August Updates at Harbor Heights
Happenings at Harbor Heights in Peninsula School District
IMPORTANT DATES
- Community Chat on Thursday, Aug 27th, at 6pm. Zoom Link
- 9/3 Chromebook pick up, please submit a Request Form
- 9/3 Virtual Back to School Night, 6pm
- 9/4 Class Lists finalized in PowerSchool
- 9/7 Labor Day - no school
- 9/8 First day of school for grades 1-5
- 9/8-9/11 Conferences with your teacher (more info coming)
- 9/11 First day of school for Kindergarten
Lunch Program Continues in Peninsula School District!
We have so missed our staff and wonderful students and can wait to get back over there to start reconnecting with them.
We really need parents to fill out the below survey so we how many would be going to which sites. Also if parents want to buy the actual lunch from school they can.
Also, we really need to let parents know that the free and reduced program is a win for everyone. It comes from a grant that the school district receives so the more that qualify the better for everyone. If you can this out to our family that would be great.
Thank you so much, we can't wait to start seeing our family's in a few weeks. We have lots of fun costumes to share with them.
Thanks,
Tina and Wendy
Fabulous Harbor Heights Cuisine Queens
Student Meal Service - We Need Your Input!
The summer meal hubs and delivery routes will end on August 28 and 2020-2021 school meal program and pricing will start on the first day of school, September 8. Please visit the PSD Nutrition Services web page for 2020-2021 meal prices and Free and Reduced Meal Applications.
If your student(s) will be regularly purchasing school meals from the 2020-2021 School Meal Program as we begin remotely, please assist us by completing the School Year Meal Program Survey by September 1. Student meals will be available for pick up prior to and during the school's scheduled lunch period. The meal pick up site does not need to be the school your student(s) are enrolled in.
GOOD NEWS! Any family who qualified for Free/Reduced meals last year will automatically be eligible for 2020-2021! See OSPI EBT
PRINCIPAL MESSAGE
ELEMENTARY PRINCIPAL WELCOME BACK LETTER TEMPLATE
Dear Orca Families,
It is with great pleasure that I welcome everyone to the 2020-2021 school year!
All of us here at Harbor Heights have been diligently preparing for the return of our Orcas and we are looking forward to another year of excellence. Our dedicated educators have been engaged in professional learning opportunities to keep their teaching skills honed, and our committed custodians have been meticulously cleaning and disinfecting our building. While we know this school year will be different than previous ones, it will not damper our spirits nor our dedication to provide a top-notch education to our students!
Students are scheduled to begin the 2020-2021 school year on September 8. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, and as required by the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department, students will start the school year in a remote platform and come back to school for in-person learning as soon as possible (please refer to updates for The Dials). To ensure connectivity, please submit an HH Request Form for a Chromebook unless you already have a PSD issued or sufficient device for each student attending Harbor Heights. To inform PSD of your technology needs, please fill out the PSD Tech Needs Survey.
As done in previous years, families will still be able to meet their teacher. Our “Back to School Night” will be held virtually this year on Thursday, September 3rd at 6 pm; Please visit our webpage for supply lists, the school schedule, student meals, and other pertinent information.
Communication between home and school is critical, especially during a time when circumstances can change overnight. I will provide information to families via text, email, and our school webpage, so please ensure your contact information is updated in the Parent Portal.
This school year will be a new journey for all of us, but please know that I am committed to keeping our students, staff, and families healthy and safe while we navigate through these unchartered waters together.
We will be hosting our next Community Chat on Thursday, Aug 27th, at 6pm.
Zoom Link Meeting ID: 996 5185 5900 Passcode: 512261
On behalf of the entire Orca Staff, we look forward to a great year with you and your child!
Gratefully,
David Bentler
Harbor Heights Principal
530-1800
2020-2021 SCHOOL YEAR TO BEGIN FULLY REMOTE
- The Reopening Peninsula Schools Guidebook was released on Monday, August 10 to share how we are planning for learning this coming school year.
- Please take time to read through the first public draft of the Reopening Peninsula Schools Guidebook and Remote Learning 2.0 (for stages 1-5). The Guidebook will answer key questions, but we understand that it may not answer everything you wonder about as we start school remotely this fall. If you have additional questions, please call 253.530.1000 or email info@psd401.net.
- The plan is grounded in guidance from OSPI (Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction), feedback from stakeholders, and requirements from the state of Washington and Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department.
- Please note, this guidebook is subject to updates and changes. Updated versions will be announced and shared.
FAQ's
- Why is PSD beginning Remote only? A. On August 11, Dr. Anthony Chen, Director of Health at the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department, issued a letter to Pierce County school districts with a requirement for schools to use a remote learning model to begin the school year, unless COVID-19 disease activity in Pierce County decreases to a safe level to reopen schools for in-person learning. Click here to read Dr. Chen's letter and click here to read a health department blog post with answers to frequently asked questions.
- When will we see Harbor Height's remote schedule? A. By August 28th at the latest. As teachers are still off for the summer, we are working diligently to get their input as we develop a schedule to best support families and follow state and district guidelines. As we adjust for changing guidelines and feedback, we appreciate your patience.
- Will the schedule allow for flexibility for working families? A. Yes. The district is working on an option that would allow more flexibility in the schedule. Watch for more information.
- Will some students be able to return before others? A. Yes. Students furthest from educational justice and those who require in-person services to fulfill their basic education needs should be districts’ highest priority. Students with disabilities and those who did not or cannot have equitable access to learning with remote technologies should be prioritized for in-person services. Students will be notified.
- Will my child get access to a Device and school supplies? A. We are scheduling a supply pickup based on a survey coming soon. A device will be provided for any student who needs one in PSD for Remote Learning. Also, we have reduced the class supply list on the school website, and have indicated that we will provide the following for all students:
Provided by the Harbor Heights for 2020-2021:White Boards and a dry erase marker
Math and ELA Workbooks
Textbooks
- What are the Washington State Guidelines for opening schools? A. Posted June 29, 2020: The state provided guidance to school districts on June 11, 2020 about how to safely reopen schools in the fall. The guidance is clear that our priority is to get students back in the classroom, but school will look different than it did before.
The health and safety of our community comes first, and we are adjusting the way school works so that we can protect the health and safety of teachers, students, and families, while also providing the best possible environment for teaching and learning.
How many hours should my child spend on remote learning? A. Posted August 3, 2020: Remote learning in 2020-21 will be of high-quality and consistently provided with explicit expectations and accountability for instruction and assignments. Time on devices will vary by age level. Weekly schedules for each student, daily engagement or assigned work for each student, and requirements for daily attendance in the remote learning, hybrid and traditional learning scenarios for the 2020-21 school year meet or exceed the required instructional hours and days subject to the State Board of Education requirements outlined in WAC 180-16-200.
- Detailed student schedules will be posted on school websites and shared with families before the start of school. All students and families in remote learning should expect a variety of options which may include:
- Teacher instruction (both live and self-paced) where teachers are directly interacting with all students, all grades virtually, each weekday.
- Self-paced where students learn through prerecorded lessons, independent reading, journal writing, and ongoing practice of standards.
- Small group or 1 on 1 support with the teacher.
- Attendance will be taken daily.
- Daily planning time/daily office hours will be available for students and families to connect with teachers.
- Teachers establish clear learning routines and norms for classroom interactions.
- Teachers will use curriculum and instructional materials approved by the district.
WHEN WILL I FIND OUT MY CHILD's TEACHER?
Welcome to the 2020-20221 school year. We are excited to work together to ensure remote learning plans are flexible and work for all different types of families. In previous communication we shared that we are actively working on our Remote Learning plans for fall. We are committed to providing the best academics, social, and emotional support for all students. As the components of this plan become more clear, we will share with our community those details to help you prepare. We strongly believe teachers need ample time to collaborate and learn about tools and resources to ensure high levels of learning for all students. This requires us to expedite some of our normal practices including populating our online student management systems with student class assignments.
You may currently see your child assigned to a teacher in any one of our PowerSchool systems- Parent Portal or even Google Classroom. Please know that all class assignments are tentative. There are many changes that will continue to take place as we approach the school year which may require us to rethink class placement throughout the year. Due to these changes, we will not engage with families about placement decisions as they might first appear in any of those systems. Official class lists will be published on September 4th and will be the classes that will begin on September 8th. When placing students, we follow a consistent and thorough process that involves parent and teacher voice. Per building policy, we ask that all students connect with their teacher for the first few weeks of school. If, after two weeks, there are concerns that cannot be resolved, we will consider solutions to resolve the situation. Until then, thank you for respecting the process and for understanding the need for flexibility.
PARENT PORTAL
Do you need to update your child's emergency information? Here's how you get started!
How do I get started? Please note depending on the device you are using things may look different!
- Visit powerschool.psd401.net/public and log into your ParentPortal account.
- Select the student you wish to register along the top
- Click the 2020-21 Emergency Contact Update link from the left menu
- If this is the first time you are logging in you will be asked to agree to the terms and conditions - Click begin forms
- You will be asked to enter the date of birth for the student whose form you are working on
Login Tips/Troubleshooting PowerSchool ParentPortal:
- Forgot your login credentials? select the “Forgot username or Password?” link on the Sign In page.
- Still having trouble signing in to your existing account, email: powerschool@psd401.net.
Completing your Emergency Contact Update:
- Do I have to answer all the questions? Questions marked with a red asterisk (*) are required.
- What if I make a mistake? If you would like to make a change, click on the underlined field or click “< Prev” to return to a previous page.
- I don’t know what a question is asking. You can contact powerschool@psd401.net to ask any general questions about the form or the Emergency Contact Update process.
I’ve completed the form, now what?
When you have finished entering your information, click “Submit.” This will send all of the information you’ve entered to the school. If you cannot click on this button, you will need to make sure that you have answered all required questions.
What if I have more than one student in the district?
Do I need to do this for each child? Yes, because you’ll need to provide information that is specific for each child. We recommend that you submit one Emergency Contact Update and then start another – this will allow you to “snap over” shared family information, which will save you time.
Having trouble? Please email powerschool@psd401.net