4/24/20 Update from MLSD
~MLSD is committed to keep us together and our bonds strong~
Message from the Superintendent of the Medical Lake School District
Dear MLSD Families,
As we move forward with “Stay Home Stay Safe” we are getting good feedback and communication from parents and students. Please know we are still handing out Chromebooks at the district office. Also, know it is okay to request a learning packet if the Chromebooks are not meeting the needs of your student(s). It is also good to see that our meal count is increasing to feed students. Please do not hesitate to take advantage of this if you haven’t done so yet. As mentioned in earlier messages please contact your child’s school or email covid-19@mlsd.org for anything you need.
Teaching and Learning- Student Grading
- In grades K-8 students will move on to the next grade. Districts will determine the means to provide feedback on the key standards taught throughout the closure.
- For grades 9-12 and middle school students taking credit-bearing high school level work they will be graded using the following principles:
- Do no harm!
- Every student will get an opportunity to improve their grade with their March 13 status as a baseline.
- No student will receive a "pass," "fail" or "no credit" grade for any course.
- Teachers will assign grades or assign an "incomplete" for students that cannot engage in an equitable way.
- Every class taken during the closure period will be given a statewide designator on the high school transcript to identify the unique situation in which the course was taken.
- Students assigned an 'incomplete' for a course will be given opportunities to provide evidence toward the learning standards in a variety of ways.
- All students will be given an opportunity to engage in continuous learning to maintain or improve their mastery of essential standards.
What does that mean for Medical Lake?
Our elementary and middle school teachers are working in teams and with their administrators to identify the key standards and means to provide feedback and student progress as exceeding, meeting, or approaching standard(s). These will be shared with families from the schools.
For grades 9-12 and middle school students taking high school credit courses, students will be assigned grades A, B, C, D, or Incomplete based on the following:
- Student work completed during the closure via distance learning can only improve a student's semester grade moving forward from March 13.
- Students and teachers will make a good faith effort to engage with distance learning opportunities in any way possible (online, packets, phone, etc.).
- Incompletes will be assigned only if a student is missing evidence of attempting key standards of the course.
As we all (students, parents, teachers, etc) continue to work through this unique situation, communication and feedback are critical to ensure we embrace the concepts of Safety, Support, and Do No Harm. If you have any questions, needs or concerns, please contact your school or the district at covid19@mlsd.org (509)565-3137. We are here for you and your children. Every Student, Every Day.
Wellness
Talking with your child about the FACTs of COVID-19
Try to keep information simple and remind them that health and school officials are working hard to keep everyone safe and healthy.
What is COVID-19?
- COVID-19 is the short name for “coronavirus disease 2019.” It is a new virus. Doctors and scientists are still learning about it.
- Recently, this virus has made a lot of people sick. Scientists and doctors think that most people will be ok, especially kids, but some people might get pretty sick.
- Doctors and health experts are working hard to help people stay healthy.
What can I do so that I don’t get COVID-19?
- You can practice healthy habits at home, school, and play to help protect against the spread of COVID-19:
- Cough or sneeze into a tissue or your elbow. If you sneeze or cough into a tissue, throw it in the trash right away.
- Keep your hands out of your mouth, nose, and eyes. This will help keep germs out of your body.
- Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Follow these five steps—wet, lather (make bubbles), scrub (rub together), rinse and dry. You can sing the “Happy Birthday” song twice.
- If you don’t have soap and water, have an adult help you use a special hand cleaner.
- Keep things clean. Older children can help adults at home and school clean the things we touch the most, like desks, doorknobs, light switches, and remote controls. (Note for adults: you can find more information about cleaning and disinfecting on CDC’s website.)
- If you feel sick, stay home. Just like you don’t want to get other people’s germs in your body, other people don’t want to get your germs either.
What happens if you get sick with COVID-19?
- COVID-19 can look different in different people. For many people, being sick with COVID-19 would be a little bit like having the flu. People can get a fever, cough, or have a hard time taking deep breaths. Most people who have gotten COVID-19 have not gotten very sick. Only a small group of people who get it have had more serious problems. From what doctors have seen so far, most children don’t seem to get very sick. While a lot of adults get sick, most adults get better.
- If you do get sick, it doesn’t mean you have COVID-19. People can get sick from all kinds of germs. What’s important to remember is that if you do get sick, the adults at home and school will help get you any help that you need.
- If you suspect your child may have COVID-19, call the healthcare facility to let them know before you bring your child in to see them.
Reference:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/talking-with-children.html
Resources for families during the COVID-19 crisis:
- 2 psychologists Jim and Lizz Dexter-Mazza's online series for kids and parents: www.dbtinschools.com
- S upporting mental wellness and family life during Covid-19 from Seattle Children's Hospital
- Coping during Covid-19 facebook live panel from Seattle Children's Hospital
- C onnections during Covid-19 video from Forefront Suicide Prevention
- Other Covid-19 mental health resources from Forefront Suicide Prevention
- Washington's mental health referral service to be connected to telehealth providers
- Parenting during the coronavirus: Facebook live events from the Child Mind Institute
- CDC: Mental health and coping during Covid-19 website
- Just for kids: A comic exploring Covid-19
- Mental health resources from Mental Health America
- Covid-19 resource and information guide from NAMI
- Free online mindfulness exercises from Space Between, a Seattle non-profit
Need Support?
Should you find that someone in your family would benefit from wellness services or information pertaining to emotional, psychological and social well-being in the weeks to come, please connect with one or all of the resources noted below:
For tips on building resilience during this time: https://www.apa.org/topics/resilience
For free emotional support https://www.7cups.com/
Check our MIND Your Health page at MLSD.org
Email your school counselor
Email Suzanne Greenhall, MLSD Family Therapist & Mental Health Coordinator @ sgreenhall@mlsd.org
Email Tawni Barlow, Director of Student Services @ tbarlow@mlsd.org
As a reference, and should you find yourself, family member or friend in need of assistance as a result of extreme distress, please contact one of the community services noted below.
911
Sacred Heart ER – Psych Triage: 509.474.3131
Suicide Prevention Helpline: 1.877.266.1818
First Call for Help (Frontier Behavioral Health): 509.838.4428
Washington Recovery Hotline: 866.789.1511
On behalf of the entire MLSD Wellness Team, we wish you, your loved ones and friends, good health!
Conclusion
I’ll leave you with a quote from Life’s Little Instruction Book, Volume Il. ”Give people more than they expect and do it cheerfully.” Let’s make it a point to keep cheering each other up!
With cheerful regards,
Mr. Ames
Medical Lake School District
Website: mlsd.org
Location: 116 3rd Street, Medical Lake, WA, USA
Phone: (509) 565-3100