Website: http://stweb.gresham.k12.or.us
Location: 1440 SE Fleming Ave, Gresham, OR, United States
Phone: 503-261-4600
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SpringwaterTrail/
Twitter: @STHS_Titans

Hello Springwater students and families,

We approach the final week of school in the midst of challenging times. I would be remiss to not acknowledge the socio-political landscape around us. I wish I knew the right thing to say right now. Instead, I can only share my hopes.

I hope we work towards a better understanding of one another. I hope we create a world where people are not at risk due to their race, religion, culture, sexual orientation, gender identity, or socio-economic status.

I hope we create more effective checks and balances that swiftly hold people accountable when they abuse the power entrusted to them.

I hope we create positive systemic change to social institutions when these institutions do not serve and support all people.

I hope we differentiate between peaceful protestors and opportunists who exploit legitimate causes and use them as an excuse to riot, loot, and perpetuate violence.

I hope we move towards a society where people listen to understand one another rather than trying to convince or bully someone into submission.

I was a junior in high school when Rodney King was brutally beaten by police officers. It was April and May of my senior year in high school when the LA riots erupted after the officers were acquitted. As the riots unfolded, I watched as innocent people were injured and killed.

I hope our students will not see history repeated when their children are in school.

I hope you take care of yourself, your family, and your neighbor.

I hope you offer compassion to strangers and those who look, see, act, or believe different than you.

As we enter these final days of the school year, hang in there! Continue to reach out to your teacher and STHS staff. We are here to support you. Remain steadfast in your goal to earn credit in all of your classes this semester.

In this update you will find the 2020 STHS Awards!!! This event is usually held in person, in the STHS commons. We didn't want to let COVID-19 keep us from giving a shout-out to students!

There will be no new assignments given in classes next week (June 8th - 11th). There will also be no finals. Some teachers have already begun decreasing their assignments this week.

We have also updated the FAQ below with some common end of year questions.

For students who do not earn credit in a class this semester, letters will be mailed out with additional information regarding how students can turn the "Incomplete" into a "Pass." There will be an option for students to complete the work this summer so they may get back on track by September.

As always, please reach out if you have questions or concerns.

Stay safe and take care,

Ryan Blaszak

Springwater Main Office: 503.261.4600

Each year, on the last day for seniors, the school gathers in the STHS commons to celebrate our graduates and some outstanding accomplishments of students in grades 9-11. Although we can't gather together in person, we did not want COVID-19 to prevent us from continuing the tradition. For 2020, the award recognition is being shared via video and will also be posted to our social media pages. Thank you to each and every student this year! Keep up the good work!

Springwater graduates and their families:

We will be livestreaming our graduation celebration this coming Tuesday!

Live streaming of the commencement celebration can be found at: https://www.youtube.com/user/MVCCvideo/live

Graduation speeches from your fellow students, the principal and the superintendent will be posted on our Facebook page and our school website the day of graduation.

If you have not already signed up for a time slot, please call the office at 503.261.4600 as soon as possible!

Below are the details for ensuring a safe celebration for each of our graduates:

Time:

Tuesday, June 9th from 6pm - 8pm

Location:

Mountainview Christian Church

1890 NE Cleveland Avenue

Gresham, Oregon 97030

Details:

• Graduates and their families will sign up for a time slot between 6pm and 8pm (you should have received an email to sign up for a time slot).
• Families will be limited to 1 car (no more than the graduate and 4 family members).
• Upon notification from staff, each student and their family will enter the church to receive their diploma.
• The graduate and family will enter the auditorium to the traditional Pomp and Circumstance music.
• The student's name shall be read aloud and the student will have the opportunity to walk across the stage to receive their diploma.
• Families will have the option to take a picture.
• There will also be a professional photographer on site taking pictures. A professional picture of each graduate will be available for free to the graduate and family.
• Students and families will then return safely to their car and depart the church to continue to celebrate elsewhere, as they desire.

Question: HELP! It's the last week! How do I know how my student is doing in their classes?

Answer: Teachers will be posting all lessons, activities, assignments, and feedback in their Google classes.

Synergy is also being updated this week to display current semester grades. If a student sees an "P" in a class, they have Passed that class for the semester. If the student has an "I" for the course, there is still work to be done to earn credit. This can help students and families prioritize the classes and assignments to focus on for the last week of school.

Additional guidance:

Assignments will NOT be entered in Synergy. Parents can request weekly summaries from their students' Google classes. These summaries include missing assignments and upcoming assignment due dates. It is also very beneficial to sit down with your students and have them show you their Google classes and the assignments they have completed and still need to complete. Within Google Classroom you will be able to see all the details of the assignment, the date is was assigned, and the date is was due. You will also be able to see when the assignment has been graded and the feedback from the teacher. To learn more about Google Classroom, watch the Google Classroom Overview YouTube video in this newsletter.

Question: When and how do I return the chromebook I checked out for the district?

Answer: Chromebook return information is below.

Grades 9-12 Device Return Schedule
Dates: Friday, June 12th and Monday, June 15th
Times: 11 am to 6 pm
Locations:
-East Gresham Elementary School (900 SE 5th Street, Gresham, OR 97080)
-Sam Barlow High School (5105 SE 302nd Avenue, Gresham, OR 97080)

Question: What if I need a chromebook for summer school or to complete an "I" in a course?

Answer: Students will have the opportunity to check out chromebooks for summer school. More information will be coming soon!

Question: I received a call from the school letting me know my student has not turned in assignments. What should I do?

Answer: If you received a call from the school regarding missing assignments, it means your student has not turned in assignments for one or more classes. It is critically important they complete and turn in assignments if they want to earn credit for a class. Please call the office to create a plan for your student.

Teachers are taking attendance weekly by determining whether a student has completed and turned in their assignments and participated in class. If a student has done neither of these things, the teacher will mark the student "NC" for "Needs Contact" and you will receive a call from one of our case managers.

Question: What if my student receives an "I" in one of their classes this semester?

Answer: Our first hope is for all students to do the best they can and turn in as many assignments as possible this semester so they will earn a "P." If a student earns an "I" for "Incomplete" the student will be required to make up additional learning standards and assignments in the future. This will be in addition to their future course load. For these reasons, we strongly encourage students to do the best they can in all of their classes this semester.

Question: I am not receiving weekly email updates regarding my student's progress in Google Classroom. What can I do?

Answer: Please reach out to the office ASAP and they can help get you set up. You will have the option of receiving daily or weekly updates. The email will contain assignments from all of your student's classes this semester.

Question: What if I still need a chromebook?

Answer: If you were unable to check one out over the past couple of weeks, please contact STHS at 503.261.4600 and we can schedule a time for you to check one out.

Question: What if I do not have Internet access?

Answer: If you are without internet or just lost your internet, please reach out to the office.

Currently there are many FREE Xfinity guest access hot spots. You can find a list here: https://hotspots.wifi.xfinity.com/

Other Free hotspots: Please check with your cell phone carrier. All the major cellular vendors: Verizon, AT&T, Sprint, and T-Mobile have offered free Hotspots. Most Internet providers are waiving late fees and suspending data usage limits due to COVID-19. Check out your specific company for more information

• www.cnet.com/news/carriers-are-suspending-internet-data-caps-during-coronavirus/

If you need Internet access please contact local providers, many are offering 60-day free access. Here is a list of providers in our area:

· Comcast basic internet is free for low-income customers for 60 days and $9.99/month after that: www.internetessentials.com/Apply

· Comcast: corporate.comcast.com/covid-19

· CenturyLink: news.centurylink.com/covid-19

Question: When do students need to attend class?

Answer: One of the wonderful things about distance learning is the flexibility! Your student’s assignments and lessons will be posted online and be available for students to access any time of the day or night. Teachers will also provide several days for the student to complete and turn in assignments.

Question: How do I contact my student’s teacher?

Answer: Teachers are best reached via email. But you can also call the main office at 503.261.4600 and we can forward your message to them. Additionally, teachers have office hours M-F from 2pm - 4pm. Please keep in mind, teachers may be working with other students or families when you reach out to them and you may need to wait a few minutes or prefer to schedule a meeting.

Question: What if my student is unable to attend class during a live lesson?

Answer: There will be times (approximately once a week per class) when teachers may have a “live” class -- a chance for students to join a virtual class meeting, activity, lesson, or discussion. When these live activities occur, they will follow the schedule below.

Important: The schedule below is not a student schedule for when students must be logged into their classes. The purpose of this schedule is to minimize conflicts between teachers’ live lessons and to provide an overview of when teachers will schedule their live lessons (usually no more than once or twice a week).

If your student is unable to attend a live lesson -- that is ok! Many of these lessons will be recorded for your student to review at a later time.

Still have questions? Please call Springwater at 503.261.4600. Thank you!

Watch the videos below to get a helpful overview of Google Classroom, from both the student and parent perspective. NOTE: If you are not receiving parent updates via email and would like to, please contact Erin Norden at norden@gresham.k12.or.us or 503.261.4600 and we will confirm your email in our system and help get you set up!

• Email your teacher with questions or to get help prioritizing which assignments to focus on if you are behind.

• Take advantage of the daily office hours between 2pm-4pm. Teacher are available daily to answer questions, provide tutoring, and give small group help.

• Be sure to "turn in" assignments by clicking the "Turn in" button in Google Classroom.

• Turn assignments in by or before the due date and time.

SENIOR PARENTS! LAST CHANCE!!! Yearbook is collecting your adorable baby photos for graduation. Please submit 4 - 6 of your favorite photos to Mrs. Weber ASAP. Photos can be submitted physically or digitally, but please do not turn in photos of photos (those cannot be used). If you have any questions ask Mrs. Weber at Weber18 @gresham.k12.or.us.