Our School

Covid-19 relief resources

View video messages from Cherry Park staff

View a list of Portland resources

A few words from our principal:

Dear Cherry Park Community:

Welcome to the 2020-2021 school year!  This September is nothing I would have ever imagined in my 30 years of being an educator. As a principal and parent, I am very empathetic to what you are going through as you plan for the upcoming year.  I know that there are still so many unknowns and unanswered questions. I recognize that this is frustrating.  What I do know is that our Cherry Park community has the most dedicated and loving staff and families!  I adore your children and continue to be the most fortunate principal in the world to get to serve you each day.

Although this is my 17^th year as a principal, I am feeling like it is my first year.  As many of you know, our motto at Cherry Park is “Everyone is Growing”.  As we are changing every system and structure in our school to fit the Oregon Department of Education and Health Department requirements, I am feeling some growing pains.  Therefore, as we move into the 2020-2021 school year I will ask for your patience, flexibility, understanding and partnership as we navigate unchartered territory.  We can do it together!

We will be in a full virtual format called Comprehensive Distance Learning (CDL) from September-December with the hopes of reuniting at school on January 4^th, 2021.  Our plan for coming back to school physically, of course, will be determined by the number of COVID cases in Multnomah County.  I want to assure you that we will do our best to help your child experience great gains academically and socially even in a virtual format.   We are always open to suggestions on how best to fit the needs of your child and pride ourselves on having an “open door” policy so please feel free to reach out during the year.

Below are a few important informational items to get you started for the year.  There is a lot of information so please take the time to read it thoroughly. We know that you have so many questions and unfortunately, I don’t have all the answers.  However, I will be holding a Zoom meeting Friday, August 28^th at 9:00 AM and Tuesday, September 1st at 6:30 PM.  I will email you the links to log on.  Speaking of email. . . if you have not been getting my emails, please call our office (503) 256-6501 or email Sarah_Anderson@ddsd40.org to update your child’s record.  This is our main way of communicating so it is critical that we have a current email and phone number on file. Thank you.

COMPREHENSIVE DISTANCE LEARNING:

Although most of us experienced distance learning last spring, I wanted to let you know that  it is going to be very different this upcoming year.  Our district has adopted an online curriculum that our teachers will be using.  Students will have live instruction every day from their teachers in reading, math, and writing. We will also have instruction in social studies, science, PE, music, library and art.   Students will participate in both whole group and small group instruction.  There will also be assignments to be completed off-line.  Just like in past years, attendance is going to be crucial.  However, we know that some parents may have other obligations (like work) so we are exploring the possibility of recording all the live sessions.  The most important thing is to support your child with logging on to our online learning platform every day so they can boost their academics as well as connect with their friends and teachers. Don’t worry, we will show you how to do this in the coming weeks.

Below are four priorities that we adopted from the Oregon Department of Education’s guidance that we are using to plan for the upcoming year.

1. Ensure safety and wellness: The decision to return to school settings must be driven by health and safety considerations.  
2. Cultivate connection and relationship: Quality learning experiences require deep interpersonal relationships and a learning environment where people feel safe, seen, and valued.  
3. Center equity:  We recognize the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on Black, American Indian/Alaska Native, and Latino/a/x, Pacific Islander communities; students experiencing disabilities, and students and families navigating poverty. We are applying an equity-informed, anti-racist, anti-oppressive lens to promote culturally sustaining and revitalizing educational systems that support every child. 
4. Innovate. The complex circumstances in which learning is currently situated requires ongoing reflection and innovation to assure deep learning for every student. 

START OF THE YEAR SCHEDULE:  We are all eager to get started with our students, however, our teachers and assistants need time to learn the new curriculum for SEVEN different subject areas and new teaching and learning platform so that they can optimally teach your student.  The teachers’ first contract day back is August 31st. Therefore, we are postponing the start of school until September 14^th. 

September 8-11: Planning/Virtual Grade Level Open House and Individual Calls

September 14-18: Students begin with a focus on building relationships

September 21: Online Academic Instruction begins

OPEN HOUSE:  We will be having a virtual Open House by grade level so you can meet your child’s teacher, learn expectations, and find out how to support your child during the year.  These Grade Level Open Houses will be scheduled the week of September 8th-11th.  They will be recorded and the link will be posted on our website.

CHECK IN CALL:  Each parent will have one on one time with their child’s teacher either through Google Meets or on the phone so we can build relationships, answer any questions and help you support your child’s learning.

STUDENT CHROMEBOOKS: As our students return to school in September, we will be providing each student with a Chromebook so that they can engage in synchronous (live), asynchronous (recorded), and applied (independent) learning.  Our plan is to distribute Chromebooks to our families using the same distribution plan that was used this spring.  Watch for an email sharing the dates and times for our school. 

STUDENT AND FAMILY SUPPORT: We will be providing support to our families so that they know how best to help their children. Our Curriculum and Technology Department will provide video tutorials to help parents and students.  We will also provide technical ‘Helpdesk’ support via email and phone for our staff, families, and students.  In addition, each day our teachers will have office hours where you can call and check-in if you have questions.

PARENT AND STUDENT ROLES:

SCHOOL SUPPLIES:  We typically charge a $20.00 supply fee for each of our students.  We will not be charging parents during distance learning.  When we go back to school in person we may charge families a pro-rated amount.  We will be putting together supply kits for each of our students that parents will be able to pick up at our Back to School Parade.    

BREAKFAST AND LUNCH:  We will continue to serve free breakfast and free lunch to all of our students.  Lunch and breakfast will be served at every school in David Douglas, including Cherry Park.  In addition, we will also have a few Meal Stops around our boundaries once a day between 12:00-1:00.  

STAFF AT CHERRY PARK:  We have almost the same staff working at Cherry Park that we had last year with the exception of Mrs. Reed, who is taking the year to be with her family and Ms. Polledri and Mrs. Guild who both had babies over the summer and will be gone for part of the year.  We are excited to welcome Rachel Grewe as our new Speech Pathologist!

Grade level teams:

• Preschool: Max Striplin and Amanda Price
• Kindergarten: Katie Callaway and Brandi Lalande
• First Grade: Linda Steele, Julie Ann Weinert and Laura Martinez
• Second Grade: Jason Adams, Chloe Yates and Shivani Guild (Shivani is out on maternity leave until February.  Her substitute is still to be determined)
• Third Grade: Anya Chantiny, Anne O’Brien and Christina White
• Fourth Grade: Phil Spooner, Alissa Blair and Bryan Sager
• Fifth Grade: Jan LeBlanc and Stephanie Myhre

Specialists: 

• Special Education: Amy Ramert
• Speech: Rachel Grewe (Kaelyn Straub has accepted another position)
• Title I Reading Specialist: Sarah Felker
• Music: Kathy Wray
• PE: Kevin Muldoon
• Language Development Specialist (LDS): Anna Gohkman
• Student Achievement Specialist (SAS): Miki Johnson
• Student Behavior Specialist (SBS): Matt Soule
• Counselor: Jess Polledri (Jess will be out on maternity leave until March)
• SUN Coordinator: Heather Mackris

WHO IS YOUR CHILD’S TEACHER?  You will get an email from your child’s teacher on Thursday, September 3^rd.  Again, please make sure we have an email that you check on a regular basis on file.  

I am looking forward to navigating this interesting year with all of you. I am proud to work in such a special school with outstanding staff members, great families, and wonderful students.  I look forward to reconnecting with our returning families and I would like to welcome our families who are new to the area.  Please do not hesitate to reach out with any questions.

Warmly,

Kate Barker

Kate_Barker@ddsd40.org