Automated phone call system: How it works

 School Closure Notifications: How Our System Works and How Families Can Stay Informed

This morning, our district sent out an automated call to more than 1,300 parents and guardians to notify families of the school closure due to an emergency incident in the school neighborhood.  As always, our goal is to ensure that every household receives timely and accurate information, especially when plans change quickly.

After the call went out, we noticed some comments on social media from parents who said they did not receive the message. We want to take a moment to clarify how the system works, share what our call data shows, and explain how families can make sure they never miss an important update.

Our Notification System Worked as Intended

Every automated message we send produces a delivery report. These reports show whether each call connected, whether it was answered, whether it went to voicemail, and whether the call was declined or hung up.

For all families who have current contact information in our system, our delivery logs show that the system did dial all numbers provided and the calls were successfully delivered/attempted. However, in many of these cases:

• The call rang but was not answered

• The call went to voicemail

• The call was declined or hung up

• A device’s “silence unknown callers,” “do not disturb,” or spam-blocking settings prevented the phone from ringing, which means the message was sent correctly—but it may not have been received due to the settings or behavior of the phone on the receiving end.

Why Accurate Contact Information Matters

Our system can only call the numbers we have on file. If a family changes phone numbers, switches carriers, or relies on a secondary number that isn’t listed in our system, they may miss important alerts.

Please take a moment to ensure that your family’s contact information is up to date. This is especially important during the winter months when weather-related decisions can impact the school schedule.

If you need to update your information, just contact your school office—we can make changes quickly.

Tips to Make Sure You Never Miss an Alert

To improve your chances of receiving district messages promptly:

• Make sure the school has your current cell phone and home phone numbers
• Check your voicemail inbox to ensure it isn’t full
• Review whether your phone blocks unknown or automated numbers
• Follow #SB118 News & Updates on Facebook

We Appreciate Your Support

We understand how frustrating it can be to feel like you missed an important message. Our commitment is to communicate quickly, clearly, and consistently with every family in the district. The system we use is reliable, and the delivery data confirms that it functioned correctly this morning.

Thank you for helping us keep your contact information current and for working with us to make sure you receive updates when you need them most. We value your partnership and want every family to stay informed.

Wednesday, February 12 will be a Regular School Day

 

February 6, 2025

Wednesday, February 12 will be a Regular School Day

    Thank you to all our parents for patience this week as we have dealt with the weather impacts to school.  As you know, we had to cancel school on both Monday and Tuesday of this week.  Our policy has been to add any missed school days to the end of the school year, which extends the school year by the number of missed days.  

    However, we have a scheduled non-student staff work day for next Wednesday, February 12.  Rather than hold this staff work day as scheduled, we are going to hold regular school for students on this day.  This will allow us to "make-up" one of our missed schools days from this week, needing to only add 1 day to the end of the school year.

    Again, Wednesday, February 12 will be a regular school day.  

    Please contact your school office if you have any questions.

Scam Phishing Attacks Targeting South Bend School District Community

 Community Update

Warning: Scam Phishing Attacks Targeting South Bend School District Community

South Bend, WA – August 7, 2024— The South Bend School District has recently become aware of a series of sophisticated scam phishing attacks that are targeting our staff, students, and possibly parents. These scams have come in the form of faked emails, text messages, and other forms of communication that appear to be legitimate but are, in fact, attempts to steal personal information and money.

These fraudulent messages are particularly deceptive because they contain contextual information that makes them seem genuine. They often include references to school-related matters, such as job offers, requests for assistance, or other school activities. However, they also include a component asking for payment, personal information, or money transfers.

I want to emphasize the importance of being vigilant and cautious when receiving unexpected or unsolicited messages, whether via email, text, or other communication platforms. Please be aware of the following key warning signs:

1. Unexpected Requests for Money or Personal Information: Be wary of any message that asks you to provide financial information, make a payment, or transfer money. The South Bend School District will never ask for such information via email or text.

2. Urgent or Unusual Requests: Scammers often create a sense of urgency to pressure individuals into taking immediate action. If a message seems urgent or out of the ordinary, verify its authenticity before responding.

3. Suspicious Email Addresses or Phone Numbers: Check the sender's email address or phone number closely. Scammers often use addresses or numbers that are similar to official ones but contain slight variations.

4. Grammatical Errors or Odd Language: Many scam messages contain spelling mistakes, grammatical errors, or unusual phrasing. These can be signs that the message is not legitimate.

If you receive a suspicious message, please do not respond, click on any links, or provide any personal information. Instead, report it to the South Bend School District immediately by contacting our IT department at jashley@southbendschools.org.  If you suspect that you have lost money and/or have had your personal information compromised, please contact the South Bend Police Department.

We are actively working to address these threats and to protect our community from these malicious attacks. Your awareness and caution are crucial in helping us safeguard our students, staff, and families.  We will be sending a call to all parents this afternoon to inform on this issue.

Thank you for your attention to this important matter. Together, we can ensure a safe and secure environment for all.

Jon Tienhaara
Superintendent

Recent safety concern

 Community Update: South Bend School District Addresses Recent Safety Concern

South Bend, WA – In our commitment to transparency and community engagement, the South Bend School District wishes to address and clarify events that occurred on our campus yesterday, dispelling any rumors and ensuring our community is informed directly from us.

Early yesterday morning, our administration was alerted to a situation involving a student who made threats towards another student through online social platforms. The student making threats was immediately contacted by Principal Jason Nelson and Vice Principal Mr. Schray to be questioned. 

The student involved admitted to making the threats online. Local law enforcement was contacted and arrived on campus to interview the student. The police then escorted the student home, and confirmed the individual had no access to weapons at any time. It is important to emphasize that at no point were weapons brought onto school premises.

The South Bend School District's Threat Assessment Team, under the guidance of school administration and school Mental Health Generalist Dr. Stacey Villanueva, is actively collaborating with SBPD Chief Stigall to ensure that a plan is in place moving forward. 

We understand the importance of clear and open communication in maintaining a safe educational environment. Should you have any questions or concerns, we encourage you to reach out. Our priority remains the safety, security, and well-being of all our students and staff members.  If there is ever a concern related to the safety of our students and/or staff, please report those concerns to school administration immediately.

For further inquiries, please do not hesitate to contact us directly.

Thank you for your continued support and cooperation.

Contact Information: Dr. Jon Tienhaara Superintendent, South Bend School District 
Phone: 360.875.6041 | Fax: 360.875.6062 

Email: jtienhaa@southbendschools.org 

Website: www.southbendschools.org

South Bend and Raymond School Districts team up for Girls' Basketball

Community Update

November 15, 2023

South Bend and Raymond School Districts have combined to launch the RSB Ravens girls' basketball team as the newest addition to the RSB Ravens programs.

The combine is rooted in a shared commitment to student opportunity and inclusivity, ensuring that every high school girl has the chance to participate in basketball, regardless of the number of players each school can field independently. Initial discussions to merge the teams began over the summer, with both districts agreeing to a seamless transition. However, the Raymond school board later withdrew from the initial agreement due to unforeseen circumstances, only to reapproach South Bend on November 10, 2023, with a renewed proposal in light of low student turnout.

In a cooperative spirit, and acknowledging the past success of other RSB Ravens teams, both districts have expedited preparations to facilitate the new girls team. Joint practices will be conducted at both South Bend and Raymond facilities. The coaching staff will be a blend of Raymond's current staff—Jason Koski, Makenna Williams, and Butch Betrozoff—and South Bend's Macy Karlsvik will be an assistant coach.  Athletic Directors Jon Schray from South Bend and Mike Tully from Raymond have both been working hard with program logistics and support.

The RSB Ravens' first practices have already kicked off with a spirit of teamwork and camaraderie, mirroring the previous RSB combines. The promising start signals a season of unity and strength for all girls.  New uniforms representing the RSB Ravens have been ordered; in the interim, athletes will don South Bend and Raymond uniforms alternately, symbolizing the unity of the new program.

"We recognize the less-than-ideal nature of the timing of this change and are grateful for the community's adaptability and support. Ensuring the student experience remains the focal point of these efforts is a priority," says South Bend superintendent Jon Tienhaara.  "The Raymond school administration and superintendent K.C. Johnson have been great to work with and have been working hard to make the transition as best as possible." "As the season unfolds, we anticipate the community's continued support for the RSB Ravens and the deepening of the ties and teamwork our shared athletic programs have cultivated between our two schools and student bodies."  "Our decisions are always with the best interests all students in mind.  We have a lot of hope the girls from both schools will have a good experience and successful season," Tienhaara concludes.

A revised game schedule will be forthcoming.  Please watch for further information on school district social media and website channels.