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  • Please see updated Return to Learn Metrics.return to learn  
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  • Meal Delivery Sign up link: https://bit.ly/36s74iU.
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  • Given the significant impact on our school community, all students attending Walterville and SPS Online will begin on 9-21. In addition, there has been a recent change for Walterville K-3 students. ALL Walterville students (K-5) will now begin school virtually. 
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  • Student devices can be picked up at Brattain

    (425 10th St., Springfield)

    9/18: 3:00-7:00
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  • Now is a great time to help your child practice wearing a face covering.

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  • Devices will be available for students participating on campus and SPS Online. Distribution location: Walterville Elementary School.

    9/1 Grade 4 and 5

    9/2 Grade 2 and 3

    9/3 Kinder and Grade 1

    Time: 9:00-12:00, 3:00-7:00

     
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  • Take the 2020 Census - it matters!

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Principal Corner

  • Update 11-16-20

    Posted by Nicki Gorham on 11/16/2020

    On Friday, November 13, Governor Kate Brown shared her updated plans to help curb the increasing spread of COVID-19 in Oregon. This two-week statewide freeze includes new measures to restrict social gatherings and limit higher-risk exposure opportunities such as: closing gyms and recreation facilities, limiting restaurants and bars to take-out options only, and issuing travel advisories for out-of-state travel. All of these measures are aimed at ensuring our hospitals and medical facilities are able to meet the needs of our sickest patients. If followed successfully, these measures will also ensure we are able to return our students to in-person learning environments sooner.

    It is important to note that the Governor’s new restrictions do not change the recently updated metrics that allow for in-person instruction. With these new measures in place it is our hope that we will all contribute to the slowing of the spread of COVID-19 in our communities and therefore be able to welcome our students back in-person sooner.

    What these restrictions mean for SPS:
    During the time that the Governor’s freeze is in place, currently Nov. 18 – Dec. 2, school and district offices will be closed to the public. Staff will be teleworking to the greatest extent possible. Anyone needing assistance can reach staff members via phone or email and appointments can be arranged for any in-person needs.

    Meal service and delivery will continue through the pause on regularly scheduled school days (excluding Thanksgiving break – November 26 – 27).

    Technology support for families will also continue, however no walk-in assistance will be supported. Appointments will need to be arranged with the tech team via phone at 541.726.3406, or email at familytech@springfield.k12.or.us.

    It is our sincerest hope that these difficult and strict measures will curb the spread of COVID-19 in our community and allow us to return to in-person instruction for our youngest learners as soon as December 7, should Lane County health metrics allow.

    As a reminder last week the district shared that should local health metrics allow we will begin to return our K-3 students to in-person learning on the following schedule:

    Dec 7 – Kindergarten/1st Grade
    Dec 10 – 2nd Grade
    Dec 14 – 3rd Grade
    *Feb 16 – 4th Grade/5th Grade
    *Should health conditions allow and in consultation with Lane County Public Health

    For secondary students, we remain committed to transitions at the end of quarters. The earliest we would be welcoming 6 – 12th grade students back to in-person instruction would be Feb. 16.

    Students and families who are interested in transitioning programs (from SPSOnline to their neighborhood school or from their neighborhood school to SPSOnline) have until November 25th to complete the transfer process.

    To transfer back to a neighborhood program simply need to contact their school to let them know their intention.

    To transfer to SPSOnline from a neighborhood program please fill out and submit the district transfer forms to the district office.

    Thank you for your ongoing commitment to help curb the spread of COVID-19 in our community so that we can safely reconnect with our students in-person, sooner.

     

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  • Important Update

    Posted by Nicki Gorham on 11/6/2020
    Last week, Governor Brown and our state partners at the Oregon Health Authority and Oregon Department of Education released updated guidance on what local COVID-19 infection rate metrics need to be met to return students to in-person learning. The new metrics reflect updated research and CDC recommendations and are consistent with those being used by many other states which are successfully holding school in person.
     
    New Health Guidance Overview:
    In order for SPS to hold in-person instruction for all SPS students, Lane County must meet the following infection rates:
    • Fewer than 50 positive cases per 100,000 people over 14 days
    •  AND a less than 5% positivity rate in the county in the same time frame.
    Similar to previous guidance, there is a recognition of the importance of in-person instruction to our youngest learners and there is increased flexibility to welcome back K-3 (and then up to 5th in SPS).
    • K-3 students can return to in-person learning when a county sees fewer than 100 positive cases per 100,000 people over a 14-day period.
    • When a district sees success with the return of K-3 and demonstrates the ability to limit the risk of exposure, grades 4 and 5 may be phased into in-person instruction as well.
    SPS will continue to share the current metrics following the OHA weekly release. Families can review the status here.
     
    What this means for SPS
    Lane County does not currently meet infection rate metrics to welcome students back. However, as the district continues to monitor trends infection rates are decreasing as members of our community prioritize healthy practices.
    Teams at SPS have reviewed the information, assessed the policies and protocols that were put in place over the summer to safely welcome students back to school and have made the following decisions that balance health and safety metrics, and continuity of instruction.
    Should the county meet health and safety standards, this is the schedule SPS would utilize to return to in-person learning.*
    ELEMENTARY:
    • December 7 – Kindergarten and 1st Grade students would begin in-person learning
    • December 10 – 2nd Grade students would begin in-person learning
    • December 14 – 3rd Grade students would begin in-person learning
    • February 16 - Once SPS has demonstrated the safety measures in place have limited the spread of COVID-19 in our school settings, the district could welcome 4th and 5th Grade students to in-person learning prior to the end of the second trimester.
    *Note: if health metrics do not meet the above standards to return December 7, we will wait until after winter break to transition to in-person learning.
    SECONDARY:
    As the health metrics are more stringent for allowing in-person instruction for all students, and we remain committed to the least amount of disruption to instruction, the district has made the determination that secondary students will remain in distance learning through the remainder of the second quarter – ending February 11. Should health metrics allow, we stand prepared to welcome our middle and high school students back to in-person learning at the start of the 3rd quarter on February 16/ 
    • February 16 – 6th – 12th Grade students could begin in-person learning.
    Our commitment:
    Springfield Public Schools remains committed to providing high-quality instructional opportunities for our families. We recognize that to successfully accomplish this we must ensure safe learning environments. A great deal of planning and preparation has been made to safeguard students and staff as we prepare to return to onsite learning, such as:
    • Extensive safety protocols
    • Minimizing “cohorts” or class-sizes
    • Ensuring all students and staff are following current safety requirements – including face coverings – and providing personal protective equipment (PPE) when needed
    • Upgrades to HVAC filters and the additional purchase and installation of air filters at all SPS buildings
    Ultimately, the health of our students and staff relies on partnership and teamwork. We are thankful for a community that has demonstrated a willingness to follow health guidance including wearing face coverings, limiting gatherings, practicing good hand hygiene and staying home when ill.
    Together we can ensure our students are able to safely return to in-person learning.
     
    Transfer process
    Families who are interested in switching their students from their current learning model – either from SPSOnline to their neighborhood school or from their neighborhood school to SPSOnline – can now submit paperwork to make that change official. Transfer requests must be submitted by November 25, the Wednesday before Thanksgiving.
    For families who wish to enroll their student in SPSOnline, follow the link below, fill it out and return it to the district office at 640 A Street in downtown Springfield. Transfer requests can be submitted by personal delivery, regular mail, email or fax. The document is also available at the district office where it can be filled out and returned.
    Families wishing to enroll their students at their neighborhood school should contact that school to inquire about the process to complete that switch.
    Transfer request documents:
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