Happy Friday!

While determined to end this challenging year on as positive a note as possible, we’re also fully involved in planning for a better 2021-22. As I mentioned last week, the state has charged school districts with developing a Recovery Plan to address the needs students are facing as a result of the pandemic and lengthy school closures. Our planning team has been looking at the data, including teacher observations, that we have on student academic progress and social emotional wellbeing. While not all students have been affected in the same way, many are showing needs for support in one or both areas. The timeline for our Recovery Plan is tight and does not provide the opportunity for us to delve as deeply into the issues as we would like. Our finished product will be a starting point that will be monitored and adjusted next school year. After next Wednesday, we hope to share a summarized draft with families through the Lopez Island PTSA for input.

Of course, meeting students’ needs requires resources and we are nearing the point of having a clearer picture of what we will be able to include in our budget next year. Guided by responses to our Family Input questionnaire, our goal is to restore essential staff and programs that were cut this year. The federal relief funds we are receiving aren’t the answer to long term stability, but they will provide the District with some much needed breathing room as they continue to work with legislators on a more sustainable fix to the problems caused by the levy cap. We hope to have several budget scenarios to share with you for your input in early June.

While we have made progress in returning students to in person learning this spring, we know the best thing for most students is a full day, in-person schedule. Our public health officials have told us that vaccines will be a major determining factor in returning to and maintaining safe, pre-pandemic schooling.

As you know, this week the FDA has issued emergency approval for the Pfizer vaccine to be administered to children ages 12 - 15. The San Juan County Health Department has scheduled a Pfizer clinic on Lopez for next Thursday, May 20 from 2:00 PM - 5:45 PM at the Community Center. Information about this clinic along with a link to registration is available at https://bit.ly/33FfoZX. If and when to vaccinate your adolescent is, of course, a personal decision for families. Our responsibility is to make you aware of information that can help your decision making process.

That’s all for now.

Enjoy the weekend and Go Lobos!

Carl Bruner, Ed.D.

Interim Superintendent

The Lopez Island Library is hiring two part-time teen Library Aide positions for summer 2021. These are both great opportunities to earn money this summer while gaining experience in a professional field that can take you all over the country (and the world!). Teens aged 14 and up are welcome to apply. To learn more about the positions, you can click the below links to download the applications, or visit http://lopezlibrary.org/employment-opportunities/. You can also pick-up an application at the Lopez Library during browsing hours (Thurs, Fri, Sat 11 - 3).

Teen Aide-General Library Services Application

What is a Child Find Screening?

Screening is a free check of your child's development including:

• Large muscle development
• Eye-hand coordination (fine motor skills)
• Communication
• Concepts
• Personal-social skills
• Self-help skills

What is the purpose of a Child Find Screening?

The purpose of the screening is to identify any factors that may interfere with your child's learning, growth, or development. The screening is also intended to help parents identify their child's strengths and weaknesses, this providing suggestions for home.

What happens during a Child Find Screening?

During the screening, your child may stack small blocks, cut with scissors, draw, count, name colors, jump, and have fun! Following the screening, a trained professional will talk with you about the results of the screening. You will have the opportunity to ask any questions about your child’s development. You may be given home suggestions, referred on for further testing, or be scheduled to have skills rechecked at a later date. The screening process usually takes about 45 minutes.

Who is eligible to be screened?

Any child, birth to age five, whose family or care givers would like more information about their child’s development. All school districts within Washington State have Child Find screenings available. If your family is living in a temporary situation, you may contact the district where you are staying to attend a screening.

Where can I go for screening?

Lopez Elementary School

May 25, 2021

Time: 12:00 – 3:00

For more information and to schedule a screening, please contact:

Laurie Jardine

Lopez Elementary School

(360) 468-2201 ext. 2301

We've reopened the T-Shirts by Design Lopez Lobo shop for orders through May 28, with delivery expected the last week of school.

https://stores.tshirtsbydesign.ink/lopez-island-lobos/shop/home

Please pay attention to the sizing when you place your orders. Except for the hats, all items are labeled YOUTH, ADULT, or LADIES.

There are five weeks left in this school year...just four for our seniors. On Monday, we begin Term 7, the last term for D, E, F classes. The daily/weekly schedule is the same as it was for Term 6 with classes beginning at 8:30 a.m. and Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday classes offered in-person. Students have until Friday, May 21 to turn in assignments/work for Term 6 classes before teachers finalize grades for report cards.

We often have community members and business owners contact the school to see if any teenagers are interested in jobs...sometimes a specific project and sometimes a more permanent or seasonal position. Sara Jones is keeping a list of students who are interested in work so she can email them when opportunities arise. If your student wants to be on the list, please email Sara at sjones@lopezislandschool.org.

We have been working hard to develop our course schedule and daily/weekly schedule for the 2021-22 school year. I intend to have the course list and on-line registration instructions to you next week.

Prom is next Saturday, May 22. It will be outside under the covered area and some members of the junior class have been working hard with their advisor, Tuoya Deach, to plan a wonderful event. Tickets are still on sale to 10th, 11th, and 12th graders until Wednesday, May 19.

On Thursday, May 27, the PTSA is hosting an end-of-year celebration for secondary families at Odlin Park from 5:00-7:00. Please save the date and I'm excited to see you all there!

I hope you and your family have a fantastic weekend.

All my best,

Martha

When parents/guardians anticipate an absence for any reason, please email or call Ronda in the secondary office rberg@lopezislandschool.org. Lopez Island High School recognizes the legal status of an 18-year old in the state of Washington and will allow students who are 18 years of age to make contact for their own absences when necessary.

Students arriving after the start of the school day must check-in at the secondary office to receive an admit slip to class. Students leaving school early must be signed out by a parent/guardian in the office before leaving. For students who drive, a parent/guardian can give approval by calling or emailing the secondary office coordinator.

High school basketball season will begin on May 24. Participants in grades 8-12 will be learning, practicing, and building skills for four weeks, without competing against other schools.

Please email Ronda rberg@lopezislandschool.org if you are interested or if you have any questions. Students that have turned in sports forms this school year only need to turn in the Risk Management Basketball Form.

Students that have not participated in a sport this year are required to complete all extracurricular forms available on the school website at this link: Extracurricular Sports Forms and Risk Management Forms. The Physical Evaluation Form remains active for two years. If you had a sports physical on file but are not sure of the date, please email Ronda.

Please note the following dates tied to the Secondary ASB election process.

Up for election are the positions of President, Vice-President, Secretary, Sergeant-at-Arms, School Board Representative, and Class Representatives from 7th through 12th grades of school year 2021-2022. Election for the 6th grade representative will take place in September.

Wednesday, May 12: Nominations open for all positions

Monday, May 17, 1:30 PM PST: Nominations close

Wednesday, May 26, 1:30 PM PST: Deadline for submission of voting proxy, including verification by election officer, Valentina Rendon. This is available for students who are not attending school in person. Details upon request.

Thursday, May 27, 11:30-11:55 AM PST: Voting takes place during Pack.

Results should be available by Pack on Friday, May 28.

Please direct any questions to me but Valentina Rendon, the election chairperson, will make all final decisions.

Richard Têtu
Lopez Island School District
86 School Road
Lopez Island, WA 98261
(360) 468-2219, extension 2204
Mobile: (360) 622-9202
richardtetu.weebly.com

The 5th Grade Promotion Ceremony is on Thursday, June 17th, at 10:30 am. The ceremony will be held outside (rain or shine). A celebration will follow in the Rishi Center.