Franklin Newsletter Summer Edition #1
Fall Update, Summer Resources, and Opportunities for students
Franklin Families and Students,
I trust that everyone's summer is going well and that you've found some time to relax and enjoy the company of loved ones and friends. There has been quite a bit of planning at the district office in an effort to provide information to administrators, staff, parents, students, and families of the structure of school this fall. Currently PPS is working with building administrators in completing operational blueprints for reentry addressing the guidance provided by Oregon Department of Education. This is a comprehensive plan that each school must complete, as each school differs in size, building entrances/exits, hallway and classroom dimensions, number of restrooms etc. These plans are being completed with the intentions of creating the safest school environments for our students and staff, should school amid the COVID-19 pandemic. As you can imagine there are still many questions left to be addressed.
An email was sent via email from PPS Communications on Saturday, July 11th regarding the Fall schedule.
PPS Communications Key Takeaways:
The first two weeks of school, September 2-11, would be dedicated to a number of important foundational social emotional and academic components to ensure students, educators and families are ready for the learning ahead.
Following this proposed initial two-week orientation, our current plan includes students returning to schools and engaging in online learning in assigned smaller groups on September 14. Currently, our re-entry models, including school and student schedules, are flexible in anticipation of various pandemic-related scenarios. We will update these models as we learn more and in consultation with public health experts.
For High Schools:
A model in which High School students would take four classes per semester for a total of eight classes for the entire school year, and using a cohort model similar to PK-8 (i.e. students could spend two days per week on campus). This schedule would allow students to complete a year-long course in one semester. For example, a student may have English in the Fall semester and History in the Spring semester. We believe that allowing students to focus on fewer classes will help them be more successful in an environment that is, at least for part of the year, a hybrid model of in-person and online learning.
ODE Re-entry guidance also requires buildings to consider the number of individuals in a classroom, that meet the square footage requirements. The social distance requirements greatly reduces the number of students that a teacher can teach "in person". HS principals have all shared with the district leadership yesterday that the number of projected enrolled students exceeds the capacity of the building. Even after reducing our school into two cohorts, the number of students in a given cohort still exceeds the capacity limits for teachable space for a given period. We will wait to get more feedback from the district regarding how to address this conundrum. We recognize that each model comes with advantages and challenges; however we must still find a schedule from which we can begin to plan and inform our families and students.
As shared previously there are still lingering questions regarding the following: frequency of student cohorts in the building each week, daily schedules, start and end of school day, length of class, grading (Letter grade or Pass/Incomplete), attendance, social distancing concerns, passing periods, lunch, extra-curriculars, etc.
I will continue to communicate to our community as plans begin to become more concrete.
Summer Online Mindfulness Sessions - August 3-5, 2020
Franklin students have been offered the opportunity to participate in facilitated online Mindfulness sessions this summer. As we all know, students are being asked to cope with more uncertainty than ever before. Mindfulness practices help to develop practical tools that can reduce stress in their daily lives. These inner resources can build resilience and bring a sense of well being and joy. Please see the link below with more information on dates and registration.
Online Mindfulness Camp for Teens
FREE SUMMER MEALS FOR PPS STUDENTS AND ALL CHILDREN
PPS wants to remind all families that while school has ended, access to school meals have continued! There are currently 14 schools where students can receive breakfast and lunch Monday to Thursday, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Breakfast and lunch are free for all PPS students and all children in the community ages 1-18 years. Children do not need to be present to receive a meal. Pantry services in partnership with Oregon Food Bank and SUN will also continue into the summer, along with the food boxes with Pacific Coast Fruit Company.
If the school sites are not the most convenient, PPS is also partnering again with Portland Parks & Recreation to provide meals at 13 additional parks throughout the city. Check out the list of schools, parks and address here:
See PPS and Parks meal sites and times
Please spread the word!
Chris Frazier
Pronouns: he/him
Principal
Franklin High School
