Wolverine News
April 5, 2021
West Orient Middle School
Website: gresham.k12.or.us/woms
Location: 29805 Southeast Orient Drive, Gresham, OR, USA
Phone: (503) 663-3323
Twitter: @WOMSwolverines
Dear Families,
Our staff is very excited to start welcoming back some of our students this month to our school campus for in-person learning.
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 WOMS in the afternoon two days a week. Students will not eat lunch or have recess during their time onsite. Students will be assigned to cohort groups. Students with odd addresses will attend on Monday & Tuesday afternoon (A Cohort) and students with even addresses will attend on Thursday & Friday afternoon (B Cohort). Start date for Cohort A will be Monday, April 19. Start date for Cohort B will be Thursday, April 22. Families will be notified via School Messenger which cohort they have been assigned to, the daily schedule, and where to find bus information. To view this information, please be sure you have updated your email address and completed your online verification form.
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As always, please feel free to call our office if you have any questions. 503-663-3323.
Important Events for the Month of April;
- April 14: End of Quad 3, No School - Teacher Grading Day
- April 15 & 16: No School, Staff Prep & Training for Return to Learn
- April 19: In-person hybrid instruction begins (Cohort A)
- April 22: In-person hybrid instruction begins (Cohort B)
Have a wonderful week!
Sincerely,
Ms. Elise Catanese
Principal
WOMS is EPIC (Engaged, Persistent, Intentional, Career & College Ready)
Student Supplies for 4th Quarter
If you missed our materials distribution last week, please call the office and schedule a time to pick up student materials needed for the 4th quarter of the year. All students will need supplies regardless of whether they plan to participate in Hybrid learning or continue in Comprehensive Distance Learning. Supplies include a Chromebook case, Student ID badge, and face masks. In addition, content materials such as math workbooks and novels are included in the supply bags.
As a reminder, please remember to return any library books to the front office.
Daily Student Pre-Screening Survey
During this time, we need to take precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19 to our students, teachers, and support staff. We have created a daily pre-screening survey for you to pre-screen your student(s) for the primary COVID-19 symptoms and ensure they are able to attend school. Our school nurses will monitor the survey results to look for possible spread of COVID-19 in order to minimize the spread.
In the coming weeks, every parent/guardian will receive an email from the district on every school day (whether or not your students are scheduled to attend school in person or online). The email will include instructions for how you can fill out the daily pre-screening survey. If you don’t have an email address on file, please contact the main office @ (503) 663-3323 to ensure you receive this and other important information.
Please fill out the daily survey in ParentVUE for your students before they arrive at school or start attending school online for the day. If you want, your students can fill it out for themselves in StudentVUE.
If your student has any of the primary COVID-19 symptoms listed in the survey, please do NOT send them to school and call the school office. If your student is able to attend school online because they have mild symptoms, please have them do so.
March Students of the Month
WOLVERINE STUDENTS OF THE MONTH
Each year staff members recognize students who promote success in and out of the classroom with an award called Student of the Month. Students are presented with a certificate of achievement with a personalized message from their nominating teacher. Student of the Month nominees demonstrate the following EPIC characteristics;
Academics - class participation, work completion, self-motivated, and going beyond basic expectations
Effort - works hard and is persistent
Character - displays initiative, honesty, respect, responsibility, and compassion
Behavior - no behavior concerns or referrals
Social Relationships - leadership, willingness to help peers, shows respect
Attendance - good daily attendance and no excessive tardies
Congratulations to our March 2021 Wolverine Students of the Month!
6th Grade: Ezra De Leon, Allisson Garcia Cruz, Youanna Hannah, Aubrey Heath, Kendall MacDonald, Wyatt Miller, Genesis Monterroso Guzman, Brock Schnackenberg, Spencer Wells, Colten Zinda
7th Grade: Russell Classen, Aiyana Flerchinger, Jose Garcia Martinez, Micah Keene, Caleb Perry, Jace Reynolds, Connor Ross
8th Grade: Julia Aguirre, Kyiah Classen, Betty Fiedler, Lillie Klingner, Preston Kollar, Emma Sadiq, Kyrsten Sommer
Mission Accomplished!
Advisory Attendance
As the transition to a new Hybrid learning schedule ramps up to begin the week of April 19th, there will be a lot of information about the new schedules and procedures that we will be sharing with all of our students. These changes will impact all students whether they stay in Comprehensive Distance Learning or move to Hybrid Learning.
Most of the instruction about these new plans will take place through students' Advisory class. It is very important that each student attend Advisory classes (and Core classes) each day during the lead up to the new schedule. Advisory lessons will provide students with information about the new schedules and the procedures that will be in place at school when students start back with in-person learning.
Please help us make sure that your child is prepared with all of the important information for making this schedule switch. You can help us by reminding your son /daughter to attend their Advisory class everyday. Lessons to support the new schedule will begin being shared with students later this week.
Thank you for your help with this important endeavor. We look forward to safely having students back in the building!
Forecasting for High School
Forecasting forms for high school are due this Friday, April 9th. Please contact Ms. Kinder if you have any questions. Go Bruins!
Champions Child Care at West Gresham
High School AVID Deadline Extension
The high school AVID deadline has been extended to this Friday, April 9th. Please review and submit the application below if your student is interested in joining the Barlow AVID program next year. Please contact Ms. Kinder if you have any questions.
AVID Application for 9th graders who are NOT current AVID students
30-day Notice and Opt-out Form for Statewide Tests
Every year, students throughout Oregon take state assessments prescribed by the Oregon Department of Education. The purpose of these assessments is to show individual student growth over time and to provide student-specific data that teachers can use to ensure each and every child is on track and achieving learning goals. Results are also used to inform course placement and to provide focused feedback to students and parents.
Under the Student Assessment Bill of Rights, the Oregon Department of Education (ODE) and Oregon’s school districts must provide families with a “Notice of Statewide Tests and Opt-out Form” 30 days before the start of statewide testing.
This year, school has been significantly disrupted by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and other factors. In response, ODE asked the United States Department of Education for a temporary pause (also known as a “waiver”) in English Language Arts (ELA) and Math testing. A pause is also being requested for science testing, but science testing is not subject to this opt-out rule.
If this waiver request is approved, then statewide ELA and Math testing will not happen this year, and there will be no need for parents to submit opt-out forms to their child’s school.
- If the waiver request is not approved, test windows will open on April 13, 2021. ODE will update your district regularly with news about the waiver.
WOMS Counseling Center
Hello again, Wolverine Students & Families!
Our "new normal" continues to impact us and those around us in many different ways. Whether it be housing, bills, food, mental health, or other needs, I am happy to help connect you to those resources. The links below are by category and can be translated to your home language. Other specific resource links can be found on the WOMS Counseling Website.
Please don't hesitate to contact me! Students & Families can always email me or submit a Request Form.
-Ms. Kinder
Technology Assistance Update!
For further technology questions and support, please contact our school at 503-663-3323. Our school will work to get you in touch with a staff member who is able to assist you, or pass along further information to the Technology Department.