FAQs for the Class of 2020

Please mark your calendars now for May 18th, as we are finalizing plans to hand out caps and gowns to our Seniors on this date at BHS. If you have not yet ordered a cap & gown please contact Jill Colley as soon as possible at jcolley@bisd303.org. Not sure if you ordered? Jill will be sending emails out to those families that have not yet.

Baccalaureate is an optional, non-denominational service hosted by the Bainbridge Island Interfaith Council. It is not an official BISD event. Please visit the Interfaith Council's website for information. https://binkinterfaith.org/events/baccalaureate/

PHOTOS ARE DUE BY TUESDAY, MAY 26th

Please submit your photos for the Commencement Video at this link: https://virtualgradceremony.com/bainbridge

The photos that you upload will be displayed when your name is read during the reading of the Class Roll in the Commencement video.

You will be able to upload THREE photos (no video). NOTE: If you do not submit any photos by this deadline, we will use your yearbook photo.

Please submit AT LEAST one photo. We suggest:

1. Your Senior Photo

2. A photo of you in your cap/gown/tassel/stole/honor cords

Your decision day photo OR a JPG image of a quote that has meaning to you

TBD. We are working on a plan.

Monday, May 18th. Please come during your assigned time slot according to your last name.

Last name begins with:

A-De: 2 - 2:45 p.m.

Do-K: 2:45 - 3:30 p.m.

L-R: 3:30 - 4:15 p.m.

S - Z: 4:15- 5 p.m.

Senior items will be distributed by BHS tennis courts. Please note specific safety directions:

➔ Cars must travel WEST on High School Road to turn RIGHT into the bus lane on MLK Lane by the Commons (no left turns allowed from High School Road to MLK Lane).

➔ Cars must EXIT by turning RIGHT only onto High School Road when leaving MLK Lane (no left turns allowed onto High School Road).

➔ Please stay in your car and pay attention to signs and staff directions.

➔ Seniors that are WALKING or BIKING must stay on the sidewalk on High School Road and MLK Lane and follow signs and staff directions upon entering and leaving.

After a great deal of research, BISD has reached a decision on the grading policy for high school credited classes for the remainder of the 2019-20 school year. According to guidelines set last week by the Office of the Superintendent of Public Schools (OSPI), we will adopt the A,B,C, or Incomplete option. Due to this recent guidance, we will open Skyward gradebook by Monday, May 4 to provide time to reconfigure gradebooks this week.

THE KEY POINTS OF OSPI’S GUIDELINES:

• Do no harm.

• Every student will get an opportunity to improve their grade with their March 17 status as a baseline.

• No student will receive a “pass,” “fail,” or “no credit” grade for any course, except for courses that were already set-up for this prior to the closure (see Student 5 example in the next section).

• Teachers will assign grades or assign an “incomplete” for students who cannot engage in an equitable way.

• Students assigned an “incomplete” for a course will be given opportunities to re-engage in the learning standards based on local school district decisions in consultation with the student/parents/guardians.

• All students will be given an opportunity to engage in continuous learning to maintain or improve their mastery of essential standards.

• Every class taken during the closure period will be given a statewide designator on the high school transcript to denote the unique environment in which the course was taken.

WHAT THIS MEANS FOR BISD 9-12 GRADE STUDENTS:

• Term 3 dates have been adjusted to January 30 - March 17. Term 3 grades will be posted on Wednesday, April 29. Students and parents/guardians may view these grades in Skyward Family Access under Report Cards and School Info.​​​​​​​

• Term 4 dates have been adjusted as well. (Grades 9-11: March 18 - June 19; Grade 12: March 18 - June 12) If teachers collected assignments between March 18 - April 10, the due date will be extended OR assignments will be entered as NO COUNT and will not impact grades. Assignments collected after April 13 will be entered into the Term 4 gradebook.

• Students and parents will receive communication from teachers about the learning standards that must be met to complete the course and earn a letter grade. Parents - a reminder to check the Skyward Message Center for this information.

• It is important to note that in alignment with OSPI’s new guidance, students will not earn grades lower than the grade they had at the closure of school. All students will have the opportunity to earn a higher grade by engaging meaningfully with their coursework. Students will earn a letter grade of A, B, or C for Semester 2 or an Incomplete. Students cannot earn a D or F for Semester 2. See below for examples:

  • Student 1 had a B at the closure in Biology and that student works very hard through the closure and through the teacher’s assessment of the student’s performance of the essential new learnings, the student receives a B or higher.

  • Student 2 had a B+ at the closure, but despite engaging with the teacher and the content, struggled with some of the new content and remote essential new learning. That student will still have a B+ at the end of the term.

  • Student 3 had an A at the closure and could not engage with the coursework at all. The teacher has no way to assess the essential learning with nothing turned in. This student will earn an Incomplete and work with his or her counselor to engage in one of our credit recovery options.

  • Student 4 had an F at the closure and could not engage with the coursework. This student will earn an Incomplete and work with his or her counselor to engage in one of our credit recovery options.

  • Student 5 was enrolled as a Teaching Assistant which traditionally is graded as Pass/Fail. That student will remain eligible to earn a P or incomplete grade.

• Semester 2 grades will be determined based on the Term 3 and Term 4 grades, noting that students cannot earn a grade lower than the Term 3 posted grade (according to OSPI guidance).

SENIORS:

BISD has already applied for the authority to waive core graduation requirements for seniors who might be eligible to receive one. Our administrators and counseling staff will be monitoring our seniors closely and reaching out about this as needed. In the meantime, it is incumbent upon us as a district to make a good faith effort to allow those students to earn credits. All of the same grading rules outlined by OSPI and summarized above apply to them as well AND we will exercise the authority to waive credits as needed and as appropriate to ensure all those on track to graduate at the time of the closure can graduate this year.

MOVING FORWARD:

BISD teachers have and will continue to collaborate and connect digitally to implement the essential new learnings and to turn those into engaging learning opportunities offered remotely. They will continue to work across grade-level teams, subject-area teams and departments to consider the alignment of coursework so that our students will be well served from level to level and grade to grade. They will also monitor our students’ engagement through the end of the school year.

After considering multiple graduation scenarios, working with high school staff, consulting with School Board Directors, engaging with the City of Bainbridge Island, and following the phasing guidelines established by Governor Inslee’s office, I am pleased to announce that we have finalized graduation plans for the Class of 2020. Our graduation plan has three stages, which will allow us to meet multiple goals. Those goals include:

• Honoring individual students

• Celebrating students’ voices by continuing the tradition of class speeches and musical performances

• Providing a capstone to your high school career

• Ensuring the continuation of health and safety for our students, staff and community

Processional & Presentation of Diplomas in front of Bainbridge High School

Late morning on June 13th

Summary:

• Graduates will arrive by car to a designated parking near Ordway at established times to begin a vehicle processional to High School Road and the front of Bainbridge High School. Additional details will be provided by our high school administrators as the date draws near.

• Bainbridge Island School District Staff members will line the route to cheer on the graduates as they pass by in cars.

• Cars will pull into the front drop-off zone by the BHS flagpole for the presentation of diplomas. There will be an opportunity for each graduate to step out of the car and pose for a professional photograph while receiving their diploma*.

*It is expected that only the graduate exit the vehicle. It is recommended that adults drive the vehicles, with graduates in the front passenger side. Graduates should wear caps & gowns.

Commencement Program

Afternoon on June 13th, professional video of traditional commencement ceremony posted online to the BISD website and other online platforms.

Summary: It is important to commemorate the official date of graduation for the Class of 2020, and to provide the means for graduates and families to view the ceremony.

The video of the Commencement Program will follow the traditional ceremony format — including speeches and performances — to the best degree possible via pre-recorded video. Each member of the Class of 2020 will be featured during the reading of the Class Roll, with one or two photographs and a personal quote of choice. Look for additional details soon from your principal.

Commencement Celebration

Date and time TBD, Bainbridge High School

Summary: There is strong interest in holding a Commencement Celebration for the Class of 2020 at a future date when Health Department and State of Washington guidelines allow. At this point, we cannot yet establish a firm date for this commencement celebration, and we are interested to hear from graduates and families to find a date that would work best for the most members of the Class of 2020 to attend.

There are still many uncertainties with Governor Inslee’s health guidelines and phased recovery plan. In our estimation, the earliest that we could host a large group gathering of students and parents would be early fall. Our survey will ask students and parents to choose from three possibilities for a large group celebration: Late August or early September, winter break, or June 2021. When we decide on the best date for the celebration, we will create a small committee of staff, students and parents to help plan the event.

The planning for this commencement celebration will include student choice and voice - we want this celebration to be driven by the desires of the Class of 2020, and will work to make the event happen as soon as we are able to finalize a date. To help us gauge interest, please complete this brief survey.

Many of you have asked, Why not push graduation out until a later date this summer?

While this is a good idea in theory, there are too many variables for it to be a viable option. There are members of the Class of 2020 who will be moving, heading off to military academies, military service, employment opportunities, and colleges at various dates throughout the summer, making it extremely difficult to find a date that would work for everyone. Also at play is the big unknown regarding Governor Inslee’s Phasing. Phase 4, which allows gatherings of more than 50 people, won’t be enacted until July — and only if Phases 1-3 go according to plan. In addition, in Phase 4, social distancing must remain in place. Our stadium and field do not provide enough space for social distancing for graduates and their families.

For senior athletes/color guard/winter guard/marching band members, students no longer are required to submit a signed PE waiver. This process has been automated and no action will be necessary on the athlete's part. Counselors are working with the Athletic Secretary to verify your participation and will adjust your credit checks accordingly.

Plan A - If the social distancing guidelines change, and large groups are permitted to gather in the City of Seattle, we will move forward with the date for Prom at the Seattle Aquarium on May 29th.

Prom will be FREE to all students in the Class of 2020.

Plan B - If the social distancing guidelines do not change in the month of May, but allow lage groups to gather in the month of July, we will hold Prom at the Seattle Aquarium on July 17th.

Prom will be FREE to all students in the Class of 2020.

Plan C - If the social distancing guidelines do not change over the summer, we will plan a Fall Homecoming Event for the Class of 2020.

On Monday, April 6, Governor Inslee closed schools for the remainder of the year. We are developing alternative plans for Senior Awards Night, should we be unable to hold the ceremony in its traditional format. Look for more information to come.

All seniors who are currently in good standing will be granted their NHS membership status upon graduating.

What does that mean? Seniors - you do NOT need to turn in any hours for this year. If you have already completed your 45 hours, great! If you were planning on turning in hours after spring break, your last 2.5 years of being a member in good standing is enough evidence for you to graduate with NHS designation.

Students enrolled in work based learning (WBL) should not worry about their current spring semester work hours tally. We will work with each student to ensure that the credit they earn is about their hands-on experience and practical training and not the total number of hours they were able to log prior to the shut downs that occurred due to the coronavirus outbreak.

Later on after shut down/stay home orders have been lifted, if students are able to continue to log their work hours, we will continue to track them in the program.

Given the unique circumstances that we are operating under, please know that when we evaluate the credit status of students in the WBL program at the end of the spring semester we will focus on their performance, progress toward achieving learning objectives, and the skills they've learned in the WBL program, and not their total hours logged. Students will not be penalized for not being able to work at their jobs due to the Governor's orders or their own health and safety concerns.