Superintendent's Update
Centennial School District - August 20, 2021
Dear Centennial Colleagues, Students, Families and Community,
Centennial School District (CSD) is excited to welcome students back to full-day, five-day, in-person learning this fall. Our reopening plans:
- prioritize the health and safety of our students and staff;
- are focused on the continuity of in-person learning; and
- adhere to the guidance of public health.
Yesterday, Gov. Brown announced she was directing the Oregon Health Authority to require vaccinations of all public and private K-12 school staff and volunteers to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by October 18, or six weeks after full Food and Drug Administration approval of a vaccine, whichever is later. This announcement will not delay our return to school for in-person instruction this fall.
As communicated earlier this week, CSD utilizes a multi-layered approach with health and safety practices such as face coverings, physical distancing, regular hand washing, cleaning and disinfecting procedures, and following isolation and quarantine protocols. Combined together, they make a difference in helping prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Additionally, HEPA air filters have been provided to our schools for classrooms, gyms, cafeterias, etc. We provide staff training in the areas of COVID-19 awareness, cleaning and disinfecting, and COVID-19 response protocols.
Our practices are aligned with the Department of Health guidance and the Oregon Department of Education’s Ready Schools, Safe Learners Resiliency Framework.
Learn more about our health and safety measures on our website at https://www.csd28j.org/Page/984. We are also requesting input to our DRAFT Safe Return to In-Person Instruction and Continuity of Services Plan which is available on our website at https://www.csd28j.org/continuityofservicesplan. The comment period is open through Monday, August 23, 5:00 p.m. We will use this feedback to inform revisions to the plan.
Together, we will continue to adapt and work together to ensure the safety of our staff and students as we return to full in-person school this fall.
Sincerely,
James Owens, Superintendent
Back to School Basics
Register or verify your child's enrollment for the 2021-22 school year here: https://bit.ly/2Wal2D1
Start of school dates:
- September 7: First Day of School for Grade 9
- September 8: First Day of School for Grades 1-6, 7, 10-12
- September 9: First Day of School for Grade 8
- September 13: First day of School for Kindergarten
View the school year calendar (available in multiple languages): https://bit.ly/3sHMXX6
Bell schedule: https://bit.ly/3k4DMMc
FYI: For families who chose for their child to be 100% remote this school year, there is Centennial Virtual Academy (CVA).
COVID-19 Vaccine Resources
CSD continues to build awareness about vaccine opportunities for our students, staff, and families. Some resources include:
COVID-19 Vaccine Information from Multnomah County: https://www.multco.us/novel-coronavirus-covid-19/vaccine-safety-and-development
COVID-19 Vaccine Clinics: https://www.multco.us/novel-coronavirus-covid-19/upcoming-covid-19-vaccination-clinics
The COVID-19 vaccine is also available through local healthcare providers and pharmacies.
Back to School Immunization Events
Multnomah County Health Department is hosting Back-to-School Immunization events in August to help with getting children up to date with required vaccines before school starts in September. Youth ages 12 and older and their families can also get the COVID-19 vaccine. Call 503-988-5558 to make an appointment. Find more information at multco.us/school/school-immunizations.
Required immunizations for school can be found here: https://www.multnomahesd.org/shs-immunization.html
Summer Meals Continue
We are still offering our summer meal distributions. These meal distributions run through Monday, August 30 at the elementary level (Powell Butte, Patrick Lynch and Meadows) and Wednesday, September 1 at the high school. Each week's bag includes seven breakfasts and seven lunches. For more information, visit https://bit.ly/38fQmTH.
Free Meals for CSD Students This School Year!
This school year, all students in Centennial School District will have access to nutritious meals at school at no cost, thanks to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
- We do ask that parents of our returning students fill out the free and reduced lunch application. This is helpful because it helps determine how many families could use additional resources and support, not only for meals, but also community support scholarships, athletics, internet fees, SAT and college entrance admission waivers, and more. Apply here: https://bit.ly/3z1tSBo.
Administrative Staffing Update
I am pleased to share with you the selection of three Assistant Principals – Diana Mitchell, Karen Kennedy, and Jared Austin – to the Centennial school leadership team.
Diana Mitchell, Assistant Principal, Oliver Elementary School
Diana has strong roots in Centennial School District, serving the last 14 years in a variety of roles such as behavioral instructional support systems coach and coordinator, middle school and elementary learning specialist, and elementary classroom teacher.
Diana’s work across all roles reflects her commitment to cultivating strong relationships and a sense of belonging for all students and staff. Her strengths in the design and implementation of general and special education programming, facilitating professional development, and instructional coaching will promote Oliver’s vision and upcoming transition from an elementary to a middle school.
Diana has a Bachelors of Arts in humanities with a minor in Spanish from Concordia University and a Masters of Arts in Teaching from the University of Portland.
Karen Kennedy, Assistant Principal, Butler Creek Elementary
Karen brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to Butler Creek Elementary and the district. For the past five years, Karen has served as an Assistant Professor of Practice and Program Coordinator at Portland State University where she taught graduate level courses in the Graduate Teacher Education Preparation Program (GTEP). As a self-described servant leader, Karen has served as a SIOP coach, a Cognitive CoachSM, and has engaged with educators to develop systems, tools, and pedagogical practices that promote educational equity.
Additionally, she has served as a middle school principal, counselor, and taught in various school districts in California. Along with her love for children, she is most passionate about teacher development and leadership, curriculum and instruction, and community partnerships.
Karen has a doctoral degree in Educational Leadership in Urban Studies from University of Southern California, a Masters of Arts in school counseling from Azusa Pacific University, and a Bachelor of Science degree in applied mathematics from University of California.
Jared Austin, Assistant Principal, Powell Butte Elementary
A Centennial alum, Jared Austin has served the Centennial School District in numerous capacities. This past school year, Jared served as a Principal Intern at Powell Butte Elementary and was the Summer School Administrator for the Powell Butte summer program. He’s taught sixth grade at Powell Butte Elementary for the past seven years and spent four years as an elementary teacher at Gresham Arthur Academy.
During his time in Centennial, Jared has participated on numerous committees and teams including the East Metro Mathematics Leadership Project, Centennial Math Leadership Team, district curriculum, and assessment adoption teams, and the Oliver Middle School Visioning process.
Jared obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in general management and human resources from Portland State University and a Master of Arts in Teaching from Concordia University.
Boundary Review Survey Open Through Sept. 10
If you haven't yet, please take a survey so we can collect your ideas about the important topics you want us to consider as we begin to review school boundaries.
Please complete the Boundary Review Survey on or by Sept. 10:
- English - https://www.surveymonkey.com/.../CentennialSchoolDistrict...
- Spanish - https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Y5VRN6N?lang=es
- Russian - https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/YF8NNL7?lang=ru
Throughout the Boundary Review process, we'll continue to keep our school communities informed and involved to provide feedback on potential changes. We will be sharing process updates on our website and communication materials, holding virtual community meetings, and convening a Boundary Review Committee to review community input and analyze potential boundary review scenarios. Read more about the boundary review process here: https://bit.ly/3y3bdnt.
Bond projects continue to progress: Pleasant Valley Elementary School benefits from new flooring
Bond projects continue to progress forward as we are getting ready for the school year to begin!
Pleasant Valley Elementary School received new flooring throughout the building as part of the many construction projects taking place with the passage of the $65 million bond passed by voters in 2020. The new flooring at Pleasant Valley Elementary School includes classrooms, the front office spaces, and the media center.
Visit www.csd28j.org/2020bondupdates to continue along with progress and bond project updates.