District Staff News
December 20, 2019
We're starting the last day of school for 2019 on a positive note, as the Board approved wages and benefits increases for our licensed staff last night. As I've said publicly, I am truly grateful for the cooperation that went into our negotiations and that we were able to reach an agreement heading into the new year. We value each and every staff member in this district. As we close out the calendar year, I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to each of you who serve the students and families of our district.
There are a couple stories in this newsletter that really demonstrate the care within our community and that capture the essence of the season. I hope you'll take a moment to reflect on these acts of compassion and kindness this holiday season. We are fortunate to be part of an amazing community that really does put the collective needs of our students first.
I hope you enjoy your time away during Winter Break. I look forward to a productive 2020.( It seems crazy to be writing 2020! ). Let’s continue to identify areas of celebration and areas of improvement as we move forward as a district.
Happy Holidays!
Best,
We were deeply saddened to hear about the 4th grader in Oregon City who died by suicide last week. At Canby, we have put considerable effort into identifying students who may be at risk, as have our colleagues in Oregon City. It is also a reminder that as part of the larger community, we must all continue to be vigilant.
Teachers and other direct staff are the frontline for identifying students who may be at risk and those who may be struggling with thoughts of self harm as a way of solving what seem as overwhelming feelings and situations. We must remain vigilant. If you have a student who gives you any indication that they are thinking about self harm, please report this to your school counselor or principal immediately. It cannot wait until after school or later in the week. The time to act is now.
Last school year (2018-19) trained District staff completed 87 suicide prevention screenings district wide. These involved students from Grades K- PH. Statistics show that 1 out of every 10 students may be considering self harm on any given day across the country.
Of these 87 total screenings, 73 resulted in a Level 1 outcome, while 14 resulted in Level 2 outcomes, necessitated immediate access to community Mental Health Services.
Click the button below to access a website that provides some information on the warning signs to look for and what you can do to respond to students.
On another note, the District 504 Manual is currently being updated and staff training to the new manual for staff assigned to 504 management will be scheduled after we return from break.
- Kathy
We have so much to be proud of when thinking about the work that we have collectively achieved with school climate. As we have mentioned, this has been a heavy lift this year and I know that the hard work we have completed will only set the path forward for equitable practices throughout our schools. Part of this work also encompasses a focus on Social Emotional Learning. We know that we have a high percentage of students experiencing trauma and at the heart of our work, we want students to have the skills to be successful in school and in life. Recently, several of us had the opportunity to listen to a keynote from Dr. Mark Greenberg. He has conducted research in this area and shared, with us, the importance of understanding the balance of wellbeing amongst students and adults:
As you notice, Teacher wellbeing and awareness is just as important as the skill development for students, which builds effective conditions for learning. As we get ready to leave for break, I hope you have time to take care of you and Use Winter Break to Renew Spirits and Sense of Purpose.
Take advantage of the Canby Moves opportunities, check in with your wellness committee if it exists in your building, and make it a point to focus on our wellbeing. As we know, when we understand our own need for wellbeing and awareness we can be more empathetic of the supports we need to provide for students when they need our support the most.
From all of us in Teaching and Learning, we wish you and your loved ones a wonderful holiday season and an incredible New Year 2020.
- Ivonne
Happy holidays from the technology team! Here are three tech reminders to keep in mind as you hopefully get a restful break with food and family:
- Email Address Changes Coming! As you know, we made changes this summer to enable your email address to function in the first.last @canby.k12.or.us format. Just after winter break we’ll be ready to make changes to make this new format the primary way you access your Google account. Please look for communications from your building technology specialist in the new year about this exciting change.
- Put Down the Pace! What do coffee, apple juice, water, beer, wine, Coke, and salsa have in common? They’re all substances that have been spilled on Canby staff laptops over the past few years. And, unfortunately, our team has seen a rise in the number of accidental spills this school year. We know that accidents happen, but please take a second to re-think how you use your CSD-provided technology around food and drink. Also, if you do decide that your laptop does desire chips and/or salsa, PLEASE immediately turn it off and DO NOT turn it back on. Instead, get your laptop to your building technology specialist or district technology team ASAP. Powering on a wet device will likely cause expensive damage – there are steps our team will take to possibly save the device and your data.
- Helpdesk, Helpdesk, Helpdesk! This is our routine reminder to use the Technology Helpdesk (www.canby.k12.or.us/helpdesk) to log any and all of your technology needs.
- Bret
Happy Payday! We have several updates and reminders for you.
As you begin to work on your taxes for 2019, we want to let you know that the IRS has developed a new W-4 form for anyone who needs to make adjustments. This form needs to be used as of January 1, 2020. Old versions of the W-4 form will no longer be accepted after that date. Go to the following link to access the form and only page one needs to be submitted: https://www.canby.k12.or.us/uploaded/attachments/hr/forms/W-4_Form_(2020)_(1).pdf.
Also, if you are wanting to change your state withholding, you now need to complete the Oregon form and not the federal W-4 Form. Here is the link to the state form and again, only page one needs to be submitted: https://www.canby.k12.or.us/uploaded/attachments/hr/forms/2019_Form_OR-W-4.pdf
In January we will begin working on processing your W-2 form. We will have them to you by January 31st at the latest. Once they are completed, they will be sent to your building and also posted to the employee portal if you need to reprint them.
Beginning with your January 24th paycheck, new tax tables will be in place. This may impact your net pay so don’t be surprised if you see a difference between your December and January checks. The first place to look is at your federal and state tax differences between the two months.
Have you moved? Now is a good time to make sure that we have your correct address. Please look at your paystub and if it is incorrect, please notify our office with the correct information.
Wishing you all a happy and restful holiday break and we will see you all again in 2020!
- Denise
K-6/91 Instructional Assistants Calendar Change:
K-6/91 Instructional Assistants will not have a PD day on January 31, 2020 (see updated calendar below). K-8 IA’s will have PD times between January - June at their buildings with staff. Principal’s will share the exact dates and times with their IA’s.
Updated 2019-20 Classified K-8 Instructional Assistant Calendar
Are you looking for a place to live?
Canby School District Employees get a discount at the DAHLIA in downtown Canby, check it out: the DAHLIA
Please join us in welcoming Zara Khan to Canby School District as our new Nutrition Services Director!
Galina worked alongside Zara in December and will continue that work remotely through the end of the 19-20 school year. Galina is relocating to the Olympia area and will continue working for Sodexo; we appreciate all of her contributions to Canby and wish her the very best.
Last-Minute Holiday Shopping Discounts!
Creating Warmth Wrapped in Hope
Approximately 150 people showed up Dec. 7 to make blankets for students in Canby and Molalla who are homeless or who need them. They put together 349 blankets in about two hours, more than the 290 they had expected to make.
"We didn't have as many kids as in previous years, but the need keeps getting bigger," said Dawn Depner, event organizer.
The organization, which has been operating since 2008, makes sure homeless students in Canby and Molalla can keep warm this season.
This year, the volunteers not only made fleece tie blankets, they also brought in hats and coats for those less fortunate.
The hats were given to high schoolers and there were enough coats to distribute to counselors at both school districts to disperse to the children.
The contest between Canby Police and Canby Fire appeared to be won by the police by one blanket, according to Depner. But it also seemed to be tied as at the last minute the firefighters turned in one blanket making them tied.
"Our school district is trying to cultivate a community and family feeling together," said Depner, who is a member of Canby School Board. "It's so great to see how the schools, district and the city come together to help out."
Baker Prairie Sees Christmas miracle
It was Friday, and all of Baker Prairie Middle School's Giving Tree gifts were due in physical form on Monday. But pages and pages of Christmas wishes were yet to be fulfilled.
That's when parent volunteers sent out a red alert to the community, and what unfolded over the weekend was nothing short of a miracle.
By Monday morning, there were so many gifts and family necessities at the school that it all had to be moved to a larger room for sorting.
"We had never gotten to the weekend before and had as long of a list as we had," said Kate Bowles, Baker Prairie counselor and Giving Tree organizer. "I was just going to figure it out today (Monday), and I didn't have to."
Baker Prairie organizes a Giving Tree every year for families within the school community who express a need or who are referred by another. The goal of the Tree is to meet not only the students' needs, but also the needs of other children in the family (if not being met by the elementary schools) as well as family needs, such as laundry detergent and bedding.
This year, 34 Baker Prairie families needed help for the holidays.
Kirsten Herring, a parent volunteer, admitted she had panicked Friday when she saw how few of the Giving Tree wishes had been met. But she didn't give up.
"That was my heartbeat: I wanted every need filled," Herring said. "That was what I wanted, and it happened, above and beyond what was expected."
With such great demand this year at the last minute, those in Canby and outside of it stepped up in a big way over the weekend.
One parent volunteer, Molly Hurtado, reached out to Fred Meyer and set up a table at the store to ask customers to fill wishes. Herring joined that effort on Sunday, Dec. 15, just one day before the gifts were due at the school.
It took them all day, but in the end, they had gathered 65 pairs of shoes and 39 gift cards.
A Molalla nonprofit organization, Bloomin' Boutique, even contributed by meeting several of the clothing wishes.
Bowles said one person, having heard about the needs at Baker Prairie, drove down from Vancouver, Washington to deliver items for the Giving Tree.
When all was said and done, by Monday, every wish was met.
To finish the job, Jennifer Ackerman, another parent volunteer who had been involved in the process the whole way, gathered up student members of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes club to wrap gifts on Monday and Tuesday.
"I'm just not knowing how to express gratitude to people who did things anonymously and worked for hours," Bowles said. "It's just overwhelming and wonderful."
Thank You!
All students. All abilities. All opportunities.
Email: fostera@canby.k12.or.us
Website: www.canby.k12.or.us
Location: 1130 South Ivy Street, Canby, OR, USA
Phone: 503-266-7861
Facebook: facebook.com/canbyschooldistrict
Twitter: @canbyschools