Superintendent's Update

During the 2022-2023 school year, Centennial School District is engaged in a comprehensive Strategic Planning process. The strategic plan acts as a roadmap for our school system and where we are heading. Its primary aim is to align all stakeholders on a shared vision, common goals, and unified direction for our district’s educational efforts for the next four years. Community-wide involvement is vital to the Strategic Planning process; therefore, we are designing the process in ways that will embrace the diverse voices of our district’s stakeholders.

For this reason, we want to invite you to the Centennial School District Strategic Planning Community Forum, which will be hosted on Monday, January 9, 2023 from 6:00pm to 7:30pm at the Centennial Middle School Library.

The community forum is intended for anyone within our community with an interest in supporting the Centennial Strategic Planning process – families, staff, students, and community partners included! This forum will be an opportunity for you to guide and support the District as we work to articulate clear goals for student learning, growth, and success, along with specific recommendations for how those goals would be accomplished.

The new Strategic Plan is scheduled for completion during the Spring of 2023.

We look forward to seeing you at our Family and Community Forum. Please take a moment to visit our Strategic Plan website to learn more about the planning, timeline, and process.

Your support and trust in us as we take this exciting step forward is valued and appreciated.

• Kudos and Celebrations
• Bond Oversight Highlights and Video
  
• Respiratory Illness Alert

Reminder Monday, Dec. 19, 2022 through Monday, Jan. 2, 2023 is winter break for Centennial School District. Classes resume on Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2023. Our schools will be closed during this time. Have a restful winter break and an enjoyable holiday season!

The Centennial School District (CSD) Bond Oversight Committee (BOC) held its quarterly meeting Thursday, December 1, 2022 and members toured several CSD sites, including Pleasant Valley Elementary, Powell Butte Elementary, and Centennial High School to view progress and hear other 2020 Bond project updates.

During their first stop at Pleasant Valley Elementary, BOC members received updates about improvements to the building’s intercom system, interior lighting, and the security vestibule. Additional seismic improvements continue at the school including replacement of the building’s exterior brick walls, to match as closely as possible in color, pattern and texture as the building’s original brick, which was highlighted in the Bond Updates of the Spring 2022 Report to the Community issue linked here.

Next, the Committee gained insight into Powell Butte Elementary, where they could see up-to-date improvements made at this school, including an updated intercom system, new lighting, fire alarm system, and flooring.

The Committee's final stop was Centennial High School which showcased the recently finished pool, with refreshed paint and utility hardware, and tiling across the entire pool interior. The pool also features a newly repaired concrete deck, and new plumbing system. Committee members welcomed the news with much excitement especially since this was the first revamp of the facility in over 20 years. The pool opened just a few weeks ago and students are using it for swim practice. Their first swim meet in the newly renovated pool happened on Thursday, December 8, 2022.

At the end of the school tours, the BOC received additional status updates on various 2020 Bond projects including safety and security systems upgrades, mechanical system improvements, and the construction of the four elementary school gyms.

We appreciate our committee members for their continued dedication in monitoring the progress of the 2020 Bond projects and for serving as a valuable conduit to the Board and community to share progress about the 2020 Bond.

To learn more about the role of the Bond Oversight Committee, view meeting agendas and packets, visit the Bond Oversight Committee page here.

To watch a short video of Dec. 1, visit click here.

COMING SOON: There will be ribbon cuttings for the Centennial High School pool and the four new elementary school gyms (Meadows, Parklane, Patrick Lynch, and Powell Butte) in the spring. Dates and more details will be announced soon!

Centennial School District recently reached out to provide you with critical information about three serious respiratory illnesses (RSV, Flu, COVID-19) that are spreading rapidly in our area and threatening to overwhelm our healthcare system according to the Multnomah County Health Department (MCHD) Oregon the Health Authority (OHA). At this time, both the MCHD and the OHA recommend citizens take the necessary precautions to avoid catching any of these respiratory illnesses, including getting tested and shots or boosters as needed.

Both the MCHD and the OHA are making strong efforts to inform the public and voicing a strong public advisory to act and protect public health. According to a news release by the MCHD, Portland area healthcare systems and the children’s hospitals are particularly under enormous strain due to a surge in these viruses. RSV is still peaking, influenza is climbing, and there are signs that COVID-19 hospitalizations are rising.

The Oregon Health Authority and Multnomah County recommend that everyone wear a mask indoors until at least Jan 1, 2023, including in K-12 schools and child care. The goal is to support hospitals and keep kids and staff well enough to continue attending school in person.

This is a voluntary, individual-level based recommendation in addition to other familiar public health advice including:

• Staying up to date on flu and Covid-19 vaccines

• Washing hands often

• Disinfecting shared surfaces

• Staying home when ill

• Avoiding large gatherings if you are at high risk of severe illness

RSV is readily spread on surfaces and by hand. Masks help prevent the spread if an individual is shedding the virus and remind us to keep our hands away from our noses and eyes unless they are clean. Ready access to hand sanitizer and encouragement of hand hygiene make a difference.

Please take the necessary steps and precautions this winter break and safeguard your families from these respiratory illnesses.

Parents, guardians, and community members: Learn about what makes Centennial School District a great place to work! We offer rewarding career opportunities such as a Teacher, Education Assistant, School Secretary, School Bus Driver, Dining Services Technician, and more!

Visit our careers page to see our position openings: www.csd28j.org/careers!