Message from Superintendent Newton
Link to message from Superintendent Bill Newton including Hood River Options Academy students.
Content of this newsletter:
- Hood River Options Academy (online alternative program) spotlight)
- Calendar and upcoming activities
Celebrating National Native American Heritage Month: Honoring American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage
- Your voice matters: A commitment to learning and improving
Help us enhance our school district communication: Share your feedback
New Compliment Form available on website
- School board information
- Outdoor school program
- Health adoption
- Regular attendance is important for every student
- When is sick too sick for school?
- School-Based Health Center
- Hood River County Health Department monthly tip
- SafeOregon tip line
- School closures and delays due to inclement weather
- Ruby Bridges Walk to School Days
- Nutrition Services monthly recipe
- School meals menus
Familias Unidas / United Families on November 19
Become a volunteer
Learn about opportunities for your students
Better Screen Time monthly tech tip
HRVHS Athletics competing in state championships
Hood River County Education Foundation offers after-school program scholarships
Personalized Learning and Flexibility
The online alternative program offers personalized learning paths tailored to each student’s needs, pace, and interests. This flexibility accommodates diverse learning styles and schedules, empowering students who may benefit from a non-traditional school environment.
Dedicated Support and Resources
With a dedicated team of online instructors, counselors, and tech support staff, students have access to continuous guidance and resources. This robust support system ensures that every student receives the assistance they need, from academic advising to mental health resources.
Career and College Readiness
The program includes various courses and modules focused on career exploration, college preparation, and skill-building for post-graduation success. Through career counseling and dual enrollment opportunities, students are prepared to transition smoothly into higher education or the workforce.
Celebrating National Native American Heritage Month: Honoring American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage
November marks National Native American Heritage Month, a time to honor the culture, history, and contributions of American Indian and Alaska Native peoples, whose ancestors were the original inhabitants of North America. This month-long observance, established in 1990, brings awareness to Indigenous histories, traditions, and the vast impact Native Americans have had across various fields, including civil rights, education, public service, science, and the arts.
In Hood River County School District, we value our Native American students and support their cultural heritage by offering programs that promote inclusivity, cultural understanding, and celebration. American Indian and Alaska Native individuals continue to enrich our community, enhancing our cultural, educational, and economic landscape. We are proud to proclaim November 2024 as Native American Heritage Month and to celebrate the rich diversity and countless contributions that American Indian and Alaska Native communities bring to Hood River County, the state of Oregon, and the United States.
This resource offers a tool to search for your physical address to see the relevant native territories in a location.
Outdoor school program
Outdoor school programs provide immersive, hands-on learning experiences in natural settings, usually for elementary or middle school students. These programs are typically multi-day events held at outdoor camps or designated nature centers, where students engage in activities that deepen their understanding of environmental science, ecology, and conservation.
Outdoor school programs are designed to be experiential, offering students a chance to explore topics like ecosystems, wildlife biology, water cycles, plant identification, and geology directly in nature. They often include guided hikes, team-building exercises, hands-on science experiments, and lessons on local flora and fauna. Some programs even teach skills such as orienteering, survival basics, and environmental stewardship.
Aside from science education, outdoor school fosters personal and social growth. The experience helps students build confidence, develop leadership skills, and enhance teamwork. Many programs also integrate activities that encourage reflection and environmental ethics, aiming to cultivate a lifelong appreciation for the natural world.
Our school district partners with OMSI and our 6th grade students will all attend Camp Gray this spring. If you would like more information, please visit this website.
Health adoption
Regular attendance is important for every student
Your student adds a unique presence to the learning community, and the learning journey is richer and deeper when classroom peers learn together. Students with regular attendance (attending at least 90% of school days) are much more likely to do well in school and beyond. We are excited to partner with you in supporting your student’s learning and attendance this year!
This month, you will receive an automated message with your student’s current attendance rate. Since students are impacted by missing school whether or not the absence is considered excused, this message includes both excused and unexcused absences. If you need support from the school to improve your student's attendance please reach out to their classroom teacher or counselor. We want to help!
You can always view your student’s attendance through the Home Access Center by following the steps below.
- Go to your student’s school website
- Family Resources
- Home Access Center
- Login. User name= first.last Password= 6 digit student ID number
- Select Attendance
- View calendar, with color coding key below.
School-Based Health Center
The School-Based Health Center at Hood River Valley High School offers low-or-no cost health care for all kindergarten through 12th grade students in Hood River County schools. For more information, please visit the School-Based Health Center website.
Hood River County Health Department monthly tip
Is scrolling social media taking over your time? Are you bored? Stressed? Feeling bad? While social media can be helpful (like following the health department), it can also be harmful. Studies show that youth who are on social media over 3 hours per day may have a higher risk of mental health issues, eye strain, and poor sleep. The U.S. Surgeon General has issued an advisory on social media use, recommending “phone-free zones” around bedtime, meals, and social gatherings. Set safe and healthy habits around social media for yourself and your kids. Learn more about social media and youth mental health at https://bit.ly/3NpgKyQ. If you need immediate help — call, text, or chat with 988 Lifeline anytime, day or night.
SafeOregon tip line
Students are encouraged to share with a trusted adult any information that is concerning them. “See something, say something” is a critical and proven part of preventing incidents of school violence. Please encourage your students to speak up if they see something distressing. Students can report their concerns to a school administrator or school counselor. Additionally, students can report their concerns electronically via the SafeOregon tip line. To submit an anonymous tip or incident report, use one of the three following methods:
- Email tip@safeoregon.com
- Call or text 844-472-3367
- Enter information on SafeOregon website
- Enter information on SafeOregon webpage for Hood River County School District
School closures and delays due to inclement weather
School closure or delayed start decisions are typically made by 5:30am. We send notifications to staff and parents/guardians in three ways: phone call, email, and text message. We use the contact information each parent/guardian provided during student registration. If a parent/guardian has a change in their contact information, they need to notify their student's school office.
There are five primary options related to inclement weather.
- Buses on snow routes
- One-hour delayed start
- Two-hour delayed start
- One-hour early release
- Full-day school closure
The recommendation to delay or close school is based on the ability of:
- Our school district to operate school buses safely
- Students and families to drive safely
- Students to walk safely
- Staff to get to work safely
To help with the decision-making process, our school district leadership team considers information provided by several sources, including:
- Our school district transportation team who assesses roads within the school district boundaries in the early morning (between 3am and 5am)
- Forecast and current weather information from meteorologists and road cameras
- Communication with public transportation officials (Oregon Department of Transportation, Hood River County, and City of Hood River)
Please review the information below about communication during inclement weather on this HRCSD webpage.
Ruby Bridges Walk to School Days
Ruby Bridges walk to school days are next week, November 12-15, and we look forward to celebrating her with your students. Please visit your school's Peachjar flyer board for more information.
Tuesday, Nov. 12: Cascade Locks Elementary
Wednesday, Nov. 13: Westside Elementary
Thursday, Nov. 14: Parkdale and Mid Valley Elementary
Friday, Nov. 15: May Street Elementary
Monthly recipe: Stinging nettle pesto
November celebrates Native American Heritage Month where we have the opportunity to celebrate traditional Native American foods and Food Sovereignty. Food sovereignty is where we honor the Indigenous continued access to locally grown, culturally native and sustainable foods.
This month we share a recipe of the Wasco/Chinook Tribe residing along the Columbia River beginning at the mouth to the Dalles. This recipe features Stinging Nettle, which has been long continued practice among the Chinook of gathering and drying stinging nettle leaves in the early spring to treat allergies, diabetes and high blood pressure.
Mechele Johnson’s recipe – photos Amiran White- Sourced from ChinookNation
Ingredients
3 cups fresh nettle leaves
2 cloves garlic, or more if you like
.25 cup olive oil
1 tablespoon lemon juice
.5 to .75 cups of nuts (pine nuts, walnuts, pecans, shelled pumpkin seeds)
salt and pepper
Directions
- Boil the nettles for 30 to 60 seconds
- Remove from boiling water and drain, when it’s cooled squeeze the excess water out
- Put the garlic and nuts in a food processor and chop
- Add the nettles, olive oil, lemon juice and blend to your desired consistency
- Salt and pepper to taste
Spread on bread or stir into pasta
School meals menus
This HRCSD webpage (Department>Nutrition Services>Menus) includes the November breakfast and lunch menus for elementary, middle, and high school students.
Familias Unidas / United Families on November 19
We invite our school district community to join us for our Familias Unidas meetings, an opportunity to come together and learn how we can better support student success.
The November meeting will focus on nutrition: healthy eating in childhood and adolescence. Food Corps will present research and resources. FISH Food Bank and Gorge Grown will also be available to offer information and support.
The meeting will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 19, at Mid Valley Elementary School. This meeting will be held in Spanish from 5pm to 6:30pm (tentative).
Learn about opportunities for your student
We use Peachjar to share digital flyers containing school and community resources. Please visit this Peachjar website for current opportunities for Hood River County School District students.
Tech tip #3: “Reset the room” to make space for screen-free hobbies and activities
Here's a secret no one talks about when it comes to reducing screen time: it's called "resetting the room." It's a simple strategy for making future habits easy.
Thoughtfully arranging your space can make a big difference in encouraging screen-free activities. When kids see toys, books, and art supplies easily displayed and within reach, they naturally gravitate toward them.
Meanwhile, keeping screens tucked away when not in use makes them less of a default choice.
This environmental design approach is backed by behavioral science—we tend to choose activities that are convenient and visible.
This isn't just for little kids. Your pre-teens and teens will also gravitate toward what they see around them, whether it's a recipe book, a drum set, or a backyard game.
Want an easy (and free!) way to refresh your space? Use our local library. Beyond books, our library offers a "library of things"—you can borrow puzzles, instruments, tools, kitchen supplies, and more.
How will you arrange your home to showcase the activities your family loves and inspire new screen-free interests?
Join our team
Go Eagles! Athletics teams are competing in state playoffs
Water polo
Boys and girls water polo teams are competing in the state championships on Friday, Nov. 8, and Saturday, Nov. 9 in Bend, Ore.. To learn more: http://www.oregonwaterpolo.org/championships.html
Football
Football is competing against Dallas High School in Dallas, Ore., on Friday, Nov. 8, in the first round of state. To learn more: https://www.osaa.org/activities/fbl/brackets?div=5A
Cross country
Boys and girls cross country are competing in the state championships on Saturday, Nov. 9, in Eugene, Ore. To learn more: https://www.osaa.org/activities/bxc-gxc/entries
Soccer
Boys soccer is competing against La Salle Prep in Portland, Ore, on Saturday, Nov. 9, in the state quarterfinals. To learn more: https://www.osaa.org/activities/bsc/brackets?div=5A
HRCEF offers after-school program scholarships
The Hood River County Education Foundation has partnered with Hood River County School District and Champions to increase access to after-school care at May Street, Mid Valley, Parkdale and Westside Elementary schools.
Effective after-school programs offer a safe space for students, as well as dedicated homework time, healthy snacks, and fun activities for students without parents needing to worry about leaving work early or finding care; however, many families in Hood River County cannot afford access to these programs. Recognizing the importance of increasing access to after-school childcare, HRCEF has made a commitment of $25,000 per year that will allow students to participate in the ‘Champions’ after school programs.
Elementary families can contact their school's Champions program to learn about scholarship opportunities. To find contact information, visit the school website (Homepage>Activities>Champions After-School Program).