Message from Superintendent Newton
Link to message from Superintendent Bill Newton
Content of this newsletter:
- Thought Exchange on making our schools welcoming
- Appointment of new Hood River Options Academy principal
- School board information
- School safety drill information
- Standard Response Protocol (SRP) preparation
- Safe Routes to School projects and activities
- School meals program and menus
- Attendance: Every day matters
- National Suicide Prevention Month resources
- School buildings facilities projects
- Hispanic Heritage Month resources
- Job opportunities
- Hood River County Education Foundation fundraiser
HRCSD appoints Joe Kelly as Hood River Options Academy interim principal
The Hood River County School District (HRCSD) Board of Directors voted to appoint Joe Kelly as the Hood River Options Academy (HROA) interim principal on Wednesday, Aug. 15, in its meeting.
“I am impressed with Joe’s leadership abilities, dedication, and passion for education,” said Superintendent Bill Newton. “Joe is focused on building meaningful relationships with staff, students, families, and our community.”
To learn more, please visit our school district website.
School safety drills and Standard Response Protocol preparation
In Hood River School District, we are proud to be able to serve you and your students as we continually strive to provide a safe learning environment for them. To learn about the importance of our safety drills and to understand each type of drill, please visit our school district website.
Review emergency guide for families
Please visit our school district website to review our emergency guide for families. Your school main office can also provide you this guide.
International Walk and Roll to School Week
Join us for International Walk and Roll to School Week!
2023 Schedule
Monday, Oct. 2: Cascade Locks Elementary
Tuesday, Oct. 3: Westside Elementary
Wednesday, Oct. 4: Parkdale Elementary
Thursday, Oct. 5: Mid Valley Elementary
Friday, Oct. 6: May Street Elementary
Recipe of the month: Easy apple bites
This cute little snack is creamy, crunchy, and satisfying. Plus, it’s fun to make with your friends after school!
Ingredients
- 2-4 tbsp nut or seed butter
- 1 apple (any kind you like), cored and sliced into rounds
- 2 tsp sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, and/or shredded coconut
To read the full recipe, please visit the Chop Chop website.
Reapply for school meal benefits before September 29
Families need to reapply for school meal benefits annually. The carryover eligibility period from last school year will end on Friday, Sept. 29.
Students at Cascade Locks Elementary, Mid Valley Elementary, Parkdale Elementary, and Wy'east Middle Schools receive free school meals through a federal program.
Students at May Street Elementary, Westside Elementary, Hood River Middle, and Hood River Valley High Schools will purchase meals or complete an application for free meals. Please visit this website to apply for free meals.
School meals menus
Our school district website includes the breakfast and lunch menus for elementary, middle, and high school students for September.
School attendance: Every day matters
Every student in Hood River County School District is a valued member of our school and classroom communities and we look forward to welcoming them every day!
Students can suffer academically if they miss 10% of the school year. (That’s 18 days!) That can happen before you know it—even by missing just one day every two weeks. It doesn’t matter if these absences are excused or unexcused. They all represent lost time in the classroom and a lost opportunity to learn.
Attendance matters as much in kindergarten as later years. Studies show many students who miss too many days in kindergarten and first grade can struggle academically in later years. They often have trouble mastering reading by the end of third grade.
Tips to improve your student's attendance
- Avoid extended vacations that require your children to miss school
- Try to schedule preventative health care appointments for days off of school, or afternoons
- Set regular homework, bedtime and morning routines to help your child get enough sleep (Younger children need 9-11 hours of sleep; Older childrent need 8.5- 9.5 hours of sleep)
- Make sure that when the lights go out, so do the cell phones, video games and computers. Consider keeping technology in another room at night
We want to help! Please contact your student's school for assistance.
September is National Suicide Prevention Month
In addition to September's designation as National Suicide Prevention Month, National Suicide Prevention Week is Sunday, Sept. 10 through Saturday, Sept. 16, and World Suicide Prevention Day is Sunday, Sept. 10. Please consider wearing teal and purple throughout the month to honor this recognition activities.
If you are interested in taking a QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) Suicide Prevention training, please contact Erin Rust at erin.rust@hoodriver.k12.or.us
If you are interested in finding more resources on this topic, please call or visit the following websites.
Mid-Columbia Center for Living 24 hour crisis line: #1-888-877-9147
Hood River Valley High School students have the opportunity this week to participate in various activities that support mental health, including reading positive messages (chalk art), visiting therapy dogs outside, practicing yoga, and learning about ways to be involved at school.
Hispanic Heritage Month is September 15 - October 15
“Latinos: Driving Prosperity, Power, and Progress in America” is the theme for this year’s observation and celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month. Hispanic and Latino Heritage Month runs from September 15 to October 15 and it is a great time to learn more about the diversity of many of our Hispanic families' experiences and culture.
In the US this observation began in 1968 as Hispanic Heritage Week under President Lyndon Johnson and was expanded by President Ronald Reagan in 1988 to cover a 30-day period. It was enacted into law on August 17, 1988.
According to reports published by the Oregon Department of Education, Hispanic students make up approximately 43% of our HRCSD student body, therefore we want to celebrate their culture and contributions to our school district!
We invite all our families to celebrate the start of Hispanic Heritage Month at the MECHA celebration that will take place on September 16 from 4pm to 8pm at Jackson Park and then, on September 30, to stop by Fiesta Cultural of The Gorge organized by One Community Health.
Join our team
If you or anyone you know has ever considered a job working in schools, there is no better time to pursue that interest than now! We have many job and career opportunities that may fit perfectly with your skills and experience. Please call us at 541-387-5012 or send an email to human.resources@hoodriver.k12.or.us to find out more!
Hood River County Education Foundation raises funds for HRCSD schools
The Hood River County Education Foundation (HRCEF) teamed up with Columbia Gorge Toyota to raffle off a brand new 2023 Toyota Corolla and raise funds for Hood River County School District (HRCSD) schools. Parents, teachers, students, and volunteers pounded the pavement all summer to sell tickets, and successfully raised more than $41,500! The raffle proceeds will support extracurricular activities at all HRCSD schools, including student clubs, athletics, theater, and after school activities. Ticket sales are now closed, but interested community members can still support HRCSD extracurricular activities through the HRCEF Opportunity Fund. Please visit the HRCEF website for more information.
