District Update
March 4, 2022
Additional Changes to Statewide School Mask Requirements
Earlier this week, Governor Inslee announced a change to the date the statewide indoor mask mandate will lift. Instead of March 21, the statewide mandate – including in schools and on school buses – will lift at 11:59 p.m. on March 11.
This means that beginning Monday, March 14, masks will become optional in our school buildings. Some staff and students may choose to continue wearing masks, and as an organization, it is important that we respect individual choice on this matter.
Masks will continue to be required for all students, staff, and visitors in all Sedro-Woolley School District buildings and on buses through March 11. Masks will continue to be provided for those who do not have them.
2022-2023 Kindergarten Registration
Open house registration
April 12 from 5–7 p.m.
Evergreen, Central and Mary Purcell Elementary Schools
April 14 from 5–7 p.m.
Big Lake, Clear Lake, Lyman and Samish Elementary Schools
Parents should bring their child’s birth certificate and immunization records to complete the registration process if they attend an in-person open house.
Early online registration
Visit the new enrollment page for information and tutorials about online registration.
Parents should be prepared to upload their child’s birth certificate and immunization records to complete the registration process.
If you need assistance determining which school is your neighborhood school, please contact the Transportation Department at 360-855-3504 or the District Office at 360-855-3500.
Elementary school phone numbers are Big Lake: 360-855-3525; Central: 360-855-3560; Clear Lake: 360-855-3530; Evergreen: 360-855-3545; Lyman: 360-855-3535; Mary Purcell: 360-855-3555; Samish: 360-855-3540.
Celebrating Read Across America Day
Powers of Persuasion
Earlier this week, one of the students received a letter back from Morgan's Espresso. She wrote to Morgan's to express that she thought that Morgan's should have a bigger and better Kid's Menu with kids' drinks and treats (think... monthly specials). Morgan's wrote back to Rose & also addressed the rest of the class and said they would consider adding a Kid's Menu. They also offered gift certificates to Morgan's Espresso for free kids drinks and treats for the convincing letter!
Ms. Joplin's students were so excited and thankful for Morgan's! They also thanked Rose for writing to them. Ms. Joplin emailed Morgan's Espresso and thanked them for being a part of this wonderful experience and how they helped empower her 16 students. Students now know that their words can make an impact and that people will listen!
Celebrate Women's History Month
National Women’s History Month traces its roots to March 8, 1857, when women from various New York City factories staged a protest over poor working conditions. The first Women's Day celebration in the United States was in 1909, also in New York City. More than seven decades later, Congress in 1981 established National Women's History Week to be commemorated annually the second week of March. In 1987, Congress expanded the week to a month, and every year since has passed a resolution (and the president has issued a proclamation) designating March Women’s History Month.
As we celebrate Women’s History Month 2022, we reflect upon advances women have made over the last decade. Women have increased their earnings and education, fields of occupation and continued to live longer than men. Below are stats from Census Bureau surveys highlighting how women’s employment has changed over the years. We appreciate the public’s cooperation in helping us measure America’s people, places and economy.
Did You Know?
166.6 million
The number of females in the United States as of July 2019. There were 161.7 million males. In 2010, there were 157 million females and 151.8 million males.
2 to 1
The approximate ratio by which women ages 85 and older outnumbered men in 2019 (4.2 million to 2.4 million) in the United States. In 2010, there were 3.7 million women and 1.8 million men ages 85 and older.
33.9%
In 2019, the percentage of women 25 and older who had earned bachelor’s degrees or higher compared with 32.3% of men. In 2010, 28.5% of men 25 and older had a bachelor’s degree or higher while 27.9% of women had completed this level of education.
8th Grade Orientation
Celebrate breakfast!
2020-2021 NHS members included in celebration
Mary Purcell students talk SEL
Operation Warm provides coats to students in after-school program
Sedro-Woolley School District collaborated with Washington State Council for Firefighters to bring Operation Warm to students who attend the After-School Program. Each child received a new warm coat.
Any children who received a coat that are not in need of it are invited to pass it along to a child that does. This can be done in a variety of ways return the coat to the school, give to a charity that will be able to pass it on, take it to church or give it to a neighborhood child.
The program asks that when a child outgrows the coat, that it be handed down to a sibling or pass it forward with the hope this coat provides warmth more than one child before it's worn out!
Along with receiving a warm coat today, children were able to see a medic unit, fire engine and a patrol vehicle up close and ask questions.
Senior Parent Group to hold fun run/walk on April 23
The Senior Parent Group is raising money for the Class of 2022's Grad Night Celebration, Senior Prom, Baccalaureate, Senior Breakfast and other events. The group welcomes the community to participate in their 5K (or approximately 6,200 steps) Fun Run/Walk that weaves through the beautiful campus of Northern State!
The live event will be held on Saturday, April 23 at 10 a.m. at the Northern State Recreational Area!
VIRTUAL OPTIONS are available for those far away or not comfortable with a physical race!
All in-person participants registered before March 31 will receive a T-shirt and custom race bib. Local virtual race participants willing to pick up a shirt at the pre-race pickup, will also receive a T-shirt. To be guaranteed a race shirt in your correct size, please register BEFORE March 31, 2022. After March 31, there will be a limited supply and shirts will no longer be available once that supply runs out. For non-local virtual race participants, you can order a shirt until March 31, 2022 with an additional $10 for shipping.
$30 General Registration (until 3/31) -- $35 Late Registration (4/1-4/22) -- $40 In Person Race Day Registration (4/23).
- In-Person Pre Race Packet Pick-up: Saturday, April 16 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Central Skagit Library
- In Person Race Day Race Packet Pick-up: Saturday, April 23 starting at 8 a.m. at Northern State Recreational Area.
Youth sports fee assistance
Apply today for the Every Kid Sports Pass — a youth sports grant to help cover registration fees.
SWSD to host two family engagement nights for inclusivity discussions
Sedro-Woolley School District invites families and community members to a conversation about how we can increase inclusion and belonging for our youth with disabilities.
Two family engagement nights will be held, one for secondary on March 22. The other for elementary families on March 24th. Both meetings will be held from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
To join the secondary meeting on March 22, join this Zoom meeting:
https://swsd.zoom.us/j/88540997760?pwd=QlFmRlh2V3JCQUFtdlZpeXVoR0k4QT09Meeting ID: 885 4099 7760
Passcode: 265150
To join the elementary meeting on March 24, join this Zoom meeting:
https://swsd.zoom.us/j/86575819615?pwd=NEZ1WUJ3RU5qM1V1V2xtdWdBUWF5Zz09
Meeting ID: 865 7581 9615
Passcode: 251174
Skagit County REET Affordable Housing NOFA
Skagit County Public Health is now accepting applications for affordable housing projects. Up to $723,000 of REET funding will be made available through this Notice of Funding Availability for projects in Skagit County. Funds may be awarded to Skagit County projects for:
- Planning, acquisition, and planning/predevelopment activities for homeless housing and affordable housing; and
- Construction, rehabilitation, repair, replacement, or improvement of facilities for those experiencing homelessness and for affordable housing projects.
Applications are due no later than 4:30 p.m. on March 31, 2022. More information and application materials are now available on our Housing & Homelessness website.
Grant to pay for outdoor adventures
More information about the trips' dates and protocols will soon be shared with fifth and sixth grade families. We are very excited about this opportunity to ease the financial burden for our families!
Child Tax Credit information
You could receive up to $3,600 per child from the expanded Child Tax Credit and not realize it. Don’t miss out!
Visit GetYourRefund.org to find out more about how to get your credit this year.Fair Start for Kids Act Information
If you weren’t eligible for child care benefits in the past, you could be now!
A family of four whose income is less than $5,086 per month can get child care benefits. A family of three whose income is less than $4,275 per month will pay no more than $115 per month for child care. Full-time student parents can receive child care assistance without working.
To see if you qualify, go to washingtonconnection.org or call 1-800-446-1114.
The district is offering new tutoring services for students in grades 7-12. Paper is a secure, online tutoring service that provides students with unlimited, 24/7 academic support. Whether they’re stuck on homework, studying for a test, or need someone to read and make suggestions to their essays, there will always be experts available online to assist students in over 200 subjects and more than 4 languages.
Paper tutors have been specially trained to conduct expert, academic support in a secure, chat-based platform. With a commitment to helping students learn, they’ll never give students answers, but rather interact with them in an encouraging tone to lead them forward.
This is a free service that we’re providing (paid for with ESSER funds), so students are encouraged to use it as much as they need, whenever they need. Our teachers also have accounts and will be able to review all student activity to see what they’re working on and provide more targeted instruction as needed.
If you’d like to learn more about Paper you can sign up for a Paper hosted Parent Info Session, available in both English and Spanish. Or if you’d like to speak to a member of the Paper team directly, you can reach them at parents@paper.co.
To see Paper and the help it offers firsthand, we encourage you to login with your students. To get started, simply visit PAPER’s student login page, type your school’s name, and login via Google using your school credentials
We’re thrilled to offer our students the unlimited, 24/7 support that Paper provides and we can’t wait to see what we’re able to accomplish together.
These Tutorial Videos are also helpful for students and families!
Updated COVID-19 Flowchart and Instructions
COVID-19 Information
The district nursing staff is in constant communication with the Skagit County Public Health regarding COVID-19 cases in our schools. Decisions on who needs to quarantine is made by the county in coordination with the district.
The health, safety, and well-being of our school community remains our top priority. We are following sound protocols aligned with Skagit Public Health guidance to ensure we are doing everything we can to protect the health or our school community. We also want to take this opportunity to remind everyone of the importance of wearing masks, physically distancing from others, and regularly washing your hands.
The primary symptoms of COVID-19 are:
• Fever (defined as subjective or 100.4°F or higher)
• Cough
• Loss of sense of taste and/or smell
• Shortness of breath
• Fatigue
• Headache
• Muscle or body aches
• Sore throat
• Congestion or runny nose
• Nausea or vomiting
• Diarrhea (defined as two or more loose stools in 24 hours)
If your child or anyone in your household develop(s) any of the above symptoms, all unvaccinated household members should stay home, contact a provider for medical evaluation and testing, and notify childcare/school/work/etc. Additionally, if you're awaiting test results for COVID-19, do not come to school until you have received confirmation of a negative test. Staying home when experiencing symptoms also helps our schools' close contacts and quarantine numbers. Following these everyday preventative actions helps reduce the spread of COVID-19 and other communicable diseases.
We sincerely appreciate all your help and support as we work together to mitigate risks and ensure the learning process continues in our school community.
For more information about COVID-19 protocols in the district, including the district dashboard, please visit our COVID-19 Information website.
Email: covidquestions@swsdonline.com
Phone: (360) 855-3841