Portland Public Schools: Students To Return To In-Person Classes Early Next Week

Portland OR

21 January, 2022

1:17 AM

Description

Press release from Portland Public Schools: January 20, 2022 Dear Community, We are so pleased to inform you that your school (see chart below) will return to in-person classes early next week. We realize that closing the campus and moving to temporary distance learning created challenges for families, but the dramatic rise in absences of staff and students fueled by the omicron variant of COVID-19 made it too difficult to keep the campus open safely. School staff are excited to welcome students back. Please see the chart below for specific information about your student's schedule. You will also receive further communication from your school team about welcoming students back for classes and other school activities.   Our goal is to complete the school year with in-person classes, which have been proven to be a vital component of not only students' ability to learn, but their social-emotional and mental health, too. Here is what you and your family can do to help keep in-person classes going: Make sure your students have proper, well-fitting face masks. Please see our recent message about masks. Get everyone in your household who is eligible (ages 5 and up) vaccinated and boosted against COVID-19. Use the Oregon Health Authority's vaccine and testing locator tool. Monitor your students for COVID-19 symptoms, and keep them home if they show any.  One final note: As we moved some schools into temporary distance learning, we learned that some families were not aware of the news. We urge you to update your contact information through ParentVue or by contacting your school office. We also suggest that you opt-in to receive text messages from the district by texting YES to 68453. If you have any questions, comments or concerns, please reach out to us via Let's Talk.  We appreciate your patience as we navigate these difficult times together, as a community. Margaret Calvert and Dr. Esther OmogbehinRegional SuperintendentsPortland Public Schools This press release was produced by Portland Public Schools. The views expressed here are the author's own.