First Week of School

 Lewis County Metrics

The fifth wave of COVID has pushed cases to the highest levels ever. Here is the current data for Lewis County. DOH indicates that they are hopeful that we're seeing a plateau in the number of cases.

We are doing our part to mitigate the spread of the disease by masking at school, practicing distancing, hand hygiene, and air purifiers in all classrooms. Staff and contractors are required to be vaccinated or have medical or religious exemptions prior to October 18.

We need your help. If you or your child have any of the COVID symptoms, stay home until they resolve without medication. If you get tested, stay home until you confirm that you are negative for infection- even if you do not have symptoms. This prevents you from spreading the virus if you are infected.

Working together, we believe that we can keep our schools open to in-person instruction in spite of increased cases in the community, but it will take all of us being diligent with the tools that we have.

Sunrise, sunset

Morning and afternoon student deliveries are always difficult during the first days of school and this year was no exception. As drivers, staff, parents and students get used to new routines and schedules, plans lurch and falter until everyone hits their stride. As I was directing traffic at TES this morning a parent said, "It went too smoothly today! We need to do it again!" We send our thanks to all of the parents, grandparents and students for being on time and following new traffic patterns. Our goal is to create a safe and efficient transition for families each day.

Assessment

Our first assessment window will begin next week. We need to find out where our students are with respect to their achievement and skills so that we can begin work right away to recover from the disruption to learning. Please encourage your child to take these assessments seriously. It is our best way of meeting our mission of empowering students to achieve their goals.

Comprehensive Sexual Health Education Curriculum

Senate Bill 5395 was passed by the Legislature and Washington voters in 2020 and went into effect on December 3, 2020. It requires all public schools to provide comprehensive sexual health education by the 2022–23 school year, with some requirements beginning in the 2020-21 school year.

    Instruction must be consistent with Health Education K-12 Learning Standards, which provide a framework for comprehensive instruction and the provisions of the law. Instruction must also be age- appropriate, medically and scientifically accurate, and inclusive of all students, using language and strategies that recognize all members of protected classes.

    Toledo educators have been reviewing curriculum approved by OSPI and consistent with the law. We have included only those lessons that we believe are necessary and consistent with the sensibilities of our community. In many cases, they are topics that we have been covering with students already (particularly in the primary grades). We invite parent input to these materials prior to bringing them to the board for adoption. As with HIV/AIDS curriculum, parents may choose to opt their children out of this instruction if they choose to do so. For copies of what is proposed for each grade level, please click.

Parent and community forums will be held on Sept. 7 and 9 from 6-7 p.m. at TMS to answer questions and hear input from families.