Conferences start Monday!

Dear Parents and Students,

The start of school is just around the corner...Monday, August 31st.  

Thank you to all those who have already signed up for the conferences next week. Yesterday, calls were made to many of those who have not yet reserved a spot. You can still sign-up for conferences at the MS SignUpGenius page or by calling 509.258.4738. At this time, we have openings primarily on Wednesday(12-7 PM) and Thursday(8-3 PM) It is our goal to see every student this next week. Please be sure to sign up. If you have already signed up, please assist a friend or family member who may need help with this process. 

The following is our agenda for each conference:

Complete First Day Packet*

Submit Family Resource Survey*

Pickup Chromebook*

Meet Teachers

Review Gradual Re-Opening Plan

Review Layers of Safety for COVID

Homework and Meal Delivery

At-Home Learning w/ Summit Learning

*Please consider arriving a bit early to complete the first three agenda items.

I look forward to seeing everyone next week. Enjoy your weekend.

Mr. Joachim, Principal

Springdale Middle School

Middle School Update

Dear Middle School Families,

The official start of the new school year is just ten days away! August 31st, 2020! This will be the saddest start of a school year in my entire career, as we will be starting without having students in the school. The students ARE the school.  

Our district's Gradual Re-Opening Plan was approved by Tri-County Health and the Mary Walker School District. Below is a graphic that highlights our gradual re-opening steps.  

Our first of six steps to re-open school is face-to-face conferences starting Monday, August 31st. These meetings will be hosted outside around the new covered play area. At the conferences, we will be reviewing the re-opening plan, sharing resources, and answering your questions. Please sign your student(s) up for conferences by clicking on the following link: 

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f094aa8ab28abfc1-springdale

The six-step re-opening plan is one of two options for families. The second option is the 'Continuous At Home Learning.' The goal of this option is to partner with parents and students throughout the COVID-19 closure to provide curriculum and learning resources for use at home. Teachers will check in with students every week and will be available for calls when help is needed. Additionally, monthly student progress reports will be documented with parent and teacher input. If you are interested in learning more about this option, please connect with me for more information.

Many families in our district do not have Internet connections in their homes. This is due to several factors; poor cellular reception, inadequate phone lines, and/or general cost restrictions. If you are one of them and would like to see about getting the internet, please send me an email or call our school district's message line at 509.258.4798.

I look forward to seeing everyone at our conference!  

Brett Joachim, Principal

Springdale Middle School

wk. cell 509.919.0538

Middle School Feedback Needed

Dear Middle School Parents and Students,

I hope that all of you are well and healthy.  Sadly, tomorrow will be five months since we have had students in our halls.   I greatly miss our families and students and can not wait to get back to school! 

I recently shared with staff that I feel like I am treading water in a rip current and have the fear that a shark may attack at any time.   In the very literal sense, as well as the figurative sense, I am used to swimming in turbulent water and rarely have fear; however, the barriers and challenges before our society and world today is concerning.  

As the district's re-opening plan is being formed, the administrative team is working to cautiously get our students back into the classroom as soon as possible.  It has been difficult, as local and state expectations seem to morph and change daily.  Then to make things even more complicated, I watch the local and national news.  Sorting through the various health concerns, news reports, scientific facts, and political views is genuinely mind-boggling.  The one point that I can solidly stand on is that our school district cares deeply about every student's wellbeing.  We want to see our students back in the classrooms engaging in teaching and learning as soon as possible.  

The current plan for our re-opening is a gradual system that provides students with academic and social supports and will progress as the local cases decrease.   Earlier this week, the following graphic was published on our website and Facebook page to show our current thoughts for the upcoming school year.   This re-opening plan is pending Health Departments' approval on August 13th and board approval on August 17th. We will have two-week intervals where we hope to move to each next step.

I know this is not a perfect plan, but one that takes into consideration the various restrictions of the State and local health departments.  Please review this plan and share your suggestions, thoughts, and ideas.  

I look forward to hearing back from you.

Brett Joachim, Principal

Springdale Middle School