Pandemic EBT for Summer 2022 Benefits

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Did you know Pandemic Electronic Benefits Transfer (P-EBT) for Summer 2022 Benefits may be on the way?  You can visit us at the Pandemic EBT (P-EBT) website at PEBT.oregon.gov.

Questions can be answered using the call center:  844-673-7328 or 844-ORE-PEBT

FAQ for Families – ENGLISH | SPANISH

 

P-EBT

Safety First

Sherwood Heights Elementary – Safety Efforts

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Fire, lockdown, and earthquake drills are all in a day’s work for today’s students. Because they practice these regularly, they know what to expect if and when a real emergency occurs. And that is what the leaders at Sherwood Heights Elementary are counting on.

“We have a fire drill every month, and we practice one other drill every month,” said TJ Presley, Assistant Principal at Sherwood. “By practicing these scenarios, our staff and students are all more prepared and able to remain calm in situations that do arise.”

Presley and Sherwood Principal Ronda Smith said they collaborate with local law enforcement officers when they have drills, so officers can be on site if possible to help discuss response time and things that could be improved. Pendleton School District School Resource Officer Lance Zaugg was in the building at the school’s March Lockdown drill and debriefed with school administrators afterward. “We test different modalities with our alarm system and phone system to ensure we practice different methods to initiate our emergency protocols when necessary and to be as quick and efficient in a real emergency,” Principal Smith said.

Sherwood recently received two grants totaling $10,000 from the Walmart Distribution Center in Hermiston to purchase new radios for all staff in their building. Presley said the new radios are helpful, as the ability to communicate quickly between all staff in the school is essential.

In addition to physical safety, Sherwood also focuses on social-emotional safety, with regular lessons about feeling safe, trusted adults, reporting concerns, and more.

At the school’s Open House last fall, several parents asked the school leaders to tell them about emergency procedures and protocols, which Smith said they were glad to communicate about. As part of a district-wide plan, Sherwood will host an after-school safety evaluation/walk-through in May with officers from several local law enforcement agencies to identify potential safety issues that can be resolved.

“Safety at our school for students, staff, and visitors is always our number one priority, no matter what,” Presley said. “Having consistent procedures, excellent communication, practice drills, and having everyone on board are essential for our teachers and assistants to facilitate learning and for students to feel safe and learn in the best environment possible.”

Sherwood Heights Elementary and the Pendleton School District use the I Love U Guys Standard Response Protocol for emergency response; visit https://iloveuguys.org/ for more information.

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Pesticide Application Notification

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Pendleton School District will be applying pesticides on the school district properties March 20 – October 31, 2023 between the hours of 6:00 am – 2:30 pm, weather dependent. See the list of pesticides on the Facilities Page.

Kevin Headings

Superintendent Message – Snow Make Up Day

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Hello PSD Families,

The Pendleton School District will be conducting school as normal on Friday, May 12th.  This day was originally put on our 2022-2023 Calendar as a “snow make-up day.”  It’s hard to believe, but we have had six late starts and two full “snow days” this school year.  Each of these days represents lost instruction for our students.  The state requires a minimum number of instruction hours each year, and when we fall below this number, we find ways to make up for the lost time.  As a result, we create our yearly school calendar with at least one “snow make-up day.”  If we don’t need to use it, great.  If we need to make up instructional hours, as we do this year, we use it without adding days to the end of the year.  So again, there will be school on Friday, May 12th, so please plan accordingly.  Here is the link to the updated school calendar.

Sincerely,

Kevin Headings
Superintendent

Sherwood Students

Sherwood Elementary Celebrates Academic Progress & Plans for Parent-Teacher Conferences

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The months of January, February, and March before Spring Break may seem like a long, cold stretch without many days off, but for schools, that time is golden. This period of time offers the longest uninterrupted time in the school year, making it ideal for focused academic time for teachers and students. And at Sherwood Heights Elementary, they are making the most of it.

“Right now, we are really encouraging students and their parents to prioritize good attendance at school, to eat healthy meals, especially breakfast, and to get enough sleep, all of which make for a productive school day,” said Ronda Smith, Sherwood Principal.

Smith is pleased with recent data at her school that Sherwood Spurs are growing academically. Students recently completed i-Ready testing in math and reading. Comparing initial scores in September with January scores indicates that more students are on or above grade level in both math and reading, and the number of students below grade level in the subjects decreased during that time. “We are really happy with our mid-year check data, and we continue to use strategies to help students keep up the progress,” Smith said.

One strategy parents can help with is attending Parent-Teacher Conferences on the evenings of March 7 and 9. Sherwood encourages parents/guardians to make the most of the 20-minute conferences with teachers and to really focus on their child. At conferences, teachers will discuss a student’s i-Ready scores and academic progress, show samples of their work, and talk about their strengths and areas to work on and their social progress. Smith suggests parents ask these questions at conferences:

  1. What kind of academic progress has my child made since the start of the school year?
  2. How is my child doing socially and while interacting in the classroom?
  3. Is there anything I can do at home to help my child’s education?

Another thing parents can emphasize and work on with their child is “soft school skills,” which Smith explains include regular school attendance, active participation in the classroom, following school rules and teacher instructions, and completing and turning in assignments on time. Smith said these skills translate into middle school, high school, and adulthood, helping a child learn organization, time management, and the ability to focus and complete tasks. “Our goal at Sherwood is to help students grow and ultimately become a contributing part of their community.”

Sherwood Students Sherwood Students Sherwood Students Sherwood Students

NSCW 2023

National School Counseling Week – February 6-10, 2023

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National School Counseling Week 2023 (Feb. 6-10), sponsored by the American School Counselor Association (ASCA), highlights the essential contribution of school counselors within U.S. school systems and the tremendous impact they have in helping students achieve school success and plan for a career. Every student deserves a school counselor to help with academic achievement strategies, managing emotions and applying interpersonal skills, and planning for postsecondary options. School counselors are #HelpingStudentsDreamBig. Take a moment to thank your local school counselor(s).

NSCW 2023

Kevin Headings

Message from Superintendent Headings – January 12, 2023

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1/12/2023 @ 10:45 am

This morning across the street from McKay Elementary School a power pole “transformer” blew and set off the fire alarms at the school.  Students were safely evacuated and the fire department was dispatched.  The building was checked inside and out by the fire department and once deemed safe, students were allowed back into the school and will continue with classes.

 

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Letter to Families – Illness and Staying Home

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December 9, 2022

Dear Pendleton School District Families and Guardians –

There is a lot of illness going around our community and our schools.  We hope your family is staying well, and we wish you the best.  However, if your student is displaying symptoms of illness, please keep them home until they are better.  To see the different symptoms of the illnesses going around, see the attached list.

PLEASE KEEP ILL STUDENTS OUT OF SCHOOL

Thank you,

Kevin Headings
Superintendent
Pendleton School District

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Pendleton School District
107 NW 10th Street, Pendleton, OR 97801
Phone:  541.276.6711  Fax:  541.278.3208

The Pendleton School District assures that no person shall on the grounds of race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, religion, age, disability or income as provided by Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and related authorities, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be otherwise subjected to discrimination under any Pendleton School District sponsored program or activity.

TITLE IX COORDINATOR: Michelle Jensen, PhD Superintendent | Phone: (541) 276-6711 | Email: Michelle Jensen

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