Return to Headlines

April 2 Riverdale School District News

Riverdale School District

Friday, April 2

Riverdale School District News
 
Dear Riverdale Community,
Thank you to everyone for your continued flexibility and patience during these ever-changing times. On March 22nd ODE and OHA released updated guidance in the Ready Schools, Safe Learners 6.3.1 document. 

3 Feet of Physical Distancing Allowed Under Certain Conditions

The change to Ready Schools, Safe Learners guidance aligns physical distancing rules with national research and new guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
(Salem, Ore.) – “After careful review by the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) and the Oregon Department of Education (ODE), Oregon will shift to allowing 3 feet of physical distancing under certain conditions in schools, including county COVID-19 case rate levels for students in middle and high school. This shift applies to all public and private schools and aligns Oregon’s Ready Schools, Safe Learners guidance with recent studies and new guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).” - Oregon Department of Education
On Monday, we shared our hope with the Riverdale School Board to move to a longer 8:30 a.m. - 2:20 p.m. school day for grades K-8th by the week of April 12th. We continue to assess feasibility, including the impact on busing, snack and lunch times (the 6ft rule remains during these times), and scheduling/staffing. We will keep you updated as we work toward this goal. The high school team is fine-tuning the HS hybrid schedule to be launched on April 16th and we are continuing to review additional options to refine as the allocation of space capacity becomes clear. Over the summer, we will continue to consider all facility augmentation to maximize in-person learning.  
As we look to next year, we anticipate the Student Investment Account (SIA) being fully funded, which will result in more than $400,000 for our district. This year we received a portion of the funding ($155,510.70). 
Key priorities previously identified within the planning process for the use of these funds included: 
  • Increased academic support for HS students throughout the school day and before and after school
  • Literacy and Math Specialist positions for the GS
  • A continued focus on Restorative Justice and Equity and Inclusion K-12
  • Increased PE for the GS
  • College and career planning support for HS student
  • Counseling curriculum and support for Social Emotional Learning 
  • Increase in electives for the HS in the area(s) of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math and professional development opportunities in support of curriculum implementation. 
We seek to engage with you and understand your hopes as we move forward in planning and budgeting. Please see below for upcoming listening sessions that will inform and strengthen the use of the Student Investment Account funds. As we head into the larger budgeting process this year, I anticipate strengthening and developing programs with available resources and welcome your thoughts and input. 
Take good care.
Interim Superintendent, Joanna Tobin
 
 

Equity and Inclusion Corner 

The last few weeks have been a busy time for holidays and celebrations!
To all who celebrated the New Year, Nowruz Mobarak.
To our Jewish community, Chag Pesach Samech.
To our Muslim community, we hope you had a lovely Mid-Sha’ban.
To our transgender and nonbinary community, we see you and acknowledge the International Transgender Day of Visibilty.
To all those celebrating Good Friday and Easter, we hope you have a wonderful holiday.

Upcoming Community Listening Sessions

In August, the Riverdale School Board shared a powerful Anti-Racism Resolution. The School Board is currently in the process of reviewing a number of important policies, including Riverdale School District Educational Equity Policy, Riverdale School District Bias Incident Policy and Riverdale School District All Students Belong Policy.  
We firmly believe that all students are entitled to a high quality educational experience, free from discrimination or harassment based on actual or perceived: color, disability, ethnicity, gender identity, linguistic diversity, nationality status, neurodiversity, national origin, race, religious or spiritual beliefs, sexual orientation, size/body type or socioeconomic status.  
The district has taken a number of steps in the last year to help make our schools more equitable and inclusive. Towards that end, we will be holding three listening sessions in the coming months to hear from community members and caregivers of students who are part of historically marginalized communities. The purpose of these sessions is to hear about experiences and listen to ways that we can be more supportive to our marginalized students. All of these meetings will be held virtually.
Caregivers of Students of Color and Caregivers of Color: This meeting is for caregivers, parents, and guardians of students who are Black, Brown, Indigenous, Asian American, Pacific Islander, Middle Eastern/North African, Latine/Latinx, multiracial or biracial. This meeting is also for caregivers, parents and guardians who are in any of the above categories.
Thursday, May 6, 6-7 p.m.
Caregivers of LGBTQIA2S+ Students and Caregivers who are LGBTQIA2S+: This meeting is for caregivers, parents and guardians of students who are Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Questioning, Intersex, Asexual, Two-Spirit, Aromatice, Pansexual, Non-binary or have their own label/non-label in regards to their gender or sexual identity. This meeting is also for caregivers, parents and guardians who are in any of the above categories.
Thursday, May 13, 6-7 p.m.
Caregivers of Neurodiverse Students, Caregivers of Students with Disabilities, and Caregivers who are Neurodiverse or have a Disability: This meeting is for caregivers, parents and guardians of students who have Dyslexia, Autism, ADHD, ADD, Dyspraxia, Dysgraphia, Dyscalculia, Auditory Processing Disorder, ED, specific learning disabilities, physical disabilities, any other categories under IDEA or a combination of these. This meeting is also for caregivers, parents and guardians who are in any of the above categories.
Thursday, May 20, 6-7 p.m.
Please mark your calendars. Details about signing-up to participate in the sessions will be sent out in this newsletter in the coming weeks.  
 

UPDATE

State Testing Notification and Opt-Out Information

 
 
The Oregon Department of Education (ODE) submitted a 2020-21 statewide assessment and accountability waiver to the United States Department of Education (ED) on Friday, January 22, 2021.
The waiver was not approved and therefore means we will participate in state testing in a modified form. ODE will review all aspects that were or were not supported and respond accordingly. ODE has developed shortened test blueprints in English language arts and mathematics if summative assessment administration is required.
In Oregon, state testing is required for students in grades 3-8 and 11. The state testing window will run from April 13-June 11. We will provide updates with grade-level test dates as we learn more from the state.
Click here to learn more about Oregon’s state testing program and access information about opting out of testing.
 
 
Playground

UPDATE

Basketball Hoops and Playground Updates

Basketball hoops at Riverdale Grade School are now reinstated!
We’ve also cautiously opened the playground with the following guidelines in place:
 
  • Open to community prior to and following school hours (not during school hours) 
  • Adhere to social distancing (signage to be increased)
  • Frequently clean and disinfect high-traffic areas and commonly touched surfaces (cleaning encouraged in between uses by community members and hand sanitizers to be provided) 
  • Clear signs (healthoregon.org/coronavirus) listing COVID-19 symptoms, asking visitors with symptoms to stay home and who to contact if they need assistance
 

REMINDER

Outside and Inside Building Protocols

Everyone that comes onto our grade school or high school campuses MUST wear a mask. 
We ask that parents refrain from entering our buildings. At this time, volunteers and other non-essential staff are not able to come inside.
 

REMINDER

Timeline of Hybrid Return Dates
 
 
View all of our previous eblasts here
 
 

Calendar

  • Monday, April 12 - Board Work Study at 4:30 p.m.
  • April 14-15 - RHS Teacher Hybrid PD Days (RHS no school)
  • Friday, April 16 - RHS Hybrid Welcome Day
  • Friday Aril 16 - RGS Teacher Work Day (RGS no school)
  • Wednesday, April 21 - Budget 101 Meeting at 4:30 p.m.
  • Friday, April 23 - RHS Teacher Work Day (RHS no school)
  • Monday, April 26 - Board Meeting at 4:30 p.m.
  • Monday, April 26 - Board Work Study at 6 p.m.