The Washington State Department of Health has released new guidelines for COVID-19 safety requirements and recommendations for schools, which will take effect starting on March 12, 2022. With the continued decline in COVID-19 cases locally, we are pleased to announce that some of the restrictions will go away, providing families with additional choice about mitigating strategies.
We will be working closely with our health department and will be implementing a series of changes to the restrictions we’ve had in place for the past two years. As we let you know last week, the current COVID-19 rules remain in place until March 11 at 11:59 PM, after which masks will not be required in our schools. Below are some details that summarize the changes.
Changes Starting March 12, 2022:
Our school district will continue to follow the Department of Health required measures:
As we have through the pandemic, we will also continue:
We know you likely have many specific questions. We ask that you work with your school office staff and building principal to address any concerns or questions you may have. We appreciate your patience as we work to roll back some of the health measures that have been in place over the past two years. We are proud of the collective efforts of the Washougal community to prevent the spread of COVID-19, these efforts have saved lives and protected the most vulnerable in our community.
On February 17, 2022, Governor Inslee announced that the statewide indoor mask mandate will be lifted on March 21, 2022, due to an anticipated continued decline in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations. This announcement means that on March 21, masks no longer will be required in indoor settings, including in schools. This announcement applies to both students and staff.
We understand that staff and families may have concerns and questions about the announcement; however, school districts do not have any additional information about the governor’s announcement at this time.
The Washington State Department of Health is expected to release updated guidance for schools in the coming weeks, which will outline school health and safety requirements and may include revisions to other mitigation measures such as contact tracing. Our school district leaders will review these guidelines when they are released and share information as soon as possible thereafter.
Many details still need to be understood and worked out before schools implement changes to masking policies. The state continues to require masks to be worn in schools across the state until March 21, 2022, and early abandonment of this requirement could result in health, safety, legal, and financial consequences for our communities and schools.
We will continue to share information as we have it, and appreciate your ongoing patience and understanding.
The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) recently updated their guidelines and their Symptoms Decision Tree Checklist/Flowchart.
The major change in the new flowchart is students and staff will no longer be required to test to return to school after five days if the required criteria are met.
Updated guidance from DOH including Test to Stay Protocol
Students and staff who have tested positive can return to school after five days have passed since symptoms first appeared (or since the positive test if asymptomatic) with:
For staff identified as close contacts, fully vaccinated means they have received their primary series and additional doses or booster doses when eligible based on their health status and age.
Please note that masks are still required for staff and students, regardless of vaccination status, indoors at all Washougal schools and school facilities.
Click here to find the updated DOH Flow Charts
Test to Stay Program
The Test to Stay testing program, which is meant to help keep students in school, is available for Washougal students and staff. Students and staff without symptoms who have been identified as a close contact are eligible to participate in Test to Stay. Those following the Test to Stay protocol may attend school, school-related extracurricular activities, and school-aged child care during their quarantine period if
On-site testing opportunity for students (no cost)
Free, voluntary, on-site COVID-19 testing for students who are identified as close contacts or who have symptoms consistent with COVID-19 is available at all schools. Testing students for COVID-19 on-site is voluntary and requires parent/guardian consent. Please contact the school office for more information about how to get your student tested prior to bringing them to school.
We want you to be aware that we are closely monitoring the impacts of the omicron variant of COVID-19 in our community. In our district, our objective is to keep schools open as long as it is safe to do so. We know having students in-person for learning is what is best for students. We do not anticipate having to transition to fully remote learning; however, it is possible that classrooms or schools may experience intermittent disruptions. If this occurs, we will communicate with families about any needed changes as quickly as possible.
Our school leaders have been working with their staff to address staffing shortages due to illness or quarantine. Thank you to everyone who has pitched in to help solve staffing challenges. We think it’s wise to be prepared for all contingencies, so we have asked our building principals to think about ways we can be flexible and prepared for any impacts.
We have a significant need for part-time and substitute employees in a number of areas, which will help us keep schools open during this wave of the pandemic. If you, or someone you know, is interested in working in our transportation, culinary, custodial departments, or has a bachelor’s degree and is interested in learning more about the process to become a teacher, we could use the help! Please visit our job listing page to find open positions and the application process. Additional steps we are taking to ensure we continue to have enough staff to support you and our students include: providing KN-95 masks at each school for staff, recruiting prepared candidates for both certified and classified substitute positions, and working with district office staff who have teaching certificates to work as substitutes in classrooms over the next few weeks.
We understand that any adjustment to school schedules is very challenging for everyone. Please know that we are committed to keeping our staff and families informed, and most importantly, safe.
Summary of Recent State Guidance Changes
Isolation and quarantine guidance was shortened to 5 days in many cases, and testing recommendations were updated. The new guidance applies to both those who are vaccinated and unvaccinated.
DOH K-12 School Requirement Updates for Isolation, Close Contact, and Quarantine
The Washington Department of Health has updated the K-12 School Requirements with changes to the isolation and quarantine rules. The updated rules include:
Please note that masks are still required for students, staff, and visitors, regardless of vaccination status, indoors at all Washougal schools and school facilities. The state provided COVID-19 flow charts are no longer current, and are being updated. Once available, we will post them to our COVID-19 FAQ page.
Washougal is Participating in the Test to Stay Program
The Test to Stay testing program, which is meant to help keep students in school, is available for Washougal students. Students eligible for Test to Stay may attend school, school-related extracurricular activities and athletics, and school-aged child care during their quarantine period if they participate in serial testing. This is known as modified quarantine. Students who opt out of testing or who have accommodations that allow them to attend school and not wear a well-fitting mask or face shield are not eligible for modified quarantine under the Test to Stay program.
Free On-site Testing for Students
Our schools will continue to maintain our current health and safety protocols as well as offer free, on-site testing for students who experience symptoms while at school.
We have heard from families that the contact tracing and process for self-isolating when a student is a close contact has been challenging. We also have some changes to the COVID-19 guidance we use to decide when a student must isolate or test before returning to school.
You can find a new, state developed flow chart here. The new flowchart distinguishes between more severe symptoms and those that are less severe, which should reduce the number of students asked to quarantine. Certain types of symptoms require self-isolating for 24 hours if symptoms resolve, and others will require a negative COVID-19 test to return to school, or a longer self-isolation while waiting for symptoms to resolve.
If your child is experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 or has been identified as a close contact of an infected person, they may need to get tested. The person doing cose contact investigation will indicate this when they contact your family. When getting your child tested for COVID-19, please note that per Clark County Health Department, Washougal School District is not able to accept results from home tests. The following websites provide great resources for finding available testing in your area:
We have also heard that the recent increase in cases caused delays in getting testing appointments and results. The district is exploring, with the local health jurisdiction and the Department of Health, ways we can expand after-hours testing in Washougal, possibly at a school site. This could supplement the options available through pharmacies and other health providers.
Here is the overarching process for COVID-19 cases in our schools:
When a student/staff member has COVID-19
Close Contact Criteria
Close Contact Quarantine Guidelines – Unvaccinated
Close Contact Quarantine Guidelines – Vaccinated
Close Contact Quarantine Guidelines – Confirmed COVID-19 within the past 90 days
Symptoms of COVID-19
Most people who get COVID-19 have mild symptoms, including a fever and cough. Adults and children have reported the following symptoms or a combination of symptoms, which may appear two to 14 days after exposure:
| Fever of 100.4°F / 38°C or higher Chills Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing Muscle pain or body aches New loss of taste or smell |
Congestion or runny nose Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea Cough (new, changed, or worsening) Headache Fatigue Sore throat |
District staff are working hard, alongside students and families, to keep everyone safe and well, and to minimize the spread of COVID-19 in our schools. We are very appreciative of everyone working together to wear masks, wash hands, and watch our distance.
COVID-19 is still actively spreading in our community. On behalf of our nurses and community health partners, we are reminding all of our families to keep students who are sick with any illness at home.
Please do not send your student to school with any of the following symptoms:
The Delta variant is highly transmissible to all individuals, especially those who are not yet vaccinated. Fully vaccinated individuals can get and can spread this disease, too. Not all of our school community (students, family members, staff) are able to be fully vaccinated at this time. Please limit social gatherings with those outside of your household, and be thoughtful about staying safe when attending athletic events, concerts or other gatherings.
Students who are ill will be supported in their school work
It is important for families to plan ahead for emergency childcare when students are ill. We understand that missing school is hard for students, and our staff are committed to ensuring that students who are kept home when ill are supported. As with any illness, teachers and school offices will work to connect families with homework, and to provide opportunities to make up assignments so students do not fall behind.
For more information regarding COVID-19 please review the following information:
Thank you again for your partnership with our schools. Together, we can keep everyone healthy and keep our schools open to serve students.
Updated flowcharts from Clark County Public Health are available to help students and staff with determining close contacts with confirmed positive COVID-19 cases.
Hi Washougal Families,
We are getting excited for school to start, and hope that the information below helps you and your student get ready for a great school year. We will be open five days per week, full-time, and in-person.
School offices will reopen on August 16, and in a few weeks, you will receive information from your student’s school about the start of school. The district has a back-to-school website which contains additional important information, including supply lists, back-to-school nights, and meal program information for the new school year, which begins on August 31, 2021.
With the careful, measured, thoughtful, and safe leadership of our school board, the Washougal community worked together to prevent the spread of COVID-19 among students as we reopened during the last school year. We are optimistic that this school year will look much more like a normal year, and we know our students and families are looking forward to learning together.
Face masks required inside school buildings
Last week, the Washington Department of Health released new COVID guidance and requirements for the 2021-22 school year.
This announcement requires all students, staff and visitors – regardless of COVID vaccination status – to wear a mask while inside school buildings. This legal requirement is applicable to all K-12 public and private schools in Washington and cannot be changed or amended at the local level.
Other information in the announcement from the Department of Health
The Department of Health has provided the masking requirement, along with revised direction on social distancing, testing, reporting and contact tracing processes and procedures consistent with CDC and American Academy of Pediatrics recommendations. You can read information from the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction that announced this new guidance here.
Our excellent staff will be working to implement all of the guidelines and ensure that we are ready for the start of school. Our goal has always been to return our students to full-time in-person education. These new guidelines allow us to do just that. Not only does this permit us to offer a comprehensive academic opportunity, but also the extra-curricular and athletic activities that so many students have missed.
Families who would like a more flexible learning opportunity
For families looking for flexible, family-friendly options, Washougal Learning Academy serves students in grades K-8, and Washougal High School can serve students in grades 9-12 with additional learning options. Both programs can offer a fully-online or mixture of in-person and online programs that is tailored to meet the needs of each learner. You can find information about the WLA option by clicking here, or visit the WHS website to learn about these programs.
We look forward to seeing you on August 31 for the first day of school!
We have a number of updates to share with you about important dates, vaccine opportunities, and planning for the summer.
Free Vaccine clinic at Hathaway on Saturday May 22, 2021
WHS graduation update
Register for next year’s programs – WLA, Dual Language, Preschool, and Transitional Kindergarten
Enrollment verification underway by school office staff
Summer learning programs interest survey
Tea Time with Templeton – Student Panel Q&A on May 19, 2021
Rate per 100k rising, but no changes to academic programs at this time
Summer meal program continues to nurture students
Regional vaccination locations and opportunities
Last Day of School will be in-person
WSD is partnering with Clark County Public Health to offer FREE vaccines for anyone in the Washougal community on Saturday May 22, at Hathaway Elementary. This free clinic will run from 10 AM to 3 PM, with both Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson vaccines offered. The Johnson & Johnson is available for anyone 18 years and older and requires only one dose. The Pfizer vaccine is available for people 16 years and older and requires two doses. The second dose will be provided at the same location on Saturday, June 12. Pre-registration is strongly encouraged through this site, but not required! Walk-ins can get vaccinated, if supplies allow, from 11 AM to 2:30 PM. If the May 22 date doesn’t work, we’ve provided other options for you below.
Washougal High School staff surveyed the Class of 2021 and their families, and the overwhelming majority want an in-person graduation with limited attendance. We’re happy to announce that WHS Graduation will take place on June 12 at Fishback Stadium at 5 PM. Current plans are for all WHS grads who want to walk across the stage to get the opportunity to do that, with a limited number of spectators to ensure safety. More details will be shared with the Class of 2021 as details are finalized.
Washougal Learning Academy, our Alternative Learning Experience school that provides students and families with flexible learning programs to meet family needs, is opening registration for next school year. Families and students interested in this option can call 360-954-3833 or email wlaSupport@washougalsd.org to schedule a time to learn about the program, and get signed up.
WSD has a new dual language immersion program for Kindergarten that will start next fall. Your child can learn another language, have cross-cultural experiences, and achieve higher academic growth over time by participating in this program. The program is open to both native English and Spanish speakers, and is a great option for families in our district. The program, which will be housed at Hathaway, is open to any Kindergarten student regardless of their neighborhood boundary, and transportation is provided for district residents. Space is limited, so visit our dual language program page to find out more about how your child can grow and thrive in this new program.
Our Washougal Community Education Preschool is accepting registrations for Fall 2021. Preschools are located at each elementary school – Cape Horn-Skye, Columbia River Gorge, Gause and Hathaway. There are classes for younger students and for pre-K students who will start kindergarten in 2022. Morning and afternoon classes are available depending on the age of the student. One-way busing is offered within your school boundary. Please visit the preschool page, or contact Lisa Young at 360-954-3895 or lisa.young@washougalsd.org if you have questions or require additional information. Class sizes are limited, so early registration is encouraged.
New Transitional Kindergarten program is a no-cost early learning program, primarily for four-year-olds that is designed to close the opportunity gap before starting Kindergarten. TK is for students who have a demonstrated need, or when the family cannot afford access to a community program. TK provides a rich, high-quality learning environment that is geared to help students have a great start to Kindergarten. Students must be four years old by August 31 to participate. TK will follow the 180 day academic calendar, and is a full day program. Learn more about the program, including how to register, on our Transitional Kindergarten page.
If you have not yet let us know your plans for next school year, the school office will be contacting you to make sure we have staff to serve your student. Responding to the enrollment verification process helps guide staffing and programmatic decisions for the start of the new school year.
We are collecting information from families via a form in ParentSquare, to gauge interest in summer learning programs for students. This voluntary process will guide the development of summer learning that can extend the school year, and help your learner get a jump start on the 2021-22 school year. We are asking families to respond to the survey for each student who they feel might benefit from this learning opportunity. You can find the form in ParentSquare by clicking this link: https://www.parentsquare.com/
Tea Time with Templeton on May 19 at 4 PM
Join Superintendent Dr. Mary Templeton and a panel of students for a Q&A session as part of our next “Tea Time with Templeton” on May 19 at 4 PM. This panel will gather feedback from students about the successes and challenges of the 2020-2021 school year, and seek constructive ideas about how schools can shape opportunities for the next school year. Listen to perspectives from students about what worked, what didn’t, and what they hope to see continued in future years. Join by visiting our website, or use this link to join the Zoom on the 19th.
WSD continues to work closely with the Clark County Public Health, and we are seeing an uptick in the rate per hundred thousand, but at this time, we do not anticipate making changes to our schedules for students. We believe that keeping schools open for in-person learning is a critical support for the health and social-emotional wellbeing of our students, and we are focused on ensuring that we do everything possible to stay open.
Our robust safety measures, cohorts for students in younger grades, block schedule at WHS, and having 90% of our staff vaccinated are keeping COVID from spreading in our schools. More information about our safety protocols are available in our COVID-19 FAQ.
In order for schools to stay open, all of us must do our part, including wearing masks, washing our hands, watching our distance, and getting vaccinated when it is our turn.
Our amazing culinary team is planning to continue free meals into the summer, providing chef-inspired, scratch made meals to children 18 and under at the following locations and times:
Gause Elementary School
Tuesday through Friday, July 6-30, 2021
Breakfast 8:45-9:15am
Lunch 11:45-12:15pm
JMS/CRGE
Tuesday through Friday, June 17-July 2 and August 3-13, 2021
Breakfast 8:45-9:15am
Lunch 11:45-12:15pm
Meals are provided with funding from the USDA summer meal program. Washougal School District is an equal opportunity provider.
Anyone 16 and older is eligible for the COVID-19 vaccination. Community members can find information about how to sign up with the information below. Students over the age of 16 are also eligible, but the vaccination is not currently mandatory. Local health officials have indicated that parent consent is needed for youth under 18 to get vaccinated. The vaccine is free of charge, regardless of whether you have health insurance.
Tower Mall vaccination site. Visit the Safeway/Albertsons website to schedule an appointment.
Clark County Fairgrounds. Appointments to the vaccination site at the fairgrounds are typically added at noon on Sundays. Visit the state Department of Health website for information on how schedule appointments
Local pharmacies – Visit www.VaccineFinder.org to search by zip code for pharmacies with vaccine.
Washington Department of Health’s Vaccine Locations website. Visit the website for county listings of pharmacies and facilities with COVID-19 vaccine.
Sea Mar Community Health Centers (Clark County). Clark County Sea Mar locations are offering COVID-19 vaccine during walk-in clinics 8 am to 5 pm Monday through Friday. Visit the Sea Mar website to find clinics with available vaccine.
Wednesday June 16, 2021 is the last day of school. Students will be served in-person on this day instead of it being a fully remote day, and it is a three hour early dismissal day.
March 28, 2021 Update
The state of Washington DOH has adopted the three foot physical distancing guidance for students in classrooms that was adopted earlier this month by the CDC. This move will allow us to expand our hybrid program for students in grades 6-12 to four days of in-person learning, starting Monday, April 19, 2021.
We are working with teachers, staff, administrators, and public health officials to ensure we can provide safe learning environments for larger numbers of students. Staff will be working over the coming weeks to implement protocols for areas where the six foot social distancing rule still applies, like during lunch and passing time, and in some classrooms where students are exhaling more frequently (P.E., choir, band, etc.). All district staff will have had the opportunity to be fully immunized by that time.
Middle and high school students will continue to have an asynchronous day on Wednesday, which provides time for teachers to plan lessons and make contact with students who are not able to return to in-person learning at this time. K-5 students will also continue to have an asynchronous Wednesday, along with the current schedule which has a 1 hour late start. Teachers use this time each day to contact students who are fully remote.
Our goal is to continue to provide service to both in-person hybrid and fully remote students this way through the end of this school year. We are also committed to providing the least amount of disruption to our students and families as we make this last transition for the school year. As we plan for next school year, we plan to offer five days of full-time, in-person learning for students in grades K-12, unless they are enrolled in the Washougal Learning Academy. The Washougal Learning Academy will serve families who need flexibility or who are unable to return to in-person learning.
These opportunities to expand our in-person educational offering are the result of all of us doing our part to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in our community. We must keep Clark COunty’s rate per 100,000 under 200 to use the new 3-foot guidance in grades 6-12, which is critical for supporting four days per week. The rate per 100,000 over 14 days is currently 105.6. To keep students in school, all of us must wear masks, watch our distance, and wash our hands. Health officials studying the spread of COVID emphasize these simple, but critical steps in our daily lives to be able to take next steps in our reopening.
Timeline
Safety
School staff continue the safety routines and protocols that are keeping students and staff safe. These include daily health screening, mandatory face coverings, social distancing, hand washing, and additional cleaning, signage and training. More information about our safety protocols are available in our COVID-19 FAQ.
Reopening Feedback Survey Open Now
Now that all of our students in grades pre-K through twelve have the opportunity to be on campus each week in our two day per week hybrid learning model, we want to gather information about how this option is working for you and your student.
We are making great progress on reopening, but know that we must be well-equipped and prepared to support the social/emotional and academic wellness of our students as they are returning to our buildings. We would appreciate your candid feedback on our efforts so far. This helps guide our decisions on programs and support we offer to our students and their families as we look to a full return to school in the future. Please find the link to the survey in your ParentSquare email from March 31, 2021.
If you want to learn about how the past feedback from parents and guardians has informed our impactED program and our reopening, you can read that in our COVID-19 FAQ.
Free Meals for All Students
Free, scratch-made delicious meals are available at no cost for all students in our hybrid learning program each day through the end of the year. More information about our culinary program, and the menu, can be found on our culinary website.
FAQ
Dear WSD Families,
We are excited to announce that we will begin expanding our hybrid program for grades K-5 as a four-day per week in-person model, starting on Monday, April 12, 2021. We are working with teachers, staff, and public health officials to plan this change, focusing on the capacity of classrooms with our younger learners, and are arranging classrooms to ensure social distancing when students are seated as required by health metrics.
Our small average class sizes in grades K-5 make this possible, along with some creative thinking and flexibility on the part of our staff and building leadership, who are making a number of changes to safely accommodate the larger groups of students who would be in-person at a time.
While we are happy to now offer in-person learning for all of our secondary students, we know we must continue to work on expanding in-person learning for the future. As we study grades 6-12, we are still trying to figure out how to accommodate the number of students (up to 28 or 29) that are in class together, while ensuring space for social distancing. We will continue to monitor any changing guidance from the Department of Health, but for now, the hybrid two-day per week program will continue to serve students in grades 6-12.
These opportunities to expand our in-person educational offering are the result of all of us doing our part to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in our community. The rate per 100,000 over 14 days has dropped to the lowest level since October. To keep students in school, all of us must wear masks, watch our distance, and wash our hands. Health officials studying the spread of COVID emphasize these simple, but critical steps in our daily lives to be able to take next steps in our reopening.
Timeline
Safety
School staff continue the safety routines and protocols that are keeping students and staff safe. These include daily health screening, mandatory face coverings, social distancing, hand washing, and additional cleaning, signage and training. More information about our safety protocols are available in our COVID-19 FAQ.
Reopening Feedback Survey Open Now
Now that all of our students in grades pre-K through twelve have the opportunity to be on campus each week in our two day per week hybrid learning model, we want to gather information about how this option is working for you and your student.
We are making great progress on reopening, but know that we must be well-equipped and prepared to support the social/emotional and academic wellness of our students as they are returning to our buildings. We would appreciate your candid feedback on our efforts so far. This helps guide our decisions on programs and support we offer to our students and their families as we look to a full return to school in the future. You can find a link to our survey here.
Free Meals for All Students
Free, scratch-made delicious meals are available at no cost for all students in our hybrid learning program each day through the end of the year. More information about our culinary program, and the menu, can be found on our website.
Travel Advisory and Spring Break
If you have plans to travel outside of Washington or Oregon during Spring Break, we encourage you to adhere to the advisory and the recommended 14 day quarantine when returning to help ensure safety for students, staff and our families. We are hopeful that everyone be really thoughtful about planning travel out of state over Spring Break.
Students who are participating in in-person learning as part of our hybrid learning model who have traveled out of state will be advised to participate remotely during the remainder of their 14 day self-quarantine.
You can find more information about the travel advisory on the state website here:
https://coronavirus.wa.gov/resource-topics/transportation-and-travel
Note that the recommended quarantine might not apply to individuals who have been able to get fully immunized against COVID-19, but the recommendation has not been updated as of 3-11-2021.
FAQ
We are excited to announce our reopening plan for our two-day per week in-person hybrid learning model for grades 9-12! The local health metrics that guide our reopening are going to make it possible for us to begin serving these students. The metrics, from the Washington State Department of Health guidelines for school reopening, will support us starting our high school students in hybrid, with 9th grade starting on either March 4 or 5, and grades 10, 11, and 12 starting the week of March 8.
As we add this final group of students, we continue working closely with our teachers, staff, public health officials, and other districts to ensure we are following the guidance for safely returning students for in-person learning. We will continue to follow this guidance as we look forward to returning more students as quickly as it is safe to do so.
These opportunities to expand our in-person educational offering are the result of all of us doing our part to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in our community. To get more students back, all of us must wear masks, watch our distance, and wash our hands. Health officials studying the spread of COVID emphasize these simple, but critical steps in our daily lives to be able to take next steps in our reopening.
Timeline
March 1: Small groups will not take place the week of March 1, to allow teachers time to prepare for the start of the hybrid at those grade levels. (Students with special needs who are attending in-person on a special schedule will be contacted by the student’s case manager if there are schedule changes.)
March 4th & 5th: Ninth grade students will be able to attend a preview day depending on their cohort.
All grade levels (high school) will begin the hybrid model starting the week of March 8, 2021.
Sample Schedules
Click these links for sample bell schedules for Washougal High School.
Visual Schedule for all options (full remote, hybrid, WLA & CTA programs)
Learning Options for Students
Please be sure to take the survey below to let us know what option of learning you prefer. Any student that does not have this completed will automatically be added to their cohort for hybrid learning. WHS Hybrid / Remote Learning Survey
Limited Cohorts for Safety
Students are generally going to be placed in groups according to the last name of their primary guardian in Skyward, which lowers the number of students in each group. In some cases, students may be in a different cohort to avoid overcrowding in either group. This will allow us to have social distancing in classrooms and other instructional spaces. You will be able to see this code in Skyward.
Generally students in a family where the first parent/guardian listed in Skyward has a last name that starts with A-K are in the AA group, and will attend school on Monday and Tuesday.
Generally students in a family where the first parent/guardian listed in Skyward has a last name that starts with L-Z are in the BB group, and will attend school on Thursday and Friday.
Students in both cohorts will have asynchronous lessons on Wednesdays.
In some cases, students may be in a different cohort to avoid overcrowding in either group.
Safety
School staff have a number of safety routines and protocols that will keep students and staff safe as they come back to campus. These include daily health screening, mandatory face coverings, social distancing, hand washing, and additional cleaning, signage and training. More information about our safety protocols are available in our COVID-19 FAQ.
WHS will send the Hybrid Handbook, video expectations, and more information to all families.
Students Receiving Special Services
Students with special needs who are attending in-person on a special schedule will be contacted by the student’s case manager if there are schedule changes.
Transportation
The transportation department has updated bus routes for students in grades 9-12, and you can find your child’s transportation information in Skyward. If you have never used Skyward Family Access, you can get your username and password from the office at your child’s school.
You can check your student’s busing information by logging onto Skyward Family Access with your personal username and password then following the link to Bus info.
We have another exciting update to our reopening plan for our two-day per week in-person hybrid learning model! The local health metrics that guide our reopening are going to make it possible for us to begin serving students in grades 6-8. These metrics, from the Washington State Department of Health guidelines for school reopening, will support us starting our middle school students in hybrid, with 6th grade starting on either February 11 or 12 and grades 7 & 8 starting the week of February 16.
As we add additional students, we are working closely with our teachers, staff, public health officials, and other districts to ensure we are following the guidance for safely returning students for in-person learning. We will continue to follow this guidance as we look forward to returning more students as quickly as it is safe to do so.
These opportunities to expand our in-person educational offering are the result of all of us doing our part to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in our community. To get more students back, all of us must wear masks, watch our distance, and wash our hands. Health officials studying the spread of COVID emphasize these simple, but critical steps in our daily lives to be able to take next steps in our reopening.
Timeline:
| Date | Rate Per 100k Averaged over 14 days |
| Dec 01 | 427.64 |
| Dec 08 | 447.7 |
| Dec 15 | 450.56 |
| Dec 22 | 433.98 |
| Dec 29 | 386.08 |
| Jan 04 | 324.87 |
| Jan 11 | 397.95 |
| Jan 18 | 473.69 |
| Jan 26 | 401.23 |
| Feb 02 | 310.54 |
| Feb 09 | 262.2 |
Sample Schedules:
Click these links for sample bell schedules for Jemtegaard Middle School and Canyon Creek Middle School.
Each sample includes the in-person schedule, the distance learning schedule, and a schedule for students who are staying in full time remote learning.
Limited Cohorts for Safety:
Students are placed in groups according to the last name of their primary guardian, which lowers the number of students in each group. This will allow us to have social distancing in classrooms and other instructional spaces.
Students who stay in distance learning:
Families can let the school office know if their student is not ready to transition back to in-person learning and will remain in full-time distance learning at this time. Students who stay in distance learning will follow the same schedule that the students participating in-person will be following, and will be able to participate in many learning activities with their in-person peers. Teachers will continue to provide schoolwork for those students to continue learning.
Safety:
School staff have a number of safety routines and protocols that will keep students and staff safe as they come back to campus. These include daily health screening, mandatory face coverings, social distancing, hand washing, and additional cleaning, signage and training. More information about our safety protocols are available in our COVID-19 FAQ.
Students Receiving Special Services:
Most students being served via an IEP will experience a schedule change. Your child’s case manager will contact you with details of upcoming schedule changes.
Transportation:
The transportation department has updated bus routes for students in grades K-5, and you can find your child’s transportation information in Skyward. If you have never used Skyward Family Access, you can get your username and password from the office at your child’s school.
You can check your student’s busing information by logging onto Skyward Family Access with your personal username and password then following the link to Bus info.
FAQ
We have an update on our reopening plan for our two-day per week hybrid learning model! As we let you know in December, the Washington State Department of Health has announced new guidelines for school reopening, that allow us to begin the phased implementation of our hybrid model, starting with students in grades K-3 on January 19, and adding grades 4 & 5 on January 25. The new guidelines include new metrics, based on emerging research and data gathered by state and national officials, that will allow us to have increased in-person learning opportunities for students.
We are working with our teachers and staff, public health officials, and other school districts to review our safety protocols, and we will get students into classrooms as quickly as we can within these new frameworks. Schedules will be posted as soon as they are available.
These opportunities to expand our in-person educational offering are the result of all of us doing our part to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in our community. To get more students back, all of us must wear masks, watch our distance, and wash our hands. Health officials studying the spread of COVID emphasize these simple, but critical steps in our daily lives to be able to take next steps in our reopening.
Timeline:
Sample Schedules:
Click here for sample bell schedules for each school.
Each sample includes the in-person schedule, the distance learning schedule, and a schedule for students who are staying in full time remote learning.
Limited Cohorts for Safety: (15 or fewer students per group)
Students are placed in groups according to the last name of their primary guardian.
Students who stay in distance learning:
Families can let the school office know if their student will remain in full-time distance learning. Teachers will have time each week to check-in with distance-learning only students, and will provide schoolwork for those students to continue their learning.
Safety:
School staff have a number of safety routines and protocols that will keep students and staff safe as they come back to campus. These include daily health screening, mandatory face coverings, social distancing, hand washing, and additional cleaning, signage and training. More information about our safety protocols are available in our COVID-19 FAQ.
Students Receiving Special Services:
Most students being served via an IEP will experience a schedule change. Your child’s case manager will contact you with details of upcoming schedule changes.
Transportation:
The transportation department has updated bus routes for students in grades K-5, and you can find your child’s transportation information in Skyward. If you have never used Skyward Family Access, you can get your username and password from the office at your child’s school.
You can check your student’s busing information by logging onto Skyward Family Access with your personal username and password then following the link to Bus info.
School Reopening Paths to meet the needs of our learners
FAQ
Hello WSD Families,
We have some exciting news to share with you about our plans to reopen a two-day per week hybrid learning model! The Washington State Department of Health has announced new guidelines for school reopening, that allow us to begin the phased implementation of our hybrid model, starting with students in grades K-3. These new guidelines include new metrics, based on emerging research and data gathered by state and national officials, that will allow us to have increased in-person learning opportunities for students.
We are working with our teachers and staff, public health officials, and other school districts to review our safety protocols, and we will get students into classrooms as quickly as we can within these new frameworks. Schedules will be posted as soon as they are available.
In order to get more students back in the classroom safely, all of us must wear masks, watch our distance, and wash our hands. Health officials studying the spread of COVID emphasize these simple, but critical steps in our daily lives to be able to take next steps in our reopening.
Timeline:
Limited Cohorts for Safety: (15 or fewer students per group)
Students are placed in groups according to the last name of their primary guardian.
Students who stay in distance learning:
Families can let the school office know if their student will remain in full-time distance learning. Teachers will have time each week to check-in with distance-learning only students, and will provide schoolwork for those students to continue their learning.
Safety:
School staff have a number of safety routines and protocols that will keep students and staff safe as they come back to campus. These include daily health screening, mandatory face coverings, social distancing, hand washing, and additional cleaning, signage and training. More information about our safety protocols are available in our COVID-19 FAQ.
Students Receiving Special Services:
Students in grades K-3 who receive special education services through an IEP will likely have a change in their schedule to allow them to participate in the hybrid model. Your child’s case manager will reach out to you with more information after winter break.
Transportation:
The transportation department is updating bus routes for students in grades K-3, and we will communicate how families can access that information once schedules are set.
FAQ
Dear parents and guardians,
Our district is deeply appreciative of the grit and determination that all of our students, families, and staff have shown in working through the challenges of distance learning during our ongoing pandemic.
We are excited to announce the opportunity to come back to school for small group learning, starting with our Kindergarten students. In the small group learning model, your child will attend school two days per week in-person, either in the afternoon. They will continue to have opportunities for asynchronous and synchronous learning the rest of the week. Students at other grades will continue distance learning, and we will communicate next steps in our hybrid transition as we work with the health department. Small groups will start the week of November 9!
We have worked closely with Clark County Public Health in designing this opportunity for students. Public Health Officer Dr. Melnick supports this step with the safeguards we have listed below, as a small expansion of our current small group opportunity for students with special needs, our English Language Learners, and our students who are experiencing connectivity issues or have other needs. These groups have been attending small group sessions since late September.
This opportunity for students and teachers to be together each week is made possible by our entire community committing to mask wearing, hand washing, and social distancing to prevent the spread of COVID-19. In order to keep the gains we have made, we are implementing a series of safety measures to ensure we do not slide backwards, and lose this opportunity to learn together.
Cohorts to allow physical distancing
Masks or face coverings for staff and students
Additional hand washing routines
Meals served in cohorts
Cleaning and Disinfecting
Daily Health Screening and Parent/Guardian Attestations
Added Safety Measures to Keep Everyone Safe
We are so happy to be able to welcome our youngest learners back! We know Kindergarten students will benefit from this time with their teachers, and we look forward to it being safe enough to bring more learners back in person.
Sincerely,
Dr. Mary Templeton
Superintendent
Washougal School District
