Wolverine News
August 26, 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,
The new school year is just weeks away! This fall, we are returning to full-time, in-person school. We’re looking forward to having students back in the classroom. For students and families, this may bring up a mix of feelings like excitement, opportunity, anticipation and nervousness. As always, we appreciate your support and patience as we continue to navigate this ever-changing pandemic and the impacts it has on our students, our families and our employees.
We’re planning to kick the school year off with Care and Connection Week. We’ll devote the first full week of the school year to building care, connection, and community, and creating welcoming spaces for everyone. We all know that mental health is a cornerstone of a good education, and believe it’s essential to take the time and space to reconnect, make meaning of the last year, and set the foundation for the year ahead.
As students head back to in-person school this fall, it’s also a time to focus on promoting mental health. The Oregon Department of Education has many resources for students and families to help support mental and emotional health and well-being.
Our top priority is the safety of our students and staff and for that reason we will be following our district's safety protocols developed by the Oregon Department of Education Ready Schools, Safe Learners Resiliency Framework. Included in this newsletter is the Gresham-Barlow Return to Learn Health And Safety Plan.
We’re so eager to see you all back in school soon!
Go Wolverines!
Ms. Elise Catanese
Principal
Wolverines are EPIC (Engaged, Persistent, Intentional, Career & College Ready)
Important Dates in the month of September
September 1: Open House, THIS EVENT HAS BEEN POSTPONED!
Due to changes in COVID-19 protocols from the State and local health authority, the Gresham-Barlow School District is postponing the Back to School Open House that was scheduled for 9/1/21. When this event can occur, we will share the information.
September 6: Labor Day, No SchoolSeptember 7: First Day, 6th Grade Only
September 8: First Day, 7th & 8th Grade
September 24: No School, Staff Inservice
Welcome New Staff
Kacie Bund - 8th Grade Science/PE
Joanne Maki - 6/7/8 Health
Derek Johnson - 6/7/8 STEAM
Andrea Wilson - 6/7/8 Art
Midge Collins - Media Specialist
Pam Mattecheck - Health Assistant
Back to School Supplies
This year, our school will be providing all of the supplies that our students will need throughout the year. Additionally, there will not be a Supply or Student Body fee this year. The only supply that is not provided is a backpack. Backpacks can be supplied for families in need.
Return to Learn Health and Safety Plan for 2021-22
Every school in the district is taking health and safety precautions to provide a safe and healthy learning environment. Our Return to Learn Health and Safety Plan was developed by following guidance in the state’s Ready Schools, Safe Learners Resiliency Framework.
View our Return to Learn Health and Safety Plan
At West Orient this will mean that all students and staff will be required to wear masks while indoors.
We will also be working to maintain 3 feet of physical distance whenever possible. To help limit crowding, students will be asked to bring their school supplies (including their Chromebooks) in a backpack which they carry with them during the day. This will help keep students from being in close contact with each other around lockers during passing times.
Increased ventilation in classrooms and frequent handwashing/hand sanitizing will be additional measures we take to help limit the spread of germs in the school.
Students will not be required to badge in or out of the building as they did last year. Instead, student contacts will be tracked through classroom attendance each day.
As guidance changes, we will modify and adjust our practices to make sure we are following the best advice for keeping students safe while they are at school.
Spanish:
Conozca nuestras precauciones de salud y seguridad
Todas las escuelas del distrito están tomando precauciones de salud y seguridad para proporcionar un entorno de aprendizaje seguro y saludable. Nuestro Plan de Regreso al Aprendizaje Salud y Seguridad se desarrolló siguiendo las pautas en Ready Schools, Safe Learners Resiliency Framework del estado.
Vea nuestro Plan de Regreso al Aprendizaje Salud y Seguridad
Russian:
Узнайте о наших мерах предосторожности в отношении здоровья и безопасности
Каждая школа округа принимает меры здравоохранения и безопасности, чтобы обеспечить безопасную и здоровую среду обучения. Наш план «Возвращение к обучению» был разработан в соответствии с рекомендациями штата в руководстве «Готовые школы - ученики в безопасности».
ADVISORY CLASSES Continue
One of the greatest goals we set each year is to build meaningful relationships with our students. This year we are taking extra steps to focus on care and connections while establishing critical relationships as we know how important it will be to provide those social-emotional connections that have been missing for more than a year.
This year, advisory classes will be mixed grades and consist of the following content;
- Develop meaningful relationships with all students.
- Foster connectedness and promote open communication.
- Build a positive community where students feel safe and valued.
- Closely supervise academic progress and attendance.
- Provide social-emotional learning support.
- Celebrate student successes and accomplishments.
STUDENT Class SCHEDULES
Student schedules are in the process of being finalized and should be available to view in Synergy by Friday, September 3.
School Bus Information
Your child's bus information will soon be available to view in your ParentVue account! Similar to last year, First Student will not be sending out bus cards to families with their child(s) bus route and pick up/drop off times. Please check your ParentVue accounts regularly for this information.
Immunization Requirements
Dear West Orient Families,
Many families fell behind on required vaccines and well-visits during the COVID-19 pandemic. We’re here to help you catch up before in-person school starts in September! Visit one of our Back-to-School Immunization events in August to get your child up to date and protected against serious diseases like chicken pox, measles, mumps, tetanus and whooping cough. Call 503-988-5558 to make an appointment. Find more information at multco.us/school/school-immunizations. Can’t make it? Get your child up to date at any Multnomah County Student Health Center (multco.us/student-health) or Multnomah Community Health Center (multco.us/health/primary-care-clinics).
Muchas familias se retrasaron en sus vacunas de requerido y las visitas de bienestar durante la pandemia de COVID-19. ¡Estamos aquí para ayudarle a ponerse al día antes de que comience la escuela presencial en Septiembre! Visite uno de nuestros eventos de vacunación de Regreso a la Escuela en agosto para que su hijo tenga su últimas vacunas y esté protegido contra enfermedades graves como varicela, sarampión, paperas, tétanos y tos ferina. Llame al 503-988-5558 para hacer una cita. Encuentre más información en multco.us/school/school-immunizations.¿Se te hace difícil llegar a lugares de vacunación? Mantenga a su hijo al día con sus vacunas en cualquier Multnomah County Student Health Center (multco.us/student-health) o Centro de Salud Comunitario (multco.us/health/primary-care-clinics).
Please contact Tamara Cochran in the school office at (503) 663-3323 if you have questions.
Rights & Responsibilities Handbook
Dear Parents,
The Parent/Student Rights and Responsibilities handbook for the 2021-2022 school year is available to review.