Central Point School District #6

April 1st, 2020 -1:38pm

Updated D6 Express routes can be found here (English) and aquí (español). A stop at Crater High School has been added to Route 9.

March 31st, 2020 3pm

Dear D6 families,

The District 6 comprehensive distance learning program, D6 Connected launches tomorrow, April 1^st.  Our website, D6 Connected is up and running and includes an FAQ and links to each D6 school.  We’ll also host a FaceBook live Q and A tonight, March 31st at 6:30 pm.  Thanks to the hard work of our D6 teachers, principals, administrators and staff, our credit-worthy program is ready to roll out to our kids and families.  If you have questions or need help, there are “Helpline” email addresses for each school or you can email d6connected@district6.org for assistance.  As always, I’m happy to respond to your calls or emails samantha.steele@district6.org or 541-494-6201 (office) or 541-840-5644.

Updated D6 Express routes can be found here (English) and aquí (español). There was a minor change to Route 5.

Caring for your child’s health while school is closed

La Clinica is offering student mental health services over the phone and in video visits while schools are closed this spring. Parents can make appointments between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Mondays-Fridays for short-term issues or long-term counseling. More information available here (English) and aquí (español).

Updated D6 Express routes can be found here (English) and aquí (español). Minor changes were made to Route 3 and Route 9.

March 30th, 2020 – 9am

Breakfast and lunch, beginning today will be at Patrick, Central Point Elementary and Jewett Elementary from 8:00 – 8:30 and 11:45 – 12:45 and Crater (new site) 7:30 –  9:00 and 11:45 – 12:45. Families may also pick up meals at the D6 Express stops here and Spanish language version here   Please note that the new D6 Express stops replace the stops (or times) used during spring break.

March 28th, 2020 – 6pm

Dear D6 Families,

Today, the Oregon Department of Education announced it will delay the release of rules to school districts for remote and distance learning during the COVID-19 closure, until Monday, March 30.  Previously we were told these rules would be released this past Friday.

The Central Point School District has developed and is ready to launch a comprehensive remote learning program called D6 Connected.  Unfortunately, the delay in ODE providing the rules and specific details we need, means we must push back our release of the program specifics and Facebook live event Q & A . As soon as ODE releases their rules, we will be able to release the FAQ for D6 Connected that will include specifics in some important areas, including information for graduating seniors.

D6 staff has worked hard to develop a comprehensive plan that allows for every student to continue their academic progress, receive support services like advising and counseling and have a rich, engaging, challenging and supported remote school experience—delivered by their own teachers and support staff.

• We have a plan to provide the highest level of services possible via remote learning for Special Education students, English Language Learners and students who may be at risk.
• We have a plan to provide technology for the families who need it, to assure this content accessible.
• We have a plan to provide more than digital content—we want to be sure that students have some learning experiences that don’t involve the computer and challenge students to be active, problem solve and create.
• We have a plan to assure that the supplies and materials your child needs are available.

Your child’s teachers have worked hard to learn new platforms and creatively find a way to deliver content, provide activities and stay connected. D6 remains committed to realizing the full potential of every student and D6 Connected will be ready to roll out on April 1^st.

Some important details of D6 Connected still require approval from ODE and approval is important in order for our programs to remain in compliance so that high school students receive credits and all students progress academically with the supports they need to be successful.

A note to Seniors: I want to assure our graduating seniors that each of you will be able to talk with an advisor, principal or teacher from your school next week to plan your path to a diploma.  If you were “on track” to graduate prior to the COVID-19 closure, you are “on-track” now. If you were behind in credits, we will work with you to assure that you can earn those credits and meet the graduation timeline you established before the closure.  Graduating seniors who plan to transition to colleges and universities can be assured that we will work with you to be sure the closure will not impact your admission to higher education or your preparedness for college level coursework.

Finally, as we wait for more information to be released, please know that you can contact me at any time with questions or concerns about D6 Connected remote learning or the impact of the closure on your child and family.  Please contact me at samantha.steele@district6.org or 541-494-6201 (office) or 541-840-5644.

March 27th, 2020 – 6am

District 6, along with all other school districts in Oregon, is still waiting for specific guidance from the Oregon Department of Education regarding the remote learning program that can be offered to our students.  That guidance, which also includes specifics for graduating seniors, is now expected to be available to school districts on Friday, March 27^th.  While I know it’s frustrating to wait for answers, I also understand that much of this is complex and the timeline has been short.  Once the guidance is released on Friday, we will be able to post our D6 Connected FAQ, including information for graduating seniors, and schedule a FaceBook Live Q and A for Saturday, March 28, 2020.

In today’s news that can be released, our D6 Connected EXPRESS routes are official.  Beginning Monday, March 30^th, our busses will begin delivering meals and other items to students via the D6 Connected Express.  While the Express does not go door to door, you’ll find over 60 stops throughout the district and there is likely one near you.   As the D6 Connected remote learning is rolled out next week, your student will be able to have items like library books or supplies and materials delivered to the bus stops.  Please note that social distancing mandates will be in place at all stops—students and parents will be asked to maintain at least 6 feet from one another and D6 staff during the distribution of meals and other items.   D6 Connected Express stops can be found here (in English) and here (in Spanish).  We appreciate your patience as we finalize our plans and we are very much looking forward to connecting with our students and families next week!  Should you have any questions or concerns, you are always welcome to contact me at samantha.steele@district6.org or 541-494-6201 (office) or 541-840-5644.

D6 Express Bus Stops – English

D6 Express Bus Stops – español

March 25th, 2020 -5:30pm

Since the state mandated closure of all Oregon schools, the Central Point School District has been working to develop a robust, engaging and challenging distance learning program which we will launch on April1, 2020.

We have been in close contact with the Oregon Department of Education throughout as they develop guidelines and standards for remote learning in order to ensure these programs are in compliance with state and federal rules so that we can offer more than supplemental learning.

We are still awaiting some final guidance from the Oregon Department of Education before we launch our distance learning program, but we want to give you a preview of the main components of the program we are calling D6 Connected.

D6 Connected:

D6 connected is the District 6 plan to continue educating our students, serving our community and connecting our schools during this unprecedented shut down due to the novel Covid-19 virus.    The heart of D6 Connected is to give every D6 student access to meaningful and engaging remote learning.

Think of D6 Connected as a wheel with the comprehensive distance learning program in the middle and 6 spokes supporting it.  

There 6 major components or “spokes” to support this distance learning program:

1. Single point of contact for EVERY student
2. Tech support for students, staff and parents
3. Academic support for students with special needs, including English Language Learners and Special Education
4. Counseling, advising, mentorship and social emotional learning supports for elementary and secondary levels
5. D6 Connected Express  – Using our idled buses to bring education and meals to the students.  60 daily stops! 
6. Curriculum development and instruction by D6 teachers—our students will continue the school year with their current teachers, support staff and peers.

Once we have final approval from the Oregon Department of Education, we will officially launch D6 Connected with a special site on our web page with all of the details.  We will also host a Facebook live event in the coming days to answer any questions you may have.

As always, do not hesitate to reach out to me directly at samantha.steele@district6.org or 541-494-6201 (office) or 541-840-5644 (cell).

March 20th, 2020 – 6pm

This has been a challenging week for all of us and there will likely be many more challenging weeks in the wake of COVID-19.    The health and safety of families is the priority during this time, but school closures have also contributed to the uncertainty and in many cases, created hardships for families around childcare and meals.   Students miss their teachers and their friends; parents are concerned about their kids losing important education opportunities and our graduating seniors are worried about what school closure means for them.

D6 Connected, remote learning plan launches April 1

The D6 staff is finalizing an action plan that will allow every D6 student access to meaningful and engaging remote learning that keeps them connected to their teachers, their school and their peers.   School meals, including breakfast and lunch will continue to be available through the closure, with additional ways for you to access those meals.  We also have plans to provide our students access to technology, library books, counseling and advising services, along with a few opportunities for fun.   You’ve likely already heard from your child’s school or teacher as they survey families to learn more about your needs for remote school services.   If you haven’t answered a survey or talked with someone at your child’s school, this is the link to the survey D6 Connected Survey.  You can also contact me directly, anytime at samantha.steele@district6.org or 541-494-6201 (office) or 541-840-5644 (cell).   We’ll post more information and details about D6 Connected, our remote learning plan, on this site next week.

Information for graduating seniors

We are also concerned about the impact on our graduating seniors and recognize the incredibly short timeline for decisions.  The Oregon Department of Education has prioritized development of rules and guidance for graduating seniors and expects to have a plan to districts by early next week.   Superintendents were in a statewide meeting with ODE this afternoon (3/20/20) to review possible options for seniors as ODE develops guidance.  I want to assure graduating seniors and their families that District 6 is dedicated to taking every action necessary to assist seniors in graduating and in being as prepared as possible for their next steps.  As soon as ODE releases a plan for graduating seniors, it will be posted here.  Every senior in District 6 will have personalized support and communication from a staff member at their school to assist in meeting the requirements set forth by ODE.  Finally, in an effort to slow the rumor mill, none of the proposals superintendents reviewed today require seniors who are currently on track to graduate, to attend school this summer.   Again, please contact me if you have questions or concerns—samantha.steele@district6.org  or 541-494-6201 (office) or 541-840-5644.