EPSD9 Community Newsletter

August 18, 2023

Dear EPSD9 Families;

Welcome back to the new year. I am looking forward to seeing our students back in our schools. I hope everyone of you has had a great summer and a chance to recharge. We are looking forward to a great year with some significant improvements in learning.

This past June, the EPSD9 Facilities Committee recommended a bond be put to the District’s voters. The EPSD9 School Board agreed with the committee’s recommendation, and a vote will be on the upcoming November ballot. Please look for more information to be published in the coming months to help our community member make an informed decision. Information on how to register to vote can be found here.

Very importantly, this year, EPSD9 will NOT have early release Wednesdays. Each school’s student day will begin and end at the same time every day, except in special circumstances such as the last day of school. EPSD9 will be holding six professional development days during which there will not be student classes. These days are Sept. 22, Oct. 20, Jan. 19, Feb. 16, April 19 and May 17. A link to our calendar showing the Professional Development Days as well as our holidays and other non-school days can be found here.

Our first student day will be on Tuesday, September 5th. If you have not already, please also consider downloading our EPSD9 App. Having this App will give you up-to-date information on your student and make many interactions with your school and teacher, including registration, quicker and easier. Our EPSD9 Communications Page also has other methods for you to receive and access information about our District including information if you're interested in how to volunteer.

Eagle Point School District 9 continues to be focused on meeting the needs of all students and our community. Our District Strategic Plan envisions the District we want to be. I encourage you to please take a moment to review our four priorities. These are:

• Priority #1 – Close the Achievement Gaps for All Students

EPSD9 recognizes that academic gaps exist in each grade level. We commit to raising the achievement level for all students using a growth model and will continue to work to identify barriers that might prevent them from reaching grade level success.

• Priority #2 – Innovative Career Pathways for All Students

EPSD9 will create a highly focused culture of exploration and learning through opportunities that encourage students K-12 to identify and pursue the college and career pathways they desire.

• Priority #3 – Address Social Emotional Learning for All Students

EPSD9 will partner with the community to ensure all students and staff are supported through social emotional learning systems and integrated with multi-tiered systems of support.

• Priority #4 – A Clear Defined District Culture

EPSD9 will support each and every student in our district, their individual strengths and weaknesses. We will commit to providing them a safe and student centered learning environment building relationships with trust and integrity, encouraging them to reach their full potential.

Again, welcome. I am looking forward seeing all of our students and working to give them the best education we are capable of.

Respectfully,

Andy Kovach

Superintendent

We are excited to start the 2023 - 24 school year and we look forward to welcoming students back from Summer Break!

School begins on Tuesday, September 5th for grades 1st - 12th. Please visit your school's website or contact the front office for specific information on Pre-K, Kindergarten, and other programs that utilize a soft start. All of our schools are accessible through our EPSD9 website using the "Our Schools" button.

As a reminder, ALL students need to register and update their student and parent information for the 2023 - 24 school year. To ensure that you receive notifications and information from your EPSD9 School, please double-check that your email and phone number are current.

Eagle Point School District 9 App
The EPSD9 District App is designed for parents, students, employees, and community members. Stay up to date with District messages, headlines, calendar events, attendance, and more. Download the EPSD9 App to your phone, tablet, or smart device. Click the link below that matches your device.

Apple App Store or Google Play Store

EPSD9 Community Newsletter
The Eagle Point School District 9 Community Newsletter is published each month and is available on our website, District App, and linked here! Our Community Newsletter focuses on District-wide events, staff and student stories, and spotlights throughout the year.

One-Way Announcements and Alerts for Parents and Students
EPSD9 uses a mass communication system that sends notices to multiple devices and locations at once, like phone calls, text messages, and emails. These types of messages consist of District letters, event notices, reminders, and alerts, like a snow day. In order to ensure that parents and students receive EPSD9 messages, please confirm yearly that the contact information in ParentVUE is the most current.

Two-way Communication for parents and students (Starts 2023-24 School Year)
EPSD9 utilizes Remind for 2-way communication in our classrooms. Teachers can use Remind to reach students and parents on any device, including texting-only phones—no smartphones necessary. Remind is a free, safe messaging tool that keeps families up to date with what’s happening in the classroom. Teachers can send messages to an entire class, smaller groups, or individuals. These quick, simple messages can help you and your student stay informed.

Questions?
For more information or specific questions about our communication, please contact Dean MacInnis at macinnisd@eaglepnt.k12.or.us

EPSD9 Parents and Guardians, Please remember to send your student with their fully charged EPSD9 iPad on their first day of school!

Click Here for Eagle Point School District 9 Technology Support

Parents & Guardians - Please take a few minutes and review the attached information with your EPSD9 students. The goal of EPSD9 is to establish a district-wide understanding of this process so we are all prepared in the event of an emergency. Thank you!

The Office of Teaching and Learning has a few new helpful faces for the 2023 - 24 school year. Please visit the Office of Teaching and Learning Department on our District Website for more information and to connect with us.

The Eagle Point School Board has voted unanimously to seek a $58.3 million bond measure in the November general election. The bond, if passed, would add classrooms to address crowding and future growth, enhance the learning environment and improve safety and security throughout the district.

The proposed bond measure calls for adding classrooms at Eagle Point High School, Eagle Point Middle School, White Mountain Middle School, Eagle Rock Elementary and Hillside Elementary. It would also provide funds to replace the Elementary part of Shady Cove School, built in 1928, for Grades 1-5

The cost to property owners would be approximately $1.30 per $1,000 of assessed property value, or $390 a year for a property assessed at $300,000.

A district committee and a constituent survey helped shape the list of projects included in the proposal.

What’s next for our school district? You can get the latest information (and voice your opinions) by adding your name to Superintendent Andy Kovach’s Key Communicator emailing list. It’s easy, just CLICK HERE.