Principal's Newsletter
Sam Barlow High School ~ December 2021
Sam Barlow High School
Website: https://www.gresham.k12.or.us/sbhs
Location: 5105 SE 302nd Ave, Gresham, OR, United States
Phone: (503) 258-4850
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sam-Barlow-High-School/106146596083423
Twitter: @BarlowPride
FROM PRINCIPAL BRUCE C. SCHMIDT, JR.
Parent Teacher Conferences
We hope you had the chance to participate in our Parent Teacher Conferences on November 23rd and 24th. While I realize the format of conferences was much different than it has been in the past, it was still time well spent. I did receive quite a bit of positive feedback about extending conference times to ten minutes instead of five, and many families had the chance to have more intensive meetings with their counselor to craft plans moving forward. Also, several families took advantage of our Open House format to meet teachers and learn about the work being done in classrooms. Finally, the use of Google Meets, and virtual conferencing has provided much needed flexibility to better meet the needs of families and an easier way to connect with teachers. Thank you for you feedback and participation.
Parents of Seniors
For those of you who have a current senior, I am sure both you and your student are on overload. Needing to take senior pictures, completing the FAFSA, submitting college applications, scholarship applications, and the question “what are you going to do next year” from just about everyone can push both parents and students into the stress mode. On top of all that, your student may be getting to the point where they just don’t want to make a decision. These feelings and situations are totally normal and happen to every family of a senior. Remember, this is a major time of transition where there is quite a bit of uncertainty. Students may be wondering what it will be like to live away from home, being on their own, or if they are making the “right” decision. Parents are wondering the same. With uncertainty comes anxiety. Perhaps the best way to work through some of these issues is to have honest conversations between you and your student so everyone knows where the other is coming from. It is also important to serve as a bit of a buffer for your student with relatives and family friends. After all, these decisions are for the student and family, not others. On a final note, enjoy the time with your senior. Regardless of the decisions that are made now about next year, we only really have a few months left with our kids, why make this time all about the future.
The Season for Giving
As we enter the holiday season I encourage all of you to reflect on what matters most. It always seems that the newest item or gadget being advertised becomes the most important focus for our kids, which ultimately means a new found focus for us as well. However, the best gift in life can’t be purchased or wrapped. The gift of time spent with loved ones is something that can only be given from the heart and is more valuable than anything you can purchase. I know many of you are struggling, facing adversity, and uncertainty. However, now, more than ever, it is time to be grateful for some of the things we have. Time spent with our family and loved ones, time to turn the world off and focus on what we have, taking the opportunity to share stories, listen, and share moments is always a great investment. Peace.
SCHOOL CALENDAR REMINDERS
- Winter Break: December 20th - December 31st
- School Resumes: January 3, 2022
- Finals Week January 24th - January 27th
- Grading Day-No Students: January 28th
- Start of the Second Semester: January 31st
TEST TO STAY and TEST TO RETURN
Over the course of the year many families have been affected by both a positive Covid case with their student or having to quarantine their student due to an exposure. For students who are fully vaccinated there has been no need to quarantine due to exposure, which has enabled them to continue to attend school without breaks. Fortunately we are now able to implement the use of Covid testing to either completely eliminate the need to quarantine OR to return sooner based on the type of exposure.
There are two protocols that will be used based on the manner in which your student has been exposed. Location Matters. Please see details below:
- Test to Stay: This protocol is used when a student is exposed at school where masking and social distancing are being utilized. For example, in a classroom exposure (please note that this does not apply to athletics or activities where students are participating without masks). If a student is exposed, they will test two times within 3-7 days of exposure. If the test is negative, and they are not showing symptoms, they may Stay in school.
- Test to Return: This protocol is used when a student is exposed in the community or while participating in athletics or activities when the wearing of masks can't be guaranteed. In this case, the quarantine time can be reduced to 7 days (rather than 10). If the Covid tests show they are negative, and they are not showing symptoms, they may Return to school.
- Please see the Images Below for graphical descriptions.
The Test to Stay program will begin in the Gresham-Barlow Schools right after Winter Break and students must have a permission form on file to participate. If you would like your student to be eligible for the program, please turn in a signed permission form to the office. If the exposure occurs at school, testing will be provided at no charge to families. We are looking forward to maintaining access to in-person learning when Covid-19 exposures occur in our school!
COVID AND COLD AND FLU SEASON
As we enter the cold and flu season there is often confusion when determining the differences between a cold or the flu and Covid. If you have questions or concerns trying to tell the difference, please reference the infographic in this section. If that does not answer your questions, you can always contact our school nurse, Miriam Ward, at 503.258.3716 and she will work through your symptoms to help determine if your student needs to be tested for Covid or if they are suffering from a cold or the flu.
If you student is going to be absent, please do the following:
- Please call our Attendance line and excuse your child's absence.
- Teachers may have different late work and grading policies when students have excused or unexcused absences. It benefits your child to have the absence excused.
- If a student is staying home because they were in close contact of a positive COVID case, please call our office to report it. We will excuse the absences.
- If your child is sick and does not feel well enough to be at school, please encourage them to stay home.
- If you have any questions about whether or not your student should stay home, please call the school and we will connect you with our nurse.
KGW GREAT TOY DRIVE
Over the past ten years we have partnered with KGW to contribute donations to their "Great Toy Drive". Each year we have worked hard to spread the concept of giving, supporting our community, and focusing on others during the holiday season. Now, more than ever, families are going to need the support of their community during the holiday season.
Starting on Monday, November 29th, drop off toy barrels will be placed at our Main Entrance as we are acting as a community drop off site. You can drive through between the hours of 8:30am-4:30pm and drop off unwrapped toys, stuffed animals, or clothing items for small children to teens. Additionally, we will have drop off locations inside of the building and in the Athletics and Activities Office for students who bring items into the building. We will be collecting items until December 13.
Let's work hard as the Barlow Community to help those in need and to spread some amazing holiday spirit.
GREAT BOOKS ON SCREEN CONTEST 2021
To celebrate the 2021 big-screen and streaming adaptations of All The Bright Places, Moxie, Shang-Chi and There's Someone Inside Your House, our Barlow Library held a contest giveaway of the original books that these movies were based on. Students just had to check out a library book during November to enter their name in the contest. The official drawing for the prizes was held during early December. Check the SBHS Library Events webpage for more details and the student winners!
This year's contest prizes:
- One copy of All The Bright Places by Jennifer Niven
- One copy of Moxie by Jennifer Mathieu
- One copy of the graphic novel Shang-Chi by Gene Luen Yang
- One copy of There's Someone Inside Your House by Stephanie Perkins
CLASS OF 2022
Seniors, the time has arrived to turn in your Senior Class Portrait. The deadline to turn in your portrait is December 10th. Please see Senior Portrait Info/Submission for more information.
The yearbook staff of Sam Barlow High School is now accepting orders to place Senior Baby Ads in the 2021-2022 Yearbook. So it’s time to choose your photo and start working on your message of congratulations, pride and love. Due Date is Friday, January 28th, 2022. Please see Senior Baby Ads for more information.
To access key dates and information regarding the Class of 2022, please visit the Senior Page on our website. You can also get more information about what Jostens offers on their website jostens.com.
SENIOR ALL NIGHT PARTY FUNDRAISER
The Senior Class Booster Club works annually to fundraise for an All Night Party to celebrate our graduating class. This is an independent organization that works very hard to recognize the senior class after our graduation ceremony.
Thank you so much to the following businesses that have donated toward the Barlow Booster Club for the Senior All-Night Party:
- Gresham Ford
- Our Coffee House
- Riegelmann's Appliance
- Wade Hogg
Ad-Tek, INC
- Arrow Sanitary Service
- Boring Bark
- Boring Goats
- Victoria Faltz
- The Enchanted Forest
- Tina Loeb
- Dr. Della Parker
We also appreciate the families that have already donated, as well!! Your donation makes it possible for the seniors to have a safe and amazing night of fun, after graduation.
Fundraisers are happening throughout the year, so please make sure to visit our website at: https://barlowboosterclub.com
NO FOOD DELIVERY SERVICES TO SCHOOL
Over the course of the fall, students and parents have been using Uber Eats, DoorDash and other delivery services to have food delivered to the building during lunches. In addition, we have had parents dropping off items such as coffee, specialty drinks, and other items, such as gifts, for students to our main office.
We have never permitted the delivery of items, especially food orders and gifts, to be delivered to school. Understand we will accept a forgotten lunch or school items, but we will not be accepting the delivery of these types of things from outside vendors. Compounding this issue is our need to follow all Covid protocols and safety measures as well as school safety concerns. After all, we don't want random delivery people entering our building as it jeopardizes student safety in both cases.
Thanks for your understanding and support.
KNOW YOUR SCHOOL
In order to connect with our school community, Principal Bruce Schmidt will be hosting a monthly parent meeting on the fourth Monday of each month. During this meeting, Mr. Schmidt will present on a variety of topics to inform participants of what is taking place at Barlow. These meetings are never "one way" as Mr. Schmidt will gather input from parents and guardians to help make the Barlow experience quality for all.
The meeting dates for the 2021-22 school year are: 1/24, 2/28, 3/28, 4/25, and 5/23. The meetings begin at 7:00pm and end at 8:30pm and will be conducted virtually through the use of Google Meets. Each month an invitation will be sent to you with an agenda via email outlining the topics for discussion along with the link to the Google Meet. We look forward to seeing you at the end of this month.
COLLEGE AND CAREER CENTER NEWSLETTER
Sam Barlow High School is home to an amazing College and Career Center. Patty Neuenschwander, our College Coordinator, is consistently finding ways to connect students with scholarship opportunities, hosting presentations from colleges and universities, and helping students with the college application process. LindaLee Frazier, our Career Coordinator, works to provide students with exposure to career opportunities by linking local businesses to classrooms, hosting presentations from business leaders, and connecting students to apprenticeship programs, the military, and local job options. These two work tirelessly to provide opportunities for your student.
Please see their newsletter for incredible details and current opportunities:
MAIN OFFICE FAQ'S
What are the office hours?
7:00am - 3:30pm daily
Closed on holidays and some inservice days
What is the main office number?
503-258-4850
Can I leave a message for my student?
Yes. If necessary, we can take messages from a parent or guardian only. Messages will not be delivered to class except in an emergency, but will be held in the office. Students are paged during designated paging times, and it is the student’s responsibility to pick up the note.
Can I bring a present or send flowers/balloons to a student?
We are unable to accept gifts, flowers/balloons for students. We will refuse all attempted deliveries.
Can I deliver coffee/specialty drinks to my student?
No. We will not accept any Dutch, Black Rock, Country Coffee, etc.
Can I have delivered Uber East, DoorDash, or other food delivery services to my student?
No. We will not be accept the delivery of these types of things from outside vendors, but we will accept a forgotten lunch or school items.
Additional questions?
Please call us! 503-258-4850
WHO CAN HELP?
If you have concerns about your child’s schedule or other issues, the following are the staff to contact. Email is a quick way to get answers to the questions you might have.
COUNSELORS
A-D Shae Morris morris62@gresham.k12.or.us
E-K Erin Boelow boelow@gresham.k12.or.us
L-Ra Oscar Rethwill rethwill@gresham.k12.or.us
Re-Z Molly Ninneman ninneman@gresham.k12.or.us
LICENSED SCHOOL SOCIAL WORKER
Kimberly Louvin louvin@gresham.k12.or.us
HS SUCCESS COACH
Paul Quirke quirke@gresham.k12.or.us
ENGAGEMENT SPECIALIST
Ryan Alexander alexander9@gresham.k12.or.us
ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS
A-G Celeste Pellicci pellicci@gresham.k12.or.us
H-O Jason Bhear bhear@gresham.k12.or.us
P-Z Kelly Hart hart29@gresham.k12.or.us