District Update
October 29, 2021
National Principal Appreciation Month
By Dr. Miriam Miralles Mickelson
Sedro-Woolley School District Superintendent
During the month of October, we honored our building principals and assistant principals for providing more than just leadership. They are the folks who cheer on their students and staff and who sneak in ways to provide support that we don't always see or notice.
After the freshman/sophomore Homecoming Red Carpet event, I noticed SWHS Assistant Principal Andrea Clancy quietly sweeping the red carpet, cleaning discarded confetti and dirt, making sure that the carpet looked spic and span for the soon-to-be arriving juniors and seniors. As I was thanking Andrea, she said, "The kids probably won’t notice, but Homecoming is an important tradition and we go out of our way to make this event special for our kids."
All our principals go the extra mile and will do whatever job is necessary, even sweeping the red carpet. Principals have very important, rewarding, but challenging jobs. They set the culture for their buildings. They ensure that staff feels empowered and supported in their efforts to promote student learning and that students are able to learn in a safe, inclusive, and welcoming environment.
Principals must balance innovative instructional leadership with the management aspects of their jobs.
At the same time, they're responsible for keeping students and staff safe, while also managing limited resources effectively in service to student learning.
They engage with families and the community, and they care very deeply about our students, some of them with trauma and difficult life experiences. Our principals, along with their staff, carry all of that.
Our principals are all very relational, and they come up with creative ways to keep morale up. For example, Clear Lake Principal Dina Fox plays music in the morning to welcome kids to school and throws in a few dance moves to demonstrate her joy in seeing the kids.
Principals don’t choose who comes through their doors. If the student lives in our community, they are their kids. They serve them and they love them, regardless of student readiness, access to resources, home lives, backgrounds, etc. Our principals are very interested and invested in their students’ learning, growth, and development and will take the time to listen to them and show genuine interest in their lives.
They do all this while needing to adhere to state mandates, often unfunded, regardless of their opinions of the mandates. They do their jobs with differing input and viewpoints from the community.
When I was a high school principal, I walked to my car at about 8 p.m. to finally go home after a long day. I noticed a note was clipped under my car’s windshield. Not knowing what the note was about, I nervously opened the letter only to find out that it was a note from a group of students. The note acknowledged how difficult the job of a principal is and that students appreciate the work of our principals even if they don't always express it.
Our kids and our staff are in great hands with our building principals, and I hope you will join me in continuing to show appreciation for our principals throughout the year.
Congratulations, Sedro-Woolley High School Nursery/Landscape FFA!
Our Sedro-Woolley High School Nursery/Landscape FFA team competed at the event and did a phenomenal job representing our district, community and state.
Our FFA team did a remarkable job as a whole. Brody Peterson earned silver; Michael Johnson - gold, Sarah Bethea - gold, Emily Johnson gold and second place in the nation for combined knowledge test and identification - second place in the country overall. Their advisor, Mr. Wayne Ramsey, did an excellent job helping our students prepare for this big event.
The National FFA Nursery/Landscape is a competitive event in which FFA members test their knowledge and skills in nursery practices and landscaping. Participants must complete a general knowledge exam testing horticulture principles including plant anatomy, production, marketing, turf, landscape design and maintenance. Each participant must also complete practicums involving landscape estimating, plant propagation or potting, identification of plants, disorders and equipment.
Congratulations to our FFA team for doing an outstanding job on the national stage! Go, Cubs!
SWHS Class of 2022 Senior Photos Due Nov. 1st
District Trap Shooting Championship to be held Tuesday, Nov. 2
The District Trap Shooting Championship will be held on Nov. 2 at the Old Skagit Gun Club on Josh Wilson Road in Burlington. Nine teams from Skagit and Whatcom counties will each bring their top five shooters from the season to compete for the District 1 team championship starting at 3:30 p.m.
Each team has a specific start time. SWHS's team will begin at 3:45 p.m. The district's top five shooters will shoot three rounds of 25, one practice and two scored.
The top three individual scores for each team, from rounds 2 and 3, are recorded as the team score.
ANYONE is allowed to come out to watch!!
During the team's six-week season, they shoot with teams from Stanwood and Burlington. The overall totals place Sedro-Woolley 1st, Burlington 2nd & Stanwood 3rd this year.
Conference Week Nov. 8 – Nov. 12
Veterans Parade returns
Mary Purcell and Central elementary schools will hold their annual Veterans Parade on Wednesday, Nov. 10.
The event staging area begins at Central Elementary and the walking parade begins around 9:45 a.m. Both schools will line up near Central Elementary at 6th Street and Talcott to begin the parade.
Veterans, families and the entire community are welcome to view the parade along the route.
Route:
- West on Talcott Street
- North on Metcalf Street
- East on west Ferry Street
- South on Puget Street
- East on Talcott Street back to schools
Thanksgiving Break
Highly Capable Program referrals
Referral forms for the district's Highly Capable Program for exceptionally advanced learners are being accepted for students currently in kindergarten through 11th grade. Forms are available in English, Spanish and Russian at: https://www.swsd.k12.wa.us/Page/3747 or you can fill out this Google survey: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1bkZ6YGVTQ8LT0zdvGzkHtJnlaLnhXY5iUdHfsbVveR8/edit?usp=drive_web.
Forms for grades K-6 can be mailed to Hi-Cap Coordinator, Central Elementary, 601 Talcott St., Sedro-Woolley, WA 98284; forms for grades 7–12 can be mailed to: Principal Mischelle Darragh, 23953 Prairie Road, Sedro-Woolley, WA 98284. Forms for all grade levels are due by December 10, 2021. K-6 forms can also be emailed to ejenkins@swsd101.org; forms for all grades 7–11 can be emailed to mdarragh@swsd101.org.
Assessments are scheduled to begin in January/February 2022. Students meeting the screening criteria will be assessed by multiple measures to determine eligibility for program services.
The Multi-Disciplinary Selection Committee (MSC) screens all referrals and makes the final decision for placement in the Highly Capable Program.
Qualification letters will go out after spring break for the 2022-23 school year.
For additional information, please call or e-mail Principal Mischelle Darragh, Highly Capable Program Administrator, mdarragh@swsd101.org or by phone at 360-855-3540 or contact the Sedro-Woolley District Office at 360-855-3500.
National Honor Society applications
The Induction Ceremony will be in November on a day to be determined.
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 school principal and/or district leaders will communicate directly with impacted families or staff members of confirmed COVID-19 cases or those who are confirmed close contacts. As part of this process, the district will communicate about length of quarantine and how to shift to remote learning.
If you do not receive such a notification, it means that your student has not been identified as a close contact and does not need to quarantine.
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
Community Prevention and Wellness Initiative (CPWI) Community Survey 2021
This 10-15 minute survey is completely anonymous.
ONLINE SURVEY ENGLISH
SWHS 2022 Parent Group needs parent volunteers
The Class of 2022 Senior Parent Group is happy to announce that the graduation night trip is set! The group is excited to bring this trip together for the Senior class and really needs parent support and help. Senior parents, please join the SWHS Class of 2022 Parents Facebook group. You can also join the group's e-mail list by sending an e-mail to jhulst90@gmail.com.
Box Tops are now digital
Foundations K has openings
Students who would enter kindergarten in September 2022 and who are turning 5 this school year (Sept. 1, 2021 to August 31, 2022) are eligible for the district's Foundation Kindergarten Program.
Applications are available at https://www.swsd.k12.wa.us/Domain/824.
Concessions are open
Still hiring for multiple positions
We know a lot of families are looking for work that follows their students' school schedules! We offer competitive pay and many of our open positions are great for those looking for part-time employment!
Please visit https://www.swsd.k12.wa.us/domain/24 to fill out an application!
For those who are interested in being a bus monitor or a substitute bus driver, there is a new class starting soon! Call Tracy Gugel at 360-855-3890 for more information!
Voter Information
The General Election will be held on Nov. 2.
SWSD employees support United Way
United Way programs supports all of our communities in Skagit County by feeding food insecure families, helping house homeless youth, helping new mothers and their babies, and much more.
A single investment in United Way of Skagit County is an investment in our Skagit County youth.
Sponsors sought for Fall Sports Programs
The Lady Cubs Basketball Team has advertising spots available in the 2021-2022 Fall Sports Athletic Programs, which will be distributed at home games.
Please email Danny Crosby for more information.
Masks required for entry at large outdoor events
We truly appreciate your cooperation in wearing the masks except while actively eating or drinking, regardless of vaccination status. Your cooperation will keep us in good standing with Skagit County Public Health and allow us to continue to host sporting events.
SWHS Athletics Ticket Information
Tickets can now be reserved at: https://swhscubsden.com/event-tickets
Attendees must reserve tickets so the high school can follow capacity restrictions for events at SWHS. Also, a helpful reminder that masks must be worn by all spectators for indoor events and are REQUIRED for outdoor events that exceed a 500 person capacity.
SWHS students who qualify for the free/reduced meal program also qualify for free SWHS ASB cards. With the ASB card, students will gain free admission to events and that student’s family will qualify for up to 5 free passes to events as well. If you have not completed the consent form, please do so as quickly as possible. Once ASB cards are purchased, there will be no refunds on those cards.
Reminder: All elementary and middle school students must be accompanied by an adult at all high school events. Please do not drop off children at the games unchaperoned. Please also remind students they should follow the same behavior codes as school.
Mental Health Resources
COVID-19 Safety Measures
All students who choose to learn in-person are required to wear face coverings while indoors to protect the health and safety of our staff and students. We are also implementing enhanced personal hygiene and a degree of physical distancing among students to the extent possible.
UPDATE: To allow our community to attend, the district must require masks for large outdoor events with 500 or more people in attendance. Please mask up to help our student athletes continue to play.
Sedro-Woolley School District is following the safety measures required by the Department of Health in the K-12 COVID-19 Requirements.
Please note, there is not a COVID-19 vaccination requirement for students currently in Washington state. We would encourage those 12 and older to talk to their health-care providers for vaccination recommendations.
Calendar
November
1 - SWHS senior pictures due for yearbook
1 - SWHS Picture Retakes
1 - SWHS Senior Parent Group 6:30 p.m. (Location TBD)
1 - Good Beginnings School Pictures
2 - Election Day
3 - All Schools - One hour late start for professional development
4 - Good Beginnings School Pictures
5 - End 1st Quarter (Grades 7–12)
5–12 BL Scholastic Book Fair
8 - School Board Meeting
8 & 9 - K–6 Parent Conferences (Grades K-6 Early Release - No Good Beginnings)
8–12 National School Psychology Week
9 - Sedro-Woolley RISE Meeting, 3 p.m.
9 - LY Parent Group Meeting, 6 p.m.
10 - NO LATE START: K-12 Parent Conferences - Early Release All Students (No Good Beginnings)
11 - Veterans Day - No School
12 - Early Release All Students - Scheduled parent conferences
15–19 American Education Week
16 - CL Parent Meeting, 5:30 p.m.; Visions Parent Meeting, 7 p.m.
17 - All Schools - One hour late start for professional development
17 - Education Support Professionals Day
17 - LY Picture Retakes
18 - MP Booster Club meeting
18 - CMS Beginning and Jazz Band Concert 7 pm @ CMS
22 - School Board Meeting
24 - NO LATE START: Early Release - All Schools
25 - Thanksgiving - NO SCHOOL
26 - Native American Heritage Day - NO SCHOOL