WLWV Community Update

Due to inclement weather and school closures on Feb. 21 and 22, the last day of school for all West Linn-Wilsonville schools is now June 14. The last day of school for high school seniors is now June 5. Those dates are subject to change in the event of additional school closures. To view the 2017-18 school calendar, visit the district website at https://www.wlwv.k12.or.us/domain/90.

The West Linn-Wilsonville School District supports our students’ ability to exercise their First Amendment rights. While we cannot sponsor student protests, and neither encourage nor discourage student protests, we understand that student leaders may choose to organize a local school walkout in coordination with national events.

In the event of a planned walkout or demonstration at any WLWV school, it's important to note that students are not obligated to participate, and teachers will remain in classrooms to teach students who choose to remain in class. Those who do choose to walkout will not be penalized academically for their participation, and we will take attendance upon return to class.

In the event of student demonstrations, principals work with student leaders in our middle schools and high schools to ensure safe and orderly walkouts. In alignment with that practice, staff also prepares ahead of time to create safe venues for students while providing alternative forums for expression that avoid disrupting class time. The District asks that students remain on campus for the duration of any walkout. WLWV involves the West Linn Police Department and Wilsonville Police Department, as well as additional campus supervision from administrators in order to maintain a safe environment during such events.

In an effort to improve student safety across all West Linn-Wilsonville schools, the District continues its partnership with SafeOregon and the SafeOregon TipLine. Many students already report issues of safety concerns, bullying, harassment, or possible suicidal thoughts to trusted adults around them, and the District will continue to foster an environment where children feel comfortable to confide in parents, teachers, school counselors, or building administrators. But in an effort to provide even more resources for students, the State of Oregon has developed an additional channel and method for obtaining help called the SafeOregon Tip Line.

The goal of the SafeOregon tip line is to prevent threats to school safety by providing schools and communities with a relevant reporting tool. Tips can be submitted by students through email, phone, text messages, the Safe Oregon mobile app or web portal. Tips are quickly reviewed by SafeOregon technicians, and are then passed to school administrators and local law enforcement agencies. If the tip requires an urgent response, technicians from Safe Oregon will call 911 for immediate help, as well as provide information to West Linn-Wilsonville school administration or school officials.

West Linn-Wilsonville administration will respond to all tips in an appropriate and timely matter, which can include gathering more information, communicating with key stakeholders, using the District Threat Assessment System, using the District Suicide Risk Assessment process, connecting the student with additional resources, contacting law enforcement, or any other responses that are appropriate.

You can learn more about Safe Oregon at http://safeoregon.com/, or contact your child’s counselor for more information.

Wood Middle School Wellness Teacher and Jr Scoop Ice Cream Adviser Jordan Scoggins was named the 2017 Wilsonville First Citizen over the weekend. The award was presented at the 2018 Heart of Gold Celebration for his tremendous impact in the community. Congratulations Mr. Scoggins!

Science Fair season is finally upon us, highlighted by the CREST-Jane Goodall Science Symposium set for Tuesday, March 6. For grades kindergarten through 12th grade, this year's Symposium will take place in the West Linn High School Commons, Auxiliary Gym, and Performing Arts Center. High school projects from West Linn, Wilsonville, and Arts and Technology high schools will be on display Tuesday night, where the best of the best will go on to the ISEF State Competition. Student projects from all WLWV schools and grade levels will also be on display for the community to see.

New to the Symposium this year is the ISEF Discovery Center, which is targeted toward children in the primary and middle schools. Organized by the West Linn High School Associated Student Body (ASB), the Discovery Center will include demonstrations and exhibits from various fields of science in addition to the hundreds of student projects that will line the halls of West Linn High School.

The CREST-Jane Goodall Science Symposium schedule includes:

5:30-7:30 p.m. — Family Science Discovery Center is open to the public

6-7:15 p.m. — Fair Tours (Located in the Commons and Auxiliary Gym)

7:30-8:30 p.m. — Keynote address by Dr. Rebecca Vega Thurber from Oregon State University, as well as a student panel in the Performing Arts Center.

8:30-9:15 p.m. — ISEF Awards Ceremony in the Performing Arts Center

As part the Oregon Health Authority's Healthy and Safe Schools Plan, all Oregon schools are required to test for radon by Jan. 1, 2021. To ensure all West Linn-Wilsonville schools are safe and healthy, and to meet the new OHA mandates, the District has begun testing select schools.

The District tested for radon at Meridian Creek Middle School, Sunset Primary, Stafford Primary, and Cedaroak Park Primary on Feb. 12, 2018, and received results on Feb. 20. The District will continue to test schools in bunches of four and five at a time over the course of the next three years to meet the Jan. 1, 2021 deadline. The District will notify students and families before and after testing and will also provide results as they are made available. To view results from the four schools tested on Feb. 12, visit the district's Safety/Security webpage.

Do you have questions about safety and security in West Linn-Wilsonville Schools? Visit the District's comprehensive Safety/Security webpage to learn about security features and safety procedures in WLWV schools. There, families can learn about what's in place as well as what the District is working on. There is even a section of the website where community members can provide feedback for safety and security in WLWV schools.

While we hope we're in the clear for the rest of the school year, mother nature could still decide to throw another snowball at us. In the case of inclement weather, The West Linn-Wilsonville School District generally announces school closure or delayed opening by 5:30 a.m., and all Portland-Metro area media outlets announce the information on TV newscasts and online.

The School District will also notify parents via FlashAlert as well as via ListServ. Parents are encouraged to subscribe to both services if they haven't already. Even if you have previously subscribed to FlashAlert, it is important that you check your subscriptions as the FlashAlert service routinely removes subscriptions that have not been recently updated. Please note that FlashAlert is not a West Linn-Wilsonville system and the district can only provide limited help. Families are encouraged to consider getting the free FlashAlert Messenger app from the Apple AppStore or Google PlayStore.

The School District makes inclement weather decisions based on the ability to operate school buses safely, the ability for students and parents to get to school safely, and the ability for employees to get to work safely and on time. The decision to open, close, or delay the start of school is made for the entire West Linn-Wilsonville School District. That means that while inclement weather conditions might occur in only certain areas of the district, the decision to close or delay the start of school will be made for all schools. Families will also be notified when the District elects to utilize snow routes due to inclement weather.

Feb. 12 was a big day for the West Linn-Wilsonville community, as Special Olympics Oregon announced that both Wilsonville and West Linn high schools have been named Oregon Unified Champion Schools. The honor comes after hard work creating inclusive cultures at both schools over the past several years.

To qualify as an Oregon Unified Champion School, high schools must have a Unified Sports or PE program offered at least one season/quarter during the year. Both schools offer Unified soccer and basketball, as well as a Unified Club that meets during the school day. Schools also must provide opportunities for students to develop Inclusive Youth Leadership through advocacy and awareness events, organize at least one awareness or education activity that promotes inclusion and whole school engagement, and attend the annual Special Olympics Oregon Youth Leadership Summit.

Both high schools will receive a banner, either at a school assembly or inclusive activity later in the year, commemorating the exciting achievement. The prestigious honor comes just months after West Linn High School was named a National Unified Champion School back in August.

The Count Me In Campaign, the Education Foundation's biggest fundraiser of the year, is right around the corner. Look out for posters and information around your school as the big event gets underway!

Music and Arts Partners has been hard at work all year in raising money for music programs in West Linn-Wilsonvile Schools, and has a variety of concerts and events coming up later this year. Wilsonville High School's a cappella team Soul'd Out will host a fundraiser event on March 13, to raise money to travel to New York for the International Championship of High School A Cappella Finals, and Lowrie Primary has a MAP-sponsored music performance scheduled for March 15 among other upcoming events.

In 2017, the Oregon Department of Education introduced new, comprehensive Health and Wellness Standards and Performance Indicators for kindergarten through 12th grade. A group of West Linn-Wilsonville teachers, counselors and administrators has been meeting this school year to learn about the standards and explore curricular resources.

We'd like to invite a parents from each school to join our second community meeting to learn about our progress so far and contribute to our thinking and planning. Parents are invited to join us at the West-Linn-Wilsonville District Office on Thursday, March 8th, at 6:30. Our district office is located at 22210 SW Stafford Road, Tualatin, OR 97072.

School Board Meeting: Monday, March 12 — The West Linn-Wilsonville School Board will hold a public meeting on March 12 starting at 6 p.m. in the District Office; 22210 SW Stafford Road, Tualatin.

Early Release, Professional Growth Wednesday: March 21 — Professional Growth Wednesdays include a two-hour early release on select Wednesday afternoons to allow educators time to collaborate and participate in professional development opportunities.

Spring Break: March 26-30 — Spring Break is scheduled for March 26-30. There will be no school during that week.

• Updated 9/15/2017 Student Rights and Responsibilities

• FlashAlert

• ListServ

• 2018-19 Registration Information

• Preschool/Kindergarten Registration Information

• Updated Equity Action Plan

• Education Foundation

• Music and Arts Partners (MAP)

• Volunteer in WLWV Schools

• SafeOregon Tip Line

• Bus Routes

The West Linn-Wilsonville School District is nationally recognized for its high student and staff achievement, including one of the top graduation rates in the State of Oregon. West Linn-Wilsonville serves nearly 10,000 K-12 students across 16 schools in West Linn and Wilsonville, with a mission of creating learning communities for the greatest thinkers and the most thoughtful people for the world. WLWV strives to provide challenging education opportunities that prepare students to be college and career ready.

Website: www.wlwv.k12.or.us
Location: 22210 SW Stafford Road, Tualatin OR, 97062
Phone: 503-673-7000
Facebook: facebook.com/WLWVschools
Twitter: @WLWVdistrict