HRCSD News
December 2020
Message from Superintendent, Rich Polkinghorn
Dear, Hood River County School District families,
I hope you had a wonderful and safe Thanksgiving. As we approach winter break (December 21 through January 3), I wish all of our HRCSD families a happy holiday season.
In the December newsletter, you will have the opportunity to learn more about the following topics:
Distance learning will continue in inclement weather
May Street Elementary School teacher nominated for GTA STEM Educator of the Year award
First Lego League presents opportunities for students
Nutrition Services continues to offer healthy meals through June
The Bookmobile’s operations change in January
HRCSD welcomes new school resource deputy
HRVHS graduate becomes Mid-Valley Elementary School teacher
ODE requests feedback on Oregon Statewide Assessment
Resources and important dates for HRCSD families
Before scrolling through this newsletter, please review the update regarding COVID-19 in Hood River County as well as plans for reopening schools for implementing limited in-person instruction (LIPI).
COVID-19 in Hood River County
On Monday, Nov. 30, the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) released the latest county health data for the past two-weeks. Hood River County reported 81 COVID-19 cases and 5.7% test positivity rate, which moves Hood River County School District (HRCSD) into the red zone according to the Oregon Department of Education (ODE) metrics. In this zone, HRCSD must continue to provide Comprehensive Distance Learning (CDL).
Plans to Reopen Schools
After winter break, pending a positive trend in COVID-19 data and support from Hood River County Health Department, HRCSD plans to offer limited in-person instruction (LIPI) to students who need additional help with attendance, behavior, and/or academics during CDL. All schools will follow the safety protocols that are outlined in the Operational Blueprints, which may be found on the HRCSD website. Student participation in LIPI will be voluntary and will not be required. Between now and January, school administrators will continue working with staff to identify students who need additional support through LIPI. Families of those students will be contacted directly to learn about next steps.
Thank you, HRCSD families, for your continued support and flexibility during this unique time. HRCSD continues to set target dates and make plans to return students and staff to school safely; however, it must also continue to lean on the partnership with Hood River County Health Department to determine the most appropriate course of action with regard to bringing students and staff to buildings. Our HRCSD staff look forward to seeing students at their school buildings in 2021!
Wishing you and your loved ones peace, health, and happiness in the New Year!
Rich Polkinghorn, Superintendent
Impact of inclement weather on student instruction
At the beginning of December, it is important to address the potential for inclement weather. HRCSD is prepared for winter storms, but it is also operating in a different landscape dictated by COVID-19 and framed by Comprehensive Distance Learning (CDL).
Comprehensive Distance Learning (CDL) will, in most cases, continue during inclement weather that in normal times may have prompted HRCSD to close or delay schools. Continuing CDL during inclement weather will allow HRCSD to protect instructional time whenever possible. Student and staff safety is always the school district’s top priority, and distance learning means potentially dangerous winter travel to and from school buildings is not necessary. In cases of storm-related power outages and other factors that preclude distance learning, HRCSD will ensure that students are not penalized.
Inclement weather may still impact building activities that occur while conducting during CDL. These activities include meal service and delivery, athletics activities, and any other on-site activities. HRCSD will follow its inclement weather protocols for deciding if those activities may continue. It will keep HRCSD constituents updated via multiple channels, including phone calls, emails, text messages, social media, and HRCSD website. To learn more about those communication channels, please visit the communications webpage.
May Street Elementary School teacher nominated for GTA STEM Educator of the Year award
May Street Elementary School teacher Tom (“T.”) Dalbey has been nominated for the Gorge Technology Alliance’s (GTA) STEM Educator of the Year award. Mr. Dalbey is competing against another educator from The Dalles. The winner will be selected by vote. Voting ends Friday, Dec. 11, at 4pm and may be made using this Google Form. Please take a moment to support Mr. Dalbey, recognizing his tremendous support of HRCSD students!
Mr. Dalbey has spearheaded multiple initiatives at May Street Elementary School over the past few years, culminating this past year in several programs running simultaneously. He wrote and was awarded several grants bringing in >$4,500 in STEM resources to the school. Mr. Dalbey’s specific efforts revolved around First Lego League robotics, FLL Jr., 3D printing, and K’nex bridge building in fourth and fifth grades. Finally, Mr. Dalbey has designed and taught a STEM class, including robotics and programming, that reached all fourth grade students and 25 students in an after school program.
Mr. Dalbey began his teaching career in Denver, Colo., in the 1990s before getting married and moving to Hood River, Ore., in 2000. At that time, he served as a substitute teacher in the Portland and Hood River areas. In 2002, Mr. Dalbey joined HRCSD as a fourth grade teacher at Westside Elementary School. He later served as a teacher on special assignment (TOSA) for the Dos Mundos Charter School at Westside Elementary School until that school closed. At the time, he transitioned to teaching fourth grade at May Street Elementary School. Now, he serves as a fifth grade teacher at May Street Elementary School.
Developing ways to keep students engaged and having fun while they are learning has been an important part of Mr. Dalbey’s teaching practice. He said he tries to instill in his students an understanding of the importance of a healthy balance between work and play.
For several years, Mr. Dalbey has been focused on getting technology into the hands of elementary school students. He coached First Lego League robotics over seven seasons and saw firsthand high student engagement with programming and building robots. This engagement sparked his interest in bringing other technologies into HRCSD schools, including bridge building, 3D printing, and circuit construction. Mr. Dalbey said he hopes to add laser cutting and etching to that list soon. This year, Comprehensive Distance Learning has hampered the ability to use hands-on technology activities with students so he is focusing on programming and 3D design activities, both of which can be done from home using iPads.
Outside of teaching, Mr. Dalbey enjoys backpacking, hiking, kiteboarding, playing guitar, and surfing with his family and friends. Serving as a teacher for 20 years has allowed him time to follow his passions.
Congratulations, Mr. Dalbey, on your finalist nomination for GTA STEM Educator of the Year award!
First Lego League presents opportunities for students
Are you bored? Do you miss athletics? Do you want to be on a team? HRCSD encourages parents and students to form First Lego League teams to use their minds and creativity! The game between teams will occur virtually this year with the first competition occurring on April 17. Teams that advance will go to state on May 1. Information on the game may be found in this video.
Information on the tournaments may be found on the Oregon Robotics Tournament and Outreach Program’s website. The tournaments are based on the game (same game each time), the project, and teamwork. The game is scored on robot performance through different missions embedded in the game. The project and teamwork are scored by judges.
HRCSD can prepare students and parents with a robot, game table, virtual mentor, and registration fees. All teams need is a place to meet and a parent (or two!) who is willing to supervise the team. For more information, please contact Jeff Blackman, jeff.blackman@hoodriver.k12.or.us.
Nutrition Services continues to offer healthy school meals
HRCSD Nutrition Services updated the school meals menu to include more homemade recipes using fresh ingredients. Some of the meals include locally-sourced ingredients through the farm to school grant. All menu items meet the USDA’s nutritional requirements for children, which for lunch include a minimum of ¾ cup of fruits and vegetables, a variety of whole grains, a meat or meat alternative, and fluid milk.
For more information on HRCSD Nutrition Services, including using new meal packaging options, promoting healthy eating, and offering chocolate milk, please read the recent HRCSD Nutrition Services newsletter that may be found on the Nutrition Services webpage.
Please note that meals for Hood River County children will not be offered during winter break (December 21 through January 3). HRCSD Nutrition Services looks forward to resuming its meal operations on January 4.
The Bookmobile’s operations change in January
The Bookmobile is closed for December but will resume operations on Monday, Jan. 4 (immediately following winter break). The Bookmobile will have a new schedule, including days, times, and locations, beginning in January. The new schedule will be shared to HRCSD students and families as soon as it is finalized.
After winter break, The Bookmobile will also be partnering with the Fab Bus (STEM Bus) to create a new mobile library and STEAM lending center. This new and improved bus will need a new name! If you have any suggestions for a name, please contact Matthew Gerlick, matthew.gerlick@hoodriver.k12.or.us.
Key activities offered by the bus, which will move throughout the county every week, include:
Check out library books
Receive complimentary books (thanks to Hood River County Library for its support!)
Use WiFi hotspots
Print materials
Receive district and school information
Ask questions and provide feedback
Receive support for STEAM activities: First Lego League robotics, WEDO robotics, Sphero robots, 3D printing, engineering kits, sticker printing, and CAD classes
HRCSD welcomes new school resource deputy
HRCSD welcomes George Economou as the school resource deputy.
Deputy Economou joined the Hood River County Sheriff’s Office in January 2018. He worked as a patrol deputy between his hire date and September 2020. This fall, Deputy Economou became the school resource deputy for HRCSD. In this role, Deputy Economou works with all schools within HRCSD, including administrators, teachers, and staff, on developing comprehensive safety plans to ensure schools are safe places for students to learn.
HRCSD and the Hood River County Sheriff’s Office partnered on establishing the school resource deputy position, recognizing that providing a safe learning environment for students requires a collaborative effort from many community stakeholders. Communication and collaboration are two important skills that Deputy Economou embraces in his role. As the school resource deputy, he listens, relates, and ensures that all people are heard and understood. Deputy Economou is a force multiplier when it comes to teamwork, meaning that he is a good teammate as well as a teammate who helps increase the success of all other team members.
This year, Deputy Economou set a goal to build trust with the community and students within the school district. He said it is important to him to develop relationships across the school district and share about the school resource deputy position and ways the position may support schools and students.
Outside of his position, Deputy Economou said he enjoys spending time with his family. He has three children between the ages of two and seven. As a family, they take time to play, laugh, and work-out together. Physical activity is a priority for Deputy Economou every day, which is also clear given his extensive educational and professional background surrounding physical science, nutrition, and fitness. Outside of working, spending time with his family, and exercising, Deputy Economou also practices bagpiping.
Deputy Economou said he believes in the fifth law of the Navy, “On the strength of one link in the cable, dependeth the might of the chain. Who knows when thou mayest be tested? So live that thou nearest the strain!”
Welcome, Deputy Economou!
HRVHS graduate becomes Mid-Valley Elementary School teacher
HRCSD welcomes Lourdes (“Lulu”) Rodriguez as she starts her first year as a teacher at Mid-Valley Elementary School. Ms. Rodriguez teaches kindergarten dual language students at Mid-Valley Elementary School.
Ms. Rodriguez attended Mid-Valley Elementary School, Wy’east Middle School, and Hood River Valley High School. She recently graduated from Oregon State University.
For as long as Ms. Rodriguez can remember, she knew she wanted to become a teacher. When she was younger, she would play school with her siblings and, of course, would always be the teacher. Ms. Rodriguez said school never came easy to her. She felt her unique perspective as a first-generation student could help her support future generations of students.
Ms. Rodriguez’s educational and professional experiences have helped her achieve her goal of becoming a teacher. Ms. Rodriquez said she is really enthusiastic about teaching and learning. She shared that she always makes an effort to make learning fun for her students.
During her first year as a teacher, Ms. Rodriguez set a goal to enroll in a master’s degree program. She said she would like to continue her education to become a better teacher.
Ms. Rodriguez said one of her favorite parts of growing up in Hood River was the summertime. She shared that Lost Lake continues to be a special place to visit on a hot summer day.
Outside of teaching, Ms. Rodriguez enjoys hiking, traveling, sewing, knitting, and thrift shopping.
Welcome, Ms. Rodriguez!
ODE requests feedback on Oregon Statewide Assessment
The Oregon Department of Education (ODE) plans to request a temporary pause to specific statement assessment and accountability expectations present in the Every Student Succeeds Act from the U.S. Department of Education. This request is necessary because the assessment conditions required for summative assessment to meet its purposes have been substantially impacted by COVID-19 pandemic, social and political unrest, and other factors. ODE plans to ask for a temporary pause in English Language Arts, Mathematics, and Science summative testing for 2020-21. ODE remains committed to summative assessment when the conditions that support appropriate uses are in place and plans to implement statewide assessments in 2021-22, or when conditions next allows.
Oregonians are asked to comment on this planned waiver request between December 1 and December 15, 2020. Please refer to the ODE website for more information.
Important Dates
Third Thursday Conversation: December 17
Contact Information
Email: hrcsd.superintendent@hoodriver.k12.or.us
Website: https://www.hoodriver.k12.or.us/
Location: 1011 Eugene Street, Hood River, OR, USA
Phone: 541-386-2511
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Hoodriverschools
Twitter: @HRCSD2