Our School

Hello Gilbert Heights Families,

This has been an extraordinarily year for our students, our families and our staff. I am pleased to share that I will be continuing as Gilbert Heights Interim Principal for the 2020-21 school year. During this unusual time, I believed it would help families, students and staff to have consistent leadership. I loved my time at GH this spring and look forward to the 20-21 year.

Reopening in September

The first day of the 2020-21 school year is currently scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 8. We are developing a plan specific to David Douglas following ODE guidance. We will prioritize safety and student learning, with equity as our lens.  We will continue to communicate developments with you during the summer as necessary so that you and your students will be prepared.

The Oregon Department of Education (ODE) has released reopening guidance for schools called Ready Schools, Safe Learners. One thing we know for sure is that school next year will not look the same as it did before the coronavirus.  Recognizing that COVID-19 will likely continue to pose a public health risk throughout next school year, and that the prevalence of COVID-19 varies community by community, the ODE blueprint instructs school districts to develop a back-to-school plan that utilizes a mix of on-site and distance learning options to protect the safety of students, staff, and families. Districts are also to develop communicable disease management plans and contingency plans in the event of COVID-19 outbreaks––including returns to fully distance learning and modified school year calendars as necessary.

I thank you for your patience as we have navigated these unusual times.

Warmly,

Barbara Kienle, Principal

Kindergarten Registration: 

We are registering kindergarten online.  Students who are age 5 on or before September 1 are eligible for enrollment in kindergarten. So if you have, or know of, a child who is 5 or will be 5 before September 1, please register the child soon.  We are looking forward to meeting some of our youngest learners. The Gilbert Heights office is open Wednesdays from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm to help with registration questions. The link to kindergarten registration is here: Registration and Enrollment

Chromebook Return Information

If you borrowed one or more Chromebooks from the David Douglas School District, we are asking you to keep them over the summer. Please do not return them at this time.

We do not know what school will look like when next school year begins in the fall. We want you to have access to these devices in case we still have some form of Distance Learning next school year.

If you are moving out of the District or for any reason do not want to keep your Chromebook over the summer, you can return them during your school’s packet pickup day. Please do this by June 4.

Below are additional resources you may find helpful:

• Please remember we have four daily meal sites for our families. And we have four food pantry sites for our community. You can see the locations, times and schedules for all of them here: https://www.ddouglas.k12.or.us/coronavirus-shutdown/food-resources/

• DDSD Website – Family Resources – If you have not already, check out the DDSD’s website and all the resources that are there for families. https://www.ddouglas.k12.or.us/2020/03/family-resources-during-the-coronavirus-shutdown/

Successful Reverse Parade!

Teacher Messages

Follow this link to view video messages from Gilbert Heights teachers