Dear Parents and / or Guardians |
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Outdoor School Parents
Dear Parents and / or Guardians: Your child has the opportunity to participate in the residential Outdoor School program. Outdoor School has been serving schools in the Portland metro area for over 50 years. Your child’s class and teacher will attend one of our Outdoor School sites. About 100 students from four classes attend for programs ranging from three to six days. This opportunity is provided to schools and is a program of the Multnomah Education Service District. The Outdoor School experience is an educational program where students attend school 24-hours a day in a beautiful outdoor setting. Outdoor School is an extension of the classroom, offering a hands-on, engaging approach to learning. Best of all, it supplies an enjoyable learning experience in which students show a genuine enthusiasm for their studies. The Outdoor School program has taken precautions to ensure your child’s comfort, health, and safety during his/her time at the Outdoor School site. Students will be transported to the Outdoor School in a regular school district bus with a fully qualified driver. A registered nurse will manage health concerns and oversee medications and treatments necessary to students on site. If you have a child with specific medical needs, please contact the Outdoor School office at 503-257-1600. Transportation is always ready to take any student to the hospital should an emergency arise. Generally, if children are sick enough to be in bed, they should go home, and parents will be notified to come and pick up their child. Students are housed in winterized, heated cabins, and adequate rain shelters and dry rooms are available for wet-weather days. The Outdoor School program has secured accident insurance coverage for all participating students. COST: If your school or school district charges a fee for Outdoor School, you will receive separate instructions about any cost and how to submit payment. Program costs are offset by support from the East Multnomah Soil & Water Conservation District, Metro, Friends of Outdoor School, and the schools themselves. CONDUCT: Just as at their home school, students at Outdoor School will be provided a learning climate supported by positive behavior expectations and, when necessary, discipline for inappropriate or unacceptable conduct. Students and parents must sign and submit a "Rules for Student Behavior" form. MAIL: A letter from home is a welcome experience to all students away from their families. Children will be encouraged to write home and relate their experiences at least once during their stay at Outdoor School. Mail will be sent out and picked up daily. Due to an increasing number of students with food allergies, and the site’s inability to receive packages, please do not send “care-packages” to your child while they are at Outdoor School. Your child will be at one of the following addresses: Angelos (Sandy River) Outdoor School 32149 SE Stevens Rd., Corbett, OR 97019 (503) 695-5388 Collins Outdoor School 3001 SE Oxbow Parkway, Gresham, OR 97080 (503) 663-7305 Kuratli Outdoor School 24751 SE Hwy 224, Boring, OR 97009 (503) 637-5706 Namanu Outdoor School 10300 SE Camp Namanu Rd., Sandy, OR 97055 (503) 695-3280 Westwind Outdoor School 7500 N Fraser Road, Otis, OR 97368 (503) 257-1600 HEALTH HISTORY FORM: We require a completed Health History Form. Information students share will be used to help us understand how to better evaluate our programming for improvement, and will remain confidential. The Health History From can be found here. Any prescribed medications being taken by the child must be supplied from home for the entire stay, and must be in an original prescription bottle (available at your pharmacy), labeled with the student’s name, doctor’s name, medication, prescribed dosage, and the condition for which the drug is given. These will be kept by the Outdoor School nurse who will see to their prescribed administration. Especially note any health, emotional, or physical problems that might require special staff planning. Please do not send aspirin, cough drops, band aids, home remedies, etc., as the dispensary is already equipped for proper treatment of minor ailments. Please note, there are special instructions for dietary supplements on the Health History form. Please sign the Health History form where indicated to grant permission for a physician to treat your son or daughter in case of medical emergency. Any other restrictions should be similarly noted. Please sign this statement. The completed Health History Form should be returned to the teacher at least three weeks before your child is scheduled to go to Outdoor School. The Outdoor School program continually works to improve our instructional programming. As part of these efforts, your child may be invited to participate in a brief interview about what they are learning while at Outdoor School. TRANSGENDER and GENDER NONCONFORMING STUDENTS: Multnomah ESD and Outdoor School are committed to creating a learning environment conductive to the overall development and social-emotional health and well-being of students. Gender nonconforming students often experience discrimination, harassment and implicit bias at school and in their lives. These experiences can send students the message that they do not belong. At MESD and Outdoor School, we make it clear: All students do belong and are welcome. Outdoor School will accept and address a student by their preferred pronoun (he/she/they), gender identity, and name. Students will be assigned to the cabin group and bathroom that is aligned with their asserted gender identity; students that identify as male will be assigned to a male cabin and bathroom and students that identify as female will be assigned to a female cabin and bathroom. CABINS and BATHROOMS: At Outdoor School students typically change clothes in cabins and shower in the school bathrooms. Cabins are led by Student Leaders who live in the cabins with the students. At Outdoor School we support a student’s right to use a facility corresponding with their gender identity. Sixth grade students that identify as male will be placed in male cabins and sixth grade students that identify as female will be placed in female cabins. Student Leaders that identify as male will be assigned to male cabin groups and Student Leaders that identify as female will be assigned to female cabin groups. If the student’s cabin and bathroom assignment does not meet the student’s comfort level, ODS staff will work with the parent to create a solution that ensures student safety and comfort. Sixth grade students that identify as male will use male designated bathrooms, and students that identify as female will use female designated bathrooms. Student Leaders that identify as male will use male designated bathrooms, and student leaders that identify as female will use female designated bathrooms. Single stall bathrooms are also available to any student who desires increased privacy. CLOTHING AND BEDDING: We ask that parents equip their child with the items of clothing and bedding described on the Clothing and Equipment List. There are no candy, gum, or soft drinks sold at Outdoor School, and we ask your child not to bring these items. Children should not bring any money since there is nothing to purchase during the Outdoor School program. The MESD is not responsible for loss or theft of personal belongings, so please avoid sending expensive clothing or footwear. Please remember to label all clothing and bedding with your child’s name and school. If an item is missing upon your child’s return from Outdoor School, please contact the Outdoor School Office within two weeks and we will try to locate the lost item. Experienced Outdoor School staff work diligently to provide your child with an outstanding program full of learning. If, however, you have concerns about your child’s attendance, you are encouraged to contact the Outdoor School Office (503-257-1600, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) to discuss these concerns in advance of your child’s attending Outdoor School. On occasion, an advance visit to the site with you and your child may help ease any anxiety you or your child may be experiencing. We will be having a Family Open House at each Outdoor School site before the session starts. Information regarding the date and time will be sent home from your child’s teacher (Family Open House time and date can also be found on the Session Calendar). Please come out to the site and talk with the staff, see the accommodations and put yourself at ease. Overall, we are confident that your child will have a successful experience that he or she will long remember. Sincerely, The Outdoor School Team Outdoor School Office 11611 NE Ainsworth Circle Portland, OR 97220 503-257-1600 Fax: 503-257-1592 outdoorschool@mesd.k12.or.us July 2017 |
4th Grade Overnight Parents
Dear Parents and / or Guardians: Your child has the opportunity to participate in a two day 4th Grade Overnight program. Your child’s class and teacher will be attending this program at one of our Outdoor School sites. Approximately 70 to 90 students from three or four classes attend each 4th Grade Overnight program. This opportunity is provided as a service of the Multnomah Education Service District (MESD) Outdoor School department. The staff at the 4th Grade Overnight program want to emphasize that it is an educational program where students will spend two days studying in a beautiful outdoor setting. The 4th Grade Overnight program is an extension of the classroom and will provide a hands-on approach to learning and a pleasurable learning experience. The Outdoor School department has taken precautions to ensure your child’s comfort, health, and safety during their overnight experience at the 4th Grade Overnight program. Students will be transported to the 4th Grade Overnight program in a regular school district bus with a fully qualified driver. A staff member trained as a health assistant will live on the site 24-hours-a-day during your child’s experience. A registered nurse is available on-call. If you have a child with specific medical needs, please contact the Outdoor School office at 503-257-1600. Transportation is always ready to take any student to the hospital should an emergency arise. Generally, if children are sick enough to be in bed, they should go home and parents will be notified to come and pick up their child. Students are housed in winterized, heated lodges, and adequate rain shelters are available for wet weather days. The Outdoor School department has secured accident insurance coverage for all participating students. Should a family emergency occur while your child is at the 4th Grade Overnight program, you may contact your school or phone the site. The teacher will be notified of the site and location that your child’s class is attending, and will be instructed to forward this information to parents before the class attends. Please call the Outdoor School office at 503-257-1600 if you have questions. COST: Your child’s teacher will tell you the cost of the program. Contact your child’s classroom teacher to see if scholarship money is available. Please make payment to your school office and send it to your child’s teacher. (Do NOT send payment to the MESD.) If you have any questions or concerns regarding the cost of the 4th Grade Overnight program, contact your child’s teacher or the school principal. CONDUCT: Just as at their home school, students at the 4th Grade Overnight program will be provided a learning climate supported by positive behavior expectations and, if necessary, discipline for inappropriate or unacceptable conduct. Students and parents must sign and submit a "Rules for Student Behavior" form. HEALTH HISTORY FORM: We require a completed Health History Form. The Outdoor School advising nurse will screen the health history. Any prescribed medications being taken by the child must be supplied from home for the two day stay and must be in an ORIGINAL PRESCRIPTION BOTTLE (available at your pharmacy), labeled with the student’s name, doctor’s name, medication, prescribed dosage, and the condition for which the drug is given. The health assistant on staff will see to their prescribed administration. Please note the regulations on Dietary Supplements located on page 2 of the health history form. Especially note any health, emotional, or physical problems that might require special staff planning. Please sign the Health History form where indicated to grant permission for a physician to treat your child in case of medical emergency. The completed Health History form should be returned to the teacher at least three weeks before your child is scheduled to go to the 4th Grade Overnight. MEDICATION Place all medication required at the site into a ziplock bag labeled with your child’s name, school and teacher. Give the medication directly to your child’s teacher at the bus. Medication must be in the original container. The direction on the prescription label must match exactly what you wrote on the parent / guardian authorization on your child’s health history form. *Please note regulations regarding dietary supplements located on page 2 of the health history form. LUNCH: Most meals are provided during the overnight, but students are required to bring a lunch for the first day. In an effort to reduce waste, we ask that you consider providing this lunch in a re-useable container that your child can take back home with them. CLOTHING AND BEDDING: Students may dress “pioneer-style” for the 4th Grade Overnight. This may mean jeans and boots, long skirts, hats, bonnets, etc. There are no soft drinks, candy or gum sold at the 4th Grade Overnight program, and we ask that your child not bring these items. Children should not bring any money since there is nothing to purchase during the 4th Grade Overnight program. The MESD is not responsible for loss or theft of personal belongings, so please avoid sending expensive clothing, coats, or shoes. Please remember to label all clothing and bedding with your child’s name and school. If an item is missing upon your child’s return from the 4th Grade Overnight program, please contact our office within two weeks and we will try to locate the lost item. Recommended clothing and equipment list can be found on the Forms for Parents page. Experienced staff work diligently to provide your child with an outstanding learning experience. If, however, you have concerns about your child’s attendance, you are encouraged to contact our office at 503-257-1600 between 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. to discuss these concerns before your child attends the 4th Grade Overnight program. We will be having a Family Open House at each 4th Grade Overnight site before the session starts. Information regarding the date and time will be sent home from your child’s teacher (Family Open House time and date can also be found on the Session Calendar). Please come out to the site and talk with the staff, see the accommodations and put yourself at ease. Overall, we are confident that your child will have a successful experience that he or she will long remember. Sincerely, The Outdoor School Team Outdoor School Office 11611 NE Ainsworth Circle Portland, OR 97220 503-257-1600 Fax: 503-257-1592 outdoorschool@mesd.k12.or.us January 2015 |
