Aberdeen Schools
Helping you stay informed about our district.
Aberdeen School District No. 5 -- January 23, 2021
In Person, but it will be different
Our district is preparing to offer in-person instruction for preschool and K-3 students beginning Feb. 1, but what might that look like with social distancing, masks, temperature checks, and other health and safety measures?
Concurrent is the new word:
The School Board has directed the superintendent to prepare for a hybrid reopening that uses “concurrent” (aka simultaneous or synchronous) strategies. In Aberdeen, this will mean that students can keep their same teacher, whether they choose to come in person or access the classroom remotely via Zoom. Teachers will still use the Canvas platform as the K-3 in-person component is two days a week to start.
Following regulations:
Our reopening will adhere to the state metrics and safety regulations. Many of our plans and ideas on how to implement the in-person component come from research into best practices and what has been working in other districts. Several of our principals are visiting schools in the region that have already returned to in-person.
Many right ways:
The video above is just one way to create a concurrent classroom. There are other excellent strategies our teachers may choose in order to achieve concurrent instruction for their class. The district has pledged professional development support when requested to help teachers develop strategies that work for both their teaching style and their students.
January 29 is an important date:
Friday, Jan. 29, will be an online learning day for our PreK-3 students while teachers finish preparing their classroom. In addition, on that day principals will be hosting Zoom assemblies to share the new expectations and protocols with their students to help ease their in-person return on Feb. 1.
Lots to learn:
In addition to the video above, here are some more links that help illustrate the kind of work being done to prepare our schools for students again. We look forward to being able to show you ASD5 videos once we're up and running!
Concurrent Instruction: Ideas for Primary Classrooms (Elementary)
Small Group Concurrent Instruction – Station Rotation
How Colvin Run Set Up Classrooms for Concurrent Instruction
Concurrent Instruction: Classroom Practices (All levels)
Teaching Online and In Person Simultaneously – Synchronous/Blended/Hybrid/Concurrent Teaching
Masks, Distance and Cleanliness
- Wear a mask;
- Watch their distance, and
- Wash or sanitize their hands. Multiple opportunities will be provided during the day.
For the good of all, students must strictly follow all health and safety protocols or return to the distance learning model.
Parents will be required to attest every day that their student left home in good health. These signed attestations will be collected at the entrance to school, where there will be a quick temperature check. More information on this protocol will be provided by the schools.
We know you have questions ...
- If I choose to keep my students distanced can we change our minds? Or vice versa?
- How will students receive breakfast and lunch?
- Can my student ride the bus?
- What is a health attestation?
If you have a question, please submit to the attention of Superintendent Alicia Henderson at ahenderson@asd5.org.
Rotary Student of the Month
Mayri Orellana is the Aberdeen Rotary Club’s Student of the Month for January. Ms. Orellana is a senior at Aberdeen High School where she has been involved in Outdoor School at Camp Bishop and played a leadership role that saw her team finish second during Business Week. She maintains a 3.8 grade-point average and attends Grays Harbor College as a Running Start student.
At AHS, she’s a member of the FFA, Honors Society, has taken part in the World Class Scholar program since 7th grade, and participates in Foodball. She’s also a scholar athlete, playing on the basketball team for four years, including captaincy, and two years on the track and field and cross country teams.
Ms. Orellana plans to graduate from Grays Harbor College with her AA degree and then attend Central Washington University to earn a bachelor’s degree in business. She expressed much appreciation for the options she has been offered through AHS and Running Start in deciding on a post-secondary path.
Athletics resume on February 1
AHS and Miller athletes should contact their school for more information and to obtain the sign-up packet.
You can access Mr. Crabb's presentation to the School Board below.
Survey No. 2 results available on ASD5 site
Thank you to everyone who took time to complete Survey No. 2 to help the district measure the success of our instructional program during these COVID times. Superintendent Henderson presented the results to the School Board at its meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 19.
One result that was nice to see was the Academic Wellbeing of our K-3 students. As you can see in the slide below, they are a pretty happy group.
Aberdeen School District Board of Directors
Summary of the January 19 meeting
President Sandra Bielski convened the regular meeting of the Aberdeen School District Board of Directors at 5:00 p.m. Tuesday, January 19, 2021, via webinar following guidance for conducting remote meetings in compliance with the Open Public Meetings Act. Directors present were Jennifer Durney, Bill Dyer, Jessica Jurasin and Suzy Ritter, along with Student Representative Katlynn Smith, Superintendent Alicia Henderson and 161 patrons and staff watching remotely.
The meeting began with the Flag salute.
Minutes, Bills, Trips & Gifts
The board approved the Consent Agenda, which included:
- The minutes from the meeting on December 15, 2020;
- Payroll vouchers totaling $2,797,504.49;
- General Fund vouchers totaling $714,193.90;
- ASB Fund vouchers totaling $1,700.30,
- Gifts to the District
Comments from Board members
Director Jessica Jurasin thanked all those who have sent emails and commented over the past few days regarding the hybrid model and schedule for the in-person component to start Feb. 1. She noted that she has read all the input, but has not had a chance to respond.
Director Suzy Ritter also thanked those who reached out regarding the in-person hybrid model planned to begin Feb. 1 for K-3, and that while she also has not had a chance to respond, she shares many of the same concerns. She added that all the work that has taken place to this point is appreciated. She also said she continues to be grateful for the Health and Wellness pods that students can take part in.
Director Bill Dyer added that School Board members are well-positioned to evaluate the information coming to them as board members are also parents, grandparents, business owners, working professionals and educators who are living through the pandemic along with everyone else.
Comments from Student Representative
Student Representative Katllynn Smith provided a report. She noted that six-week grades are due and will be used for fall sport eligibility, which starts Feb. 1; that sports packets are available and students should contact the AHS main office with questions; that the Bobcat Booster Club is selling team gear during the athletic conditioning pods, and that the leadership groups at AHS have been working to create opportunities for virtual social interactions with students and families that are well attended, such as virtual BINGO, social Zooms, and Kahoot! (a virtual game).
Superintendent’s Report
School Board Recognition: January is School Board Recognition Month.
Superintendent Alicia Henderson read a proclamation from Governor Jay Inslee and thanked board members for their service, especially during these challenging times.
ASD5 Survey No. 2: Superintendent Henderson shared the results of the second survey the district administered seeking feedback from staff, parents and students on the instructional model.
Results were measured against a similar survey from last October asking respondents about their academic and emotional well-being, the workload and the likelihood they would return to the classroom when an in-person model can be offered. Results also indicate a significant, strong majority of community members and K-3 students anticipate returning in-person to school when it’s offered, while slightly less than 50 percent of students in grades 4-12 indicated they are more than likely to return in-person.
Updated Reopening Plan: Superintendent Henderson presented an updated ASD5 Reopening Plan, which has been modified to reflect new health and safety metrics for reopening schools announced by the governor on December 16. The updated plan calls for offering an in-person component for Grades PreK-3 beginning Feb. 1.
There was a lengthy discussion that saw board members sharing input from parents and the public and asking many questions about the new metrics, the online option for students who remain distanced, and the schedule for K-5 and 6-12. Following discussion, the board directed the superintendent to modify the plan to an all-day, simultaneous instruction model so that students can keep their same teachers, whether distance or in-person.
Distance Learning Update: Superintendent Henderson noted that the district is still waiting to hear whether schools will be required to administer state assessments this year.
COVID-19 Response: Superintendent Henderson said the health team is working diligently to get information on when the vaccine will be available to educators, and that the most recent information from the Governor’s Office was the first week of February. Superintendent Henderson said the district has offered its facilities to host a shot clinic and it is hoped that the vaccine can be offered to staff the same way flu shot clinics have operated in the past.
Teaching and Learning
Professional Development Update: Teaching and Learning Director Traci Sandstrom introduced teachers Ashley Emmett and Brandi Sjostrand, two of the district’s Canvas super users. They shared information about the ongoing Canvas training that staff has been participating in. Director Sandstrom was enthused about the growth among educators in using the platform, saying that many teachers “are now using bells and whistles of Canvas that many couldn’t begin thinking about at the beginning of the year.” Survey No. 2 shows more than 75 percent of the staff is now confident and comfortable using Canvas compared to 50 percent last October.
Tech Training for Parents: CTE Director Lynn Green shared information about evening technology sessions the district is offering where parents are coming together to share and learn about Canvas tips and tricks. Feedback in Survey No. 1 saw a number of parents commenting that their limited technology skills in Canvas made it difficult to support their student(s).
Financial Services
Fiscal Status Report: Director Louderback presented the Fiscal Status Report for December. The ending fund balance is $4,224,852.38 in the General Fund; $23,297.48 in the Capital Projects Fund; $777,356.27 in the Debt Service Fund; $275,826.86 in the ASB Fund, and $334,718.85 in the Transportation Vehicle Fund. With a third of the fiscal year elapsed, the district has received 31.6 percent of expected revenue and spent 28.8 percent of budgeted funds.
Under enrollment, Director Louderback reported that the 3,124.02 fte in January is 104.98 fte less than the budgeted enrollment of 3,229.
Athletics and Activities
Athletic Director’s Report: Athletic Director John Crabb provided an update on athletic opportunities for students this winter. He reported that the WIAA has adopted the governor’s guidance for offering sports, and that fall and winter sports practices can begin February 1, starting with Phase 1 low-risk sports -- cross country, golf and tennis. Aberdeen will be competing with schools in its hospital region. Middle school sports are tentatively scheduled to begin February 8. High risk sports such as football, soccer, volleyball and baseball and softball, can only reopen when the region enters Phase 2. State playoffs will not occur, but heh said there is likely to be culminating regional events.
Principal Crabb also announced that due to the limitations on attendance, the district is offering a live camera subscription service so families can watch high school sporting events remotely.
New Business
Policy 3225 Threat Assessment: An update to Policy 3225 – Threat Assessment was presented for first reading. The update replaces/renumbers Policy 4314 – Notification of Threats, Violence or Harm.
Grays Harbor College Agreement: The board approved an agreement with Grays Harbor College to provide practicum hours to student teachers in partnership with the Century 21 Program.
Cosmopolis School District Agreement: The board approved renewal of an agreement with the Cosmopolis School District to lease fiber capacity.
Behavioral Health Agreement: The board approved an agreement with Behavioral Health Resources (BHR) to provide services to staff, students and families in the early childhood program.
Next Meeting
The next regular meeting of the Board is scheduled for 5 p.m. Tuesday, February 2, 2021, to be conducted remotely with notice and access provided under the emergency provisions of the Open Public Meetings Act.
Personnel Report
Following an executive session, the board approved the personnel matters.
Gifts to the District
- The Grays Harbor Community Foundation which provided $500 to the FFA at Aberdeen High School at the direction of Darrell and Elaine Lokken.
- The Weatherwax Class of 1958 which donated $3,000 to the Aberdeen High School ASB -- $2,500 to the InvestEd account and $500 to SkillsUSA.
- Bruce and Theresa Kuhnau who donated $2,500 to the district with a request that the funds be used to support students at this time. The gift will be used to purchase SEL books for students to pick up at Food Service and school sites.
- Enterprises International, Inc., of Hoquiam which donated $1,000 to the SkillsUSA program at Aberdeen High School.
Next Meeting of the Board
The next meeting of the School Board is scheduled for 5 p.m. Tuesday, February 2, via webinar. You can find agenda materials and a link to join the meeting on the asd5 website prior to the meeting. Materials are often posted as early as Friday before the meeting.
Written public comment is accepted until 3:30 p.m. the day of the meeting. Public comment should be submitted to schoolboard@asd5.org. Comments are shared with the board and become part of the online meeting record.
Parents can get help with Canvas
This offering was developed in response to Survey No. 1 where many parents expressed the desire to learn more about this important learning platform that all of our students are using.
Sessions are offered via Zoom and are open to parents of any age students in our district.
There's still time to join a pod
The Aberdeen School District and YMCA of Grays Harbor have teamed up to offer free activities to students enrolled in the Aberdeen School District.
Register online at ghymca.net. Masks required and social distancing strictly enforced.
Need more information? Contact Sarah Channel at: schannel@ghymca.net
Reminders and Updates
AHA! Card orders can be picked up Feb. 10
A reminder for those who ordered cards or prints from the AHA! Club at Aberdeen High School, orders will be available for pick-up at the AHS Covered Walkway from noon to 6 p.m. on February 10.
It's not too late to order. You can access the card sale on the Aberdeen High School website: https://www.asd5.org/Domain/72 There are more than two dozen designs to choose from.
Staying in touch with Leadership
- Superintendent Alicia Henderson, ahenderson@asd5.org
- Business Office, Elyssa Louderback, elouderback@asd5.org
- Human Resources, Christi Sayres, csayres@asd5.org
- Special Education, Rick Bates, rbates@asd5.org
- Career & Technical Education, Lynn Green, lgreen@asd5.org
- Teaching, Learning & Technology, Traci Sandstrom, tsandstrom@asd5.org
- Food Services, Jaime Matisons, jmatisons@asd5.org
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The Aberdeen School District does not discriminate in any programs or activities on the basis of sex, race, creed, religion, color, national origin, age, veteran or military status, sexual orientation, gender expression or identity, disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. The following employees have been designated to handle questions and complaints of alleged discrimination: Christi Sayres, Title IX Coordinator and Civil rights Compliance Coordinator, 216 North G St., Aberdeen, WA 98520; (360) 538-2222; csayres@asd5.org; Dr. Richard Bates, Section 504/ADA Coordinator, 216 North G St., Aberdeen, WA 98520; (360) 538-2017; rbates@asd5.org.