Enjoy the brief intermission, but be sure to read this for all the latest information. Life (here at LISD right now) moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while (or just read our newsletter), you could miss it! -Ferris Bueller

Happy April!

This week, it became clear that we will need the week of April 12 to finalize staffing and scheduling solutions in order to successfully extend in-person learning time for elementary students and phase in secondary students to campus. This is disappointing, but we are all committed to getting the details right. You’ll learn more about the specifics in our principals’ updates below.

Thanks to all of those who have had the opportunity to complete our 2021-22 enrollment survey (https://forms.gle/nEa3m8VXpRb3i3ybA). The information you provide by completing this questionnaire will go a long way towards helping us accurately project the number of students we need to plan for next school year. I know that some of you are waiting for more information on our instructional program and schedules before you can make decisions about your children’s placements. That’s understandable. We simply ask that those of you who have a good idea of your plans for your students next year share that information with us.

Throughout this school year, we have, with few interruptions, provided daily meal delivery to students across the island. We’re proud of this accomplishment and hope to continue. Our ability to do so requires that we hire at least one van driver for approximately 4 hours per day (i.e., during school hours), Tuesday through Thursday, to free up our lead bus driver to transport students.

We’ve had a van driver posting out for several weeks, but as yet have attracted no applicants. You can help by sharing this opportunity with friends, family, and acquaintances. If this is something that interests you, please contact our Human Resource Specialist, Renee Koplan at rkoplan@lopezislandschool.org or by phone at 360-468-2202 x2303. Thank you!

As we work to build our capacity to transport students to and from school, we are grateful for all of you who are driving your children at this time. We know this adds to the multiple work, family, and community commitments you are trying to balance. Partial relief is in sight, though! Beginning the week of April 19, we will be able to provide afternoon transportation home for any elementary student needing this service. If your elementary child is not currently being transported home and you would like to register them for the afternoon bus routes, please contact our Transportation Coordinator, Teri Linneman at tlinneman@lopezislandschool.org or by phone at 360-468-2202 x2320. We are transporting elementary and secondary students together in the mornings, so it will be a while before we can expand morning bus service to include all elementary students. Our goal, of course, is to restore transportation for all students. We’ll continue to work toward this end throughout the spring.

As of this week, our School Nurse, Karen Hattman, began providing a rapid antigen COVID-19 screening test. With a 15-minute turnaround, this test is a powerful tool in helping us identify students and adults who need to receive the diagnostic PCR test. This is a major boost to our efforts to ensure a safe environment for students and staff and we’re proud to be the first school district in the county to offer a full range of school-based testing.

Recently, we have realized that we need to scale back our Family Letter due to time constraints. After spring break we will be limiting the format of our Family Letter to focus on announcements. The last week of each month, we will publish an expanded edition, complete with photos and descriptions of some of the exciting things happening around campus.

That’s all for now.

Best wishes for a fun and safe Spring Break. Go Lobos!

Carl Bruner, Ed.D.

Interim Superintendent

You already know by now that we have moved our reopening date to the week of April 19th. This means that secondary students can attend class in person on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays starting April 20th.

Beginning on April 19th, classes will go from 8:30-11:30 every day, with remote learning on Monday and Friday. Mondays and Fridays, PACK will be from 11:45-12:15. Tuesday through Thursday, PACK will be right after class from 11:30-noon.

The schedule for the week of April 12, right after spring break, will stay the same as it has been all year. The new 8:30 start time won't begin until hybrid learning on the 19th.

For the in-person days, bus transportation is available for a limited number of students. Buses will leave the school at 12:05.

A snack will be provided mid-morning for all students....fruit and choice of chips or granola bar. Students may also bring their own snack from home. School lunches will continue to be delivered, and secondary students can eat lunch when they return home.

Some students will be invited to stay at school until 1:30 on Wednesday and Thursday for academic support and credit recovery. Those students will be contacted by teachers. They may have lunch at school on the days they are scheduled to stay.

Health screenings will happen at home. We will send a Google form with questions. For secondary students, the form can be completed by the student or a parent/guardian. Students will come into the building through one of three entrances. A staff member will check off names to ensure that every student who enters the building has completed a health screening and is wearing a mask.

Masks must be worn in the building at all times. Both nose and mouth must be covered. Bandanas and neck gaiters are not allowed. If a student comes to school without a mask, we have some here. If a student comes to school without having completed the health screening form at home, we can do it here. That will slow down the morning check-in process, so we are asking that students and their families work hard to develop this new morning habit so everyone can get to class and commence with learning.

I will put all the above information (and more!) in a reopening guide that you will receive after spring break.

The secondary staff and I are so very excited to welcome students back into our building. We've been working hard to prepare for hybrid learning and manage all the details necessary to engage our students and keep them safe. I've been so impressed with our staff and the way we are collaborating. How lucky I am to work with this amazing crew!

And once the storm is over, you won't remember how you made it through, how you managed to survive. You won't even be sure, in fact, whether the storm is really over. but one thing is certain. When you come out of the storm, you won't be the same person who walked in. That's what this storm's all about. -Haruki Murakami

In considering Haruki Murakami's words, I am wondering how much this pandemic has changed us individually and collectively, and how we can leverage this shared experience for the greater good.

All my best,

Martha

Secondary Term 5 ends on Friday, April 2. Students will have time during spring break to complete all assignments and turn in work. Term 5 report cards will be posted in the Family Access Portfolio on April 19.

School will resume on April 12 with Term 6 courses in periods A, B, and C

High school soccer will be coached by Mycah Kraushaar, HS volleyball will be coached by Marina Steinbrueck, and middle school track will be coached by Isaac Berg. Participants will be learning, practicing, and building skills for six weeks, without competition against other schools. Please complete all required extracurricular forms and turn them into the secondary office or scan them to rberg@lopezislandschool.org

Extracurricular Sports Forms

Extracurricular forms are required to participate in after school sports. All forms are available on the school website at this link: Extracurricular Sports Forms and Risk Management Forms

Required Forms:

• Medical Emergency Authorization Form (good for the 2020-21 school year)
• 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 rberg@lopezislandschool.org
• Controlled Substances Acknowledgement Form (good for the 2020-21 school year)
• Concussion Information Form (good for the 2020-21 school year)
• Risk Management Form per sport: Soccer or Volleyball or Track

Dear Family Lopez Lobos,

No matter how chaotic it is, wildflowers will still spring up in the middle of nowhere.

–Sheryl Crow

We have finally reached April and things are feeling better and better every day. The elementary team continues to be excited to have students in school for in-person learning. When visiting classrooms, the energy level is high and students are really engaged in their learning. It's a great feeling and we are all enjoying it.

We want to remind our students and parents/guardians that student learning does not just happen on the days they are at school for in-person learning. Our teachers are working hard to create activities and assignments for students to do on the days that they are not at school. Each teacher will be providing a schedule for students to follow for all five days of the week. Parents/guardians, please partner with us to support our students in continuing their learning all week long. We have just ten more weeks of school. Let's make it a strong finish for the 2020-21 school year!

Elementary conferences have been moved to the week of April 26th. Please stay tuned for more details.

Beginning April 19th, we will be extending our in-person school days to 1:30 p.m. All students will be staying in their cohort groups and will be attending school from 8:30 - 1:30 p.m. Cohort A will remain on Mondays and Tuesdays and Cohort B will remain on Wednesdays and Thursdays. With the extended school days, students will be eating lunch outside under the pavilion. We need to know exactly which students will be getting a school lunch and who will be bringing their lunch from home. Please complete the following survey for each student in your home. We want to ensure that all students have a lunch for our extended days.

Elementary School Lunch / Almuerzo de la Escuela Primaria

We look forward to seeing everyone the week of April 12th. Happy a wonderful and safe Spring Break!

Sincerely,

Mary