Wilsonville High School Interact Club students stood side by side with Rotary Club of Wilsonville members on Wednesday, Sept. 15 to unveil a Peace Pole at Wilsonville High School. 

The symbol of peace was erected at Wilsonville High School after a collaborative effort that will add to a positive school culture of inclusivity at Wilsonville High School. Students began working on the project last school year during Comprehensive Distance Learning, seeing the endeavor through with the unveiling on Sept. 15. Students gathered with community members to share words of inspiration before officially unveiling the Peace Pole.

Students hope to work with the Rotary Club of Wilsonville to add Peace Poles to other Wilsonville schools in the future in addition to other prominent areas within the City. 

    

West Linn-Wilsonville schools opened their doors for students on Sept. 8, marking a return to fully in-person learning for the first time since March, 2020.

Schools have several health and safety protocols in place to start the school year, including face coverings for all staff and students while indoors, a screening process, increased ventilation, and optional COVID-19 testing among other safety measures. Students, staff, and families have adapted to new practices and protocols, allowing for a successful start to the school year.

Schools focused on building care and connection with students in the first few days back in the classroom, creating strong relationships to bolster school community. To learn more about health and safety protocols in place for the 2021-22 school year, please visit the district website. 

    

The West Linn-Wilsonville Family Empowerment Center welcomed hundreds of students and families during a successful school year kick-off event on Tuesday, Aug. 23. 

Several community partners joined WLWV staff to provide community resources, information, and services. Partners included the Rotary Club of Wilsonville, SMART Transit, the West Linn and Wilsonville Public Libraries, and the Clackamas Bookshelf among others. 

In addition to information about the FEC, families received school supplies, backpacks, books, help getting signed up for local services, and assistance with school registration. Students didn't leave without tasty treats and other fun items to get them excited for the first day of school on Sept. 8. 

To learn more about the Family Empowerment Center, resources and opportunities for families, and information about the upcoming school year, visit the district website. 

All West Linn-Wilsonville School District families are invited to the Family Empowerment Center’s 2021-22 School Year Kick-Off Event on Tuesday, Aug. 24 from 5-7 p.m. in the Boeckman Creek parking lot!

In addition to music, snacks, and opportunities to meet other families, students who attend the FEC School Year Kick-Off Event will get access to many different resources for the coming school year. Some of the resources and opportunities include:

• School supplies like backpacks and notebooks (supplies are limited)
• Access to school staff for help signing up for district systems such as ListServ, ParentVue, and more;
• Access to nutrition services staff for information about school meals and help signing up for free and reduced lunch
• Information about several school and community services such as food banks, local rotary clubs, and opportunities to volunteer with FEC and in the community

Stop by the Boeckman Creek Parking lot any time between 5-7 p.m. on Aug. 24. We can’t wait to get you connected to your school community! Learn more about the FEC by visiting the district website. 

A large number of Bond Projects are taking place this summer thanks to the community's passage of the 2019 Capital Bond. Several schools are currently undergoing capital bond construction, with the majority of work expected to finish before the start of the 2021-22 school year. Some of that work includes:

• Cedaroak Park Primary, Bolton Primary, Stafford Primary — installation of air conditioning;
• Willamette Primary School — new entryway and installation of air conditioning;
• Inza Wood Middle School — Renovation of front classroom spaces, relocation of office, creation of maker space, and a restroom/concessions building addition among other work;
• Athey Creek Middle School (future third high school) — new secure entryway, renovation of existing office space, and conversion to classroom spaces including Career and Technical Education among other work;
• West Linn High School — Addition of new parking and stadium renovations.

All Capital Bond project information and updates can be found at the 2019 Capital Bond website. Interested community members are encouraged to sign up for Bond Project ListServs to receive regular updates about major 2019 Capital Bond Projects.

    

West Linn-Wilsonville students wrapped up summer learning on Friday, July 16, culminating weeks of hands-on and in-depth learning in multiple areas of study.

That learning was on display at Meridian Creek Middle School, where students from each of the district’s four middle schools engaged in project-based learning activities suiting each individual student’s interests.

Students selected groups at the start of Summer Learning, spending three weeks working together to create projects while building skills in reading, writing, and mathematics among others. Project areas included Art for the Good, Middle School Musical, Future City, Asteroids and Robots, Community and Identity, Playground Power, STEAM Education, and Biomimicry.

In Asteroids and Robots, students spent their time learning coding skills, programming drones and robots to accomplish tasks set as a class. Students demonstrated their newfound math and engineering skills by programming a drone to fly over school grounds, strategically documenting sidewalk chalk drawings created by art students.

In Future City, students learned about engineering and architectural planning, designing their own parks, schools, and even cities. And in Middle School Musical, students spent their school days writing an original script, casting students, and choreographing songs and dances. The class project culminated in a 20-minute production of their original play, “To Thine Own Path Be True,” which they performed for classmates on the last day of Summer Learning.

Students at the Primary and High School Level were hard at work as well during the past few weeks, engaging in summer learning of their own. Now students will enjoy summer vacation before returning to school in the fall. New students can register for the 2021-22 school year by visiting the Registration Section of the District Website.

Dear West Linn-Wilsonville School Community,

Last night, the School Board approved staff recommendations for the 2021-2022 school year based on updated Ready Schools, Safe Learners guidance. 

The following are key health and safety updates, effective July 19th, and in place for the 2021-2022 school year. 

Face Coverings Strongly Advised, No Longer Required

In alignment with the Oregon Health Authority and Oregon Department of Education, face coverings will be strongly advised but not required during the school day for all PK-12 students and staff. Students and staff who have not been vaccinated are strongly advised to continue wearing face coverings when inside buildings. 

District staff will continue to work with students and families to ensure:

• District, school, and classroom culture respects each person’s health and safety needs and preferences. No individual will be harassed or singled out based on their decision regarding face coverings.
•  Face coverings will continue to be made available to students and staff.
•  Certain accommodations for medical needs or disabilities will be provided.

Physical Distancing Maintained to the Extent Possible, No Longer Required

OHA and ODE strongly advise that schools support and promote physical distancing in all daily activities and instruction, maintaining 3 feet between students to the extent possible. Physical distancing for students and staff in the West Linn-Wilsonville School District will be maintained to the extent possible but will no longer be required.

Physical distancing of desks, floor markers, and one-way traffic in hallways will no longer be required, but personal distance preferences will continue to be respected. 

District staff will continue to work with all families to ensure:

• District, school, and classroom culture respects each person’s health and safety needs and preferences. No individual will be harassed or singled out based on their decision regarding physical distancing.
• Certain accommodations for medical needs or disabilities will be provided.

Updates to the Use of Cohorts, Isolation and Quarantine Protocols

Primary schools will continue to use classroom cohorts for students to the extent possible.  The A/B cohort rotation will no longer be used. Instead all students will attend each day, every day.  However, classroom groups (e.g. Ms. Jones’ 2nd grade class) will stay intact for specials like PE, Music, Library and to the extent possible with recess and lunch to start the school year.  As contact tracing expectations loosen in our county, so will efforts to maintain classroom cohorts during lunch and recess. Maintaining single class cohorts will no longer be required for middle or high schools.

The West Linn-Wilsonville School District will continue to follow all local public health authority guidance and requirements regarding COVID-19 isolation and quarantine procedures. Schools will continue to communicate with families using established protocols in the event of a positive case of COVID-19 or possible exposure. The District will no longer provide OHA-sponsored COVID-19 testing at school sites.

Vaccinations, Handwashing and Ventilation Updates

According to the Ready Schools, Safe Learners Resiliency Framework, getting vaccinated against COVID-19 is the best way to stop the pandemic. The West Linn-Wilsonville School District recognizes that the opportunity for vaccination is currently only approved for adults and children age 12 and over. Additionally, some staff, students, and school community members may not or cannot be vaccinated due to medical, religious, or personal reasons. The District has provided its facilities for free vaccination clinics and will continue to make this service available in partnership with health care clinics and the local public health authority in the future. 

The West Linn-Wilsonville School District will continue to implement protocols and systems to ensure students and staff have access to soap, water, and alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Schools will continue to prioritize handwashing throughout the day as appropriate. The District will continue to remind and encourage families to screen their students prior to every school day and to keep students home if they are exhibiting symptoms of illness. 

The West Linn-Wilsonville School District will also continue to ensure effective ventilation and will improve the indoor air quality in schools by:

• Continuing the amount of fresh outside air that is introduced into the system;
• Exhausting air from indoors to the outdoors;
• Maintaining a climate level that balances comfort and safety within a classroom and building;
• Cleaning the air that is recirculated indoors with effective filtration methods to remove virus-containing particles from the air.

Interested families can read the complete list of recommendations on the district website.

Updates Included Feedback from Stakeholder Groups

The recommendations to the Board were a result of thorough analysis of the updated June 25 Ready Schools, Safe Learners Resiliency Framework, community feedback, meetings with district stakeholder groups, and consultation with the Clackamas County Public Health Department. All recommendations are in alignment with the Oregon Department of Education, Oregon Health Authority, and our local public health authority.

We wish to thank all of our families for their patience and partnership during this past school year, and for providing thoughtful and critical input these past few weeks. We understand that families’ comfort level with COVID-19 health and safety measures varies, and we are committed to creating learning environments that provide flexibility for every child and family. 

Enrollment for 2021-2022 School Year

We are excited to welcome students back for five full days of instruction with the health and safety strategies outlined above. We encourage new or returning families to complete their online registration if they have not already.

Families who are interested in enrolling in the WLWV K12 Online Academy for the 2021-2022 school year can learn more by visiting the WKOA website. District staff hosted an information session on June 29 providing an overview for what the Academy will look like during the 2021-22 school year. Families can review the video recording of the information session and can contact their school principal if they are interested in enrolling in the WLWV K12 Online Academy. There is currently no deadline to enroll.

Please continue to look for district and school news throughout the summer. We are eager to welcome students back in September.

Sincerely,

Kathy Ludwig, Superintendent

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Estimada Comunidad Escolar de West Linn-Wilsonville,

Anoche, el Consejo Ejecutivo Escolar, aprobó las recomendaciones del personal para el año escolar 2021-2022, basadas en las guías actualizadas de Escuelas Preparadas, Estudiantes Seguros.

Las siguientes son actualizaciones claves de seguridad y salud, efectivas el 19 de julio, y puestas en lugar para el año escolar 2021-2022.

Cubiertas Faciales Firmemente Recomendadas, ya no son requeridas

En alineamiento con la Autoridad de Salubridad de Oregon y el Departamento de Educación de Oregon, las cubiertas faciales serán firmemente recomendadas pero no requeridas durante el día de escuela para todos los estudiantes PK-12 y personal. Los estudiantes y personal que no han sido vacunados, se les aconseja firmemente el continuar usando las cubiertas faciales cuando estén en el interior de los edificios. 

El personal del Distrito continuará trabajando con estudiantes y familias para asegurarse de que:

• El Distrito, escuela y cultura de la clase, respete las necesidades y preferencias de salud y seguridad personales. No se acosará o señalará a un individuo, basado en su decisión en referencia a las cubiertas faciales. 
• Las cubiertas faciales continuarán estando disponibles a los estudiantes y personal.
• Ciertas ubicaciones por necesidades médicas o discapacidades serán proporcionadas.

Se mantendrá la distancia física en la medida de lo posible, ya no es requerida

La OHA y ODE, aconsejan firmemente que las escuelas respalden y promuevan la distancia física en todas las actividades e instrucciones diarias, manteniendo 3 pies entre estudiantes, en la medida de lo posible. La distancia física para los estudiantes y personal en el Distrito Escolar de West Linn-Wilsonville será mantenido pero ya no será requerido. 

La distancia física de las mesas, las marcas en los pisos, y el tráfico de una vía en pasillos ya no será requerido, pero las preferencias de distancia personal continuarán siendo respetadas. 

El personal del distrito continuará trabajando con todas las familias para asegurarse de que:

• El Distrito, escuela y cultura de la clase, respete las necesidades y preferencias de salud y seguridad personales. No se acosará o señalará a un individuo, basado en su decisión en referencia a la distancia física. 
• Ciertas ubicaciones por necesidades médicas o discapacidades serán proporcionadas.

Actualizaciones para el uso de Cohortes, Aislamiento y Protocolos de Cuarentena

Las escuelas primarias continuarán el uso de cohortes para los estudiantes en la medida de lo posible. La rotación de Cohorte A/B, ya no será usada, en vez, los estudiantes asistirán cada día, todos los días. Sin embargo, los grupos de salón de clases (ej. la clase de la Srita. Jones de 2° grado), permanecerá intacta para las clases de especiales como Educación Física, Música, Biblioteca y en la medida de lo posible con recreos y almuerzos para comenzar el año escolar. En referencia a la relajación del rastreo de contactos en nuestro condado, así serán los esfuerzos de mantener las cohortes de salón de clases durante almuerzo y recreo. El mantenimiento de cohortes de clases únicas, ya no será requerida para las escuelas secundarias y preparatorias. 

El Distrito Escolar de West Linn-Wilsonville continuará siguiendo todas las guías y requerimientos de la autoridad local de salud pública en referencia a los procedimiento de aislamiento y cuarentena de COVID-19. Las escuelas continuarán comunicándose con las familias usando los protocolos establecidos en el evento de un caso positivo de COVID-19 o posible exposición. El distrito ya no proporcionará exámenes patrocinados por OHA para COVID-19 en las escuelas. 

 

Actualizaciones sobre Vacunación, Lavado de Manos y Ventilación

De acuerdo con el Marco de Trabajo de Resilencia de Escuelas Preparadas, Estudiantes Seguros, vacunarse contra el COVID-19 es la mejor manera de parar la pandemia. El Distrito West Linn-Wilsonville, reconoce que la oportunidad de vacunación está actualmente solamente aprobada para adultos y niños de 12 años en adelante. Adicionalmente, algunos miembros del personal, estudiantes y miembros de la comunidad escolar no pueden ser vacunados debido a razones médicas, religiosas o personales. El distrito ha proporcionado sus instalaciones para clínicas de vacunación y lo continuará haciendo disponible en colaboración con clínicas de salud y autoridades de salud pública en el futuro. 

El Distrito Escolar West Linn-Wilsonville continuará implementando protocolos y sistemas para asegurarse de que los estudiantes y personal tengan acceso a jabón, agua y desinfectante de manos basado en alcohol. Las escuelas continuarán dando prioridad al lavado de manos durante el día como sea apropiado. El Distrito continuará recordando y animando a las familias a revisar a sus estudiantes antes de cada día de escuela y mantener a estos en casa si están exhibiendo síntomas de enfermedad. 

El Distrito Escolar West Linn-Wilsonville, continuara tambien, asegurandose de una ventilación efectiva y mejorará la calidad de aire del interior en las escuelas al:

• Continuar la cantidad de aire fresco del exterior que es insertado en el sistema;
• Extrayendo el aire del interior al exterior;
• Manteniendo el nivel de climatización que balancea la comodidad y seguridad dentro del salón de clases y el edificio;
• Limpiando el aire que es recirculado en interiores con métodos efectivos de filtración para remover las partículas que contienen virus del aire. 

Las familias interesadas pueden leer la lista completa de recomendaciones en el sitio web del distrito. 

Actualizaciones Incluidas por la retroalimentación de los Grupos Interesados

Las recomendaciones del Consejo Ejecutivo, fueron el resultado de un análisis completo del Marco de Trabajo de Resilencia de Escuelas Preparadas, Estudiantes Seguros, retroalimentación de la comunidad, reuniones con grupos de interés del distrito, y consultas con el Departamento de Salud Pública del Condado de Clackamas. Todas las recomendaciones están en alineamiento con el Departamento de Educación de Oregon, con la Autoridad de Salubridad de Oregon, y nuestra autoridad local de salud pública. 

Les deseamos a todas nuestras familias por su paciencia y colaboración durante este pasado año escolar, y por proporcionar una opinión crítica y profunda en estas pasadas semanas. Entendemos que el nivel de comodidad de las familias con la salud de COVID-19 y medidas de seguridad varía, y estamos comprometidos a crear medio ambientes de aprendizaje que proporcionen flexibilidad para cada estudiante y familia. 

Inscripciones para el Año Escolar 2021-2022

Estamos emocionados de darle la bienvenida de vuelta a los estudiantes a los cinco días completos de instrucción, con las estrategias de salud y seguridad, delineadas previamente. Le animamos a las familias que regresan o que son nuevas, a completar su registro en línea.

Las familias que están interesadas en inscribirse para la Academia en Línea WLWV K12 para el año escolar 2020-2022, pueden aprender más al visitar el sitio web de WKOA. El personal de distrito organizó una sesión informativa el 29 de junio, proporcionando un panorama general para lo que será la Academia durante el año escolar 2021-2022. Las familias pueden revisar la grabación del video de la sesión informativa y pueden contactar al director de la escuela si están interesados para inscribirse en la Academia en Línea WLWV K12. Actualmente no hay una fecha límite para inscribirse. 

Por favor continúe esperando noticias del distrito y escuela durante el verano. Estamos animados de darles la bienvenida a los estudiantes en septiembre.

Atentamente, 

Kathy Ludwig, Superintendente

The West Linn-Wilsonville Family Empowerment Center received a generous donation from DW Fritz earlier this month. The automation company donated 17 Dell Laptops and power cords to the Family Empowerment Center for families within the West Linn-Wilsonville community to utilize. Meridian Creek Middle School Principal Annikke Olson and Bilingual Family Engagement Specialist Maria Horton accepted the donation on Wednesday, June 12.

Laptops will be used by the FEC to empower families and provide them with methods to access resources, work responsibilities, and school information. Thank you, DW Fritz!

    

West Linn-Wilsonville schools celebrated the last day of the 2020-21 school year before heading off for summer break. Students reflected on the many memories from this unique school year before saying goodbyes to classmates and teaching staff. We can't wait to see students again in 2021-22!

    

Wilsonville High School Unified Athletes finished the 2020-21 school year with a bang, competing against Parkrose High School in its last Unified Basketball game of the season. Unified athletes played alongside partner athletes, showcasing their athletic prowess while making friends and enjoying camaraderie with one another. 

Wilsonville High School and Parkrose High School partnered for a home and home series this spring, ensuring multiple opportunities for student athletes to get out on the hardword.