District Update
April 15, 2022
U.S. Deputy Secretary of Education to visit SWSD
The district will have a special visit by the U.S. Deputy Secretary of Education Cynthia "Cindy" Marten next week.
Before joining the Education Department, Marten served as the superintendent of the San Diego Unified School District since 2013. She has spent 32 years as an educator, holding various roles of increasing responsibility as a teacher, literacy specialist, vice principal, and principal.
Joining the Deputy Secretary will be local dignitaries such as State Senator Keith Wagoner along with district leaders.
SWSD is one of three school districts in Washington state selected to highlight how ESSER funds have been spent to help address learning gaps caused by the pandemic.
Calendar updated after waiver request approved
The state has approved a waiver-day request from the Sedro-Woolley School District. In order to meet the minimum time requirement, students will be attending school for a full day on June 17 (so no early release). June 20 will now be a non-student day.
As a reminder, the district will also be using May 27 as a make-up day
Updated 2021-2022 calendars:
What is a waiver day?
As part of the basic education requirements in Washington state, each school district must make a minimum of 180 school days available to students each school year. Districts must also provide at least 1,000 annual instructional hours to students in kindergarten through 8th grade, and at least 1,080 annual instructional hours to students in grades 9–12 (a district-wide average of at least 1,027 hours in grades 1–12). Districts receive state funding based on the number of students who are enrolled in the district for an average of 1,027 instructional hours over 180 school days.
Occasionally, unforeseen emergencies cause temporary school closures because the facilities could be unsafe, unhealthy, inaccessible, or inoperable. Unforeseeable emergencies include one or more natural event, mechanical failure, or action or inaction by one or more persons. Under certain circumstances, districts may request an emergency school closure waiver from the 180-day school year requirement.
To request an Emergency School Closure Waiver, districts must:
• Submit an Emergency School Closure Waiver Day request form.
• Indicate the district will meet the average annual hours of instruction requirement of 1,027 hours (or 1,000 hours for K–8 districts).
• Make up at least three (3) school days for district-wide closures, per incident, and demonstrate reasonable effort to make-up all the missed school days. Per WAC 392-129-105, “reasonable effort” means:
- Extension of the school year to and through June 14.
- Use of scheduled vacation days and foreseeable school closure days to meet the requirements for 180 days and 1,027 hours.
- If a state of emergency proclamation is issued by the governor, LEAs may meet the "reasonable effort" test by providing at least the district-wide annual average total instruction hour offerings.
COVID-19 Vaccine NOT Required for Students Next Fall
As you may know, the State Board of Health (SBOH), who determines immunization requirements for students in all of Washington’s K–12 schools, has been considering whether or not to require the COVID-19 vaccine for students.
On Wednesday, April 13th, the SBOH voted to not require Washington’s students be vaccinated against COVID-19 for school attendance. This means this fall, immunization requirements for our students will remain unchanged. SBOH overwhelmingly supports the efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccine and notes that vaccination is the best way to protect yourself and those around you, especially against severe illness.
Before making this decision, the State Board of Health organized a technical advisory group (TAG) made up of doctors, public health officials, school partners, and other community members. Over a series of meetings, the TAG met to understand the benefits and challenges of requiring a COVID-19 vaccination for students. In late February, the TAG concluded their work and recommended to the State Board of Health that the vaccine not be required. In today’s SBOH meeting, they reviewed the TAG’s recommendation before deciding they agreed.
We are anticipating the current health and safety guidance from the state Department of Health will remain in place next fall. This includes encouraging––but not requiring––masks, regular cleaning and disinfecting, sharing reminders of proper hand hygiene, and physical distancing to the extent possible while ensuring a full-time in-person opportunity for all students. As a reminder, as we have learned throughout the pandemic, the situation with the virus can evolve and sometimes the guidance changes for us to continue providing the safest learning environment possible for our school community.
As we prepare for returning to school buildings next fall with no mask or vaccine requirements for students, we continue to encourage students and families to get vaccinated to protect against COVID-19. Widespread vaccination is one of the most effective strategies we have to reduce the spread of the virus.
Hot off the press
Important Announcements & Events
SWHS, SSHS students can receive medical services at Wellness Center
Parents, did you know your students could get health care at the Woolley Wellness Center during and after school?
The clinic is open Tuesdays 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and Thursdays from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. The center's phone number is 360-856-7995 (no voicemail is available outside of regular clinic hours). Fax number is 360-856-8000.
The Woolley Wellness Center is located in the main hallway at Sedro-Woolley High School, across from the ASB office, and is operated by PeaceHealth.
View the attached Woolley Wellness Center Informational Flier for more information.
Forms to be completed and returned to the Woolley Wellness Center
A VIS or Vaccine Information Statement is a document produced by CDC, that informs vaccine recipients - or their parents or legal representatives - about the benefits and risks of a vaccine they are receiving. Please find the appropriate VIS by visiting the CDC Website: http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/hcp/vis/current-vis.html
2022 Congressional Art Competition
Skagit County high school students can enter their artwork in the 2022 Congressional Art Competition.
Those in the 1st Congressional District must submit their work to Rep. Suzan DelBene’s office by April 29, and those in the 2nd district to Rep. Rick Larsen’s office by May 2.
The winning entries from each district will be displayed for one year in the U.S. Capitol.
For more information, go to house.gov/educators-and-students/congressional-art-competition.
STEM Summer Camps
YMCA Flag Football
Inclusion Survey
One of our goals as a district is to better support the needs of all of our students and inclusion is one way we are working on doing that. Please take a few minutes to fill out this survey to help us better meet the needs of your student as we work towards greater inclusion in the Sedro-Woolley school District. For the sake of this work and survey, when we talk about inclusion in the schools we are talking about students with disabilities being included in the general education setting, as opposed to being pulled out to receive educational services separately.
Community members to be recognized for contributions
The Sedro-Woolley School District is pleased to announce the recipients of the annual Community Recognition Program that honors those who have so graciously dedicated themselves to the Sedro-Woolley School District and the Sedro-Woolley Community.
The school district has had to twice postpone recognizing this group of recipients because of the pandemic, but is happy to announce an in-person celebration will be held at 7 p.m. April 21 at the Sedro-Woolley High School auditorium.
The honorees include Ken Sorestad, Memorial Recognition; Carol McCann, Memorial Recognition; Gus Suryan, Community Recognition; Dr. Tim Howland, District Recognition; and Brian Flones, Hall of Fame – Athletic Recognition.
The recipients have demonstrated outstanding service to the community or demonstrated loyal support and outstanding accomplishments in areas such as community service, academics, performing arts, or athletics and these exemplary efforts are recognized as going beyond the typical measures of accomplishment.
Sixth-Grade Transition Nights
Cascade Middle School Administration and staff want to provide current sixth-grade families with the information necessary for a smooth transition to middle school.
Students will:
• Choose electives for their 7th grade schedule
• Gather information on athletics and extracurricular activities.
• Gain insight on a smoother transition from elementary to middle school.
• Discuss concerns and have questions answered.
• Take a tour of the school.
An optional Special Education Parent Meeting will be held at 6 p.m. in the Library for parents to meet the case managers at CMS.
Ready Washington Launches 2022 #PlanYourPathWA Student Video Contest
Calling all Washington public high school students! The Ready Washington coalition launched its annual student voices contest this week, encouraging students to talk about their plans after high school. The theme of this year’s contest is #PlanYourPathWA: What do you want to do after graduation, and what are three steps in your High School and Beyond Plan that will help you reach that goal? The contest – open to Washington public high school students – will award five students with $500 scholarships. Winning students will also get to nominate a teacher who has supported them on their path to receive a $100 Visa gift card. If you know of a student who should enter, please direct them to planyourpathwa.com. The deadline to enter is Wednesday, April 27, 2022.
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.
Click the Cubs Den link below for sports' schedules, rosters and more
Samish Coop Preschool
The preschool is also seeking a lead teacher for the 2022-2023 school year.
Position Description:
The ideal candidate has experience creating a safe, nurturing and inclusive learning environment with experiential and hands-on learning experiences. Candidates must be comfortable directing and working with parent members of the cooperative preschool in the classroom. The Lead Teacher also works in partnership with the Skagit Valley College Parent Educator as the program is affiliated with the Skagit Valley College Family Life Program. The teacher will attend a monthly Co-op membership meeting and parent education discussion with the SVC Parent Educator.
Qualifications:
• Strong organizational and communication skills
• Ability to work with a diverse student body
• High level of professionalism and ethics
• Current CPR / First Aid Certification and WA state background check clearance
required by start date
• Proof of Covid Vaccination
• ECE degree/certification or Bachelor’s degree highly preferred
• Experience in a cooperative school environment desired
Start Date:
Officially start September 2022, August Orientation TBD
Preschool Program Schedule:
Tuesdays and Thursdays 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Planning/Prep Time: 1 hour per week
Salary:
18.00 per hour / DOE
FAE Summer Academy
Youth sports fee assistance
Apply today for the Every Kid Sports Pass — a youth sports grant to help cover registration fees.
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.
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!
IEP Recovery Services
Box Tops are now digital
Mental Health Resources
HARASSMENT, INTIMIDATION AND BULLYING
The district uses a reporting system for harassment, intimidation and bullying (HIB) through SafeSchools Alert. Students, parents and community members can report HIB and other unsafe behaviors anonymously through phone, text, email or web. Students, parents and community members should utilize SafeSchools Alert as it creates a record of the report, and each incident must be investigated. Visit https://swsd-wa.safeschoolsalert.com/ to report an incident or use the alternative methods below.
App: Search for “SafeSchools Alert” in the App Store to download for free.
Phone or text to: 1-855-764-8877
Email: 1376@alert1.us
District ID Code: 1376