Friday Family Message
Hello Families
As we enjoy this Thanksgiving break, I am grateful for the effort both schools and families have put in to ensure our schools are where our students want to be each day.
During the pandemic, attendance understandably declined. So far this year, we are still seeing higher-than-normal absenteeism among our students.
We understand the need for students to stay home when ill and feel it is essential to encourage the best possible attendance. Good attendance, of course, leads to strong academic growth.
Daily routines around attending school are essential for students because they reduce stress and create a sense of security.
Please take steps to keep your child healthy and send them to school unless they are truly sick. Every day of school is an important opportunity for students to learn as well as connect to peers and their teachers.
We are thankful for:
- Our students and their families who do their best to show up to class every day even when it isn’t easy.
- Our teachers who have gone above and beyond to help make school a welcoming learning environment where students can thrive.
- Our administrators who help us work together to ensure we are healthy and safe, feel a sense of community and experience the excitement of an engaging learning environment.
- Our many, many healers and helpers — the support staff and community volunteers who provide the extra hands and attention our children need.
May these days off be restful and healing.
If your family or your child needs support, please reach out to your school for help or visit our website for links to family resources, health supports, and more.
Thank you for partnering with us!
We're excited to expand our CTE offerings
We're proud to offer a comprehensive Career and Technical Education (CTE) program to allow our students the chance to explore a variety of career options, supports academic and life skills, and enables achievement for industry-defined work.
The goal is for students to be well-prepared for high-wage, high-demand, and high-skill careers.
Last year, there were more than 1,100 students enrolled in our CTE classes. Many seniors graduated straight into the workforce on paths for high-paying, in-demand careers in the local area!
We continue to seek more opportunities to expand options for our students:
We're excited to announce that we're partnering with the Sno-Isle Technical Skills Center starting next school year! This is an opportunity for students to build on the skills learned in their CTE classes at Stanwood High School and receive training in specialized programs not offered in our district.
Recently, several Stanwood High School seniors visited the Northwest Carpenter’s Institute of Washington in Burlington for a hands-on tour. The event is part of the Washington Apprenticeship Vocational Education (WAVE) Tour for Career and Technical Education (CTE) students to experience different trade station activities — conduit bending, scaffolding, concrete assembly, utility pole work, an obstacle course, a piping project, and a crane simulator.
Holiday happenings
- GIVING TUESDAY — The Stanwood-Camano Area Foundation has announced the 27 local projects that are participating in the annual Stanwood-Camano Giving Tuesday campaign this year. Learn more about the different participating groups and their unique needs — including the Stanwood High School Band Boosters — at scgive.org. The 24-hour online day of giving is November 28.
- TREE LIGHTING — The Stanwood High School choir and jazz ensemble will be part of the festivities during the city's Light Up Your Holidays event on Dec. 2. The Stanwood Commerce Alliance, City of Stanwood, and downtown businesses will host the annual tree lightings and holiday festivities throughout the day in both the west and east downtown blocks.
- COATS & MORE — If your child needs a warm coat this winter, or a holiday gift, the Stanwood-Camano Food Bank can help. Nearly any child aged 0-18 living in the Stanwood-Camano area is eligible to receive a new coat and a visit to their Christmas House shop. Warm Coats For Kids services run now through Dec. 21. Christmas House services operate from Dec. 5 to Dec. 21. Both programs operate from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.
- STUFF THE BUS — Our big yellow school buses will be parked at three area grocery stores on Saturday, Dec. 9, collecting canned goods and dry goods to donate to the local Stanwood Camano Food Bank. Community food drives like ours help make sure those children and their families get emergency food assistance when they need it. The buses will be at Camano IGA, Grocery Outlet, and QFC. Our buses will also collect cash donations and and checks made out to "Stanwood Camano Food Bank."
School Board update
The Stanwood-Camano School Board honored student artists and a Shining Star during its regular board meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 21.
The school board recognized the winners of the district’s annual Anti-Harassment, Intimidation, and Bullying (HIB) poster contest. See some of the winning posters in a gallery with our School Board update on our website.
In addition, the Port Susan Middle School administration team provided an update on its School Improvement and Action Plan and then presented its Shining Star Award to Isabelle Arneson.
More ways to learn about our levy
We launched a weekly informational newsletter that delves deeper into different aspects of our upcoming replacement levy. Read the first in our series of levy newsletters HERE.
We recognize there are diverse perspectives and questions when it comes to a local ballot measure. Our goal is to provide factual information for our voters.
In addition, we have several in-person public levy information sessions on the calendar. You can rewatch our event from this past Monday on our Facebook page.
A few reminders
Get social with us!
Please remember to follow the Stanwood-Camano School District on Facebook, Instagram, Nextdoor, and Twitter, and follow my tweets @rumbaughsupt.