Ashland School District

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Previous Smore Newsletters

Email: Jacqueline.Schad@ashland.k12.or.us
Website: ashland.k12.or.us
Location: 885 Siskiyou Boulevard, Ashland, OR, USA
Phone: (541) 482-2811
Facebook: facebook.com/ashlandpublicschools/

In this issue:

• Superintendent Message: Keeping Schools Healthy and Open
• Continuity of Education Plan - Contingency planning for short periods of distance learning
• Walker Opens at ScienceWorks!
  
• COVID Safety - Do your part
  
• Free Weekly Asymptomatic COVID Testing for Students
  
• Clean Air for Kids
• Walker at ScienceWorks - school in a hands-on museum

• School Shout Outs and Goings On

• New Website
  

Ashland Families, Parents, Guardians, Students and Community Members,

We have had a terrific first three weeks of the school year on campus. And we have blue skies! I am encouraged by our students who are doing a great job of masking and following COVID protocols. Use of universal masking in schools shows consistently reduced spread of the COVID virus and schools with masking mandates are successfully staying open for in-person instruction in states where masking is required. That is great news for Oregon districts and our plan is to remain open all year.

Our staff keeps everyone’s health and wellbeing at the center. We currently approaching a greater than 95% vaccination rate among staff with a small number of staff members that have medical or religious exceptions. By October 19, all of our staff working in classrooms will be vaccinated.

We are working to reassign any staff with medical or religious exceptions to non-classroom roles. If exempt staff, such as office or non-classroom staff, have contact with students, additional safety precautions including N95 masks, physical distance and regular testing will be required. We continue to meet regularly with Jackson County Health to monitor any active cases or quarantines. For a weekly update on any active cases in our school community, click this link and scroll to the bottom of the page: https://www.ashland.k12.or.us/page/coronavirus-covid-19-response

The Oregon Department of Education has released guidance for schools on Continuity of Education planning with a focus on planning for short-term shifts to distance learning in the event of an outbreak or staffing shortage. With high rates of COVID in the valley, we are preparing in case of the need to return to distance learning for short periods of time. While we are hopeful to avoid any large quarantines or shortages that affect operations, we want to be prepared and we want you to be prepared. The notice of any move to distance learning may be brief. It is important for parents and guardians to know and be prepared if your student’s class or school needs to go to distance learning.

We have added a Short-Term Distance Learning Q and A with key information and details on what a short period of distance learning could look like. Sites will provide additional details as they become available.

We are working hard to assure CDL contingency plans never have to get off the shelf. Together, we can keep our schools healthy, safe and open now and throughout the school year. If you have questions about our COVID response or CDL contingency plans, please contact Christine McCollom.

Thank you for making our schools great places to connect and learn -

Samuel

Samuel Bogdanove

Superintendent

Ashland Public Schools

Pronouns: He, Him, His

Our Short-Term Distance Learning Q and A and Short-Term Distance Learning School Details are located on our COVID News and Safety page.

https://www.ashland.k12.or.us/page/coronavirus-covid-19-response

Our Continuity of Education Plan is located here.

Ashland Schools COVID Safety Protocols are here.

COVID protocols will be reviewed regularly as local active case rates change and as we learn new information on how to maintain safe and healthy school environments. Parents and guardians will be notified when there is a significant change.

Please read through the COVID protocols below and check with your principal if you have questions.

Regular weekly testing is available for any student free of charge. Students will test at school. The school mails the test kits to University of Oregon and results are emailed to the parent/guardian within 24 hours of receiving the test. The school relies on parents/guardians for notification of a positive case. If your child is symptomatic or has a positive test, do not send them to school and call the front office.

SIGN-UP STEP 1

Complete the appropriate form and bring to your school:

• Students 15 and older form HERE No parent/guardian signature required.
• Students under 15 years - parent/guardian form HERE

SIGN-UP STEP 2

• Login to the U of O testing website HERE and sign up
  

Who is eligible for free vaccines?

All Oregonians aged 12 and up are eligible to receive vaccination against Covid-19.

Age 15 and up do not require parent/guardian consent.

Where can I get a free vaccine?

Click here for information on where to get a free COVID vaccine in Jackson County.

Ashland Schools monitor air quality levels when it is smoky outside. Each school follows Health Department School Activity guidance based on the AQI at the school to know if we need to move PE and recess inside or curtail an outdoor athletic practice or even. If you have questions or need to discuss your child’s needs, please contact the principal.

Visit our web page for additional information on Clean Air for Kids https://www.ashland.k12.or.us/page/clean-air

The opening of the mobile village at ScienceWorks was delayed due to a supply chain issue with the asphalt needed to make classrooms accessible. ScienceWorks opened their doors and teachers and school staff shifted 10 classrooms throughout the museum - yes, it's larger than it looks! Tiffany Burns, Principal, Walker teachers, and school and district staff have done an outstanding job making the museum into a temporary home - thank you!. The results are amazing and we are incredibly grateful. Rumor has it that the famous Mrs. Frizzle will make this experience into a new Magic School Bus book, "The Longest Field Trip to ScienceWorks!"

ASD Web SIte has a new look: https://www.ashland.k12.or.us/

Like us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ashlandpublicschools