Westview Wildcat Weekly

Upcoming Events

Wednesday, February 8 - Thursday, February 11

Textbook Pickup - 7:30am- 6:00pm

Friday, February 12

Textbook Pickup - 7:30am - 4:00pm

Monday, February 15

Presidents Day - No School

Wednesday, February 24

Staff Development Day - No School for Students
2nd Semester Kick-Off Drive-Through Celebration 2:30-5:30pm

End of 2nd Quarter

As you review your student's marks from 2nd Quarter, you might notice some grades indicators that are new. While in distance learning, we are working to provide clear feedback around a student's success and learning level in the classes they took. Here are two grade marks you might see:

I = Incomplete marks communicate to the student(s) that there wasn't sufficient academic evidence submitted to warrant the awarding of an A-D letter grade. Incomplete marks communicate to the student(s) that we (the teacher and/or school) will provide more opportunities to demonstrate proficiency on the learning targets to earn a passing grade (A-d_. The student has not reached proficiency YET.

N = Not enough interaction with the student or submitted evidence to merit a grade. Fro example, student who didn't attend class often, and did not complete enough of the course to merit a letter grade. An N should only be given if the student will no longer have opportunities to demonstrate proficiency on the course learning targets. An N grade does not award course credit or impact a students GPA.

BSD Return to School Update

Here is the email that went out to our communities:

January 27, 2021

Dear BSD Community & Staff,

I want to thank you for your tremendous patience over the past several weeks as our school district grapples with an ever-changing landscape. We know that you’ve been hungry for information. We’ve had to pivot our plan more than once to incorporate changing health metrics, increased mandatory safety measures and the realities of vaccine availability.

It’s important to remember that the information that we’re about to share with you regarding our return-to-school plan remains dependent on several factors including 1) an efficient vaccination rollout for educators and 2) instructional adjustments that may be necessary due to negotiations occurring right now with our employee unions.

Limited-In Person Instruction

Limited-In Person Instruction (LIPI) is scheduled to tentatively begin on February 22 at 29 schools in the district. As the name indicates, this instruction model is limited to a very small number of our students who’ve been most impacted during COVID-19, including some students with disabilities, some English language learners and those students who don’t have reliable internet connectivity. Staff members have identified eligible students and will be reaching out to those families. Please do not call your school to inquire about LIPI. Again, staff will be contacting those students who are eligible.

Elementary Schools: Hybrid Instruction

As long as we continue to meet the advisory health metrics set by the Oregon Department of Education and the Oregon Health Authority (≤ 350 positive COVID-19 cases per 100,000 over the previous two-week period in Washington and Multnomah Counties), we will begin Hybrid Instruction (part in-person/part online) in our elementary schools, starting with Pre-Kindergarten through 2nd grade. The earliest date that students will return to school buildings for Hybrid Instruction will be April 5. After we’ve had a smooth transition with our youngest students, we’ll consider bringing back grades 3-5, possibly one grade per week.

For a full picture of what the Hybrid Instruction model will look like for students, please watch this video. You also can read our Return-to-School FAQ (link will be live at 12 p.m.) for elementary students.

If you’re not comfortable sending your students back for in-person instruction, they can continue to remain in Comprehensive Distance Learning (CDL). However, no student — whether CDL or Hybrid — will be guaranteed the same teacher as the one instructing them now. Again, please refer to the video for a full explanation.

All elementary families must choose whether to remain in CDL or move to Hybrid. This decision will apply to the rest of the school year; no switches will be allowed. You’ll receive instructions on how to declare your choice during the first week of February. All choices must be made by February 15.

Middle, High and Option School: BSD Connect

If we meet the advisory health metrics for secondary schools (≤ 200 positive COVID-19 cases per 100,000 over the previous two-week period in Washington and Multnomah Counties), students could begin what we’re calling BSD Connect, starting April 19, the first day of the fourth quarter. Middle, high and option schools will be communicating about opportunities for in-school small group interactions. For example, we may bring students in Advancement via Individual Determination (AVID), clubs, community service, specific course activities and specific social activities. However, students will remain in CDL for their academic classes. More details about BSD Connect will be communicated as plans are finalized. For OSAA-sponsored sports and activities, we’ll continue to follow statewide guidance.

In addition, we’ll continue to evaluate the feasibility of bringing secondary students back in a Hybrid Instruction model and will communicate a start date when we’re able.

Again, we must emphasize that this plan is our most up-to-date thinking given what we know at this moment. If this school year has taught us anything it’s that we need to remain flexible and open to change.

Finally, we want to thank all Oregonians who continue to practice diligent mask wearing and social distancing. As we make progress against the virus, we move closer to resuming school in the way that we all know and love.

Sincerely,

Don Grotting

Superintendent

Black History Month Videos

As part of celebrating and honoring the month of February as Black History Month, Westview teachers have volunteered to create short videos that honor an African American and recognize their great achievements. Each school day a video is released to the students and staff. Here are the videos that were released this week:

AP Update

This message is for all families with students enrolled in AP programs this year. If your student is currently in an AP class for Quarters 1 and 2, you should see charges on your accounts in ParentVue. If your student will be enrolled in an AP class starting Quarter 3, they will sign up for their exams in the first week of the course. Those accounts will be billed the week of February 8th. This year students are automatically signed up for the exam when they join their AP courses on the College Board website. This ensures every student who wants to test will be able to have a test. All payments must be made by March 5th.

If your student has decided they do not want to take their AP exam, you do not need to contact your instructor, the bookkeeper, or the AP coordinator. All you have to do is not pay the fee on your account. After the March payment deadline, any account that is not cleared will have the fee dropped and the student’s exam will be canceled.

At this point, we are all still waiting for College Board to make final announcements about testing. It is highly encouraged that families wait to pay until they are absolutely sure they want to participate in testing after College Board announces what testing will look like. We anticipate that an announcement may come at the end of January or early February.

I would like to thank everyone for their patience as we navigate this process during CDL. If you have questions about AP, or think there are errors in billing, please contact Kara Ferris.

Yearbook Help

PARENTS AND STUDENTS:

THE WESTVIEW YEARBOOK NEEDS YOUR HELP!!!

(Parents please feel free to also send in photos and fill out the survey for your child.)

This is a different year, and we are going to create a unique yearbook filled with content provided by our entire community.

Please click the links below to fill in a google form to upload pictures and answer a few short questions to add to your story to some of the topics we will cover in this year’s book.

We plan to come at you with different topics, so keep a lookout on how you can participate with this year’s book.

You can also follow WHS Yearbook @westviewyearbook on Instagram, the school newsletter or your student class Canvas page.

Yearbook Page Topics:

COVID Life and Corona Regrets- https://forms.gle/iv5yNYqjYQa3iu7c6 (Links to an external site.)

Friendship: https://forms.gle/Sw5Fm2wwYn2PQ4iJ9 (Links to an external site.)

Theatre, Choir and Band:

Performing Arts: https://forms.gle/FJVtBgo5opmrFDKZA (Links to an external site.)

Art, Ceramics, Graphic Design, Photography

Visual Arts: https://forms.gle/LCm5RABCVGftv1ep6 (Links to an external site.)

Thank you!

Technology News and Updates

New this week on our WHS Technology for Parents and Students Site http://bit.ly/whsfuture:

Library Events:

Teen Lit Fest

Teen LitFest is an annual event sponsored by WCCLS. Teen library staff recommend a featured speaker; this year’s featured speaker is Adib Khorram. This year’s festival will take place virtually on February 10, 2021 at 6pm for teens and tweens ages 11-18. Click here to register.

Teen Book Club

If you’re in grade 9-12 and love reading, join us in our Teen Book Club! On the 2nd Wednesday of each month, we'll meet on Zoom to discuss books and play games. Click here for more information.

Love Notes from Aloha Library

It’s February, and love is in the air! Join the Aloha Community Library’s talented staff throughout the month as they share a series of videos featuring songs, stories, or poetry celebrating love in all its forms. A new video will be uploaded every Friday at 4 pm, so be sure to subscribe to the library’s YouTube channel to catch every one!

Do you or your student need Tech Help?

Every Wednesday after Advisory I will be available in my Zoom room from 10:45-11:30 for anyone that needs help. In the weeks to come, I am hoping to offer small model lessons on tools they can use in your class. Let me know if there is a tool you would like me to share! Here's the link. I have also been at our Westview Works homework help and tutoring sessions on Wednesday afternoons from 2-4p (Here is the link.)

Need wifi?

Apply here for a free wifi hotspot. We have a limited number, and they will be distributed on a first come, first serve basis.

Future Connect Scholarship Presentation Feb. 10th 12:00pm-1:00

Jana Daugherty from PCC will cover how to write a compelling 2 paragraph essay, how to also apply for PCC Foundation Scholarships, OSAC, and What to do if your FAFSA needs Verification. Bring all of your questions about FAFSA or ORSAA. She will tackle them all. This is the last chance to get help on all of these important financial aid documents/applications. Final due date is MARCH 1st

Registration ahead is recommended: https://forms.gle/U7hiuxcL3bmzXEfG8 (Links to an external site.)

Students can find the Zoom link on Canvas, Class page, College & Career.

In celebration of Black History Month, The College Place is hosting an HBCU Virtual College Tour Series! Throughout the month of February, they will feature virtual tours of over 30 Historically Black Colleges and Universities on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 3:30 PST

All tour sessions will take place at https://ecmc.zoom.us/j/96027749366.
You can link to a PDF of this information at https://sforce.co/3qZtTS3

For Students looking for volunteer opportunities:

Hands On Greater Portland

https://www.handsonportland.org/https://www.handsonportland.org/

Has many virtual volunteer opportunities. Check out opportunities to be of service in your community.

Class of 2021 Graduation Date

We are set to celebrate our Class of 2021's graduation on June 13. Wether we are able to gather at the University of Portland Chiles Center or we hold a celebration at Westview, it will be on Sunday, June 13. We wanted to get this out to all of you who need to save the date.

Regardless of how or where, this class is much deserving of a celebration!!

THE WESTVIEW YEARBOOK NEEDS YOUR HELP!

This is a different year, and we are going to create a unique yearbook filled with content provided by our entire community.

Please click the links below to fill in a google form to upload pictures and answer a few short questions to add to your story to some of the topics we will cover in this year’s book.

We plan to come at you with different topics each week, so keep a lookout on how you can participate with this year’s book.

Watch out for us by following @westviewyearbook on Instagram, the school newsletter or your class Canvas page.

This week we are focusing on the following topics. Click the links below to add your photos and answer a few short questions.

COVID Life and Corona Regrets- https://forms.gle/iv5yNYqjYQa3iu7c6

Fall Activities- https://forms.gle/WoTH2h8bonhVXE7t7

Distance Learning- https://forms.gle/pvF6ATcVEJUNi2hv7

Pets- https://forms.gle/6MWaGT5DxCB6V7Bs6

Family at Westview/ Twins- https://forms.gle/UpbqUBA9Pd8DCNja6

We are excited to feature YOU in the yearbook. Thank you for helping us tell this year’s story.

-The Westview Yearbook Staff

Cap and Gown Orders for Graduation

Dear Senior Families
I know words like “virtual” and “hybrid” are not wording you normally associate with school, and certainly not your senior year. The challenges you and we have experienced have been both substantial and challenging. I do want to recognize and thank all of you for adjusting to this new normal. Our hope is that by year’s end things will have improved dramatically.
While many things have changed, one thing that has not changed is the tradition of graduation. Come June 13, you will be recognized, you will be rewarded, you will be celebrated. To secure that reality, you will be placing your graduation order for your Cap & Gown and other graduation materials in an event we are calling “Senior Graduation Order Week”.
Please visit this page: Jostens.com
If you have any questions, please let me know. We want to make this as simple and easy as possible.
dan.peters.office@jostens.com
2056 NE Aloclek Drive, #309
Hillsboro, OR 97124
503.660.8032

Grading and Reporting and 4x4 Schedule

With the district shift to a 4x4 schedule we would like to send out another reminder of what that does to our grading and academic calendar. Because year-long courses are compressed to 18 weeks and all semester long courses are compressed to 9 weeks, the 9-week grades (Nov. 13th) go on to the transcript as semester grades, part of the permanent record and GPA. Historically, students are in the mindset of having until the end of January to "get their grades up" but that is no longer the case. This is not new news, but we want all parents and students to be aware.

Here are the official grading dates for the remainder of the year:

November 13 (9 weeks)-End of Semester (Final Grades/Grading Day--Grades Updated)

January 8 (15 weeks)--Grades Updated

February 5 (18 weeks)--End of Semester (Final Grades/Grading Day--Grades Updated)

March 19 (6 weeks)-- Progress Report (Grades Updated)

April 16 (9 weeks)-- End of Semester (Final Grades/Grading Day--Grades Updated)

May 28 (15 weeks)-- Progress Report (Grades Updated)

June 21 (18 weeks)--End of Semester (Final Grades/Grading Day-Grades Updated)

Your Help Keeping Social Media Safe

Westview Community,

We have seen social media interactions that are harmful, harassing, and racist amongst some of our students. While some of these exchanges take place away from school, we expect our students to model the Wildcat Way all hours of the day.

We appreciate your help maintaining a safe community for all of our Westview students.

Thank you.

Health 1

Dear Health 1 Parents:

Welcome to Health 1! Health 1 Apex Overview.pdf is an overview of the lessons we will be covering in Apex this quarter, they are highlighted in yellow. The lessons are also listed in the parent Canvas course in the modules (along with the study guides). However, in order to view the lessons in their entirety, you will need to have your child log-in to Apex through their Canvas course. For this reason, you will not be able to view the full lessons until the quarter for Health 1 starts for your child. From there you can click on the lessons we will cover to view content. To join the parent Canvas course to preview curriculum you can join with this link: https://bsd.instructure.com/enroll/8KPRPE

Please note, the sexual health unit begins at the start of week 6 of the course, so you will have 5 weeks from the start of the quarter to review the lessons in that unit. Please click this link below for opt-out information including the form (“Exemption from Instruction” near the bottom of the page): https://www.beaverton.k12.or.us/departments/curriculum-instruction-assessment/health-secondary

All other lessons (not in Apex) are in the parent Canvas course and can be viewed by clicking on them in the modules.

Thank you,

The Health 1 Team

Opting Out

We are always welcome to work alongside our parents and guardians if you questions or concerns. Know that you can always contact your Health teacher.

Please click this link below for opt-out information including the form (“Exemption from Instruction” near the bottom of the page): https://www.beaverton.k12.or.us/departments/curriculum-instruction-assessment/health-secondary

Westview Zoom Norms and Expectations

Students - This is our virtual classroom. Let’s keep it a positive space that is conducive to learning. We’ve got this!

Be sure you are logged into your BSD student account.
Show up to class a couple of minutes early and wait to be admitted.
We will ask that you identify yourself with your preferred first and last name before your teacher welcomes you in from the waiting room.
We look forward to hearing your thoughts and joining conversations, but please keep your audio on mute until you want to speak. This will help limit background noise.
Whenever possible, find a quiet place free of distractions (siblings, parents, television, etc.)
You are welcome to keep your video off, but please stay present with us.
If you have a question, use the chat box, or raise your hand.
Respect others' privacy by not taking screenshots of participants or recording sessions.