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Monthly highlights about the work our ESD is doing in the community |
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For the first time in more than a year, we were able to open our doors to many more of our students! I’m so energized by their excitement to be back in the classroom with their teachers and peers.
By now, we are all familiar with the feeling of discomfort that accompanies change and the unknown. I want to acknowledge our teachers, support staff and principals who keep students at the center throughout these transitions. Huge shoutouts to Principals Sarah Walker and Bethany Bowers and their entire teams at Columbia Academy and our Child Day Treatment Program for leading Northwest Regional ESD into hybrid instruction. It’s clear that the hard work of our educators is profoundly appreciated by the students entering our buildings after a year of separation from the school building.
Stephen Ferbrache, a student at Columbia Academy, sits atop a play structure during recess on March 31.
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Mason Oest, a Columbia Academy student, at recess on March 31.
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Columbia Academy student Jaxton Brown plays with a blue football during recess on March 31.
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Columbia Academy student Lucian Newman in his classroom on March 31.
I continue to be in awe of the incredible rallying power of school districts in our region who swiftly moved educators through vaccination lines, making this all possible. And of course we would not be where we are today without the bottomless efforts of our public health and hospital partners. You are the true superheroes of our time! A heartfelt THANK YOU to the many health and education leaders on the receiving end of this message for your leadership at such a pivotal, hopeful moment in history.
Here’s the timeline for transition to hybrid instruction for Northwest Regional ESD’s student-facing programs.
Hybrid instruction start dates by site:
- Social emotional learning schools
- Columbia Academy - Monday, March 29
- Day Treatment (Children) - Monday, March 29
- Cascade Academy - Monday, April 5
- Day Treatment (Adolescent) - Monday, April 5
- Levi Anderson Learning Center - Monday, April 5
- Pacific Academy - Monday, April 5
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My best-
Dan Goldman
Northwest Regional ESD Superintendent |
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Scappoose High School senior Anika Havlik testifies in support of House Bill 2092 at an Oregon House Committee on Education hearing on March 4. House Bill 2092 would make equity-focused changes to the Oregon Youth Employment Program and fund paid internship and pre-apprenticeship opportunities for up to 1,500 young Oregonians.
Northwest Regional ESD’s STEM Hub teamed up with Oregon Manufacturing Innovation Center Research & Development (OMIC R&D), Portland Community College and Scappoose High School in 2020 to provide internships for Columbia County students through the Columbia Works program. Last month, Scappoose High School senior Anika Havlik, a summer intern at OMIC R&D through Columbia Works, testified in support of House Bill 2092 to fund more similar opportunities.
Anika, who participated via Zoom, said her experience as an intern at OMIC R&D this past summer introduced her to virtual reality programming. Her main focus was to design and build a virtual reality tour of the OMIC R&D building, which is located in Scappoose. Her work included writing code, animating, 3D modeling and then compiling the components into one fluid experience.
Read Anika's story.
Teens will soon be eligible to get vaccinated, and schools are well-positioned to get the word out. Encourage teachers and principals to include information in their newsletters.
Sample message
Adolescents 16 and older in Oregon will become eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine on Monday, April 19. They can register now at Get Vaccinated Oregon and will get notified via email when an appointment is available. Although a COVID-19 immunization is not currently available for people younger than 16, preliminary data is promising. We will share more when we have new information.
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As students start returning to the classroom, many families will need additional child care as they rearrange their schedules and begin to plan for summer break. Please share this information about how to find child care with your communities.
211info Child Care provides strategies for finding quality child care in Oregon and also provides free, customized referrals to child care providers. For information and resources on finding quality child care, visit the Find Child Care Oregon website.
To speak with a parent educator about child care resources, families can:
This service is available from 7 a.m.-11 p.m. Monday-Friday and 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturday-Sunday. Visit the ways to find child care webpage to search for a child care provider. In addition to child care, this service can provide information about behavioral strategies, school readiness and tips, early childhood development, how to address family stress and anxiety, parenting classes and support, local play groups, foster care support, basic family resources and more. Bilingual staff and interpreters are available to serve families in all languages.
Download promotional materials here.
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We’ve posted operational blueprints for all of our ESD-run programs on the reopening school buildings page of our website. These plans include information about health and safety protocols, physical distancing, face covering and cohort requirements, communication, staff training, meals, transportation, arrival and dismissal, testing and more.
Shape the Educational Future of Oregon Students Who Experience Visual Impairment, Orthopedic Impairment, Deafness or Hard of Hearing, Deaf-blindness, Traumatic Brain Injury and/or Autism Spectrum Disorder
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Regional Inclusive Services, formerly known as Regional Programs, is seeking input from students, families and educators who want to shape the future of its services and investments.
Oregon's 11,000+ students who experience visual impairment, orthopedic impairment, deafness or hard of hearing, deaf-blindness, traumatic brain injury and/or autism spectrum disorder need an appropriate and accessible education in their home districts. Regional Inclusive Services provides training, technical tools and additional support to educators so that all schools, no matter their size or location, can deliver an inclusive education.
Regional Inclusive Services recently changed its name from Regional Programs to more specifically and accurately describe its function. The statewide program consists of the Oregon Department of Education and several education service districts, school districts and other community agencies who work in partnership to ensure educators and schools across Oregon are equipped with the tools, skills and resources to deliver an accessible education for all children.
ADD YOUR VOICE: Tell us how Regional Inclusive Services should invest in the students and educators served by our program.
Every month, our teams submit one-page reports to our board of directors. These reports include highlights, challenges and plans for the future and are available from our early learning, equity and family partnerships, fiscal, human resources, instruction, special education and technology teams. See our board agendas for links to these program updates.
We are hiring for a number of positions. Please share these opportunities with community members who might be interested. View all of our open positions.
Highlighted positions:
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