Ridgefield School District

May 7, 2021

Dear Ridgefield Families,

This week is teacher and staff appreciation week!  The Ridgefield community is truly blessed to have so many wonderfully talented and passionate educators and support staff.  As the parent of two Ridgefield students, I see firsthand the great work happening daily.  I am immensely grateful and proud of the collaborative efforts shown by our staff each day as they work to ensure meaningful, personalized learning experiences and opportunities for each student.  If you have not already had the chance to do so, I invite you to join me in sharing your appreciation for their efforts.

The District was recently honored with a pair of recognitions highlighting just some of our team members’ outstanding work.  Last week, the Washington State Auditor’s Office presented the Ridgefield School District with the Stewardship Award.  This prestigious recognition is issued only to organizations that take great strides in ensuring public accountability and strict adherence to state and federal requirements.  Ridgefield is one of just two school districts receiving the award this year.  This is an organizational award that would not be possible without the hard work and dedication of many people working together with a shared mission of being good stewards of public resources.  While this award belongs to the entire District, I would like to specifically acknowledge and thank Paula McCoy, the District’s Executive Director of Business Services.  Paula has established a high bar for the District’s Business Services department, and I am immensely proud of her and the District for receiving this statewide recognition.

Ridgefield is also one of just four school districts in the state this year to receive a Zo8 Award from the Washington State Health Care Authority. Annually, the Health Care Authority honors member employers with the award to highlight the success of employers’ wellness programs. Ridgefield’s Human Resources staff are using the SmartHealth Worksite Wellness Roadmap to implement the award-winning program. In their award announcement, a representative from the Health Care Authority wrote, “with all that was going on in 2020, along with the huge changes to how we work, live, and play, we were very impressed and proud of their work.”  I share their sentiment and thank Jodi Fontyn, Kalin Heath, and Terri Cochran for their work establishing a successful wellness program and congratulate them for earning this well-deserved recognition.

As a reminder, enrollment is already underway for the 2021-2022 school year.  Families seeking flexible learning options are encouraged to consider Ridgefield’s newest offering, Wisdom Ridge Academy. The new Alternative Learning Experience, or ALE program, opens in the fall of 2021 and will serve students in grades K-12.  You can learn more about Wisdom Ridge Academy at www.wisdomridgeacademy.org.   Additionally, we are hosting another family information night on Thursday, May 13, beginning at 5:30 p.m.  Following a presentation that will highlight the student and family experience, staff will be on-hand to answer individual questions and meet with interested families.   Families interested in attending this in-person meeting may sign up here.

At last week’s board of directors meeting, Cowlitz Tribal Chairman Philip Harju presented the District with a check for more than $106,000. The generous donation will help fund the District’s continued pursuit of expanding access to high-quality early learning opportunities, as well as providing educational programming that supports the District’s commitment to the development of the whole child. We are grateful for this donation and the Cowlitz Tribe’s ongoing generosity.  We are proud of our strong community partnerships, and it is immensely gratifying to have neighbors who see the value in supporting the students and staff of the Ridgefield community.

I want to make sure I share some important information with you regarding the Emergency Broadband Benefit program.  Eligible families can receive $50 per month for broadband service ($75 per month if households are on Tribal lands) and a one-time discount of up to $100 for an internet-connected device. This page outlines household eligibility requirements.

The FCC recently announced that starting on Wednesday, May 12, eligible households will be able to enroll through an approved provider or by visiting https://getemergencybroadband.org. The program is available until it runs out of funds, or six months after Health and Human Services declares an end to the COVID public health emergency (whichever is sooner).

Sunday is Mothers’ Day!  I extend my wishes for an incredible day to my amazing mom, Mary, the equally extraordinary mom of our two boys, Amanda, and all Ridgefield moms.  Thank you for all you do.

Thank you for your continued support of our schools.  Stay well and remain #RidgefieldResilient.

Sincerely,

Dr. Nathan McCann,  Superintendent

Under a clear blue spring sky, a group of Ridgefield High School students excitedly left their classroom and headed out to the practice athletic fields. Instead of athletic gear, these students were equipped with something entirely different: remote controls and drones they had built in teacher Steve Rinard’s engineering class.

At the beginning of the semester, Rinard’s students were still attending online classes from home, so they started by learning the science behind how drones operate. When they returned to in-person class a few weeks ago, teams of students were able to work together, using parts from kits to assemble the drones.

Senior Matthew Vance said he greatly enjoyed the process. “The actual physical assembly wasn’t that difficult, but the calibration and technical aspects were a bit more tricky,” Vance said.

After weeks of planning, building, and testing, it was finally launch day, and Rinard and his students couldn’t wait to see how the drones performed. Launch day featured perfect flying conditions with bright sunshine and a light breeze. There were high expectations as the teams readied their drones for flight. Some drones took off quickly into the air, but others needed a little help to get moving. With a few adjustments, more drones lifted skyward, first in fits and starts, then in smoother, gliding flights as the students got more comfortable with the controls.

Vance and his team enjoyed a successful drone launch. On the whole, Vance thought the class did well. “There have been crashes, and broken pieces,” he said, “but flying the drones was a lot of fun!”

“We quickly learned that flying drones is not easy,” Rinard said. “It takes a little patience and a lot of practice to get the hang of it. And of course, it’s definitely helpful to have tools and extra parts on hand.”

Rinard’s inspiration for the new class came after he attended a pair of conferences that featured several offerings on drones. “Once I saw them in action, I felt that it was something we could offer that would really add to a student’s learning,” Rinard said. Not at all deterred by the fact that he had never built or owned a drone himself prior to creating the class, Rinard joked that he “has this curse of always wanting to learn and know more!”

Rinard designed every aspect of the class around building, programming, and flying the drones with the intent of energizing Ridgefield High School’s engineering program. He looks forward to teaching the class again next year so more Ridgefield students can apply their engineering knowledge to hands-on projects.

April 30, 2021

Dear Ridgefield Families,

While we continue to make significant gains in our fight against COVID-19, current activity in Clark County is on the rise.  It is possible, even likely, that the case rate will rise above 200 per 100,000 when released this coming Tuesday.  This change could lead to Clark County being “rolled back” to a more restrictive phase of the state’s reopening plans.  I want you all to know that the Ridgefield School District intends to remain in full in-person learning for all grade levels despite this possible change.

You may be aware that on March 25, OSPI released updated school guidance (K-12 Schools 2020-2021 Guidance).  The guidance supports having K-6 grade students remain in full in-person instruction with three feet of social distancing for students, even if the COVID Activity Rate goes above 200.  It also recommends that students in grades 7-12 be cohorted or return to six feet of social distancing.  Due to the nature of secondary school schedules, cohorting, particularly in the middle of a term, is impractical.  Returning to six feet of social distancing for students would require a return to the hybrid learning model.

Some may be asking why we are not returning to hybrid learning in grades 7-12 if the COVID rate exceeds 200 per 100,000.  First, please know the District continues to work closely with our public health officials and will monitor and make adjustments as necessary.  It is important to note that the state’s metrics are recommendations but not requirements.  As Clark County Public Health Officials have indicated on numerous occasions, “School administrators are ultimately responsible for making decisions about education settings and modes.”

Many factors go into deciding on the mode of school operation.  Particularly important in our decision is the data indicating that school transmission has not been a factor in the recent uptick in positive cases. The Clark County Public Health Department tracks COVID-19 outbreaks in schools, and to date, there have not been any outbreaks identified in Ridgefield Schools.  Our safety protocols and mitigation strategies are working, and I am grateful for the diligence of our students, families, and staff.

We all must continue to do our part and remain vigilant in adhering to COVID safety and prevention precautions.  The biggest game-changer is and continues to be vaccinations.  The continued increase in community-wide vaccination rates will assist in stabilizing county rates.  Recently, vaccinations have opened to all Washingtonians aged 16 and up, and there are now ample opportunities for high school students to get vaccinated.  In fact, there is a free vaccination clinic in Woodland on Saturday, May 8. This flyer (available in English and Spanish) has all the details.

In March, Governor Jay Inslee said, “There is now, unfortunately, undeniably a mental healthcare crisis in our state regarding our youth.”  While some students persevered and found ways to thrive in a remote environment during the pandemic, we know that many others need our schools to be open for their academic and emotional well-being.

Our goal has always been a safe and sensible return to full in-person learning. Our ability to equitably meet the needs of all our students is dependent on this.  Families with students in grades 7-12 who have concerns about remaining in full, in-person learning will have the option to switch to remote learning for the remainder of the school year.

As always, I thank you for your continued support, patience, grace, and understanding.  Stay well and remain #RidgefieldResilient.

Sincerely,

Dr. Nathan McCann, Superintendent

April 23, 2021

Dear Ridgefield Families,

This week, students in K-6 returned to the classroom for full, in-person instruction.  It was wonderful seeing our hallways and classrooms filled with students once again. In case you missed it, we made a short video at Union Ridge Elementary on Monday morning to capture the moment, which you can watch on the District’s YouTube channel.

Having more students back in our buildings is an important step toward a return to normal, and we are very excited for yet another milestone as we welcome back students in grades 7-12 for full in-person school next week.  As a reminder, Monday, April 26th is a non-school day, so the first day back for grades 7-12 is Tuesday, April 27th.  All in-person learning operates on a normal schedule of 5 days a week with regular start and end times and late starts on Wednesdays.

For families who have opted to remain in Ridgefield Remote, please note that we will be moving to 5 days a week for grades 7-12 to coincide with in-person instruction.  Staff at View Ridge Middle School and Ridgefield High School teach students in both in-person and remote learning environments (many simultaneously), which requires that both models stay in-step.  This does not mean that there is an expectation for remote students to be on Zoom for 6 hours a day.  Rather, they will join their teachers for direct instruction and then be released for independent work time.

Enrollment for the 2021-22 school year opened on Monday, April 19th, which includes registration for next year’s kindergartners (welcome to the Class of 2034!).  When you are ready to enroll your student(s) for next year, we invite you to visit the registration page on our website.

Our Nutrition Services department noticed a significant decrease in the number of meals being served at our schools this week.  I’d like to take this opportunity to remind you that the USDA has extended its free meals program through the remainder of this school year.  We know that the past year has presented many challenges, and the free meals program is a great resource to help families save money where they can.

On Wednesday of this week, we hosted a pair of Family Information Night sessions about Ridgefield’s newest school, Wisdom Ridge Academy.  Enrollment for this flexible, family-partnered virtual learning program is open now, and we invite you to learn more on our website.  There, you’ll find answers to many questions in our FAQ section, information about Jessica Drake – the District’s new Director of Alternative Learning Experiences and Business Partnerships, links to a video recording of the Information Night, and more.

Finally, I would like to invite you to share your thoughts on how we can best support students with additional learning opportunities this summer.  We have created a ThoughtExchange survey to help us answer the question, “What are some ideas (actions, services, and/or programs) that we should consider as a District to support learning loss for our students this summer?”  If you have ideas that you would like to share, please complete the survey at this link by 4:00 PM on Wednesday, April 28.

Thank you, as always, for your continued support of our schools.  Stay well, and remain #RidgefieldResilient.

Sincerely,

Dr. Nathan McCann, Superintendent

In Ridgefield School District’s continuing efforts to ensure equitable practices for all students, we invite you to take a few minutes to complete an Equity & Engagement survey.  We’ve used this survey before in past years, so it may look familiar.  Your valuable input will help guide the Equity & Engagement Committee in comparing current results and longitudinal data to measure growth in this endeavor.

We appreciate your feedback!  After evaluating survey results, the Committee will make recommendations regarding next steps related to Equity & Engagement in the District.

To take the survey, please follow this link:  https://forms.gle/gNiCGqrAacBZvNUL8

The survey will remain open through Friday, April 23^rd.

Thank you for your participation.

April 16, 2021

Dear Ridgefield Families,

As you know, our K – 6th grade students will start full in-person learning on Monday, April 19.  I’m pleased to announce that our 7th – 12th grade students will return to full in-person learning on Tuesday, April 27th (April 26th is a non-school day).  All in-person learning will be operating on a normal schedule (5 days a week, regular start and end times with late start Wednesdays).

For families with students in 7th – 12th grades, please note that Wednesday, April 21st will be a fully asynchronous learning day, as teachers and staff rearrange furnishings and ready classrooms.  It is also important to note that the District will not resurvey students at the secondary level.  This is due to the complexity of master-scheduling secondary schools, along with the high stakes of credit-bearing courses at the 9th – 12th grade level.

Thank you to all our families for the grace and patience you have extended throughout this challenging year.  I also want to thank you for your extensive efforts to keep all students and staff safe and healthy.  Did you know, the District has completed more than 50,000 temperature checks since the return of in-person learning began with kindergarten students on January 5th.  During all that time, we have had just two students (both at the high school) who required a secondary orally-administered temperature check.  By the way, both of those students recorded temperatures within the acceptable range.  This is the direct result of every family honoring the attestation process daily.  I thank you for your diligence.

With the fantastic weather and the return of many activities we treasure, it is easy to become complacent. We have made tremendous progress as a community and as a nation against COVID-19.  And we are close.  But cases in Clark County are once again rising.  Like each of you, I look forward to the day we can congregate freely, without masks and without worry.  That is why I chose to receive the vaccine.  I trust the advice of the medical professionals that care for my family and me, and I know the vaccine will help keep my family and me safe.  Yesterday, all Washingtonians 16 years of age and older became eligible to receive the vaccine.  If you’re looking to book a vaccine appointment, the Washington State Department of Health’s Vaccine Locator tool is a great resource. Click on this link to search by ZIP code. Together, we can all stick it to COVID!

As we approach summer, the Ridgefield School District asks you to take a few minutes and complete our Equity & Engagement survey.  This survey may look familiar, as we have used it annually for several years (due to the COVID-19 pandemic last spring, we elected not to send the survey).  As we have done previously, the District will gather the Equity & Engagement Committee to look at both current results and longitudinal data to measure growth.  The Equity & Engagement Committee will then make recommendations on possible next steps for the District to consider as we continue our efforts related to Equity & Engagement.

Once again, thank you to everyone who submitted photos last week.  I enjoy seeing our students engaged in fun, engaging activities.  This week I’d like to challenge all the families that have never submitted a photo to take advantage of this opportunity and share a candid photograph of your family and/or child(ren).  It is super easy; just send them via the email address: student.photos@ridgefieldsd.org.  There is a good chance you will see them in next week’s community update newsletter.

Stay well and remain #RidgefieldResilient.

Sincerely,

Dr Nathan McCann, Superintendent