Dear Stevenson-Carson School District Families:
As most of you know Governor Jay Inslee and Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal announced school building closures for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year. As we continue our distance learning model, we want to keep everyone updated on our Continuous Learning plan and other important details. We appreciate your patience during these unprecedented times. Stay safe and thank you for working with us to provide a quality education for our students.
Continuous Learning
The Stevenson-Carson School District will use guidance from the Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) as we provide continuous learning for our students. Although our school facilities are closed to traditional in-person instruction, education must continue. We desire to provide a calm connection for our students and families during this critical time in our state and will ground our education in compassion, communication, and common sense.
- Keep Students at the Center
- Plan and deliver content in multiple ways, so all students can access learning.
- Monitor student learning so that adjustments in lessons can be made as necessary.
This survey is intended to allow families to provide feedback on the Continuous Learning provided to your child(ren) to date, so that staff may consider modifications to better meet most needs of families. https://forms.gle/9v4sHA8Ywn9CEmy49
Recommended Guidelines
Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction provided these recommendations for maximum student commitment to learning each day:
- Pre-K: 30 minutes
- Grades K-1:45 minutes
- Grades 2-3:60 minutes
- Grades 4-5:90 minutes
- Grades 6-8: 20 minutes per subject (2.5 hours maximum per day)
- Grades 9-12:30 minutes per subject (3 hours maximum per day)
The above recommendations are meant for any delivery model: printed learning materials, online programs, or a combination of both. Beyond the required time listed above, students may engage in other optional or enrichment activities. As we learn how to deliver distance learning, we are keeping these guidelines in mind.
Attendance
Staff will be taking attendance each week. School has not yet dismissed for the summer. We expect students to engage at the highest level possible and we understand that it may take parents’ encouragement and support. Please remind your student to use Google Classroom, to answer an e-mail or phone call, to turn in a paper packet, or to participate in a Zoom classroom meeting, at least once each week. We desire to connect with our students.
Grades and End of Year Promotions
Teachers and principals have done brainstorming around traditional grades, pass, or no credit options. However, before any final decisions are made, we want to learn from the guidance provided by OSPI. OSPI plans to release information this week and we will then provide students and families with an update.
High School Credits
Stevenson High School will be applying for the emergency waiver through the State Board of Education that gives principals the ability to waive credit-based graduation requirements if the student was previously on track to graduate this school year. Counselors and administrators will work with individual students where this may apply.
Graduation
We realize that one of the most important events in a senior year is graduation. Recognizing and celebrating the achievements of our seniors and sharing that experience with their families is a once in a lifetime experience. While we await further guidance from Governor Inslee and OSPI we are forming a graduation committee. The committee will look into ways we can recognize our senior graduates.
Chromebook Check Out
The district has checked out more than 150 Chromebooks to students. If you missed out on this opportunity and need a Chomebook to better access the materials provided by a teacher, please contact your child’s building principal with that request. The school district has set up “curb side” Wi-Fi at both Carson Elementary and Stevenson High School. The log in and password are the same: SCSD-Public.
Meals
We will continue to provide breakfast and lunch to our students during this mandatory school closure. If you are not yet receiving meals and would like to begin this service, please e-mail Chris Youngren [email protected]
School Board Meetings
Finally, another big shift within our school district, and all school districts in the state of Washington, is around school board meetings. At this point in time, the school board of directors are holding their meetings via Zoom. The details of how to join via computer or phone are on the agendas posted on the district’s website 24-hours in advance of the meeting. The next board meeting is this Thursday, April 23, beginning at 7:00 p.m.
Continuous Learning requires teachers to think about the enduring concepts of the content and to focus on the top priority skills. We no longer expect them to cover an entire content area or subject, but rather to provide developmentally appropriate tasks or projects that provide opportunities for student to engage in meaningful content in a variety of ways. Teachers will provide feedback to students in a variety of ways as well. This is new for students, families, and our teachers. We are all in this together and will continue to work to refine our offerings to meet the needs of our students. Thank you for your patience as we “set up” our new “classrooms.”
Sincerely,
Karen Douglass, Superintendent
Karen Schreiber, Stevenson Elementary School Principal
Sarah Marino, Carson Elementary School Principal
Bill Schwan, Stevenson High School Principal
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