Patterson Elementary
Parent Blast - January 3, 2022
Welcome Back
Happy New Year! I hope this Parent Blast finds your family rested and healthy.
This edition has:
- Pictures and updates on the staff room project
- Initial information about SBA state testing
- Initial information about Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) lessons
- An update about a new teacher being added to our team
- An update to our quarantine protocol
- An article that some of our awesome fifth graders were featured in
Please read through everything carefully and reach out if you have any questions or feedback - lentzj@hsd.k12.or.us.
Here to serve,
Jamie Lentz
Principal, Patterson Elementary
Important Dates
- January 12 - Booster Club Meeting, 6:30 pm (see below)
- January 14 - No School for Students, Student/Staff Support Day
- January 17 - No School, Martin Luther King Jr. Day
- January 28 - No School, Teacher Grade Day (Report Cards)
- January 31 - No School, Teacher Work Day
- February 1 - First day of the second semester
- February 6 - Report cards coming home
Staff Room Project - THANK YOU!
Smarter Balanced Assessment (State Testing)
3rd - 6th graders will take the SBA Math and SBA Literacy assessments in May. 5th graders will also take the OAKS Science test in May.
Kindergarten - 6th grade students that are English Language Learners (ELs) and have not previously passed the English Language Proficiency Assessment (ELPA) will also take the ELPA in March.
We encourage all students to participate in these assessments. While no single test can give a complete picture of your child’s progress, statewide tests provide educators and administrators with information about what educational approaches are working and
where additional resources are needed. Your child’s participation is important to ensure schools and districts receive the targeted resources they need to help all students succeed. If you do not want your child to participate, please read and fill out the attached form and send to Mrs. Lentz - lentzj@hsd.k12.or.us.
Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE)
As part of our health education program, our district provides age appropriate, comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) for all students, K-12. All instruction is based on Oregon Law and the Oregon Health Education Standards and Performance Indicators adopted by the Oregon State Board of Education in December of 2016.
Three key laws guide our sexuality education efforts:
Human Sexuality Education (2009),
Healthy Teen Relationships (2013), and
Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Education (2015)
In communication with superintendents and principals, the Director of the Oregon Department of Education, Colt Gill, explained that “These laws provide for consistent instruction, are based on the most current evidence and best practices, and equip students with the knowledge and skills to realize their health, well-being, and educational goals. Sexuality education supports young people with skills to delay sexual initiation, prevent unintended pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections (STIs), promote their own health, and reduce sexual violence, harassment, and bullying.” In the Hillsboro School District, we are committed to the delivery of this content by skilled, caring, and dedicated staff, in safe, inclusive environments.
HSD’s Comprehensive Sexuality Education Plan includes the right of parents/guardians to be notified of upcoming sexual health lessons, to review instructional materials, and to propose alternative learning activities for their student(s) if they choose to.
Our CSE lessons will begin mid-March at Patterson. We are currently finalizing dates and times for each class and will send them out by the end of January.
As a parent/guardian, we encourage you to learn more about our K-12 Comprehensive Sexuality Plan and teaching materials. To make this as easy as possible, we have posted documents on our Comprehensive Sexuality Education Plan website that outline the standards, curricula, and instructional materials used at each grade-level. (Note: If/when materials cannot be posted online due to copyright restrictions, you may call the school and make an appointment to view them in person.) Remember, parents/guardians have the right to utilize our opt-out process if they wish to have their student(s) participate in alternate activities during sexual health instruction (Opt-Out Form).
If you have any questions/concerns about the health curriculum, please don’t hesitate to reach out!
Additional Information
HSD’s Health Education Overview
ODE’s Health Education Website
ODE’s Sexuality Education: Frequently Asked Questions
HSD’s Resources for Families
New Teacher Coming to Patterson
We have had some challenging numbers in 4th and 5th grade this year and ultimately had to start with a blended classroom. This fall we have welcomed additional students in these grades, and we will be welcoming more families back at the end of the first semester. In response to this increase and to best serve our students, we will be adding an additional teacher to the 4/5 team. Mrs. Lentz and the team have been meeting to determine how to best utilize this additional staff member and will be sending a letter home to our 4th and 5th grade families this Friday, January 7th, to communicate our plan and next steps.
Please reach out to Mrs. Lentz if you have any questions - lentzj@hsd.k12.or.us.
Quarantine Protocol Update
Students deemed close contacts, who are not fully vaccinated, will have a shorter quarantine of 7 days. They can return to school on the 8th day if they receive a negative COVID-19 test on days 5-7.
Test to stay protocol for unvaccinated close contacts
We will soon be able to begin testing unvaccinated close contacts at school that do not have symptoms, to determine if they can remain at school (negative) or if they need to go home and quarantine (positive). Here are the steps for this:
- Student is determined a close contact at school, based on a positive case at school.
- Office team determines student is not fully vaccinated (check student record and/or call parent).
- Office team gains permission from parent to test at school.
- If parent gives permission, test is administered by trained health team.
- If parent does not give permission, they will come pick the student up from school.
Patterson 5th Graders Featured in Article
Crystal Apple Nominations Open
Below you will find information from the Chamber on Crystal Apple Nominations for 2022. As always, please reach out if you or your child would like help nominating one of our amazing staff members.
Nominations are now being accepted for the 2022 Crystal Apple Awards, sponsored by the Washington County Chamber of Commerce. Crystal Apple Awards celebrate excellence in education and are awarded to staff in the categories of licensed, classified, and administrator. If you know a staff member who goes above and beyond to enhance the educational experience of students, please nominate them by Monday, Feb. 28, 2022. Additional information can be found on the Chamber’s website or by contacting Sara Zwicker, director of special events, at 503-726-2145 or SaraZ@WCChamber.org.
Booster Club News
Please take a few minutes to fill out this off-site auction survey and help us plan!
Booster Club Meeting
Wednesday, January 12th, 6:30 pm
Join in person or use the Google Meet link below to join virtually.
Google Meet joining info
https://meet.google.com/jaa-txsa-fyy
Or dial: +1 415-604-1018 PIN: 512 760 825#
Dismissal - Thank You!
Thank you for your help in making the small adjustments to parent pick-up shared below before break. I appreciate your help with this change!
We worked with HPD to determine what adjustments needed to be made to our parent pick-up line at dismissal to be in compliance and ultimately safe for our students and families. At dismissal, please do not park or idle between the two no parking signs on either side of our crosswalk (see picture below - no parking/idling between the cones and signs). Once our bell rings and the line begins to move, we are good to go as long as we keep our crosswalk clear of cars. Please reach out if you have any questions or concerns - thanks!
REVIEW: Attendance
Last year in CDL and Hybrid we were not required by the state to follow the same attendance and truancy laws and guidelines. However, now that we are back in person, our attendance team is expected to track attendance and tardies once again. When student absences begin to accumulate for any reason, our team will send home a letter and report, notifying parents of the total number of absences and tardies with an overall percentage of time missed. Please review the attached report showing excused and unexcused absences and reach out if you have any questions. As a reminder, vacations and other reasons not listed on too sick for school are unexcused absences.
We appreciate the abundance of caution shown during COVID, however if something is not listed, such as a runny nose or headache and your child can attend, please send them.
We are now once again required to remove or "drop" students who do not attend school for 10 days in a row, with the exception of required absences for quarantine. If your family takes a vacation for longer than 10 school days, you will need to re-enroll when you return. Please call our office if you have any questions.
REVIEW: Vaccination Status Update Available
Community Resources for Families
Food Pantry
Attendance Line
Thank you to our families for calling students in sick on our attendance line and sharing symptoms. This has helped us to communicate with families regarding timelines for return and kept our building safe and healthy. If you have not done so already, we encourage you to save our attendance line number in your phone: 503.844.1385
Paul L. Patterson Elementary School
Email: lentzj@hsd.k12.or.us
Website: https://www.hsd.k12.or.us/patterson
Location: 261 NE Lenox St, Hillsboro, OR, United States
Phone: 503-844-1380
Facebook: facebook.com/PattersonHSD
Twitter: @PattersonHSD