Update 1.29.21 Phase Two!

 Lewis County Metrics

The state no longer reports metrics by county. The "Healthy Washington" reopening plan places our county into the "West" region along with Thurston, Gray's Harbor and Pacific counties. The metrics chart will look different as a result.

Since the West and Puget Sound regions have attained 3 out of 4 of the target metrics, the Governor moved us to phase 2 on 1/28/21. While it isn't all four goal metrics as we initially understood, we're not complaining since it means that athletic contests will be allowed in our region and restaurants and other businesses can begin to operate more regularly. We aren't out of the woods yet and a return to phase 1 is possible if our metrics go the other way, so continue to mask up, wash your hands and stay away from each other. Thank you Lewis County for turning the tide.

THS Return

On Monday, we will welcome all of our high school students back to the high school for regular schedule Monday-Thursday. Classes will begin at 9:25 and will occupy the new classroom space and locker rooms. We are so excited to begin to use the facilities that the community has funded. Students who have toured the space walk around with big grins and say they'll have trouble going to classes in the old part of the building now.

We anticipate that the administration hall, commons, kitchen, science labs and CTE wing will be ready for occupancy by April. The project will be completed in time for school to start in September.

Athletics

Now that we're in phase 2, our athletic season can have contests and not just practices. Cross Country, Girls Soccer, Volleyball and Football will all begin their seasons on Monday 2/1. Each contest is limited to a total of 200 people (outdoors) or 25% capacity (indoors). This includes all players, coaches, officials, workers, scorers, supervisors, band, cheer and spectators. For football, this means that there will likely only be room for 50 spectators. For this reason, the league is limiting spectators to home fans only. We plan to issue special tickets to the athletes for them to distribute for each contest. Senior athletes will be given priority for tickets. All those attending contests will turn in a ticket which will be their attestation that they are symptom free. Everyone will also be temperature checked upon entry and required to wear a mask at all times. Seating will be  by household and separate from others. 

Schedules are below. While these are the most current, everyone should remain vigilant for changes.

For up-to-date information, stay tuned to our website. www.toledoschools.us

School Hours

In order to keep route times below 1 hour and also to keep riders spread out on the bus, we instituted a two-tiered system for schools this year. The elementary gets the first route and starts school at 8:25. TMS and THS have the second route and they begin at 9:25. Beyond needing to do this for health safety, we, like all districts in the country, have a shortage of school bus drivers. At this time, we estimate it would take an additional 3 drivers to allow us to return to an 8:25 start time for all schools. 

This creates difficulties for families and students alike. High school students with after school jobs have their hours reduced. Athletics practices go later and cut into family and homework time. Younger siblings arrive home earlier than older siblings creating a childcare gap. 

We've recently heard from our high school students that they would prefer to start school at 7:25. We are in the process of analyzing the impacts of that change. We are also interested in hearing from parents regarding your opinions.

Finally, if you or someone you know is interested in driving a school bus, we would love to talk with them. School bus drivers need to be patient and calm and very safety conscious. They need good humor and attention to detail. Drivers start at $20.69/hr and are eligible for healthcare benefits and to contribute to the state retirement program. Drivers work about 20 hours per week. Toledo SD is a great place to work and driving is a way for retirees to augment their pension. Give us a call!

Weekly Update 1.22.21

 Lewis County Metrics

The new Healthy Washington plan places our region (Lewis, Gray's Harbor, Pacific and Thurston counties) in phase 1. To move to phase 2, the region must meet four metrics. At this point, our region does not meet any of those metrics. Current case rates remain high as does percent positive testing. Hospitalization numbers are promising as are acute care bed metrics. At this point though, TSD is staying with our current plans and protocols until numbers improve.

Reopening Plans

The table below shows how we are delivering instruction to students in our district. In February, we will bring all high school students back to the building for in-person instruction on a daily basis Monday through Thursday. Fridays will remain a remote learning day for all students to allow teachers to prepare remote lessons for those students continuing full remote learning and to allow our custodial staff to do thorough cleaning and disinfecting of the buildings.

Over the course of this month, we've noticed that more students who have been learning remotely are choosing to return to in-person instruction. We've also welcomed back some students who had enrolled with other online learning programs. 

Athletics

We are grateful that the state and WIAA have allowed us to start athletic practices again. Most sports are practicing now and season 1 (football, cross-country, volleyball and girls soccer) will begin  preparing in case we're allowed to have contests (phase 2 only). Even if we're not able to have contests, being able to come together for athletic activity is an important improvement for our students. Being able to exercise and work on skills improves mood and outlook and provides many of our kids with hope that we'll be returning to regular order.

When we're able to have contests, we will be limiting spectators to home fans only and a very limited number. We are only allowed to have a maximum of 200 people at the event. This includes all players, coaches, officials, scorekeepers, media, band and cheer. We predict that there will be as few as 30 tickets available to fans for any given home game. In order to allow everyone who wants to to watch, we will be live streaming our games.

THS Associated Student Body has chosen to waive all fees for athletics this year. As a result, there will be no charge for ASB cards, no athletic fees and no admission fees for any games this year. It is our hope that this will encourage more students to participate and more families to watch games- even if it is from home.

Weekly Update 1.15.21

 Lewis County Metrics

Case rates took a turn for the better this week. We're still well above what is necessary to move to phase 2 of the Healthy Washington plan, but this is the right trajectory.

Reopening Update

Cowlitz Prairie Academy continues to serve more students in the way that they have been since September with no reported COVID+ cases or close contacts. TES serves all students on a half-day in-person/half-day remote system. There have been three COVID+ cases reported and four close contacts. TMS is serving all students on an alternate day format. There have been three COVID+ cases and 11 close contacts. There have been no cases of COVID transmission in any of our school buildings. 

THS has been serving the Class of 2021 in the old classroom wing. On February 1, we'll bring all THS students back to the building and begin instruction in the new classrooms. All students will attend Monday through Thursday with Fridays as a remote learning day for all. There have been no COVID+ cases or close contacts at THS.

Our thanks go out to the families who have kept sick children home and who have cooperated with quarantine restrictions. By not having any transmission in our schools, we are able to continue operating in-person.

Athletics

The Department of Health, the Governor's Office, and WIAA have issued new athletic regulations for practice and contests. Season 1 will begin on February 1 and end on March 15. Indoor and outdoor practicing can begin immediately for all sports until Feb 1. On that day, only Football, Volleyball, Girls Soccer and Cross Country will be able to continue practicing and competing. We will be using all of our athletic venues beginning today. There are restrictions on what we can do, but the good news is that all of our athletes can start playing. For questions, contact Grady Fallon at THS. The most recent WIAA guidance is here.