White Center Now: The blog about White Center

Highline Public Schools has announced that the 2020-2021 school year will start without in-person classes:

Highline Superintendent Susan Enfield announced today that Highline schools would begin the school year with distance learning, where students in all grades will learn from home. The district had been planning for in-person instruction on alternating days to allow for social distancing.

“I have been fiercely hoping to have our students back in our schools this fall,” said Superintendent Enfield. “But after reviewing all the data and feedback, and as the person who ultimately bears responsibility for the health and safety of our students and staff in our schools, I cannot in good conscience open schools for in-person instruction in September,”

In a survey of all employees, over 35 percent of staff reported they are in a high-risk group for COVID infection, and nearly 29 percent of teachers say they live with or care for someone who is at high risk.

This announcement comes on the same day as five other south King County districts announced similar plans.

Countries that have successfully reopened schools in-person have done so with declining infection rates. COVID-19 cases are rising in King County, and over half of all new cases are among people ages 20-39 according to Public Health – Seattle & King County.

When infection rates decrease, the district plans to move into a hybrid model. Families will have the option to continue distance learning, with students remaining with their teachers and classmates while learning from home, or choose in-person instruction two to four days a week, depending on grade level and special needs.

For more information, visit highlineschools.org/coronavirus.

Neighboring Seattle Public Schools made the same announcement today.

Starting at 11 this (Sunday 6/14) morning, Highline Public Schools will stream the Evergreen High School Class of 2020 graduation celebration here:

As announced by the district:

Congratulations to the Evergreen High School Class of 2020. Our seniors have worked hard, and they deserve to be celebrated. Although a traditional graduation ceremony is not possible due to the pandemic, we have a creative way to celebrate commencement.

Seniors and families will be scheduled to rotate through a drive-through graduation ceremony at Evergreen High School on Sunday, June 14. Wearing their cap and gown, each student will receive their diploma cover, get a professional photo taken, and be cheered on by teachers and staff with appropriate social distancing. Students will also receive senior awards, yearbook, graduation programs and Class of 2020 memorabilia.

It will be different than a traditional commencement with the whole class together. However, everyone will have a chance to be honored in front of their families, see the teachers who have supported them, and be at their school one last time.

Location: Evergreen Parking Lot
Address: 830 SW 116th St.
Date: Sunday, June 14
Time: 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Full details for grads and their families are here.

Now that Gov. Jay Inslee has announced all K-12 schools in King, Pierce, and Snohomish Counties must close no later than Tuesday, Highline Public Schools are closing too. Here’s the announcement:

We have kept our schools open as long as possible, as recommended by state and local public health authorities. We know that in addition to education, schools provide vital support to our communities and that closure will have a major impact on our families.

At 2:00 p.m. today, Governor Inslee issued an executive order closing all schools in King, Pierce and Snohomish counties until at least April 24. All Highline schools will close to students, effective Monday, March 16.

Today, Thursday, March 12 is the last day of school, including athletics, activities and clubs. Friday, March 13 is a non-student day as normally scheduled. School offices will remain open through Friday, March 20 so families can pick up their student’s medication and other personal items.

We understand that extended school closure will create hardship for many families. The school day is the centerpiece of the lives of many people. Children count on the reliable routine that a school day offers, from the classroom setting to the many people at school who know them, care for them and provide recognition of them five days a week.

Families, too, count on that routine and the knowledge that their children are cared for during the day. It allows them to tend to their workday or focus on the other pieces of life that need to be taken care of–and there are many.

Contemplating weeks without that structure and care may seem overwhelming. Please know that we are doing our very best to make decisions that will help care for all of us through this time.

Meals for Students

Meals will be available to all students under the age of 18 starting this Monday. Locations for Monday are as follows:

Glacier Middle School | 12:00-12:30 p.m. | 2450 South 142nd Street, SeaTac
Central Office | 12:00-12:30 p.m. | 15676 Ambaum Blvd SW, Burien
White Center Heights Elementary | 12:30-1:00 p.m. | 10015 6th Ave SW, Seattle

More locations will be added

No forms or registration are required. Students can drop by to pick up a meal.

Over the next few days, we will communicate additional meal locations, as well as our plan to support families in the following ways:

Providing learning support materials online, via email and hard copy. These are not meant to be a substitute for classroom instruction but will help students practice their skills and learn independently during the closure.

Providing child care for our families who need to continue working during our closure.

Providing support to our 12th-grade students to ensure they complete graduation requirements.

We will be sending frequent updates with information and resources via email, text messages, the website and social media channels.

We are so grateful for your patience and understanding as we continue to work through this difficult situation. We will get through this challenge together. We are Highline.

Now that Seattle Public Schools has decided to close for at least two weeks, you might be wondering if Highline Public Schools will do the same. No decision yet, according to the district website:

This is the first of several communications over the coming days based on the rapidly evolving coronavirus situation.

This morning, Governor Inslee and Public Health Seattle & King County asked school districts in King, Pierce and Snohomish counties to prepare for potential school closures that could last weeks or months. We are anticipating an order to close in the coming days.

We know this raises all kinds of questions and implications including childcare needs for our staff and families, school meals, graduation, and much more. We are working on plans to address a range of impacts, and we will be in constant communication as we work through these issues.

Superintendent Susan Enfield says, “The coronavirus outbreak is an unprecedented regional crisis. It will take all of us working together to get through it–and we will get through it.”

Like most districts in the region, classes continue at Highline Public Schools. But some changes are taking effect next week. From the district’s newest update:

The health and safety of our students and staff is paramount, and we are closely monitoring the spread of COVID-19.

We have no known cases of COVID-19 among students or staff in Highline.

As Coronavirus continues to affect our region, we want to reassure you that the safety of our students and staff is our top priority. Public Health Seattle & King County is not currently recommending that schools proactively close unless they have a confirmed case of COVID-19 in a staff member or student.

Public Health has shared this rationale:

-Children are not known to get seriously ill from COVID-19

-Closing schools may not be effective because some children may congregate anyway at other locations

-Many parents, such as healthcare workers, need to be at work. If these critical workers stay home with children it causes significant impacts on the healthcare system and other institutions that are essential for our community to function

-If schools close, some children might have to stay home with alternative caregivers, such as elders, who are more vulnerable

-We don’t know how effective children are in spreading this disease

-Learn more about how Public Health makes this decision.

MARCH 6, 2020

All school cleaning: This weekend, all schools will get extra cleaning and disinfection. Surfaces not covered with papers, books and other materials will be wiped down with Clorox hydrogen peroxide wipes.

Field trips: We are suspending all school day and overnight field trips, including Camp Waskowitz, starting Monday, March 9 through Friday, March 20.

School events & athletics: All school events and athletics after 5:00 p.m. are canceled, with the exception of school conferences, to allow custodial staff time to thoroughly clean schools. This is based on Public Health recommendations to postpone events that bring together large groups of people. After-school activities sponsored by schools or partner organizations must conclude by 5:00 p.m. These restrictions on events and activities will be in effect Monday, March 9 through March 20.

Make-up school work: If your child is absent from school due to illness or safety concerns, your child’s teacher will provide assignments and opportunities for learning.

Remote learning: If Public Health advises us to close schools, we will not offer remote learning options. This decision is rooted in our commitment to equity and ensuring all students have an equal chance at success.

Thanks to the White Center Heights Elementary community member who forwarded this:

We have learned that a staff member who has been out ill this week has symptoms that may be related to Coronavirus. The individual is staying home and being monitored by a doctor. The doctor has not recommended a COVID-19 test at this time.

We are treating this with an abundance of caution. White Center Heights will get a deep cleaning this evening. School will be open tomorrow. We will continue to monitor this situation.

For more information about Coronavirus, please visit our website or call the district Health Services office at 206-631-3011.

The snow moved further south this time. So we have:

(updated 7:48 am) HIGHLINE PUBLIC SCHOOLS: Now *closed* today

HOLY FAMILY: 2-hour delay

In Burien:

(updated 7 am) KENNEDY CATHOLIC HS: Now *closed* today

Got a change? Text/voice 206-293-6302 – thank you!

The expected snow had uneven effects on our region, to say the least. But just in case you’re wondering:

*Highline Public Schools, opening on time, no changes
*Holy Family Bilingual Catholic School, opening 2 hours late

As noted in our coverage of last month’s North Highline Unincorporated Area Council meeting, a popular fundraiser is coming up this week – baked potatoes and tacos for New Start High School‘s Key Club. The Kiwanis Club of White Center is presenting the dinner at the school (614 SW 120th), 5:30-7:30 pm Thursday (January 16th), $20/person, $45/family, $10 for kids 5-12, free for kids 4 and under. Tickets will be available at the door, or email:

billnancytracy (at) aol.com
shorewoodscott (at) comcast.net
cindy.akana (at) highlineschools.org

Thanks to the person who forwarded this note sent to families, which answers a question we were asked:

Dear White Center Heights Families,

This morning we were advised to lock exterior doors and keep our students indoors while police conducted an investigation at a vacant house near the school. There was no direct threat to the school, but our district Safety and Security team made this call out of an abundance of caution.

We were advised that the situation was resolved by police shortly after 10:00 a.m.

The safety of our students is our number one priority. We take every report of a threat seriously and respond immediately.

If you have any questions or concerns, please call the office at 206-631-5200.

Sincerely,

Shajaira Lopez & Marcello Sgambelluri
Co-Principals

It’s a start! From Highline Public Schools:

Bassetti Architects kicked off the design process with the Evergreen High School building design committee on November 21.

This small working committee of staff, students and community members dug in deep to brainstorm what their school of the future will be like. They began by focusing on how a new school building could support student strengths and needs, guided by Highline’s bold goals for students.

NEXT STEPS

The committee and architects will tour some other new high schools in the region to gather ideas and preferences.

The small, working committee, representing staff, students and community members, will continue meeting with the architects this school year.

COMMUNITY MEETINGS

We look forward to fall 2020 community meetings to get feedback on initial schematic design work from you.

BACKGROUND

The 2016 bond pays for initial design of Evergreen and Tyee high schools and Pacific Middle School. Approval of a bond is required for their construction. Stay tuned for updates on all three design projects this year.

MORE INFORMATION

You can track progress on the Evergreen High School Design bond project information page.

Summer vacation finally starts Tuesday afternoon for Highline Public Schools students. Tomorrow is a half day.

The snow’s stopped falling but not gone yet so Highline Public Schools are closed tomorrow:

All schools are closed on Wednesday, February 13. Many roads in the north end of the district are still impassable, and buses are not able to access bus stops–even the alternate stops.

No transportation will be provided to schools outside of our district. All scheduled activities, athletic events and public meetings are canceled.

District administrative offices are open.

Closed for Tuesday, February 12th:

Highline Public Schools
Holy Family Bilingual School
West Seattle Montessori

As announced tonight:

Here’s the Wednesday plan from Highline Public Schools:

Highline Public Schools – now CLOSED for today, Tuesday, February 5th (as is Seattle):

Also closed in White Center: Holy Family Bilingual Catholic School and West Seattle Montessori.

The snow has stopped but overnight temperatures are expected to drop into the low 20s, meaning an icy morning, so Highline Public Schools are tentatively planning to open 2 hours late on Tuesday.

5:17 AM: Update – Highline Public Schools are now CLOSED for today:

Read the rest of this entry »

School-shopping for next year? Holy Family Bilingual Catholic School invites you to its open house on Sunday (January 27th), 10:30 am-2 pm, at 9615 20th SW. Their announcement:

Looking for an affordable, safe, academics- and language-focused school?

Come see what we are all about, learn about our programs and enjoy food, raffles, and fun activities with your family.