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