Return to Virtual Learning
10/29/2020 Superintendent Update
Dear Rainier Staff and Community,
This year has certainly been unprecedented for schools throughout the nation. Rainier Schools are no exception; however, we have been able to provide families educational opportunities to meet the needs for each family during this very difficult time. The changes that are required by the Health Department seem to be ever evolving and we were fortunate to offer in-person opportunities this month in a hybrid model for those who elected the option.
As the Superintendent of Rainier Schools, I firmly believe that students should be in school. There is no substitute for students to learn in-person and develop socially with peers, having meals and being safe. It is important not only for their education academically, but imperative for optimal social/emotional health and development.
The rate of infection in Thurston County as a whole has risen dramatically over the past few weeks. The Thurston County Health Department, based on their interpretation of the DOH “Decision Making Tree” for high levels over 75 per 100,000, is requiring that we limit our student groups to 5 or less and only for our students of highest need. The Thurston County Health Department is anticipating a continued rise in the rate of infection for the foreseeable future and on November 6th will strongly recommend all Thurston County School District return to full distance learning.
For our elementary students, we cannot make this requirement of 5 students work with our staffing and the capacity to provide excellent service with our amazing teaching and support staff. In order to comply with this requirement and provide a safe learning and working environment, I have made the difficult decision to return our elementary school to distance learning. We were given some time to “unravel our hybrid model” and allowed to go into November after discussion with the health department about how this affects families and staff.
I want to thank and recognize all of the parents, students and our amazing staff for going above and beyond to make our in-person hybrid model a success. To date, there have been no students or teaching staff identified with a confirmed case of COVID-19. We created and implemented a plan that kept our students and staff safe while providing quality in-person education. We know that we can do this model well and we are incredibly proud of your children as we saw them working so hard in classes weekly. Unfortunately, the number of cases in the county does not appear to be slowing down anytime soon.
We understand that parents and teachers need some time to make this pivot from in-person learning to distance learning. Please be aware of the following changes in the students’ in-person schedule:
- Monday, November 2: Traditional All District Remote Learning Schedule
- Tuesday, November 3: Group A students in-person 8:25-11:30pm (half day for conferencing)
- Wednesday, November 4: Group B students in-person 8:25-11:30pm (half day for conferencing)
- Thursday, November 5: Traditional All District Remote Learning Schedule
- Friday, November 6: Traditional All District Remote Learning Schedule
We will provide additional information as soon as it becomes available; however, we wanted to give families as much notice as possible of the upcoming change. We will remain in a Distance Learning model for the foreseeable future.
Grab & Go Meals will continue to be available daily from 12:00-1:00pm.
Preschool will close until further notice.
Special Education Self-contained classes will continue with Tuesday thru Friday half days. Resource Interventions will continue to be implemented in small, in-person groups during Distance Learning. Families will be notified by early next week of their student’s schedule. Secondary Students with the highest level of need will be invited into our facilities to receive additional supports.
Sincerely,
Superintendent Bahr