to a positive COVID case from activities OUTSIDE of school community, the Test to Return protocols apply.

join virtually: meet.google.com/zva-atkp-khh

Please contact the volunteer PTSA board members if you have any input or questions: email: kelloggmsptsa@gmail.com follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Kellogg-MS-PTSA/100074088517181/

January 17th - Holiday, MLK Jr Day - NO SCHOOL

January 18th - Winter MAP testing at Kellogg

January 20th - PTA Meeting via Zoom

January 21st - School Virtual Assembly

January 27th - Last day of Quarter 2, Semester 1

January 28th - No Students - Grading day

NAEP testing - late January

The yearbook cover contest due date has been extended until Wednesday, January 12th! If you are interested in participating please hand in your art on Wednesday!

Entry Requirements:

• Cover must be created on a vertical 8.5x11 sheet of white paper

• All entries must include the words "Kellogg Middle School" and the date "2021-2022"

Tips for a Good Entry:

• Don’t leave a lot of white space on the paper

• Use lots of color including the background

• Use up the whole sheet of paper

• Digital Submissions are also encouraged (please make sure your resolution is at 500 dpi)

Submitting Your Art:

• Due Wednesday, January 12th

• Submissions can be given to Rachel in the Library

• Digital Submissions can be sent to jmjohnson@pps.net

I am so excited to begin our SUN Extended-day Classes at Kellogg on January 24th! Our winter program will be a little small as we begin to work out the kinks and create a quality program with really great opportunities for students to learn and connect.

Step 1: Your student will receive a Class Selection Sheet this week! All students will receive this 1 page sheet in their Homeroom Class and extra copies will be available in Room 111 and the main office. Class Selection Sheets are due to Room 111C or the Main Office by January 12th.

Step 2: A Latino Network COVID waiver and registration form packet will go home to students once they have been enrolled in a SUN Class. These forms are due to Room 111C or the Main Office by January 19th! The Covid waiver and registration form packet must be received by January 19th for your student to participate in classes beginning on January 24th.

Confirmations will go out on January 21st and Winter SUN extended-day classes will begin on January 24th.

Please reach out to me directly if you do not receive a Class Selection Sheet or an enrollment packet, or have any questions- melany@latnet.org or 503-839-0672.

Also! The Kellogg SUN Community School is still hiring an Extended-day Coordinator. Job posting can be found here: https://recruiting.paylocity.com/Recruiting/Jobs/Details/739758

Thank you,

Melany Desrochers

Kellogg SUN Site Manager

Charging

Please remind your students to charge their chromebooks overnight so that they are ready for the coming day. Chromebooks are a tool used daily here at Kellogg.

Labeling the Chromebook

There have been some incidents of Chromebook loss. Each student should have their name clearly labeled on the bottom of the chromebook with a label. If they do not, please have them use scotch tape to label the bottom of their device.

Attention Students of Color and Allies!! Here is an upcoming MLK Jr. Day Celebration Opportunity: Hip Hop Architecture Camp: January 17th. Free virtual learning opportunity for Middle and High School students of color and allies.

Middle School Success Over Stress Research Project

The Middle School Success Over Stress project is a research study conducted at the University of Oregon designed to support children and families across the state to reduce mental health problems. Participants will have access to a parenting App as well as individual, telehealth support from a family consultant. Services are offered in both Spanish and English. The goal of this project is to provide parents and caregivers with tools to help their middle school student manage the social stress of returning to in-person learning, get good grades, and improve behavior at home and at school. Families can earn up to $350 for participating in this research study.

The School and Community Oral Health Team at Multnomah county are continuing to offer free dental services. We kindly ask that you please copy and paste the following information about our program and send it to students' parents/guardians. This information includes the electronic permission slip and is available in English, Spanish, and Russian.

Thank you so much for helping us to continue to offer this valuable service!

We will follow up to address any questions and feel free to contact us at 503-988-3905.

Warm Regards,

The School and Community Oral Health Team

Stay tuned for updates.

UPDATE: As of 1/5/22 - our vaccine provider had to pause distribution and we will work with SE Portland organizations to get you other opportunities.

Please fill out the following survey to let us know what areas you would be interested to volunteer with. We will contact you to make sure security and training steps are complete before starting.

Please go to https://www.pps.net/volunteer to make sure you have filled their requirements.

An in person or virtual training will happen January 4th with Mrs. Roletto. More information to come.

Adults in our building are expected to follow the PPS Volunteer Code of Conduct while in our building during school hours.

Each opportunity is listed with some details. Please email groletto@pps.net with questions.

Volunteer Interest Survey

The Multnomah County Health Department is offering twice-weekly Immunization Clinics for families and children to obtain COVID-19 and school-required vaccines. Clinics will be held on Wednesdays from 11 am - 2 pm & 3 pm - 6 pm at the Gateway WIC Building, 131 NE 102nd Ave., Portland; and on Saturdays from 9 am - 12 pm & 1 pm - at the NE Health Clinic, 5329 NE Martin Luther King Jr Blvd. #322, Portland.

Appointments are required for children aged 5 - 11. No appointment is required for family members to receive the COVID-19 vaccine and flu shots.

Call 503-988-8939 to make an appointment. More info is available at: multco.us/vaccineclinics.

Betse Thielman, Manager Health Services, ethielman@pps.net

• Portland Parks & Recreation Winter Break Camps

• Multnomah Early Childhood Program Flier (Spanish)

1. Log into Multnomah County Health Department’s vaccine locator website and:

   1. Enter your address or zip code under “Location.”

   2. Click “Search”

   3. Click “Filter Your Results”

   4. Click “Pfizer age 5-11” under Vaccine Type.

   5. Click “Apply Filters” under Date Range.

   6. View the list of Pediatric Vaccine Clinics under Provider Information.

   7. Contact the Pediatric Vaccine Clinic provider for appointment information.