Enjoy this wonderful compilation of the Class of 2020's achievements.
Thank you Mitzi Sanders for your amazing efforts and our Sequim Community for your support!
May 15, 2020
Sequim School District Families,
As parents and guardians, it is important to remember the impact that you are making. Sometimes we need to remind ourselves to take each day as it comes, and to enjoy the small wins and the special moments. Although being a parent/guardian can be hard at times, it is full of intrinsic value and gratification as you influence and impact your student’s life. The switch to remote learning has been a tremendous undertaking for parents/guardians, students and staff. Please know how much we appreciate you doing the best you can, with what you have, where you are at. If school is not working for you for a moment or day, it’s OK to put the stuff away and try again later. Take some time to fully enjoy the weekend.
“At the end of the day, the most overwhelming key to a child’s success is the positive involvement of parents.” Jane D Hull, Governor of Arizona (1997-2003)
Back to School Planning
OSPI (Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction) has created a Re-opening of Washington Schools for 2020-2021 Workgroup with over 120 members representing a wide variety of stakeholders. They met Wednesday for the first time. They will meet weekly with a goal to have recommendations the first week of June. Please review the attached “Examples for Consideration” the group will be discussing.
Technology
Having issues with technology? Need a device for your 6-12 grade student? Please email distancelearning@sequimschools.org or call 509-505-0340 to connect with personnel who will assist you. Please check out our district web page for a list of free WiFi areas
Last Day of School
The last day of school is June 17 for K-11 students, June 5 for SENIORS, and June 19 for staff.
Stay Healthy Sequim Families!
Dr. Rob Clark.
#We got this Sequim!
May 12, 2020
Sequim School District Families,
Thank you for your cards, FB posts, and messages expressing your appreciation for our amazing teachers. Administrators enjoyed passing out a “drive-through” treat last Friday and were so happy to see many of our teachers. We miss everyone!
Back to School Planning
Last week the administration team began to discuss planning for the opening of the 2020-2021 school year. The health and safety of our students, staff and community will be the filter we use when making decisions. We know that school will look different in the fall. It may be a hybrid model of distance learning and in-person instruction. I continue to be involved in local, regional and state meetings to discuss various situations we need to anticipate for in the fall.
Food Delivery
The Sequim School District is partnering with the Sequim Food Bank to include food delivery! Call 360-683-1205 by Thursday at 9am to request a delivery. Leave a message if no one answers and they will call you back. Food will be delivered Friday to your lunch bus stop.
Senior Parent Meeting
Principal Langston and Superintendent Clark will be hosting the next senior parent meeting Thursday May 21, beginning at 6pm. Graduation will be a topic of discussion. If you have comments or questions, please email tnorman@sequimschools.org by Wednesday May 20, at 5pm. A Microsoft Teams meeting link will be sent via Skyward Tuesday, May 19. Please see the attached Frequently Asked Question document from the previous senior parent meeting.
Stay Healthy Sequim Families!
Dr. Rob Clark
May 1, 2020
Sequim School District Families,
It is hard to believe we are entering a new month. We still miss our students so much! Thank you to those who were able to pick up packets at our elementary schools. Staff, and it appears students and parents, were thrilled to wave through a window at their mask wearing teachers. They were smiling underneath those masks! The brief connection brightened everyone’s spirit.
May 1 National Principals’ Day
Thank you to our team of principals for the educational leadership they provide in our schools! Throughout the school year, these educators commit to lead our young people to a prosperous future. They support and guide quality teachers and staff resulting in productive learning environments for our students. I am grateful for their dedication to their profession, student’s and staff. It is an honor to work with each of them.
Board Meetings
The originally scheduled May board meetings have been changed from May 4 and May 18 to May 11 and May 26. These meetings will be held virtually. Public comment will be accepted through email to tnorman@sequimschools.org.
Teacher Appreciation Week is May 4 – May 8
I am in awe of how our teachers have shifted quickly form a traditional school model to remote learning. We look forward to celebrating them next week. Won’t you please reach out to your students’ teacher(s) this week and share your gratitude for the amazing work they do? I know they would love the encouragement.
Sequim High School ONLINE Plant Sale
The Sequim High School green house is full of beautiful and healthy plants, vegetables, herbs, and decorative baskets. Sequim High School will hold an online plant sale May 1 – May 10. Please click on the link below and follow the instructions to place your order. You must DOWNLOAD the Excel spreadsheet to complete your order. Questions? Email smahitka@sequimschools.org.
https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=UrWsm4ftsE6gttuumKxAWMd6OBV96AJJtlTyfyJ1qQVUM0ZPMDBNQU9SNVdFWDI1Rkg2SzhCTkxSUC4u
Cap and Gown Distribution
Sequim High School staff will be distributing graduation orders to seniors Monday May 4 from 2-4pm in the front parking lot (off Sequim Avenue) in a drive through type manner. Graduation continues to be discussed with staff, student’s, and community members. A decision as to what type of ceremony and when it will be held is expected to be made the first week of June. Be on the look for another senior parent meeting invitation next week.
Stay Healthy Sequim Families!
Dr. Rob Clark
The Sequim School Board meetings for May have been rescheduled to May 11 and May 26. Previously May 4 and May 18.
The updated Reduction Recommendation presentation was presented at the April 27 meeting.
April 24, 2020
Sequim School District Families,
As we come to the end of another remote learning week, I would like to extend sincere gratitude to our students for their resilience during this time and their continued thirst for learning. Our teachers are excited to see some of them next week while packets are distributed. Be assured our principals have set up a distribution system that involves social distancing and safety protocols to keep everyone safe. Have a wonderful weekend and WE MISS YOU!
Packet Distribution
Greywolf and Helen Elementary will be distributing learning packets next week beginning Monday April 27 through Thursday April 30.
The first packet that students received on March 16 were created as “educational opportunities”. If your student has completed the work and would like to turn it in for teacher feedback, we will be happy to receive it.
The next round of packets is centered around the enduring concepts of the grade level. Our teachers have thoughtfully created packets that reflect those concepts. Your student’s engagement and learning of these concepts will have the greatest success with your support. Thank you for all you are doing to support your student’s remote learning. Even while we are away from school, learning is important. Teachers will continue to give feedback to families.
The middle school has distributed their first two-week packet to families. Staff will continue to reach out to families who were unable to pick up packets. Families are welcome to return completed assignments via email or by returning them to the school. Completed work drop-off is available Monday through Friday at the same location (the northwest corner of the cafeteria on north drop-off pick-up loop) and time (11:30-12:30) as our daily nutrition service. The next two-week packet will be ready for pick-up Wednesday May 6th. Teachers continue to work to provide productive feedback around each student’s effort. Skyward will soon be opened again for parent viewing to help families track which work has been received.
We miss our students!
Dr. Rob Clark
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April 22, 2020
Sequim School District Families,
Thank you to all the parents who are supporting their students during this time. I understand that looks very different for each family. I encourage you to build breaks into your learning day as this situation can be stressful for all involved. I continue to hear positive feedback regarding our remote learning model from our parents, students, and administrative team. I am thankful for staff who are working diligently to meet student needs in creative and innovative ways. We will continue to adjust where needed throughout this year.
Please continue to look for communication from your building principals as plans move forward for packet pick up and distribution for our K-8 students.
I enjoyed co-hosting the senior parent meeting and was encouraged by the virtual attendance. If you missed the meeting, look for an FAQ document from the high school soon.
My day continues to be filled with numerous communications from state, regional and local agencies. I am reminded daily of the wonderful community Sequim is.
Grab and Go Lunches
In the last week we have been able to serve and deliver over 500 grab and go breakfasts/lunches to families. We want to Thank the continued efforts of our Bus Drivers, Para-Educators, Food service workers and Teaching staff that have joined together to make each drop-in location and bus route available to our community. It takes a village during these uncertain times to help each other so no one is left behind or without.
Kindergarten Registration and Enrollment is OPEN!
We are happy to welcome your child to kindergarten for the 2020-2021 school year!
Kindergarten online enrollment registration is now available for all students who
will enter the Sequim School District this fall. Please use the following link to register your incoming kindergartner at your family’s neighborhood elementary school.
https://www2.wrdc.wa-k12.net/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=wsequims71/skyenroll.w
Sequim School District invites kindergarten parents to an Informational Night on August 3rd from 6-7 p.m. at Helen Haller Elementary and Greywolf Elementary. Please join your attendance area school and learn about the upcoming school year.
Kindergarten screening will be offered on August 10th from 4:00-6:30 p.m. at both elementary schools. Kindergarteners will complete a brief screening as well as have an opportunity to meet and play with new and old friends and get to know kindergarten teachers and administrators.
These dates are subject to change as needed according to state provisions on COVID-19.
Administrative Professionals Day!
Secretary, coordinator or assistant they have gone by many names and wear multiple hats. They answered to; hey you, that lady and Mrs. “fill in the blank”. They’re the first face you see at each school and the glue that holds the year together. We couldn’t do what we all do best without them and today is special because we get to celebrate them! Thank you to the fleet of stellar Administrative Professionals! We give you a virtual standing ovation for all you do!!
We miss our students!
Dr. Clark
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At the April 13th board meeting the following Modified Education Plan was presented for review. Board members will take final action on the recommendation at the May 4th Board meeting.
4.13.20 Modified Education Plan Presentation.pdf
April 15, 2020
Sequim School District Families,
Shine the Light
Sequim High School would like to Shine the Light on our spring sport athletes who lost their season due to the stay at home order to stop the spread of COVID-19. The stadium lights at Sequim High School will be turned on next Friday, April 17th at precisely 8:20pm (20:20 in military time) for 20 minutes as a small gesture of support for all spring sport athletes who missed out on their season. There will be no opportunity to gather as we still need to respect social distancing guidelines, but feel free to take a drive by the stadium and honk your horns to show your support for all the athletes who stayed home to keep us all safe.
Update on student device distribution
Shout outs to our Technology
Department along with Teaching and Learning for facilitating the distribution
of devices provided by the Sequim PC Users Group. Recipients were based on a
survey we received from staff identifying students in need. With these personal
devices, our 6-12 grade students will now be able to continue their remote
learning. Our elementary schools continue to focus on packet work. Special
thanks to the people who moved mountains for these families! Thank you
Assistant Superintendent Jennifer Maughan, Tech Director Beau Young, Maria
Seabolt, Richard Seiler, Scott Harmsen for setting everything up for the
distribution.
It looks like Spring is here to stay get outside and get some extra Vitamin D!
We miss our students!
Dr. Rob Clark, Superintendent
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April 13th 2020
Sequim School District Families,
Hello and Welcome to remote learning week 2!
Look for communication this week on Tuesday and Friday to include:
- Update on credit/grading for K-12
- Virtual Senior Parent Meeting invitation for Thursday at 6pm
- Shine the Light, Friday April 17
- Update on student device distribution
Have a wonderful week of learning and remember to enjoy the spring sun by taking breaks to go on walks or having a picnic with the family!
We miss you and are cheering you on!
Dr. Clark
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April 10, 2020
Sequim School District Families,
Remote learning for Students
If you have not already heard from your students’ school or teacher(s) about the plan going forward with remote learning, be on the lookout next week for communications through your Skyward account.
Senior Parents, there will be a Skyward Invite to a virtual meeting that will be hosted
by Dr. Clark and Principal Langston Thursday, April 16th at 6pm to talk about graduation and other senior activities that have been currently furloughed.
Kindergarten Registration
We are gearing up for the kindergarten registration! Traditionally, this happens in early April but with the “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” mandate we are working on an alternative way to register and prepare you and your student for the BIG day next year. Be on the lookout in the coming weeks for more information.
Tech Support
Do you have a Tech Question?
With remote learning for the remainder of the year, there may come a time you need some district tech support. We are here to Help you!
Email: distancelearning@sequimschools.org
Phone: 1 (509) 505-0340
Grab and GO Lunch resource will go until the end of June
Food service will continue to be making and distribute grab and go meals until the end of June or until the summer meal program starts up. It has been an incredible opportunity to meet the tangible needs of our families while our bus drivers, para-educators, food service and teachers have been able to see the families and students they miss. We can still serve more! Please, if you need a meal allow us to partner with you in taking care of your students.
Honoring the lost Spring Sports season, Friday April 17th, 2020
Sequim High School would like to Shine the Light on our spring sport athletes who lost their season due to the stay at home order to stop the spread of COVID-19. The stadium lights at Sequim High School will be turned on next Friday, April 17th at precisely 8:20pm (20:20 in military time) for 20 minutes as a small gesture of support for all spring sport athletes who missed out on their season. There will be no opportunity to gather as we still need to respect social distancing guidelines, but feel free to take a drive by the stadium and honk your horns to show your support for all the athletes who stayed home to keep us all safe. We miss each and every one of our students.
Stay Healthy Sequim Families!
Dr. Rob Clark
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April 6, 2020
REYKDAL: School Buildings Closed, But Learning Continues
Today, Governor Inslee announced that schools will be prohibited from providing traditional, in-person instruction for the remainder of the school year. Below is Superintendent Chris Reykdal’s statement.
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 OLYMPIA—April 6, 2020—In mid-March, Governor Inslee closed all public and private K–12 schools in our state through April 24. Today, he extended that directive and ordered all school buildings to close throughout the remainder of the 2019–20 school year.
We have more than 1.2 million students in our state who are impacted by this. Over 80,000 seniors may have attended their last in-person high school class without knowing it.
Just as our great-grandparents understood after two World Wars and the Great Depression, this generation will grow up knowing how to persevere in the face of challenges.
Especially during times of uncertainty, students need our support. They need grace, and structure, and routine. Even though the world may feel like it’s upside down, our students need to know that we will move forward.
These next two months will be tough. I won’t diminish that. However, learning must continue.
It will look different than we are used to. It will be more flexible, and it will evolve as we learn more and gain experience in the tools available to us.
Over the past three weeks since schools first closed, my office has worked tirelessly to provide guidance to school districts, keep the public informed, and problem-solve ways of ensuring all students in our state have access to high-quality continuous learning during this school closure.
This includes working with our congressional delegation to obtain waivers of some federal requirements in order to provide districts with much needed flexibility, as well as securing additional funding to support this continuous learning.
It includes providing school districts with a detailed framework for providing educational services during these unprecedented times, including tools and resources for overcoming inequities in access.
It also includes working with internet providers and software leaders to ensure every student and educator within the state has access to a device, home connectivity, and platforms for teaching and learning to take place.
This is not to say that moving traditional, in-person instruction to an online model is what is best for every student or every district. However, this is an unprecedented time.
This won’t be perfect. But we are a state full of dedicated, talented professionals who will continue running through walls to serve our students.
We will not let the fear of imperfection stand in our way.
For More Information
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April 3rd 2020
Sequim School District Families,
It has been a quick week with Spring Break not really feeling like a break. Last night Washington State Governor Jay Inslee, pushed the “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” mandate to May 4th changing the already fluid timeline for us back another week. I realize this only adds more questions, and I am working diligently to acquire answers that fit for both our Sequim students. Thank you for your patience as we continue to navigate through this unprecedented time.
Students Well-Being
It would not surprise me if your student has been struggling with some behavioral issues. This is to be expected in children, and I encourage you to respond gently. We are all struggling with disruption in routine, none more than children, who rely on routines constructed by others to make them feel safe and to know what comes next. Expect increased anxiety, worries and fears, nightmares, difficulty separating or sleeping, testing limits, and meltdowns. Do not introduce major behavioral plans or consequences at this time—hold stable and focus on emotional connection.
Grab and GO Lunches
With this “new normal” of staying home and staying healthy in effect, I make keeping a routine high on my priority list. For many students, that routine is dictated by when they can take meal breaks. In the last week we have been able to serve over 300 meals to students both at the site locations as well as the bus routes. This number will continue to climb as we journey through this closure. Please, if you need a meal allow us to partner with you in taking care of your students.
Skyward
Is your Skyward account current?
Would you take a few moments and login to your skyward account and confirm all the information is correct? This will be an important key in contacting families and keeping students engaged in school work in the coming weeks. If you have any problems with updating your skyward please email mroragen@sequimschools.org with: your request need, your name, students name, phone number and email address. Staying connected will be KEY in the ability to see each student Thrive during this remote learning season.
Update on School Work and Grading
In accordance with OSPI guidelines, SSD will “continue making every effort to provide seniors with meaningful learning that enables them to earn the credits required to graduate.” OSPI is also encouraging districts to utilize a Pass/Fail option for second semester in lieu of letter grades. SSD is currently determining guidelines for earning credit. Guidelines will be posted as soon as they are finalized.
Senior Parents
Please expect an invitation to a Virtual Zoom meeting early next week. The topic will be graduation. It is our desire to have some type of ceremony. Looking forward to your input.
To say our Teachers and Staff miss your students is a vast understatement.
Stay healthy Sequim families!
Dr. Rob Clark, Superintendent