CSD40 Update

• Message from the Superintendent
• Upcoming No School Days - 1/17 & 1/28
• School Board Appreciation Month
• VIDEO: Thank you, Creswell community!
  
• COVID-19 - How can families help?
• CSD COVID-19 Dashboard
• VIDEO: December in CSD
• ODE webinars for high school seniors and college students - FAFSA & OSAC Scholarships
• Oregon Teacher & Education Support Professional of the Year nominations
• FlashAlert - Stay Informed

Dear CSD Families,

With the omicron variant spreading rapidly through our community, there have certainly been many challenges to overcome. My foremost concern is the health and wellbeing of our students, staff, and the residents of Creswell. I hope those who are experiencing illness are recovering quickly.

Watching our team unite to meet obstacles fills me with deep appreciation for the dedication of our entire staff. Our team of school nurses has been heroic -- testing, contact tracing, and helping guide families while continuing to perform their regular health duties. I am grateful for the teachers, substitutes, and staff who have taken on extra shifts and coverage, whether in class, at recess, or driving bus routes, to keep our schools open. Our administrators are dauntless, working constantly to make the adjustments needed to provide quality instruction and help students thrive. Whether revising employee schedules, assisting students, handling supervision, or substituting themselves within a class, they wear countless numbers of hats and do so with grace and professionalism. We are so fortunate to have so many who truly embody the ideals of “One Team, One Dream.”

Thank you for your ongoing support and for doing your part to help protect the health and safety of our community by following the recommendations shared below.

Sincerely,
Mike Johnson
Superintendent

As a reminder, there will be NO SCHOOL for CSD students on the upcoming dates:

• Monday, January 17th - Martin Luther King Jr. Day
• Friday, January 28th - Semester Grading Day

January is School Board Appreciation month. While we appreciate the hard work our school board directors do all year long, we are grateful for the opportunity to publicly acknowledge and thank them for the hours they tirelessly volunteer on behalf of our students. When you see them in the community, please share your thanks for their service and investment of time.

Lacey Risdal, Board Chair

Ashley Miller, Board Vice Chair

Kandice Lemhouse Worsham

Mark Parker

Debi Wilkerson

Mike Anderson

Tim Rogers

Thank you, board directors, for caring about our students' futures and helping set them up for success! We are grateful for each of you!

To the hundreds of Creswell community members who generously provided words of encouragement and gifts to the CSD staff over the holidays, thank you! Your amazing gesture underscored what an extraordinary place Creswell is to live and work. We are thankful for the community's support and looking forward to a fantastic year ahead. Please accept our gratitude and appreciation for your partnership and kindness!

As part of a recent School Health Advisory, the Oregon Department of Education asked for assistance from families and the community to help maintain in-person instruction for students. To help minimize disruption of in-person learning due to quarantine and isolation:

• If your child is ill, do NOT send them to school. If they are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, seek a COVID-19 test. COVID-19 symptoms can include cough or sore throat, temperature of 100.4 F or higher, chills, shortness of breath, difficulty breath, a new loss of taste or smell, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headaches, nasal congestion or runny nose, nausea, vomiting or diarrhea.

• Get vaccinated. Vaccines against COVID-19 are available and recommended for everyone age 5 and older. The CDC recommends everyone age 12 and older get a booster dose; timing recommendations vary by vaccine manufacturer. For additional information about vaccines and upcoming area clinics, please visit the Lane County Public Health website or OHA's Get Vaccinated site to learn more.
• Limit gatherings with people from other households to the extent possible. If you are visiting people from another household, you should wear a mask, maintain physical distancing, and keep activities outdoors whenever possible.

As we navigate the uncertainty that the omicron variant brings, our goal is to preserve in-person learning opportunities using protocols and layered safety measures to help protect the safety and wellbeing of our students and staff. Thank you for your patience as we monitor and implement COVID-19 guideline changes.

As a reminder, CSD updates our COVID-19 Dashboard weekly to share with the community known positive and presumptive COVID-19 cases and quarantine information as reported to our district health staff. The dashboard reflects a snapshot at a given point in time and data is changing rapidly due to the Omicron surge.

Oregon Department of Education's Office of Student Access and Completion (OSAC) would like to welcome students and practitioners into the New Year with a series of virtual webinars and one-on-one application assistance. Below you will find a variety of topics geared towards current high school seniors or current/new college students.

FAFSA/ORSAA Line-by-Line

Walk through the FAFSA/ORSAA with us and bring your specific questions.

January 25, 2022, 5:30 pm - 7:00 pm (Register)

February 8, 2022, 5:30 pm - 7:00 pm (Register)

Finding Funds & Scholarships

Walk through Federal and State financial aid resources and OSAC's scholarship process.

January 27, 2022,5:30 pm – 6:30 pm (Register)

February 10, 2022, 5:30 pm – 6:30 pm (Register)

Drop-in Sessions

Meet 1:1 to start, edit, submit your FAFSA/ORSAA

January 19, 2022, 3:30 pm – 5:30 pm (Register)

February 2, 2022, 3:30 pm – 5:30 pm (Register)

February 16, 2022, 3:30 pm – 5:30 pm (Register)

The Oregon Teacher of the Year program honors excellence in teaching and draws nominations from across the state. To nominate one of Creswell's many outstanding teachers or education support professionals, visit the Oregon Teacher of the Year website here.

Between the recent rain and snow during break, we've had our share of wintry weather! Sign up for FlashAlert notifications to be kept informed of decisions regarding school delays and closures due to inclement weather. When decisions are made to delay or close schools due to weather conditions, we will also post information on our website and Facebook pages.

• 2021-2022 Creswell District Calendar
• Free and Reduced Price Meal Application
• CSD Employment Opportunities
• Creswell Food 4 Kids Program Online Application
• CSD COVID-19 Dashboard
• Sign up for FlashAlert
• Creswell Athletics