WLWV Community Update
June 2, 2020
Last Week of School — Thank You, West Linn-Wilsonville!
Please watch out for district news and announcements in the coming weeks as we plan for reopening schools for the 2020-21 school year. Thank You!
Message from Superintendent Dr. Kathy Ludwig (June 1, 2020)
Dear West Linn-Wilsonville Community,
I am writing today with a heavy heart as we continue to respond to acts of racism — whether overt, covert, violent or passive — and strive forward to be better as a school community, better as cities, better as a state, and better as a nation.
The recent murder of George Floyd, a black man, pinned down by a Minneapolis police officer’s knee has launched understandable public outpouring of anger, frustration, heartache, and grief even in our own community here in West Linn-Wilsonville. A single event becomes one in a series of events or experiences that cry out to be addressed, named, challenged, and changed.
This year, our School Board, District leaders, teachers, and staff added the phrase, “disrupt systems of racism” to our District Goal #1. This added language was intentional, signaling an expectation and deliberation for us to root out racism in our schools, our curriculum, and our culture, thereby ensuring welcoming and inclusive learning spaces for every one of our students.
We are committed to promoting anti-racism and social justice in our schools. In addition to a District Equity Team, each school’s Equity Team identifies actions and systems that serve to support our students of color and disrupt institutional racism. It is time for us to be better.
We are saddened that these recent events are so raw and real to many of our families here in West Linn and Wilsonville. Even though we are physically separated during this time, we want to make ourselves available to our students and families most impacted by the recent events. Please contact a teacher, school counselor, principal, or myself if you need help or need comfort and assurance.
We want to affirm our racial, cultural, ethnic, linguistic, gender, economic, and religious diversity as a strength in our community, our state, and our nation. Each child, each student has a right to thrive.
Today, we share the grief of a family who has lost a loved one. We share the persistent outrage and frustration of those who experience marginalization, discrimination, and unjust treatment. And we commit to change, prompted by poet Maya Angelou’s words: “Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.”
Thank you for supporting our efforts as a school district and keeping us accountable to being better.
Sincerely,
Kathy Ludwig, Superintendent
Resources For Discussing Racism with Children
In light of recent events concerning the death of George Floyd and situations arising in many major cities, West Linn-Wilsonville counselors are offering parents some resources that we hope will help frame conversations between parent/guardians and youth. Knowing that youth are aware of what is going on and recognizing that they may have questions, we wanted to offer these ideas to help families approach this loss and the many feelings and concerns youth may have.
https://www.prettygooddesign.org/
https://www.embracerace.org/resources/teaching-and-talking-to-kids
https://www.embracerace.org/resources/seeing-noticing-talking-about-difference-with-young-children
https://www.theconsciouskid.org/
Graduation Week is Finally Here!
Join us by HONORING the Senior Class of 2020 each day this week!
Tuesday: Wear Green and Yellow for West Linn High School Lions!
Put a sign in your yard or tie balloons to a lamppost, fence, or tree. Seniors at WLHS will decorate their cars and parade through town on their way to the high school football field area to cross a stage and receive their diploma.
Time: 1-8 p.m. Watch a LiveStream of the Graduation Ceremony at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zsYzoEKCcwA.
Primary Schools and Middle Schools are decorated for additional photo opportunities. Neighbors are invited to wave from a front yard or along a street as the decorated cars go by this afternoon. HONK your support as you pass a decorated senior's car today!
Wednesday: Wear Purple and Silver for Arts & Technology High School Seniors!
Put a sign in your yard or tie balloons to a lamppost, fence, or tree. Seniors at ATHS will decorate their cars and drive through town on their way to ATHS campus to cross a stage and receive their diploma.
Time: 2-4 p.m. Watch a LiveStream of the Graduation Ceremony at: https://tinyurl.com/ARTTECH2020.
Primary Schools and Middle Schools are decorated for additional photo opportunities. Neighbors are invited to wave from a front yard as the decorated cars go by this afternoon. HONK your support as you pass a decorated senior's car today!
Thursday: Wear Blue and White for Wilsonville High School Wildcats!
Put a sign in your yard or tie balloons to a lamppost, fence, or tree. Seniors at WVHS will decorate their cars and parade through town and to the front high school parking lot area to cross a stage and receive their diploma.
Time: 1-7:30 p.m. Watch a LiveStream of the Graduation Ceremony at: https://tinyurl.com/WHSGRAD2020.
Primary Schools and Middle Schools are decorated for additional photo opportunities. Neighbors are invited to wave from a front yard or along a street as the decorated cars go by this afternoon. HONK your support as you pass a decorated senior's car today!
School Sites and Facilities Remain Closed through June
We have received questions from the community regarding the plans for reopening school fields, playgrounds, gardens, common spaces, gyms, and other school facilities for public and/or recreational use during the summer.
As of May 28, Clackamas County has entered into Phase 1 of its reopening plan. While the plan increases the limit of gatherings to 25, schools and school campuses are to remain closed. Additionally, the Governor’s most recent Executive Order 20-25, specifically states that Executive Order 20-20 regarding K-12 schools, is still in effect.
EO 20-20 states that “public schools shall limit school facility operations only to essential functions, consistent with any social distancing requirements set forth by Oregon Health Authority”. Most requests we are receiving for recreational use or sports activities do not fall in the “essential function” category.
The District Safety Leadership Team is actively reviewing all forms of guidance and liability parameters set forth by the Governor’s Office, the Oregon Health Authority (OHA), Clackamas County Health, Oregon School Activities Association (OSAA), and PACE (school district insurance provider). Each of these agencies have conditions and protocols that must be met before school districts can reopen under Phase I.
To reduce the risk to our students, staff, and community to the greatest extent possible, the District will keep all sites and facilities closed until a well-designed plan can be developed and communicated to all of our students, staff, patrons, city officials, law enforcement, and the district’s insurance provider.
At this time, the West Linn-Wilsonville School District is remaining closed to any school-sponsored or community-sponsored activities or events through July 5, with one exception: high school graduation ceremonies which have been approved by OHA, ODE and city officials.
The district will tentatively plan to reopen sites and facilities beginning July 6, subject to meeting all regulatory guidelines. Until then, all district sites and facilities remain closed.
Local law enforcement will continue to monitor parks and playgrounds and enforce closures.
We thank our community for your patience and understanding as we work to make our spaces available and enjoyable once again.
Reopening for the 2020-21 School Year — K12 Online Option
At this time, the West Linn-Wilsonville School District is planning to reopen schools in the fall. We are awaiting guidance from Oregon Health Authority (OHA) and Oregon Department of Education (ODE) regarding the health and safety parameters for reopening. As we learn more and our plans begin to take shape, we will communicate them to you.
This fall, we are also planning to launch an optional WLWV K12 Online Program for students and families who wish to continue learning at home and through a comprehensive, standards-based, online curriculum program taught by our own highly qualified staff. As this optional program develops, we will communicate the details and the registration pathway to you.
Budget Webinar, Feedback Survey Available to Public
The Budget Webinar is a pre-recorded video delivered by Superintendent Kathy Ludwig that outlines the current financial landscape, district priorities, and what community members can expect as we prepare for the budget process beginning with the June 8 School Board Meeting. The Budget Webinar was released on May 29. Please provide preliminary budget feedback by completing the accompanying survey, outlining your preferences and priorities during the Budget Process.
Budget Webinar Feedback Survey
This Budget Webinar is not a live webinar, but instead an opportunity for the community to learn and provide preliminary feedback before the Budget Process begins. As a reminder, you can find the full Budget Process Timeline below. Thank you for your participation and for providing valuable feedback through the online survey.
Budget Process Timeline
- June 8— Superintendent's Budget Message during School Board Meeting (the Budget Committee receives the budget message and proposed budget document. The proposed budget is available for public review at this time.)
- June 22— Budget Committee Work Session
- June 24— Additional Budget Committee Work Session (if needed)
- June 29— Budget Hearing and Adoption
Meal Service to Continue Through Friday, June 5
If families need additional meal assistance, including free and reduced lunch applications, please visit the nutrition services webpage. For information about the Oregon Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), please visit the Oregon.Gov website.
Nursing Notes — Looking Ahead to 2020-21
Greetings from the Nursing team!
As this school year draws to a close, and we turn our thoughts to the fall 2020-21 school year, we are all hopeful that we will be able to return to our school buildings next year.
While we're not yet sure what the start of next school year will look like, we do know that students still need routine immunizations. Clinics and doctors’ offices understandably have seen a decline in well-child visits and vaccinations during this season of Covid-19. As offices and clinics reopen during these coming months, we encourage you to make appointments for routine well-child visits, immunizations as needed, and vision exams. If you do not have insurance for vision care, have recently lost coverage, or do not have the Oregon Health Plan, please contact your school nurse. We do have some voucher assistance available for vision care.
We are hearing much in the news about a vaccine eventually for Covid-19, which we hope will happen quickly, but other vaccine-preventable diseases such as measles and pertussis are still in our communities as well. The yearly seasonal flu vaccine is more important than ever for some protection going into the fall months. Please make sure your students are as up to date on immunizations as possible, as we look toward the fall and returning to learning.
Students at transition times may typically need required immunization boosters:
- Preschool to Kindergarten: Boosters needed after age 4 (Dtap, IPV, MMR, Varicella)
- Elementary to Middle School: TDAP booster is required at 7th grade
See: Oregon.gov/oha/PH/PREVENTIONWELLNESS/VaccinesImmunization/GettingImmunized/Pages/SchRequiredImm.aspx for more information on Childhood Vaccines at all ages.
Wishing you and your family a happy, healthy and relaxing summer.
Upcoming Events
June 2 — West Linn High School Graduation Ceremony, 1-8 p.m.
June 3 — Arts and Technology High School Graduation Ceremony, 2-4 p.m.
June 4 —Wilsonville High School Graduation Ceremony, 1-7:30 p.m.
June 4 — Last Day of Distance Learning
June 8 — School Board Meeting
June 22 — Budget Committee Meeting
June 29 — School Board Meeting
Rapid Resources
About West Linn-Wilsonville
Email: kilstroa@wlwv.k12.or.us
Website: https://www.wlwv.k12.or.us
Location: 22210 Southwest Stafford Road, Tualatin, OR, USA
Phone: 503-673-7000
Facebook: facebook.com/wlwvschools
Twitter: @wlwvdistrict