MEC/HBP NewsLetter
May 7, 2021
Principal Message
Dear MEC/HBP Students and Families,
Happy Friday!
I can't believe we already in May! As we are approaching the end of the year, there are several things happening all at once. Information around graduation, fall planning, scheduling, State Testing an more is coming your way. There are some important updates below, so please take a few minutes to read them and reach out if you need any supports.
We are currently interviewing several students in HSD interested in HBP, so if you know students or families who might be interested, please encourage them to reach out to their school counselor to get a referral into HBP.
If you are in the GED program, please continue to work with your GED program teacher to schedule Official Practice Tests, so we can support you in making progress towards completion and earning your GED.
If you do not want your student to take their assigned test, please complete the Opt-Out Form by midnight, May 9th.
***If you are an HBP student and re opting out - please select Miller as the school***
Opt-out Form in English: https://forms.gle/UwYLJesidbo5oapB6
Opt-out Form in Spanish: https://forms.gle/ENuqULeGDPMYgLHi9
If you would like your student to also take the additional science assessment, please fill out this form by midnight May 9th to opt in to this assessment: https://forms.gle/EazvF1N4EUB4WTeY8
Thank you so much for your continued partnership and flexibility as we all work together through this transition to hybrid and interactive learning. Please reach out if you have any questions or concerns.
Tiffany Mosqueda
Alternative Programs Principal
MEC/Hillsboro Big Picture
Upcoming Events & Important Dates to Remember
IMPORTANT DATES:
May 12 -HSD ECHS SBA Testing at MEC West (1 pm-4 pm)
May 14 -HSD ECHS SBA Testing at MEC West (1 pm-4 pm)
May 19- HBP - SBA Testing (More information Below)
May 31 - No School Memorial Day
June 10th - MEC/HBP Graduation (More information below)
June 17th - Last Day of School for Students
Email: mosquedt@hsd.k12.or.us
Website: https://www.hsd.k12.or.us/Page/75
Location: 440 Southeast Oak Street, Hillsboro, OR, USA
Phone: 503-844-1685
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HillsboroSchools/
Twitter: @hillsboro_sd
State Testing
Here is the update with important information. Please reach out if you have any questions.
MEC/HBP is planning to offer testing opportunities for students in hybrid education as well as those remaining in Comprehensive Distance Learning (CDL) on: Wednesday, May 19 — 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM. https://docs.google.com/document/d/1uu6h5Q0u8lFh2quJ0MBAB4R0WzOybHTzUUDLx8b2fSw/edit
If you would like your student to also take the additional science assessment, please fill out this form by May 5th to opt in to this assessment: https://forms.gle/EazvF1N4EUB4WTeY8.
Transportation details will be communicated closer to the testing date.
Graduation Update
HSD has shared a graduation update and you can find it at this link
MEC/HBP Graduation will be a drive-through this year at Hare Field on Thursday June 10th starting at 7 pm.
More to come on a time for Cap and Gown Check-Out
Summer School Opportunities
Covid-19 Vaccine Opportunity
May 7, 2021
Dear HSD Students, Families, and Staff,
We wanted to let you know about several upcoming opportunities for receiving the COVID-19 vaccine, if you are interested and still in need of vaccination.
The opportunities listed below are for people starting with their first dose. If you have already had your first dose and only need your second dose, you cannot get your second dose only at these clinics.* (*If you only need your second dose, please call OHSU’s vaccine help line at 833-647-8222 or check with your local pharmacy. Visit Washington County’s COVID-19 website for more information about pharmacies and other locations where you can schedule a COVID-19 vaccination appointment.)
Please note that clinics welcoming people ages 16 and older can guarantee access to the Pfizer vaccine, which is the only one currently approved for emergency use for 16- and 17-year-olds.
· People ages 16 and older at the Portland International Airport Red Economy Lot. Oregonians who do not already have an appointment can get a free COVID-19 vaccination at the Portland International Airport Red Economy Lot drive-through clinic this weekend. Oregonians who can schedule their vaccination ahead of time are still encouraged to do so by booking appointments online at the OHSU COVID-19 Vaccines website. Those without internet access or who need extra help can call 833-647-8222. More information on what to expect at the PDX vaccination site is also available at the above-mentioned website. As with all vaccination appointments, OHSU asks drive-up patients to bring an insurance card if they have one, although insurance coverage is not required and patients will not be billed.
o Saturday, May 8, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
o Sunday, May 9, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
· People ages 16 and older at the Oregon Convention Center (OCC). The effort to vaccinate students ages 16 and older and their family members is a partnership between the local health providers and Portland-metro area school districts. There are two ways to register for a vaccination at the OCC:
o Through the OCC’s online portal at https://all4oregon.org/. Use this tool to schedule an exact time for any available appointment if you have access to your own transportation
§ OCC COVID-19 vaccination clinic hours:
· Noon to 7 p.m. Sunday through Tuesday
· 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays
o Through the Hillsboro School District’s Google Form. Use this tool if you and your family members want to arrive as a group on an upcoming Wednesday morning between 11 a.m. and noon, or if you need assistance arranging transportation.
· People ages 18 and older at the Virginia Garcia Clinics in Cornelius and Hillsboro. Because Virginia Garcia will be administering the Moderna vaccine, no one under the age of 18 can be vaccinated at this location. No appointment is needed, you do not need to be a Virginia Garcia patient, and you do not need to have insurance to receive the vaccine. However, please bring your insurance card if you have one.
o Cornelius Clinic (1151 Adair St.)
§ Tuesday, May 11, 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
§ Saturday, May 15, noon to 5 p.m.
o Hillsboro Clinic (226 SE 8th Ave.)
§ Tuesday, May 11, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
o For more information, go to virginiagarcia.org/vaccine.
If you have questions or need assistance, please reach out to Alma Hernandez at hernanda@hsd.k12.or.us or 503-750-8606.
As soon as we receive information about emergency use authorization of the Pfizer vaccine for children ages 12 to 15, we will share that with you.
Thank you!
Hillsboro School District
Safety Update and Reminders
Parents and Guardians: Your partnership is very important in helping to keep our students, staff, and school community healthy and safe. Your student’s school has strict protocols and illness restrictions in place to help prevent the introduction and transmission of illness. Please check your child daily for the following symptoms:
Primary Symptoms:
• Fever 100.4/chills
• Cough
• Shortness of breath, difficulty breathing
• New loss of taste or smell
Non-Primary Symptoms:
• Headache
• Nausea or vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Fatigue (tiredness)
• Sore throat
• Muscle/body aches
• Congestion or runny nose
If your child has any of the above Primary Symptoms:
Keep your child home from school.
Consider whether your child needs to see a healthcare provider and receive possible COVID-19 testing. Coronavirus Self Checker is a CDC online tool that can help you make decisions when to seek testing and medical care.
Contact your child’s school. Please share the symptoms your child is experiencing. The school may ask some additional questions to help determine when it’s safe for your child to return to school.
If your child has any of the above Non-Primary Symptoms
Parent/Guardian will follow the Too Sick for School Guidelines. Please DO NOT send your student to school if they are exhibiting any of the symptoms listed in the flyers linked below:
Parent/Guardian will complete the home based symptom screening tool daily at home with their student(s), before sending them to school.
COVID Home-Based Symtoms Screening
Keep this form at home to review daily with your student(s).
COVID-19 Testing: Please call your healthcare provider for COVID testing or contact the Century Student Based Health Center to schedule an appointment.
If you have questions, please contact the HSD District Nurse assigned to your school. HSD District Nurse Roster
FENTANYL WARNING
April 26. 2021 - We are learning from our Washington County partners and neighboring school districts that teen deaths from fentanyl-laced, illicitly-manufactured pills are surging across the country and in our region. Young people are purchasing what they think are OxyContin, Percocet or Xanax pills via social media, but what they are getting are fake pills containing the cheaper, stronger, and more deadly synthetic drug called fentanyl. Fentanyl is up to 50 times more potent than heroin and 100 times more potent than morphine. Fentanyl is odorless, tasteless and colorless. Teens never know what they’re getting, and one pill can kill them.
Safety is HSD’s top priority and we are working with our community partners to gather resources and put together a virtual information event in mid-June (specific date to be determined). Although no HSD students have died as a result of fentanyl-laced substances, we believe it is critically important to share information about the dangers of fentanyl with our students and families.
If you are interested in learning more, here is a video that shares the story of a Beaverton School District student who died from fentanyl poisoning in December 2020 and includes an interview with his parents. This video was recommended for viewing by the Washington County Sheriff's Office.
Please look for information about the June event in upcoming communications.
Keeping your student safe and well- when to keep your student home. Please see this link to the Hillsboro School District Website. Helpful info and direction to support our student's well-being.https://www.hsd.k12.or.us/Page/2367
FYI- We will be participating in safety drills, when students return to the building.
Please have students wear/bring a mask, bring a personal water bottle as well, as it is warming up outside and for safety reasons our water fountains have been turned off.
Parking - if students are driving themselves please let them know that half of our parking lot is blocked off due to construction and so we might need to have them park on the street.
If you are doing student drop off in the mornings or pick up in the afternoon, there will be staff outside to support in direction of traffic and cars will use the ramp that is in front of the main office to drop students off or for student pick up. Please drive slowly and with caution.
Meal Update- IMPORTANT
MAJOR MEAL UPDATE! PLEASE READ
For Students Participating in Hybrid Learning
There will be 5 day meal bags every Thursday and Friday for students to take home with them. We can also deliver the 5 day meal bags to you if needed. Please let our counselor Annie Wynne or our Grad Coach Ralph Medina know if you need the meals delivered. wynnean@hsd.k.12.or.us or medinar@hsd.k12.or.us
Starting Monday, April 12th, ALL students in any of our HBP/MEC Programs who would like a breakfast and lunch meal pack (including 5 breakfast and 5 lunches) will need to order them the week prior to using the following link Weekly Meals Order Form.
On that order form you will be able to choose the location you want for pick up
You will order the meals and then you can pick them up at one of the 4 Middle Schools or 4 High Schools. You will need to connect with the school that you chose to pick up from to see times and locations.
If you missed order last week for this coming week's meals please email me and I will connect you with the resources to obtain those meals - mosquedt@hsd.k12.or.us
Hybrid Interactive Learning Update
As MEC/HBP students have returned to campus, we have had the opportunity to assess classroom capacities and our ability to expand access. There are several considerations to take into account, such as space on buses, space across each of a student’s classes, classroom sizes, and student needs. We are currently using data to determine which students to invite to campus for more than two days of in-person instruction per week, with a primary focus on those who could most benefit from additional academic support. Students will be individually invited if they meet these criteria.
A reminder that students who attend on campus two days a week, also have classes the days they are at home. We had a few students who thought they only participated in school on the days they came to the building. There is school M-F for all students, in hyrbid and CDL.
Wednesdays for ALL students will remain the same as they were for CDL - Asynchronous learning at home.
ODE and Oregon Health Authority
Ready Schools Safe Learners, at https://www.oregon.gov/ode/students-and-family/healthsafety/Documents/Ready%20Schools%20Safe%20Learners%202020-21%20Guidance.pdf
April 23, 2021 - COVID case rates are rising in Washington County. Between Apr. 4 and 17, there were 974 cases, which translates to a rate per 100,000 of population of 158.8 and a test positivity rate of 5.5 percent. Case information for Apr. 11 through 25 will be released on Monday, Apr. 26, and it’s possible we will see a rate that tops 200, which is the threshold for more potential restrictions in schools’ operating status.
However, there is a provision that states: “Schools should not reduce in-person instruction or revert to CDL based on county metrics if the school can demonstrate the ability to limit transmission in the school environment. When county trends increase...pausing expansion of additional in-person learning and maintaining access to current in-person learning for schools that have it in place is recommended.”
Therefore, HSD has no plans to revert schools to CDL, even in the face of this current upward trend. If there are COVID cases in schools, decisions will be made about whether or not in-person learning can continue by the District Nurse team, in consultation with Washington County Public Health. We are not publishing COVID case data by school out of consideration for students’ and staff members’ right to privacy. Communication will be sent to staff and families if there has been a positive COVID case in their child’s cohort; that communication will contain additional information about what, if any, action is necessary as a result of the potential exposure.
Keep in mind that COVID is currently spreading within the community, so we will not be communicating with entire schools when there is a positive COVID case that only impacts individual cohorts, as we have robust health and safety protocols in place that are designed to mitigate transmission.
Counseling & Wellness: Annie Wynne
- If students or parents have questions about academic planning, they are encouraged to make an appointment using this link here or by contacting Annie Wynne at wynnean@hsd.k12.or.us.
- Students and families can now access unofficial transcripts via ParentVUE and StudentVUE. Follow the directions here: Printing Student Transcripts in ParentVUE and StudentVUE guide to learn how to access their unofficial transcript.
- If you or a family member need support, please check out these resources: