January 29, 2021

Dear Skykomish Families,

With every new year we set resolutions and we begin afresh. However, for many of us the struggle is real, and 2021 feels no different than 2020. Navigating life during a pandemic is even more strenuous.

One of the biggest challenges for so many families is that we have absolutely no idea what to expect, because we know things will invariably change. Despite that, now is the time to sit down and map out a tentative plan for second semester.

This school year has been an impossible situation. Remote learning is not ideal. There is no good solution. We must build the possible out of that impossible. As a parent I am learning that we need to process all our feelings about learning in a pandemic. I have learned to tell myself that what I felt and what I am feeling was/is valid and real, and that I cannot simply ignore it. As a parent I have learned to validate my children’s feelings, too.

With a plan that has habitually changed almost daily to return to school for face-to-face instruction—schools across England who are now closed after reopening, and President Joe Biden’s pledge to reopen most K-12 schools within 100 days, is it any wonder that we are all stressed—especially our students?

As we enter second semester, as parents, it is important to acknowledge what was successful during first semester, and to help our children see, and to acknowledge the same. If something did not work and it was not successful, then collaborate with your child and your child’s teacher to redesign a plan that will be more effective during this perpetually time of change.

Our District Reopening Team is working closely with our Board of Directors and our certificated and classified associations to bring students back for face-to-face instruction just as soon as we possibly can. The safety of every child and every employee is our highest priority.

As a parent I hear, know, and experience your frustration firsthand.

I value you and I appreciate you.

If you need anything, we are here for you. If you need another parent to share in frustration, I am here for you.

Wishing you and your family the very best for 2021!

Sincerely,

Thomas Jay

Superintendent

Cleaner Air

By: Lynne Kelly, RN

It has been surprisingly busy at school when there are few people in the building and it is so very quiet. There is a different kind of excitement in the air as we plan for the safe return to learning in the classroom. We are all familiar with the phrase, “It takes a village,” even though it is often used in jest to acknowledge more people are needed to accomplish something than originally believed. Wikipedia gives credit for, “It takes a village to raise a child” to the Nigerian Igbo culture: “Oran a azu nwa,” to indicate a wider community of people interacting with a child is required for children to grow in a safe and healthy environment.

This is especially true of a school! It takes a village to make a good school, doesn’t it? Tax payers willing to direct their money toward education, county and state government, churches reaching out to students in need, regulatory agencies to maintain standards, and parents most of all. One of the government agencies doing business with schools is the King County Hazardous Waste Management program. Originally working toward waste disposal and eliminating chemical hazards in classrooms, they have a financial incentive program which is now expanding to help fund measures to assure good air quality in our classrooms because COVID19 is a respiratory virus that is airborne.

Skykomish is very lucky to have a King County Industrial Hygienist, Elizabeth Jakab, who visits our school every year and instructs teachers and staff about classroom safety and air quality. Ms. Jakab brought our attention to “free money” we may use by applying for vouchers which can then be used to buy individual air filtration systems that can be placed in each room. Some are small units for 200 sq. foot offices, others are much larger for 700+sq ft classrooms. The manufacturer states that a room’s air will be “cleaned” in about 1-2 hours. We have recently decided to spend both our 2020 and 2021 voucher funds on these air filters which are now in all the rooms routinely occupied by staff and/or students.

A beautiful historical landmark building such as Skykomish School has challenges. There are many rules in place to preserve the beauty and history of the school. In 2019, we spent these funds on chemical waste disposal and safety equipment, such as eye wash stations and goggles. This year our attention is on COVID19 and how we can best address sharing the same air space as we return to the classroom. We can’t rip out a few walls to install a state-of-the-art heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system as newer schools might. We have to get creative with solving problems, and one of them has been air filtration. We know to reduce transmission of airborne germs, filtering classroom air is important; a pandemic makes it critically so.

Returning to school during a pandemic is going to find us outside of our comfort zones at times. Using good science to fight our fears and take meaningful precautions is a healthy step toward returning to “normal life” once again. Watch for the new piece of machinery in your classroom when you return, give it a silent “thank you” as you walk by, and please be sure to keep any and all liquids well away from it. You can also look forward to an air filter naming contest your teachers will explain soon.

Student Character Dare:

Character Strong

By: Sonia Bartosek, Counselor

Change Your Perspective:

When we stop focusing so much on ourselves, we realize that the world is a very big place filled with all kinds of people, stories, and perspectives. One element of humility is being willing and open to explore those stories - to learn what makes us similar and different to one another. When we take time to understand other people, we give ourselves permission to see the world through their eyes. Humble leaders listen to the opinions and beliefs of others, allowing new ideas and perspectives to continually shape our understanding of ourselves and the world.

Coming Clean:

Ask a friend what they believe your two greatest strengths and two greatest opportunities for improvement are. Listen to them intently, without judgment, and thank them for their opinion and honesty. Did they same something different than what you expected? Follow up by creating a mental or written plan for how you can improve on some of those characteristics.

1,000 Hours Outside

By: Dan Bubar, PE and Health Teacher

I talked to my neighbor earlier in 2020 and applauded her for always having her two little kids outside. She told me she was going for 1,000 hours outside in 2020. Her family achieved that goal. They had a tent in the front yard, sidewalk chalk, dog walks, and many other adventures. Why outside? The answer lies in many things, especially in the amount of screen time students have. Also, there are many health benefits in being outside. Remember the word play?

To achieve this goal, you would need approximately 2.5-3 hours a day. Not always achievable on certain days. If you think 1,000 hours outside is too much, feel free to modify the goal for you and your family.

In 2021, are you up for 1,000 hours outside? For more info check out: www.1000hoursoutside.com

Hour of Code

By: Kimberly McCullough, Science and Math High School Teacher

In December, our 8th through 12th graders had the chance to participate in an Hour of Code. This was an opportunity for them to learn more about coding and careers in coding. Code.org sponsors this event every year during the first week of December to highlight the importance of computer science in schools. Many jobs now, and in the future will need people with good coding skills, as well as general computer skills. Not all schools are able to offer a robust computer science program and there are inequities to access to computer science. By participating in an Hour of Code, students gain some exposure to the possibilities. The emphasis is that anyone can code. There are activities available for all ages that are available throughout the year. Go to Code.org to learn more and try some coding activities.