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.