Food insecurity during the COVID-19 outbreak is a primary concern of the District and state government . As a result we have been authorized by the state to provide breakfast and lunch service to any youth in need (through age 18) during the closure. Grab-and Go meals will be available outside the cafeteria weekdays from 11am-1pm, starting tomorrow, March 17.
OSPI: Talking to Your Children About School Closures
Attached are resources from OSPI on talking to your child about school closures (click here).
Schedule and Closure Reminders
Monday, March 16, is our last day of school before the mandatory statewide closure directed by Gov. Inslee. Here are a few reminders:
Monday, March 16, is a 1 hour late start day. With anxiety over the closures, the recent time change, and all that is going on, I wanted to remind you of this.
By Monday, the first round of educational resources and supports should be distributed to parents and students (either in backpack mail or electronically). Additional packets will be sent out in the coming weeks. Teachers will be available to communicate via email to provide assistance.
On Tuesday we will begin providing lunch service for school age youth who are in need during this crisis. We will distribute more information on this program Monday.
Please remind your student to bring all personal items (including medications) home on Monday, if they have not already done so. We will conduct a deep cleaning of schools during this time. In addition, access to school facilities will be restricted due to the governor’s order.
All activities, clubs, sport practices, and meetings, as well as public use of school facilities, will be restricted during the emergency closure. Please make plans for your student’s transportation after school (either walking, pick-up, or school bus). All students are expected to go home at the end of the day.
Nothing we do in schools could adequately prepare this for this unprecedented statewide closure. Over 1.2 million students will be out of school statewide starting Tuesday. During the interim our mission will be to continue to provide food service, educational resources and supports, child care for first responders and health care workers, and continued employment for staff during this crisis. We will work with the authorities to keep our students and community safe, and will communicate news as it becomes available via our website and social media.
Below is a quick guide on the symptoms of COVID-19. Please practice the guidelines of proper hand washing, social distancing, covering coughs and sneezes, and staying home if sick. Please stay safe, watch for signs of illness and take care of yourselves and one another. Let’s work together to keep Darrington safe and healthy.
Sincerely,
Dr. Buck Marsh, Superintendent
OSPI News Release on School Closures
More information from OSPI on the mandatory six-week closure of schools across Snohomish, King, and Pierce Counties can be found here:
School Closed March 17-April 24
Dear Darrington Students, Staff and Community:
At 2 PM today, Gov. Inslee announced the mandatory closure of all school districts in Snohomish, King, and Pierce counties, including Darrington School District. This closure will begin following the end of the school day on Monday, March 16. The closure is scheduled to run for six weeks, with the next regularly scheduled school day on Monday, April 27.
We will continue to work with county and state authorities throughout this closure, and cooperate with all guidelines related to the COVID-19 outbreak. Based on guidelines provided by Gov. Inslee and the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, our District will continue to offer the following services:
o Providing meals to those in need
o Providing educational resources and supports to students and families
o Providing child care for children of first responders and health care providers
COVID-19 has disrupted our normal routines and way of life. Our staff is working diligently on developing plans to provide continuing services listed above. We ask for your patience and understanding as we work through this crisis. Teamwork, optimism, and coming together as a community are the trademarks of life in Darrington. We will communicate updates in real time on our website, Facebook, and via email. Rest assured that we will not waver in our commitment to address the safety and welfare of our students, our staff, and our community.
Sincerely,
Dr. Buck Marsh, Superintendent
Parent-Teacher Conferences Cancelled
Dear Darrington Students and Parents
In the light of imminent school closures, we are suspending tonight’s parent-teacher conferences. Your student’s teacher(s) will be in contact with you in the coming days to schedule a make-up date to discuss progress. We appreciate your understanding and patience during this unprecedented time.
Sincerely,
Dr. Buck Marsh, Superintendent
COVID-19 Update
Dear Darrington Students, Staff and Community:
Wednesday, Gov. Inslee announced new measures to slow the spread of COVID-19 in Washington State. After prohibiting gatherings of 250 people or more, Gov. Inslee then asked all school districts in King, Pierce and Snohomish counties to immediately plan for probable emergency school closures.
These school closures could be immediate and long-lasting. We are learning now that the extent of a long-term closure could go well beyond spring break—approximately four- to six-weeks with reassessment after that time. The governor will hold a press conference this morning at 9 AM, at which time he is expected to address mandatory school closures.
We have been working with the Snohomish Health District and Snohomish County to plan for a possible closure related to the COVID-19 outbreak. Based on current information, families should now begin preparing for a possible school closure, one that might possibly last six weeks or longer. Our major priorities surrounding a prolonged school closure are:
o Providing meals to students
o Providing educational resources and supports to students and families
o Exploring childcare options for impacted families
COVID-19 has disrupted our normal routines and way of life. The state is taking unprecedented steps to protect lives. We ask for your patience and understanding as we work through this crisis. Teamwork, optimism, and coming together as a community are the trademarks of life in Darrington. We will communicate updates in real time on our website, Facebook, and via email. Rest assured that we will not waver in our commitment to address the safety and welfare of our students, our staff, and our community.
Sincerely,
Dr. Buck Marsh, Superintendent
COVID-19 Update
First off, thank you to students, parents and staff for your strides in preventing illness in our schools and community. Your efforts towards additional cleaning, social distancing, proper hand washing, and staying home when ill are making a big difference in helping slow the spread of illness in Darrington. We appreciate all that you do for our schools and our hometown.
In the Darrington School District we are taking additional steps in light of the COVID-19 outbreak. These are based on the Snohomish Health District (SHD) recommendations, and will continue at least through April 5 (the end of spring break) or until the threat posed by this outbreak subsides:
Facility use by outside groups will be suspended. We are committed to ensuring that our common areas and classrooms are clean for our students when they arrive on campus each morning, so we will prioritize cleaning and leave facilities ready to go each evening.
All field trips and non-essential out-of-district travel are suspended. SHD has recommended this practice, with the goal of limiting exposure to affected individuals and large groups that increase the risk of infection.
All concerts, dances, performances, informational meetings, and evening events are suspended. This includes outside performances, groups, presentations, and guest speakers. We are also encouraging as many parents as are able to move to a telephone or digital format for conferences this week. Limiting exposure to individuals from outbreak areas and practicing social distancing (avoiding assembling in groups of 50 or more) are ways to keep safe.
Volunteers in school will be limited to GPI volunteers: These involve maintenance of existing greenhouse programs as well as outdoor walks that involve only one class. These activities, due their outdoor nature and lower numbers, are lower risk and will be limited to a single class participating at a time (per social distancing).
Middle School Winter Sports are cancelled, Spring High School athletic practices will continue at this time, and before/after school club meetings may take place. Several contests have been postponed or cancelled at the HS level, please check school website for updates.
At this time SHD continues to recommend that schools remain open while taking precautions such as those listed above. We will continue to work closely with the authorities to keep our schools safe and healthy. The safety of our students, staff, and community is of the utmost importance. We appreciate your patience and help during these efforts.
Middle School Sports Winter Season Cancelled
Throughout the COVID-19 outbreak, we have been in close contact with our league partners to determine if any events might be postponed or cancelled. Districts across the region have limited out-of-district travel and large gatherings to slow the spread of the disease. This morning league superintendents made the decision to cancel MS Wrestling and MS Girls Basketball for the remainder of the season. We appreciate the commitment and hard work of our players, coaches, and fans this season, and hope that everyone stays healthy this season.
