The Weekly FIRE
Flexibility, Integrity, Respect, Effort
issue 4: 10/26/2020
Hello Dragons!
Thanks so much to all of our parents and families who made time to join us for conferences last week! It was so great to hear from all of you. If you could not make it, I encourage you to reach out to your child’s teachers to schedule a time to check in. Also, we will be holding another round of conferences on the 23rd and 24th of November.
I know that many of us are planning various Halloween celebrations this weekend. As you make those plans, please remember to stick to activities that are low risk for spreading Covid-19. It is important to protect your health and the health of your loved ones. It is also important because we need to limit the spread of Covid-19 in Oregon and Multnomah County before we can come back to school for in-person classes and activities! There are lots of great Halloween activities that are low risk for Covid-19 transmission. Dress up and post some Halloween selfies! Carve pumpkins! Get some of your favorite candy and sit down with your family to watch some scary movies. While you are doing it, you can feel good about doing your part to keep your community safe and healthy.
Best Regards,
Aaron Ferguson, RLA Principal
Animal Guide of the Week:
-Laura Craford, RLA Social Worker
For those of you who do not know what the animal cards mean…
Each newsletter I will pull a card from my deck of animal guide cards, it is our message for the week—something we need to think about, understand or that we need to remember about ourselves or a situation. This is something that I have been doing with RLA students and staff for a while now, it’s my thing. 😊 If you ever want your own card, message me (Laura) through teams or @ (740) 240-2311 and I will send you a picture of one, just like when you would come to my office for one when we were in school!
Humpback Whale
This week at RLA we are HUMPBACK WHALES: “Music is essential to your healing and well-being, whether singing, playing an instrument, or listening.” There are certain songs or playlists I put on when I am happy or when I need to get my head in the game or ready for something. I used to always play the same song on my way to school, I knew when I had 4 minutes left in my drive and I would turn it on really loud and sing along. The same goes for when I am sad and want to be in my feelings. It has been a sad, hard week for RLA students and staff after losing our friend and student, David Collins JR. I asked one of his friends, who described David as “her rock” what the song they turned up every it came on was…here it is:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4G6QDNC4jPs&feature=emb_title
In memory of David Collins Jr.
After school drop in support group for students on Tuesday’s @ 3:30 and Thursday's @ 11:30 with Laura:
https://rsd7-net.zoom.us/j/95828308125
Meeting ID: 958 2830 8125
I think I would like to talk to someone...
Are you in need of Resources?
Parents! Families! Looking for some extra support?!?!
Has this year been a little challenging? Confused or frustrated by technology? Juggling too many things without enough support? Are you just looking for a space to connect with other parents?
Well, RLA will be having a Parents Support Group starting soon! It will be a space for parents/guardians of RLA students to connect, share advice and tips, and troubleshoot through some of life’s challenges in these tough times. The group will be parent-led and co-facilitated by an RLA parent and Trillium staff, meeting on Zoom.
Please fill out this survey if you’re interested so we can schedule the group at a convenient time.
Thanks and hope to see you there!
¡Padres, Madres y familias! ¡¿Buscando más apoyo?!
¿Este año ha sido un poco difícil? ¿Está confundido/a o frustrado/a por la tecnología? Está manejando demasiado con poca ayuda? ¿Está buscando un lugar para conectar con otros padres y familias de RLA?
Pues, ¡RLA va a comenzar un grupo de apoyo para padres y familias de estudiantes de RLA! Va a ser un espacio para padres/madres/familias de estudiantes para conectar, compartir consejos, y lidiar con los desafíos diarios en estos tiempos difíciles. El grupo será facilitado por un/a padre/madre de RLA y por un personal de Trillium Family Services. Los grupos se reunirán en Zoom.
Por favor, llene este formulario si está interesado/a en el grupo para que podamos programar el grupo en la hora más conveniente.
¡Gracias y hasta pronto!
Weekly Wellness Tips brought to you by RLA students
Zamira Portillo & Austyn McKee
8 Tips to Help Your Child with Distance Learning
8 Tips to Help Your Child Focus and Stay Engaged During Distance Learning | JHU School of Education
- Understand the expectation for distance learning. How much time should students spend online for learning purposes? There are screen time considerations for all students, and older students can handle longer amounts of time than younger students. Your child’s teacher or school should provide some guidance for what is reasonable. For young children, interaction and play is valuable for learning.
- Determine what type of activities work best for your child. Are their certain types of distance learning activities that your child prefers over others? For example, does your child work better with synchronous activities where they respond to a live instructor, or in person sitting one-on-one with you? What learning platforms seems to engage your child more than others? The answers to these questions can be valuable for you and your child’s teacher to help plan for learning experiences that work best for your child.
- Encourage movement. Kids need to move their bodies frequently throughout the day. Allow time for exercise before your child is expected to focus on a distance learning task. Some children are able to better focus on tasks when standing. Consider having your computer or tablet be on a raised surface so that your child can stand.
- Reduce distractions. Where possible, reduce distractions when your child is completing schoolwork. This includes noise as well as visual noise or clutter. A designated workspace that is comfortable for your child will be helpful.
- Adjust your schedule as needed. If your child is frustrated — or alternately, if your child is very engaged in learning — make a change in your schedule to allow for a break (and revisit at a later day or time) or to spend time delving deeper into the topic. Some learning activities will be easier to move through than others. Consider working with your child on those activities or subjects that are more difficult during the times of day when your child is most alert and engaged. Learning material that is easier for a child, and therefore moved through more quickly, can be completed at a different time (such as in the afternoon or even another day). It’s also helpful to share with your teacher what is working best for you and your child.
- Use a checklist for focus. For some children who really struggle with focusing, a basic visual checklist of tasks needed for a particular activity will be helpful. For example, if the child is asked to watch a lesson, read a prompt, and then provide a written response to the prompt, the checklist would have keywords for each of these required activities: watch, read, write. The child would check off each task with you as it is completed, and receive some positive praise or another reward when finished.
- Give your child (and yourself) a break. Your teacher does not want your child to be frustrated with or miserable about learning. In fact, teachers spend time trying to make lessons interesting, and to tailor instruction to provide the right level of challenge for their students. If something is too challenging, or your child has hit a frustration level, it’s okay to stop the activity and give them a break. It’s also okay to slow down the pace, which means giving your child time to think and process information. It also means participating in segments of learning one at a time rather than trying to tackle a whole lesson in one sitting. You can give yourself permission to pick that lesson back up another time or another day.
- Provide immediate positive feedback. Each time your child completes distance learning instruction, provide immediate and positive feedback! Something as simple as putting a check mark, star, or sticker on the work assignment can go a long way in helping to motivate your child. And don’t forget to celebrate yourself, as you are playing such an important role to help your child learn and grow.
I bet you never heard of Mary Golda Ross
-Sue Rosemarin, Science
Mary Golda Ross (August 9, 1908 – April 29, 2008) was the first known Native American female engineer, and the first female engineer in the history of Lockheed (an American aerospace company). She is best remembered for her work on the Agena Rocket program – as well as numerous "design concepts for interplanetary space travel, crewed and uncrewed Earth-orbiting flights, the earliest studies of orbiting satellites for both defense and civilian purposes. She is pictured on the reverse of the 2019 Sacagawea Dollar (Coin by the U.S. Mint celebrating American Indians in the space program).
Students of the Week shout outs!
Julie Mack Shouts out to:
- Austyn Mckee has been doing great work in wellness and I love seeing all the exercise he is tracking!!
Jo shouts out to:
- Brenda Bautista Angel, Armando Quintero, Sammy Inda, Jocelyn Ramirez Avila, Yarely Dominguez Garcia, Johnny Juarez Herrera for a strong finish to hexter 1!
Janna Cash shouts out to:
- Angelina Barrera - Great job on your first hexter at RLA! We’re so glad you’re here!
Kendra shouts out to:
- Alex Gordon: Being just a genuinely awesome person and student. He has worked hard and should be proud.
Neal shouts out to:
- Brittany Izaguirre came through with the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth inning ... hit a 3-pointer with no time left on the clock … turned in her missing work just before time ran out of the Hexter for the win!
Dia De los Muertos!
-Nancy Gutierrez Leon, Engagement Liaison
One good thing about being Latino is that we have many different traditions. Being Mexican, one of my favorites is Día De los Muertos or Day of the Dead which is celebrated from October 31st through November 2nd. It’s a Mexican tradition that anyone can celebrate, it’s meant to celebrate our loved ones that have passed away. This celebration has been around for hundreds of years and it has been passed down from generation to generation. It’s said that on these three days the spirit of our loved ones can come back and visit us, we may not be able to see them, but we can feel their presence. It starts by setting up an alter to pay tribute to our loved ones, it can be any size from small to big. As showed in the picture it has different levels and it includes different items with its very own meaning. The most important item is the pictures of our loved ones that have passed away.
https://www.eluniversal.com.mx/english/everything-you-need-to-know-about-literary-calaveras
Everything you need to know about literary “Calaveras” Everything you need to know about literary “Calaveras” Written with irony, "calaveras" criticize the faults and vices of a specific person while narrating their death
Groups, Groups & More Groups!
Chrysalis Girls Group will start at the end of October! Self-care/Wellness Group, Stress Management, Grief & Loss, Making Connections…and more. If you are interested in learning more or joining a group or you have an idea for a group, contact Laura at:
lcraford@rsd7.net or call/text (740) 240-2311
1. Hip-Hop Group: Monday, 3pm on ZOOM
Hip hop group is an opportunity for students to express themselves through rhythm, beats and poetry. We will be sharing music and dance, making beats, finding beats on YouTube and writing our own lyrics/songs. The focus of this group is to create an artistic space for beginner or expert rappers, beat makers, and poets to build and create together. Check in with Dane.
https://trilliumfamily.zoom.us/j/99693631547
Password: hiphop
2. Netflix vs. Hulu vs. TikTok: Monday, 2pm on ZOOM
What’s better Netflix or Hulu? But really TikTok is where it’s at! Come to this group to discuss all things streaming and social media and everywhere in between. We hope to build a safe space where people can talk about their favorite shows, movies, and accounts they like to follow, and maybe watch a few videos! We might also get into ways to relax, deal with stress, and balance time management so you don’t end up binging on shows until 3am every night, just on the weekends ;)
https://trilliumfamily.zoom.us/j/94708901770
Password: Netflix
3. Arts & Crafts: Thursday, at 3:30pm
Arts and Crafts Group with Jesse will be Thursday at 3:30pm over zoom. Due to the large interest in this group and the limited amount of supplies available, not everyone who expressed interest will be able to participate this time. However, we may be able to run a second arts and crafts group in the future. Jesse will be coordinating with students to drop off supplies as well as provide the zoom link before Thursday. For questions, call Jesse: 503-318-2905.
If you’ve already signed up for a group, check your student email and you will get a reminder and link to join the group on the first day. If you’re still interested in one of the available groups then just follow the link/password to join at the right time! Any questions reach out to the Trillium team:
Todd Brehm, tbrehm@trilliumfamily.org 971-334-2009
Jesse Bright jbright@trilliumfamily.org 503-318-2905
Dane Hilts dhilts@trilliumfamily.org 971-940-8561Clubs
GSA
Gender Sexuality Alliance (GSA) is a club to unite LGBTQ+ and allies. It's a space to come together to talk and learn about sexual orientation and gender identity. A place to build community and discuss the issues that impact it and you.
This will be a safe, welcoming, and accepting space for all.
GSA NEW TIME, NEW DAY!!!
If you're interested in GSA or have any questions about the club, please contact Linda at:
llamendolagilliam@rsd7.net
Join us on WEDNESDAYS at 10:30 on ZOOM
ZOOM:
Meeting ID: 997 0308 6129
Passcode: 500314
October is LGBTQ+ History Month
- Linda Lamendola-Gilliam
October 26th is Intersex Awareness Day
Intersex is defined by the United Nations as people who are born with sex characteristics that don't fit typical definitions of male and female.
In Boston, MA on October 26, 1996 a group of Intersex activists gathered outside the American Academy of Pediatrics conference to stop unnecessary surgeries on intersex children, marking this as the first Intersex protest of this kind. In 2004 Intersex Awareness Day was made official.
In 2016 Sara Kelly Keenan becomes the first known person in the United Sates to receive an intersex birth certificate.
After years of protests, on July 2020, the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital in Chicago pledged to stop the unnecessary surgeries on intersex children. This is the first medical institution in our nation to do so. Along with the pledge came an apology.
To learn more check out these links:
https://www.queerevents.ca/education/intersex
https://19thnews.org/2020/08/intersex-youth-surgeries-top-hospital-ended-intersex-activists/
https://www.hrw.org/news/2020/07/30/first-us-hospital-pledges-end-intersex-surgeries#
Happy TransParent Day!
Since 2009 TransParent Day is celebrated on the first Sunday in November. TransParent Day was started to celebrate transgender parents outside of the traditional Mother's and Father's day. It has now turned into not only celebrating transgender parents and the relationship they have with their children, but transgender children and the relationship that they have with their parents.
BSU
The Black Student Union (BSU) is an organization at Reynolds Learning Academy that is devoted to spreading the history of Black Culture. We are doing this through cultural forums, educational workshops and entertainment events. We are all unified in one voice in order to embrace and enrich Black culture. We welcome all ethnicities and value growth, development and strive for cross-cultural understanding and appreciation of all our diverse histories and experiences.
Standing Motto “Unity Bridges Gaps”
Any students interested in joining the Black Student Union (BSU) please contact Ramon Hall at:
Earn CTE or Elective Credit
Want to Earn CTE or Elective Credit while learning skills you need in today’s workforce and life?
Check out Kathi “The Job Lady’s” Monday YTP Classes below.
You can earn .50 credit by attending, ask me how!
Have questions about these classes or anything else “job” or “life” related, please email me Kathi Morris at kmorris@rsd7.net or text/call me at 503-708-6540.
Job Club Class
Every 1st Monday of the Month
Nov. 2nd & Dec. 7th
Want help with resumes, cover letter’s, interviewing or applying for jobs? Then this class is for you!
Time: 1pm -2:30pm
Meeting ID: 964 0575 7931
Passcode: RLA
Permit Prep Class
Every 2nd Monday of the Month
Nov. 9th & Dec.14th
Need help preparing to take the Oregon Permit test? If so, then this is your class!
Time: 1pm - 2:30pm
Meeting ID: 964 0575 7931
Passcode: RLA
Soft Skills Class
Every 3rd Monday of the Month
Oct.19
Want to learn about soft skills needed in today’s job market? Want to learn what soft skills are? Come to this class and find out!
Time: 1pm - 2:30pm
Meeting ID: 964 0575 7931
Passcode: RLA
Kathi's Career Corner
Did you interview and don’t know what to do next? Did you know you need to send a Thank You email? Each week Kathi “The Job Lady” will give you “tips and tricks” on these and much more! If you want individual help, contact Kathi: kmorris@rsd7.net or 503-708-6540 (text is fine).
Tips on sending the “Post Interview Thank You Email”
You spend weeks preparing for a job interview and give 100% once you're in the hot seat. You walk out feeling confident and relieved that your work is finally done.
But it isn't.
In fact, there's still one more crucial step to take if you really want to land the job: sending the interview thank-you email. Some hiring managers, will not even consider candidates who haven't taken the extra effort to thank them for their time.
The best time frame to send a thank you email is within 24 hours after your interview, it should be sent during business hours — no 3 a.m. emails that make your schedule seem a little out of whack with the company's traditional hours.
Need help with this our other things related to interviewing or jobs in general? Contact me, Kathi “the job lady” at kmorris@rsd7.net or 503-708-6540 (text is fine).
A Chuckle with Kendra
1. What do you call an alligator detective?
2. What is a math teacher's favorite Halloween dessert?
You can find the answers at the bottom of The Weekly FIRE.
Upcoming Events:
RLA’s Annual Title I Meeting for Parents to Learn More out RLA’s Program and Goals for the Year will be held on Zoom on Thursday, October 29th at 6:00 PM
https://rsd7-net.zoom.us/j/96640514304?pwd=UFRacWo3QUVxWk8rRDI5b0Z5M290dz09
Principal Office Hours and Open Family Meetings
This year the Principal will be holding regular times when you can meet with him without an appointment. Open family meetings will be held on Thursday evenings. The Principal will make some brief announcements and then open the floor for questions, comments and discussion. Office hours will be held on Thursday mornings and will be a place where you can drop in to ask a question or get help from the Principal. Dates, times and the Zoom link are below.
Helpful Links:
This is a link to your Clever login. Follow this link to get into your schoology, school email, SutdentVUE, Teams meetings and other school resources from any computer.
Remember your login is: schoolID@students.rsd7.net
Your password is your school ID number followed by your 8 digit birthday (schoolid+mmddyyyy)
You can find our general student schedule here:
https://www.reynolds.k12.or.us/rla/student-weekly-schedule
The school calendar for 2020-2021 is here:
English:
Español:
If you are an RLA student, make sure you are signed up to get remind messages:
https://www.remind.com/join/cc7eh7
If you are an RLA parent, make sure you are signed up to get remind messages:
How to reach us:
Aaron Ferguson
Principal
503.667.4673 ex 3430
Angie Gilbert
Trades/Careers and Internships
503.667.4673 ex 3606
Brendan O'Malley
Art/Math
406-616-2852
Chris Phelps
Social Studies
503-667-4673 ex 3617
Dane Hilts
Skills Trainer
971-940-8561
Gina Bousley
Case Management
503.667.4673 ex 3613
Gio Peña
Science
971-258-0180
Giovanna Gioffre
English
503-667-4673 ex 3604
Janna Cash
Counselor
541-362-1959
Jesse Bright
Skills Trainer
503-318-2905
Jessica Sexton
School Psychologist
(360)991-9572
Jessica Kramer
Social Studies
(503)780-4809
Jim Deady
Credit Recovery
Call: 503.667.4673 ex 3045 Text: (541) 937 5460
Julie Mack
Wellness
503-667-4673 ex 3608
Karri Klock
Registrar
503-667-4673
Katherine Howton
Math
( 609) 380-1007
Kathi Morris
YTP Specialist
(503)708-6540
Kendra DeWater
Math
(971) 217-6214
Kristin Aubel Topletz
Night School
503-893-5088
Laura Craford
Social Worker
503.667.4673 ex 3620
Lauren Tobias
Case Management
503.667.4673 ex 3618
Linda Lamendola-Gilliam
SMT/GSA Leader/Newsletter Manager
(503)667-4673 x3630
Maureen Geraghty
English
503-830-1752
Neal Noble
Math
503-667-4673 ex 3609
Ramon Hall
SMT/BSU Leader
Sue Rosemarin
Science
503-667-4673 ex 3598
Terry Panowicz
Counselor
503.667.4673 ex 3627
Todd Brehm
Prevention Specialist
971-334-2009
If you need help with school work between the hours of 4:00 PM and 8:00 PM, Monday through Thursday you can reach out to our Night School Teacher Kristin Aubel Topletz at 503-893-5088 or email her at kaubeltopletz@rsd7.net
Si desea comunicarse con algún miembro del personal y desea ayuda en español, puede comunicarse con nuestra enlace familiar Nancy Gutierrez Leon llamando al 503-667-4673 ex 3634 o enviándole un correo electrónico a NGutierrezLeon@rsd7.net. También puede enviarle mensajes de texto al 971-236-3174.
Answers to: A Chuckle with Kendra
1. An investi-gator.
2. Pumpkin Pi!
Reynolds Learning Academy
Website: https://www.reynolds.k12.or.us/rla
Location: 20234 Northeast Halsey Street, Fairview, OR, USA
Phone: (503) 667-4673