Important Information and News from  Madrone Trail Public Charter School November 13, 2020

Upcoming Events School Office Hours Monday-Friday 8-4 pm November 23-24 No School- Parent/Teacher Conferences November 25-27 No School- Thanksgiving Break December 1 Board Meeting, 5:30 pm December 4 Picture Day, Tentative

Chalkboard Drawing by Ms. Jackson, 1st grade

Campus Updates

Greetings Madrone Trail Community,  I would like to update everyone one on the progress of various projects occurring at the school. Given the absence of students, it seemed like the ideal time to make some improvements.   Yurt Classrooms:  Thanks to the hard work of Mr. Joe and our groundskeeper, Scott, we are making progress with the yurts. Also special thanks to Brian Stonelake and Dylan Goldey for helping get the first yurt's beams put up. We were delayed with some red tape with the county but are now moving forward. It is our hope to have these completed by the end of the month.   Full Spectrum LED Lighting:  We have replaced all fluorescent lighting throughout the school with LEDs. These provide the full spectrum of natural light, don't flicker or buzz and are more energy efficient. The picture shows the old compared to the new. The difference is impressive! Studies have been done that show these have a positive impact on behavior as well as academic performance. We were able to do this with a grant from the Energy Trust of Oregon and the diligent work of our former Strings teacher, Rich Duron, who also happens to be a licensed electrician.   Pump House Wiring:  Given we are wiring the yurts, we have also run new circuits to the pump house (that little building near the back of the field.) We now have electricity at the end of the field and potentially a functioning well (it is still unclear why it was cut off long ago.) We will be testing it out soon.   Irrigation Pump:  We are also working to connect our pump to the Medford Irrigation Ditch and begin using our water rights. Hopefully we will be able to keep our field green next year as well as expand the gardening program at the school. We also recently got the Jackson County Fire Department to agree to install a hydrant in front of the school. This frees up a 30,000 gallon underground water storage tank they said we are free to use and gives us back the designated fire truck parking (between the garden and the kinderyard.) With all these new water sources and storage capabilities, we will be able to literally make the school a greener place. New Floors in Classrooms:  We are putting down vinyl floors in all the classrooms. They are water-proof, very durable, and look great! We are very excited to see this completed. Seismic Retrofitting Grant:  We recently hired a local engineering firm to complete our application to receive up to $2.5 million to upgrade our entire school. They have done this for many schools and are very optimistic we will be awarded these funds given the age of our school. The state of Oregon allocates money for these projects every year as many schools around the state are not prepared for the overdue "big one" that is potentially in our future. We will not know for some time if we are awarded the grant.   Though I sincerely miss seeing the children at our school, I am hopeful it will be even more inviting when they return.   ~John Bissey Director

Picture Day Picture Day is tentatively scheduled for Friday, December 4. We are working out the details of how it will work, but we will make sure we are keeping to current guidelines around social distancing, mask wearing, and occupancy at school. You will be able to order online or fill out an order form day of. Because of the latest mandate from the Governor (see below), we may have to reschedule. We will keep you updated.

Fall Parent/Teacher Conferences Parent/Teacher Conferences will be on Monday and Tuesday, November 23-24. There will be no school those days as well as the rest of the week for Thanksgiving. This year we will be meeting either via Zoom or phone. Please indicate on the sign-up sheet which you prefer. If you choose Zoom your child's class teacher will send you a link. For the first time, we are sending out a Master Conference Sign-Up, with all classes on it. Please pick from the available times and do not add new ones. To minimize how many conferences teachers host, we ask that parents only sign up for one slot per child. If a child has more than one household please coordinate and attend the same conference. Sign up early, it's first come, first serve. The link to the conference sign-up sheet will also be sent home to parents in class emails.

Parent/Teacher Conference Sign-Up

Updated-- Press Release from the Governor This press release came out today. It is an update from last week's county specific two-week pause. Governor Kate Brown today announced a statewide Two-Week Freeze, implementing new measures to limit gatherings and stop the rapid spread of COVID-19 across Oregon. The Two-Week Freeze measures will be in effect from Nov. 18 through Dec. 2, statewide. These risk reduction measures are critical in limiting the spread of COVID-19, reducing risk in communities more vulnerable to serious illness and death, and helping conserve hospital capacity so that all Oregonians can continue to have access to quality care. “Since I announced a Two-Week Pause one week ago, we are seeing an alarming spike in both cases and hospitalizations,” said Governor Brown. “The virus is spreading in the community and, every day, it is infecting more and more Oregonians. This situation is dangerous and our hospitals have been sounding the alarms. If we want to give Oregon a fighting chance, we must take further measures to flatten the curve and save lives. I know this is hard, and we are weary. But, we are trying to stop this ferocious virus from quickly spreading far and wide. And in Oregon, we actually can do this. “Given the data and modeling we are seeing, my public health experts tell me that some counties will need longer to flatten the curve. So I want to be very clear that there are some COVID-19 hotspot counties that will likely need to stay in the Freeze for much longer than two weeks. Multnomah County, for example, will be in this Freeze for at least four weeks. Our actions right now, no matter where in the state you live, are critical.” The Two-Week Freeze measures include: Limiting social get-togethers (indoors and outdoors) to no more than six people, total, from no more than two households. Limiting faith-based organizations to a maximum of 25 people indoors or 50 people outdoors. Limiting eating and drinking establishments to take-out and delivery only. Closing gyms and fitness organizations. Closing indoor recreational facilities, museums, indoor entertainment activities, and indoor pools and sports courts. Closing zoos, gardens, aquariums, outdoor entertainment activities, and outdoor pools. Limiting grocery stores and pharmacies to a maximum of 75% capacity and encouraging curbside pickup. Limiting retail stores and retail malls (indoor and outdoor) to a maximum of 75% capacity and encouraging curbside pickup. Closing venues (that host or facilitate indoor or outdoor events). Requiring all businesses to mandate work-from-home to the greatest extent possible and closing offices to the public. Prohibiting indoor visiting in long-term care facilities (outdoor visitation permitted for supporting quality of life). The Two-Week Freeze does not apply to or change current health and safety protocols for personal services (such as barber shops, hair salons, and non-medical massage therapy), congregate homeless sheltering, outdoor recreation and sports, youth programs, childcare, K-12 schools, K-12 sports currently allowed, current Division 1 and professional athletics exemptions, and higher education — all of which can continue operating under previous guidance issued by the Oregon Health Authority. For all other permitted activities listed above, the Oregon Health Authority will be issuing sector-specific guidance within the next week. Sectors without specific prohibitions or guidance must operate under this general employer guidance. Governor Brown's full remarks are available here. A link to Governor Brown's press conference is available here.

Pictures for the Yearbook Needed Weekly reminder! Please take pictures of your child doing the various online school activities at home, like this one of the Royer family getting ready to go on their Lantern Walk. We would love to have pictures of your child or family doing your own Lantern Walk as well. Please send full size images to Ms. Nancy, nancy.escherich@madronetrail.org

In Need of a Backpack? We received a donation of 20 kid backpacks. If you would like one they are in the school office.

Board Meetings Change of Date At the last board meeting, the Madrone Trail Board decided to change the dates of their monthly board meetings. They will now be on the first Tuesday of the month instead of the second Tuesday of the month. The next board meeting will be on Tuesday, December 1 at 5:30 pm.

Quote of the Day

Handlettered and digitally edited by Ms. Cori

MADRONE TRAIL PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL www.madronetrail.org

Madrone Trail Public Charter School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, religion, disability, or age in its programs and activities.