HSF Innovative Grants
March 20, 2023 - The Hillsboro Schools Foundation (HSF) will award grants of up to $7,500 to fund innovative educational projects during the 2023-24 school year. A total of $50,000 will be distributed this May. 

Through their Innovative Education Grants, HSF supports projects that put the tools of exploration, imagination, and self-expression directly into students’ hands, providing them with opportunities they would otherwise not have under normal school funding. The process is simple, fair, and open to all HSD teachers, administrators, staff, and volunteer family groups for programs that enhance student achievement both inside and outside the classroom. Proposals are evaluated and selected based on student engagement and achievement; innovative instructional methods and tools; and sustainable, measurable results. 

The grant application is now open and available at hsfonline.org/apply-for-grants. Submission deadline is 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday, Apr. 11. 

Participation in a grant training webinar at 4 p.m. on Thursday, Mar. 2 is strongly encouraged. Please RSVP to Aron Carleson at aronc@wcchamber.org for the link. You may also reach out to Aron with any questions.

Special Education Teacher Information Session
March 20, 2023 - Interested in becoming a special education teacher? Register for a virtual information session from 4:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Apr. 12 to learn about different pathways and supports HSD offers to help you achieve your dream!

STEM Summer Camp Teacher Recruitment
March 13, 2023 - The PSU Center for Entrepreneurship seeks four STEM Camp Instructors to provide teaching and workshop support for 7 weeks this summer. Instructors will assist with hands-on prototyping activities for middle school students. Learn more in this flyer.

Lewis & Clark School Counseling Master’s Degree Information Session
March 6, 2023 - Lewis & Clark’s Graduate School of Education and Counseling is holding a virtual information session from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Thursday, Mar. 9 on its School Counseling master’s degree and preliminary license program. Click here to register.

HR High Five Podcast
March 6, 2023 - Our Human Resources department’s new HR High Five Podcast series features achievements, ideas, and connections within our HSD community. Each episode has about ten minutes of content and focuses on a theme or key word. The goal of this podcast is to share ways our employees work together and highlight their contributions to our district. This month’s theme is The Heart of HSD! Enjoy listening to staff members Salo Acosta, Ciara Hartzell, and Yaquwlyn Vazquez Burgos share stories about what motivates them in their work. Watch for new episodes at the end of each month during the school year.

PERS Retirement Seminar
February 20, 2023 - A free PERS/403(b) virtual retirement planning seminar will take place at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 22 via Zoom. The webinar will be presented by Skylar Koon with Cetera Investors, who has been conducting similar seminars for the HSD employees for over a decade.

The workshop is open to all employees and their partners, whether they are planning to retire in the near future or are simply looking to get some questions answered. Topics will include explaining the PERS system, its changes over time, and what they will mean to you. Different payout options will also be discussed to help you start thinking about what may be best for you and your family. Sylar will review the steps necessary to acquire an estimate for your retirement as well as the paperwork process for someone who decides to retire. Other topics will include taxes, health insurance, long-term care, and how PERS fits into other retirement tools to create a cohesive financial strategy for retirement, in addition to pitfalls to avoid when utilizing PERS in combination with other retirement accounts as well as Social Security. 

Please note the seminar will not be recorded. 

Register in advance at this link. Once you have registered, you will receive a follow-up email confirming your registration, along with Zoom instructions to attend the seminar at the scheduled time. If you do not receive a confirmation email, make sure to check your spam folder or reach out to Skylar at skylar.koon@ceterainvestors.com.

HSD’s Evaluation 5D+ Rubric Training
February 20, 2023 - Licensed staff are invited to join us for an optional professional development session on HSD’s Evaluation 5D+ Rubric. The objectives will be to:

• Understand our 5D+ Evaluation Rubric

• Understand our Instructional Framework: 5Ds of Teaching and Learning

• Identify how the 5Ds are represented in our instructional day

There are two sessions to choose from:

• Thursday, Feb. 23 from 3:45 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. in the Administration Center Board Room

• Thursday, Apr. 20 from 3:45 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. in the Administration Center Board Room

Mark your calendars if you can make it. Extended contract will be paid.

HR High Five Podcast
February 6, 2023 - Our Human Resources department is pleased to announce its new HR High Five Podcast series, which features achievements, ideas, and connections within our HSD community. Each episode has about ten minutes of content and focuses on a theme or key word. The goal of this podcast is to share ways our employees work together and highlight their contributions to our district. This month’s theme is celebration! Enjoy listening to staff members Morgan Quimby, Dave Peterson, and Leandre Butler share their stories. Watch for new episodes at the end of each month during the school year.

Strategic Plan Feedback 
January 30, 2023 - All staff are invited to review the core elements of our draft 2023-2027 Strategic Plan and provide their feedback by Friday, Feb. 17. The survey will be made available to students, families, and other HSD stakeholders on Monday, Feb. 6 once translation is complete.

Licensed Transfer Window Open
January 23, 2023 - Now through Wednesday, Mar. 1 licensed staff may request consideration for a voluntary transfer to another school or assignment, or for a leave of absence or change to FTE in the 2023-24 school year (per Article 12, Section b of the HEA/HSD Licensed Professional Agreement). Full details were emailed to licensed staff directly; please speak with your HEA building representative or supervising administrator if you have questions.

Hillsboro Public Library Newsletter for Teachers
January 16, 2023 - January’s edition of the Hillsboro Public Library’s Student Success Newsletter features information on upcoming study halls, a teen art contest, and a program for beginning readers. Also check out the Library’s January events brochure for additional events and information.

Paid Leave Oregon Staff Notice
January 2, 2023 - Paid Leave Oregon is a new state-level program that allows individuals to take paid time off for many of life’s most important moments that impact our families and our health and safety. Required contributions are made by employers and employees. Employers pay 40% and employees pay 60% of the contribution rate, which is 1 percent for 2023.

While some employers and employees will begin paying for the new program in January, Hillsboro School District intends to provide an Equivalent Plan administered by a private insurance carrier. This plan will provide at least the same benefits as the State's program. Mandatory monthly paycheck deductions of 0.6% will not begin until the benefits are available in September 2023.  

Hillsboro School District has determined that providing these benefits through a fully insured Equivalent Plan is the best option for the district and its employees. More information will be provided during the annual Employee Benefit Enrollment period in August 2023. 

You can find more information about Paid Leave Oregon here: https://paidleave.oregon.gov/Pages/default.aspx

Oregon School and After School Wellness Awards
January 2, 2023 - ODE, the Nutrition Council of Oregon, the Oregon Dairy and Nutrition Council, and OregonASK are teaming up to reward exemplary school and after school programs for creating and sustaining a culture of wellness for youth and staff. Learn more here and apply by Jan. 31, 2023.

United Way Campaign
December 12, 2022 - Each year, HSD joins forces with United Way of Columbia-Willamette to mobilize support around improving lives in our region. Participating in the United Way’s annual campaign provides you with the opportunity to share in this vision and enhance our community.

Local agencies need ongoing help with the most basic needs in our community. The United Way’s program for specific agency donations allows donors to select an agency of their choice to receive their contribution. There are many Washington County agencies that work directly with children and families, or you can select any other tax-exempt 501(c)(3) charity to receive your donation through the United Way.

For more information, please visit the United Way website and review their FAQ. When you decide to donate, you can email your completed pledge form to Katie Russell-Willis, send it via interdepartmental mail to AC201, or fax it to 503-844-1557. 

Click here to view informational videos and see how your donation makes an impact.

This year’s campaign runs from Friday, Nov. 4 to Friday, Dec. 16. 

Each of us has an opportunity to give back to our local neighbors and communities. Thank you for what you do, not only as an educational professional, but also as an integral, contributing member of our local community.

Winter Break Reminders
December 12, 2022 - As HSD prepares to take winter break, here are a few best practices for “shutting down” your classrooms and office spaces:

• Close drapes and/or blinds to reduce heat loss during the day.

• Turn off all monitors and charging carts.

• Ensure no furniture, posters, or bulletin boards are covering HVAC units or sensors. Ventilator fans must be exposed to allow for proper air circulation even during periods where rooms are not occupied.

• Ensure all light switches are OFF, thus disabling any unintentional use of lighting sensors. 

• Turn off and unplug all personal lamps and other small electronics. 

• Turn off and/or unplug personal printers, projectors, TVs, copiers, coffeepots, radios, powerstrips (not connected to computer equipment), and other devices. 

• Empty and unplug all refrigerators, and prop open the door. 

• Unplug all personal microwaves.

• Turn off and unplug all classroom PA systems and hallway monitors. 

Gift yourself cost savings by adopting these energy-saving best practices at home during the holidays:

• Schedule a heating system check-up if it has been a while since you had one. 

• Keep the cold air outside by adding or replacing weatherstripping around doors and windows.

• Switch to a smart thermostat to optimize your furnace runtimes. 

• Turn down the thermostat at night and bundle up under a blanket for additional warmth. Reducing set points during sleeping hours reduces overall usage. 

• Close off unused rooms - why heat a room no one uses?

• If you have a fireplace, close the damper when it’s not in use.

• Keep air vents unblocked. Blocked air vents make your heating system work harder and reduce air circulation. 

• Check your insulation, especially around electrical outlets, plumbing, windows, and skylights. 

• Set your water heater to 120 degrees and insulate it. This moderate temperature provides adequate hot water and keeps the heating element from running more than necessary.

• Wash and dry only full loads of laundry. Consider wearing clothing - especially outer layers - multiple times before washing. 

• Put your holiday lights on timers. 

• Switch to LED lights, including holiday lights.

• Unplug unused electronics and appliances. Appliances that are plugged in draw electricity even when set in the “OFF” position. These are known as “energy vampires” because they draw energy during periods of non-use or sleep.

• Take advantage of the full sun during the day and then close drapes/blinds at night. Days are short, but when the sun comes out free heating is available!

Health Reimbursement Account Support Sessions
December 5, 2022 - If you were enrolled in Moda Plan 5, Kaiser 2, or were a licensed or classified employee enrolled in Kaiser 3 for the 2021-22 plan year - you may have money waiting for you. Stop by one of the upcoming Q&A sessions to speak with someone who can help you understand the Health Reimbursement Account (HRA) benefit. 

• Tuesday, Nov. 8, 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at Transportation North (7705 NE Jacobsen St.)

• Tuesday, Nov. 8, 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the HSD Administration Center (3083 NE 49th Pl.)

• Tuesday, Nov. 15, 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at Transportation South (1220 SW Walnut St.)

• Tuesday, Nov. 15, 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at South Meadows Middle School (4690 SE Davis Rd.)

• Thursday, Dec. 8, 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. virtual session on Zoom. 

You are also welcome to stop by if you are enrolled for the current 2022-23 Plan Year and have questions about the HRA benefit. See this flyer for more information.

Hillsboro Public Library Newsletter for Teachers
December 5, 2022 - December’s edition of the Hillsboro Public Library’s Student Success Newsletter invites teachers to sign up for a sponsored school visit with a local author, and includes information about free events and activities taking place at both library locations this month.

We Need Your Peanut Butter
November 28, 2022 - Just a reminder that peanut butter donations are being collected for the Elks Holiday Basket program, which supports more than 600 HSD families and students in need. Drop off your donations at boxes located in the Administration Center break rooms or at HOA by Thursday, Dec. 1.

Safety Alert
November 21, 2022 - Thefts from vehicles are unfortunately on the rise in the Hillsboro/Washington County area. Recently, several staff members have had their vehicles broken into and their access cards and keys stolen. Staff are strongly encouraged to not leave their access cards and keys in their unattended vehicles at any time; this also includes storing them in your vehicle overnight or on weekends. 

If you do become the victim of a theft that involves your access card, please immediately submit a Facilities work order request (select Access Control System and then select the “report lost card” option) to report the issue. For lost or stolen keys, please notify your building administrator and office manager. 

As the holiday season approaches, it is also a good reminder to not leave valuables or purchases in unattended vehicles or in plain sight as that makes your vehicle an attractive target for theft.

Hillsboro Elks Holiday Support
November 14, 2022 - Each year, the Hillsboro Elks Club supports more than 600 HSD households with food and toys for children 18 and younger. You can help by giving money, donating a toy through the Hillsboro Fire and Rescue Toy & Joy program, or dropping off peanut butter at Hillsboro Online Academy (452 NE Third Ave.) or the Hillsboro School District Administration Center (3083 NE 49th Place) by Friday, Dec. 2. 

Monetary donations can be taken to the Lodge or dropped off at the HSD Administration Center, attention Communications. Checks should be made payable to Hillsboro Elks (7553 NE Quatama St., Hillsboro, OR 97124). 

Thank you so much for your support of our students and families in need!

Retention Bonus Update for Classified and Licensed Staff
October 31, 2022 - Classified and licensed staff members should have received an email on Oct. 25 informing them of the retention bonus they are eligible for thanks to one-time funds received through Oregon’s House Bill 4030 Retention and Recruitment grant.

Here are some friendly reminders from our Payroll team:

• For those who already have their Direct Deposit account set up, you will receive your retention bonus on Nov. 10, 2022.

  • Those without Direct Deposit will be sent a live check via the U.S. mail to your current address on file with HSD.

If you have changed your Direct Deposit account, please notify Payroll by Nov. 4, 2022 at payroll@hsd.k12.or.us.

Educator Network Opportunities
October 31, 2022 - The Northwest Regional ESD encourages educators to participate in the following groups:

• Northwest Regional Educator Network: The Northwest Regional Educator Network (NREN) will help any educator interested in researching, creating, advancing or sustaining initiatives that support the success of educators of color in the region. Any educator can apply as an individual, team lead or student group adviser and the NREN staff are available to assist with the process. Would you like to learn more about how to prepare your application for our January 13 application deadline? Learn more and apply.

• School Culture and Climate Collaboratives (Various Dates): Northwest Regional Education Service District is hosting three learning collaboratives to provide educators with tools to build welcoming, inclusive and connected school communities. Topics will include: LGBTQ2SIA+ Equity, Tribal History/ Shared History (SB 13), and ODE Student Success Plans. Learn more and sign up.

• Professional Learning Community for Early Career Special Educators (Various Dates): This professional learning series supports special educators in the first one to three years of their career. Attend six virtual professional learning sessions on topics like legal procedures and compliance, quality IEP development, and equity and diverse family partnerships through the IEP process. You will also have access to optional virtual drop-in sessions and an optional on-site coaching visit. Free to educators in the Northwest Regional Education Service District service area. Learn more and join.

Lifetouch Photos for Administration Center Staff
October 31, 2022 - Photographers from Lifetouch will be in AC Conference Room 213 on Friday, Oct. 28 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. and again on Friday, Nov. 4 from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. Photos are optional (but highly recommended) for new staff or staff who want to retake their existing photo, and will be added to the staff directory (some staff do not appear in the directory and please notify Justin Arey if you’d prefer to opt-out). Please dress professionally. Note that photographers have been vaccinated and will be masked throughout the process. Staff are asked to wear masks until it is time for the photo to be taken. Thank you!

Hillsboro Public Library Newsletter for Teachers
October 31, 2022 - November’s edition of the Hillsboro Public Library’s Student Success Newsletter includes information about book giveaways for teachers, OBOB Meet-Ups, their Simple Science Elementary-level Program, online tutoring, and festivities. 

Strategic Plan Feedback Session for Staff 
October 24, 2022 - Staff have an opportunity to see the work-to-date on our 2023-2027 Strategic Plan and provide their feedback in a live virtual session with our consultant on Tuesday, Oct. 25 from 3:45 p.m. to 5 p.m. Please join us!

Staff Flu Shot Clinics Rescheduled
October 17, 2022 - Staff Flu Shot Clinics have been rescheduled for 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 24 in the Century High School Library, and from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 28 in the Administration Center Board Room. More information is available here. Additional questions? Contact Michelle Brady.

Strategic Plan Feedback Sessions for Staff
October 17, 2022 - Staff will have two opportunities to see the work-to-date on our 2023-2027 Strategic Plan and provide their feedback in live virtual sessions with our consultant: Thursday, Oct. 20 from 4 p.m. to 5:15 p.m., and Tuesday, Oct. 25 from 3:45 p.m. to 5 p.m. Please join us!

CANCELED AWAITING NEW DATES - Staff Flu Shot Clinic Reminder
October 10, 2022 - The next Staff Flu Shot Clinic for employees and their covered dependents takes place on Saturday, Oct. 15 from 9 a.m. to noon in the Century High School north parking lot.

Strategic Plan Feedback Sessions for Staff
October 10, 2022 - Staff will have two opportunities to see the work-to-date on our 2023-2027 Strategic Plan and provide their feedback in live virtual sessions with our consultant: Thursday, Oct. 20 from 4 p.m. to 5:15 p.m., and Tuesday, Oct. 25 from 3:45 p.m. to 5 p.m. Please mark your calendars!

Pacific University Information Session
October 10, 2022 - Pacific University is offering a virtual information session from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 11 to share more about their School of Learning & Teaching (SLT) programs.

2023-24 Oregon Blue Book Student Essay Contest
October 3, 2022 - The Oregon Blue Book, an almanac and fact book for Oregon, is looking for short essays with accompanying drawings OR videos from students in grades K-8 that share their pandemic experience. Submission deadline is Thursday, Oct. 20, and teachers must have reviewed students’ work in advance. For full details, visit the Secretary of State’s website.

HSD Partnership with American College of Education
October 3, 2022 -  HSD has partnered with the American College of Education to bring degree-attainment programs to staff members at a reduced rate. Join them for a webinar at 5 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 13 to learn more.

Hillsboro Public Library Newsletter for Teachers
October 3, 2022 - In an effort to better serve students and teachers, the Hillsboro Public Library has begun creating a monthly Student Success newsletter. Check out the October edition for helpful tips and resources.

CANCELED - AWAITING NEW DATES - Staff Flu Shot Clinics
September 26, 2022 - HSD will once again be offering Flu Shot Clinics for employees and their covered dependents from 9 a.m. to noon on three Saturdays in the month of October. Please note that only flu shots will be given at these clinics - COVID-19 shots/boosters will not be provided.

• Saturday, Oct. 1 - Liberty High School rotunda (enter at main entrance), 21945 NE Wagon Way.

• Saturday, Oct. 15 - Century High School north parking lot (enter building doors on north parking lot side), 2000 SE Century Blvd.

• Saturday, Oct. 22 - Administration Center Board Room, 3083 NE 49th Place

Kaiser members are welcome! Dependent children must be at least 9 years of age. Claim form for Moda and Kaiser OEBB - fill out in advance or on-site. Additional insurance companies the vendor will accept.

Questions? Contact Michelle Brady at bradym@hsd.k12.or.us or 503-844-1342.

Staff Attendance at High School Sporting Events
September 26, 2022 - Did you know that your HSD employee badge gets you free admission to regular season OSAA sporting events at HSD schools/fields? Just one more great reason to come out and support our high school student-athletes!

Pacific University Financial Aid & FAFSA Session
September 26, 2022 - Pacific University is offering a Financial Aid & FAFSA session for people who are interested in learning more about how to finance undergraduate, graduate, or licensure-only teacher education programs. Join them on Thursday, Sep. 29, from 3:45 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Zoom.

Pacific University Information Sessions 
September 19, 2022 - Pacific University is offering three events in the coming weeks where staff can learn more about undergraduate, graduate, and licensure-only teacher education programs.

Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program
September 12, 2022 - The Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF) forgives the remaining balance on your Direct Loans after you have made 120 qualifying monthly payments under a qualifying repayment plan while working full-time for a qualifying employer. Until Oct. 31, 2022, borrowers may receive credit for past periods of repayment that would otherwise not qualify for PSLF under the “limited PSLF waiver.” Learn more on the studentaid.gov website. 

If you need help navigating the process, please reach out to the District’s representative from Horace Mann, Thad Miller, at thad.miller@horacemann.com or 503-625-8942.

Kaiser Permanente Educational Theatre
September 5, 2022 - Kaiser Permanente’s Educational Theatre program uses the power of theater and storytelling to directly connect with students and adults about pressing public health needs. Three programs dealing with different aspects of mental health and resilience are available this fall:

• The Password. This program helps students in grades 3-6 increase awareness of their emotional health and their capacity to recognize when they or others around them may need help. (Preview: Friday, Sep. 23, 10 a.m.)

• Ghosted. This program inspires students in grades 9-12 to engage in supportive conversations about their emotional well-being and provides them with strategies to build resilience. (Preview: Thursday, Sep. 15, 10 a.m.)

• Resilience in School Environments: Understanding and Practice. This program for school staff teaches techniques for self-regulation, stress-management, and building supportive relationships with colleagues. 

Learn more on KP’s Educational Theatre website.

Benefits Open Enrollment
August 29, 2022 - All eligible HSD employees are required to complete benefits enrollment by Monday, Sep. 5. This applies to those wishing to make changes to their benefits AND to those who are keeping their coverages the same, opting out, or waiving benefits. Learn more at hsd.k12.or.us/benefits. 

Summer COVID Testing Options
June 13, 2022 - HSD will continue offering our rapid COVID-19 testing clinic for staff on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8 a.m. to noon through the summer. For testing outside of those days/times, please make an appointment with Virginia Garcia’s Hillsboro clinic (232 SE 7th Ave.). Hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.

2022 Message to Educators from ODE Director Colt Gill
Oregon Department of Education Director Colt Gill offers a heartfelt thank you to Oregon’s educators in this year-end video.

Hops Educator Appreciation Night
May 30, 2022 - Wednesday, June 8, is Educator Appreciation Night at the Hillsboro Hops. Intel is sponsoring the event and invites HSD staff to participate as a token of their appreciation for the work you do to support our next generation of innovators! Discounted tickets for you and your family are available at this link 

Scheduling After-Hours Access to District Buildings
May 23, 2022 - Staff who reserve spaces in schools or district buildings for after-hours or weekend use are asked to provide additional information in Facilitron to complete the scheduling process. After the reservation has been approved, open the reservation in Facilitron and under set-up instructions, please enter what door(s) people will be entering and the timeframes that the door needs to be open. It is important to remember that only doors with key card access can be scheduled - card readers have a label with a name on the side, so please reference the appropriate one when completing your request. Question? Please contact Fred Kuest (503-844-1320) or Denise McMillan (503-844-1343).

SPED Endorsement Information Session
May 16, 2022 - Lewis & Clark offers an added endorsement in special education to licensed elementary and secondary teachers at a special discounted rate. Classes will be held online over ten months, beginning in July 2022. Learn more at the virtual information session on Wednesday, May 18.

Promote Daily Health With Family Engagement Webinar
May 9, 2022 - The Alliance for a Healthier Generation invites you to attend a webinar at 11 a.m. on Thursday, May 12, on Promoting Daily Health with Family Engagement. 

School-based family engagement is linked to higher academic achievement, improved social skills and better mental health among students. During this 30-minute webinar, explore strategies educators can use to foster collaborative, equitable, and trusting relationships with families that support the daily lives of parents and caregivers. Get inspired by examples of school communities promoting healthy habits using creative communication tools to share new resources and upcoming events. Also, you will discover the catalog of success stories, tips and resources from Kohl’s Healthy at Home. If you cannot attend the live webinar and want to receive the recording, click here to register (bit.ly/webinarsHG).

Calm Afternoons
May 9, 2022 - Calm Afternoons is a series of guided meditations for educators and school staff offered by Kaiser Permanente to help you tune into physical sensations and deepen your awareness, nurture self-compassion, and rejuvenate your mind as we bring the school year to a close. The final two sessions take place from 3:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. on May 11, and 18.

HSD 2021-22 Retirement Celebration

You’re invited to celebrate HSD's 2021-22 Retirees with us! (invitation)

Optional Benefits Enrollment for 2022-23
May 2, 2022 - The enrollment period for optional benefits such as accident-only insurance, disability insurance, flexible spending accounts, and more begins Monday, May 2, for the plan year 10/1/22 - 9/30/23. 

Learn more and schedule a time to speak with our American Fidelity representative Tracy Fannin on the Hillsboro School District benefit site. 

Calm Afternoons
May 2, 2022 - Calm Afternoons is a series of guided meditations for educators and school staff offered by Kaiser Permanente from 3:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. on May 4, 11, and 18. The sessions will help you tune into physical sensations and deepen your awareness, nurture self-compassion, and rejuvenate your mind as we bring the school year to a close. 

Pop-Up Rapid Test Clinic for Staff
May 2, 2022 - HSD will run a drop-in “pop-up clinic” for rapid COVID-19 antigen testing at the Oak Street Campus (recently renamed, formerly Miller West). This clinic is for staff only. The purpose of the clinic is to get staff members back to work as quickly and safely as possible. 

Clinic Location & Hours of Operation
Hours: 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. 
Dates: Tuesdays and Thursdays
Where: Oak Street Campus (formerly Miller West) 440 SE Oak St., Hillsboro, OR, 97123, in the portable off of Walnut Street. 

Who: Any HSD staff who are unable to secure a rapid test for home use and/or are waiting for a test through a provider, e.g. Kaiser Permanente, based on the criteria below.

Who MAY access the clinic:

• A staff member (with a badge) who is experiencing illness or is recovering from illness.
• A staff member who has been identified as a close contact of a COVID-positive individual and has been asked to test between days 5 and 7 of exposure.
• A staff member who is delayed in returning to school while waiting for access to testing from a provider, pharmacy, or clinic. 

Who MAY NOT access the clinic:

• Any individual who is not HSD staff
• Any staff member who is vaccinated, not experiencing symptoms of illness, and has not been identified as having been in close contact with a COVID-positive individual. NOTE - this clinic is NOT for staff who need to get tested before taking a flight, going to a concert, etc. 

Please park in the parking lot or on the street. Please look for signage and check in at the door. An HSD Licensed Practical Nurse will help you with the self-administered test and notify you of the results while you wait. If you are caring for a family member, you may bring them, but we would prefer they wait in the car, if possible. 

If you have questions, please reach out to the Contact Tracing Team at 503-844-1784.

PERS Retirement Seminar

April 18, 2022 - A free PERS/403(b) virtual retirement planning seminar will take place at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Apr. 20.

The seminar will be presented by Skylar Koon and Caitlin Koon of Cetera Investors (formally Foresters Financial), an independent fiduciary; both are investment advisor representatives and approved 403(b) vendors for the District.

The workshops are open to all employees and their partners, whether they are planning to retire in the near future or are simply looking to get some questions answered. With the PERS retirement system and potential changes in the news more and more, it is important to stay on top of what can be an essential part of your retirement income. Topics will include explaining the PERS system, its changes over time, and what it will mean to you. Different payout options will also be discussed to help you start thinking about what may be best for you and your family.

Click here to register. After you register, you will receive a follow-up email with the Zoom link for attendance, as well as reminders leading up to the event. 

SPED Endorsement Information Session

April 18, 2022 - Lewis & Clark offers an added endorsement in special education to licensed elementary and secondary teachers at a special discounted rate. Classes will be held online over ten months, beginning in July 2022. Learn more at upcoming virtual information sessions on Apr. 27 and May 18.

Employee Access Portal Now Active

April 11, 2022 - Our new employee portal, Employee Access, is live! There are no changes to the content, merely the look and feel once inside. You will continue to access the new employee portal the way you always have with your District username and password. 

Please review our Employee Access Overview for next steps. You can also watch a quick video on registration and navigating Employee Access.

If you have previously bookmarked the IV employee portal site in your web browser, please be sure to update your bookmark to the new address. You can always find the most updated link from the IVisions Employee Portal icon on MyHSD. 

Please contact the Helpdesk at 503-867-8029 with any questions.

Microplastic Madness Film

April 11, 2022 - In honor of Earth Month, HSD has purchased the rights to screen an amazing film created by students in a New York public school called “Microplastic Madness” (trailer here). Approached from an urban youth point of view, the movie provides an optimistic take on the local and global plastic pollution crisis and concludes with an inspiring take action message. To screen the movie in your school or classroom, reach out to Resource Conservation Manager Mia Hocking for access. The film is available for viewing through Friday, Apr. 22.

Endorsement Offerings at Lewis & Clark
April 04, 2022 - Lewis & Clark's inservice programs model professional standards, innovative curricula, and best practices for early childhood, elementary, middle, and high school teachers who want to advance their study. Please see this flyer to register for an upcoming information session on April 6.

Health Reimbursement Account Support Sessions
April 04, 2022 - If you are currently enrolled in Moda Plan 5, Kaiser 2B, or Kaiser 3, and are not familiar with the Hillsboro Preferred Plan/Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA) and how to file claims, be sure to stop by one of the upcoming virtual training sessions on Apr. 11 and Apr. 13 to speak with someone who can help you understand this benefit.

Teacher Workshop: Concussion and the Classroom
April 04, 2022 - The OHSU Brain Institute is pleased to present a virtual workshop on concussion, designed to give teachers insight into the role neuroscience plays in the classroom. What is concussion: the science of neurotrauma takes place on Saturday, Apr. 9, from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Participants will receive a certificate of completion for four hours of continuing education. Register at this link.

New Employee Portal
April 04, 2022 - Our new employee portal, Employee Access, is launching on Friday, Apr. 8. The upgrade is designed to provide a much smoother experience than our current portal, and we are excited to roll this out to staff. 

First, it is important to be sure your address and contact information are up-to-date before logging into the new Employee Access portal for the first time; this will ensure you can login successfully. 

Please take a moment and login to the Infinite Visions portal and verify your personal information. If you are unsure how to do this, this video will guide you through the steps. Please note: The start date mentioned at the beginning of this video has been adjusted to April 8. 

Linked here is a look at your first steps for a one-time registration login. You will be asked to provide the following information:

• Work email address
• Last four digits of your SSN
• Birthdate
• Your zip code

These pieces of information must match what you have on file with the District when you login to Employee Access for the first time. This is why everyone is encouraged to verify and update their personal information ahead of time. After your first login, you will only need your District credentials for future access. 

Linked here is a sneak peek of what the Employee Access portal will look like. 

Please contact the Helpdesk with any questions, 503-867-8029. 

Endorsement Offerings at Lewis & Clark
March 28, 2022 - Lewis & Clark's inservice programs model professional standards, innovative curricula, and best practices for early childhood, elementary, middle, and high school teachers who want to advance their study. Please see this flyer to register for an upcoming information session on April 6.

Wellness Resources
March 28, 2022 - If you missed Moda Health’s recent webinar “Move Well Series: Upper Back and Shoulders,” you can view the recording here or the slides here. From OEBB, check out these tips for integrating healthy eating habits back into your life.

New iVisions Employee Portal
March 14, 2022 - The iVisions Employee Portal is getting a facelift with a new name, a news look, easier navigation and more! The updated version is called Employee Access. The anticipated launch date is March 31, 2022. Check your HSD email in the coming weeks for instructions about logging in for the first time, portal navigation, and where to go with questions.

Endorsement Offerings at Lewis & Clark
March 14, 2022 - Lewis & Clark's inservice programs model professional standards, innovative curricula, and best practices for early childhood, elementary, middle, and high school teachers who want to advance their study. Please see this flyer to register for an upcoming info session on April 6.

Health Reimbursement Account Support Sessions
March 7, 2022 - If you are currently enrolled in Moda Plan 5, Kaiser 2B, or Kaiser 3, and are not familiar with the Hillsboro Preferred Plan/Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA) and how to file claims, be sure to stop by one of the upcoming training sessions to speak with someone who can help you understand this benefit. Sessions begin Mar. 7.

Youth Track & Field Volunteers Needed
March 7, 2022 - Glencoe’s Track & Field coaches, Ian Reynoso and David Welsh, have launched a Youth Track & Field opportunity for students ages 6 to 18 throughout the district and are looking for staff who might be interested in serving as volunteer coaches. With the Zone Track & Field program no longer offered, they are excited to offer this program to students and hope there are several staff members who would like to be involved. 

The program will run two or three days a week at Glencoe depending on the age group. The two main groups will be 6- to 9-year-olds and 10- to 14-year-olds (the assumption is that most high school-age students will compete with their respective high schools, but if there are some older students who would rather participate in this club they will be accommodated). The goal is to make this an amazing experience for the students to learn about track and field and hopefully develop a passion for it. 

They are also looking for community members who might be willing to serve on the Glencoe Youth Track & Field Board of Directors. If you may not have the time to commit to coaching, but have a passion for the sport and would like to build it throughout the city, please consider joining!

Please complete this volunteer interest form, and feel free to pass it along to others who should have this option presented to them.

Health Reimbursement Account Support Sessions
February 21, 2022 - If you are currently enrolled in Moda Plan 5, Kaiser 2B, or Kaiser 3, and are not familiar with the Hillsboro Preferred Plan/Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA) and how to file claims, be sure to stop by one of the upcoming training sessions to speak with someone who can help you understand this benefit. Sessions begin Mar. 7.

PERS Retirement Seminar
February 14, 2022 - A free PERS/403(b) virtual retirement planning seminar will take place at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 15.

The seminar will be presented by Skylar Koon and Caitlin Koon of Cetera Investors (formally Foresters Financial), an independent fiduciary; both are investment advisor representatives and approved 403(b) vendors for the District.

The workshops are open to all employees and their partners, whether they are planning to retire in the near future or are simply looking to get some questions answered. With the PERS retirement system and potential changes in the news more and more, it is important to stay on top of what can be an essential part of your retirement income. Topics will include explaining the PERS system, its changes over time, and what it will mean to you. Different payout options will also be discussed to help you start thinking about what may be best for you and your family.

Click here to register. After you register, you will receive a follow-up email with the Zoom link for attendance, as well as reminders leading up to the event.

OEBB Webinars
February 14, 2022 - OEBB is offering several webinars in the upcoming weeks:

• Mindset: Retraining Your Thinking. Learn to move beyond negative thinking patterns of worry, rumination, and fixation, and focus on practicing a healthy mindset. 
• Date: Thursday, Feb. 17
• Time: Noon to 12:30 p.m.
• Register
• 2022 Energizer Breaks. Join the WebMD team for just 10 minutes on Tuesdays to increase alertness and productivity, boost your mood, and decrease stress.
• Date: Every Tuesday
• Time: Noon to 12:10 p.m.
• Register
• Supportive Discipline to Build Accountability and Community. Supportive discipline conversations can help students, staff, and families resolve conflicts and address harm using the principles of reflection and restoration. This webinar will demonstrate a five-step framework to implement supportive discipline in a productive and fair way. 
• Date: Thursday, Feb. 17
• Time: 11 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
• Register
• Reducing Burnout and Supporting a Psychologically Healthy Workforce. In this event, you’ll learn about the top causes of employee burnout, how it can physically and mentally affect people, and get practical steps you can take to help support your employees.
• Date: Monday, Feb. 21
• Time: 11 a.m. to noon
• Register
• Foundations of a Healthy Diet. Tips and reminders on how to build the most nutritious diet for YOU.
• Date: Thursday, Feb. 24
• Time: Noon to 12:30 p.m.
• Register

Superintendent Listening Session Follow-Up
February 7, 2022 - If you missed the livestream session on Jan. 31 where Superintendent Scott addressed topics that arose during the series of staff listening sessions he hosted over the past several weeks, you can watch a recording of the session here; written responses can be found here.

WW February Newsletter
February 7, 2022 - The WW February newsletter is now available, featuring information about the new PersonalPoints program and the Start Strong Kit promotion (ends Feb. 28), as well as a link to 2021’s most popular WW recipes.

Developing Healthy Eating Habits
February 7, 2022 - OEBB’s monthly Healthy You newsletter features tips for creating a healthy eating routine, information on upcoming webinars, a recipe for chicken chili with sweet potatoes, and more. Sign up for your free Healthy You account on OEBB’s website. 

Upcoming webinars:

• Foundations of a Healthy Diet. This webinar will cover the basics of nutrition—macro and micronutrients, fiber, antioxidants and probiotics. 
• Date: Thursday, Feb. 24
• Time: Noon to 12:30 p.m.
• Register here.
• New! 2022 Energizer Series. Give your brain a break! Allowing yourself to take a quick 5 to10-minute break in the day can do wonders; it may increase your alertness, support productivity at work, benefit your mood, and decrease stress. Join us each Tuesday for an energizing activity! There is a NEW registration link for 2022, so even if you registered for the fall series, you must re-register.
• Date: Tuesdays
• Time: Noon to 12:10 p.m.
• Register here.

Listening Session Follow-Up
January 31, 2022 - Superintendent Scott will host a livestream session at 4 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 31, to address topics that arose during the series of listening sessions he has been holding with staff over the past several weeks.
Update: The recorded session is now available: click here to watch.

Hillsboro Schools Foundation Grants
January 31, 2022 - The Hillsboro Schools Foundation’s annual Innovative Grants Program supports projects that put the tools of exploration, imagination and self-expression directly in students’ hands, providing them with opportunities they would not otherwise have under normal school funding.

The application process is simple, fair, and open to all Hillsboro teachers, administrators, staff, and volunteer parent school groups for programs that enhance student achievement both inside and outside the classroom. Proposals are evaluated and selected based on student engagement and achievement, innovative instructional methods and tools, and sustainable, measurable results.

There is an optional grant writing workshop on Thursday, Mar. 3, and  applications are due Monday, Apr. 18. For more information, visit hsfonline.org/apply-for-grants.

Classified Listening Session
January 24, 2022 - Classified staff are invited to attend a virtual listening session with Superintendent Scott and members of his executive team on Monday, Jan. 24, from 3:45 p.m. to 4:45 p.m.

COVID Testing Options
January 24, 2022 - As we mentioned in the all staff communication on Jan. 20, our pop-up rapid COVID test clinic for staff will continue indefinitely. You can also obtain free at-home COVID tests through covidtests.gov, and OEBB members can get reimbursed for tests purchased after Jan. 15, 2022. See below for details based on your insurance provider. 

Kaiser Members
Kaiser Permanente will now reimburse members for FDA-approved rapid antigen home tests. Members can submit a reimbursement claim either online or by completing and mailing in this form for tests purchased on or after January 15, 2022. 

Currently, there is a nationwide shortage of rapid antigen home tests. Like other healthcare organizations, Kaiser has access to a very limited supply of tests, but they are working to get more and to make them available to members through a number of outlets, including mail-order. Visit kp.org for the most up-to-date information on supply, testing, and vaccinations.   

Moda Members
Moda Health will reimburse members up to $12 per test (not including shipping costs) for tests purchased on or after January 15, 2022. They will reimburse up to eight tests per 30 days for each person on a Moda Health plan, no matter if the tests are purchased all at once or at separate times during the 30-day period. 

At in-network pharmacies, simply take the kit and your Moda Health member ID card to the pharmacy counter. The test will be covered at 100% and no reimbursement form is needed. If the pharmacy charges members for the at-home testing kit, they can use this claim form for reimbursement. If members purchase online at an in-network pharmacy, they should keep a copy of their itemized receipt and use the claim form linked above. 

If members purchase the kits at an authorized in-person or online retailer, they should provide a copy of their itemized receipt and fill out the OTC COVID-19 at-home test medical reimbursement form. 

Visit modahealth.com/oebb/covid-19 for the latest information about coverage of COVID-19 benefits.

Licensed Transfer 101 Meeting
January 17, 2022 - Licensed staff are invited to attend a Transfer 101 meeting on Thursday, Jan. 20, from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. via Google Meet. Human Resources staff will explain the general transfer process and go over FAQs. Attendees will also have an opportunity to ask any questions they may have. Please contact Ines Santos Racines (x5811) if you have any questions.

Classified Listening Session
January 17, 2022 - Classified staff are invited to attend upcoming virtual listening sessions with Superintendent Scott and members of his executive team on Wednesday, Jan. 19, from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m.; and on Monday, Jan. 24, from 3:45 p.m. to 4:45 p.m.

OFLA Sick Child and COVID-19
January 17, 2022 - Please see these updates from the Benefits department on OFLA Sick Child leave related to COVID-19.

Wellness Resources
January 17, 2022 - OEBB’s January edition of Benefits News is now available, featuring information on wellness webinars, the basics of deductibles and copays, and the HealthyYou “Five to Thrive” Challenge. Moda Health also shares the slides and a handout with exercises from their Move Well webinar on low back and hips.  

Virtual Licensed Listening Session 
January 10, 2022 - Licensed staff are invited to a virtual listening session (dial-in number: +1 419-969-2113 PIN: 894 821 833#) from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 10. If you have been unable to attend one of the previous in-person sessions or would simply like to hear more from your colleagues, Superintendent Scott, and members of the executive leadership team, please plan to join.

Licensed Transfer 101 Meeting
January 10, 2021 - Licensed staff are invited to attend a Transfer 101 meeting on Thursday, Jan. 20, from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m., via Google Meet. Human Resources staff will explain the general transfer process and will go over FAQs. Attendees will also have an opportunity to ask any questions they may have. Please contact Ines Santos Racines (x5811) if you have any questions.

WW PersonalPoints™ Program
January 10, 2022 - Discover WW’s new PersonalPoints™ Program based on your lifestyle and body! It can help you drop the pounds you want while eating what you love and living your life fully. Anyone age 18 and older enrolled in an OEBB medical plan can sign up at no cost to you. Visit OEBB.WW.com to learn more. Sign up by February 28 and get a free Start Strong Kit.

Avoiding Slips, Trips, and Falls in the Winter
January 03, 2022 - Winter is an especially dangerous time when it comes to slip, trip, and fall hazards. Surface conditions can change minute by minute and accidents can happen in the blink of an eye. Here are four helpful tips to stay safe:

• Keep stairs and walkways clear of snow, ice, obstacles, leaves, and debris.
• Be aware of your surroundings and be especially cautious when exiting vehicles. 
• Wear close-toed shoes with good traction. 
• Slow down and walk like a penguin on slippery surfaces. 

More information can be found at saif.com/trips. 

United Way Campaign Concludes 12/17
December 13, 2021 - Our annual United Way Campaign wraps up on Friday, Dec. 17. If you are interested in making a one-time donation or ongoing contribution through payroll deduction in support of United Way or any other 501(c)3 organization of your choice, please complete and return the pledge form to Katie Russell-Willis (x2771) in Communications today! Thank you!

Health and Wellness Resources
December 13, 2021 - OEBB and the Alliance for a Healthier Generation provide some quick tips, short videos, webinars, and other resources to increase your health, knowledge, and wellbeing. 

Access OEBB’s December Benefits Newsletter here. This newsletter shares information on benefits that are available to you, as well as upcoming webinars and events like these:

• OEBB Wellness Champion Network Webinar. Get fun and easy tools to promote health and wellness in your workplace during this 45-minute webinar on Monday, Dec. 13, from 3:15 p.m. to 4 p.m.
• Self-Care During the Holidays webinar. During stressful times, it’s very important to prioritize yourself. In this 30-minute webinar on Thursday, Dec. 16, from noon to 12:30 p.m., they will talk about self-care, mindfulness, and journaling. 

Alliance for a Healthier Generation offers three quick ways to help you find peace this holiday season:

1. Create a 15-minute “Worry Window.” Watch this one-minute video to learn how to allow a few minutes each day to focus on the things you can’t control, then move on with more intention and energy. 
2. Virtual Me Moments Hub. Explore these practices on your own or with students to build self-regulation - an important social-emotional skill to identify and manage emotions.
3. “Just Like Me” Guided Meditation for Educators. Learn how to practice giving grace to yourself and others in this two-minute mindfulness exercise video.

Suicide Awareness Presentation
December 6, 2021 - As part of the HSD suicide prevention plan, the Care Coordinator team will be offering a live, virtual Suicide Awareness presentation on Tuesday, Dec. 7, at 4 p.m. 

All administrators, licensed, and classified staff are encouraged to attend, whether the information is new to you or a refresher. 

The presentation will include the following information:

• Data and facts about suicide
• Warning signs and risk factors for suicide
• Steps to take if you suspect a student is having thoughts of suicide
• Who the Suicide Screeners are in your building

Join the meeting at this link or by dialing +1 302-440-6117 PIN: 893 192 509#

If you are unable to attend the live presentation, you can access a recording on the HSD Student Suicide Prevention Plan site under Staff Training. 

Thank you for your continued support of HSD’s suicide prevention efforts!

Webinar: Inspiring Young Minds with Out-of-School STEM
December 6, 2021 - HSD staff are invited to participate in a free webinar on Tuesday, Dec. 7, from noon to 1:30 p.m. where a panel of leaders from several innovative STEM organizations will share why out-of-school STEM programs are so critical for both academic and social-emotional learning, and why they’re particularly well-suited to address our current educational needs.

SPED Listening Sessions
December 6, 2021 - The Student Services department will hold listening sessions for licensed and classified staff on Dec. 7 and Dec. 16, respectively. Questions can be submitted in advance via the forms linked below; those questions will be addressed first in the session. If there is time at the end, additional questions from the chat may be answered.

• SPED Licensed Listening Session
• Tuesday, Dec. 7, 4 p.m.
• Zoom
• Question submission form
• SPED Classified Listening Session
• Thursday, Dec. 16, 3 p.m.
• Zoom
• Question submission form

SPED Listening Sessions
November 29, 2021 - The Student Services department will hold listening sessions for licensed and classified staff on Dec. 7 and Dec. 16, respectively. Questions can be submitted in advance via the forms linked below; those questions will be addressed first in the session. If there is time at the end, additional questions posted in the chat may be answered.

• SPED Licensed Listening Session
• Tuesday, Dec. 7, 4 p.m.
• Zoom
• Question submission form
• SPED Classified Listening Session
• Thursday, Dec. 16, 3 p.m.
• Zoom
• Question submission form

PSU EdD in SPED
November 29. 2021 - HSD teachers who are interested in pursuing their doctorate are encouraged to apply for PSU’s Educational Leadership EdD in Special Education. Students accepted into the fall 2022 cohort will receive full tuition and fees paid for four years through a U.S. Department of Education grant. Application deadline is Jan. 10, 2022.

Licensed Listening Sessions
Superintendent Scott will hold a series of listening sessions for licensed staff members in the coming weeks. There will be two for high school staff, two for middle school staff, and four for elementary school staff, in addition to one virtual session. 

• Thursday, Dec. 2, 4:15 p.m. to 5:15 p.m. - session for Glencoe, Liberty, and HOA high school staff at Glencoe High School
• Monday, Dec. 6, 3:45 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. - session for Hilhi feeder elementary staff at Witch Hazel Elementary School
• Wednesday, Dec. 8, 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. - session for R.A. Brown, South Meadows, and MEC staff at R.A. Brown Middle School
• Wednesday, Dec. 15, 4:15 p.m. to 5:15 p.m. - session for Century and Hilhi staff at Hilhi
• Thursday, Dec. 16, 3:45 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. - session for Liberty feeder elementary staff at Quatama Elementary School
• Tuesday, Jan. 4, 3:45 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. - session for Glencoe feeder and HOA elementary staff at Jackson Elementary School
• Wednesday, Jan. 5, 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. - session for Evergreen, Poynter, and HOA middle school staff at Poynter Middle School
• Thursday, Jan. 6, 3:45 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. - session for Century feeder elementary staff at Ladd Acres Elementary School
• Monday, Jan. 10, 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. - virtual session

Suicide Awareness Presentation
November 22, 2021 - As part of the HSD suicide prevention plan, the Care Coordinator team will be offering a live, virtual Suicide Awareness presentation on Tuesday, Dec. 7, at 4 p.m. 

All administrators, licensed, and classified staff are encouraged to attend, whether the information is new to you or a refresher. 

The presentation will include the following information:

• Data and facts about suicide
• Warning signs and risk factors for suicide
• Steps to take if you suspect a student is having thoughts of suicide
• Who the Suicide Screeners are in your building

Join the meeting at this link or by dialing +1 302-440-6117 PIN: 893 192 509#

If you are unable to attend the live presentation, you can access a recording on the HSD Student Suicide Prevention Plan site under Staff Training. 

Thank you for your continued support of HSD’s suicide prevention efforts!

November 15, 2021 - It’s American Education Week - a time for us to celebrate our public education system and all of the people who work hard every day to ensure our young people are informed and prepared to succeed in life after graduation. 

Did you know that this year marks the 100th observance of American Education Week? Here is some fascinating information about the event’s origins from the National Education Association website (nea.org):

Distressed that 25 percent of the country’s World War I draftees were illiterate and 9 percent were physically unfit, representatives of the NEA and the American Legion met in 1919 to seek ways to generate public support for education.

The conventions of both organizations subsequently adopted resolutions of support for a national effort to raise public awareness of the importance of education. In 1921, the NEA Representative Assembly in Des Moines, Iowa, called for a designation of one week each year to spotlight education. In its resolution, the NEA called for: “An educational week...observed in all communities annually for the purpose of informing the public of the accomplishments and needs of the public schools and to secure the cooperation and support of the public in meeting those needs.” 

The first observance of American Education Week occurred December 4-10, 1921, with the NEA and American Legion as the co-sponsors. A year later, the then U.S. Office of Education joined the effort as a co-sponsor, and the PTA followed in 1938.

We encourage all students, families, and community members to take a moment to recognize and appreciate school staff members for the important role they play in our education system, and to thank them for their incredible dedication and commitment. You make us Proud to be HSD!

United Way Campaign
November 15, 2021 - Each year, HSD joins forces with United Way of Columbia-Willamette to mobilize support around a single goal: improving lives in our region. Participating in the United Way’s annual campaign provides you with the opportunity to share in this vision and enhance our community.

Local agencies need ongoing help with the most basic needs in our community. The United Way’s program for specific agency donations allows donors to select an agency of their choice to receive their contribution. There are many Washington County agencies that work directly with children and families, or you can select any other tax-exempt 501(c)(3) charity to receive your donation through the United Way.

For more information, please visit the United Way website at www.unitedway-pdx.org/about or see the FAQ. When you decide to donate, you can email your completed pledge form to transfers@hsd.k12.or.us, send it via interdepartmental mail to AC201, or fax it to 503-844-1557. If you are using monthly payroll deductions, please note the Jan.3 deadline to set up deductions for 2022, beginning with the January 2022 paycheck.

Click here to view informational videos and see how your donation makes an impact.

This year’s campaign runs from Monday, Nov. 15, 2021, to Friday, Dec. 17, 2021.

Each of us has an opportunity to give back to our local neighbors and communities. Thank you for what you do, not only as an educational professional, but also as an integral, contributing member of our local community.

Health and Wellness Resources
November 15, 2021 - OEBB and Kaiser offer several health and wellness resources, from tips and reminders to recipes, webinars, and more. See below for more information.

• Oral Health Webinar - learn about the bacteria in your mouth, what can happen if the health of your oral cavity is not optimal, and tips to support or improve the balance of those important bacteria in your mouth.
• Date: Thursday, Nov. 18
• Time: 12 p.m. to 12:30 p.m.
• Register
• Five tips for improving your oral health
• Fall Energizer Series - give your brain a break! Allowing yourself to take a quick 5-10 minute break in the day can do wonders for your alertness, mood, and productivity.
• Date: Tuesdays through Dec. 21
• Time: 12 p.m. to 12:10 p.m.
• Register
• Give and Receive Feedback to Build Staff Connectedness - during this webinar, district staff and teachers will practice how to give and receive feedback using self-regulation strategies to address common triggers that make receiving feedback uncomfortable.
• Date: Thursday, Nov. 18
• Time: 11 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
• Register
• Become a Wellness Champion - are you interested in wellness? Would you like to join a community of like-minded individuals who are interested in creating change? OEBB is gathering a group of Wellness Champions to promote wellness at work. If you are interested, please fill out this survey. 
• Protect yourself from type 2 diabetes (flyer - English, Spanish)
• Recipe of the Month: Korean-inspired Beef and Kimchi Bowls

For more information, visit OEBBwellness.com.

Health Reimbursement Account Support Sessions
November 8, 2021 - If you were enrolled in Moda Plan 5, Kaiser 2, or were a licensed or classified employee enrolled in Kaiser 3 for the 2020-21 plan year - you may have money waiting for you. Stop by one of the upcoming Q&A sessions to speak with someone who can help you understand the Health Reimbursement Account (HRA) benefit. 

• Tuesday, Nov. 9, 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at Transportation South (1220 SW Walnut St.)
• Tuesday, Nov. 9, 12 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the HSD Administration Center (3083 NE 49th Pl.)
• Tuesday, Nov. 16, 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at Transportation North (7705 NE Jacobsen St.)
• Tuesday, Nov. 16, 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at South Meadows Middle School (4690 SE Davis Rd.)
• Thursday, Dec. 9, 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. virtual session on Zoom. 

You are also welcome to stop by if you are enrolled for the current 2021-22 Plan Year and have questions about the HRA benefit. See this flyer for more information.

ESOL Endorsement Program Informational Meeting
November 8, 2021 - HSD and the University of Portland will hold an informational meeting about earning your ESOL endorsement on Friday, Nov. 12, from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Zoom. To RSVP for the session, or for more information if you are unable to attend, please contact Kim Bayer. 

Moda Health Wellness Resources for November
November 8, 2021 - Moda Health has shared a number of wellness resources for the month of November. 

• Be Well webinar:
• Title: Understanding Sugar, Carbohydrates & Their Effects on the Body
• Date: Wednesday, Nov. 10, 3 p.m. to 4 p.m.
• Registration: Available at this link
• Healthy Team, Healthy U webinar:
• Title: Oral Health
• Date: Thursday, Nov. 18, 12 p.m. to 12:30 p.m.
• Registration: Available at this link
• Moda Wellbeing Newsletter for November-December 2021
• Monthly Mini Challenge: Social Connection
• Low Sugar Drinks cooking class (video)
• Recipe for Golden Milk
• Recipe for Spiced Hot Cocoa

Previous webinar and cooking class recordings can be found here.

Affinity Group for BIPOC Licensed Staff
November 1, 2021 - HSD is committed to diversifying the workforce through the recruitment and retention of staff of color. Research shows that educators from diverse racial/ethnic backgrounds have a key impact on the academic and behavioral outcomes of BIPOC students. We are pleased to offer an affinity group for BIPOC licensed staff to support our educators in their professional growth and encourage them to be the best teachers they can be for ALL students! The group meets once a month to share this space of affinity and hear from inspiring speakers. If you would like more information, please contact Gabby Villamagua or Kim Bayer.

Classified Listening Session
October 25, 2021 - The classified listening session takes place on Wednesday, Oct. 27, from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Use this form to submit questions and comments in advance, and register for the webinar at this link. Note that you must use your HSD email address to register or you will not be able to access the meeting.

Staff Flu Shot Clinic
October 25, 2021 - HSD staff and their dependents (9 and older) are invited to attend a flu shot clinic at Liberty High School on Saturday, Oct. 30, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Liberty High School. Claim form for MODA and Kaiser OEBB; additional insurances accepted. Questions? Call Michelle Brady at x6691.

Licensed Listening Session
October 18, 2021 - The licensed listening session takes place on Wednesday, Oct. 20, from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Use this form to submit questions and comments in advance, and register for the webinar at this link. Note that you must use your HSD email address to register or you will not be able to access the meeting.

Staff Flu Shot Clinics

There are two upcoming staff (and dependents) flu shot clinics. Kaiser members are welcome.

Flyers and Forms:

• 2021 Insurance accepted in OR WA
• PEBB/OEBB Insurance Claim/Consent Form
• Influenza (Flu) Vaccine: What you need to know

Fall Listening Sessions
October 11, 2021 - Please join us for our fall listening sessions! The licensed session takes place from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 20, and the classified session takes place from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 27. Both will be held virtually; additional information is forthcoming.

Way to Well-Being Workshop 
October 11, 2021 - Kaiser Permanente is hosting a free Way to Well-Being workshop for educators on Monday, Oct. 18, from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Participants will be introduced to an integrated set of free online tools that are evidence-informed and designed to build safe and supportive school climates. Register here.

PSU College of Education Virtual Open House
October 11, 2021 - PSU’s College of Education is hosting a virtual open house on Friday, Oct. 15, from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. where people can learn about teacher licensure and endorsements. Click here to register.

Cultural Coalition Grant Program
October 11, 2021 - The Cultural Coalition of Washington County is offering Community Cultural Participation grants of up to $2,000 for projects that expand access to and awareness of the arts; projects must take place between Jan. 15 and Dec. 31, 2022. Applications are due Monday, Oct. 18.

Vaccine Survey Assistance Sessions
October 4, 2021 - Staff who need assistance completing the required vaccine survey can come to the District Office for support between 4 p.m. and 5 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 4; or between 7 a.m. and 8 a.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 5. Remember that all surveys need to be received by Wednesday, Oct. 6.

PERS Retirement Seminar
October 4, 2021 - Due to popular demand, another free PERS/403(b) virtual retirement planning seminar will take place at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 6 on Zoom. 

The seminar will be presented by Skylar Koon and Caitlin Koon of Cetera Investors (formally Foresters Financial), an independent fiduciary; both are investment advisor representatives and approved 403(b) vendors for the District.

The workshops are open to all employees and their partners, whether they are planning to retire in the near future or are simply looking to get some questions answered. With the PERS retirement system and potential changes in the news more and more, it is important to stay on top of what can be an essential part of your retirement income. Topics will include explaining the PERS system, its changes over time, and what it will mean to you. Different payout options will also be discussed to help you start thinking about what may be best for you and your family.

Click here to register. After you register, you will receive a follow-up email with the Zoom link for attendance, as well as reminders leading up to the event.

Extended Contract Opportunity for Teachers
October 4, 2021 - Our Student Services department is currently seeking teachers who are interested in working one-on-one with students receiving home instruction. Home instruction is for students who cannot attend school, generally for medical reasons - it is not related to COVID. 

The time commitment is one hour per day after school, with instruction being delivered synchronously via Zoom. If you are interested, please contact Elaine Fox, executive director of Student Services, at foxe@hsd.k12.or.us or 503-844-1566

PSU College of Education Virtual Open House
October 4, 2021 - PSU’s College of Education is hosting a virtual open house on Friday, Oct. 15, from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. where people can learn about teacher licensure and endorsements. Click here to register. 

Vaccine Survey
September 27, 2021 - If you have not seen the email inviting you to complete the staff vaccination survey, please check your junk or clutter folders for a message from “HSD QualtricsVaccine <noreply-HillsboroSD@qemailserver.com>. Staff who have not yet completed the survey will receive reminder emails every Tuesday and Thursday; responses are due by Oct. 6.

Flu Shots for Kaiser Members
September 27, 2021 - Flu shots have arrived at Kaiser locations! To help you get care safely during COVID, shots are available by appointment only - schedule yours at kp.org/flu. You can also visit one of several retail pharmacies. See this flyer for more information.

ESOL Endorsement Informational Meetings
HSD teachers who are interested in obtaining an ESOL endorsement on their Oregon license are invited to join one of two upcoming informational sessions hosted by HSD and the University of Portland:

• Monday, Sep. 27, 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
• Monday, Oct. 25, 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Both meetings will be held virtually via Zoom. Learn more in this flyer.

PERS Expo 2021
September 20, 2021 - Want to learn more about your PERS benefits and preparing for a secure retirement? Consider registering for the virtual PERS Expo 2021; new for this year will be live, interactive, and on-demand presentations and Q&A sessions on Oct. 5 and 6. 

To help you prepare for a secure retirement, Expo content will include resources about:

• The two parts to your PERS retirement — your pension and the Individual Account Program.
• Your options for saving more for retirement with the Oregon Savings Growth Plan.
• Post-retirement health insurance coverage through the PERS Health Insurance Program.
• The PERS retirement application process.

Sign up for PERS Expo updates at this link.

Online Training Reminder
September 20, 2021 - Just a reminder to complete your required online trainings no later than Thursday, Sep. 30.

ESOL Endorsement Informational Meetings
September 13, 2021 - HSD teachers who are interested in obtaining an ESOL endorsement on their Oregon license are invited to join one of two upcoming informational sessions hosted by HSD and the University of Portland:

• Monday, Sep. 27, 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
• Monday, Oct. 25, 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Both meetings will be held virtually via Zoom. Learn more in this flyer.

Diagnostic COVID Testing for Staff
September 13, 2021 - If staff become symptomatic for COVID while at work, they can access the diagnostic testing services offered by our school-based health center. Testing is only done by referral from the school and with an appointment. See this flyer for more information.

PERS Information
September 13, 2021 - If you are interested in learning more about your PERS retirement options and/or if you would like to change the target-date fund in which your Individual Account Program (IAP) funds are invested, continue reading to learn more.

PERS Retirement Seminars
Free PERS/403(b) retirement planning seminars will take place at 5 p.m. on Monday, Sep. 13, on Zoom, and at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Sep. 16, at the District Office. 

Seminars will be presented by Skylar Koon and Caitlin Koon of Cetera Investors (formally Foresters Financial), an independent fiduciary, investment advisor representatives, and approved 403(b) vendors for the District.

The workshops are open to all employees and their partners, whether they are planning to retire in the near future or are simply looking to get some questions answered. With the PERS retirement system and potential changes in the news more and more, it is important to stay on top of what can be an essential part of your retirement income. Topics will include explaining the PERS system, its changes over time, and what it will mean to you. Different payout options will also be discussed to help you start thinking about what may be best for you and your family.

To sign up for the Zoom Seminar on Sep. 13, click here.

To sign up for the Seminar at the District Office on Sep. 16, click here. 

PERS IAP Member Choice Portal
Non Retired participants in PERS’ Individual Account Program (IAP) have the option to change the target-date fund in which their IAP accounts are invested through Sep. 30 via Online Member Services (OMS). This option is called Member Choice. 

About Member Choice
Member Choice, an option created by Senate Bill 1049, allows IAP participants to remain in their current target-date funds or pick new ones, depending on their retirement savings goals or personal risk tolerance.

Target-date fund changes made this September will go into effect on January 1, 2022. Investment returns resulting from that change will appear on 2022 member annual statements, which members will receive in spring 2023.

Instructions
Members who wish to stay in their current fund don't need to do anything. 

Members who wish to change their target-date fund can follow the instructions on the How to Make an IAP Target-Date Fund Election Online webpage.

Learn more
PERS members should read the following before electing to make any changes:

• PERS' IAP Target-Date Funds webpage, which includes more details about Member Choice, including eligibility limitations and certification requirements.
• PERS' step-by-step guide on how to use OMS to make an online election.
• Information about Senate Bill 1049, which created the Member Choice option.
• The following PERS member email:  https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/ORPERS/bulletins/2e7d633

If you want to learn more about Member Choice, please review the August Employer News.

WW September Newsletter
September 13, 2021 - Weight Watchers Reimagined has put out their September newsletter featuring information about weight loss and wellness and a tasty recipe for a quick lunch.

Please Verify Your Information
September 6, 2021 - All staff should login to the iVisions portal and verify that their profile and emergency contact information are current. Also, any banking/direct deposit changes need to be to Payroll by Tuesday, Sept. 7 for the September pay period.

Benefits Open Enrollment
September 3, 2021 - It is required for all staff that are half-time or more to login to myoebb.com and make their insurance selections, opt out, or waive benefits by Tuesday, Sept. 7. If you are not signed up by Sept. 7, you will see a double deduction on your October payroll.

September Webinar: Suicide Prevention and Intervention
September 6, 2021 - Suicide affects people from all walks of live. Knowing the warning signs and risk factors for suicide and feeling confident about how to help someone who is at risk, could be the difference between life and death. Join us for this important session where we will differentiate myths from facts, identify risk factors and warning signs, review questions to ask and steps to take to provide supportive resources and strategies. 

The webinar is hosted by our employee assistance program provider, Reliant Behavioral Health, and is presented by Dr. Darryl Huels, Licensed Clinical Social Worker, on Wednesday, Sept. 8, from noon to 1 p.m. Attendance is free, but you must register in advance.

Health and Wellness Resources
Health and wellness resources from Moda Health, our employee assistance program provider, and Weight Watchers Reimagined are available below.

Employee Assistance Program Newsletters

• June Employee Newsletter - English, Spanish
• June Supervisor Newsletter
• June Balanced Living Newsletter

Moda Health Resources

• Staywell Healthy Team Healthy U June Webinar - All About Skin Health (recording)
• Kiwi Chia Pudding Cooking Class (recording)
• Kiwi Chia Pudding Recipe
• Previous webinar and cooking class recordings

Weight Watchers Reimagined

The new Digital 360 membership delivers WW coaching, a relatable community, and always-on experience. Choose from a robust schedule of live and on-demand classes, podcasts, and virtual events to get insider secrets from weight-loss and wellness experts 24/7. Includes all the benefits of the Digital program. Learn more at OEBB.WW.com.

Employee Assistance Program June Webinar
June 7, 2021 - Our employee assistance program provider’s June webinar, “Fostering an LGBTQ+ Inclusive Workplace,” takes place Thursday, Jun. 10, at noon. 

Even with recent successes in social justice and popular culture, some LGBTQ+ employees still face bias, homophobia, and discrimination in the workplace. The resulting fear and stress not only affect work performance, but also overall morale. In this workshop, presenter Angelique Piwinski will clarify sexual orientation and gender identity to better prepare all participants to collectively foster an inclusive working environment for all LGBTQ+ and gender non-conforming employees. 

The webinar is free, but you must register in advance.

Fraudulent Unemployment Claims on the Rise
The Oregon Employment Department (OED) has reported an uptick in fraudulent claims for unemployment. This is a form of identity theft. When the District receives a claim from OED for processing, Human Resources verifies the following:

• Correct job type for the stated employee
• Employee is no longer working for HSD

If the stated job type is incorrect and/or the employee is still working at HSD, HR will send the employee the following email: 

The Hillsboro School District has received an unemployment claim for you. If you did not file this claim, please follow the link and read more about this type of ID THEFT - OED Unemployment | Report ID Theft or UI Fraud. You will also find a link to the Oregon Employment Department’s ID Theft Reporting form on this webpage.

Announcing a New Opportunity to Support Home Ownership
HSD has partnered with Landed, a company that helps employees in the education field purchase homes by providing a down payment program and connecting them to home buying resources. 

Employees who are interested in purchasing a home or learning more about the home buying process are encouraged to attend an upcoming information session:

• Tuesday, Jun. 8, 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. RSVP here.
• Wednesday, Jun. 9, 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. RSVP here.

Employees who are unable to attend the information sessions can sign up to learn more and schedule a one-on-one consultation with Landed here. 

More information...

Landed's shared-equity down payment program invests alongside employees to help them reach a 20% down payment. Landed’s funds come in the form of an equity investment, meaning homebuyers share in a portion of the gain (or loss, if any) of the home’s value once the partnership is ended—typically by sale or refinance.

The down payment program is one piece of holistic home buying support that Landed offers, including in-depth homebuyer education, access to a vetted real estate network, and comprehensive reviews of property reports to help homebuyers make informed home buying decisions. Landed also offers an experienced home buying team to help navigate the home buying process, from financing to search to close.

Landed’s down payment program is open to all HSD employees—faculty, staff, and administrators— and is available immediately. Participants do not need to be first time homebuyers and there are no income or asset limits needed to qualify.

Green Schools Conference
The Green Schools Conference (GSC) is the only event to bring together all the players involved in making green schools a reality - people who lead, operate, build, and teach in schools. This year, the GSC will convene virtually over two half-days of programming - June 28 and 29, 2021. It will feature inspiring keynotes, interactive education sessions, and engaging peer group networking opportunities. 

The conference will address topics such as design for sustainability education and social equity, healthy schools and COVID-19 response, empowering student leadership, achieving climate commitments, and much more. Whether you are a teacher, school or district staff member, educational leader, parent, student, building industry professional or nonprofit partner, the GSC is the premier opportunity to learn and engage.

Teacher Resources for The Ballad of Aurelie the Bold
Bag & Baggage Productions’ new original show, The Ballad of Aurelie the Bold, is available to all elementary classrooms in HSD free of charge. The show is accompanied by an activity guide that can be used at home or in the classroom. 

• Aurelie one sheet
• Aurelie activity guide
• Aurelie program
• Free link to the show

Mental Health Awareness Resources
May is Mental Health Awareness Month. The COVID pandemic has been challenging for most of us. You are not alone in feeling its impact. This is the time to prioritize mental health and acknowledge that it’s ok not to be ok. Whether your challenges are big, small, or non-existent, you are encouraged to prioritize self-care and enhance your resilience. Here are some resources to help you build your wellbeing toolkit:

• Webinar - Understanding Mental Illness
• Podcast - Deep Breathing Exercise with Dr. Ellen Contente
• Flyer - Mental Health Awareness

Resources for parents:

• Podcast - Ways to Build Healthy Habits Around Screen Time
• Flyer - Raising Emotionally Healthy Kids
  

Summer Agriculture Institute

All Washington County K-12 educators are invited to apply for a scholarship to attend the Oregon Farm Bureau’s Summer Agriculture Institute (SAI). 

The scholarship is a reimbursement of the $600 paid for the Institute: OSU tuition (3 graduate level credits), meals, lodging, transportation, curriculum, and resources!

Application deadline is Friday, May 28. Learn more here.

Wellness Resources
See below for the latest wellness resources and upcoming webinars available for staff.  

• OEBB Spring 2021 Newsletter
• Employee Assistance Program Resources
• Webinar: Sexual Harassment: Building a Culture of Workplace Respect
• Date/Time: Wednesday, May 12, 12 p.m.
• Register here
• Employee newsletter in English
• Employee newsletter in Spanish
• Supervisor newsletter
• Balanced Living newsletter

• Kaiser Permanente Thriving Schools Webinar Series
• Building Strong Family-School Partnerships to Improve Student Health
• Date/Time: Wednesday, May 12, 12 p.m.
• Register here
• Fostering Individual and Collective Well-Being Through Boundaries
• Date/Time: Wednesday, May 19, 12 p.m.
• Register here
• Modeling the Path to Self-Regulation for Students Through Me Moments
• Date/Time: Wednesday, May 26, 12 p.m.
• Register here
• Learn more and reference previous webinar recordings from our Thriving Schools website
• Moda Health Resources
• Webinar presented in partnership with HSD Benefits: Tools for Managing Stress & Creating a Healthier Mindset
• Date/Time: Thursday, May 13, 4 p.m. to 5 p.m.
• Join on the 13th for a live presentation; or 
• Watch a recording of the webinar here
• Links mentioned in recording:
• Daily Calm Meditation
• Why Mindfulness is a Superpower
• Desk Stretches
• 4-7-8 Breathing
• 3 Minute Calming Meditation
• Overnight Oatmeal Cooking Class Recording – click here for written recipe
• Moda Wellbeing Newsletter
• Previous webinars and cooking class recordings

Equity in Mathematics Summer Institutes
K-5 Educators and Instructional Leaders from HSD and other local school districts are invited to apply to participate in one of two 24-hour virtual professional development institutes this summer that will provide them with an opportunity to examine inclusive, culturally-responsive practices in math teaching. 

Each educator who completes the course will:

• Receive a $1000 stipend, 
• Have access to no-cost professional learning to research instructional strategies to "rehumanize” mathematics, 
• Collaboratively design and walk away with STEM, math focused lessons for the classroom, and 
• Earn 24 PDUs (college credit cannot be given).

Institute Dates:

• June 23-24: 3-hour Synchronous (Zoom) Workshops (K-2 & 3-5) to launch the learning
• July: 15 Hours of asynchronous learning & reflection for teachers and instructional teams supported by a team of facilitators
• August 6: 3-hour Synchronous (Zoom) Workshop to conclude the learning.

Highest priority will be given to school-based teams from schools serving culturally-diverse  and/or under-resourced communities.

To apply, click here.  Applications due May 15th

**Apply soon as spots will be limited!**

 Questions? Email Stephanie Salomone at stephanie.salomone@pdxstem.org.

Moda 360 Health Navigator
Moda Health members have access to Moda 360 Health Navigators who can provide support for scheduling appointments, accessing care programs, processing claims, and more. See this flyer for more information.

Question, Persuade, and Refer Training
April 26, 2021 - HSD Care Coordinators are offering another session of Question, Persuade, and Refer (QPR) suicide prevention training to all interested staff on Tuesday, Apr. 27, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

The training is appropriate for any district employee and is a part of the district's mission to prevent suicide and promote mental wellness. Learn three simple steps that can save a life. 

Content of the class is provided by the QPR Institute, a nationally recognized best-practices program offering suicide prevention training for gatekeepers. Gatekeepers can be anyone, including teachers, instructional assistants, principals, custodians, receptionists, case managers, coaches, school & wellness counselors, bus drivers, nurses, grad & student success coaches, family liaisons, SROs, health room aids, and many others who care about youth and are strategically positioned to recognize and refer someone at risk of suicide.

QPR is an evidence-based suicide prevention training that teaches district staff participants to:

• Recognize someone at risk
• Ask a person about thoughts of suicide
• Support a person in seeking help
• Offer hope

Space is limited to 35 participants, and a Google Meet link will be included in the confirmation email. Register here by clicking on the green ‘Register’ button.

If you have any questions, please contact Kathy Wilson-Fey at wilsonfk@hsd.k12.or.us or Pam Sturtevant at sturtevp@hsd.k12.or.us.

Section 125 Benefits Enrollment
April 26, 2021 - Your Section 125 enrollment period begins May 3; take advantage of tax savings by selecting benefits for the upcoming plan year such as disability and accident insurance, flexible spending accounts, and more. See the schedule of appointments by school and learn more here.

Free COVID-19 Screening Testing Program for K-12 Staff
April 26, 2021 - Oregon Health Authority (OHA) is launching a free COVID-19 testing program for K-12 teachers and staff in order to help reduce the spread of COVID-19 in schools. This program offers free weekly screening testing by mail to any unvaccinated public or private K-12 teacher or staff member, including volunteers. Testing is not recommended for vaccinated K-12 teachers and staff because the risk of COVID-19 in vaccinated individuals is very low.

Participation is voluntary, and participants can opt-out at any time. If you register for this program, a COVID-19 test kit will be mailed directly to your home each week. The at-home COVID-19 test is performed by gently swabbing just inside the nose. The swab is then returned to the laboratory by mail and results are returned to participants within days. Participation in the program and all results are confidential, however, positive COVID-19 results must be reported to the local public health authority for case investigation and contact tracing.

To register for this screening testing program, please complete the enrollment form. Following enrollment, you will be sent an email by our laboratory partner, Willamette Valley Toxicology, to complete the registration process.

This screening testing program will be offered through the end of the 2020-21 academic year and may be offered during the following academic year as well.

This program is supported by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award to the State of Oregon. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by HHS, or the U.S. Government.

Please contact OHA if you have any questions.

Registration Open for Mission to Mars Student Challenge Training Series
April 26, 2021 - Summer learning leaders - immerse your youth in the latest exploration of Mars with NASA’s Mission to Mars Student Challenge for Summer Camps! As featured on the You for Youth website, this 7-week series of hands-on activities take youth from learning about Mars, planning a mission, launch and landing, and exploring the surface – all while following the Perseverance Rover’s current exploration of Mars!

A series of live one-hour trainings (also recorded for later viewing) will show you how to guide your youth through activities from each phase of the challenge. Attend one or all – with a variety of activity styles, from hands-on to online, we’ll span kids’ interests in the science, engineering, and art of exploring Mars. We’ll focus on upper elementary- and middle school-aged kids, but will touch on options for younger and older ones. Bring your supplies to work the activity along with us. Questions are welcome – plan to share your experience with other leaders at the final training.

Register today and highlight your summer program with virtual community-wide talks with Mars 2020 mission experts. No prior STEM experience is necessary!

HSF Grants - Final Reminder 
April 19, 2021 - Each year through its Innovative Education Grants program, the Hillsboro Schools Foundation (HSF) supports projects that put the tools of exploration, imagination and self-expression directly in students’ hands, providing them with opportunities they would not otherwise have under normal school funding.

The HSF Grant Cycle has some changes for 2021. In order to streamline the process for teachers during this unprecedented year, the requirement for initial short abstract applications has been removed. Instead, each applicant will submit their full proposal just once through a Google Form. Grants of up to $7,500 can be requested. Completed applications are due by 11:59 p.m. on Thursday, Apr. 22, 2021. Grants will then be reviewed and winners will be announced in late May. Funds are available for each awarded project during the following school year. 

HSF’s application process is simple, fair, and open to all HSD teachers, administrators, staff, and volunteer parent school groups for programs that enhance student achievement both inside and outside the classroom. Proposals are evaluated and selected based on student engagement and achievement, innovative instructional methods and tools, and sustainable, measurable results. 

Learn more at  https://hsfonline.org/apply-for-grants.

SPED Endorsement Opportunity
April 19, 2021 - Teachers who are interested in earning their Special Education Generalist Endorsement are encouraged to attend an information session with Lewis & Clark College on Wednesday, Apr. 21, from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Learn more in this flyer and click here to register.

Here’s to Your Health Webinar
April 19, 2021 - Kaiser Permanente hosts a 30-minute session on prostate cancer screening, colorectal cancer screening, and more on Wednesday, Apr. 21, at 12:30 p.m. The webinar is free to everyone, regardless of insurance provider. Register here.

Dreaming Justice Speaker Series
April 19, 2021 - Oregon Episcopal School invites you to the next event in their Dreaming Justice Speaker Series: The Black Panthers You Didn’t Learn in School, presented by Jesse Hagopian, co-editor of Teaching for Black Lives. The event takes place on Thursday, Apr. 22, from 4:30 p.m. to 5:45 p.m. It is free, but you must register in advance. Learn more in this flyer.

Health and Wellness Resources
April 12, 2021 - Below are health and wellness resources for the month of April

• Webinar: Involvement + Engagement
  Date Tuesday, Apr. 13
• Time: 12 p.m. to 1 p.m.
• Registration link
  
  
• Webinar: Feed Your Flora
• Date: Wednesday, Apr. 14
• Time: 3 p.m. to 4 p.m.
• Flyer
• Registration link
  
  
• Webinar: Stress, Gut Health, Immunity and Food 
• Date: Thursday, Apr. 15
• Time: 4 p.m. to 5 p.m.
• Registration link
• Sleep Supporting Tart Cherry & Mango Smoothie Cooking Class
• Written recipe
• UPDATE: WW Fresh Start Kit Video (April 1 - May 15) – find more information here
  
  
• Employee Assistance Program April newsletters
• Employee Newsletter
• Supervisor Newsletter
• Balanced Living Newsletter

K-12 Teacher COVID-19 Surveillance Project
April 12, 2021 - The Oregon Health Authority (OHA) continues to conduct statewide COVID-19 surveillance. As part of this surveillance, OHA is inviting you to participate in a K-12 teacher COVID-19 surveillance project. Your blood will be tested for COVID-19 antibodies now (spring 2021), then again in the summer of 2021. If your blood test is positive for COVID-19 antibodies, the laboratory will be able to determine if the antibodies are from COVID-19 vaccination, or from SARS-CoV-2 infection. 

If you register as a participant, you will receive a blood collection kit in the US mail (a fingerstick and collection cards) with complete instructions and a postage-paid return envelope. You will also receive your results via U.S. mail. It may take up to one month for your results to be available.

Participation is completely voluntary, and your test results will not be shared with your employer or the Department of Education. 

If you would like to participate, please complete the appropriate electronic registration form. There are two forms to choose from:

• Complete this form if you provided any Hybrid or In-Person Learning through March 26, 2021.
• Complete this form if you have provided ONLY Comprehensive Distance Learning (CDL) through March 26, 2021.

Please contact Judy Guzman-Cottrill if you have any questions.

Hillsboro Schools Foundation Grants
April 5, 2021 - Each year through its Innovative Education Grants program, the Hillsboro Schools Foundation (HSF) supports projects that put the tools of exploration, imagination and self-expression directly in students’ hands, providing them with opportunities they would not otherwise have under normal school funding.

The HSF Grant Cycle has some changes for 2021. In order to streamline the process for teachers during this unprecedented year, the requirement for initial short abstract applications has been removed. Instead, each applicant will submit their full proposal just once through a Google Form. Grants of up to $7,500 can be requested. Completed applications are due by 11:59 p.m. on Thursday, Apr. 22, 2021. Grants will then be reviewed and winners will be announced in late May. Funds are available for each awarded project during the following school year. 

HSF’s application process is simple, fair, and open to all HSD teachers, administrators, staff, and volunteer parent school groups for programs that enhance student achievement both inside and outside the classroom. Proposals are evaluated and selected based on student engagement and achievement, innovative instructional methods and tools, and sustainable, measurable results. 

Learn more at  https://hsfonline.org/apply-for-grants.

Youth Access Library Accounts 
April 5, 2021 - Youth Access Library Accounts (YALAs) are launching Monday, Apr. 12, to HSD students in grades K-12! This joint partnership of the Hillsboro Public Library, Hillsboro School District, and Washington County Cooperative Library Services (WCCLS) connects students to their public library by providing access to all HSD students who do not already have a library card in Washington County using an easy to remember username and password. The YALA will allow students to check out WCCLS eBooks and audiobooks through the Sora app, and will provide them with access to online tutoring, academic databases, and print books. 

Check out this FAQ document for details about the program.

Stress Management
April 5, 2021 - Our Human Resources team and employee assistance program provider have several stress management tools to share with you, including flyers and live and pre-recorded webinars. 

• Upcoming webinar: Stress, Gut Health, Immunity and Food
• Date: Thursday, Apr. 15
• Time: 4 p.m. to 5 p.m.
• Registration link
  
  
• Building Resilience + Balance Resources
• Webinar recording - Building Resilience and Balance: Workplace Transition and COVID-19
• Webinar recording - Putting Out the Fire: Preventing and Avoiding Burnout
• Flyer - Supporting Employees During Workplace Transition

Flyer - Finding Balance: Workplace Transition and Stress

Oregon PERS Newsletters
April 5, 2021 - Oregon PERS has issued two newsletter for members based on their longevity in the system: one for those in Tiers 1 and 2, and one for OPSRP members. Check them out to learn more about how to read your PERS statement and the steps you should take if you’re considering retirement.  

Message from Superintendent Scott
March 29, 2021 - If you have not yet had a chance to watch Superintendent Scott’s message of support and thanks to staff for all you have done and will do as we transition to hybrid learning, you can find the video here.

New Wellness Website for Moda Health
March 29, 2021 - Moda Health has launched a new wellness website where you can find recordings of past webinars, cooking demonstrations, recipes, and more. The site is accessible to all staff, regardless of insurance carrier.

Licensed Listening Session
March 15, 2021 - Licensed staff are invited to attend a listening session with Superintendent Scott and members of his executive team on Thursday, Mar. 18, from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Zoom. Questions can be submitted in advance or during the session through the Google Form.

Hillsboro Schools Foundation Grants
March 15, 2021 - Each year through its Innovative Education Grants program, the Hillsboro Schools Foundation (HSF) supports projects that put the tools of exploration, imagination and self-expression directly in students’ hands, providing them with opportunities they would not otherwise have under normal school funding.

The HSF Grant Cycle has some changes for 2021. In order to streamline the process for teachers during this unprecedented year, the requirement for initial short abstract applications has been removed. Instead, each applicant will submit their full proposal just once through a Google Form. Grants of up to $7,500 can be requested. Completed applications are due by 11:59 p.m. on Thursday, Apr. 22, 2021. Grants will then be reviewed and winners will be announced in late May. Funds are available for each awarded project during the following school year. 

HSF’s application process is simple, fair, and open to all HSD teachers, administrators, staff, and volunteer parent school groups for programs that enhance student achievement both inside and outside the classroom. Proposals are evaluated and selected based on student engagement and achievement, innovative instructional methods and tools, and sustainable, measurable results. 

Learn more at  https://hsfonline.org/apply-for-grants.

Women’s Health Webinar
March 15, 2021 - Kaiser Permanente is offering a women’s health webinar on breast and cervical cancer screening, maternity care and more on Wednesday, Mar. 24, from 12:30 p.m. to 1 p.m. The event is free, but you must register in advance.

Taking Care of YourSELF Webinar
March 15, 2021 - Kaiser and HSD have teamed up to provide a stress management webinar for all employees, regardless of insurance provider, called “Taking Care of YourSELF.” The webinar will take place on Tuesday, Mar. 16, from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Self-care is essential for anyone seeking to live a more balanced and healthy life. This workshop focuses on four ways to improve SELF care: Sleep, Exercise, Love, and Food. When practiced daily, these simple to follow SELF care strategies support participants’ improved health and wellbeing. 

• Webinar: Taking Care of YourSELF
• Instructions for accessing the webinar

Classified Listening Session
March 8, 2021 - Classified staff are invited to attend a listening session with Superintendent Scott and members of his executive team on Tuesday, Mar. 9, from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Zoom. Questions can be submitted in advance or during the session through the Google Form.

Spring HRA Information Sessions
March 8, 2021 - If you are currently enrolled in Moda Plan 5, Kaiser 2, or Kaiser 3 and are not familiar with the Hillsboro Preferred Plan/Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA) and how to file claims, be sure to stop by one of the following scheduled trainings to speak with someone who can help you understand the benefit. 

Mae Hawkins (Waldo Agencies) and Lynette Coffman (HSD Benefits Supervisor) will be hosting virtual question and answer sessions on the following dates:

• Monday, Mar. 8 - 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. to 4 p.m.
• Wednesday, Apr. 14 - 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. to 4 p.m.
• Monday, Apr. 19 - 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Each session will be held on Zoom (Meeting ID: 936 836 6641). 

If you have questions and cannot attend one of these sessions, Mae will also be hosting virtual office hours on Wednesdays from 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the same Zoom meeting ID or contact her at 208-780-1154 or mhawkins@waldoagencies.com. 

Please note: If you are enrolled in the Hillsboro Preferred Plan, you have the full Plan Year (Oct. 1, 2020 through Sep. 30, 2021) PLUS a 90-day run-out period during which you may file claims; however, you are encouraged to file claims as you receive your medical explanations of benefits (EOBs) throughout the plan year.

Willesden READS Event
March 8, 2021 - Register today to have your students join thousands of their peers across Oregon for the Willesden READS on Friday, Mar. 12, at 1 p.m. Join this 50-minute one-of-a-kind live-streamed event including a theatrical performance and concert based on the bestselling book The Children of Willesden Lane - the story of how one teenage refugee held onto her dreams, survived the Holocaust and inspired a generation of her contemporaries. 

More than one million students across the world have experienced the Willesden READS program. During the event, students will have opportunities to interact with the book’s author, performer and virtuoso concert pianist Mona Golabek, who offers uplifting messages of resilience and hope for students. 

In advance of the event, educators are invited to participate in professional development, provided by Echoes & Reflections, that will deepen understanding of the historical context of the book and provide companion resources found in IWitness, USC Shoah Foundation’s educational website, that can be incorporated into their teaching. 

Learn more in this flyer and register at this link.

Health and Wellness Resources 
March 8, 2021 - Our health insurance and employee assistance program providers have a variety of health and wellness resources available to you. See below for details.

Moda Health

• Moda Wellbeing Newsletter. Featuring tips on mindfulness and a recipe for Almond, Blueberry, and Banana Smoothies. 
• Newsletter
• Wellness Seminar: Real Food on a Real Budget - How to Save Money by Eating Healthy. The benefits of eating a healthy diet are well known and aplenty, including improved heart health, reduced cancer risk, better mood, improved gut health, and improved memory. But is it really possible to eat healthy if you’re on a budget? Absolutely! 
• Wednesday, Mar. 10, 3 p.m. to 4 p.m.
• Register here
• Flyer
• Weight Watchers Reimagined Webinar: Building your Plate. Learn how to build a meal and find right-for-you portion sizes; discover tips for measuring and portioning plus engaging family members, including kids and teens. Everyone is welcome - WW members and non-members.
• Thursday, Mar. 11, 10 a.m. via Zoom
• Register here
• Flyer
• WW March newsletter
  
  

• Recipe for Grilled Radicchio Salad
• Recipe
  
  
• Meru Health 12-week Therapy Program. Meru Health’s program is available to Moda Health members 18 or older who reside in Oregon, Washington, or Idaho. Receive mindfulness and behavioral techniques that can be practiced anytime, anywhere; get confidential access to a personal, remote therapist via chat; and more. 
• Flyer
  
  
• CirrusMD. CirrusMD is a text-based virtual care platform that lets you connect to a doctor in seconds from your phone or computer. Use CirrusMD when you feel sick but it’s not an emergency, have a minor injury, have general medical questions or want peace of mind, are not able to visit your primary care provider or are not sure where to get care, and more. 
• Flyer

Employee Assistance Program

• EAP Services. The EAP can help with almost any issue, and benefits are available to all employees and their families at no cost. Help is just a phone call away. See the flyer linked below for more information.
• Flyer about EAP services
• March Employee Newsletter
• March Supervisor Newsletter
• March Balanced Living Newsletter
  
  
• March Webinar: Putting Out the Fire - Preventing and Avoiding Burnout. Contemporary professional demands not only cause stress, but chronic stress. Stress contributes to the development of myriad physical and mental health conditions including hypertension, diabetes, depression, anxiety, and more. Research suggests that up to two-thirds of American employees experience some degree of burnout, which impacts productivity, morale, and the financial bottom line due to the health-related costs of burnout. 
• Wednesday, Mar. 10, noon to 1 p.m.

Register here

Health and Wellness Resources
March 1, 2021 - Our health insurance and employee assistance program providers have a variety of health and wellness resources available to you. See below for details. 

• Reliant Behavioral Health. Are you struggling with the challenges of being a parent? Daily obligations and responsibilities often have a way of taking over our lives. With busy workdays and balancing time between your children’s activities, finding time to take a break and be alone may seem like an impossible task. Our employee assistance program provider offers links to a webinar with ideas for finding harmony as a busy parent and professional, and two new resource flyers to help you on your journey. 
• Webinar: Finding Harmony Being a Parent + Professional
• Flyer: Online Peer Support Group for Parenting
• Flyer: Creating Quality Alone Time as a Parent
  
  
• Moda Health. Moda invites you to take charge of your health and follow your progress using their interactive wellness tool “Momentum.” Momentum is a secure healthy-living platform that lets you identify health risks, set goals, and see improvements. They also encourage you to watch a recording of their recent webinar on supporting your cardiovascular system.
• Flyer: Momentum
• Webinar: Heart Health - Supporting Your Cardiovascular System
  
  
• Kaiser Permanente. Kaiser and HSD have teamed up to provide a stress management webinar for all employees, regardless of insurance provider, called “Taking Care of YourSELF.” Self-care is essential for anyone seeking to live a more balanced and healthy life. This workshop focuses on four ways to improve SELF care: Sleep, Exercise, Love, and Food. When practiced daily, these simple to follow SELF care strategies support participants’ improved health and wellbeing. 
• Webinar: Taking Care of YourSELF
• Instructions for accessing the webinar

Staff Childcare Needs Survey and LOA Notification Deadline
February 22, 2021 - As we prepare for the return to hybrid/in-person instruction, we would like to learn more about the childcare needs our staff have for their school-age children. 

Your input is very important to us, so please take a moment to complete the survey linked below. We cannot guarantee a childcare solution for every staff member, but accurately assessing the need will help us as we work with various partners to develop options. 

Spring 2021 School Age Childcare Needs Survey

For those staff members who may be considering taking a leave of absence (LOA) for the remainder of the school year, please communicate your intent to Human Resources by Monday, Mar. 1. This will be very helpful as we plan staffing for the spring.

Question, Persuade, and Refer Training
February 22, 2021 - HSD Care Coordinators are offering a Question, Persuade, and Refer (QPR) suicide prevention training to all interested staff on Tuesday, Feb. 23, from 2:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.

The training is appropriate for any district employee and is a part of the district's mission to prevent suicide and promote mental wellness. Learn three simple steps that can save a life.

Content of the class is provided by the QPR Institute, a nationally recognized best-practices program offering suicide prevention training for gatekeepers. Gatekeepers can be anyone, including teachers, instructional assistants, principals, custodians, receptionists, case managers, coaches, school & wellness counselors, bus drivers, nurses, grad & student success coaches, family liaisons, SROs, health room aids, and many others who care about youth and are strategically positioned to recognize and refer someone at risk of suicide.

QPR is an evidence-based suicide prevention training that teaches district staff participants to:

• Recognize someone at risk
• Ask a person about thoughts of suicide
• Support a person in seeking help
• Offer hope

Space is limited to 35 participants, and a Google Meet link will be included in the confirmation email. Register here by clicking on the green ‘Register’ button.

If you have any questions, please contact Kathy Wilson-Fey at wilsonfk@hsd.k12.or.us or Pam Sturtevant at sturtevp@hsd.k12.or.us

Stress Education Webinars
February 22, 2021 - OEBB’s Stress Education Webinar series wraps up on Thursday, Feb. 25, with a focus on self care, gratitude, concentration and relaxation. The webinar takes place from noon to 12:30 p.m. and is free to OEBB members. Click here to register. Access previous webinar recordings on the OEBB Wellness website. 

Then from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m., also on Feb. 25, our employee assistance program provider will offer a free stress management and resilience webinar. This webinar will help participants understand the impacts of stress and provide strategies, tools, and self-care techniques to help them cope. It will be followed by a brief overview of the EAP’s counseling and life-balance resources available to help you, and your family, live and work better. 

Join the Zoom meeting:

https://ibhsolutions.zoom.us/j/82755148738?pwd=UHJIWDN4UFpFeVRQNHZIeFFzcXBpZz09 

MEETING ID 827 5514 8738

Or Call: +1 253 215 8782

Passcode: OEBB

COVID-19 Vaccine Informational Webinar
February 15, 2021 - Kaiser Permanente is offering three showings of a 30-minute webinar highlighting vaccine safety and FAQs for the school community audience. While it will not provide updates on current vaccine supply or vaccination appointment availability, it will provide important information for educators. You do not have to be a Kaiser member to register. 

• Tuesday, Feb. 16, 12:30 p.m. to 1 p.m. - Register
• Tuesday, Feb. 16, 3:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. - Register
• Wednesday, Feb. 17, 5:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. - Register

EAP and OEBB Newsletters
February 15, 2021 - See below for links to the latest newsletters from our employee assistance program and OEBB:

• EAP February Employee Newsletter
• English
• Spanish
• EAP February Supervisor Newsletter
• EAP February Balanced Living Newsletter

OEBB Winter Newsletter

American Fidelity Virtual Service Appointments
February 15, 2021 - American Fidelity is offering virtual service appointments to help you file a claim (FSA, HSA, Accident, etc.), access your wellness or screening benefits, set up a 403(b) or answer other questions you may have about your benefits. Please click this link to schedule your virtual appointment today.

Hillsboro Schools Foundation Grants
February 8, 2021 - Each year through its Innovative Education Grants program, the Hillsboro Schools Foundation (HSF) supports projects that put the tools of exploration, imagination and self-expression directly in students’ hands, providing them with opportunities they would not otherwise have under normal school funding.

The HSF Grant Cycle has some changes for 2021. In order to streamline the process for teachers during this unprecedented year, the requirement for initial short abstract applications has been removed. Instead, each applicant will submit their full proposal just once through a Google Form. Grants of up to $7,500 can be requested. Completed applications are due by 11:59 p.m. on Thursday, Apr. 22, 2021. Grants will then be reviewed and winners will be announced in late May. Funds are available for each awarded project during the following school year. 

Applicants are encouraged to attend a Grant Writing Workshop offered by HSF via Zoom on Wednesday, Feb. 24, at 3:30 p.m. The link can be requested by emailing foundation@hillchamber.org.

HSF’s application process is simple, fair, and open to all HSD teachers, administrators, staff, and volunteer parent school groups for programs that enhance student achievement both inside and outside the classroom. Proposals are evaluated and selected based on student engagement and achievement, innovative instructional methods and tools, and sustainable, measurable results. 

Learn more at  https://hsfonline.org/apply-for-grants.

Washington County Future Teachers Pathway Information Sessions
February 8, 2021 - Washington County school districts, PCC, and four-year colleges are collaborating to grow our own linguistically and/or culturally diverse teachers to fill critical shortages in our system. 

The pathway includes individualized mentoring, transcript review, help obtaining a GED, help gaining English language skills, and onboarding support.

Join one of two upcoming information sessions to learn more:

• Tuesday, Feb. 9, 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Zoom
• Wednesday, Feb. 10, 10 a.m. to noon on Zoom

Pre-register here (optional): bit.ly/TeachWashCo.

Health and Wellness Resources
February 8, 2021 - Our employee assistance program and health insurance providers share newsletters, webinars, recipes and more for the month of February.

RBH February webinar, “Finding Harmony: Being a Parent and a Professional,” on Wednesday, Feb. 10, at noon.

• This webinar will discuss the realities of the modern working landscape for parents and how to approach balance in a new, more successful way. It will review strategies for time and household management, and discuss how to find quality time just for yourself. 
• The webinar is free, but registration is required. 

WW Reimagined newsletter

• Celebrating Black History Month & Heart Health Month
• Unstoppable kit for new members through Feb. 28
• Heart-healthy and sweet Valentine’s Day recipe

Moda Health Resources

• Wellness webinar, “Heart Health: Supporting Your Cardiovascular System”
• Heart Health Webinar Registration Link – Wednesday, Feb. 10, 3 p.m. 
• This webinar is available for all staff, regardless of which health insurance carrier they may have.
• This webinar will be recorded and sent out to you and all registrants the next day.
• Cooking Class Recording – Black Bean Brownies
• Written recipe

Work Share Tax Information
February 1, 2021 - The Oregon Employment Department is in the process of sending a 1099-G tax form to Work Share participants for last year’s unemployment payments. If you received unemployment funds during 2020,  please wait to complete your taxes until you have gotten this form.

COVID-19 Vaccine Website 
February 1, 2021 - Lots of information has been shared about COVID-19 vaccination opportunities over the past week; please know that all messages and reference materials - including a Q&A - are available at www.hsd.k12.or.us/vaccine.

ShakeAlert Webinar for Schools
February 1, 2021 - The Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI), in partnership with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), University of Oregon, and the Oregon Department of Emergency Management, is helping spread the word about ShakeAlert, the Earthquake Early Warning system for the Pacific Northwest, which will become available through the Wireless Emergency Alert (WEA) system on March 11 of this year.

Oregon Office of Emergency Management is hosting a series of free, one hour webinars to inform various Oregon stakeholders about ShakeAlert. The webinar for educators and school personnel is 4 p.m. on Wednesday, February 3.  

This webinar will cover:

• What is ShakeAlert and how can it be utilized in schools, museums, and other education spaces to support emergency preparedness?
• Communication resources that you can use to talk with your communities about ShakeAlert.
• Education resources you can use to teach about ShakeAlert specifically and earthquake science generally.

To register for this free webinar, visit: Meeting Registration - Zoom.

If you have any questions, please contact Paula Negele.

Encouraging Postcards for Students
January 25, 2021 - Postcards have been designed and placed in the Print Shop catalog (Misc. Forms) to make it easier for staff to send encouraging notes to students. Click here to see the two options available.

Postcards will be printed with postage when ordered so staff members can mail them from home. This is a building charge, so please get pre-approval from your principal and check with your office manager for an account code before ordering.

Cards are printed in a sheet of 8; ordering a quantity of 1 gives you 8 postcards (quantity of 10 = 80 postcards). Cost of cards is 40¢ each, or $3.20 for one sheet of 8.

Healthy Habits for Life Balance
January 25, 2021 - Twenty-seven percent of adults say they eat to manage stress. Eating healthy foods can counteract the impact of stress, strengthen your immune system, and boost levels of serotonin to help reduce stress hormones that can take a toll on your body over time. Try adding a healthy eating plan to your list of new year's resolutions. Cooking something healthy or new after a long day is easier than you might think.

Below are links for a webinar on the benefits of healthy eating to cope with stress, and two new resource flyers from our employee assistance program provider, RBH, to help you get started:

• Webinar: What Stress and Diet Have In Common
• Flyer: Emotional Eating
• Flyer: Tips for Eating Healthy During COVID-19

2021 Total Brain Promotional Campaigns and Webinars
January 25, 2021 - OEBB and Kaiser Permanente bring you the Total Brain app and challenges designed to sharpen your focus and improve mental health. Here are upcoming webinars and campaigns for the spring:

1. Winter Sharp Solution, Brain Health & Fitness Webinar
1. How to Train Brain Health & Fitness
1. Explore techniques to boost your brain power
2. Learn how nutrition and physical exercise affect brain health
3. Steps to sustain a healthy brain
2. Wednesday, February 3rd
3. 3:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
4. Registration link: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_vcXuH3wfR-6ipwGfBXZnIQ
    
2. Winter Sharp Focus Total Brain Challenge
1. Sharpen your focus and improve efficiency with Total Brain!
1. Technology is always at your fingertips, making it difficult to stay on track and complete tasks
2. Become an expert at target thinking
3. Become a better problem solver
4. Improve your brain’s ability to recover from distractions
2. Join the Total Brain challenge February 3rd – March 3rd
3. Register or log in at TotalBrain.com/OEBB, complete an assessment and train daily.
4. Visit: TotalBrain.com/OEBB
   
   
3. Transforming Stress, Webinar
1. Steps to Shift Stress for Good
1. Too much stress can be harmful and hinder our ability to stay positive and focused. Are you ready to transform your stress?
2. Interactive exploration with Dr. Heidi Hanna and OEBB
3. Create beneficial strategies to immediately boost brain power
4. Learn techniques to sustain a healthy brain
2. Wednesday, May 5th
3. 3:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
4. Registration link: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_KthWDp7nQT6BgwXPVcd5HA
   
   
4. Stress Mastery Total Brain Challenge
1. Master Your Stress with Total Brain! Join the challenge to become a better problem solver and improve your brain’s ability to recover from distractions.
1. Understand  how your brain responds to threats
2. Learn ways to control the situation
3. Stay mentally fit to perform at peak levels
2. Join the Total Brain challenge May 5th – June 5th
3. Register or log in at TotalBrain.com/OEBB, complete an assessment and train daily.
4. Visit: TotalBrain.com/OEBB

Please contact Emmie Hiersche for additional information emmie.hiersche@kp.org. 

Kaiser Updates
January 18, 2021 - Kaiser provides members with updates on virtual dental options, wellness coaching, and receiving care while traveling.

Virtual Dental Options
Challenging times call for new and innovative ways of thinking. Kaiser Permanente’s virtual dentistry helps support our members’ total health with convenient ways to connect with their dental team through email, phone, and video (when appropriate and available). 

Watch this video to learn more about virtual dental options. 

Fast Fact
Did you know that Kaiser Permanente offers wellness coaching for members? Coaching is offered in English and Spanish, no referral is needed, and there’s no additional charge for members. 

More Care Options for Traveling Employees
Staying home is one of the best ways to protect yourself and others from COVID-19, but if you are planning a trip for work or life, Kaiser has you covered. If something happens to you while you’re away from home, it’s easier than ever to get care.

For emergency and urgent care services outside Kaiser service areas, members can:

• Get remote care from Kaiser Permanente by scheduling a phone or video visit or speaking with a licensed care provider 24/7 for medical advice.
• Visit a MinuteClinic (located in select CVS and Target stores) or a Concentra urgent care center in states where Kaiser Permanente does not operate.
• Go to the nearest urgent care facility or hospital - anywhere in the world.

Members are also covered for routine, urgent, and emergency care in any Kaiser Permanente region.

Download this flyer to learn more about care options when traveling.

Moda Wellness Resources
January 18, 2021 - Moda Health shares a recording of its recent webinar: “Embracing the New Year” and a video from Happify on how to get started keeping a gratitude journal.

Licensed Transfer 101 Meeting
January 11, 2021 - Licensed staff are invited to attend a Transfer 101 meeting on Thursday, Jan. 21, from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. via Google Meet. Human Resources staff will explain the general transfer process and will go over FAQs. Staff will have an opportunity to ask questions as well.

Wellness Resources
January 11, 2021 - Moda and Kaiser’s latest wellness resources feature webinars, lesson plans, cooking and craft demonstrations, and more. See below for more information.

Moda Health Resources

• 2021 Webinar Series. Moda Health brings you a wellness webinar each month. The webinars are free and available to all staff, regardless of their healthcare provider. 
• January webinar: Embracing the New Year - How to reflect on 2020 and prepare your mindset for 2021.
• Wednesday, January 13, 3 p.m.
• Register by emailing oebbwellnessadvisor@modahealth.com. 
• Cooking Class Recording: Texas Caviar
• Texas Caviar recipe
• Craft Class Recording: Honey Lemon Sugar Scrub
• Moda Wellbeing Newsletter: Jan/Feb 2021

Kaiser Resources

• Vaping: Know the truth. Teen e-cigarette use continues at record levels with nearly 20 percent of high school students and 5 percent of middle school students reporting using them.
• Free digital lessons, designed for students in grades 8-12.
• Curriculum meets national Health Education standards.
• See this flyer for an overview and learning objectives, and register here to access the lessons. 
• Trauma-Informed e-Learning Module Update. Amid the many challenges of COVID-19, creating safe and supportive learning environments for teaching and learning continues to be a top priority.
• Ready, Set, RISE! - a new series of e-learning modules offered as part of Kaiser’s Resilience in School Environments (RISE) initiative. 
• The first two modules are available now:
• Trauma-informed care and educator wellbeing
• Cultural sensitivity and equity
• See this Ready, Set, RISE! flyer and get your ticket to RISE!
• RISE Virtual Support Network. Looking to strengthen social-emotional health for staff and students? Start with the RISE Index Action Center.
• Take a social-emotional wellbeing assessment.
• Get personalized resources.
• Access live trainings, technical assistance, and support to guide leaders in creating sustainable change. 

See this RISE Virtual Support flyer, or visit the Healthier Generation Action Center for more information.

WW January Updates
January 11, 2021 - Weight Watchers Reimagined (WW) has released its January newsletter and is offering a new promotion for staff who sign up by Feb. 28, 2021.

Employee Assistance Program Monthly Newsletters
January 11, 2021 - Reliant Behavioral Health’s January newsletters for employees and supervisors, as well as their Balanced Living newsletter, are now available.

2020 United Way Pledge: Final Chance
January 4, 2021 - Monday, Jan. 4, 2021, is the final day of HSD’s 2020 United Way Campaign. 

We have an opportunity in this last push to do something special. Every additional person that chooses to LIVE UNITED, every additional dollar that is invested in the United Way Community Impact Fund, breaks the cycle of dropouts, poverty, and poor health in our community.

If you have already given, thank you! If not, please consider making a pledge to invest in better Education, Income, and Health throughout our region. Your gift can help hardworking people right here to help themselves.

Completed forms should be sent to communications@hsd.k12.or.us.

Free Art Education Resources
January 4, 2021 - Local nonprofit organization Golden Road Arts provides free art education lesson plans and videos to families and educators. 

The organization asks that you register before accessing the materials, which helps them track utilization for grant writing purposes. Once you have created an account, you can download grade-specific videos, professional development, and art curricula that meet state standards. 

Learn more at goldenroadarts.org.

And check out this recent article about Golden Road Arts on the Oregon ArtsWatch website.

Health and Wellness Resources
January 4, 2021 - Our employee assistance program and health insurance providers have several health and wellness resources to share with members.

Reliant Behavioral Health (RBH)

• Upcoming webinar: “What Stress and Diet Have in Common.” Learn how stress plays a part in your health status by contributing to inflammation and weight gain. 
• Date: Thursday, Jan. 14
• Time: noon to 1 p.m.
• Register at this link
• Recorded webinar: “Finding the Superhero Within: Managing COVID-19 Stress with Mindfulness” 
• Flyer: “Mindfulness Helps Boost Mental Health”
• Flyer: “Tips for Coping with Cabin Fever”

Moda Health

• Upcoming webinar: “Embracing the New Year: How to Reflect on 2020 & Prepare Your Mindset for 2021.” Learn the benefits of reflection, how to do so in a positive way, and how to goal-set for the new year. 
• Date: Wednesday, Jan. 13
• Time: 3 p.m.
• Register at this link
• Recorded webinar: “Staying Active Through the Rainy Season”
• Presentation slides
• Health Coaching. When you or your dependent enrolls in one of Moda’s care programs, they’ll deliver one-on-one support from a health coach. Options include cardiac, dental, depression, diabetes, and respiratory care, lifestyle coaching, and more. 

OEBB (Moda and Kaiser Members)

• StayWell Platform. This platform is billed as a total health solution for all lifestyles and life stages. The program targets your overall health to maximize results and create healthier minds, healthier bodies, and a healthier workplace. By addressing all components of your health, the platform is built to improve your nutrition, physical and mental wellbeing. 
• Watch an informative video 
• Visit the website
• Active&Fit Direct™ program. For just $25 per month, plus a $25 enrollment fee, you have access to the Active&Fit Direct™ program, which gives you access to thousands of participating health clubs and YMCAs nationwide, online tracking from a variety of wearable fitness devices, and more. 
• Moda or Delta Dental member flyer
• Kaiser member flyer

Wellness Resources Website. Access all of OEBB’s wellness resources on their website.

Kaiser Extends COVID-19 Treatment Benefit Policy
January 4, 2021 - Kaiser Permanente is extending its policy to waive member out-of-pocket costs for inpatient and outpatient services when treating COVID-19 through at least Mar. 31, 2021, or as long as the ongoing national public health emergency lasts.

Members who are diagnosed with COVID-19 will not have to pay copays or other cost-share fees related to their medicare and treatment of COVID-19, even if they have to stay in the hospital. This waiver applies to all admissions whose date of service is from Apr. 1, 2020, through at least Mar. 31, 2021. 

This waiver of member out-of-pocket costs will apply to all places of service, including but not limited to hospitalization, office visit, telemedicine, emergency room, and urgent care. The waiver also applies to inpatient medical, inpatient pharmacy, outpatient medical, and transportation costs associated with the treatment of a COVID-19 diagnosis. 

TSPC Financial Assistance 
December 15, 2020 - TSPC is offering financial assistance for diverse educators to reimburse licensure related expenses, as well as a scholarship opportunity for diverse candidates enrolled in administrator programs. The link with more information and the forms to apply can be found here. The scholarship application deadline is December 30th. 

Self Care Webinar
December 14, 2020 - Self-care is essential for anyone seeking to live a more balanced and healthier life. This workshop focuses on four ways to improve SELF care: Sleep, Exercise, Love, and Food. When practiced daily, these simple-to-follow strategies support participants’ improved health and wellbeing. 

The webinar is offered from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 15. Join the webinar at this link; password: Thrive123; no registration needed; to join by phone only, dial 1-408-418-9388 and use access code 177 178 0711.

Licensed Transfer 101 Meeting
December 14, 2020 - Licensed staff are invited to attend a Transfer 101 meeting on Thursday, Jan. 21, from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. via Google Meet. Human Resources staff will explain the general transfer process and will go over FAQs. Staff will have an opportunity to ask questions as well.

Digital Group HRA Meeting Video
December 14, 2020 - If you are enrolled in one of HSD’s preferred medical plans - Moda 5, Kaiser 2 or 3 - and missed the recent health reimbursement account (HRA) information sessions, you can watch a recording of one of the sessions here:

Digital Group HRA Information Sessions
December 7, 2020 - Mark your calendars! HSD will be hosting digital Group HRA information sessions on the following dates and times:

• Wednesday, Dec. 2
• 8 a.m.
• 3 p.m.
• Monday, Dec. 7
• 8 a.m.
• 3 p.m.
• Wednesday, Dec. 9
• 8 a.m.
• 3 p.m.

Each session will be held via Zoom https://us02web.zoom.us/j/9368366641 (Meeting ID: 936 836 6641). If you are enrolled in one of Hillsboro School District’s Preferred Plans (Moda Plan 5, Kaiser Plan 2, or Kaiser Plan 3) for the 2019-20 or 2020-21 Plan Years, you will want to attend one of these sessions. We will review what an HRA is, the plan designs (so you’ll know at what points you are eligible for disbursements), and information regarding how to file claims. Understanding the simple steps is important for maximizing the value of your medical insurance and minimizing the cost of accessing the care you and your family need. You may have money waiting for you!

Please Note: The deadline for filing HRA claims for the 2019-20 Plan Year (dates of service between 10/1/19 – 9/30/20) is December 31, 2020.

We’re looking forward to seeing you! If you are not able to attend one of these sessions, a recording will be available. If you have a question that you’d prefer to go over individually rather than in a group format, you can also reach out to Mae Hawkins, Benefits Account Manager with Waldo Agencies at 208-780-1154 or mhawkins@waldoagencies.com.

PERS Retirement Seminar
December 7, 2020 - Join us for a free PERS/403(b) virtual retirement planning seminar on Tuesday, Dec. 8, from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Zoom. 

The workshop is open to all employees and their partners, whether they are planning to retire in the near future or are simply looking to get some questions answered. With the PERS retirement system and potential changes in the news more and more, it is important to stay on top of what can be an essential part of your retirement income. Topics will include explaining the PERS system, its changes over time, and what it will mean to you. Different payout options will also be discussed to help you start thinking about what may be best for you and your family.

There are often many questions employees have about planning for taxes, Social Security, and health insurance in retirement; or even just getting a financial plan started. This will be a great way to get those questions addressed and for employees to start thinking about the future.

Presenter: Skylar Koon of Cetera Investors (formerly Foresters Financial), an independent fiduciary, investment advisor representative, and approved 403(b) vendor for the District.

Zoom Invite Below:
Topic: Hillsboro SD PERS Seminar
Time: December 8th, 2020 05:30 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85933291740?pwd=QTJWQURZY2hkeEhRS1U5SGx1OVZ6UT09
Meeting ID: 859 3329 1740
Password: hsd

**This Zoom seminar is completely complimentary.  If you plan on attending, please RSVP by e-mail to skylar.koon@ceterainvestors.com or by phone at 503-296-7676 ext. 322 so that he can best prepare depending on expected attendance size.**

If you have any questions, please contact Lynette Coffman at 503-844-1531 or coffmanl@hsd.k12.or.us.

United Way Campaign
December 7, 2020 - We have reached the midpoint of the Hillsboro School District 2020 campaign for United Way. Please consider donating to help people throughout our region and positively impact lives forever.

If you’ve already given, THANK YOU!  Because you choose to LIVE UNITED, you’re helping people help themselves and creating measurable change in our community. 

If you haven’t made your gift, please consider investing in the United Way to support exceptional local programs that break the destructive cycles of educational cessation, poverty, and poor health. 

If you have any questions about United Way or about making your donation, please email us at communications@hsd.k12.or.us.  

Thank you for considering how you and your family can LIVE UNITED.

REMEMBER:  Pledges are due by Monday, January 4, 2021.

Campaign Stories – People helped by United Way’s efforts:

• Read how your support helped Danait, a refugee from Ethiopia. 
• Read how your support made all the difference for Stephanie and her daughter, Teja. 
• Read why being a Volunteer Leader is important to Jalaja.
• Read why giving back is a way of life for Peter and Jane Melhuish.

WW December Updates
December 7, 2020 - Weight Watchers (WW) shares its December newsletter, featuring a recipe for goat cheese tartlets with spiced apple-fig compote, as well as a special offer for OEBB members who sign up by Dec. 12: a coupon for $5 off a WW Shop order of $20 or more.

Wellness Webinars and Other Resources
December 7, 2020 - There are a number of upcoming wellness webinars and other resources to support staff through the holiday season:

• Webinar: Staying Active Through the Rainy Season
• Date: Wednesday, Dec. 9
• Time: 3 p.m.
• Synopsis: The rainy, cold months can make it difficult to find motivation to exercise. Join this webinar to get inspired and prepared!
• Register at this link

• Webinar: Working Together - Helping any Troubled Employee Get Back on Track
• Date: Tuesday, Dec. 15
• Time: noon to 1 p.m.
• Synopsis: We all have difficult or challenging times in our lives - this is normal and to be expected. But sometimes these external factors intrude on our ability to perform our jobs to the best of our ability. This seminar will discuss how to recognize concerning behavior and how to help any employee get back on track.
• Register at this link

• Webinar: Taking Care of YourSELF
• Date: Tuesday, Dec. 15
• Time: 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• Synopsis: Self-care is essential for anyone seeking to live a more balanced and healthier life. This workshop focuses on four ways to improve SELF care: Sleep, Exercise, Love, and Food. When practiced daily, these simple-to-follow SELF care strategies support participants’ improved health and wellbeing. 
• Join the meeting at this link; password: Thrive123; no registration needed; to join by phone only, dial 1-408-418-9388 and use access code 177 178 0711

• Employee Assistance Program December Newsletters
• Balanced Living newsletter
• Supervisor newsletter
• Employee newsletter (English, Spanish)

• Cooking Demo and Recipe: Big Batch Vegetable Soup
• Watch the demo here
• Big Batch Vegetable Soup recipe

Hillsboro Schools Foundation Granting Wishes for Distance Learning 2020
The Board of Directors for the Hillsboro Schools Foundation has elected to provide an EARLY innovative grant cycle. These special grants will be awarded to teachers for 25 grants of UP TO $1,000 for supplies that can go out to students or computer programs for example, that have fees that aren’t in the regular budget dollars. What is your wish for? DUE BY 11:50pm December 4th 2020! Email to aronc@hillchamber.org Download the flyer here.

Kaiser RISE Teen Mental Health Support Curriculum
November 30, 2020 - Kaiser Permanente's Educational Theatre Program is proud to offer “Ghosted,” a FREE virtual mental health performance, facilitated educational talkback, and optional workshop for 8th-12th grade students. “Ghosted” follows four high school students as they navigate the different challenges impacting their mental health. Set in the context of distance learning and the current climate, “Ghosted” addresses many issues students currently face: increased anxiety, being home-bound in unstable environments, and uncertainty about the future. 

• 60-69 minute facilitated viewing & educational wrap-up, offered to groups of up to 35 in each session
• Optional 60-90 minute interactive, live-streamed workshop offered to groups of up to 35 in each session
• Designed for students in grades 8-12; aligns with Oregon Health Standards
• All workshops include free resources for educators and students available for download and distribution
• Flexible options to work within your class schedule
• FREE, Learn more

Virtual “Ghosted” Preview: Kaiser is offering a special preview for educators, school administrators, or anyone considering booking this program for their class or school to experience it for themselves.

• Sign-up for Virtual Ghosted Preview

• Tuesday, Dec. 1, 3:30 p.m. – 4:45 p.m.
• Thursday, Dec. 3, 9:30 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.

Ready, Set, RISE!: Trauma-Informed e-learning Modules for Educators
Learn how to implement trauma-informed practices, and sustain collective care and well-being at your school with the help of Ready, Set, RISE!. The first of four modules, Trauma-Informed Care and Educator Well-being, provides educators with the tools and understanding of how trauma-informed practices can impact educator well-being and support teaching in any school setting.

Kaiser Permanente, in partnership with Discovery Education and the Alliance for a Healthier Generation, have expanded their Resilience in School Environments (RISE) Initiative to offer Ready, Set, RISE! – a versatile series of no-cost virtual resources designed to support educators with fostering greater social and emotional resilience in schools.

Explore the e-Learning Modules: Ready, Set, RISE!  (https://www.readysetrisemodules.com/)

Bonus Resource: Reaching Out. Now more than ever, we need to connect and support each other. FindYourWords.org has some fantastic content to support mental health. On the website is information in these five categories:

• Helping someone else
• Asking for help
• Caring for yourself
• Talking with kids
• Understanding depression

OSHA COVID-19 Temporary Standard for all Workplaces
November 30, 2020 - Oregon’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has released temporary COVID-19 standards for all workplaces; please view this flyer for more information.

Superintendent Scott Video Message to Staff
Superintendent Scott shares his deep appreciation for staff on the occasion of American Education Week and provides updates on the return-to-school planning process. Watch the video at this link.

Inclement Weather
February 22, 2023 - Thanksgiving week is traditionally when we talk about the potential for inclement weather and remind families about where they can find information on modified bus routes, the process for making decisions about delaying or closing schools, how we communicate changes to the normal school day, and so on.  

Our Transportation department has divided our district into zones. In some of these zones, there are inclement weather bus routes that are different than regular bus routes. Check the map on our Inclement Weather webpage to identify your zone, and see the list of inclement weather bus routes for each zone.

We will announce inclement weather bus route activations on FlashAlert Newswire, on our website, and on our social media sites if they are necessary. Please contact Transportation with any questions, 503-844-1123.  

Updated Inclement Weather Memos for staff are available on the Staff Links page of our website:

Licensed Staff Memo

Classified Staff Memo

Administrator/SuperTech Staff Memo

Masks Required at All Times
November 23, 2020 - Please remember that masks are required at all times while at work. Cloth or disposable masks are the most effective, and they must be worn over both your nose and mouth. Face shields alone are not recommended, unless they are needed for communication/instruction or for a medical reason. Single-layer gaiters and bandanas are also not recommended, as they are not as effective as a facemask. Please see this video or speak with your supervisor if you need more information. As an employer, we are subject to fines from OSHA if health protocols are not being followed by all staff members, so we appreciate everyone’s cooperation in keeping themselves and others safe while at work. Thank you!

Out-of-State Travel
November 23, 2020 - On Friday, Nov. 13, Governor Brown outlined a series of preventative measures to help stop the spread of COVID-19 in the state of Oregon and among them was a travel advisory.  The advisory does not impact any required commuting that falls under the category of essential travel, which includes work and study, critical infrastructure support, economic services and supply chains, health, immediate medical care, and safety and security. It does impact non-essential travel that is considered tourism or recreational in nature. 

Under this advisory, persons arriving in Oregon from other states or countries, including returning Oregon residents, should practice self-isolation for 14 days after arrival. These persons should limit their interactions to their immediate household. 

Staff who recently returned to Oregon or are planning non-essential travel outside of Oregon, should contact their supervisor about remote work options upon their return while in isolation. In the event working remotely is not applicable due to the nature and requirements of the job, staff should contact the Benefits Department regarding leave options.

2020 United Way Campaign
November 23, 2020 - Each year, HSD joins forces with United Way of Columbia-Willamette to mobilize our community around a single goal: to improve lives in our region. Participating in the United Way’s annual campaign provides you with the opportunity to share in this vision and improve the community in which you work and live.

Local agencies need ongoing help with the most basic needs in the community. The United Way’s program for specific agency donation allows donors to select an agency of your choice to receive your contribution. There are many Washington County agencies that work directly with children and families. You may also designate your own tax-exempt 501(c)(3) charity to receive your donation through the United Way.

For more information, please visit the United Way website at www.unitedway-pdx.org/about or see the FAQ. When you decide to donate, you can email your completed pledge form to communications@hsd.k12.or.us or fax it to 503-844-1557. If you are using monthly payroll deductions, please note the Jan. 4 deadline to set up deductions for 2021, beginning with the January 2021 paycheck.

Click here to view an informational video and here to view Glenn’s Story.

This year’s District campaign runs from Monday, Nov. 23, 2020, to Monday, Jan. 4, 2021.

Each of us has an opportunity to give back to our local neighbors and communities. Thank you for what you do, not only as an educational professional, but also as an integral, contributing member of our local community.

Optimizing Your Sleep Webinar
November 23, 2020 - In case you missed Moda Health’s “From A to Zzzs: Optimizing Your Sleep” webinar, check out the recording here.

Support and Resources During the Holidays
November 23, 2020 - Holidays are a special time when family and friends usually come together to celebrate, but due to COVID-19, many of us may celebrate alone, socially distanced, virtually, or in smaller gatherings this year. Things are different for all of us this holiday season and these changes can trigger feelings of loneliness, anxiety, and stress.

Our employee assistance program is here for you and your family so you can stay emotionally and physically balanced during this challenging time. Below are links for two webinars for enjoying the holidays and self-care, as well as three seasonal resource flyers. 

• Webinar: It’s Not Selfish, It’s Selfcare
• Webinar: Five Strategies to Enjoy the Holidays This Year
• Flyer: Help to Cope with Holiday Stress
• Flyer: DIY Projects for Kids
• Flyer: Quarantine-Friendly Ways to Honor Family Traditions

WW November Updates
November 23, 2020 - The Weight Watchers November newsletter is here with tips and a recipe for your leftover turkey; there is also a coupon for $5 off a WW Shop order of $20 or more.

Kaiser Thrive Local Connections
November 16, 2020 - Kaiser has launched a new resource to connect KP members to community organizations offering help with housing, food, transportation, childcare, and more. 

Called Thrive Local Connections, members can speak to agents who will help them locate resources by calling 800-443-6328 Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

See this flyer for links to specific supports, or visit KP.org for further Social Health Resources.

Total Brain App
November 16, 2020 - Founded on the principle that our mental health can be measured, improved, and managed like our physical health, Total Brain measures the 12 brain capacities that define your mental health and screens for the risk of common mental conditions. Then, based on that assessment, Total Brain provides you with specific mental fitness programs designed to strengthen your brain capacities and improve your mental health. 

Learn more here; to get started, register by going to www.totalbrain.com/OEBB.

Pacific University Information Sessions
November 9, 2020 - Pacific University’s School of Learning & Teaching (SLT) is hosting information sessions for staff interested in either obtaining their degree or adding an endorsement. 

Information meetings are a great way to learn more about program specifics, the admission process, and the things that make Pacific unique. By attending an information meeting, you will have the opportunity to ask specific questions pertaining to your needs and interests.

• General Education Virtual SLT Information Meeting - Thursday, Nov. 12, 4 p.m. Register here.
• Special Education Virtual SLT Information Meeting - Wednesday, Nov. 18, 5:30 p.m. Register here. 

The following programs are options to be discussed:

• Preliminary Licensure Programs including MAT, BA, and BED ($426/credit) programs, and their new Residency Teacher Licensure-Only Program (RTL).
• Add-on Endorsements, Specializations & Certificates with optional MED degree, including their fully online and discounted ($410/credit) ESOL Endorsement, Reading Endorsement, and their new Dyslexia Certificate program. 

Visit Pacific University’s SLT website or contact Admissions Director Diana Watkins (teach@pacificu.edu) for more information.

OEBB Member Survey
November 9, 20202 - OEBB members are reminded to please complete the OEBB Annual Member Survey by Friday, Nov. 13.

November Wellness
Reliant Behavioral Health’s November employee wellness newsletter is here. Moda Health’s winter 2020 wellness newsletter is here. 

Moda has also released a new cooking demo for their Brussels Sprouts, Cranberry & Quinoa Salad recipe; and they are inviting people to their Be Well webinar on Wednesday, Nov. 11. The webinar is titled “From A to Zzzs: Optimizing Your Sleep,” and it airs at 3 p.m. Click here to register. If you are not able to attend live, you can watch the recording when it becomes available.

November RBH Webinar: 5 Strategies to Enjoy the Holidays
November 2, 2020 - Our employee assistance plan provider, Reliant Behavioral Health (RBH), will host their November webinar, “5 Strategies to Enjoy the Holidays,” on Tuesday, Nov. 10, from noon to 1 p.m.

Licensed Clinical Social Worker Karen Merrill will share five tips for enjoying the holidays this year and will guide you in creating a customized plan for applying them to your personal holiday situation. 

Registration is free, but please sign up in advance as space is limited

OEBB Webinar: COVID-19 Updates
November 2, 2020 - OEBB presents a pre-recorded webinar featuring Dr. Deb Friesen who talks about COVID-19 updates and trends, preparing for the holidays, prioritizing flu prevention, and more. View the webinar at this link (45 mins., 35 secs.).

WW Private Virtual Workshops
November 2, 2020 - Weight Watchers (WW) Workshops have helped millions of members build healthy habits for real life, and OEBB members now have access to Private Virtual Workshops through OEBB’s WW partnership.

Receive weekly guidance from a WW Coach in a virtual group setting that will help move you closer to your weight-loss and wellness goals. 

Current WW Members can view the Workshop schedule by joining OEBB’s Connect Group here: Click to join OEBB's Exclusive Connect Group! **IMPORTANT: You must click this link from a mobile device to be directed to the Connect group.**

Not a Member? Learn more about OEBB’s partnership with WW by visiting OEBB.WW.com

Licensed Listening Session Reminder
October 26, 2020 - The Licensed Listening Session is this Wednesday, Oct. 28, at 4 p.m. Any HSD staff member can watch the live stream of the session using their HSD user account.* (*Only HSD user accounts will be able to access the live stream.) Questions may be submitted using the Google Form that will be provided 30 minutes prior to the start of the Listening Session.

Webinar: Managing Emotions During Turbulent Times
October 26, 2020 - Our employee assistance program, Reliant Behavioral Health (RBH), is an important resource during times of transition and uncertainty. They understand that many of us are experiencing stress and anxiety from this year's election. In every election some people are disappointed and others are pleased by the outcome. If you’ve been feeling distressed, it's important to remember that you aren’t alone. There are countless others who also feel the same. Watch this webinar (26.5 minutes) for some practical tips on how to manage your emotions in a healthy way.

OEBB Fall 2020 Wellness Newsletter
October 26, 2020 - OEBB’s Fall 2020 Wellness Newsletter addresses mental, social, and physical health; provides links to resources, and more.

Kaiser Flu Shot Opportunities
October 26, 2020 - Kaiser members can get free flu shots at drive-through and walk-up clinics through October, and at participating retailers and pharmacies through December 31. See this flyer and visit kp.org/flu for more information.

Cascade Alliance for Equity Workshop
October 26, 2020 - The Cascade Alliance for Equity, an equity-based collaboration of Northwest Regional, Multnomah, and Clackamas education service districts, is offering a free equity workshop for educators on Wednesday, Oct. 28, from 2:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. The workshop will empower educators to develop actionable strategies for addressing the racism within today’s education system, with an emphasis on virtual learning. Click here to register. 

Classified Listening Session Reminder
October 19, 2020 - The Classified Listening Session is this Wednesday, Oct. 21, at 4 p.m. Any HSD staff member can watch the live stream of the session using their HSD user account.* (*Only HSD user accounts will be able to access the live stream.) Questions may be submitted using the Google Form that will be provided 30 minutes prior to the start of the Listening Session in this document.

Employee Flu Shot Clinics
October 19, 2020 - HSD and Get a Flu Shot are hosting two outdoor Flu Shot Clinics for employees and their covered dependents:

• Saturday, Oct. 24, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Century High School student parking lot
• Saturday, Oct. 31, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Liberty High School student parking lot

At press time, there were only a handful of appointments left on the 31st. Check the sign-up sheet for any remaining opportunities. Walk-ins will be accepted at both clinics, but you may have to wait. 

Reminders:

• Everyone must wear a mask at all times.
• Maintain at least six feet of distance from others if there is a line.
• Dress for the weather, but also remember the nurse will need fairly easy access to your upper arm for the injection.
• Bring your insurance card so that insurance can be billed.
• If you do not have insurance or you have an insurance carrier that is not on the list, you may pay out of pocket ($30).
• Dependents must be willing participants and be at least 9 years old.
• Kaiser members will have to fill out a specific claim form that is only available at the clinic location. Moda members can print and fill out their claim form ahead of time OR fill it out at the clinic. Blank forms will be available. 
• Click the following links for an informational flyer about the influenza vaccine: English flyer, Spanish flyer. 

If you have questions or need additional information, please contact Safety and Emergency Preparedness Manager Michelle Brady at bradym@hsd.k12.or.us or 503-844-1342.

Kalapuyan Land Exhibit
October 16, 2020 - Five Oak Museum (previously Washington County Museum) has created several traveling exhibits to engage people out in the community. The first one being hosted in Downtown Hillsboro is the “This is Kalapuyan Land” exhibit. Look for signs like this one and scan the QR code on the back to see more information about the item and native peoples of this land. What a great opportunity for students to get away from the house for a social-distanced activity!

Brain Break Challenge
October 19, 2020 - Join OEBB’s Brain Break Challenge Oct. 16 to Nov. 13 and find time to relax and destress while building a habit you can use anywhere. 

To take the challenge:

• If you haven’t already, create a wellness account at oebb.hthu.com.
• Aim to get 3 minutes of any mindful activity for at least 12 days during the event. 
• Record your progress on the wellness portal in the Challenges tab by Nov. 13, or download the My StayWell app (available in the App store or Google Play) to track on the go! 

Access the Brain Break Challenge and stress management resources like the all-new Beyond Well podcast series at oebb.hthu.com.

Healthy Recipe and Cooking Demonstration
October 19, 2020 - Moda Health shares a recipe and cooking demonstration video for a fall delight: Pumpkin Baked Oatmeal with Bananas.

Staff Listening Sessions
October 12, 2020 - Listening Sessions for fall 2020 are coming – classified session is October 21 & licensed session is October 28. These will be conducted via Google Meet live stream from 4:00-5:00 pm.  The link to access the Listening Sessions will be shared in Monday Notes the week of each session.  Staff will have access to a form to submit questions to be answered during the session, as time allows.  Staff must use their district account to access the question submission form and the live stream.  Additional questions will be answered in the notes sent to attendees after the session.  This information is also being shared with HEA/HCU leaders.

Essential Workers Childcare Grant
October 12, 2020 - Washington County recently awarded a grant to the Hillsboro School District to support childcare for the children of essential workers, and to support childcare providers as they serve school-aged students—ages 5 to 12—accessing Comprehensive Distance Learning (CDL) during the school day. 

We are now able to reimburse families of essential workers and others impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic for school-age childcare in licensed facilities. This grant is available through the end of December of 2020.

Below are links to the application, feel free to share this information with other community members that have school age children. Please apply, even if you are unsure you will qualify for this program. Your application is confidential, and we will support you in the process! If you have any questions, please contact Alma Hernandez at childcareinfo@hsd.k12.or.us. 

https://bit.ly/3llefNQ

WW Updates
October 12, 2020 -  Staff who are interested in joining Weight Watchers Reimagined will receive a free Kick Start Kit when they sign up by Oct. 17. Membership is free if you are covered by OEBB medical insurance. See the flyer for more details. 

Also, check out the WW October newsletter for a Halloween candy guide and the recipe of the month: Baked apple cider doughnuts!

Dreaming Justice Speaker Series
September 28, 2020 - Oregon Episcopal School (OES) has invited HSD staff to attend their free live virtual Dreaming Justice Speaker Series event “Nurturing Black Children” on Thursday, Oct. 8, from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Dyan Watson, OES Director for Inclusion, and educators Kara Hinderlie Stroman and Natalie Labossiere will share their experiences about raising, educating, and supporting Black children in mostly White spaces. Through storytelling and prose, these moms will provide glimpses into the conversations they have with their own children, as well as Black students in their care. 

Participants will need access to Zoom. Registration is limited and is available on a first-come, first-served basis: www.oes.edu/dreaming-justice.

Workplace Accommodation Update
September 21, 2020 - If you have specialized workplace accommodations for ergonomics (sit/stand workstations, chairs, etc.), please report to your normal workstation/classroom to access those accommodations. You will need to follow all building access protocols. If you don’t currently have accommodations and would like to request an assessment, e-mail Leah McCarthy or call 503-844-1765. Review these Tips for Remote Office Safety and Comfort for more information.

Getting Your Flu Shot
September 21, 2020 - The Centers for Disease Control recommends getting a flu vaccine by the end of October to allow antibodies to develop before flu season begins.

Kaiser members can access free drive-through and walk-up flu shot clinics from Oct. 3 through Oct. 30 at select locations, Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Locations and directions are available at www.kp.org/flu. 

Moda members can receive their flu shot at any in-network pharmacy at member cost sharing, and HSD may be offering flu shot clinics again this year. Additional information will be provided as soon as it’s available.

George Fox Elementary Education Program
September 21, 2020 - George Fox University is launching a new accelerated Elementary Education degree completion program with a January start; learn more at an info session on 9/21…

Full: George Fox University is launching a new accelerated Elementary Education degree completion program with a January start. The program will allow students to receive a Bachelor’s Degree and a teaching license simultaneously within sixteen months. 

Learn more at a virtual information session on Monday, Sept. 21, at 6 p.m. via Zoom. Please pre-register at this link. 

Section 125 Benefits
September 14, 2020 - If you want to enroll in section 125 benefits or if you have section 125 benefits from last year and want to keep them, you must meet with an American Fidelity representative by September 15. September 15 is the final day to enroll or retain benefits, no exceptions.

Compassion Fatigue Workshops
September 14, 2020 - Our Youth Contact partners are holding free optional compassion fatigue workshops focused on personal and professional skill building for HSD staff throughout the school year.

The first sessions will be held on Sept. 22 and Sept. 23 at 4 p.m. 

If you are interested in the opportunity, here is how to sign-up:

1. E-mail Youth Contact counselor Holly Rogers rogersh@hsd.k12.or.us and indicate which session you want to attend. 
2. Patti Seitz and Holly Rogers will send out invitations to those who e-mail Holly by Sept. 20. 
3. At the end of the training, staff members can e-mail Holly to sign up for an ongoing support group that she will run. 

For more information on this and other trainings, please see our community partner list of opportunities for staff, families, and students.

EAP Resources for Parents with School-Aged Children
September 14, 2020 - Juggling work and parenting responsibilities is difficult and you don’t have to do it alone! Our employee assistance program (EAP) is now offering online peer support group meetings with other parents, facilitated by Certified Peer Specialists who are parents themselves. The groups provide an opportunity to discuss common parenting issues and how to deal with them. Get support and ideas from a variety of parents who are addressing similar issues. 

To learn more and register for a support group, call 866-750-1327 and speak to a care manager.

Grand Canyon University Information Session
September 14, 2020 - Interested in completing an undergraduate or graduate degree program? Consider participating in Grand Canyon University’s Zoom information session on Wednesday, Sept. 23, at 5:30 p.m.

Registration URL: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJAqdOGrqTIjGNzqqguGC0dMSFTdAsVIEoiu

Meeting ID: 947 3837 9928

Meeting Password: 258629

Scholarships are available for all courses of study.

Maintaining an Appropriate Online Presence
September 7, 2020 - As we prepare for a fully online experience throughout the fall, staff are reminded about the importance of appropriate clothing and video backgrounds, as well as restrictions on political activities for public employees.

While our work locations may have changed, the expectation for maintaining an appropriate and professional appearance have not. Please do not wear anything while teaching an online lesson that you would not wear to the school building. This includes hats, sunglasses, or other items that would not typically be allowed unless you were having a spirit day.

Please also ensure that the space behind you is free from images or items that would not be appropriate for students to see. A neutral or education-friendly background is best!

Finally, as we approach the presidential election, please review the restrictions on political activities for public employees. Here is a link to the quick guide, and here is a link to the full document. If you have questions about whether or not something is allowable, please reference these documents first; if you still have questions, please speak with your principal or contact Chief Communications Officer Beth Graser at graserbe@hsd.k12.or.us or x2772.

Benefits Open Enrollment
August 31, 2020 - The annual employee benefit enrollment window for the 2020-21 school year is open now through Sep. 6. Benefit enrollment is not mandatory for returning staff, but is highly recommended for review and verification of elections. 

If you would like more information on one of the District’s preferred plans/plans featuring a Health Reimbursement Account, please plan to attend the information session on Thursday, Sep. 3, at 3 p.m. via Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/7591405291 Meeting ID: 759 140 5291.  

Click here or visit the Benefits page for additional information.

EAP Resources
August 31, 2020 - The District’s EAP provider has many resources available to support you and your family, and is kicking of it’s monthly webinar series with a focus on bullying awareness and response. 

The training will cover three key areas: bringing awareness of bullying in both the workplace and schools through identifying the signs and behavior; recognizing the negative impacts and effects; and discussing strategies & steps to combat and prevent bullying. 

The webinar takes place from noon to 1 p.m. on Wednesday, Sep. 8. Participation is free, but space is limited so please register in advance.

Video Message from Superintendent Scott

June 9, 2020 - Superintendent Mike Scott prepared a video message to staff to share information about the 2020-21 budget and school year. Many things are still unknown, but we are working on contingency plans that will incorporate updated information as we receive it over the summer. 

If you are interested in contacting your legislator, we have the 2019-21 Legislative Contact List on the Budget Matters page of our website. This list contains all of the legislators who represent parts of our district. The people who represent us most directly are Reps. Sollman and McLain and Sen. Riley, but it's also a good idea to reach out to legislators who are on the Ways and Means Committee. You can also use the interactive "Find My Legislator" map, which will tell you the elected officials who represent you directly based on your home address. 

Optional Benefits Enrollment
If you are considering signing up for or continuing your coverage for optional benefits such as short-term disability, long-term care, accident coverage, etc. please plan to participate in a virtual meeting on Monday, Jun. 8, at 3:45 p.m. to learn what to expect and get answers to your questions. 

Login to the group meeting by visiting this link: https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/418456021. 

You can also dial in using your phone.

United States (Toll Free): 1 866 899 4679

United States +1 571 317 3116

Access code: 418-456-021

If your device does not support audio, you can switch to a phone call once you visit the GoToMeeting link above. 

Please contact Laura Sandstrom, enrollment coordinator, at 503-718-7040 if you have questions.

Stay Vigilant Against COVID-19 Fraud
The spread of COVID-19 has led to increased fraudulent behavior, including identity theft. If you believe your personal information has been compromised, you can take advantage of a free 60-minute consultation with a licensed, US-based Fraud Resolution Specialist by calling 866-750-1327. They’ll help you identify whether you’ve been a victim of identity theft and provide guidance to your current situation. You can also visit www.clcidprotect.net to start your free ID Theft analysis. Resources include:

• Dark Web Scan with ID Threat Score. A one-time full scan of the dark web for instances of your Social Security Number.
  
  
• Breach Search Tool. Unlimited access to search your e-mail address for involvement in data breaches.

June Wellness Newsletters
The RBH June Wellness Newsletters are available at ibhsolutions.com/resources.

June RBH Webinar
The June RBH webinar “Master your Mind - Emotional and Physical Health Connection,” takes place on Tuesday, June 9th, from 12 to 1pm. Particularly helpful for those living with chronic illness or other health challenges, this dynamic session provides strategies that employ the mind to lessen chronic pain, reduce depression associated with physical ailments, improve health outcomes, and more. You’ll learn about the latest research findings and gain techniques to help you feel your best, both mentally and physically. The webinar is free, but registration is required. 

Free Weight Watchers for OEBB Members
Just a reminder that staff who have their medical insurance through HSD are eligible to join WW (Weight Watchers® Reimagined) free of charge. See their May newsletter and starter kit flyer for more information.

Brain Health Challenge
In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, OEBB is sponsoring a Brain Health Challenge. 

The brain is considered one of our most precious assets, yet it’s often the most neglected. Being aware of your brain’s key capacities will help you target and train your brain to build resilience, communicate more effectively, and be more productive. 

Read a flyer about the challenge and sign up to participate online.

Healthy Cooking
Moda Health is offering some healthy cooking class workshops that use recipes suited for home preparation, especially if you have limited ingredients. 

Click on the links provided for the recipes and demonstration videos for Slow Cooker Taco Chicken (video) and Two Ingredient Bagels (video).

Hillsboro Hops Resources for Students
Hillsboro Hops staff and two Timbers 2 soccer players have recorded themselves reading books to students. T2 player Pablo Bonilla’s book is written and read in Spanish. You can access all of the recordings here. 

In addition, Hops mascot Barley has recorded a kid-friendly workout video with Charity, Heidi, and Leo from Hawthorn Farm Athletic Club. That video can be accessed here. 

Feel free to share these resources with your students!

Moda Health Resources
OEBB members can access a wealth of emotional and physical wellness resources through Moda Health. Example resources include live 30-minute daily PE activities; tips on how to change your diet to get more quality sleep; and recorded webinars like Resiliency, Flexibility, and Adaptability: Practical applications for today, so we can all bounce back tomorrow (register when prompted to access the recording). Check out this website to learn more.

OEBB Total Brain Webinar: Beyond Funny
OEBB presents the webinar Beyond Funny with Dr. Heidi Hanna at 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 6. In this interactive exploration of humor and laughter, participants will understand why finding things funny improves brain health, reduces stress, and enhances business-related outcomes. Individuals will create a Beyond Funny Toolkit to apply to their daily routines and feel confident in using intentional humor interventions in the office and at home. 

Participation is free, but registration is required.

Pop-ins from Barley
Barley, mascot for the Hillsboro Hops, is doing virtual classroom “pop-ins!” If you would like to surprise your students with a visit from Barley, contact Hops and T2 Community Engagement Coordinator Hannah August at hannaha@hillsborohops.com or 503-568-2395

The Oregon Savings Growth Plan (OSGP) is a 457(b) deferred compensation plan that provides eligible public employees with a convenient way to save for retirement. 

Oregon Savings Growth Plan Workshop 
Features of the plan include:

• You choose how much you want to contribute and it will be automatically deducted from your paycheck. Make changes any time online. 
• Pay tax now or later. You can either contribute on a pre-tax basis and lower the taxes you pay today, or choose to defer to a Roth 457(b) account where you pay the taxes now and have the potential for tax-free withdrawals later. 
• Your contributions to the plan and any earnings on those contributions always belong to you, even if you change jobs. 

If you are interested in learning more about the OSGP, register to attend the upcoming workshop on Wednesday, Apr. 29, at 5 p.m.

Section 125 Enrollment
Section 125 plans allow employees to pay for certain expenses related to medical, dental, vision, and daycare on a tax-exempt basis. Any time an employee takes advantage of Section 125, this will help to reduce taxable income and increase spendable income to the employee. 

The open enrollment period for Section 125 plans is May 4 through June 5, 2020. If you are interested in learning more or signing up for this benefit, you can make an appointment for a virtual meeting with an American Fidelity representative. 

Schedule your appointment at this website by finding your assigned representative and selecting a meeting time. Your representative will then e-mail you instructions on how to login to the enrollment site prior to your appointment time.  

Questions? Contact Lynette Coffman in Benefits, or Laura Sandstrom, American Fidelity Enrollment Coordinator, 877-293-1090. 

Tips for Remote Office Safety and Comfort
Many of us are going from walking around classrooms and buildings to sitting in front of a computer for extended periods of time. Here are some resources for safety and comfort while working remotely. 

Kaiser Permanente has assembled 10 tips to enhance your well-being while working remotely:

1. Get dressed and ready to transition into your workday each morning.
2. Set aside a designated work area to help you focus. Pay attention to your body position (more ergonomic information below).
3. Schedule walking meetings. This can be done remotely using a video conference - you can even share a picture of where you walk.
4. Take a virtual coffee break with a teammate.
5. Open virtual meetings with a Community Builder - “What was the last book you read?”
6. Take regular breaks. Sometimes remote work can lead to overworking, which can lead to injury. Taking short, active breaks can help increase productivity and creativity levels.
7. Stay connected within your team.
8. Set and keep regular office hours.
9. Eat a healthy lunch or snack. Research shows that healthy eating has a direct link to overall productivity levels. 
10. Pick a definitive finishing time each day.

For more information, click here. 

Student Enrollment and Attendance
ODE has released guidance on the enrollment of students through the remainder of the academic year and how student attendance is to be accounted for. 

Here are the key points:

• Any student who moves into the District’s attendance area during the period of COVID-19 school closure is to enroll at their home school and must be served through Distance Learning.
• No additional enrollments will be accepted at Hillsboro Online Academy for the 2019-20 school year. 
• Any non-resident student wishing to transfer to a Hillsboro School District school during the period of COVID-19 school closure must follow the standard protocol for an inter-district transfer.
• Schools may not drop current students from enrollment after a period of absence or simply because they cannot reach them.
• A parent or guardian may withdraw a student and transfer to another educational option (e.g. private school, homeschool, move to another district), if they so choose. 
• Daily attendance is not to be taken. Instead, schools should maintain a log system that tracks contact with students so they can estimate the number of students engaged during this time and, most importantly, understand which students they are not able to reach through Distance Learning for All. Accountability related to attendance has been waived for the 2019-20 school year.

Additional information and FAQs are available here.

April Wellness Newsletters
The RBH April Wellness Newsletters are available at ibhsolutions.com/resources.

Oregon Savings Growth Plan Virtual 1:1 Meetings
The Oregon Savings Growth Plan (OSGP) is a 457(b) deferred compensation plan that provides eligible public employees with a convenient way to save for retirement. 

Features of the plan include:

• You choose how much you want to contribute and it will be automatically deducted from your paycheck. Make changes any time online. 
• Pay tax now or later. You can either contribute on a pre-tax basis and lower the taxes you pay today, or choose to defer to a Roth 457(b) account where you pay the taxes now and have the potential for tax-free withdrawals later. 
• Your contributions to the plan and any earnings on those contributions always belong to you, even if you change jobs. 

To speak with a plan representative and determine if OSGP participation is for you, visit the website www.growyourtomorrow.com. Under the Attend a Workshop column, click on Register Now. From there, click on Virtual Meeting and pick a date and time that work best for you. Representative Charles Yu will then send you a Zoom meeting invitation. 

Charles can also be reached at charles.yu@voya.com or 503-997-3412.

OEBB Offers New COVID-19 Resources
The Oregon Educators Benefit Board (OEBB) has launched a COVID-19 Resources webpage where you can easily see what’s available and learn how to get the help you need. 

You’ll find links to:

• Emotional health resources
• Physical health resources
• Free mobile apps
• Upcoming webinars, and 
• Recordings of past webinars

If you’re hoping to find something you don’t see on this page, please e-mail them at oebb.benefits@state.or.us or call 888-469-6322. They’ll do their best to connect you with someone who can help.

Grand Canyon University Continuing Education Scholarships
If you have been thinking about getting your Master’s degree in an education-related field, check out the online programs offered by Grand Canyon University. They are currently offering scholarships of up to 25 percent off of tuition. For more information, see their flyers (April programs 1, April programs 2, Online Programs Full List), visit http://www.gcu.edu/udc/Dain.Zawada, or contact Dain Zawada at 971-276-2805 or dain.zawada@gcu.edu.

April RBH Webinar
Reliant Behavioral Health’s April webinar is Saving for the Future. Many people do not have a healthy level of savings, despite knowing the importance of having money set aside for emergencies, purchases, college, and retirement. In this one-hour financial wellness workshop, you will learn how to utilize Emotionally Charged Saving techniques that will motivate you to set and keep your savings goals. 

Some of the topics covered include:

• Savings, Your Financial Shock Absorbers
• How Spending and Saving are Actually Two Sides of the Same Coin
• The Reasons to Save
• Why Willpower is Overrated
• Positive + Negative Emotion = Massive Motivation
• The Power of “Mindless Saving”

Participants will leave the class with valuable tools and techniques to start improving their financial health immediately.

The webinar takes place on Wednesday, April 8, from noon to 1 p.m. Participation is free, but space is limited, so please register early.

Staying Healthy at Home Webinar
Moda Health Wellness Advisors is offering a Zoom webinar at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Apr. 1, focused on staying healthy at home during COVID-19. The webinar is free, but registration is required.

Employee Assistance Program
As we navigate through these stressful times full of unknowns and ever-changing information, remember that our employee assistance program is here to support you with a 24-hour crisis help line (1-866-750-1327), confidential online and telephonic counseling, and a variety of resources on their website. Go to https://myrbh.com/Home/Home?role=member and enter the access code OEBB for more information.

Enable Text Messages
If you have not been receiving texts from HSD Communications, please take a moment to update your information in iVisions. You must have a mobile phone listed - and identified as a mobile phone number - for text messages to be possible. If you have your mobile phone number listed in the home phone field, you will not receive texts. Thank you!

Summer Agriculture Institute Scholarship
K-12 educators who are interested in attending the Summer Agriculture Institute are invited to apply for a scholarship of $600 to reimburse the cost of OSU tuition (3 graduate level credits), meals, lodging, transportation, and curriculum and resources. Applications are due by Friday, Apr. 3. Learn more here.

Teacher Grant Opportunity
Looking for a new way to make learning engaging for your students? Eligible K-12 teachers may apply to win $1,000 to use toward the purchase of technology equipment for their classroom. To enter, write a brief lesson plan (500-word maximum) that creatively details how you would use the technology of your choice in your classroom to enhance the educational experience and social responsibility in the classroom. Applications are due by May 15. Click here for more details.

PERS Retirement Seminar

A free PERS/403(b) retirement planning seminar will take place on Tuesday, Mar. 10, from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the Administration Center Board Room. 

The workshop is open to all employees and their partners, whether they are planning to retire in the near future or are simply looking to get some questions answered. With the PERS retirement system and potential changes in the news more and more, it is important to stay on top of what can be an essential part of your retirement income. Topics will include explaining the PERS system, its changes over time, and what it will mean to you. Different payout options will also be discussed to help you start thinking about what may be best for you and your family. 

There are often many questions employees have about planning for taxes, PERS, Social Security, and health insurance in retirement; or even just getting a financial plan started. This will be a great workshop for getting those and other questions answered as we enter the second half of the school year. 

The event is complimentary, but space is limited. If you would like to attend, please RSVP by e-mail to the presenter, Skylar Koon of Cetera Investors, at skylar.koon@ceterainvestors.com or by phone at 503-296-7676 ext. 322. 

SEL in Action Awards
Education First, in partnership with the NoVo Foundation, seek applications for educator-led and district-level projects that foster social and emotional skills in students in grades PK-12. Grants of up to $7,000 for classroom or school-level projects, and $25,000 for district-level projects will be awarded for the 2020-21 school year. 

A small number of two-year grants will also be awarded; indicate on the grant application if you’d like to be considered for a two-year grant.

The RFP, application and details about two informational webinars can be found here: https://education-first.com/sel-in-action-awards.  

The deadline for applications is Friday, Apr. 10, at 11:59 p.m. PT. If you have additional questions, please e-mail selinaction@education-first.com. 

Employee Wellness Resources
The RBH March webinar, Developing Critical Thinking Skills, takes place on Tuesday, Mar. 10, from noon to 1 p.m. The ability to make good decisions quickly and to creatively solve problems is what sets some people apart. In fact, for many employers, it is often the most sought after skill set. We all encounter a high volume of information every day. How do we know what is most important or reliable? Though most credit their ability to think critically with their experiences in school, can we cultivate this capacity in our daily personal or professional lives? The answer is yes!

This interactive workshop will increase your curiosity and open-mindedness, teach you how to quickly analyze and evaluate information, and provide tops on how to better organize and apply your ideas.

The webinar is free, but space is limited so please register. 

The Moda Health March webinar, The Simple Guide to Healthy Eating, takes place on Wednesday, Mar. 11, at 3:30 p.m. Eating healthier is easier than you may think (and it doesn’t involve giving up the foods you love). This presentation discusses simple tools for creating a healthy eating plan and improving our relationship with food and overall well-being.

This webinar is also free, but requires pre-registration. 

And employee wellness newsletters for March are available at ibhsolutions.com/resources (scroll down the page to access links).

Classified Employee Appreciation Week
Cooking, cleaning, fixing, typing, driving, scheduling and supporting students… classified school employees do it all! From the time they get on the bus in the morning to when they head home at the end of the day, students are surrounded by caring classified professionals who keep them safe and help them learn. Now, it’s time to thank them!

Classified Employee Appreciation Week is March 2-6, 2020, so let’s all give a “high five for classified!” Use the hashtag #CEW2020 to share how you celebrated your classified staff members.

Post Masters Program

Teachers who are looking to take the next step in their educational journey, but may not want to complete a Doctoral dissertation, are encouraged to check out Grand Canyon University’s Education Specialist (EdS) Teaching & Learning Degree. 

Grand Canyon University’s Education Specialist (EdS) in Teaching and Learning program offers a post-Master’s education degree that allows K-12 educators to acquire the skills and knowledge necessary for developing education communities that improve student outcomes. 

Graduates who later decide to pursue their Doctor of Education (EdD) in Teaching and Learning can transfer some of the credits completed during their EdS. 

Offered by GCU’s College of Doctoral Studies, this accelerated, fully online EdS degree emphasizes theories and models of teaching in various educational environments, from elementary to high school. 

The course length is 8 weeks and offers 30 program credits. To learn more, visit their website or contact Dain Zawada at dain.zawada@gcu.edu or 971-276-2805. 

E-mail Security Update
Tech Services has been working with Microsoft Engineers on ways to reduce phishing attempts and the amount of spam that arrives in our mailboxes. Therefore, starting on the evening of Thursday, Feb. 27, there will be a number of security enhancements made to the e-mail system, including: link scanning, attachment scanning, impersonation identification, and quarantine. Learn more in this TS E-mail Security Update, and please contact the Help Desk at x5813 with any issues once the system is activated.

School Employee Wellness Conference
The annual Oregon School Employee Wellness Conference held in Bend, OR, over Spring Break, is a state-wide conference that aims to educate, engage, and empower educators and school staff to create healthy, resilient school workplaces. The conference has become a trusted source for quality professional development and networking, and brings together national, state, and local experts who share practical information and tools to start and sustain employee wellness. Registration is required, but is free of charge. If you plan on attending or if you have any questions, please contact HSD Risk Manager Leah McCarthy at mccarthl@hsd.k12.or.us.

Bilingual Teacher Pathway Information Session
The Bilingual Teacher Pathway (BTP) program is a teacher preparation program designed to fill critical shortages of bilingual/bicultural teachers. On Thursday, Mar. 5, from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m., Lynda  Pullen, Admission Advisor for the BTP program at Portland State University, will join us for an information session at the District Administration Center, Room 213. Please join us to learn more about this exciting program!

BTP flyer

PSU Bilingual Teacher Pathway RSVP

Attention All Fundraisers
Thank you to all of the passionate supporters of our schools, activities, athletics, and clubs!  Your efforts create amazing opportunities for students at every level. Before you begin a new fundraising effort, please be sure to review and follow these guidelines for soliciting and accessing funds. 

Once you have authorization from your school’s administrator to fundraise, there are several options for you to get your message out. Your project can be created as an item in your school or District Webstore with a link that can be shared with supporters far and wide. The District absorbs Webstore fees for donation contributions. 

You may also be able to establish a GoFundMe campaign with the assistance of your Office Manager. With GoFundMe, however, fees are deducted from donation contributions and must be fully disclosed to donors. Staff should never establish an external bank account or use their own to collect funds for a District fundraiser.

ALL funds that flow through District or school accounts are subject to rules that ensure a high standard for accountability and transparency.  Please plan ahead and work with your building administrator, office manager, or bookkeeper for disbursements.

New IRS Income Tax Withholding Forms
The 2020 Form W-4, Employee’s Withholding Certificate, is very different from previous versions due to the federal tax law changes that took place in 2018. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is not requiring all employees to complete the revised form and has designed the withholding tables so that they will work with both the new and prior year forms. However, employees hired in 2020 and anyone who makes withholding changes during 2020 will have to use the new form or complete the step-by-step questionnaire available in the iPortal (https://ivisions.hsd.k12.or.us/ivisions/Pay-Tax-Information/Employee-Tax-Forms). 

Please note: if you do not submit a new form, withholding will continue based on your previously submitted form.

Please see this Memo for more information regarding the change. District Payroll and Human Resources staff are not authorized to assist current or new employees in completing the forms; however, the IRS has published Frequently Asked Questions that you may find helpful (https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/faqs-on-the-draft-2020-form-w-4).

Hillsboro Schools Foundation Grants
The Hillsboro Schools Foundation (HSF) is now accepting abstracts for their Innovative Education Grants. 

HSF supports projects that put the tools of exploration, imagination, and self-expression directly in students’ hands, giving them opportunities they may not otherwise have through annual school funding. 

The application process is simple, fair, and open to all HSD staff and volunteer parent groups for programs that enhance student achievement both inside and outside the classroom. HSF evaluates and selects proposals based on student engagement and achievement; innovative instructional methods and tools; and sustainable, measurable results. 

Abstracts are due by Wednesday, Feb. 12. Selected finalists will be notified by Friday, Feb. 28, and are then invited to complete a full application by Monday, Apr. 6. Approximately $50,000 in grants will be awarded in mid-May and will be available for projects implemented during the following school year.

RBH February Webinar
Reliant Behavioral Health’s next webinar takes place on Wednesday, Feb. 12, from noon to 1 p.m. Titled “The Best Fight Ever: 6 Steps to Positive Conflict,” this seminar promises to equip participants with the tools to identify their conflict style, solve their solvable problems, and manage their unsolvable problems with less frustration. The webinar is free, but space is limited so please register today.

Workplace Accommodations Notice
On Jan. 1, modifications to Oregon’s workplace accommodations law went into effect with updated language around pregnancy, break periods, etc. The new workplace accommodations notice is available here.