RRSD #35 Update for Parents and Students

*This is an opportunity, not an obstacle!

*How do we turn this into an inspirational time of individual and community growth?

*We will model for our young people what it means to rise above and overcome!

March 31, 2020

Dear Community Members,

I am updating my March 20th letter to you with changes based on new information we have received from the State. If this looks familiar, please read through it anyway and refer to is as some details have changed. The version dated March 20 is now expired and invalid!

You may have heard by now that the ODE dropped a huge guidance plan late last night outlining how they want schools to proceed with Distance Learning now that it is quite possible we will be closed for the rest of this school year. It is linked at the bottom of this page for those who wish to read it.

First, I will say that even though the document is daunting, a distinct change from earlier guidance, and still quite vague, and even contradictory in places, the spirit and focus of it is not far removed from what we were already doing and planning to keep doing in RRSD. First and foremost we will focus on the relationships and connections with our students. This new plan adds new layers and levels of work, responsibility, and accountability to us as teachers, to administration, and to students and parents as well, but it is really just an extension of what we have started. Maintaining and building relationships with our students is the most crucial thing we can do in the coming months.

We still plan to disburse Chromebooks beginning April 1st. The plans to do that have not changed and are included below. It is important to note two things about Chromebooks:

1. 
   We realize that without an internet connection, the Chromebooks will only offer  students the ability to read PDF files and watch some video formats. Teachers are aware and are preparing accordingly.
2. 
   If your student already has access to a working computer at your home, there is no need for you to get a Chromebook. Any computer connected to the internet will be able to do the work that is to come.

How getting the Chromebooks will work: 

Parents will do the following to get a Chromebook for their student:

*Write your Child's Name on a piece of paper in large letters so it can be seen through the car window from at least six feet away.  Be creative and have fun with this! Make it unique for you and your child.

*The Chromebook and any additional materials that your student will need will be handed to you through your car window.

*Please don’t get out of the car.

*If your student/s need anything from their locker, ask the Chromebook crew, and they will direct you to park and enter the building.  

*If you have children attending more than one school, pick up devices at each school.  

Pick Up Schedule for Chromebooks:

High School Students:  Pick up from the Jr./ Sr. High School during the 9am - 12pm / 4pm - 7 pm windows on Wednesday the 1st of April

Jr High Students: Pick up from the Jr./ Sr. High School during the 9am - 12pm / 4pm - 7 pm on Wednesday the 1st of April

RRES Students K - 3:  Pick up from the East Campus where the buses drop off students during the 9am - 12pm / 4pm - 7 pm on Wednesday the 1st of April

RRES Students 4-6:  Pick up from the West Campus behind the building near the music room during the 9am - 12pm / 4pm - 7 pm on Wednesday the 1st of April

South Valley Academy:  Contact the school

Possible Questions:

If I can’t pick up Chromebooks during these advertised times, how do I get it?  Call your school April 1st or after and we will make special arrangements with you.  Contact info below.

If I don’t have internet, what does my student do?  If you don't have a computer at home, you can still pick up a Chromebook and contact your school on April 1st. We have a plan to deliver materials via jump drive and packets, and we will provide educational supports for your student.

What about seniors and graduation? We are still waiting on further guidance from ODE. ODE is carefully considering this question which is why it is taking so long to get guidance from them.

What about credits for high school students during quarter 3 and 4? We still have no clear guidance from ODE. The latest plan for distance learning makes reference to earning credits, but does not spell out how that will happen. As soon as we have information, we will get it out to you.

Meal service updates:

There are a few important changes to our Meal Service offerings. Please read carefully!!

The schedule will not change this week and will be what is below Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday of this week (However this Friday April 3rd, students will get 5 lunches and 5 breakfast to cover until next Wednesday)

Elementary East open for pickup 10-11 am.

Drop Points

Rogue River Junior Senior High School. 11:05-11:20

Evans Valley Fire Department 11:35-11:50 8677 E Evans Creek Rd, Rogue River, OR 97537

The Depot 11:55-12:10 7923 E Evans Creek Rd, Rogue River, OR 97537

Scoops 1:15- 1:30 6415 Rogue River Hwy, Grants Pass, OR 97527

Foots Creek Market 1:45-2:00 3175 Rogue River Hwy, Gold Hill, OR 97525

Starting next Week, the week of April 6th:

Elementary East will be open for meal pickup from 10-11am Wednesdays and Fridays only. We are going to try to give out 7 meals at a time once a week. Drop off meals will happen on Wednesdays beginning April 8th, with Friday being reserved for those who missed or could not make their Wednesday dropoff appointment time. We are doing this to minimize social contact, to protect our staff, our students, and our food service workers. The times for the pickups happening the week of April 6th will be shared next week to avoid confusion with this week's pickup times.

To receive a meal, a parent or guardian for the child must be present and sign off for the child/children receiving the meal.

* For students who are unable to make one of locations listed above, please contact your school to for alternative arrangements.

To contact Your School With Questions about Chromebook pickup or lunch service, please email or call after:

RRES-West:   cheryl.hansen@rogueriver.k12.or.us       582-3233
RRES- East:   whitney.langfield@rogueriver.k12.or.us   582-3234
RRJSHS :       Chris.carmiencke@rogueriver.k12.or.us  582-3297
                     tori.kirkpatrick@rogueriver.k12.or.us     582-3297
SVA:             brandi.cameron@rogueriver.k12.or.us     582-6010

* Here is the link to the new Distance Learning For All plan.

https://www.oregon.gov/ode/students-and-family/healthsafety/Documents/Distance%20Learning%20for%20All%20Guidance%20March%202020.pdf?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery

Sincerely,

Administrative Team
Rogue River School District

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RRSD #35 Update for Parents and Students Regarding Mandated School Closure Until April 28th.

• This is an opportunity, not an obstacle!
• How do we turn this into an inspirational time of individual and community growth?
• We will model for our young people what it means to rise above and overcome!

March 20, 2020

Dear Community Members,

The three statements listed above have guided the work of the Rogue River School District’s administrative team over the last five days.  We referred to these often as we developed a plan to offer necessary educational supports to our students during the extended closure we are experiencing because of the COVID-19 pandemic.  With these statements at the core of our thinking and near to our hearts, we came up with a system that we believe will support our students educationally and allow our staff to productively and creatively engage our students in learning opportunities during the closure.

Nothing that follows is meant to replace or replicate the traditional school setting.  School as we knew it two weeks ago is essentially on pause.  What follows is a plan to provide educational supports and learning opportunities to keep students learning while they are away from school.

Here is the simplified gist of what our plan is:  We are a 1 to 1 Chromebook district. We will deploy Chromebooks to all students beginning April 1st.  Staff will come to work on March 30th-31st for coordination and training on how we can deliver educational supports via our Chromebooks.  Once Chromebooks are deployed, students with internet access will be able to access work online.  Students without internet access will be given jump drives pre-loaded with lessons, resources, and materials that are similar to what will be available online so that we are being equitable to all of our students. Lower elementary staff will work with Principal Wright to develop age appropriate resources that may include the use of Chromebooks along with other educational tools.  Detailed instructions on how to access work will be provided on or before April 2^nd!

How getting the Chromebooks will work: 

Parents will do the following to get a Chromebook for their student:

• Write your Child's Name on a piece of paper in large letters so it can be seen through the car window from at least six feet away.  
• The Chromebook and any additional materials that your student will need will be handed to you through your car window.
• Please don’t get out of the car
• If your student/s need anything from their locker, ask the Chromebook crew, and they will direct you to park and enter the building.  
• If you have children attending more than one school, pick up devices at each school.  

 Pick Up Schedule for Chromebooks:

• High School Students:  Pick up from the Jr./ Sr. High School during the 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. / 4 p.m. - 7 p.m. windows on Wednesday the 1st of April

• Jr High Students: Pick up from the Jr./ Sr. High School during the 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. / 4 p.m. - 7 p.m. windows on Wednesday the 1st of April

• RRES Students K - 3:  Pick up from the East Campus where the buses drop off students during the 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. / 4 p.m. - 7 p.m. windows on Wednesday the 1st of April

• RRES Students 4-6:  Pick up from the West Campus behind the building near the music room during the 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. / 4 p.m. - 7 p.m. windows on Wednesday the 1st of April

• South Valley Academy:  Contact the school

Possible Questions:

•  If I can’t pick up Chromebooks during these advertised times, how do I get it?  Call your school April 1^st and we will make special arrangements with you.  Contact info below.

• If I don’t have internet, what does my student do?  Pick up a Chromebook and contact your school on April 1^st.  We have a plan to deliver materials via jump drive and we will provide educational supports for your student.

• What about seniors and graduation?  We are waiting on further guidance from ODE, but we expect they will be held harmless for closure times or will be responsible for reduced credit standards.  Graduation is expected to go on as currently planned.

• What about credits for high school students during quarter 3 and 4? We expect further guidance from ODE soon.  We expect students will be held harmless for closure times or will be given greater flexibility in earning credits this spring.

Meal service updates:

The Rogue River School District will be providing meals at the following times and locations: 

• Anyone 18 and under can pick up a grab and go lunch and breakfast at Rogue River Elementary East from 10 am to 11 am Monday through Friday starting March 30^th.

Starting April 1^st The Rogue River School District will offer the following additional meal pickup locations and times:

• Rogue River Junior Senior High School 11:05 a.m. - 11:20 a.m. 1898 E Evans Creek Rd, Rogue River, OR 97537

• Evans Valley Fire Department 11:35 a.m. - 11:50 a.m.  8677 E Evans Creek Rd, Rogue River, OR 97537

• The Depot 11:55 a.m. - 12:10 p.m. 7923 E Evans Creek Rd, Rogue River, OR 97537

• Scoops 1:15 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. 6415 Rogue River Hwy, Grants Pass, OR 97527

• Foots Creek Market 1:45 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. 3175 Rogue River Hwy, Gold Hill, OR 97525

To receive a meal, the person must be present.

*  For students who are unable to make one of locations listed above, please contact your school for alternative arrangements.  

To contact Your School With Questions about Chromebook pickup or lunch service, please email or call after March 30th:

RRES-West: cheryl.hansen@rogueriver.k12.or.us    582-3233

RRES- East: whitney.langfield@rogueriver.k12.or.us  582-3234

RRJSHS :     chris.carmiencke@rogueriver.k12.or.us 582-3297

                   tori.kirkpatrick@rogueriver.k12.or.us       582-3297

SVA:            brandi.cameron@rogueriver.k12.or.us    582-6010

Sincerely,

Administrative Team

Rogue River School District #35

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March 18, 2020

Dear Community Members,

Yesterday, in light of the COVID-19 situation, the Governor’s office ordered that schools remain closed to students until April 28th.  This is a short communication to highlight what this will mean for you, your students, and the Rogue River School District.  We will follow with more details and information in the days to come.

• The RRSD is prepared and ready to begin providing supplemental education and learning supports to students on April 1st  as per the Governor’s order.

• We have the ability to deploy Chromebooks to all students and have a plan being formed to make sure every student has the ability to access education and learning opportunities through our school beginning April 1st.

• Starting April 1st, we expect to begin working with students via various forms of communication to roll out our educational plans with you and your child.

• We will continue offering food services to all community members 18 and under until the closure ends, with the exception of our regularly scheduled Spring Break.  We are working on improving this service and making it even easier to access.

• Together with the Oregon Department of Education, we are making plans for seniors, graduation, and graduation requirements.  

• By late Friday afternoon (3/20/20), we will provide more detailed information.

For now we want you to know the following;  we see this as an opportunity to shine for our students, families, and community.  These changes are an opportunity, not an obstacle. We will be positive and encouraging as we roll out creative ways to do education; we ask that you do the same.  We want to set an example for our young people so they can see how we make this an inspirational time of individual and community growth, not a time of fear or anxiety.

Sincerely,

The Administrative Team

Rogue River School District #35

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March 13, 2020 5:15 p.m.

Good Afternoon Rogue River Community,
 
Less than one day after directing schools to stay open in response to the COVID-19 situation, the Governor’s office has mandated we all shut down starting Monday and stay shut down until the end of the month. 

Due to the late notice and unexpected reversal of guidance, we have worked intensely throughout the day to figure out what this means for our schools, students, and staff.  There are still many unanswered questions we have, our students have, our families have, and our staff have.  The administrative team will continue working next week to answer questions regarding long term impacts of and responses to this closure.

Students will not be back to school until April 1, 2020.  During this time we will try offering a breakfast/lunch combo to be picked up at the RRES East Campus in the cafeteria.  You must be a Rogue River School District student and the student must be present to get the breakfast/lunch.  The meal will be offered March 16th, 2020 from 10-11:00 a.m. We will evaluate the need and response to this offering on Monday and then continue the program through the week if there is enough interest.  We will communicate with you of the extension or non-extension of the meal provision.

Per the guidance we have received, we are shutting down access to our buildings from all public groups and activities except for the meal offering noted above. We will do a deep cleaning over Spring Break to make sure the buildings are as clean as possible prior to students returning.

As the Governor’s office and ODE give more guidance and the administrative team has more time to process and plan, we will keep you updated. 

Thank you for being as patient as possible during this unprecedented and challenging time.  Please follow the Oregon Health Authority’s guidance and exercise measures to protect yourself and your family from possible exposure by washing your hands, covering your coughs, and practicing social distancing.
 

Sincerely,
 
Patrick Lee
Superintendent
Rogue River School District

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March 13, 2020 UPDATE

Good Morning Rogue River Community,

Less than one day after directing schools to stay open in response to the coronavirus threat, the Governor's office has mandated we all shut down starting Monday and stay shut down until the end of the month.

Due to the late notice and unexpected reversal of guidance, we will be working frantically throughout the day and the upcoming week to update you on what this will mean for your children's education and your community. Please have patience and give us the time we need to collaborate and work as district leadership to figure out the best pathways for our students moving forward. For now I can tell you this, yes, we will be closed to students starting Monday. Today it is business as usual, at least to the best of our abilities. All sporting events and practices are officially suspended until the end of the month.

There will be more information coming out throughout the day as we have it.

Patrick Lee
Superintendent
Rogue River School District

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Dear Community Members:

The RRSD is working together with other regional school districts, The Jackson County Health Department, and the Oregon Health Authority to follow recommended practices to prevent or slow the spread of novel coronavirus, now known as COVID-19.   At the time of this writing, there are no known confirmed cases in Southern Oregon, but we are still taking precautions to protect our staff, students, and community members. Here is some abbreviated information to help keep you informed. 

 What we at RRSD are doing:

• Following Jackson County Health and Oregon Health Authority Guidance for proper sanitation practices in our buildings.
• Installing more sanitizer dispensers throughout the district.
• Staying informed and in contact with local and regional health experts.
• Communicating with the community.

What you can do:

• Remind your child of good hygiene measures such as handwashing with soap for at least 20 seconds, covering sneezes and coughs, and trying not to put their fingers in their eyes, nose, or mouth.
• Keep your child home if they have a fever. Make sure the fever is gone for at least 24 hours before allowing them back to school.
• Educate yourself and your child. This link is a great place to start   https://www.oregon.gov/oha/PH/DISEASESCONDITIONS/DISEASESAZ/Pages/emerging-respiratory-infections.aspx 

What if a student or staff member gets COVID-19?

• We will work with The Jackson County Health Department and the Oregon Health Authority for guidance on how to proceed. We are educators, not health experts. We will let the health experts guide us on how to properly respond and direct us on what information can be shared.
• Updated OHA recommendations for response to COVID-19 cases in Oregon schools - 

https://www.oregon.gov/oha/PH/DISEASESCONDITIONS/DISEASESAZ/Emerging%20Respitory%20Infections/COVID-19-cases-in-Oregon-schools.pdf

We value your children at RRSD, and we will do our best to maintain normal educational functions while exercising preventative best practices district wide.

Sincerely,

Patrick Lee
Superintendent
Rogue River School District

2019-2020 DISTRICT GOALS

• Student Character & Well Being
• Outstanding Environment
• Foster Communication
• Pride and Image 

MISSION STATEMENT

   “Rogue River School District will offer a high quality instructional program to
    help students acquire necessary academic and life skills to succeed in a
    complex competitive world, while also learning the importance of respect,
    accountability, and responsibility"

 VISION STATEMENT

   “Rogue River School District will offer an exciting interactive and safe learning
     environment where students can excel to the best of their ability, and become
     respectful, responsible, and productive citizens.”