Southside School District

Dear Southside Parents,

Dear Southside Parents,

We apologize for the inconvenience as we adjust bus pick up and drop off services. The Southside-Shelton Transportation Coop has provided us with their largest bus and it will be operated by Ms. Cathy, our Southside driver.

For the rest of this week, Tuesday morning Sept. 21 through Friday afternoon, Sept. 24, all pick up and drop off times will change. We will pick up and drop off all busing students in one route.  

Actual route times and stops have been emailed to the primary email on file for your student. Please refer to that email for this information as it will not be published here to protect the privacy of our families.

Please contact the Southside School office (360) 426-8437 with any questions.

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Congratulations families, students & staff for a successful start to the school year!  It has been great seeing happy students enjoying time with friends and teachers.  To quote one teacher: “The students have come so far since the first day of school.  They have so much potential!”

Updates and announcements:

• If your child is showing symptoms of a cold or flu (runny nose, coughing, fever, nausea, vomiting or other Covid-19 symptoms) please keep them at home and don’t forget to contact the school. Attached to this email is the Covid-19 student symptom flowchart.
• This year we are requiring daily health checks and monthly signed health attestations. October’s monthly attestation will be sent out soon.

• In order to maintain current records and optimize enrollment sizes in our K-7 classrooms, we are requiring all in-district families to provide proof of residency this year. Verification can be emailed, faxed or brought into school via your student, or shown to our office staff.  Examples—utility bill issued within the past 3 months, or voter card or driver’s license.  The verification process needs to be completed by the end of September.

• Reminder, picture day is this Thursday, Sept. 16. We are encouraging online ordering. Online ordering instructions were sent home last week.  Extra instructions are available in the office.

• Reminder, this Friday, Sept. 17 is early release at 12:00 pm.

Thank you for your partnership!

Paul Wieneke, Superintendent

Robie Spaulding, School Administrator

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Thursday, September 16 – Picture Day

Friday, September 17 – 12:00 pm Early Release

Tuesday, September 28 – 6:30 pm Board Meeting – Audience may attend virtually. Board Meeting Zoom Link:

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Middle School Open House Video Links:

August 27, 2021

Return to School, Southside District Updates

We usually try to limit multiple weekly email communications during the school year.  However, this year’s beginning of school brings a continued responsibility is to ensure our schools support health measures that minimize the transmission of communicable diseases, which includes Covid-19.  As stated in our August 16 letter to families, all Washington State schools will return to in-person learning, five-days a week with regular school hours.  Masks are required to be worn indoors at school and on school buses regardless of vaccination status.  To maximize student and staff safety, our district will require monthly, signed health attestation forms and daily student temperature checks upon arrival at school.  The following is a list of measures we are taking to limit cross-contamination conditions during the school day:

• Increase the exchange of HEPA Ventilation Filters in classroom areas and gym
• Increase the number of lunch periods in the gym to decrease the number of students seated at tables, 3 feet apart
• Keep students with their classroom cohort during lunches and recesses
• Use classroom exterior doors to minimize lines in hallways
• Cancel parent volunteers in classrooms (as we did last year)
• Ask parents to remain in vehicle when dropping off students (as we did last year)
• All Washington school employees are required to be fully vaccinated by October 18, as a condition of employment, as per Governor emergency order. 

Additionally, the previously scheduled August 31 Open House has been changed to a virtual, ZOOM event.  Zoom links will be posted sent out to families in an email letter on Monday.

Taking these measures will diminish chances for spreading viruses.

As stated previously, any or all requirements may change.  Please watch our website for further announcements and please expect another email update from us on Monday, August 30 regarding Open House times and Zoom Links.

Thank you for your partnership,

Paul Wieneke, Superintendent

Robie Spaulding, School Administrator

Southside Staff

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.”