GSD School Closure Information

  • April 6, 2020

    This afternoon - Monday, April 6 - Governor Jay Inslee and Washington State Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal announced that due to concerns about COVID-19 all schools across the state will finish out the remainder of the school year using a distance learning model.

    In the Grandview School District that means we will continue to push forward with the plans we have already shared with our families. At this moment, we will continue with our plan to mail out packets of education resources and activities for our students. 

    We will welcome our staff back to work on Tuesday, April 7, via computer. Our staff will be coming back together, while remaining apart. Having staff back at work, even if it is remotely, will allow us to support our students as they work through these packets, which will be mailed out every week through Friday, April 24. 

    As we continue to create our at-home learning model, know that we are striving to provide meaningful work for our students at all stages of their education. What that meaningful work looks like will likely differ from grade to grade, and as we progress through this new educational landscape we anticipate that we are all going to get better. We are working to put the best learning tools in front of all of our students during this unprecedented time in education.

    For our seniors, we plan to begin deploying needed devices to our seniors by no later than April 17. We want to help them get ready for graduation. We still don’t know what graduation will look like, but we do know that we are striving to ensure our seniors finish strong. If you’re a senior in good standing and continue any at-home learning, expect that you’ll receive your diploma this year.

    We are currently working to determine what connectivity looks like across our community. We are asking that families please take a minute to fill out our Technology Survey, which can be found at www.gsd200.org/closure. These survey results will help us mold what our next phase of at-home learning looks like. This week, staff members will be reaching out to our families to further help determine any technology needs.

    We know this is a tough day for everyone. It’s a tough day for parents, students, teachers and everyone else who makes our school district a special place. We truly believe that schools are not just a place for learning, but they are a place where people connect with each other, form strong bonds and create life-long memories. While we may not see each other face-to-face for some time, know that we are in this together.

    We are also looking forward to working together to create a “new normal” for what learning looks like in the Grandview School District for the rest of the year. 

    We know there are a lot of questions out there and we are working on answers to all of them. As we receive more guidance from the State, we will adapt our plans and be sure to communicate with everyone.

    Thank you to everyone for your patience, resilience and grace as we all work through this together.

    Stay home, stay safe and stay healthy.

    Sincerely,

    Henry Strom
    Superintendent, Grandview School District


    March 31, 2020

    TECH SURVEY - Tell us about technology you have at home

    The Grandview School District is conducting a Technology Survey. The survey is meant to help the district determine what at-home education looks like for our Grandview scholars. Please fill out this survey and let us know whether your student(s) have access to computers and internet service. We will use the data we collect to help us figure out the best way to fill any gaps and provide students with at-home learning that will work for them. Thank you. Click here to take the survey.

    March 31, 2020

    We want to reach out and thank all of our families for their support, patience and flexibility as we all work to navigate this ever-changing landscape. On March 13, Governor Jay Inslee issued a directive that all schools across the state close through April 24, 2020. At that time districts were instructed not to provide any instruction of new material or grade anything during the shutdown.

    During a meeting with superintendents on May 23, Washington State Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal said that directive has changed. He challenged districts across the state to find a way to offer at-home education services to our students that can start now and possibly go beyond April 24.

    Since that meeting, Grandview School District administrators have been tackling that challenge. We’re looking ahead and working to determine what at-home education looks like for Grandview scholars and their families.

    The first step in sculpting an at-home education solution for our students is to determine what types of technology our families have available in their homes.

    We are sending out a technology survey to all of our families. The survey will arrive by email to the student email addresses of our Grandview High School and Grandview Middle School scholars. A link to the survey will also be made available on our district website, our district’s social media pages and through our district app. We are asking all families to fill out the survey, tell us whether your students have access to computers and internet service, and then we will work out the best way to fill any gaps and provide students with at-home learning that will work for them.

    As we begin moving forward with at-home learning, know that we are striving to provide meaningful work for our students at all stages of their education. What that meaningful work looks like will likely differ from grade to grade - our seniors and our first graders will likely not have the same at-home learning set up, but that doesn’t make any of the work being done and assigned any more or less important. We are working to put the best learning tools in front of all of our students during this unprecedented time in education.

    We plan to start rolling out more tech-based approaches to learning for our seniors, to help them get ready for graduation. We still don’t know what graduation will look like, but we do know that we are striving to ensure our seniors finish strong.

    Then, as we move forward, families will likely see more of our grades and teachers pushing toward tech-based at-home learning solutions.

    Regardless of how our teachers reach out to our students, know that we are all in this together. We still plan to mail out packets of review work for all grades through Friday, April 24. Our teachers will also be reaching out to families by phone on April 22 and 23 for parents conferences. This will give parents and teachers a chance to touch base, make sure families’ needs are being met and get everyone ready for the return to learning on April 27.

    Again, thank you to everyone for your understanding as we work through this together. We will continue to keep you all informed about what is happening in our district during this closure and beyond. You can find all information on the closure on our website at www.gsd200.org/closure.

    March 19, 2020

    State Assessment Information: As of March 13, 2020, state assessments are canceled statewide for the remainder of the 2020 school year.

    These include:

    • Smarter Balanced Assessments (English Language Arts and Math) for grades 3-8 and 10
    • Washington Access to Instruction and Measurement (WA-AIM)
    • English Language Arts and Math for grades 3–8 and 10
    • English Language Proficiency Assessment (ELPA21)
    • Washington Comprehensive Assessment of Science for grades 5, 8, and 11
    • Washington Access to Instruction and Measurement (WA-AIM) Science for grades 5, 8, and 11
    • WIDA Alternate ACCESS for English learners
    • WaKIDS for Transitional Kindergarten.

    The exception is that the online test administration platform for Smarter Balanced assessments will be open from Monday, April 27, through Friday, June 5, to support: 

    • High school students in the classes of 2020, 2019 or earlier who have not yet met the pathway graduation requirement and who would like to use a Smarter Balanced assessment to achieve that pathway requirement; and
    • High school students wanting to take the Smarter Balanced ELA summative test to earn the Seal of Biliteracy.

    March 18, 2020

    Facility Closures: As of Wednesday, March 18, all Grandview School District schools and facilities are closed to the public until Friday, April 24, 2020. Closed to the public means all schools, fields, playgrounds, gyms and weight rooms will be closed. This closure is different than a holiday or spring break closure where some facilities remain open to the public. For both sanitizing and safety purposes there will be no access. For staff, building badges are being deactivated and building door key cores are being changed. This is for your safety and the safety of our custodial staff and to allow for a full sanitization of our buildings.

    March 15, 2020

    UPDATE - Grandview schools will be closed tomorrow, Monday, March 16. Following Governor Jay Inslee’s latest announcement, Grandview School District officials made the call to close schools one day early. Grandview schools will now be closed from Monday, March 16, through Friday, April 24. All staff should report to work as scheduled. Thank you to all of our families. Be sure to check www.gsd200.org/covid19resources for the latest information on the six-week closure.

    March 15, 2020

    Grandview School District Board of Directors and administrative team want you to  know that we are actively working on all of the important details related to how we will continue to support students, employees and families over the next six weeks and will continue to be in communication with you as plans are finalized.

    Following is a brief update of what we know at this point:

    • We will have school tomorrow, Monday, March 16. We encourage students to attend to pick up their things and talk to their teachers. However, we respect the decisions of our families who wish to keep their children at home. If your student is sick (fever of over 100 F°, vomiting, diarrhea, cough), please keep them home.
    • At this time our tentative last day of school, as per OSPI guidance, will be Friday, June 19. We are still working out the details and awaiting guidance from OSPI as to how this will affect the date of graduation.
    • Please know that we share the concerns you may have about what this closure could mean for your student’s academic progress and more importantly, what a closure of this magnitude means for your family. We do know, though, that we are part of an incredible community and that we will support each other as we figure this out together.
    • We plan on sharing optional online academic resources, lists of books students can read and other online material over the coming week. We recognize that not all of our families are able to access the internet and we’re working to have packets of academic activities for our scholars available to pick up at various locations around the community likely after Spring Break. All of this content is optional for you, and will not be graded. It is a way for you to help keep your child engaged in learning opportunities and to keep the love of learning alive while schools are closed. We are hoping our students and families will take advantage of these resources.  
    • Families of our Grandview High School seniors, know that we are collaborating with our GHS administrators to work on continuing your student’s preparation for graduation, as well as their path following graduation. 
    • We are currently working on the details of providing breakfast and lunch to our students. Watch for details in a district-wide communication coming on Monday.

    Thank you so much for your patience and support as we continue to work through the many details required of us at this time. This is a rapidly evolving situation and we will be sure to update you regularly. 

    In the coming weeks and months our commitment is motivated by the collaborative spirit of community that is Grandview.  Please make sure you are checking in on each other and helping those in need. We wish you and all of our families well.  

    March 13, 2020

    Based on the announcement from Governor Inslee, Grandview School District will be closed to students (including athletics, activities and clubs) from Tuesday, March 17, to Friday, April 24. Monday, March 16, is a normal school day.

    We will be taking Tuesday and Wednesday, March 17 and 18, to work on our plans for staff and students during this closure. We will have more information coming during this next week on everything from food service to school work.

    As we plan, we are urging our families and community to use the next few days to start coming up with their own contingency plans.

    Right now, our main goal is to serve our students and families. We wish we had more for you now. But, rest assured our administrators are working to unpack all of the ramifications, so we ask that you please have patience over the next few days. Thank you to everyone and take care.

    Visit www.gsd200.org/covid19resources for up-to-date information from the school district.

    March 11, 2020

    The coronavirus situation across the country and in our own state continues to change rapidly. We believe in these situations it’s best to be prepared and proactive. That’s why, after careful consideration, the Grandview School District is offering new guidance and taking a few proactive measures that will mean changes in our traditional practices.

    Conferences*: With coronavirus information changing day-to-day we are planning ahead. At this point parent conferences are scheduled to take place during the evening on Wednesday, March 25, and all day on Thursday, March 26. We plan to continue with conferences, but there will be one major change. We will NOT be doing face-to-face conferences at this time. Instead, all conferences will be conducted over the phone. Conference times and appointments will still be made as usual, but instead of coming into the school – your student’s teacher will call you at home during the planned upon conference time. We believe conferences are important and ask that families make the effort to participate in these calls.

    Because conferences will be done over the phone, Grandview Middle School and Grandview High School report cards will be mailed out on Monday, March 23, and elementary school report cards will be sent home with students before conferences.

    If you would like to meet with your student’s teacher face-to-face, in addition to the phone conference, we are asking that you call the school and arrange to meet sometime before or after school. At this point, we’re asking that these appointments be made sometime later in the spring.

    Kindergarten and Preschool Registration*: This year, kindergarten and preschool registration and sign-ups will not take place on conference days. Instead, each of the schools will offer registration and sign ups on Fridays in May. District officials have decided to make registration packets – paperwork needed to register your student – available at various places throughout the community. This means families with incoming kindergarten students will be able to pick up the packets at their convenience, fill them out and have them ready when registration begins in May. (More information will be provided when registration gets closer)

    Facility Use*: Grandview School District officials have decided to suspend facility use by outside agencies for large group events, activities and tournaments that bring in participants from outside Yakima County. We are making this decision out of an abundance of caution.

    Volunteers*: We love and appreciate our volunteers. However, we are asking our guests and volunteers to keep their health in mind when planning to come into our schools. If you are not feeling well, we ask that you please stay home – especially if you are sick (fever of over 100°F, vomiting, diarrhea, cough). This is also true for our volunteers who may be medically vulnerable.

    *The Grandview School District reserves the right to modify this guidance as the situation evolves.

    The Grandview School District continues to work with the Yakima County Health Department and other area school districts. Please realize that additional decisions will occur as the COVID-19 situation evolves. We appreciate everyone’s flexibility, patience and understanding. We care deeply about all students, families and staff and will continue to share information and decisions as promptly as possible.

    March 4, 2020

    Travel Guidance*: With coronavirus (COVID-19) information changing day-to-day, the Grandview School District wants to take time to talk about district-sponsored travel. At this time, we are not restricting district-sponsored travel for our students and staff.

    Instead, we are offering guidance. We are recommending that people who are medically vulnerable or who are already sick (fever of over 100 F°, vomiting, diarrhea, cough) don’t travel. Anyone who feels comfortable traveling has the district’s support in doing so. But we understand that you and your family are the ultimate decision makers about what steps you need to take to keep your family safe.

    Health and Wellness Guidance*: We know that coronavirus is at the front of everyone’s mind right now, and the Grandview School District wants to offer some guidance to our staff. We are asking our families to keep their students home if they are sick and we are defining sick as having a fever over 100 F° by itself or a fever accompanied by one or more of the following symptoms - vomiting, diarrhea or cough. This has always been our district’s policy. If a student has a fever, vomiting or diarrhea they are sent home until they have been symptom free for 24-hours. Having a cough alone is not reason-enough to send a student home. As a district we are doing everything within reason to keep our students and staff healthy and safe.

    *The Grandview School District reserves the right to modify this guidance as the situation evolve.

    Handwashing: We are sending handwashing videos out to staff today to share with students, and as a reminder that handwashing is always an important part of staying healthy. At this point, the Grandview School District is working to promote good habits.

    Links to handwashing videos that will be shared with students:

    March 2, 2020

    As you know, many regions around the world and in our own state are experiencing an expanding outbreak of a respiratory illness known as novel coronavirus or COVID-19. This virus can spread from person-to-person and the number of cases detected in Washington continues to grow.

    The Grandview School District wants to reach out and let our families and community know that we always take the safety of our students and staff very seriously. Which is why we have been working tirelessly to be sure we stay up-to-date on the situation that is arising across the country and in our home state.

    Preventing the spread of the novel coronavirus is the same as preventing the spread of a cold, influenza, and other respiratory viruses. According to the Department of Health, schools do not need to take any special precautions beyond what is normally recommended to prevent the spread of viruses in schools. The entire community can reduce the risk of getting and spreading viral respiratory infections, including the flu and the common cold, through these simple steps, which will also prevent COVID-19.

    • Stay home when you are sick.
    • Wash hands with soap and water frequently and for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom, before eating, and after blowing your nose. Help young children do the same.
    • If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.
    • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
    • Cover coughs or sneezes with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash and clean hands with soap and water or hand sanitizer (if soap and water are not readily available).

    As always, we want to assure our families and community that the Grandview School District custodial staff disinfects our schools as part of their daily duties. Our custodial staff disinfects doorknobs, sinks, toilets, mirrors and more every day. Each of our schools and all our staff have access to disinfectants to go over any other surfaces as needed. As of last week, our district has also doubled its order of disinfecting supplies to ensure we have everything we need.

    How our families can help:

    • If your student is sick (fever of over 100 F°, vomiting, diarrhea, cough), please keep them home until they have been symptom free for 24 hours. Call your doctor if you are concerned about your student’s symptoms.
    • Families keeping students home need to contact the school to excuse the absence. You may call the school office to excuse your student. And while, as a district, we are pushing a strong attendance initiative – a student’s health is always what’s most important.
    • Normal school procedures apply for students to make up school work from absences.
    • If you have alcohol-based (over 60% alcohol) hand sanitizer or sanitizing wipes, you can send them to school with your student.

    We take instructions on preserving public health from the Washington State Department of Health (WSDOH). Should we receive direction from WSDOH to add to our current custodial cleaning system, we will do that immediately.

    The Washington State Department of Health has established a hotline with a live person to address questions from the public. If you have questions about what is happening in Washington state, how the virus is spread, and what to do if you have symptoms, please call the WSDOH hotline at 1-800-525-0127 and press # then press 2. You will be connected to a live person. This hotline is open from 6 a.m. until 10 p.m.

    The Grandview School District will continue to share information about this emerging public health issue with staff and with our community, (facts/resources are on all school and district websites). We are in communication with local public health officials to stay abreast of any changes or developments in this area and are committed to sharing these updates, as needed.