Whitman Elementary Newsletter
2020-2021
November
11/04/2020 School Supply Distribution (times below)
11/05/2020 School Supply Distribution (times below)
11/06/2020 NO SCHOOL11/11/2020 NO SCHOOL
11/23/2020 - 11/24/2020 Virtual Conferences NO SCHOOL
11/23/2020 - 11/27/2020 NO SCHOOL
PRINCIPAL LETTER
Dear Whitman Community:
We hope that you continue to be well during these challenging times. We miss you all very much! We have a few updates for you this month.
Google Meets
We have some students who are logging onto class meets at night to socialize with peers. Please monitor this for your child as there is no adult supervision and class meets are not meant to be used this way. Please encourage your students to join virtual recess for socialization or follow your family plan. We strongly discourage students from being online without adult supervision.
School Supplies Distribution
We will be distributing school supplies for use at home for all students. The first pick up times for families to come to Whitman are Wednesday November 4th 8:00-9:00 am & 2:30-6:00 pm. Second day for pick up will be Thursday November 5th 2:45-4:00 p.m. There will be other times in the future if that does not work for your family.
Conferences
If you have not signed up for Conferences, please do so as soon as possible. They are virtual this year and are on Monday November 23rd and Tuesday November 24th. There is no school this whole week due to Conferences and Thanksgiving.
Food Distribution Update from the district- Whitman is a distribution site
Starting November 2, our grab-and-go curbside serving locations will be open from 3 to 4:30 p.m. every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Some schools might shift their serving location on campus to help keep employees dry and visible. To see the full list of meal sites, please visit the Nutrition Sites During Distance Learning website.
Finally, we are re-opening access to home meal deliveries, a service for PPS families that are not near a meal site or need assistance accessing meals. To request meal delivery service, please complete the request form. We continue to assess the capacity of both the Nutrition Services and Transportation departments and will keep you apprised of any updates we make to our services.
SE Guiding Coalition Update
We want to update you on Enrollment and Program Balancing (EPB) progress. As we’ve shared, initial work is focused on schools in Southeast Portland in advance of the reopening of Kellogg Middle School. The Southeast Guiding Coalition has held six meetings focused on creating a common understanding of the Coalition’s charge and the process for developing proposals and a final recommendation. The process is starting with a focus on grades 6-8 now, and will expand to grades PK-12 next spring.
Over the past few weeks, they have evaluated and discussed several scenarios as they worked toward developing a more refined proposal to share with the broader community. Next week they will receive results from more than 800 online and telephone surveys. The survey results will be posted at the Enrollment and Program Balancing website, as well.
The District is planning an online open house on November 12 to share information about the coalition proposal(s) and gather your input. The open house will include background on the process, visuals to help illustrate the proposal(s), and opportunities to provide feedback.
The online open house will include a standing Web page that you can visit for information throughout this process and a live Zoom meeting where you can hear from Southeast Guiding Coalition members and the District Advisory Team. We will share more information about the open house next week. Links to the open house Web page and Zoom meeting will be sent out just before the event.
All community members are welcome to attend the Nov 5 open house, and we especially encourage our Southeast families to attend and provide feedback. It is essential we hear from you and can provide you with detailed information during this first phase of the process.
More About the Guiding Coalition and EPB process
The Guiding Coalition is made up of parents and principals representing Southeast schools. The coalition is currently holding a series of meetings focused on the middle school grades, including the open house on November 12 and one planned for early December 2020.
Phase 1 concludes with a recommendation in mid-December. Phase 2, scheduled to begin in spring 2021, will focus on PK-5 grades.
Enrollment and Program Balancing uses both a data-driven analysis process and community input to address needs such as equity and inclusion, transportation, facilities constraints, and much more. Meeting agendas, materials, minutes, and videos are posted at the Enrollment and Program Balancing website.
Thank you,
Stephanie Murdock and Celina Garrido
From the Office:
Don't forget to sign up for conferences! Click below on your students teacher:
Counselor:
Remind App 424-835-7990
Text or call (971) 231-9144
Virtual Recess has been a super fun opportunity for our students to connect and have fun together in the virtual setting!
1st: 11:30 Tuesday code 1strecess
2nd: 12:30 Monday code 2ndrecess
3rd: 11:45 Monday code 3rdrecess
4th: 12:30 Thursday code 4threcess
5th: 2:15 Thursday code 5threcess
Office Hours with Ms.Locarno are now available for families, students, and teachers.
I am available to help support you with your questions, concerns, celebrations, referrals to resources etc.
Monday - Friday 1:15-2:00
Google meet code: locarno
From the School Nurse:
Immunizations are an important part of keeping our kids and community safe from certain diseases. That is why vaccines are required for school. Fall is a great time to catch-up on vaccines and get your yearly flu shots. Students need to be up-to-date on vaccines or give the school documentation of an exemption by early January, so that your child is not at risk of being excluded from school. Exclusion day is February 17, 2021.
Free Clinic available to students:
The Benson Wellness Center is OPEN!
ADDRESS: 546 NE 12th Avenue, Portland, OR 97232
IN PERSON Hours: Tuesday & Thursday 1:00-4:00 p.m.
Wednesday 8:00-12:00 p.m.
VIRTUAL Hours: Monday - Friday 8:00-5:00 p.m.
AGE of Student's being served: 7-18 y.o.
Appointments are available for BOTH Mental Health & Physical Wellness
Appointments for BOTH Flu Shots & ALL Other Vaccinations are available
To SCHEDULE an Appointment:
1. Call OHSU Registrar and Register each person needing an appointment at 503-494-8505 (if you've not been seen there before)
2. Leave a Message for Reva at the Benson Wellness Center at 503-418-0409 with your call back information
3. Reva will call back and schedule an appointment, appointments are readily available
Also, here is the PPS link regarding The Benson Wellness Center: https://www.pps.net/Page/5953
SUN SCHOOL:
Hello Whitman Wildcat Family! This is Laurelee Wells with SUN. I hope your fall is going well!
If your family has needs such as a food box , coat or energy assistance please email, call or text me. 503-290-8058 lwells@impactnw.org
Have a beautiful day and give your kids a big hug from SUN!
Whitman School
Email: tbonjern@pps.net
Website: https://www.pps.net/whitman
Location: 7326 Southeast Flavel Street, Portland, OR, USA
Phone: 503-916-6370