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Jan. 7 Riverdale School District News

Riverdale School District

Friday, Jan. 7

Riverdale School District News
 

Announcement from Superintendent Harding

Superintendent Jeff Harding invites you to read his mid-year reflection on district accomplishments and our upcoming agenda for 2022. He closes with an announcement pertaining to his personal long-term plans. Click here to view the entire message from Dr. Harding.
 

COVID-19 Updates

Status of COVID in Our Schools

The return to school following the Winter Break brought with it an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases on our campuses. Schools across the country and in our region have closed their doors, shifting to distance learning. We have taken all reasonable steps to reduce the spread of COVID on our campuses, in the interest of keeping our classrooms open to our students. 
As of today, our schools have avoided the surge of cases that many other schools have experienced. Currently, one staff member in our district is reporting ill due to COVID. At the Grade School, approximately 5% of our students are reporting ill due to COVID. At the high school, approximately 7% of our students are reporting ill due to COVID, and many of those students expected to return to school next week following their mandated quarantine period of 10 days. 
Our MESD nurse will continue to monitor student and staff transmission, contacting each family after a new case is reported. Please help us control the spread of this variant by keeping your child home from school if they exhibit any COVID symptoms. And please contact the school office immediately if your child tests positive for COVID.  

CDC Updates to Quarantine & Isolation

You may be aware that the CDC made changes to the recommended quarantine and isolation guidance for exposed individuals. OHA officials are consulting with the CDC on what these changes mean for schools. At this point, the Multnomah County Public Health Department has not modified guidelines for our local schools but the district is in regular communication with the Health Department to access the latest information. Please tune into Monday’s board meeting to hear a report from Deputy Health Officer Dr. Ann Loeffler and Public Health Director Jessica Guernsey. 

New Guidance from ODE/OHA 

School districts across Oregon received this message from ODE on Monday, Jan. 3. Due to this new advisory, RSD will continue requiring masking at all times during sports until further notice. And the RHS Info Night scheduled for Jan. 26 has been postponed in hopes of holding it in person on Feb. 23. We will continue to call families and send emails should there be a need for COVID-19 exposure/quarantine notification. 

Reminder about Siblings 

Siblings of confirmed positive cases need to be quarantined only if they are unvaccinated, in which case the length can be shortened if they stay separate from that sibling. Otherwise, vaccinated siblings of confirmed positive cases can return to school as long as they remain asymptomatic; should symptoms develop, please notify us and keep them home as well.

Masking

Here is a detailed list of masks for children and accompanying data from NPR.
 
E&I Corner

Equity and Inclusion Corner

Holidays and Celebrations 

Welcome back and happy 2022!
We hope that our Sikh community had an enjoyable celebration of Guru Gobind Singh Ji’s Birthday.
Armenian Christians celebrate Christmas on January 6th, the day of Epiphany.  Eastern Orthodox Christians celebrate Epiphany on January 6th and Christmas on January 7th. Merry Christmas and Epiphany to those communities.
Happy Makar Sankranti to our Hindu community.
We hope that our Bahá’í community has a lovely World Religion Day.
January 17th is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, which celebrates the birth of the civil rights leader. Read more below about ways to learn and honor his legacy.
Happy Tu B’Shvat to our Jewish Community.  
January 17th-21st is No Name-Calling Week. This is a great time to speak with your children about how hurtful words can be.  
Happy Mahayana New Year to our Buddhist community.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service

January 17th is a federal holiday that honors the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.  
While many of us know his famous, “I Have a Dream,” speech, I encourage you to take some time on this holiday to learn more about his broader work. For example, have you read/viewed his speech “The Other America” or learned about the “Poor People’s Campaign?” Did you know that MLK’s views were considered radical in his lifetime, with two-thirds of Americans viewing him unfavorably in the years before his death? Let’s honor his legacy by moving past popular quotes and towards a deeper understanding of his dream.
MLK day is unique in that the intention of the holiday is not a “day off,” but rather, a “day on.” The purpose of the day is service, learning, and community. There are many volunteer and celebratory events happening in the Portland Metro Area. View the list here. 
- Abby Rotwein (she/her), Director of Equity & Inclusion
 
 

School Board Meeting

 
 
The Riverdale School Board will hold a Board Meeting on Monday, Jan. 10 at 6 p.m. via GoToWebinar. Community members who would like to speak on items not on the agenda will have that opportunity at the beginning of the meeting. In addition, community members who would like to speak on agenda topics will be given an opportunity to do so after the board discusses that particular topic. There are two options for submitting public comment: Use the “raise hand” feature to then be unmuted to read aloud your comment, or email your comment to Chrisie Patrick, and she will read it.  
 

Agenda Highlights

 
  • Swearing in student board member Abby Zurasky
  • Public Health Report on COVID-19 by Deputy Health Officer Dr. Ann Loeffler and Public Health Director Jessica Guernsey
  • Panel Discussion on Impact of Pandemic on Riverdale Students
  • Board action to select a superintendent search firm
 
 
 
View the agenda here
 
Register here for the GTW Board Meeting
 

REMINDER

Apply to be on the RSD Budget Committee

The Riverdale School District (RSD) is currently recruiting to fill four open positions and at least one alternate on the District’s Budget Committee. Community members interested in learning more about the fiscal operations of the district and participating in the review, design, and recommendation of the District budget, please click here to view the entire message and how to apply. 
 
Applications are due by 5 p.m. on January 24, 2022.

TO APPLY FOR A POSITION ON THE RSD BUDGET COMMITTEE:

Complete the application and return it by 5 p.m. on January 24, 2022 to: 
Nicole Bassen
Riverdale School District
11733 S Breyman Ave
Portland, OR 97219
businessmanager@riverdale.k12.or.us

TIMELINE:

Week of February 7th: Interviews with Committee candidates
February 28, 2022: Identified Committee members present at Board meeting for School Board approval 
 
Apply here
 
 

Important Dates

  • Monday, Jan. 10 - School Board Meeting at 6 p.m. via GTW
  • Friday, Jan. 14 - Teacher Inservice Day (No School)
  • Monday, Jan. 17 - Martin Luther King Jr. Day (No School)