Announcements
August 11, 2020
Dear Southside School District Family,
Thank you for completing the family surveys. Your input has been very helpful. We have considered the input from our families, staff, community members, Mason County Department of Health, Center for Disease Control, decisions from neighboring districts, and from state and federal officials in both planning and making decisions. Southside District’s primary focus is on the health and safety of our students, families, and staff as we plan for reopening school. After careful consideration of numerous sources of information, the increasing COVID-19 cases in Mason County, and the clear concerns expressed by our Public Health Officer, the Southside School Board made a unanimous decision to start school with our Remote Continuous Learning 2.0 model where our students will be in 100% remote distance learning in Fall 2020.
The Remote Continuous Learning 2.0 model will be strongly focused on quality learning for all students and may include options for small group onsite instructional intervention with adherence to the Washington State Department of Health requirements. We will be providing a much improved model with increased opportunities for connections with students and families and greater levels of support. We have been given quality feedback on what worked and what did not work. We will focus on the essential standards for each grade level with a common program from which students and families can gather their assignments and communications. Connections will be coordinated so that families do not have all students trying to zoom at the same time. There will be increased requirements for student involvement and participation as well as targeted and increased communication efforts. Our goal remains to provide a successful learning experience for all of our students. The remote learning model will be in place through the first trimester or until we can safely transition our students to a hybrid or traditional face-to-face learning model.
Detailed information regarding enrollment, schedules, attendance, course completion, and grading will be provided soon. You will be receiving a letter from your child’s teacher with specific information prior to the start of school on September 1. We appreciate your patience and support as we move forward with our reopening plan and please know the heartfelt decision-making that went into selecting what we believe to be the healthiest and safest models for each member of our Southside family and community.
Sincerely, Doris Bolender
Principal/Superintendent
Southside School District
Important Information from Southside’s School Nurse for 20-21 School Year
School Nurse Parent Information Letter
Reopening Plan:
Southside Reopening Plans with Details
Washington Schools 2020 Reopening Plan Template
07/31/2020
Dear Southside Families and Staff,
We are getting down to needing to make a final decision on what the Reopening Model(s) will be for Southside. We are sending out a short survey to our families that we would like to know what your current preferences are for the reopening of school based on what you know and your comfort level. We are requesting that you complete this survey as soon as possible and no later than August 7. The results will be shared for decision making consideration. So far we know that Mason County has been on the rise as far as identified positive cases. Shelton School District will be starting off with a 100% Remote Learning. Hood Canal will be doing the same. Mary M. Knight is going to engage a two-day schedule. Pioneer, Grapeview, and Southside are in the process of deciding.
As a district we want to insure safety for students and staff. Unless we can address all of the safety requirements, we will not be able to resume. We are continuing communication with the Mason County Department of Health, OSPI, and the state and federal governments for any mandates or specific guidelines. We will need to update our practices as the situation changes. The health departments are working together to come up with a guide that will support when a district’s decision to provide face-to-face learning should be offered.
At this time, in our reopening plan, we have the flexibility of considering 1 or 2 of the following: 100% remote learning, a two-day plan which means that interested students will attend school for two days per week and work remotely three days per week, and a four-day plan which has students attending school four days per week and remote one day per week. We have not narrowed down our plan at this time but would like to make a decision during August 10-14 for family and staff planning purposes. We’d like to thank the numerous staff and families who provided input into all three options and numerous details to support each model. Thank you to those who gave us input on the earlier survey. Copies of the flexible plan and the plan with more details are posted on the Southside School District website.
We look forward to reading your response and want to encourage all to “Stay Safe.”
Sincerely,
Doris Bolender
Principal/Superintendent
Reopening information from the State of Washington Office of the Superintendent regarding reopening Washington schools:
Upcoming School Events
Monday August 10, 2020 @ 6:00 pm – Special Board Meeting
To attend the August 10, 2020 meeting through Zoom: https://us04web.zoom.us/j/75750332262?pwd=bkVHSlIyRWt2SG1CdzJHSEVsaHVkdz09
Tuesday, Aug. 25 @ 6:30 pm – Board Meeting
Monday, Aug. 31 – Kindergarten – 4th Grade Open House
Tuesday, Sept. 1 – First day of school
Monday Sept. 7 – No School -Holiday
Tuesday, Sept. 8 – Middle School Open House
Tuesday, Sept. 22 – Board Meeting
Vision & Mission
Welcome to Southside School District- Best School Around. Celebrating 116 Years This Year.
“The mission statement of the Southside School District, as a small, community-centered school, is to inspire lifelong learning and to empower students of all ages to become knowledgeable, contributing citizens by meeting the diverse needs of the whole person in a safe and nurturing environment.”