Upcoming Dates to Note

Synchronous Learning Day

FEO Update

TAG/Summa Testing

Book Bus

FLEX Office

Help/Support Drop-in Zoom Session

Meet Our Staff!

In Case You Missed It items

• January 18th, 2021: Schools closed for holiday
• January 20th, 2021: Synchronous Learning Day (see below)
• January 22nd, 2021: Applications are due for (new student) semester break enrollment: Check our enrollment web page to learn more and access the application.
• February 5th, 2021: Semester 1 ends

Due to the holiday and schools being closed on Monday, January 18th, the schedule shifts, and Wednesday turns into a full class day instead of just Advisory/homeroom. Glance at this calendar and make sure you fill out the attendance forms for your classes on the right days!

Link to full year A/B calendar

The Family Engagement Organization met on Tuesday night, and we are happy to report that we have filled nearly all board positions! In order to apply for nonprofit status, we just have one more position that needs to be filled - treasurer.

Our current board members:

President- Cheryl Peterson

Elementary Vice President -Amy Johnson

Middle & High School Vice President- Laura Harding

Volunteer coordinator- Pam Jeffery

Secretary- Aimee Berg

Treasurer - YOU???

If you are organized, good with finances, and looking for a way to become more involved, then we’d love to have you join our team! No prior experience necessary. Anyone who is supporting a student in FLEX Online School is eligible to hold this position. This is a term limit position and you are only committed through the end of this school year. You will be well supported in this role and working closely with the president.

Please help us complete our organization so we can begin the process of applying for nonprofit status, which will enable us to then start the important work of truly supporting the students & families of our FLEX school community.

Our next Zoom meeting date is Tues, Feb 2nd at 7pm (see below for link). As parents, partners, grandparents and learning coaches of FLEX Online students, you are automatically members of our organization. All are welcome to attend our meetings and we would love to have the treasurer position filled by this next meeting.

If you have interest in the treasurer position or have any questions please contact us at Flexfeo@gmail.com

Meeting Details:

Time: Tuesday, February 2, 2021 07:00 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us04web.zoom.us/j/2648074223?pwd=TXM0d0xub3RLM2MvYms5aFhaVkt6Zz09

Meeting ID: 264 807 4223

Passcode: FLEX-FEO

Thank you for your patience as we navigate TAG/Summa testing during the 2020-21 school year. The following updates have been made to our current Identification processes to reflect comprehensive distance learning and research on test score stability.

TAG/Summa Testing

• TAG testing for students nominated by parents or teachers will occur in the spring

• Current 5th graders will have the opportunity to qualify for Summa by testing in late spring/summer

• Outdoor testing opportunities for TAG/Summa will also be available in early summer

• Current 3rd and 4th graders will take reading and math achievement tests (ITBS) in the fall

• Current 2nd, 3rd, and 4th graders will take a cognitive ability (CogAT) screener test in fall

• In addition to national norms, local norms will be explored for TAG/Summa identification

Summa Qualifying Tests and Criteria

• No change in admission criteria, only tests used

• Results from full version CogAT tests (composite score ) in grades K-5 can be used to qualify for Summa

• Results of achievement tests in grades 3-5 can be used to qualify for Summa

• Oregon Statewide Assessment System (OSAS) Language Arts and Math tests

• ITBS/Logramos Reading and Math tests (total scores)

Communication

• Testing opportunities will be posted on the BSD TAG page as they become available

• Invitations to test will be sent via School Messenger prior to testing dates

• Summa eligible students will be notified before January 15, 2021

Please direct questions to Heidi Hanson, heidi_hanson@beaverton.k12.or.us or 503-356-4548.

The Library Book Bus is rolling and bringing school library books to students in their neighborhoods. All BSD students — including FLEX, options and high school students — can check out books from their closest neighborhood stops. Students just need to give their student ID numbers.

Find more information, including the bus stops and times here.

Do you have questions about being a student at FLEX? You may have questions about attendance, Canvas, the curriculum, teachers, or something else.

Please drop-in to one of the live Q&A sessions listed below during the first 2 days of second semester:

Monday, February 8th and Tuesday February 9th

9:00am-12:00pm

Join Zoom Meeting

https://beavertonk12.zoom.us/j/86978483855?pwd=eVBkU2hsaTNXNzA2QUtFcklJWUIwQT09

Meeting ID: 869 7848 3855

Passcode: 365500

If you have questions in the meantime, please don't hesitate to reach out to us at flex-online-school@beaverton.k12.or.us or call 503-356-3720

Nutrition Services continues to offer free meals to all children ages 1-18 curbside at school sites and bus stop locations. A complete list and interactive map can be found online at: www.beaverton.k12.or.us/meals.

With the current restrictions in place for Washington County, the FLEX Online School office will have limited in-person service.

Appointments for picking up/dropping off items can be scheduled on Monday, Wednesdays, and Fridays by calling the main office (503-356-3720) or emailing us at flex-online-school@beaverton.k12.or.us

The office staff has access to the school phone system and will continue to answer phones on school days, 7:30am-4pm. If we somehow miss your call, please leave a voicemail message and we will return your call promptly. Families can also reach out to their child's teacher in Canvas.

The Signal to Noise Festival is on for 2021!

Film Entries are due Monday, March 29, 2021
See below for more details.

Did you miss our last newsletter? You can view all of the past FLEX Family Newsletters HERE.

If your child is currently enrolled at FLEX Online, you do NOT need to fill out an application for next year.

If you have a child currently enrolled at FLEX and want to enroll any siblings, you MUST enroll them separately using the link below.

Enrollment is open year round, subject to staffing and school capacity. Due to our unique curriculum and approach, we encourage you to consider enrolling at the beginning of the year or at the mid-year semester break only.

Find more information here

The district-run Clothes for Kids is now open. Appointments are required. To schedule, please use the "book appointment" button on site (click the picture to the right to go there), or call 503-356-4322. Visits are limited to one adult with four children or two adults with 8 children. All visitors must wear masks. If you don't have your own, we'll provide one.

Clothes for Kids is located in the portable on the west side of the District Administration Center, 16550 SW Merlo Road.

DONATIONS NOW ACCEPTED

Donations of new and gently used clothing are being accepted during business hours. Donation bins are located in front of the portables.

MOST URGENT NEEDS:

• NEW MEN'S SMALL/MEDIUM/LARGE BOXER/BOXER BRIEFS AND BOY'S MEDIUM/LARGE/EXTRA-LARGE BOXER/BOXER BRIEFS

• NEW/GENTLY-USED BOYS' AND GIRLS' PANTS/JEANS IN SIZES 4T-12/14; URGENT NEED FOR BOYS' SIZE 4T-8 PANTS/JEANS

• NEW UNDERWEAR IN ADULT MEN'S AND WOMEN'S SIZES FOR MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS

• SPORTS BRAS

• DEPARTMENT STORE SHOPPING BAGS WITH HANDLES

For more information, visit https://www.beaverton.k12.or.us/departments/communications-community-involvement/volunteer/clothes-for-kids

We have several clubs running now including Pokemon, art, writing and more! These are a great way for students to connect and meet other students who share their interests. Students can ask their Homeroom or Advisory teacher to find out how to sign up. Information about our current clubs and when they meet on is our website.

BSD students in grades K-5 are encouraged to enter the 2nd Annual Walk + Roll Art Contest. This year’s theme is “Places We Love to Walk + Roll.” The deadline to enter is January 29. The grand prize is a new bicycle from WashCo Bikes. Visit www.beaverton.k12.or.us/safe-routes for contest details.

We are so excited to roll out the Marathon Kids Program at FLEX Online School! Marathon Kids is a Nike sponsored program designed to promote fitness, good health, and enthusiasm for exercise. Beaverton K-5 students are invited to participate in this fun program which is centered on logging miles/distance little by little to reach marathon distances.

Kids can run, walk, roll, and play their way to completing marathons. Any heart-pumping activities your child completes at home will count! Miles can be earned either through recording actual distances ex. "My child ran 1 mile" or through other heart-pumping activities (5 min= .25 miles).

Through the BSD and Marathon Kids partnership, you’ve been invited to follow your child’s progress and submit miles from home. You will receive an email from noreply@marathonkids.org inviting you to register with their platform so you can submit miles for you student.

Logging In

Remember to make sure the student (not the parent) is logged into their BSD Google Account to fill out attendance and access meetings!

Using Zoom on Chromebooks

1. Only have 1 tab of Zoom open at a time
   
2. Limit how many other tabs are open in your browser
3. When the teacher shares their screen, turn the student's camera off

If you need technology support, contact the student help desk:

Monday - Friday

8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

503-356-4656

shd@beaverton.k12.or.us

We use the SchoolMessenger notification system to send automated phone calls, emails and texts to parents, guardians, students and staff. These messages include return-to-school information, important messages and reminders, attendance notifications and inclement weather messages. Visit the BSD SchoolMessenger webpage for more information.

You can update your notification preferences via SchoolMessenger InfoCenter or by downloading the app. Check out this quick video on how to manage your account.

Thanks for reading!

Paul Ottum

Principal FLEX Online School

Email: flex-online-school@beaverton.k12.or.us
Website: https://flex.beaverton.k12.or.us
Location: 650 NW 118th Ave, Portland, OR 97229, USA
Phone: 503-356-3720