District Update
March 11, 2022
Updated COVID-19 guidance
Dear families,
We announced last week that starting March 12, masks will become optional for all Sedro-Woolley School District sites as per Governor Inslee and the state Department of Health. With this change, the DOH released their K-12 guidance on Wednesday, and the information is outlined below.
Masking
Beginning March 12, face masks are optional. However, masks are required in health rooms and isolation rooms as these are considered health care settings.
Symptoms of COVID
Students or staff who have symptoms of COVID are required to stay home.
Positive COVID cases
A student or staff who tests positive for COVID-19 is required to isolate at home, regardless of vaccination status. The isolation period is 10 full days from the start of symptoms or the date of positive test.
The individual may return to school after 5 full days of isolation if:
- Their symptoms have improved or they are asymptomatic, AND
- They are without a fever for the past 24 hours without use of fever-reducing medications.
AND IF returning to school days 6-10, the individual is required, per DOH to:
- Wear a well-fitted mask or face shield with a drape during days 6-10 of their isolation period, consistent with CDC guidance, OR
- Test negative any day after day 5 before returning without a mask. Testing beyond day 10 is not necessary. The school district has tests available for students and staff.
The symptom flow chart has now been updated as well to reflect all of the changes. Updated Flowchart: COVID-19 Symptom and Exposure Flowchart for Schools and Child Care
COVID-19 testing
The district is required to make sure all staff and students have access to testing. For more details, email our health services team at covidquestions@swsdonline.com or call (360) 855-3841.
Isolation of COVID-19 cases
Students and staff who exhibit symptoms of COVID-19 must be immediately isolated away from others, sent home, and referred to diagnostic testing as soon as possible regardless of vaccination status.
Any student who is identified as immunocompromised, medically fragile, or otherwise at high risk for severe COVID-19 must be notified of any potential exposure at school by the building nurse or administrator. Staff will be notified of exposure by the district’s health services team. Additionally, all staff and families will be kept informed of cases via the weekly COVID-19 dashboard. There will be no more formal contact tracing.
COVID-19 Exposure
Exposed students and staff may continue to take part in all in-person instruction and care, including sports, performing arts, and other extracurricular activities, as long as they are not symptomatic. If an exposed student, child, or staff develops symptoms, they are required to immediately isolate at home.
Regardless of vaccination status, students, children, and staff who were potentially exposed to COVID are encouraged (but not required) to:
Monitor for symptoms, AND
Consider wearing a well-fitted mask (if age appropriate) for 10 days after the last date of exposure, especially during activities like high-risk indoor sports, performing arts, etc., AND
Get tested 3-5 days after their last exposure. If they test positive, they must isolate at home following current DOH and CDC isolation guidelines, regardless of vaccination status.
COVID-19 case reporting
All positive cases of COVID-19 should continue to be reported to the district’s health services team at (360) 855-3841 or by emailing covidquestions@swsdonline.com. A member of our health services team will contact any student or staff who meet notification requirements set by the DOH. They will also ensure COVID-19 cases are reported on the weekly dashboard and to the Skagit County Health District.
Other mitigations
The district will continue to put in place recommended mitigations to slow the spread of COVID-19: encouraging hand washing, cleaning high-touch surfaces, keeping two front and two rear windows in buses open, and providing good ventilation.
These are big changes for our school community and while some may welcome the change, it may cause anxiety in others. We encourage our community to be extra sensitive to the choices of others during this transition.
Thank you for your continued support.
Sincerely,
Dr. Miriam Miralles Mickelson
Superintendent
Cub staff attend WJEA
Celebrating National School Breakfast Week
Literacy events broaden students' community view
Central Elementary School had a very successful Literacy Event! The community of Sedro-Woolley really stepped up and did so much to support Central students. The photos below offer a quick snapshot of the event!
Quotes from families and staff on the survey:
This was a great way to explore our community. What a great idea!!
As a staff member and a parent this experience was amazing in getting our family out of the house and into the community. We loved seeing the new library.
My daughter loved visiting all of the businesses, she kept saying , "I have the best town ever!"
I think having the kids go to local public places was a great idea. Showing them their community that they may not see otherwise.
It was fun! Thank you for organizing such a great activity for the kiddos!
Overall it was a great activity. My kid was excited to go around town and find everything. It was so fun!
Lyman fourth graders experience Iditarod
For the past several years, Shawna Tesarik's fourth-grade students at Lyman Elementary School do a quick search of what the Iditarod is, who is competing, etc. Once they've done that, they pick a musher based on that research.
As you can see from the map pictured below, each student and their musher are on a push pin tied to a dog. That dog is moved along the race route as the musher and team progress.
Every morning, students come in so excited to check the status of their musher (picture below). Students also begin a more in-depth research project that leads to creating a brochure (picture below) that requires students to find information about their musher, dog care, required equipment, special awards and purses to be won and they create a front cover as well.
Mrs. Tesarik's students are so excited to get to work on this project every day and as much as she can, she has the livestream playing in the background so they can see what's happening in real time.
Mrs. Kloke, Lyman's PE teacher, also keeps track of how many miles Lyman students run in PE and that statistic is tracked on Mrs. Tesarik's board. It's a lot of work for her but much appreciated by Mrs. Tesarik. Kids are begging to run extra laps to help the class get to Nome!
Each year, this unit of study creates quite a buzz around our building as the younger grades have started to look forward to doing it when they get to fourth grade. Lyman's staff is also totally obsessed with the race. We also choose mushers and compete against each other for the dog tags (winner) and the Red Lantern (Loser).
FAE Summer Academy
Next week is Education Support Professionals Week!
R.I.S.E. reminders
Sedro-Woolley R.I.S.E. (Rallying to Inspire Safe Environments) is a local prevention coalition that envisions a healthy and safe community with accessible resources that keep youth connected and thriving.
Did you know that as of January 1, 2020, it is illegal for stores to sell tobacco or vapor products those who are under 21? The coalition is currently focused on educating local stores and markets about this law as there have been reports of underage purchases.
The coalition's vision is to strengthen and inspire positive change to build a healthy community. Since December 2018, the coalition has been co-coordinated by dedicated staff from the Sedro-Woolley School District and United General District 304.
The coalition’s efforts are supported by funding from Washington State Health Care Authority and the Office of National Drug Control Policy and Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
Coalition meetings are open to the public and are held on the second Tuesday of each month (the next meeting will be held on April 12th). For more information, email Samantha Stormont. New members are welcome!
UPCOMING EVENTS:
Drug Take-Back Day
The R.I.S.E. coalition will host a prescription drug take-back event on April 30, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., outside the Sedro-Woolley Police Department. Prescription and over-the-counter medications will be accepted. Medications can stay in their original containers and labels do not need to be removed. Medications not in their original containers will be accepted too.
Seventy-five percent of opioid misuse starts with people using medication that wasn’t prescribed for them — usually taken from a friend or family member. Simple steps, such as safely disposing of medications, can stop them from being misused.
Participating in take-back events is one thing that individuals can do to help positively impact the opioid crisis and protect loved ones.
Skagit Trail Builders Volunteer Day
R.I.S.E. members will be volunteering at the Northern State Recreation Area with the Skagit Trail Builders on Saturday, May 14th. If you're interested in volunteering, fill out the required paperwork (a permission form is required for students).
Chamber of Commerce
R.I.S.E. will be presenting at the Sedro-Woolley Chamber of Commerce luncheon on April 6 at the Community Center.
CMS student performance
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.
8th Grade Orientation
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!