We Are All Connected

One-Year Mark of the Almeda Fire

In This Issue:

Superintendent's Message
Message from Our Counselors
What Can I Expect for My Child At School?
Tips for Children and Adults During This Period
Rogue Valley Love Your Neighbor Day
Gratitude
Who Can I Reach Out to For Help at School?
Stronger Together

From the Superintendent

Dear Ashland Families, Students, Staff and Community Members,

This week marks one year since the Almeda fire. As you navigate this week in your family, whatever form that is for you, I want to acknowledge the vast impact the fire had on all of our lives and the impact that continues for so many of us. It is very much on the minds of our students this week. I hope you find some of the resources in this newsletter useful for your student, yourself or someone you know.

I spoke not long ago with someone who had lost their home on September 8, and shared a moment with them. I asked how they were coping and their answer caught me off guard. “I am doing really well. We lost everything. We’re in a temporary situation and are starting completely over, and that’s hard. But it is also a blessing to connect with others and be there for each other. People that never met before, helping each other, and being there.” I have come to see this individual’s resilience and outlook as emblematic of our valley and our community at its best as we traverse the legacy of the fire and still uncertain waters.

Fifty-three students lost their homes last year. Twelve district staff lost homes. Many of our friends and neighbors in north Ashland, Talent and Phoenix lost all they owned. If there is a lesson this tragedy can offer for me, perhaps it is knowing the strength of community and the opportunity we have to care for and receive care from others.

On Wednesday and moving into the school year, remember you are part of a greater whole. Reach out when you need to. Lend a hand where you can. There are many of us that are struggling to rebuild or to cope for many reasons. And there are many doing all they can to help. And many that are doing both.

Thank you for making our schools great places to learn.

Samuel

Samuel Bogdanove

Superintendent

Ashland Public Schools

Pronouns: He, Him, His

From Our Counselors

As you all know, we are starting this school year amidst a mixture of gratitude, hope, excitement, joy, disappointment, and worry. We are intensely grateful to work with your children in-person, to listen to and watch them connect, laugh, and learn. We are hopeful that we will steadily move toward a more “normal” experience as the year progresses.

At the same time, this year’s beginning is vastly different than we had hoped. Our county’s high Covid rates have made national news. We must always mask on campus and throughout many locations in our community to protect one another. Consequently, we are once again missing one of the most important aspects of human connection, observing and responding to our families’, friends’, and neighbors’ full facial expressions.

In addition to the stressors this pandemic has settled upon our shoulders, we are inundated with media coverage about economic insecurities, racial injustices, floods, hurricanes, and fires. As a global community, a nation, a state, and town, we are experiencing an unprecedented range of challenges. Moreover, our beautiful valley has been filled with wildfire smoke for over a month.

Although our collective duress is high and pervasive, it is still important to acknowledge that we are approaching the one-year mark of the Alameda fire. Annual markers of natural disasters and tragedies can stir up the feelings we felt during the incident. Both adults and children may feel increased distress, worry, and exhaustion during this time. Many of us directly affected by the fire are still coping with the aftermath and rebuilding our lives.

We have included information about what is available at school during this time, along with some things to keep in mind at home to take care of yourself and your family during this time. We hope this provides some support.

Sincerely,

Diane Berry

K-12 Counseling and Behavioral Health Coordinator

Ashland School District

What can I expect for my child at school?

A range of heightened feelings can be normal

Talking can help

On-site supports are available

On the morning of Wednesday, Sept 8, all ASD teachers will briefly cover the following

This may be a more difficult day for some:

Share with their students that a day like this one may be difficult for some. It is common for some additional stress and emotional reactions to happen around the year mark of a tragic event. Teachers should not disclose excessive personal struggles of their own with students (this creates increased worry among students)

Our community has more safety measures in place now:

Mention how our town now has a more developed approach to fire management and preventative efforts, has a city-wide alert system and has created clear evacuation plans.

We appreciate the helpers and strength of our community:

Remember the hundreds of community members who came together for months to coordinate supplies, housing, and emotional support for those that lost their homes. Discuss how service can be healing and inspiring.

There is support for those who would like it.

Remind students that we will not bring this topic up often and encourage those who would like to talk more about their feelings to connect with their school site’s support staff (see school site contact lists below).

Helping or community service can be one of the best ways to feel more positive and connected.

Offer the Love your Neighbors Campaign for the school to promote as they feel inspired. Students can brainstorm what they have heard, seen, or done that has been helpful this year (as it relates to anyone or any cause).

Tips for Children and Adults During this Period

According to Dr. David Schonfield, Director at the National Center for School Crisis and Bereavement (https://www.schoolcrisiscenter.org), many adults are experiencing higher levels of stress than our children-due to their broader perspective of the situations. So, as parents, guardians, and family members, it is important not only to describe healthy coping strategies, but to also model these behaviors. Here are some basic tips for self-care during these heavy times (https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/disaster-distress-helpline/anniversaries-trigger-events)

Be gentle with yourself. Show yourself the same kindness and patience you’d give to others during this time. Allow yourself to feel angry or sad and recognize that these emotions are natural.

Participate in activities that you enjoy. This may be different depending on the individual. Some people like to reflect in solitude while others may prefer spending time with family and friends for support. Some of these activities may include singing, prayer, meditation, attending a spiritual service, going to the movies, or just getting together with loved ones to share a meal.

Draw on your faith/spirituality. For many, faith and other spiritual beliefs are a source of strength and comfort every day, and most especially during difficult times. Reach out to your faith adviser, spiritual community, or anyone that you feel comfortable talking with about your beliefs to support and console you.

Accept kindness and help from others. Support from family and friends is essential to healing. It’s often difficult for people to accept help because they don’t want to be a burden to others, or don’t want to appear weak. Allow the people in your life to show their care and concern.

Talk about your losses if you need to. If you want to talk about your losses since the disaster, you can. If you want to talk about the future, you can do that, too. Be sure to share your thoughts and feelings with someone you trust. That can be a friend or family member or a health care professional.

Help others. For some people, volunteering is a healthy way to heal, and they get a great deal of satisfaction from helping others. Some activities can be as simple as donating food, clothing, and other items. You and your child may begin by brainstorming what you have seen, heard, or done the has been helpful in dealing with the losses and changes incurred by the fire (or other current stressors).

rogue valley love your neighbor day

A year ago, we all experienced and witnessed how wide-spread community service can unite, mend, and restore hope. An ASD parent has initiated an inspiring and uplifting effort to make September 8 a day of community connection and care. Please join in this effort and make this day and many more, full of gestures of kindness that ripple across our community and beyond.

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Gratitude

We are so grateful to the members of our community that stepped up in a major way when our community was in crisis.

Immediately after the fire, the Ashland Schools Foundation worked quickly to gather resources and got them directly to those families in need in north Ashland, Talent and Phoenix.

Teachers, Tia McClean and Trish Door, and countless others helped gather donations at the Mountain Avenue Theater and distributed basic goods including clothes, baby food, diapers and other needed items immediately following the fire.

El Tapatio turned their parking lot into a huge donation and distribution center that drew countless volunteers. The good folks at El Tapatio also provided vast quantities of food to those in need. They were not alone and may local restaurants helped feed those in need.

Local service clubs including the Ashland Rotary pitched in wherever needed.

Many in our community opened their homes, gave rides, washed clothes, made food, offered showers and shared of themselves. People found RV’s and hooked them up for families in need. Others donated cars or replaced lost tools so people could continue their livelihoods.

If you were directly impacted by the Almeda Fire and could use some financial support, please reach out to your schools Child Development Specialist or School Counselor:

Who can I reach out to for help at school?

If your child would like to talk more about their thoughts and feelings around the fire a year ago, or any current ongoing concerns, please feel free to reach out to one of the following support staff for immediate support and /or connections to additional resources:

Elementary Behavioral Health Specialist: Karsten Peterson

Karsten.Peterson@ashland.k12.or.us

Bellview Elementary

Child Development Specialist: Michele Bolinger

Michelle.Bolinger@ashland.k12.or.us

Helman Elementary

Child Development Specialist: Kat Smith

Kathryn.Smith@ashland.k12.or.us

Walker Elementary

Child Development Specialist: Brook Johnson-Thygerson Brooke.JohnsonThygeson@ashland.k12.or.us

John Muir Outdoor School

Child Development Specialist: Amber Langer