School transitioning back to "remote learning"

 

November 19, 2020

Community Update

On November 19, 2020 we received updated guidance from the Pacific County Health Department reflecting recent COVID-19 activity within the county.  Because of the significant increase in cases, the health department is recommending schools return to remote learning for most students.  In compliance with this guidance, South Bend Schools will be transitioning to remote learning according to the following timelines:

1.  The last day of in-person learning for Group B students will be tomorrow, Friday, November 20.  Students will come to school as planned and will prepare for remote learning;

2.  Parent-teacher conferences scheduled for Monday, November 23 are cancelled, instead;

3.  Group A students will come to school on Monday, November 23 for their last day of in-person school and will prepare for remote learning;

4.  Parent-teacher conferences for Tuesday, November 24 will continue as scheduled;

5.  November 25-27 will be Thanksgiving break;

6.  Remote learning for all grades will begin Monday, November 30.

7.  Hybrid learning under the current AA-Wednesday-BB model is tentatively planned to resume on Monday, January 11, 2021.  We will re-assess health conditions prior to this date to determine our actual return date.

As previous, food service will continue during remote learning.  We will also attempt to provide childcare as resources allow.  Please contact Amy Nelson at anelson@southbendschools.org as space is limited.

We know that returning to remote learning is not ideal for anyone, and that this presents a huge challenge to parents, students, and school staff.  We are doing our very best to provide the best education and services possible, while remaining in compliance with the recent health guidelines.  Our goal is to return to in-person (hybrid) learning as soon as we can safely do so.

In the meantime, please contact your school office and/or teacher with any questions or needs.  The school phone number is 875-6041 where you can then select your school office.

As always, we will provide further information and updates as more information becomes available.

Please stay safe-

Jon Tienhaara

Superintendent

Health Update

 

School Health Update

Mike Morris Elementary School

November 11, 2020

This notice is to inform that two individuals at Mike Morris Elementary School have tested positive for COVID-19.  One individual had no exposure to staff or students as determined by the Pacific County Health Department.  Another individual had limited exposure in a classroom within the Monday A Cohort on Monday, November 9, 2020.  These cases are not related to each other and are not related to the junior/senior high school case reported on November 6, 2020.  There is no indication of disease spread within the school.  In addition, all areas of the school have been throughly cleaned.

Our team is working closely with the Pacific County Health Department and we have identified and informed those at school who might have had close contact with the individuals who tested positive for COVID-19. Anyone identified as a close contact will receive notification with information on required actions and support resources. If you did not receive additional notification, then your child was not identified as a close contact and their risk of infection is low. 

The Pacific County Health Department provided a parent information video (that can be accessed here) detailing the protocols for school related cases.  

Symptoms of COVID-19

While your child may not be identified as a close contact of the positive individual, we encourage you to watch for any symptoms of COVID-19 in your child. Those symptoms can include any of the following and may appear two to 14 days after exposure:

Fever of 100.4°F / 38°C or higher        Cough        Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing

Chills        Fatigue        Muscle pain or body aches    Headache New loss of taste or smell

Sore throat        Congestion or runny nose    Nausea or vomiting        Diarrhea

Other signs of new illness that are unrelated to a preexisting condition (such as seasonal allergies)

What Should I do now? 

While many of these symptoms may be caused by other conditions such as allergies, the health department recommends seeking medical evaluation if any of these symptoms develop in the next 14 days. If your child develops symptoms please notify the school office at 360-875-6041, remain in quarantine, and reach out to your medical provider for evaluation and testing.

If your child is not identified as a close contact and has no COVID-19 symptoms, testing is not recommended and the risk of infection is low. Simply having a case of COVID-19 in the school does not require any restrictions unless your child is experiencing COVID-19 symptoms or has tested positive for COVID-19.

Based on this information, if you have specific concerns about your child or would like to keep your child home out of an abundance of caution, please contact your school office at 360-875-6041 so your child can be transitioned to remote learning.

South Bend School District is following all current public health guidance, which is outlined here: 

https://www.doh.wa.gov/Portals/1/Documents/1600/coronavirus/FallGuidanceK-12.pdf and includes: 

Closing off areas visited by the ill person(s); allowing for ventilation in these areas; cleaning and disinfecting all areas such as offices, bathrooms, common areas, shared electronic equipment (like tablets, touch screens, keyboards, remote controls) used by the ill person(s), focusing especially on frequently touched surfaces. 

The health and safety of our students, staff and entire school community is our top priority. We will continue to keep you informed about any actions required by you or measures we are implementing to protect students, staff and families. 

We again commend the Pacific County Health Department for their efforts and assistance during this time.  If you have further questions about COVID-19, consult your healthcare provider or contact the Washington State Department of Health by visiting https://www.doh.wa.gov/Emergencies/COVID19, calling the Washington State COVID-19 Assistance Hotline, 1-800-525-0127, or by calling the Pacific County Health Department at 360-875-9343.

Sincerely,

Jon Tienhaara

Superintendent

Jr. Sr. High School Health Update

School Health Update

South Bend Jr. Sr. High School

November 6, 2020

This notice is to inform that an individual at South Bend Jr. Sr. High School has tested positive for COVID-19.  This student is in the Junior/Senior High School and is in the Monday/Tuesday A Cohort. The student was last at school on Monday, November 2, 2020.

Our team is working closely with the Pacific County Health Department and we have begun to identify and inform those at school who might have had close contact with the individual who tested positive for COVID-19. Anyone identified as a close contact will receive notification with information on required actions and support resources. If you do not receive this additional notification, then your child was not identified as a close contact and their risk of infection is low. 

The Pacific County Health Department will be holding a Zoom meeting tonight, November 6, 2020, at 6:00 pm to answer any questions and detail further protocol.  You may attend this meeting at the following link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83997493293 Meeting ID: 839 9749 3293 or by calling 253.215.8782

Symptoms of COVID-19

While your child may not be identified as a close contact of the positive individual, we encourage you to watch for any symptoms of COVID-19 in your child. Those symptoms can include any of the following and may appear two to 14 days after exposure:

Fever of 100.4°F / 38°C or higher        Cough        Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing

Chills        Fatigue        Muscle pain or body aches    Headache New loss of taste or smell

Sore throat        Congestion or runny nose    Nausea or vomiting        Diarrhea

Other signs of new illness that are unrelated to a preexisting condition (such as seasonal allergies)

What Should I do now? 

While many of these symptoms may be caused by other conditions such as allergies, the health department recommends seeking medical evaluation if any of these symptoms develop in the next 14 days. If your child develops symptoms please notify the school office at 360-875-6041, remain in quarantine, and reach out to your medical provider for evaluation and testing.

If your child is not identified as a close contact and has no COVID-19 symptoms, testing is not recommended and the risk of infection is low. Simply having a case of COVID-19 in the school does not require any restrictions unless your child is experiencing COVID-19 symptoms or has tested positive for COVID-19.

Based on this information, if you have specific concerns about your child or would like to keep your child home out of an abundance of caution, please contact your school office at 360-875-6041 so your child can be transitioned to remote learning.

South Bend School District is following all current public health guidance, which is outlined here: 

https://www.doh.wa.gov/Portals/1/Documents/1600/coronavirus/FallGuidanceK-12.pdf and includes: 

Closing off areas visited by the ill person(s); allowing for ventilation in these areas; cleaning and disinfecting all areas such as offices, bathrooms, common areas, shared electronic equipment (like tablets, touch screens, keyboards, remote controls) used by the ill person(s), focusing especially on frequently touched surfaces. 

The health and safety of our students, staff and entire school community is our top priority. We will continue to keep you informed about any actions required by you or measures we are implementing to protect students, staff and families. 

We commend the Pacific County Health Department for their efforts and assistance during this time.  If you have further questions about COVID-19, consult your healthcare provider or contact the Washington State Department of Health by visiting https://www.doh.wa.gov/Emergencies/COVID19, calling the Washington State COVID-19 Assistance Hotline, 1-800-525-0127, or by calling the Pacific County Health Department at 360-875-9343.

Sincerely,

Jon Tienhaara

Superintendent

Creation of South Bend Schools Foundation

 Nov. 3, 2020

Dear South Bend School Supporter,

There is a small group currently working on establishing a “South Bend School Foundation”.  We are working with an attorney in Tacoma in conjunction with the ever-supportive Cheney Foundation at this time.  We are hopeful the foundation will be up and running by this summer.  Its goal and purpose will be to enhance the academic needs of students P-12 as well as our post graduate students in college or trade schools.

In an effort to develop a data bank of supporters to aid in Foundation news and support, we have attached a link to this letter that will allow you to provide your contact information.  

We are very excited about the establishment of this Foundation.  It will serve as a conduit for people to support South Bend kids through an easy tax-deductible manner in a variety of ways.  More news will be forthcoming as we learn more about our progress and a timetable to completion.

PLEASE CLICK HERE TO PROVIDE YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION

Thank you for your time and support!

Yours in Kids,

Mike Morris

Bunny Williams

Emma Rose

Jr. Sr. High School resuming in-person school Monday, October 12

 

September 29, 2020

Community Update

Para español, haga clic aquí.

South Bend School District received guidance from the Pacific County Health Department, Dr. Steven Krager, that Pacific County Schools can begin a phased reopening for face-to-face instruction.  

South Bend Jr. Sr. High School will reopen under a hybrid model for students grades 7-12 on Monday, October 12, 2020.

Parents please click here to let us know if your students need school bus transportation.

Mike Morris Elementary School reopened to grades K-6 on Monday, September 28.  South Bend Early Learning will be opening Monday, October 5.

School staff are now putting final details together for the safe return of 7-12 students.  We will be operating under a hybrid model, where Group A students will attend school on Mondays and Tuesdays.  Group B students will attend school on Thursdays and Fridays.  Wednesday will be a remote learning day.  The school day (Mon/Tues/Thu/Fri) will be from 8:30 am to 2:20 pm, with doors opening at 8:00 am.  Families with siblings in both elementary and jr. sr. high school will be grouped together, as will siblings in preschool.

Parents and students should remember that face coverings will be required for all students and staff members.  Students will be distanced according to health department guidelines and all other safety measures will be adhered to.  In addition, parents will be required to submit a daily health attestation for students attending in-person school.  This will be done via text message and/or email each morning.  Please contact the school office for more information. 

Parents with questions should contact the school office at 360-875-6041.  School principal Jason Nelson can also be reached at: jnelson@southbendschools.org.

All of us at South Bend Schools are excited for the return of our students!  We will be releasing more information as we continue to plan.  Thank you for your patience and please let us know if you have questions or concerns.

Go Indians!

Jon Tienhaara

Superintendent

Mike Morris Elementary resuming in-person school Monday, September 28

 

Community Update

Para español, haga clic aquí.

South Bend School District received guidance from the Pacific County Health Department, Dr. Steven Krager, that Pacific County Schools can begin a phased reopening for face-to-face instruction.  

South Bend will reopen under a hybrid model for students grades K-6 on Monday, September 28, 2020.

Parents please click here to let us know if your students need school bus transportation.

School staff are now putting final details together for the safe return of K-6 students.  We will be operating under a hybrid model, where Group A students will attend school on Mondays and Tuesdays.  Group B students will attend school on Thursdays and Fridays.  Wednesday will be a remote learning day.  The school day (Mon/Tues/Thu/Fri) will be from 8:30 am to 2:20 pm, with doors opening at 8:00 am.

Parents and students should remember that face coverings will be required for all students and staff members.  Students will be distanced according to health department guidelines and all other safety measures will be adhered to.  In addition, parents will be required to submit a daily health attestation for students attending in-person school.  This will be done via text message and/or email each morning.  More information to come.

Preschool is scheduled to begin in-person on October 5, 2020.  More information will follow.  We are hoping Jr. Sr. High students can return early to mid-October, and we await the health department recommendation for secondary in-person learning.  

Parents with questions should contact the school office at 360-875-6041.  School principal Kresta Byington can also be reached at: kbyington@southbendschools.org.

All of us at South Bend Schools are excited for the return of our students!  We will be releasing more information next week as we continue to plan.  Thank you for your patience and please let us know if you have questions or concerns.

Go Indians!

Jon Tienhaara

Superintendent

Update: School starting on September 2

 

Welcome to the 2020-2021 School Year!

South Bend School District

To All Parent, Students, Families, & Community Members-

The 2020-21 school year is now upon us and will begin next Wednesday, September 2, 2020.  I am writing this post as one final update as we get ready to start the year.  I don't have to tell you this school year is different, challenging, or unprecedented.  In fact, I think all of us are getting tired of hearing these descriptors for everything that is going on in our society.  That being said, I am thankful that we are somewhat sheltered from many of the realities being experienced by others across our state and nation.  

With that, below are several updates for us here in South Bend.

Starting school

Teachers and staff are geared up and ready to begin school remotely.  Our first three days (Sept 2, 3, 4) will be used for on-campus student/family conferences with teachers, which are now being scheduled.  If you do not have a conference appointment, please call your school office at 875-6041.  At the conference, students will receive a computer, training in logging in and accessing their virtual classroom, and will receive other materials and resources.  Finally, any remaining paperwork and/or registration can be done at this time.

Also, preschool registration is happening now.  If you need to register for preschool, contact the Early Learning Center at 875-6041.

Food service will continue and be available to all families.  We will be delivering meals to homes in September with the eventual transitioning to regional pickup locations until school resumes in-person.  More information will be coming on meal delivery soon.

Who to contact

Please feel free to contact the following people if you have any questions with regards to your student and/or their school:

Early Learning: 

Mackenzie Trotter, mtrotter@southbendschools.org; 

Amy Nelson, anelson@southbendschools.org

Mike Morris Elementary: 

Tammy McDougall, tmcdougall@southbendschools.org

Kresta Byington, kbyington@southbendschools.org

Jr. Sr. High School:

Susie Williams, swilliams@southbendschools.org

Theresa Mee, tmee@southbendschools.org

Jason Nelson, jnelson@southbendschools.org

Jon Schray, jschray@southbendschools.org

When will students be back on campus?

We are maintaining regular contact with the Pacific County Health Department in monitoring COVID-19 cases in our county.  We are hoping the new case count will continue to drop and will allow us to resume an in-person hybrid model in October.  This is our intent and we are making plans now for the safe return of students.  You can expect regular updates as we learn more in the coming weeks.

Medical care available to all South Bend students

In an attempt to help families access medical care for their students, South Bend School District has partnered with Hazel Health to provide telemedicine accessible from your home.  This is accessible to all South Bend students, regardless of income.  Details can be found here.  Through this program, most all urgent care needs, prescriptions, and other follow-up type medical services can be provided virtually from your home.  Hazel bills both private insurance and Medicaid, with zero copays.  Financial assistance is available to any student not covered by health insurance.  Please contact your school office for questions.

Mike Morris Elementary School

Our new elementary school is basically complete.  Teachers are moving in to their classrooms and our offices are up and running.  Phase 2 is just about to begin, which will include a new parking lot and play field.  We will be planning an open house soon.  Below are just a few pictures.

Parking

As you can imagine, parking is still a challenge due to our construction.  When you need to park, please park on First Street, or in one of our parking lots.  There is no parking available behind the high school.  Access to the elementary school can be found just east of the school library.  Please follow the sidewalk back to the new school.  

In conclusion, we all look forward to serving our students and we will do everything possible to ensure student education is the best it can be.  If you have any questions, concerns, or ideas, please feel free to contact me at 875-6041 or jtienhaa@southbendschools.org.   

Go Indians!

Jon Tienhaara

Superintendent

Planning for Fall: Update #4

Community Update

August 3, 2020

To all South Bend Parents, Students, and Community Members-

This last week Pacific County superintendents received an advisement from Dr. Krager of the Pacific County Health Department.  In this letter he states:  

"We all want our children to go back to school, as the benefits for students and families are obvious. However, with the current disease burden in Pacific County we recommend that school districts in the county start the school year with distance learning and then re-evaluate the conditions monthly."  

Over the last two weeks many school districts across the state announced they will begin the school year remotely due to COVID-19, and more districts continue to announce these intentions.  Due to Dr. Krager's recommendation, we believe our safest option at this point is to start September with remote learning, which will be considered by our Board next week.  

Our principals continue to work with teachers and staff in planning for remote learning, and we will have detailed plans to release to parents toward the end of this week or early next.  Much of our planning stems from lessons learned this past Spring, and include:

1. Structured daily and weekly schedules with students having the opportunity to see their teachers each day; 

2.  A standardized Google Classroom for each grade;

3.  Live teacher instruction that will be recorded and also available for students and parents outside of normal school hours;  

4.  Live help sessions for extra student support.

5.  Provision of special education services.   

In addition, daily student attendance will be taken and typical class expectations will be followed. The elementary grades will focus on reading, writing, and math with other subjects integrated appropriately.  We are looking at a model where the junior/senior high will be focusing on just three subjects per day, rather than six, allowing for a more focused learning approach and faster earning of credits.

Another component we are looking at is a student/teacher conference (in person) the first one to two weeks of school, where students and parents will have the opportunity to meet their teachers, receive technology and materials, and get a feel for what will be expected.  

Our goal and intent is to seamlessly transition from the remote model to our onsite face-to-face model when we are able.  As such, we are also planning our on campus model so that we can return as soon as we can safely do so.  More information on returning face-to-face is forthcoming.

I want to thank our parents, students, staff and community for continued patience.  We are working as hard as we can and continue to adapt to very fluid circumstances.  If you have any questions, please feel free to call me at 875.6041 or email at jtienhaa@southbendschools.org.

Sincerely,

Jon Tienhaara
Superintendent

Planning for Fall: Update #2

Community Update

July 6, 2020

To all South Bend Parents, Students, and Community Members-

I want to update you on our planning progress for reopening school this Fall.  Since my last update in mid-June, we have been working to better understand the school requirements as put out by the Governor's Office, OSPI, and the Health Department.  School administrators and staff have been working with these requirements in mind, as well as the parent feedback data that continues to come in through our June 23 survey.  We are also collaborating with the Pacific County Health Department and other Pacific County school districts through a weekly "reopening schools" workgroup.

Though no plans have been finalized, I want to share some of the things we know as of today.  Again, I share these with the intention of being transparent and open about our planning.

What we know

At this point, we know the Governor and State Health Department is requiring all students and staff members be socially distanced while in our school buildings, and they must also wear a facial covering.  These two requirements alone will result in our face-to-face school looking different, primarily because we do not have the physical space or staff to distance all our students at the same time.  As a result, schools across the region and state are considering different face-to-face options.  In South Bend, one of the options being considered is an am/pm (two student "shifts") face-to-face instructional model four days per week, where the fifth day would be a staff planning/student-focus day. Another option would be an A/B every other day, face-to-face instructional model for four days a week, with the fifth day being a staff planning/student-focus day.  

The input we received through our survey includes parents not wanting their students to have to be in masks for long periods of time, as well as a desire for more consistent face-to-face instruction from our teachers.  This input is directing our consideration toward the four-day, am/pm instructional model.  Essentially, students in this model would attend school onsite for a 3.5 hour shift (either morning or afternoon), four days per week.  The other half of the day where students are not onsite at school would be for structured learning at home.  The fifth day of the week would be structured learning at home, and/or needed student focus time at school for specialized services.  With the am/pm model, students would not have to be in a mask for full days at a time, and they would get to see their teachers four days per week, as opposed to two days per week.  Finally, students coming to school four days per week, even if just for half a day, will help us better provide special education services, mental health services, and more effective instruction and learning for all.  Again, this model has not been finalized, but we are vetting the model as a strong possibility.  It is still possible we will have to use a different model, especially if health conditions change in our area.

Other planning underway

We realize that some parents may not be ready to send their children back to school in the Fall.  If parents choose not to send their children to our face-to-face school program, we are planning to offer a fully remote school model as well as assistance for parents intending to homeschool.  Whichever decision parents make for their children, we desire to offer supports as much as possible.  Please feel free to reach out to us if you have questions.

Finally, thank you for your continued patience.  Schools have never had to conduct planning like this, and we have never been impacted by these current circumstances facing a new school year.  Our staff are all working hard to develop a school model that meets the needs of our students, protects the health and safety of everyone in our buildings, and continues to deliver quality learning.  

In my next update, I will share on our continued planning with regards to above, as well as planning for school bus transportation, food service, and planned preventative measures for face-to-face interactions in our school buildings.

Please feel free to contact me directly for any questions, ideas, or concerns, at jtienhaa@southbendschools.org, or 875-6041.

Jon Tienhaara

Superintendent     

Planning for Fall

Community Update

June 22, 2020

This is the first of a series of regular community updates pertaining to the reopening of school in September for the 2020-2021 school year.  All of us at South Bend School District have missed our students, and we cannot wait to see them again in our schools and classrooms.  We are working very hard to ensure our reopening plan is safe, efficient, and meets the needs of all families, students, and staff, while complying with health requirements.

Principals are meeting with teachers this week to begin formulating our plan of face-to-face instruction for next school year.  In addition, they will plan for distance learning should we be forced to close school at some point during the year.

Last week, building administrators and I met to study the recently released rules and guidance for the reopening of school.  We discussed essentially three areas to plan around, with the understanding that some areas can overlap and expand, and potentially change as the summer progresses.  These areas include:  health & safety, instruction, and communication. 

Health & Safety

In conjunction with health department staff, we will be developing health and safety protocols to be followed on campus.  These will align with the required Health Department, Labor & Industries, and other regulations, all of which will be approved locally by our county jurisdiction.  I have a meeting June 29 with Pacific County Health Department and other county school district superintendents to begin work on developing some of these protocols.  The protocols will cover everything from transportation, school building/classroom processes, food service, and other related school logistics.  

Instruction

We have to assume the state will require adherence to strict health guidelines and safety measures for Fall.  Principals are working with teachers to develop a face-to-face, blended instructional program that conforms to health and safety protocols, as well as a distance learning plan should we be forced to again close our buildings. Another part of this work includes identifying core learning standards that depend most on face-to-face instruction, as well as the essential standards to be taught within next school year.  

Communication

We desire parent input as we plan, and communication is key as we keep parents, students and community members informed.  Parents will have a voice as we develop our reopening plan, and we will be very transparent with parents and our community as planning unfolds.  Part of this includes a survey on parent perception of school during these last several months, as well as an opportunity for parents to express input on school reopening this fall.  

As our first week of planning begins and as we continue to plan during these next several weeks, I will provide regular updates.  Thank you for your patience as we continue to navigate these times.  If at any time you have questions, concerns, or ideas, please do not hesitate to contact me directly at: 360-875-6041 or at jtienhaa@southbendschools.org.

Thank you,

Jon Tienhaara

Superintendent

Community Update

Update for Parents, Students, & Community Stakeholders

June 12, 2020

The Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) released the Reopening Washington's Schools District Planning Guide yesterday, June 11, 2020.  This document provides Washington school districts the required guidance and rules to be followed as school reopening plans are implemented this fall.  These requirements come from OSPI, the Washington Department of Health, and the Governor's Office, informed by a workgroup of statewide education stakeholders.

All of us at South Bend School District desire to have our students back.  We do not desire to see our schools closed as we experienced these last four months.  Though school closure is a direct result of state directives from the governor's office intended to keep students safe, we are hopeful we can develop safe, acceptable plans that allow us to open this fall.  Please understand that our plans must be approved by the health department and align with state guidelines.

South Bend School District administrators and staff are currently in the process of reviewing the OSPI planning guide and will be working with teachers, staff, and school stakeholders to create a school plan for each of the governor's Safe Start Phases, including contingency plans to implement mid-year should we be required to respond to specific health concerns.  

 As we plan, the following will be at the center of our efforts:

1.  Student and staff safety will be the priority.  We are working with the Pacific County Health Department in conjunction with other county school districts to help ensure school planning and implementation conforms to required health guidelines.  I am hopeful this group will also bring consistency between South Bend and neighboring school districts.

2.  Student learning, health, and well-being will continue to be our mission.  Decisions and actions will be centered on what is best for all students.  

3.  We will support staff and provide what is needed to meet instructional requirements.  We are committed to providing the materials, training and support that is needed to help with new modes of instruction, and we will make intentional, informed decisions to be sure our educational programs are the best possible. 

Please know that as we receive further instructions from OSPI and the health department, we will adjust our plans accordingly and communicate needed changes.  We will also adapt our plans as we develop more effective means and efficiencies.  We recognize and acknowledge that parents, families, students, community members, and school staff have both individual and shared concerns and viewpoints with regards to the covid-19 pandemic.  Though there may be differences in some of these concerns and viewpoints, we all share the important commonality of desiring the best possible outcomes for our students.  I encourage all to engage with us as we approach the 2020-2021 school year, and communicate any questions, ideas, or concerns.  

Please feel free to contact me directly at jtienhaa@southbendschools.org, or at 875-6041 with any questions.  Thank you for your patience as we continue to work in these times.

Jon Tienhaara

Superintendent

  

Elementary Teacher Opening

South Bend School District is seeking applicants for a 3rd grade teacher.  The position will begin the 2020-21 school year.  

Qualified applicants should contact Superintendent Jon Tienhaara for application instructions. Please email to: jtienhaa@southbendschools.org

Position closes June 19, 2020 at 2:00 pm

School Update

To all South Bend Students, Families, & Community Members-

Today at a special press conference, Governor Jay Inslee announced his decision to extend the school closure mandate through the rest of this school year.  We will not be coming back to school like we had hoped.  Though I think many of us nervously anticipated this possibility, the actuality of this decision is unprecedented in our school district and in this state.  Washington now follows suit with about a dozen other states, with more to come in the next few days to weeks as our nation copes with the covid-19 pandemic.

This news is difficult and tough for us to comprehend, but also devastating to so many of our students.  From the younger kiddos who can't fully comprehend the reasons as to why they can't see their friends and teachers they love, to the older students who have had to miss out on athletics, school activities, and the many other social aspects at school, to our seniors who are facing the harsh reality of a senior year that is everything but typical.  There is no easy way to explain any of this, but I think we all have both unique and shared struggles in dealing with the fallout of this school year closure.

I expect everyone to have questions, and we will do our best to provide answers as we navigate forward.  The good thing is that our principals, teachers, and staff have done a tremendous amount of work to get us to a solid point in being able to continue an academic program.  Though it may not be perfect and there are some individual challenges, we have a good base on which to continue to improve. Our school staff is working tirelessly to stay connected to our students, to continue education, to provide needed access to food, and we will not stop--we will only get better and more efficient.

Finally, thank you for your continued patience.  We are doing our best under tough circumstances.  We do not expect perfection from our students and we all realize the challenges families are facing as they try to maintain some level of normality in these abnormal times.  Please know that we are here for you, and we will continue to do our very best work to meet the needs of our students.  I expect to have more information available for students, families, and community members within the next day and coming week.  Please stay tuned and stay safe.

Jon Tienhaara
Superintendent

Elementary K-6 academic program

To All South Bend Parents and Community Members:

Earlier this week I released an update on how our grades 7-12 academic program has continued to evolve during the statewide school closure.  That update can be found here.  This update provides information on our current elementary academic program.

In addition to the resources available on our school website (click here) elementary teachers are checking in with families and students each week by mail, phone, and email.  In addition, most teachers have class pages on Facebook where they provide daily videos, resources, and other communications for both parents and students.

Teachers are providing weekly learning packets for students.  These are being delivered by our school buses during meal service, are available in the school office, and can also be mailed to homes.  If you are not receiving these, please feel free to email your teacher and/or contact the school at 360-875-6041.

Teachers are also monitoring online learning programs available at our website (link above) and are providing guidance and feedback on returned learning packets.  They are available each school day via email for assistance, and all of our teachers love hearing from their students! 

As I am sure you can imagine, educating elementary students at a distance can be a challenge and can take some getting used to, especially for the younger students.  The good thing is that our teachers and principal are dedicated to helping our families and students during these times, and strive to stay connected as much as possible.  Parents can help by utilizing the resources teachers are providing, and by maintaining communication with their teacher.

Please be sure to connect with your teacher!  If you have questions, you can also reach out to principal Kresta Byington at byington@southbendschools.org and school secretary Tammy McDougall at tmcdougall@southbendschools.org.

Junior-Senior High School curriculum & instruction changes

To All South Bend Students, Families, & Community Members:

I want to provide an update on our academic program as it continues to evolve during this statewide school closure.  Though we still hope to come back to school on April 27, 2020, schools are being asked by the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) to ensure instruction and learning meets specific standards, and to further our planning in the event the school closure extends beyond April 27.  To that end, South Bend administrators and teachers are working to build upon our initial education program to not only continue meaningful instruction and opportunities for student growth, but to meet the potential needs necessitated from an extended school closure.

I want to recognize and thank our incredible South Bend Staff for their hard work, continued ability to adapt to change, and their unending care for our students.  South Bend continues to be, "A great place for kids."

A change in instructional delivery

Our school program will look different depending on the age of students.  This update focuses on junior and senior high students, grades 7-12.  An update focusing on elementary grades is forthcoming.

Beginning Monday, March 30, Principal Jason Nelson and South Bend Jr. Sr. High School teachers and staff will be implementing an online academic program through Apex Learning (for most classes).  South Bend has used Apex Learning for the last 10 years for both credit recovery and supplemental instruction.  The program is delivered via the Internet, and will be specific to each student.  Teachers will be overseeing student learning, providing instructional assistance, and maintaining student accountability.  Student participation is required and will be directly linked to earned credits and grades.

The Apex program will provide core subject content (math/English Language Arts/science/social studies/etc.), and class elective content will be provided separately by our elective teachers.

A few things to note:

1.  Information about these changes was emailed to all students, and a robocall was sent to all parents;

2.  Students will be emailed their individual Apex login information;

3.  Teachers are available to students, Monday-Thursday from 8:00 am to 3:00 pm;

4.  Student participation is required.  Students who have challenges with Internet access or technology should contact their advisory teacher, or email Principal Nelson to arrange assistance.

Thank you for your continued patience

We expect there will be both benefits and challenges to this learning platform, and we will adapt to these as we move forward.  Thank you for your patience as we attempt to provide continued learning under unprecedented circumstances.

Please feel free to reach out to your student's teacher or to anyone below for more specific questions or assistance:

Principal, Jason Nelson:  jnelson@southbendschools.org

Assistant Principal, Jon Schray: jschray@southbendschools.org

Counselor, Adrianne Lynch: alynch@southbendschools.org

Secretary, Susie Williams:  swilliams@southbendschools.org

Secretary, Theresa Mee: tmee@southbendschools.org

Teacher Librarian, Lori Dearmore: ldearmore@southbendschools.org

Alternative Learning Teacher, Dan Raymond: draymond@southbendschools.org

Update-March 17, 2020

To All Parents, Families, & Students-
UPDATED 03/17/2020  12:20 PM

As promised, this update includes the latest information on our educational programs, food service plans, and limited child care plans.  Again, thank you for your patience as we continue to navigate these circumstances.

First, I want recognize and thank all of our staff for the amazing work they have done these last several days.  Staff at all levels of the district have pulled together and made incredible progress in preparing for this state-wide school closure.

Educational Programs

Our educational programs can be found on our district website: http://southbendschools.org, where you will find: Preschool Instructional Resources, Elementary Instructional Resources, Jr. Sr. High Instructional Resources, and resources for our 12th grade Seniors.  It is our intent to maintain consistent teacher communication between students as best possible, in order to ensure students get any help and assistance they need.  Our teachers are available on a daily basis, and will be reaching out to students and families as needed.  Please encourage your children to remain active in their learning, and to focus daily on specific tasks.  Also, please follow health department guidance and prevent exposure by limiting unnecessary student-to-student contact outside the home.

Food Service

We have been gearing up since last Friday to organize food service.  Food service will be delivered to student homes according to this schedule, and will begin tomorrow, March 18, 2020. For anyone desiring to pick up food from the school it will be available every day Monday-Friday from 7:30 AM to 10:00 AM.  Food will consist of a breakfast and a lunch in each delivered sack.  Please call 875-5000 for questions about delivery.

Childcare

We are working on a limited childcare program for emergency providers and healthcare workers.  We hope to begin this service on Monday, March 23, 2020.  We are working now to determine the number of children we can accomodate.  We will publish more information as planning continues.

Building Closures

Our school campus is now closed to the public, and school office phones will not be monitored.  If you need to contact the school, building office staff will be working remotely, and can be accessed at the following email addresses during normal school hours:

Jr. Sr. High School

Susie Williams, swilliams@southbendschools.org

Theresa Mee, tmee@southbendschools.org

Elementary School

Tammy McDougall, tmcdougall@southbendschools.org

Early Learning

Mackenzie Trotter, mtrotter@southbendschools.org

Thank you again for your patience as we implement these services and resources.  Conditions are changing on a daily basis and we will continue to update you as more information becomes available.

Finally, please take care, and I encourage you to follow the instructions of our health professionals and government.  If anyone needs help or assistance concerning student education and/or health, please contact us and let us know so that we can offer resources.  

Update--March 16, 2020

To All South Bend Parents, Families, & Students:

Thank you for your continued patience as we navigate the state required school closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  As you can imagine, school staff are working hard to finalize plans for a continued, but different, educational program while schools are closed. 

Today, administrators and teacher leaders met to develop an educational program for all grade levels.  These programs will be shared tomorrow, March 17, 2020.  In addition, food service and transportation staff have been working to structure food service preparation and delivery, which will begin on Wednesday of this week, March 18, 2020.  Finally, we are structuring a program for child care to be available for all emergency responder and health care agencies.  More information on this will also be available tomorrow.

Please understand that our situation is very fluid and is changing as we receive more information and guidance from our government officials.  We will communicate changes as necessary.

Emergency Update

To all South Bend Families, Students, and Community Members-

Today at 1:30 PM, Governor Inslee issued an executive order that closes all public and private K-12 schools in the State of Washington.  Though his order is effective beginning Tuesday, March 17, South Bend Schools will close after students are dismissed today (Friday, March 13, 2020).  The Governor's order closes schools until Friday, April 24, 2020.

I know all of you have many questions, and we are doing our best under these fast-changing circumstances to provide answers.  Please see below for some initial information:

1.  School will not be in session starting Monday, March 16, 2020.  This closure will remain until April 24, 2020 (unless informed otherwise).

2.  District administration and teacher leaders will be meeting to consider what educational programs we will be able to provide via remote/distance means.  More information to come.

3.  The District intends to offer continued food service, most likely similar to our Summer Food program.  More information to come.

4.  All athletics are suspended.

5.  We are looking at logistics for providing daycare services to emergency responders and healthcare staff.

Finally, you can expect regular updates from me.  I will communicate via our district website, the South Bend School App, social media, and via our automated calling system.  Thank you for your patience as we navigate these unprecedented times.

Jon Tienhaara
Superintendent

Health Update

This update is to inform families, students and community members on the status of the COVID-19 situation as it currently stands in the South Bend School District.  As you may have heard, there are increasing cases of this virus in neighboring counties.  This has caused us to take certain actions to help keep everyone safe and healthy within our schools.  These actions include increased cleaning of school spaces and buses, educating students and staff on proper personal hygiene and self care, and contingency planning in the event of a directed school closure.

We continue to monitor the situation in our community and county, and we have regular contact with the Pacific County Health Department and other public safety agencies.  We will continue to provide information as the situation evolves.  

After school events are being considered on a case-by-case basis with regards to postponement or cancellation.  We will be utilizing the South Bend School District 118 App, our website, and our automated calling system to communicate any changes to our planned events.

Please understand that this is a fluid situation and we will respond to changing circumstances and developments as they present themselves.