Please be sure that your students' masks are well-fitting and cover the nose and chin, as the surge in covid cases in the region is being reflected in all the schools in the area as well. Here is the CDC guidance on masks, if you need a refresher. If your student is struggling to find a well-fitting mask, we have some cloth ones available in the office, as well as some ear-savers, etc., so please have them ask an adult at school if they'd like some assistance with this.

Please make sure you're doing a daily symptom check with your students.

Class A Symptoms: fever of 100.4 or higher, chills, muscle or body aches, cough, loss of taste/smell, shortness of breath.

Class B Symptoms: fatigue, headache, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, diarrhea

Students who have any of the COVID-19 symptoms should be kept home. Drive-through testing is available at the school before 1:45pm for ESD students. You simply stay in your car, and we come to you! Email JonesA@edmonds.wednet.edu or call 425-431-5897 to make arrangements. Symptomatic students will be sent home.

It's not too late to vaccinate! Did you know that students who are vaccinated and are exposed to COVID don't need to quarantine as long as they don't have any symptoms? That means less missed school! And if your student received the first two doses more than five months ago, they are eligible to receive their booster shot. Go to https://vaccinelocator.doh.wa.gov to schedule your free vaccine.

We understand the impacts of missing school can be very challenging for a student to maintain their academic progress. If your student is quarantining or isolating and would like some support via zoom support the assume outside of school hours, that can be arranged. Please contact your student's alpha counselor so that we can set that up for your family.

A-J: Lynn Willman WillmanL@edmonds.wednet.edu

K-Z: Debby Walters WaltersD@edmonds.wednet.edu

Similarly, if your student has been out for an extended absence and has now returned to school, we also have staff willing to stay after school to work with your students. Those could be arranged directly with the teachers themselves.

Please remember to call if your student is not going to be in school. The 24-hour attendance line number is 425-431-5805.

Maintaining academic progress is so important as we near the end of this semester. On Friday, January 28th students have a 1/2 day of school and that is the last student day for the semester. Semester 2 starts Tuesday, February 1st, as Monday, January 31st is a non-student day for teachers to grade.

Semester one grades will be particularly important, as students will be registering for the 22-23 school year early in 2nd semester. Students who will be juniors and seniors next year currently have opportunities to explore part-time off-campus options for Sno-Isle Skills Center, Running Start (Edmonds, Everett, Shoreline, etc.), intra-district programs like carpentry and health professions, and more. We encourage you to talk with your students about these options to get impressive, free vocational and higher education experiences before they leave high school! Your students' counselors are also ready and willing to consult about best fit for your student. Finally, the district website has some great explanations of high-school programs outside the neighborhood high schools.