Dear Families:
Each week as I begin to write this, I try to find something positive to say about this entire COVID situation. It is getting more and more difficult as we move from week to week, month to month, especially when we are seeing the numbers soar. Today’s numbers are over 260 cases per 100, 000 people. They are trending in the wrong direction.
With the holidays quickly approaching, please do everything you can to reduce transmission. We want all of our students to return to the building but if the numbers continue to rise, it will be more and more difficult. We also want to keep the PreK to 2nd grade students in the building and not go back to remote learning for our youngest students. It will take each and every one of us following all safety protocols to help get this under control.
If you plan to travel in the near future, please don’t let your guard down. When we are away from our regular routines, it’s easy to forget all of the necessary health safety steps. If you are attending a Thanksgiving gathering, wear your mask, limit the gatherings to those in your household, wash your hands and don’t share utensils. If you are traveling outside the state of Washington, Governor Inslee has issued this travel advisory. Please plan to quarantine for 14 days once you return to Washington if your child is attending school in the building.
Please continue to use the health screening questions and see the additional question about travel, whether your child is in the building or not. If you or your child is exposed to anyone with COVID, you are required to quarantine for 14 days. Let’s get this virus under control and have the number of positive cases begin a downward trend.
If your family is planning to be away over the holidays and you are scheduled to leave when school is still in session, please remember that we continue to operate during our normal hours. If you are in a different time zone and your child is expected to participate in a live streamed class, please account for the time change and help your student to stay on schedule. Please do not ask teachers for assignments or schedules in advance. They are working incredibly hard during these difficult times and it is simply not feasible for them to prepare individual lesson for students in advance.
Finally, our Five Year Strategic Plan is ready for distribution. You can find a copy of it on our website and you will be given a hard-copy when classes schedule Material Pick-up days. Thank you again to School Commission chair, Mark Keilholz, for chairing the strategic planning process and to members of the Steering Committee: Guy Weismantel, Kristen Glenn, Dylan Jackson, Kelly Kemp, Alitha Regalia, Lori Roozen, Elyssa Schuessler and Carmen Suazo. With this plan, we have clear direction for improving our school in the years ahead.
Have a great week!
Mary
