Spring will be here in a few short weeks! I know I am looking forward to some warmer weather, the snow is beautiful but I cannot wait to start seeing leaves on the trees again!

I know the entire community always looks forward to Spring Break - and it is finally here! Students will be off of school the week of March 22 - 26. It is my hope that the families and staff get a chance to relax during Spring Break. Some of us might go away on a much-needed vacation, or clean out those closets we have been meaning to clean, or perhaps just reading a book we have been meaning to read. Whatever it is we do, we all deserve the time off for all the hard work we have done this year! Get plenty of rest so we can recharge for the last few months of school!

Our staff is very excited to start welcoming back some of our students this month to our school campus! We can't wait until we come back to school and see more smiling faces! Our hybrid and e-GBSD models have changed slightly. You can find detailed information in the formal letter below:

English Version - Updated Hybrid Model

Spanish Version - Updated Hybrid Model

Further down in this newsletter you will find a whole section on hybrid instruction, please thoroughly review that section as it has valuable information on our return to learn plan.

Please know you can always reach out to your child's teacher or me for anything you need or any questions you might have along the way. I can be reached via email at maranto2@gresham.k12.or.us or via phone at 503.663.7483.

Respectfully,

Sam Maranto

Principal

KCES Families,

On Monday, March 1, 2021, we will begin providing Limited In-Person Instruction (LIPI) to our students in the PASS Program. This is our first step in bringing back students safely to the Kelly Creek Elementary School campus. We are very excited to have students back at school. We have been preparing for this return for quite some time in order to follow the many health and safety protocols outlined by the Department of Education. I have already provided the necessary training to the school staff so they could be aware of the changes and expectations for health and safety!

On March 30 & 31 we will be holding our next Materials Distribution events. ALL students in grades K-5 are invited to come to Kelly Creek to pick up their materials. Families can drive up, let us know who your student(s) are and we will do the rest!

Our Hybrid and e-GBSD Model of instruction have changed slightly to try and ensure students can stay with their current teacher, health and safety protocols can be followed, and to ensure we continue to offer robust instruction to our students.

All students will participate in CDL in the morning (regardless of which option you choose), then families who choose to bring their child(ren) back to Hybrid onsite instruction will come to KCES in the afternoon for 2.5 hours. Students will not eat lunch or have recess during their time onsite. Students will still be broken into an A Cohort and a B Cohort. Families with odd addresses would attend on Monday & Tuesday afternoon (A Cohort) and families with an even address would attend on Thursday & Friday afternoon (B Cohort). Some adjustments might need to be made to balance out cohorts. Families will be notified which cohort they have been assigned to when hybrid begins. Timelines of when Hybrid Instruction will start are still being finalized and will be communicated with families when the decision is reached.

Families that have chosen to stay online for the remainder of the school year will likely get to stay with their current teacher. Students who are at home will participate in prerecorded lessons, applied learning, independent practice, and some live small group lessons.

We are basing our planning on our original survey data that was collected from families in January. If your family would like to change their option when we start Hybrid Instruction, you may do so by completing this survey. If you would like to stick with your original decision, NO action is needed and you do NOT need to fill out this survey.

Please see my formal letter of communication to the school community:

English Version - Updated Hybrid Model

Spanish Version - Updated Hybrid Model

If you are changing your choice, you must complete one of the following surveys by Friday, March 5, 2021.

English Version KCES Updated Return to Learn Survey

Spanish Version KCES Updated Return to Learn Survey

I would be more than happy to answer any additional questions you might have about a potential return to the school building. I can be reached via e-mail at maranto2@gresham.k12.or.us.

Thank you,

Sam Maranto

Principal

We want to spark some creativity in the KCES community. We are asking students to participate in this school-wide art project. This is optional but should be a lot of fun for your child.

Students are asked to make the KCES Cougar out of materials you can find around the house. Click the link to find out more details.

Take a picture of your final project and send it to your teacher, then we will share it on social media!

We can’t wait to see what you come up with. You can submit your picture by March 31st! GO COUGARS!!!!

KCES Art Project Informational Sheet

English Letter

Spanish Letter

If you would like to opt your child out of testing, below are the forms you will need to submit to the school. If the waiver is granted, no students will be tested this academic school year.

English Waiver

Spanish Waiver

• Updated Hybrid Instructional Model - 03/02/21
• Updated Hybrid Instructional Model (Spanish) - 03/02/21
• Hybrid Instructional Model - 01/08/21
• Hybrid Instruction Model (Spanish) - 01/08/21
• Letter to Ms. Daniel's Class - 11/05/20
• Annual Testing Notification - 10/28/20
• Letter to Mrs. Hemstead's Class - 10/16/20
• Welcome Back Letter 20-21 - 08/31/20
• New Principal to Kelly Creek Elementary School - 06/10/20