Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Renton School District educators and support staff have put together grade-level at-home learning resources for students and families to use to continue learning during the school closure. The learning resources support families in keeping children engaged and practicing classroom-based skills in literacy, math, science, and more.

Find those resources here.

Washington Governor Jay Inslee has directed school districts to work to provide free childcare services for children kindergarten-5^th grade whose caretakers are first responders and essential health care workers. We recently surveyed our families to determine those who fall into these important life-supporting categories and are in need of this childcare assistance.

Following the governor’s directions, have created a service for these professionals. If you fall into the category of first responders or essential health care worker and did not have a chance to respond to the survey, please contact community.relations@rentonschools.us. Space is limited; and we can only provide this service to those in the life-care categories.

• Who is a first responder? A person who works for police, fire, paramedics, etc.
• Who is an essential health care worker? A person who works for a medical facility, including at nursing homes, doctor’s offices, hospitals, rehabilitation centers, adult family homes, etc.

Other Child Care resources:

Child Care Aware of Washington —This statewide nonprofit operates a database of licensed child care providers. You can search its database online or call its Family Center Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., at 1-800-446-1114.

YMCA of Greater Seattle — The Y is turning its 14 closed branches into child care centers for the families of medical personnel, first responders, and anyone who needs to work to support the community. They have the capacity for 700 kids total .You can find a list of sites here and register by emailing registration@seattleymca.org.

Boys & Girls Club — The Boys & Girls Club will be offering a full day of care for school-aged children at their clubs around Seattle. There are no additional costs for current club members. Others will have to pay a $50 membership fee and a $25 per day fee to attend. Find your local club here and call them to find out their hours.

Weekdays — A new technology company called Weekdays helps pair vetted in-home child care providers with nearby families. They are focused on providing care for families where the adults have to continue working.

During this mandated closure, our district will join others in the region to suspend all athletic activities, including practice.

Following state and county health and safety guidelines, Renton Schools has closed the use of play toys and sport courts, including basketball and tennis courts.

NO TEAM OR PICK-UP GAMES
All district facilities and fields are closed to team or pick-up games and other large gatherings where social distancing cannot be observed.

WALK & FAMILY ACTIVITIES ALLOWED IF SOCIAL DISTANCING IS POSSIBLE
Fields and tracks that are usually open, will remain open for walking and non-team activities with your family. Please observe at all times the minimum recommended social distancing of six feet from other people. Thank you for helping keep everyone safe!

The state's education office (OSPI) is cancelling all state testing for the 2019-2020 school year. This includes the Smarter Balanced Assessment (SBA), the Washington Comprehensive Assessment of Science (WCAS), the Washington Access to Instruction and Measurement (WA-AIM), and WIDA Alternate ACCESS for English learners.

Dear Families of Students With Disabilities,

As Renton School District works to support our families and community during this exceptionally challenging time, we want to assure you that the needs of exceptional learners are being taken into consideration. The Federal Government and the State of Washington are currently developing guidance for the provision of special education services during school closures and changes to education models as a result of COVID-19. We are monitoring the development of guidance carefully and we are committed to partnering with you through frequent communication.

Currently, please note the following information was shared by Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI):

“Districts should also consider ways to use distance technology (e.g., Zoom, conference calls) to the extent possible to provide child find, hold initial and annual IEP meetings, and/or evaluation/eligibility meetings, if staff and parents are available but not able to attend in person. Continuing to complete IEP and evaluation/eligibility meetings will help decrease the workload when school resumes. If staff and/or parents are not available or believe their participation is impacted by the lack of an in-person meeting, districts should document the reason and complete the activity in a timely manner following the ending of school closures.”

Accordingly, our IEP and evaluation teams are in the process of setting up virtual meetings with families.  You may be contacted by staff to schedule a special education team meeting via phone or video conference. 

Your student’s individual needs are very important to the Renton School District team. We are not providing services to students during this closure. We plan to meet with IEP teams, including families, when school resumes to address student specific needs resulting from the closure. If you have questions or concerns about your student’s services at this time, please do not hesitate to contact our Special Education Department at 425-204-2280.

Question: Will my student still receive special education services during the closure including OT, PT, and SLP services?

Answer:  As long as schools are closed, we are not providing instruction for students, which means special education services will also be on hold. Please reach out to your child’s case manager or related service provider, by email, if you have questions around how you can provide support for your student at home during the closure.

Question: Will my student’s IEP or evaluation meeting still be held during the closure?

Answer: Special education staff may still hold IEP/Evaluation meetings during the closure. These meetings will however be held either over the phone or virtually. If you prefer to wait until after the closure and have a face-to-face meeting that is okay as well. Per OSPI we will be documenting any IEP/Evaluation meetings that are late due to COVID-19.

Question: If my IEP/Evaluation meeting is missed due to the closure how soon will it be made up?

Answer: Our staff will work as quickly as possible to schedule missed IEP/Evaluation meetings once school resumes with the goal of completing them within two weeks after school is back in session.

Governor Inslee announces schools closed for remainder of 2019-2020 school year

Today, Washington Governor Jay Inslee announced that schools across the state will be closed for the remainder of the 2019-20 school year in order to slow the spread of COVID-19, the coronavirus. During this closure, all schools in our district will remain closed. 

We acknowledge continued school closures present many challenges for students, staff, families, and the entire community. This is difficult news for all of us: students miss their friends and teachers, and we miss our students. While staff across our district are demonstrating their professional and personal commitment to our students in meaningful and inspiring ways, we understand that this extended closure also raises numerous questions for students and families. We have been working for the past several weeks to provide education in a different, sustainable model; and we will continue to work to provide answers to questions brought by this new directive. In the meantime, here is what we know now:

• In-home learning will continue in the same format as long as schools are closed. School principals will continue to provide updated in-home learning content each Friday on school websites. More information can also be found on the district website. We are committed to continuing to partner with families and community to support our students’ learning while they are at home.
• Elementary school families were recently sent information regarding the option to pick up a Chromebook at their student’s school between April 7-9. Our middle and high school students have school-issued Chromebooks to help with in-home learning. Families in need of this support, please contact your child’s principal.
• High school seniors will receive support from guidance counselors regarding opportunities to earn and document credits they need for post-secondary transitions. We are working with the state’s college system to ensure smooth transitions.
• We will continue to provide meals at these locations, Monday through Friday.
• Childcare will continue to be available in a limited capacity for children of first responders and healthcare workers.
• All field trips and events, including sports, socials, and dances, will be cancelled during the extended closure. Schools will engage with students to come up with creative alternatives to celebrate milestones such as prom. We will keep students and families updated on these decisions.
• Based on the Governor’s comments during his press conference, we will continue to explore options related to graduation ceremonies. More information to follow.

• We are awaiting information from the Governor on whether school facilities will be open to provide summer school.

Continue to keep one another safe & healthy 

Please, stay home and stay healthy. Staying home and limiting person-to-person contact appears to be making a difference in slowing the spread of COVID-19, but those measures need to continue in order to be effective long-term. As much as possible, stay home, limit trips outside for groceries, gas and essentials, and stay 6 feet apart from people outside of your home. Additionally:

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Clean and disinfect objects and surfaces.
• Stay at home away from others if you are sick.
• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing, then throw the tissue in the trash and wash your hands.

The need to close schools for the remainder of a school year is an unprecedented move, in unprecedented times. Our commitment is to continue to work to support our students and embrace the opportunity to stay connected with them to strengthen relationships and reinforce a sense of normalcy. While these are tough times, we will get through it together. 

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Renton School District Families:

Thank you to the nearly 1,400 students and families who took time to share their voice in our family survey. The information provided will help us as we plan for the coming school year. Also, thank you to the more than 100 staff members who worked in committees and workgroups to develop recommendations regarding what learning and teaching should look like for students in various instructional models and how teachers might best support students this fall.

Update Regarding the Opening of Schools for 2020-21 
Based on meetings this week that Renton School District Superintendent Damien Pattenaude has had with OSPI (state education office) and public health officials, it is highly unlikely that the start of next school year will see a complete return to face-to-face instruction. Instead, the most likely scenario at this point is a hybrid model where students are on a split/rotating schedule that includes both in-person instruction and distance learning. Additionally, we are developing contingency plans for in-home learning should COVID-19 infections increase again in the fall. Obviously, this has the potential to change as we receive new guidance (Read OSPI's Current Guidance Here). We will keep you updated as we move forward.

Summer Learning Opportunities

Summer Online Learning Opportunities for Students in Grades K-8:
Students in kindergarten through 8th-grade can take part in our summer in-home learning opportunity using i-Ready, an online resource that provides literacy and mathematics practice. i-Ready provides students with lessons based on their individual skill level and needs, so students can learn at a pace that is right for them. Lessons are fun, interactive, and take about 30 minutes per subject. There are no scheduled meeting times; students can complete the lessons at their own pace. A teacher will communicate directly with families only if a student is experiencing challenges. The lessons are offered weekly, June 29-August 14. Computer and internet access are needed to participate. Younger students may need adult help in logging on to complete the lessons. Students and families interested in the summer i-Ready program must sign-up by Thursday, June 24 to participate at https://forms.gle/AJLL7RUQNa7ZpAFa9

Summer STEAM Activities
Each week during the summer, we will be posting a new STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math) activity for students and families on our district website. While these activities will be aimed towards elementary students, older students may enjoy them as well. Families will also be able to take photos of students’ projects and to potentially share them on district social media. Find these weekly STEAM activities at: www.rentonschools.us/learning-and-teaching/summer-2020-in-home-learning-activities

High School Summer Credit Recovery
For high school students we’re again offering credit recovery for students who did not pass courses required to meet graduation requirements. The online program allows students remote support by a school-based mentor.  There is no cost for summer credit recovery, but space is limited; priority for participation will be given first to seniors, then juniors, and then sophomores. High school counselors will contact students who are being invited to participate in this summer program.

Technology Services
We will continue to provide limited support for Chromebook replacement as needed over the summer. Every Monday, June 22 through August 24, students and families can receive support for district-provided technology between 11 am and 12 pm at the following locations: Cascade Elementary School, Dimmitt Middle School, Hazen High School, and the district offices, 300 SW 7th Street, Renton. Additional information, including how to sign up for support, can be found on the district website: https://www.rentonschools.us/departments/technology-services/technology-for-student-learning

Meal Service Changes
On Monday, June 22, our free summer meal service begins. We will continue to serve “grab & go” breakfast and lunch meals on Mondays and Wednesdays from 11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. at the locations listed below. Monday’s service will have meals for Monday and Tuesday, Wednesday’s service will provide meals for Wednesday through Friday. Children do not need to be present for pick up; no ID or qualifications needed; pre-ordering meals is requested here. The summer program will run through Friday, August 21. We ask that proper social distancing practices be respected.

Summer meals will be served at these locations (families can pick-up meals at any location):

• School sites:
  • Cascade Elementary
  • Highlands Elementary
  • Honey Dew Elementary
  • Lakeridge Elementary
  • Renton Park Elementary
  • Sartori Elementary
  • Dimmitt Middle School
  • Hazen High School
• Community sites (apartment complexes):
  • Creston Point,
    13445 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, Seattle
  • Green Tree,
    6900 S 125th St, Seattle
  • Plum Tree Park,
    200 SW 5th Pl, Renton
  • Royal Hills,
    3000 Royal Hills Dr SE, Renton
  • Stonebrook, 12210 SE Petrovitsky Rd, Renton

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Renton School District Families:

As we reflect on local, national, and international action against racism over the past weeks, we, too, embrace families and communities who seek justice and substantive change. The injustice, trauma, and emotional stress experienced by Black people on a daily basis must be addressed in more of our system and societal conversations. We recognize that families process these experiences in different, unique ways; below are resources that may be helpful in talking with children and youth about race, injustice, and the call to action for anti-racism, human rights, and equity:

• Common Sense Media Resources About Race and Racism
• King County Library System’s curated list of materials on history, race, and racism
• Understanding Race and Privilege National Association of School Psychologists
• Center for Racial Justice in Education: Resources for Talking about Race, Racism and Racialized Violence with Kids
• University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education: Talking to children after racial incidents

Celebrating the Class of 2020

Teachers and staff at the district's four high schools recently hosted walk- and drive-thru graduation ceremonies where students in the Class of 2020 wore their caps and gowns to pick up diplomas and celebrate their achievement as family members took photos and cheered on their students.

Students and staff also recorded graduation speeches, performances, and other material which is being coupled with a slideshow of student photos into virtual graduation videos to celebrate the Class of 2020. Virtual graduation ceremonies for each high school will premiere on the district’s YouTube page on Monday, June 15, at 7 p.m. The events will also air on the City of Renton’s Channel 21 (watch for scheduled dates/times here).

Start of 2020-2021 School Year

The state education office announced on Monday that guidance for opening schools in the fall will not be available until later this week. State Superintendent Chris Reykdal is leading a 123-member statewide workgroup to plan for the new school year. The group, like most others throughout the nation, are operating under the assumption that we won’t have a vaccine by September and that local communities will still be mitigating the spread of COVID-19 by minimizing large group gatherings.

With that in mind, the state workgroup has laid out three likely models for the 2020-2021 school year:

• Split or Rotating Schedules with Distance Learning
• Phased In Opening with Distance Learning
• Continuous Learning 2.0 (Distance/Remote Learning for All Students)

We will keep you updated as we learn more and continue our planning efforts.

Your help in planning for next school year

As we continue efforts to plan for the fall, we are eager to incorporate feedback from our community regarding their current experiences and desires moving forward. Please take a moment to contribute your voice through this survey! The survey will be open through Tuesday, June 16.

Reminder: Last Day of School is Friday, June 19

Summer Learning Opportunities

Summer Online Learning Opportunity for Students in Grades K-8:

Students in kindergarten through 8th grade are invited to take part in our summer in-home learning opportunity using i-Ready, an online resource that provides literacy and mathematics practice.

Our i-Ready program provides students with lessons based on their individual skill level and needs, so students can learn at a pace that is right for them. Lessons are fun, interactive, and take about 30 minutes per subject. There are no scheduled meeting times; students will complete the lessons at their own pace. A teacher will communicate with families if there are challenges or adjustments that need to be made. The lessons are offered weekly, June 29-August 14. Computer and internet access are needed to participate. Younger students may need adult help in logging on to complete the lessons. Students and families interested in the summer i-Ready program must sign-up to participate at https://forms.gle/AJLL7RUQNa7ZpAFa9

Summer STEAM Activities

Each week during the summer, we will be posting a new STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math) activity for students and families on our district website. While these activities will be aimed towards elementary students, older students may enjoy them as well. Families will also be able to take photos of students’ projects and to potentially share them on district social media. Find these weekly STEAM activities at: www.rentonschools.us/learning-and-teaching/summer-2020-in-home-learning-activities

High School Summer Credit Recovery

We’re again offering credit recovery for any high school students who did not pass courses required to meet graduation requirements. The online program allows students remote support by a school-based mentor. There is no cost for summer credit recovery, but space is limited; priority for participation will be given first to seniors, then juniors, and then sophomores. High school counselors will contact students who are being invited to participate in this summer program.

Meal Service Changes

Our last day for regular meal service is Wednesday, June 17. On Monday, June 22, we will move to our free summer meal service. We will continue to serve “grab & go” breakfast and lunch meals on Mondays and Wednesdays from 11 a.m.-12 p.m. at the locations listed below.  Monday’s service will have meals for Monday and Tuesday, Wednesday’s service will provide meals for Wed-Fri. Children do not need to be present for pick up. The summer program will run through August 21. We ask that proper social distancing practices be respected.

Summer meals will be served at these locations (families can pick-up meals at any location):

• School sites:
  • Cascade Elementary
  • Highlands Elementary
  • Honey Dew Elementary
  • Lakeridge Elementary
  • Renton Park Elementary
  • Sartori Elementary
  • Dimmitt Middle School
  • Hazen High School

• Community sites (apartment complexes):

  • Creston Point, 13445 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, Seattle
  • Green Tree, 6900 S 125th St, Seattle
  • Plum Tree Park, 200 SW 5th Pl, Renton
  • Royal Hills, 3000 Royal Hills Dr SE, Renton
  • Stonebrook, 12210 SE Petrovitsky Rd, Renton

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Renton School District Families:
Even during this time of concern and disorder, it’s important to find celebrations. Our students, teachers, and staff are still being recognized for their work; community organizations are pulling together to support our children and families in meaningful ways; and recently, we worked through a process to celebrate the graduating class of 2020 (read more about that below). Thank you for your continued flexibility, patience, and grace as we navigate our evolving response to pandemic, and work to keep one another healthy and safe.

Planning for Next School Year
Last Thursday, the steering committee charged with planning our vision of learning and teaching for 2020-21 met to begin the challenging work of developing recommendations regarding what learning and teaching should look like for students in various instructional models and how teachers might best support students in those models. The steering committee includes teacher, paraprofessional, parent, and administrator representatives.

In its first meeting, the steering committee:

• Reviewed the core values that will guide its work:
  • Service: Focus on students and families
  • Excellence: Intentionally design learning experiences that meaningfully engage students
  • Equity: Recognize/respond to students’ and families’ current realities;
• Began to develop a shared vision of the desired outcomes for students, families, and staff;
• Discussed the broader learning needs of all students, including those receiving special services like ELL or special education, and recognized the need to ensure those considerations were included in the instructional design; 
• Discussed the importance of focusing on care and belonging, with attention to the various socio-emotional needs of students (as well as families and students); and
• Reviewed more than 300 nominations of staff to serve on the work groups and made recommendations, ensuring every school is represented in the work groups.
• Moving forward, the steering committee will discuss potential strategies to engage students and families as part of the process.

On Monday, the facilitators of the 16 different work groups met to set a vision for their work and how they would lead their groups through the planning process. And today, over 100 teachers joined work groups focused on developing relevant, meaningful learning activities for students.

2020 Graduation
We have finalized plans to recognize the accomplishments of our 2020 high school graduates. We have developed two plans that get the closest to the wishes of our seniors while adhering to the new requirements for graduations that were released by the Washington State Department of Health on May 14 (read here). 

Option #1: Senior Graduation Walk
Seniors who are on track to meet all graduation requirements will be invited to a Senior Graduation Walk to receive their diploma cover while wearing their cap and gown. The walk will be recorded by professional videographers and photographers. A video of the graduation walk, along with student and staff speeches, will be used to create a virtual graduation ceremony that will premiere on the Renton School District YouTube page on Monday, June 15. If a student is unable to participate in the graduation walk with their high school, their yearbook photo will be used as a part of the virtual graduation ceremony. (High school seniors and families have been emailed specific details about their school’s date/time for the graduation walk ceremony.)

It is important to note that this in person “walk” option is possible only if Washington State is in “Phase 2” of reopening.  

Option #2: Virtual Graduation
If we are not allowed to have our seniors walk across the stage, we will create a virtual graduation ceremony using student yearbook photos and videotape of speakers. This virtual graduation ceremony will premiere on the district’s YouTube page on Monday, June 15.

Dates to Remember:

• Monday, May 25 is Memorial Day, no online school or meal service on this day.
• Tuesday, May 26 is a school day (we closed school in Jan. due to snow; so, we will use this as the make-up day).
• Friday, June 19, last day of this school year
• Wednesday, September 2, first day of 2020-2021 school year (see the 2020-2021 calendar)

No Meals on Memorial Day
Reminder: Monday, May 25 is a national holiday, Memorial Day. There is no meal service on that day. To accommodate families, we provided enough meals today to last through Wednesday, May 27.

Register now for Preschool Programs
Families with 3- and 4-year-old children can start now to enroll in the district's Preschool, Head Start, and Early Childhood Education & Assistance Program (ECEAP) for the 2020-2021 school year. Head Start is a federally sponsored preschool program; ECEAP is a state sponsored preschool program. Families must meet income eligibility requirements to participate in these programs. Also, our Inclusive Preschool program has two sessions per day Monday-Thursday, during the regular school year: 10 am-12:30 pm (AM session) or 1:30-4 pm (PM session). Tuition is $225/month. Transportation is not provided for this program. New for 2020-21: We will have a full-day Head Start classroom located at Campbell Hill Elementary, 6418 South 124th St, Seattle. Learn more about our preschool programs at the Meadow Crest Early Learning Center website, or email: MeadowCrest.Headstart.ECEAP@rentonschools.us. 

 

Renton School District Families:

Even as the Renton School District continues to focus on supporting our students and families through the remainder of this school year, I know there are many questions about what school will look like in August and September. The short answer is that we still do not know whether it will be in person, remote, or some hybrid for the start of the new school year. I anticipate that we may get an initial idea in June as Governor Inslee, state health officials, and the state education office (OSPI) consider the data, guidance from the federal level, and lessons learned from other states and countries that have reopened schools. 

While the current pandemic definitely led us to respond quickly to the circumstances we faced, we do have an opportunity to now think more proactively about learning and teaching for the fall of 2020. To this end, I have created a steering committee that will support several workgroups in developing recommendations regarding what learning and teaching should look like for students in various instructional models and how teachers might best support students in those models. The steering committee and work groups will be guided by our core values, which we have expanded upon for this unique situation:

• Service: Focus on students and families
• Excellence: Intentionally design learning experiences that meaningfully engage students
• Equity: Recognize/respond to students’ and families’ current realities

Over the next six weeks, the workgroups, composed of teachers, facilitators, and administrators across grade levels (K-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12), schools, and content areas will collaborate to propose ideas and models that might best support student learning and growth. The steering committee will bring final recommendations the week of June 16 in the form of a coherent K-12 plan that provides guidance for several possible conditions. As we receive guidance and/or mandates from the state, these learning plans will drive our development of logistical implementation plans that prioritize the health and safety of students and staff while also fostering community and connection. While there remain many unknowns, we believe that this scenario planning process will support us in preparation for the start of next school year.

Additional information will be forthcoming after the committee begins its work. 

Thank you, all, for your patience, persistence, and commitment. Please stay healthy and safe.

Damien Pattenaude, Superintendent

No Meals on Memorial Day
Reminder: Monday, May 25 is a national holiday, Memorial Day. There is no meal service on that day. To accommodate families, we are working to provide enough meals on Wednesday, May 20 to last through Wednesday, May 27. Families are encouraged to bring a backpack or bag to comfortably carry 2-3 days of meals.

Kindergarten Registration and Virtual Readiness Events in May
Kindergarten enrollment for next school year and virtual school events for incoming kinder families are happening now! If your child will be 5 years old by August 31, enroll in kindergarten now to attend virtual school events scheduled this month at each elementary school. Register now for kindergarten.

Renton School District Families:

This week we celebrate and honor our teachers as part of Teacher Appreciation Week. I truly believe that the relationship between our teachers and students is at the heart of the work we do in our district. As a parent of two RSD students, I sincerely appreciate the dedication of our staff in meeting the needs of our students and families. As superintendent, I am proud of their caring and flexibility as we have closed down our schools and shifted to a learning model that none of us would have imagined a little over two months ago. I hope you will join me in thanking our teachers for their hard work and commitment.

While our teachers are at the heart of our work, for those of us not in the classroom, which includes me and roughly 1000 staff members, our job is to support the teacher-student relationship. Although the work might not be as public, the job is no less important. In fact, today is School Nurse Appreciation Day and in the last week there have been days celebrating our Administrative Professionals, Nutrition Services staff, and Principals/Assistant Principals. It is an honor to work alongside them and I am appreciative of their service and great work. They, too, are well deserving of our school community’s appreciation.

Please continue to take care of yourself and your family.

Damien Pattenaude, Superintendent

 

Here are some quick updates for this week:

Kindergarten Readiness Events in May
All elementary schools are hosting virtual events in May for families registering kindergarten students for the 2020-2021 school year. These events provide families the opportunity to learn about their new school, the kindergarten experience, and more. A Zoom link will be required to join the each virtual event. Learn more and get your Zoom attendance information at our kindergarten registration page.

Changes to Meal Service
To better serve our families, beginning Monday, May 11, we will move to a twice per week meal service.

• Meals will be available Mondays and Wednesdays at all meal sites.
  • Monday pick-up will include meals for Monday and Tuesday. 
  • Wednesday pick-up will include meals for Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday.
    • We will provide grocery bags to make it easier for families to carry multiple-day meal packs. Families are also encouraged to bring a backpack or bag to comfortably carry 2-3 days of meals.

NOTE: Monday, May 25 is a national holiday, Memorial Day. There is no meal service on that day. To accommodate families, we are working on a plan to provide enough meals on Wednesday, May 20 to last through Wednesday, May 27.

Class of 2020 Graduation
We continue to review ideas, locations, safety considerations, and more as we consider potential graduation options for the Class of 2020. We hope to have an announcement soon in regards to our plans.

Renton School District Families:

Thank you for your continued efforts during this time as we work together as a community to respond to the coronavirus outbreak in Washington. As a result of your good work, and that of other Washingtonians, you may have seen Governor Jay Inslee share some of the positive results of the Stay Home, Stay Healthy order. While we still have much work to do, we are encouraged at the possibility of some relaxation of state restrictions in the coming weeks and months. 

Here are some updates on what the Renton School District has been working on this week:

New childcare program starts Monday, May 4
In partnership with Right at School, Renton School District continues to offer free childcare for students of first responders and essential medical personnel. Starting Monday, May 4, Right at School will also provide a “School Closure Camp” for students of interested district families. The camp will be a fee-for-service program and will offer children opportunities for learning, socialization, and fun while school is not in session.

Details

• Day Camp will run 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Sartori Elementary School, 332 Park Ave N, Renton
• Cost is $270 per week, and families have the flexibility to register for whichever weeks they need.
  • Families already approved for financial assistance can continue using DSHS subsidy to help cover the costs of care
• Registration is open at https://rightatschool-sartori-elementary.jumbula.com/view#/camp-2020. 
• Enrollment in this program is capped at 75 students, to ensure continued health and safety of students.

Work to keep children safe at day camp

• Right At School is committed to necessary precautions to ensure the health and safety of students and staff.
• Staff to student ratio will be 1:9.
• Temperature and health checks of all staff and students prior to entering the facility.
• Ensuring that social distancing requirements are adhered to throughout the day.
• Cleaning and disinfecting of program space continues throughout the day.

Summer Camp still scheduled in June
Right At School’s traditional Summer Camp is scheduled to start June 22 and will be open to all Renton families. Anyone who wishes to sign up their children for camp should register for the weeks of their choice here: https://rightatschool-sartori-elementary.jumbula.com/view#/camp-2020.

NOTE: If your student is currently attending the free childcare program for first responders and essential medical personnel, that program will continue to run until June 19, 2020. After June 19, all students who wish to continue attending a day camp program should enroll in the Right At School Summer Camp at https://rightatschool-sartori-elementary.jumbula.com/view#/camp-2020.

Questions? Please email or call Right At School’s Customer Service Team: https://rightatschool.com/contact/ or at 855-287-2466.

Changes to meal service
In order to better serve our families, beginning Monday, May 11, we will move from a 5 day/week meal service to a twice per week meal service. 

Also, we will close some sites that have participation levels of less than 50 children picking up daily meals. Families can pick-up meals at any site near their home, including those within one mile of the previous site. (See list of all meal sites here.)

Important information about meal changes:

• Beginning Monday, May 11, meals will be available only on Mondays and Wednesdays at all meal sites.
  • Monday pick-up would include meals for Monday and Tuesday.
  • Wednesday pick-up would contain meals for Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.
• We will provide grocery bags to make it easier for families to carry multiple-day meal packs. Families are also encouraged to bring a backpack or bag to comfortably carry 2-3 days of meals.
• Beginning Monday, May 4, we will consolidate school meal sites that few families use with others nearby:
  • Bryn Mawr Elementary site will close: families can pick-up meals nearby at Campbell Hill, Lakeridge, or Dimmitt Middle School
  • Renton High School site will close: families can pick-up meals at nearby Sartori Elementary
  • Nelsen Middle School site will close: families can pick-up meals nearby at Cascade, Renton Park or Tiffany Park

Class of 2020
Renton Schools Superintendent Damien Pattenaude last week met with high school senior class leaders to find out how they are doing and what we can do to support them as we move toward graduation. Students shared their hopes for what a graduation ceremony might look like given current restrictions. Superintendent Pattenaude is now working with his administrative team to review ideas provided by students.  

2020-2021 School District Budget
Renton School Board members were recently presented work by district staff to reduce next school year’s budget by about $10.5 million, or more than 4% of the overall district budget. The presentation included a list of planned reductions necessary to close an operating deficit which results primarily from reduced levy authority from the State Legislature and student enrollment being below projection for the 2019-20 school year.

District administration carefully considered feedback from nearly 350 staff and community members in drafting the reduction plan. Sixty-two percent (more than $6.5 million) of the planned reductions come from the district office, holding true to Superintendent Damien Pattenaude’s priority, as well as aligning with staff and community feedback, to make most of the necessary reductions as far away from classrooms as possible. (See the presentation here.) The board will next consider the proposed 2020-2021 budget in June.

Please continue to take care of yourself and your family and remember to Stay Home, Stay Healthy.

Renton School District Families:

As we continue to follow the rules of Stay Home, Stay Healthy to ensure we all get through this pandemic together, it’s important to try and stay hopeful and focused on brighter days to come. Throughout Renton Schools, educators and support staff have been busy continuing to think about how to keep students connected to learning and work to improve in-home learning; we are making changes to school websites to make finding important information easier and faster; and, we continue to make attempts each week to connect with our families.

Here is some of what we’re working on this week:

Register Your Child for Kindergarten
Renton School District offers free full-day kindergarten programs in all elementary schools. Kindergartners attend school on the same schedule as students in grades 1-5 and are provided core curriculum of reading; writing; mathematics; science; social studies; Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM); and additional experiences in art, music, and PE. Learn more and register for kindergarten spots in the 2020-2021 school year at https://www.rentonschools.us/learning-and-teaching/elementary-education/kindergarten

Connecting with Students and Families
To better ensure our in-home learning program is reaching all students, this Friday teachers across the district will begin tracking student engagement by identifying students as they log into online systems, responding to email, and engage in phone calls and other forms of back-and-forth communication. Schools will use the information collected to contact students and families who are not connecting to see how they can help. If you have not connected recently with your child’s teacher, please watch for an email or phone call. (Keep in mind that a phone call from your teacher may appear to be from an “unknown caller” and that you can still reach teachers by calling their classroom phones.) Teachers are working hard to reach you and are committed to partnering with you during the closure!

Grading
Last night, the Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction announced it will adopt emergency rules mandating districts to use grades to assess student learning for the purpose of high school credit-bearing courses for the last trimester of the 2019-20 school year. The new rules will require that:

• No student receives a “pass,” “fail,” or “no credit” grade for any course.
• Teachers assign grades or assign an “incomplete” for students that cannot engage in an equitable way.
• 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.

We are reviewing the new rules and will determine next steps. Schools will communicate with students and families regarding any updates to the grading process and expectations. 

Special Education
If your child receives special education services, a case manager will be contacting you to develop the Continuous Learning Plan (CLP). Please refer to this Continuous Learning Plan for your child’s services and consult with the special education teacher, speech pathologist (SLP), occupational therapist (OT), and/or physical therapist (PT) for additional guidance.

Nutrition Services
This past week, over 21,000 meals were served to students at 25 sites throughout the Renton School District.  The Nutrition Services team is continuing to look for ways to ensure meals are easily accessible for families while maintaining practices to keep our families and staff safe and healthy.  We encourage families to use the pre-order system that can be found at:  https://www.rentonschools.us/learning-and-teaching/health-services/coronavirus-covid-19

Family Refunds
In an effort to provide families with financial relief, our Business Services Office has created an online refund process for families and students who prepaid for field trips, athletic fees, ASB cards, student parking, and more. Here’s a link to the online refund request process for families and students who wish to request refunds. 

Technology Support
To continue to support in-home learning, over the past two weeks we’ve provided 2,000 Chromebooks to families of elementary students. All students in grades 6-12 started this school year with a district-provided Chromebook to use at school and at home. In total, we’ve provided 10,200 Chromebooks directly to students/families. Additionally, we’ve provided Wi-Fi hotspots to over 600 students, both before and during the closure. Our website has resources for basic support with student technology. As a reminder, all in-home learning resources are available to students using any computer or device, through each school’s website and through the RSD Login Portal, which can be accessed via any device.

Please continue to take care of yourself and your family and remember to Stay Home, Stay Healthy.

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Renton School District Families:

Teachers and school support staff, along with students and families, are showing incredible creativity, resilience, and compassion as we shift education from the classroom to a remote model. Staying at home can feel isolating, but our staff are experimenting with fun and innovative approaches to ensure our students are feeling connected. 

Last Friday, we sent you a video regarding the closure of schools from Renton Schools Superintendent Damien Pattenaude. If you have not had the chance to watch it, you can see it here.

Here are some updates on our work to support students and families: 

For our elementary and middle school students, teachers will continue posting learning activities aligned to grade level standards/courses. These can be found on each school’s websites under “In-Home Learning”. For our high school students, Monday was the start of the 3rd trimester.  High school teachers are engaging students in coursework, providing assignments that may be accessed through email, Canvas, or Google Classroom. Students and families should access Skyward to see their 3rd Trimester schedules and teacher list. If you have questions, please contact your child’s school.   

Technology Support for Students
Nearly 10,000 students have district-provided Chromebooks at home to support learning during the closure. Elementary schools continue to provide Chromebooks to families this week and next (arranged and communicated by each school). We have posted resources for basic support with student technology. All access and activity on school district-provided devices is filtered and monitored. Information regarding filtering as well as student data privacy and security is posted. We’ve also shared resources for families to support digital citizenship and responsible use of technology at home.

Clarifying directions for Zoom meetings: We have pushed out the Zoom app to all district-issued student Chromebooks. Students do not need a Zoom account to join a meeting and should not start their own Zoom meetings. Directions for students: bit.ly/RSD-zoom-student Regarding Zoom security: We have adjusted several district-wide security settings to become standards in Zoom (e.g. requiring a “waiting room,” meeting passwords, and host-only screen-sharing).

Family Refunds
In an effort to provide families with financial relief, our Business Services Office has created an online refund process for families and students who prepaid for spring field trips, spring athletic fees, ASB cards, third trimester parking, and more. Here’s a link to the online refund request process for families and students who wish to request refunds. 

Waiving Credits for Seniors
The State Board of Education (SBE) has provided a waiver program as a temporary solution for immediate challenges faced by high school seniors in light of school building closures due to COVID-19. Superintendent Pattenaude has applied for the waiver. The SBE will likely decide on the waiver by next week. Click here to read the SBE’s FAQs regarding the waiver. Additionally, the Renton School District Board of Directors will have the opportunity to consider if there is a need to waive any local graduation requirements for the Class of 2020. 

High School Graduation
Next week, Superintendent Pattenaude will meet with representatives of each high school’s senior class as well as their principals to discuss graduation commencement and other topics. We will keep you updated on any plans for graduation.

Higher Education
The Washington State Council of Presidents, Washington State Board of Community and Technical Colleges, and Independent Colleges of Washington released a joint statement for students, families, and school districts regarding their plan to address the impacts of COVID-19 on incoming and future students. Read the statement here. Additionally, the University of Washington has announced that high school students in the Class of 2021 do not need to take the SAT or ACT for admission. 

Special Education
Special education teachers and therapists are contacting families to develop a continuous learning plan for students with an Individual Education Plan (IEP).

Meals for Students
School meals continue to be served and are available for students Monday-Friday, 11 a.m. to noon at the following locations. Children no longer need to be present for family members to pick-up meals. When picking up meals, please remember to practice good social distancing and stand at least six feet away from others.

Child Care
We continue to provide free child care services for children kindergarten through 5th grade whose caretakers are first responders and essential health care workers. Additionally, we’ve placed some resources for families in need of child care on our Student and Families Support webpage.

2020 Census
The very important 2020 Census is underway. Responses by our Newcastle and Renton families and neighbors continue to increase:

• Nearly 63% of Newcastle residents responded;
• Nearly 56% of Renton residents responded; and
• Nearly 54% of King County residents responded.

In comparison, in 2010, the last time the Census took place:

• only 74% of Newcastle residents responded (meaning more than 25% did not);
• just under 68% of Renton residents responded (nearly a third of residents did not); and
• only 73% of King County residents responded.

Washington state will lose about $5.8 million over ten years for every 100 households missed in the count. Let's work to improve those numbers this year and commit to filling out the important 2020 Census which provides funding for hospitals, roads, school lunches, firefighters, families in need, and more. Grab you mailer and fill out my2020census.gov.

Stay Healthy and Safe
As we continue to navigate through this difficult time, we must remember that we all share responsibility in bringing our community and nation back to health. Even while staying at home, it is important to practice excellent hygiene and sanitation. Staying home and limiting person-to-person contact appears to be making a difference in slowing the spread of COVID-19, but those measures must continue in order to be effective long-term. As much as possible, stay home, limit trips outside, and stay six feet apart from people outside of your home. Please keep you and your family healthy and safe.

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Renton School District Families,

Teachers and district support staff have been working hard this week as we continue to provide students with in-home learning resources and essential services during the closure. This update will provide you with information about our work.

In-Home Learning
Principals are communicating directly with families about the next steps for In-Home Learning. Families have either seen those email earlier this week or can expect it soon. For high school students, Trimester 3 will begin on Monday, April 13.

Elementary Chromebook Distribution
Elementary school families were recently sent information regarding the option to pick up a Chromebook at their student’s school between April 7-9. Our middle and high school students have school-issued Chromebooks to help with in-home learning. Families in need of this support, please contact your child’s principal.

Online Access for In-Home Learning
Many students are accessing in-home learning through a Learning Management System (LMS), either Canvas or Google Classroom, which they can access through our RSD Login Portal. Families can gain access to the LMS in the following ways, where they will be able to “observe” some of their student’s assignments and activity, but not interact with content or with the students:

Canvas Family Access
Family members can gain access to Canvas classes as an “observer” (more information here). To sign up as an observer, please follow the directions in this document.

Google Classroom Family Access
Family members can access information from Google Classroom in two different ways:

1. One option is for the classroom teacher to initiate an invite via a family member’s email. Once the family member accepts the invite, they will be provided a weekly message from Google Classroom, providing information on things like missing work, upcoming work and class activity.
2. Another way to view the actual course that the student and teachers view, is for a family member to sit with their student, who will log into Google Classroom by going through the RSD login portal at login.rentonschools.us, select Google Classroom and navigate to the specific class they would like to view. This will allow for a conversation between a student and family members about the learning activities.

High School Credits
We are committed to helping our seniors graduate on time, as well as keep all high school students on track to graduate. To this end, we will continue to monitor the guidance from OSPI and the State Board of Education (SBE) to determine how we will grade students and assign credit.

Specifically for seniors, as we shared last Friday, the SBE is scheduled to adopt new rules regarding the waiver of certain graduation requirements on April 8. We will provide updates after the SBE makes its decisions. Additionally, the Washington State Council of Presidents and Independent Colleges of Washington have released a statement for Class of 2020 admissions. Read it here.

Meals for Students
School meals will continue to be served even as Washington State Governor Jay Inslee has extended his “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” order through May 4. Meals are available for students Monday-Friday, 11 a.m. to noon at the following locations. When picking up meals, please remember to practice good social distancing and stand at least six feet away from others.

Meals are served at nearly every school in our district and at these community locations:

• Creston Point, 13445 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, Seattle, WA 98178
• Green Tree/Park Hill, 6900 S 125th St, Seattle, WA 98178
• Plum Tree Park, 200 SW 5th Pl, Renton, WA 98057
• Royal Hills, 3000 Royal Hills Dr SE, Renton, WA 98058
• Stonebrook, 12210 SE Petrovitsky Rd, Renton, WA 98058

Please pre-order your meals for your pick-up location:
If you are planning to drop by for a free meal, please click each date below and let us know what site you'll be coming to and how many children you'll have with you. This information will help with our planning to be better prepared to serve students. We'll have extra meals available for those who didn't get a chance to order. Orders must be placed before 8 p.m. the night before.

• Monday, April 6
• Tuesday, April 7
• Wednesday, April 8
• Thursday, April 9
• Friday, April 10

Looking Ahead
While schools are scheduled to reopen on April 27, we believe that the Governor is likely to extend the closure--potentially for the remainder of the school year. We anticipate knowing the Governor’s decision very soon. Should this happen, we are prepared to adjust to any new guidance from OSPI and the Governor regarding the services we will provide in support of our students and families. 

Finally, we want to thank all of our students and families for your grace and patience as we have worked to address the challenges resulting from the closure of our schools. We miss working directly with our students but are committed to making this experience as positive and productive as possible. Stay healthy and safe!

District Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram.

Renton School District Families:

This week we began the work to support our students, families, and staff in a way that addresses the range of implications that a sudden school closure brings. As we adjust to the changing landscape of our daily lives and work, we acknowledge the disruption and uncertainty this health crisis is causing. We appreciate your resilience and patience as we navigate this unprecedented time together.

Here is some of the work we accomplished this week:

Custodial
This week we continued work to disinfect touchpoints throughout our schools. Next week we will move to a cleaning process much like our summer cleaning program: clean/extract carpets, refinish tile floors, and complete other deep cleaning tasks.

Nutrition Services
Our Nutrition Services team is serving meals (breakfast and lunch) at each school location as well as four apartment complexes. The team has served about 5,000 meals this week and anticipate participation will increase in the coming days and weeks. We continue to work within social-distancing parameters as we serve these meals to continue to keep students and families safe.

Teachers & Support Staff
School and district educators and support staff have been organizing in-home learning materials to help students and families continue their learning. Along with the district’s comprehensive Students & Families webpage, we’ve also created an in-home learning resource page on each school’s website where school staff will collaborate to place specific grade-level learning materials along with resources developed by therapists, counselors, and nurses. We'll communicate more about these pages when they're ready.

Childcare
Washington Governor Jay Inslee has directed school districts to work to provide free childcare services for children kindergarten-5th grade whose caretakers are first responders and essential health care workers. We recently surveyed our families to determine those who fall into these important life-supporting categories and are in need of this childcare assistance. We will soon be communicating with these families, with the intent to start childcare on Wednesday, March 25, 2020. Additionally, we’ve placed some resources for families in need of childcare on our Student and Families Support webpage.

The Coming Days
Things will very likely continue to change in the coming days and weeks as our state leadership and health care professionals become more adept at responding in these unprecedented circumstances. Superintendent Pattenaude and his Cabinet continue to meet multiple times per week through online sources with OSPI and county health care professionals to learn more about the plan ahead, and strategies for making up lost time with students. With these challenges comes opportunities and responsibility to remain patient, to extend grace, and to assume positive intent. The latest updates can be found on the District webpage.

Thank you again for your thoughtfulness and patience as together we show our commitment, flexibility, and professionalism during this challenging time.

District website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Renton Families,

Thank you for your patience and understanding as we wrap up this week. We know that this transition to having schools closed for the next month and a half has created uncertainty and anxiety. While we do not have all of the answers as to what will happen over the next six weeks, we will continue to update you as we gain greater clarity from the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI; state education office). 

We will continue to work to provide essential services for our students and families during this mandated school closure. Here are updates on that work:

Meal Services
Beginning Tuesday, March 17, 2020, meals will be available for any child, ages 1-18, in the front lot of each Renton School from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm daily during the school week. We are committed to providing access to meals to help ensure that all students’ nutritional needs are met during the closure. Meals are “grab and go” - Students will not stay on-site to eat; meals are intended to be taken off campus and can be picked up through car windows.

Additionally, meals will be available at the following locations daily from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm daily:

• Green Tree/Park Hill, 6900 S 125th St, Seattle
• Creston Point, 13445  Martin Luther King Jr. Way, Seattle
• Royal Hills, 3000 Royal Hills Dr SE, Renton
• Stonebrook, 12210 SE Petrovitsky Rd, Renton

Learning During Closure
Renton Schools have provided resources for at-home learning during our closure. We are committed to providing equitable learning experiences for our students. These resources are intended to support skill maintenance and development. Paper copies were distributed to students at all schools on Friday, March 13 and directions posted on the district website page for students and families. Additional copies will be available at schools during meal service.

We worked with instructional leaders to develop the learning resources and guidelines regarding digital platforms, content, support structures, and shared resources. Our learning resources  outline developmentally appropriate learning opportunities for different ages of students, including many non-digital options for learning. At our secondary schools (grades 6-12), all students have a district-provided Chromebook (and district-provided internet hotspot as needed) which provides them access to online learning platforms in addition to offline learning activities. We are continuing to develop learning resources and strategies that can support students with various needs, especially special education and English language services. In all of these plans, there are equity considerations and impacts to families in terms of student learning support.

State Testing
The state's education office (OSPI) is cancelling all state testing for the 2019-2020 school year. This includes the Smarter Balanced Assessment (SBA), the Washington Comprehensive Assessment of Science (WCAS), the Washington Access to Instruction and Measurement (WA-AIM), and WIDA Alternate ACCESS for English learners.

Childcare
We are working with our local partners and with the state education office (Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction - OSPI), on clear guidance to provide childcare during the school closure. Details to follow.

Building, Field, Pool Use During Closure
Our schools, buildings, fields and pools remain closed to outside organized teams/groups through the end of March.

Additional Information
While‌ ‌the‌ ‌school‌ ‌district‌ ‌is‌ ‌closed,‌ ‌Public‌ ‌Health‌ ‌recommends‌ ‌that‌ ‌students‌ ‌stay‌ ‌home‌ ‌as‌ ‌much‌ ‌as‌ ‌possible‌ ‌and‌ ‌avoid‌ ‌large‌ ‌social‌ ‌gatherings‌ ‌in‌ ‌order‌ ‌to‌ ‌help‌ ‌to‌ ‌reduce‌ ‌the‌ ‌potential‌ ‌for‌ ‌transmission.‌ 

We strongly urge families to follow the updated guidance from King County Public Health for social distancing and other precautions in an effort to slow the spread of this virus. 

Thank you, again, for your flexibility and patience as our school district closes for the next six weeks. Even though the times are difficult and uncertain, we look forward to continuing to have the privilege of serving your students.

We will continue to provide updates through direct e-mail messages, on our social media (Facebook | Twitter | Instagram), and coronavirus webpage.

Renton School District Families:

Following today’s new directive from Washington State Governor Jay Inslee, we will close all Renton School District schools beginning Monday, March 16 through Friday, April 24. 

The Governor’s Office states that a brief closure (two weeks or less) of schools is not enough to affect a change for the infection rate of the virus. Guidance from the Governor’s Office, based on known data and epidemiological modeling, is to close schools for this extended period of time.

We wanted to share information regarding the following essential services for students and families:

Breakfast and Lunch Services
Breakfast and lunch will be available for children at select locations – details to follow for each school community.

Student Medications
Student medications may be picked up by authorized family members on Friday, March 13 or Monday, March 16 during regular school hours.

Learning During the Closure
Renton Schools are providing resources for at-home learning. These activities are intended to support skill maintenance and development. Paper copies of the learning resources will be distributed to students at all schools on Friday, March 13 and posted on the district website. Additional copies will also be available at breakfast and lunch sites.

• The Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) does not recommend school districts shift to remote or online learning during the closure because of the inability to provide equitable instruction for students, particularly those who receive special education supports.
• We will work with OSPI to ensure the closure will not negatively impact the ability of high school students to earn credits and 12th grade students’ ability to complete graduation requirements. 
• We will continue to provide updates to families during the closure.

Childcare
We are working with our partners to determine childcare options - details to follow. 

Additional Information
While‌‌ ‌‌the‌‌ ‌‌school‌‌ ‌‌district‌‌ ‌‌is‌‌ ‌‌closed,‌‌ ‌‌Public‌‌ ‌‌Health‌‌ ‌‌recommends‌‌ ‌‌that‌‌ ‌‌students‌‌ ‌‌stay‌‌ ‌‌home‌‌ ‌‌as‌‌ ‌‌much‌‌ ‌‌as‌‌ ‌possible‌‌ ‌‌and‌‌ ‌‌avoid‌‌ ‌‌large‌‌ ‌‌social‌‌ ‌‌gatherings‌‌ ‌‌in‌‌ ‌‌order‌‌ ‌‌to‌‌ ‌‌help‌‌ ‌‌to‌‌ ‌‌reduce‌‌ ‌‌the‌‌ ‌‌potential‌‌ ‌‌for‌‌ ‌‌transmission.‌‌We‌ ‌strongly‌ ‌urge‌ ‌families‌ ‌to‌ ‌follow‌ ‌the‌ ‌updated‌ ‌guidance‌ ‌from‌ ‌‌King‌ ‌County‌ ‌Public‌ ‌Health‌‌ ‌for‌ ‌social‌ ‌distancing‌ ‌and‌ ‌other‌ ‌precautions‌ ‌in‌ ‌an‌ ‌effort‌ ‌to‌ ‌slow‌ ‌the‌ ‌spread‌ ‌of‌ ‌this‌ ‌virus.‌ ‌ ‌

We strongly urge families to follow the updated guidance from King County Public Health for social distancing and other precautions in an effort to slow the spread of this virus. 

Thank You
Thank you for your patience and understanding during these uncertain times. We know that there are many unanswered questions. However, we will work with OSPI to get these answered as we continue to provide vital services for our students and families.

We will continue to provide updates through direct email messages, on our social media (Facebook | Twitter | Instagram), and coronavirus webpage.

Damien Pattenaude, Ed.D.
Superintendent
Renton School District

We are writing to inform our school community that Hazen High School will remain closed this week and will reopen on Thursday, March 19, 2020. All other schools continue to remain open. The decision regarding Hazen was informed by the most recent guidance provided by Public Health – Seattle & King County and made out of an abundance of caution. Fourteen days is the incubation period for COVID-19 so Hazen will remain closed for 14 days from the date that students and staff were last on campus. Hazen High School staff will return to school on Wednesday, March 18 in preparation for students returning on Thursday. While the school is still closed, Public Health recommends that students and staff should stay home as much as possible and avoid large social gatherings in order to help to reduce the potential for transmission.

At this time, only one student at Hazen High School has been confirmed through laboratory testing to have COVID-19.  This student is no longer ill and has been cleared by their health care professionals to return to school. There have not been any additional confirmed cases of COVID-19 at Hazen. We provided information to Public Health about a small number of other students and staff reporting illness that could be consistent with COVID-19. Some of those have been tested; while some results have returned negative, other results are currently pending. The school has been cleaned and disinfected multiple times and poses no health risks.

Public Health followed-up with those individuals who have symptoms but is unable to determine if their illnesses are caused by COVID-19, influenza, or another cold virus as influenza and cold viruses cause similar symptoms as COVID-19.

During the closure, Nutrition Services will provide breakfast and lunch meals to Hazen students and adjustments to learning plans are being made.

At this time, Public Health continues to recommend that schools stay open to provide important services to students.

As COVID-19 spreads through King County, there is the potential that there may be a new diagnosis in the near and ongoing future. Should this happen, we will work with Public Health regarding next steps. Any future school closures will be based on the context of that specific situation.

What should students, staff, and volunteers do if they feel sick?

All students, staff, and volunteers who feel sick with any illness should stay home and avoid going to school or public areas. In particular, those experiencing symptoms consistent with COVID-19, such as fever, cough, or shortness of breath should self-isolate at home and call their healthcare provider immediately. Self-isolation means separating yourself from other people and animals in your home by staying in a specific room and using a separate bathroom, if possible. If you have a face mask available, wear it when you have to be around other people. Please do not visit your healthcare provider or an emergency department without calling ahead if you have concerns about COVID-19. This will help protect other people from being exposed.

As the health situation evolves in King County, the Renton School District continues to review and update our emergency operations plan so that we can be best prepared for the possibility of more local cases. We will continue to update our Coronavirus (COVID-19) page. Again, we want to express our appreciation for your patience and feedback as we respond to the daily challenges COVID-19 presents to us as a learning organization and a community.

Please find additional detailed information here:

• What to do if you have confirmed or suspected COVID-19 or are worried that you may have COVID-19.
• What to do if you are sick with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)
• Stop the spread of germs – help prevent the spread of respiratory viruses like COVID-19

Renton School District Families, Students, Staff, and Community,

During a press conference this morning, Governor Inslee directed districts to create contingency plans to address essential services such as nutrition and medical services should we be forced to close our schools. This afternoon, I have a conference call with the Governor and superintendents in King, Pierce, and Snohomish counties to discuss how we can take a coordinated approach to combating the Coronavirus and flatten the size of the epidemic peak.

Since last week, our leadership team and I have been in constant communication with Public Health - Seattle & King Co., superintendents throughout the region, and OSPI regarding decisions facing our school districts. This work has allowed us to proactively plan for many of the areas the Governor discussed in his press conference including providing breakfast and lunch as well as potential childcare options.

I want to express sincere gratitude for our staff and families as we face this challenge together. Additionally, I want to assure you that our team is committed to the health and safety of our students, staff, families, and community. We will continue to update you on a regular basis.

For more information, visit our district coronavirus page.

Damien Pattenaude Ed.D.
Superintendent

Renton School District Families:

As our district continues to work through these challenging times, we really appreciate everyone coming together to support the health and wellness of our community.

Our school and district maintenance staff were proactive and ordered adequate supplies of paper towels, bathroom tissue, soap, and other supplies in order to maintain the cleanliness of our schools.

The Renton School District continues to partner with Public Health - Seattle & King County to make the best decisions for our students, families, and staff. While we have a few updates to provide, we would also like to communicate that Hazen will remain closed Tuesday, March 10. As Public Health continues to collect more information, we hope to be able to provide additional clarification tomorrow, March 10. We understand that it is frustrating to receive a daily update without knowing the long-term status and we are sorry for the challenges this presents to families and staff.

Please refer to yesterday’s comprehensive update on our Coronavirus (COVID-19) page, posted under Communications, March 8, 2020. Additionally, we wanted to share the following:

Spring Sports
New guidance about spring sports has been provided from the Washington Interscholastic Athletics Association (WIAA), the state’s high school athletics association, providing districts to alter practice schedules and add practices based on individual school circumstances. Additionally, WIAA is providing schools, school districts, and leagues more leeway in determining game schedules. Renton School District’s Athletics Department will work with coaches to implement these adjustments to spring sports.

Online Learning
We’ve received questions around remote (online) learning. OSPI, the state's education office, does not recommend moving to online learning for a number of reasons:

• All students would need to be able to access content and learning supports, including students who receive special education and/or English learning services
• Attendance for both students and staff would not be accurately tracked.

Volunteers
At this time, volunteers who are healthy are welcome to continue to support our schools. However, anyone who is not feeling well or is in any of the high-risk groups should consult with their health provider to make decisions about their attendance in public gatherings.

As the health situation outbreak evolves in King County, the Renton School District continues to review and update our emergency operations plan so that we can be best prepared for the possibility of more local cases. We will continue to update our Coronavirus (COVID-19) page. We want to express our appreciation for your patience and feedback as we respond to the daily challenges COVID-19 presents to us as a learning organization and a community.

community.relations@rentonschools.us

District website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

 

 Renton School District Families,

As we prepare for the week ahead, we want to acknowledge the important role everyone plays in a situation like the one we are facing. We are incredibly appreciative of our staff’s hard work and commitment to our students and families during these unsettling times. Additionally, we are thankful for the feedback you have provided as we endeavor to keep you safe and informed through this ever-evolving situation. We continue to partner with Public Health – Seattle & King County to make decisions based on the safety, health, and well-being of all our students and staff. We are deeply appreciative of our families and staff and of their efforts to support our students every day, and we appreciate your continued patience and flexibility during this unprecedented time.

We will continue to provide updates to you as we learn more throughout this week, and please know that considerations about how best to keep students, families, and staff healthy and informed are guiding our work in this very dynamic situation. Until then, we have provided a current summary below in an effort to condense the current guidance in a single place.

New Guidance from Public Health

• While Public Health – Seattle & King County continues to recommend that schools remain open at this time, it recently released revised guidelines for self-quarantining related to COVID-19 (coronavirus). More specifically:
• If you have confirmed or suspected COVID-19: Stay in home isolation for 7 days OR until 72 hours after your fever has resolved and symptoms get better, whichever is longer.
• If you have COVID-19 symptoms but haven’t been around anyone who has been diagnosed with COVID-19: Stay in home isolation and avoid others for 72 hours after your fever goes down and symptoms get better.
• Public Health is also recommending, but not requiring, that people at higher risk of severe illness should stay home and away from large groups of people as much as possible, including public places with lots of people and large gatherings where there will be close contact with others. People at higher risk were identified as:
  • People 60 and older
  • People with underlying health conditions including heart disease, lung disease or diabetes
  • People who have weakened immune systems
  • People who are pregnant

For more complete guidance, please refer to the King County Public Health website.

Cleaning Efforts to Mitigate Exposure to COVID-19
Custodial managers have been working closely with school and building custodial staff to ensure daily disinfecting is occurring on common “touch-points” at all of our facilities. These include door handles/knobs, light switches, sink/faucet handles, drinking fountains, paper towel dispensers, stair rails, restroom stall handles, toilet flush handles, elevator push buttons, and countertops.

Additionally, busses are being cleaned when returning from AM, midday, and PM runs with a particular focus on handrails, seats, and windows.

Washington State Department of Health provides two documents with helpful information on school cleaning practices:  Guidance for Healthy Classrooms and Classroom Cleaning Tips for Teachers. One important piece of information is understanding the difference between Cleaning (removes dirt and most germs, think “soap and water”), Sanitizing (reduces germs to safe levels, for example in food service environments and should only be done by staff), and Disinfecting (kills most germs per given directions and should only be done by custodial staff with proper personal protective equipment).

Please keep in mind, students should never use disinfectants. Disinfectant wipes shouldn't be used to clean hands. This includes Clorox (bleach) wipes.

Athletics
At this time, school-related team sports practices will continue (with the exception of Hazen High School). We’re in ongoing communication with our athletic leagues to determine how we will manage spring sports. Athletic events are an evolving situation as surrounding school districts are also amending their plans each day.

Evening School Events
Effective March 9, information nights, STEM nights, concerts, dances, plays, etc. are cancelled through March 22. We will continue to monitor this situation and may extend these cancellations if warranted.

Facility-Use
Consistent with the emergency proclamations declared by the City of Renton and King County in response to COVID-19, coronavirus, Renton School District is cancelling all external groups from using school district facilities through March 15. School based programs/organizations (e.g., Right At School, PTA, BSK) will continue to be allowed to use district facilities. Only external groups that rent/use facilities for their programs are affected by the new rule. We will continue to monitor this situation and may extend facilities-use cancelations if warranted.

Remote Learning (or Online Learning)
At this time, we will not be moving to a remote learning model. We will support students who are out of school for extended absences due to a documented illness or quarantine/isolation, and teachers will work with students and families regarding coursework. We currently leverage many digital tools to support in-class learning, however replacing in-person classroom learning with remote learning for all students in the district presents several challenges. Schools serve students and families in capacities beyond instruction, including nutrition services, counseling services, etc., and closing on short notice presents many regulatory, logistical, and equity challenges.

Meals for Students
We are reviewing options, such as “pop-up” meal services in school parking lots or nearby parks to provide meals for students should schools be closed (or should the entire district have to close).  These programs would run much like our summer meal program, providing easy access to grab-and-go meals.

Hazen High School
As we continue our work with Public Health—Seattle & King County with this evolving situation, Hazen High School will remain closed on Monday, March 9. We will provide an update tomorrow regarding the status of Hazen.

We continue to make these decisions based on the safety, health, and well-being of all our Highlander students, staff, and families. We appreciate their continued patience and flexibility during this unprecedented time.

Notifications
In the event that the decision is made to close school, you will be notified using the same channels that we use for notice of other emergency closures (i.e., closures due to inclement weather). If there are any decisions made to close schools, we will inform our community immediately via School Messenger, our district website, and our official social media channels: Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Stay Connected
Our decisions may change as this situation evolves. We are committed to providing you with timely and accurate updates. We will continue to update our Coronavirus (COVID-19) page. 

Again, we want to express our appreciation for your continued flexibility, patience, and understanding. We care deeply about all Renton students, families, and staff and will continue to share information and decisions as promptly as possible. Thank you for your care for one another and yourselves during this time.

Sincerely,

Damien Pattenaude, Ed.D.
Superintendent

Renton School District Family:

Thank you for your continued patience during this evolving situation. This message provides an update on Renton School District’s work, in close consultation with Public Health Seattle & King County, as we respond to the COVID-19 (coronavirus) together. We are monitoring the changing circumstances and continue to rely on guidance from our county and state public health offices. As with all our work, student and staff safety is our highest priority.

In our meeting today with Public Health – Seattle & King County, we worked together through their guidance aimed at reducing the risk of exposure and slowing the spread of COVID-19, specifically in schools.

Here are their latest guidelines:

“While we recognize that these recommendations impact members of your communities in profound ways, at this time, we are not recommending closing schools. Health officials from Public Health – Seattle & King County and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) weighed this decision very carefully. The available data about novel coronavirus cases has shown that children have not been high risk groups for serious illness from this virus.

We know that schools are doing the important work of educating our children, and we don’t want to disrupt that unless there are known novel coronavirus exposure risks. We also know that school closures have other impacts on working parents and can be disruptive and costly for families.”

Again, Public Health is not recommending closing schools at this time. If there is a confirmed case of COVID-19, Public Health will work with us to determine the best measures including school closure, as occurred at Hazen High. As much as possible, schools should remain open to conduct the important work of educating students.

As of today, we do not plan on cancelling events or gatherings (with the exception of Hazen). Families should consider their own potential risk to decide for themselves whether participating or attending is right for them. 

We continue to review our cleaning protocols in context of the recommendations from the Washington State Department of Health and our practices are aligned. That said, we have revived campaigns in our schools and departments around excellent hygiene and handwashing.

I encourage everyone to be mindful of accurate sources of information. We are updating information relevant to our district on our coronavirus website. The Health Department and CDC continue to be the most accurate source of information in our region.

We are committed to providing you with timely and accurate updates on the best recommendations and guidance from our public health authorities.

I want to extend my deep appreciation and gratitude to our school staff as they work hard to make schools a safe and positive learning place for our students.

Sincerely,

Damien Pattenaude, Ed.D.
Superintendent

District website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Renton School District received word late tonight from Public Health – Seattle & King County that late today they received a positive COVID-19 test result for a student at Hazen High School. The student is at home recovering. 

While initially Public Health recommended that Hazen High remain open regardless of test results, they now recommend we close Hazen High School for the remainder of this week as they work to determine who, if anybody, came in contact with the ill student to ensure it is safe for students and staff to return to school.

All other Renton schools remain open on regular schedule.

We understand this guidance has changed and recognize the hardship this places on our students and families. Our top priority is to ensure the safety of our school community. School will be closed through the end of this week. Public Health will provide us with guidance for the following week. All athletics practices are also canceled for now.

We will provide more information to families and staff as we work through this process with Public Health and the CDC.

Hazen High will resume with a regular schedule tomorrow, Tuesday, March 3. Our custodial staff worked hard over the past couple of days to thoroughly clean Hazen High to be ready for the return of students and staff. While the family has yet to receive results of their testing, we’re confident about the process in place to have school ready for all students and staff and to help keep our community safe. We continue to work with Public Health Seattle & King County and during our conversations they have recommended not closing schools.

Additionally, we encourage students and staff who do not feel well to please stay home and contact your family’s healthcare provider if your student is showing signs of the following symptoms:

• Cough
• Fever
• Shortness of breath

Finally, as always, it’s important to practice good hygiene habits, like handwashing.

Please visit our webpage dedicated to coronavirus for additional information. If you have questions, please email community.relations@rentonschools.us

March 1, 2020

Renton School District Community:

Early this morning, we learned from the parent of a Hazen student that the parent and their student are experiencing flu-like symptoms and were tested yesterday for COVID-19, Coronavirus. They are self-quarantined at home while awaiting results of the test. The parent works in the healthcare industry and became sick last Sunday. The student became sick Wednesday afternoon and did not attend school on Thursday or Friday.

Once learning about this situation, we immediately contacted Public Health Seattle & King County. Out of an abundance of caution, we will close Hazen High School on Monday, March 2^nd.  We have mobilized our custodial staff to begin thoroughly cleaning and disinfecting Hazen. Additionally, we will contact the families of those students and staff that the student may have come into contact with last week.  Beyond Hazen High School, our maintenance department remains focused on having custodians routinely cleaning frequently touched surfaces (e.g., doorknobs, countertops, etc.) and will provide disposable wipes for classrooms.

The safety of our students and staff is our priority. In partnership with Public Health Seattle & King County, we will take the necessary precautionary steps as our community faces this health challenge. For additional information regarding the Coronavirus (COVID-19) as well as preventative tips and resources, please visit our Coronavirus webpage.

We will continue to monitor the situation and update you as we have more information. If you have any questions, please e-mail community.relations@rentonschools.us.

Sincerely,

Damien Pattenaude, Ed.D.
Superintendent

Friday, Feb. 28, 2020:

Renton Schools Families:

As questions arise about the potential spread of coronavirus in the United States, we want to share information with our families and staff about how Renton School District is responding. The district is closely monitoring information about coronavirus and is working in collaboration with state and local health officials. It’s important to note that there are no reports of coronavirus in Renton School District, and coronavirus (COVID-19) is not at all connected to race, ethnicity or nationality.

Our Director of Health Services is participating in meetings and briefings with the Washington State Department of Health and Public Health–Seattle & King County in conjunction with the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction. She is providing frequent updates to our school nurses, school leadership, and others across the district.

Renton Schools follows recommendations from health officials and has existing practices for cleaning, handwashing and student illness. As with any illness, its vitally important that students and staff stay home when they are sick. The three primary symptoms of coronavirus are fever, cough, and shortness of breath. Health officials say the general public do not need masks; instead, people should use good hygiene practices including frequent washing of hands, coughing into elbows, and staying home when sick. Each year during the height of influenza season, custodians conduct cleaning that includes disinfecting student desks, doorknobs, staircase rails and countertops. Health officials recommend continuing to use cleaners already in use.

The health and safety of our students and staff are of upmost importance to all of us in the Renton School District. We will continue to work at the district level to ensure we are planning appropriate precautionary steps while we work through this health and safety challenge.

More information about coronavirus (COVID-19) is available at www.doh.wa.gov/Emergencies/Coronavirus or by calling the Department of Health at 1-800-525-0127 and press #.

February 5, 2020:

Renton Schools is working closely with Public Health Seattle & King County to stay informed of the most current information and recommendations regarding the coronavirus. The health and safety of our students, staff, families and community is top priority as we work the Health Department in partnership with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in rapid response to coronavirus.

Current risk to our communities and throughout the U.S. remains low. Currently, there are a small number of cases in the U.S. The CDC does not believe “transient contacts” such as passing by someone in the grocery store or standing near them at the gas station, are likely exposures.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is recommending that all travelers from China (including school students, staff and volunteers) arriving in the U.S. AFTER February 2, 2020 at 2 p.m. stay at home away from others and monitor their health for 14 days. There is no recommendation for asymptomatic persons arriving before this time to restrict their activities. All travelers from China arriving BEFORE February 2, 2020 at 2 p.m. can continue to attend school.

Since the virus is not widely spread in the U.S, there are no additional precautions recommended for the general public.

Steps you can take to prevent the spread of coronavirus are the standard illness prevention steps.

• Wash hands frequently and thoroughly with warm water and soap. If no water is available, use hand sanitizer.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands
• Cover coughs or sneezes with a tissue or sleeve and then wash your hands
• Stay home if sick, keep sick children home and avoid close contact with others
• Clean and disinfect frequently used surfaces. Follow instructions on the product label for disinfectants, and check that the product is registered with the EPA.
• If you do visit a clinic and have any respiratory symptoms, call before going to the clinic

More information can be found at:

• 2019 novel coronavirus (2019 nCov), Public Health Seattle & King County (this site includes multilingual factsheets)
• Novel Coronavirus Outreabreak 2020, WA State Department of Health
• 2019 Novel Coronavirus, Wuhan, China, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Guidance for Travelers, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• WA State Department of Health novel coronavirus call center: 1-800-525-0127 and press #

Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses, some causing respiratory illness in people and others circulating among animals. Rarely, animal coronaviruses can evolve and infect people and then spread between people. Previous coronavirus outbreaks have included severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS). The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) believes the risk to the American public of becoming infected with this novel coronavirus is currently low. Because this is an emerging, rapidly evolving situation, the CDC will provide updated information as it becomes available, including any changes in the risk assessment.

The Washington State Department of Health has created a Coronavirus call center: 1-800-525-0127.

Symptoms of coronavirus are similar to flu or colds and may include:

• Runny nose
• Headache
• Cough
• Sore throat
• Fever
• A general feeling of being unwell

If you have been notified by public health authorities that you may have been exposed, please follow instructions provided by Public Health Seattle & King County.

Human coronaviruses most commonly spread from an infected person to others through:

• The air by coughing and sneezing
• Close personal contact, such as touching or shaking hands
• Touching an object or surface with the virus on it, then touching your mouth, nose, or eyes before washing your hands
• Rarely, fecal contamination with coronavirus present

Although we have a lot to learn about this virus, it is currently believed that it spreads like other respiratory viruses- by people with the infection coughing and sneezing. These droplets are inhaled by other people or moved to the eyes, nose or mouth by contaminated hands.

You can reduce the risk of spreading coronaviruses by taking the same steps as you would to prevent infection from the flu and the common cold:

• Wash hands often with soap and water for a least 20 seconds. Use hand sanitizer, with 60-95% alcohol if water is not available.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands.
• Avoid contact with people who are sick.
• Stay home while you are sick and avoid close contact with others.
• Cover your mouth and nose with your elbow or a tissue when coughing or sneezing, and immediately dispose of the used tissue.

Health officials say students and staff can reduce their risk of contracting and spreading viral respiratory infections, including the flu and the common cold, by taking simple steps which will also prevent COVID-19. These include:

• Staying home when they are sick.
• Frequent hand washing with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom, before eating, and after they blow their nose. Help young children do the same. If hands are visibly dirty, use soap and water to clean hands.
• If soap and water are not readily available, using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.
• Advising persons to avoid touching their eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Following the school's routine cleaning and disinfection program. Emphasizing to clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
• Covering coughs or sneezes with a tissue, then throwing the tissue in the trash and cleaning hands with soap and water or hand sanitizer (if soap and water are not readily available).
• Urging students and staff to get a flu shot during the flu season.
• Providing adequate supplies for good hygiene, including clean and functional handwashing stations, soap, paper towels, and alcohol‐based hand sanitizer.

News guidance on the Public Health website: What to do if you have confirmed or suspected COVID-19 or are worried that you may have COVID-19. This information is intended for people who have been confirmed with COVID-19, have been around someone with COVID-19, or are feeling unwell but haven’t been in close contact with someone with COVID-19.

Schools are following standard procedures for cleaning and disinfecting with an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) registered disinfectant with a claim for human coronaviruses. Typically, this means daily sanitizing surfaces and objects that are touched often:

• Door Handles / Knobs
• Door Push Bars
• Light Switches
• Sink Fawcett Handles / Knobs
• Drinking Fountains
• Paper Towel Dispensers
• Electric Hand Dryers
• Hand Soap Dispensers
• Stairwell Handrails
• Toilet / Urinal Handles
• Toilet Stall Door Handles
• Counter Tops
• Elevator Control Buttons

Products used include:

Virex, an EPA certified disinfectant with ammonium compounds found in household cleaners that are designed to kill germs. The same cleaning materials used in healthcare facilities where cleaning and prevention of cross-contamination are critical. Bactericidal, virucidal and fungicidal. Kills MRSA and VRE.

Oxivir, accelerated Hydrogen Peroxide kills common pathogens, critical viruses and bacteria in the healthcare environment. Effective for soft surface sanitizing, and is non-irritating to eyes and skin, and requires no safety warnings.

Disinfecting is the responsibility of school custodial staff. They are trained to use disinfectants in a safe and effective manner and to clean up potentially infectious materials and body fluid spills – blood, vomit, feces, and urine.

Public health agencies currently do not recommend that people wear masks when they are in public. This is because the immediate health risk to the general public in Washington is currently low. Additionally, scientists are not sure whether wearing a mask in public actually keeps healthy people from getting sick.  It’s most important for people who are sick to wear a mask in a healthcare setting (such as a waiting room) to avoid exposing other people when they cough or sneeze.

In some parts of the world, mask use is customary. People wear masks often for a variety of reasons, including to avoid pollen and  air pollution, as a courtesy to others when they have the common cold, and for other cultural and even social reasons.

Public Health — Seattle & King County recommends staying home and away from others if you are sick. However, keep in mind that if we see our friends, neighbors or other community members wearing a mask we should not assume that they have been exposed to coronavirus or any other illness (coronavirus is not currently present in our community). Because mask use is customary in some cultures, it’s not appropriate to make assumptions about why someone is wearing a mask or to stigmatize or discriminate against people who choose to wear masks.

If you are sick, you should take steps you normally would when sick, including focusing on caring for your health, contacting your healthcare provider if you feel you need to, not attending class if contagious, and in the event you miss class due to illness, working with your instructor on any necessary arrangements for making up coursework.

If you develop symptoms — such as a fever, cough or shortness of breath — within 14 days of your return from personal or official travel to a country with a COVID-19 outbreak OR have been exposed to someone with confirmed COVID-19, please take the steps listed below.

If you have NOT returned in the past 14 days from travel to a country with a COVID-19 outbreak OR have NOT been exposed to someone with confirmed COVID-19 but do have fever and respiratory symptoms, please also take the following steps.

First: Call your health provider in advance. Please do not show up at a clinic, urgent care or other health facility without calling first. Your provider will need to take special measures to protect other people in the clinic.

The CDC also advises you to:

• Avoid contact with others and do not travel while sick.
• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when coughing or sneezing.
• Clean your hands by washing them with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains 60%–95% alcohol immediately after coughing, sneezing, or blowing your nose. Soap and water should be used if hands are visibly dirty.

Monitor your symptoms closely. Remember that the likelihood is low that you have coronavirus. Take your temperature if you believe you have a fever.

Stay home from school and work until at least 24 hours after your fever ends. If you must go out of the house or be around others, wear a mask and avoid close contact. Be especially careful around infants and small children as well as people who have compromised immune systems and/or are over the age of 65. If you returned from China in the last 14 days, and your arrival date was February 2 or later, you will have received instructions from the CDC and from the local or state health department. Please follow these instructions. Guidelines for travelers returning from other countries are available from the CDC.

Take care of yourself. Rest as much as possible. Drink lots of fluids.

Even if you haven’t returned from one of these countries, if you have respiratory illness plus a fever you could have the flu or another virus. Please contact your healthcare provider or nurse advice line before going to a clinic or doctor’s office.

Additional note for anyone arriving recently from China: Based on CDC guidance, if you have arrived in the U.S. on or after Feb. 3, 2020 AND visited mainland China in the previous 14 days, you should stay at home and not attend class  until a full 14 days have passed since your last day in mainland China.

"People with suspected or confirmed exposure to COVID-19 should reach out to their healthcare provider”, said Dr. Jeff Duchin, Health Officer for Public Health – Seattle & King County.   “As public health professionals we really appreciate clinicians on the front lines of patient care and they are critical to this response."

1. Do not go to the emergency room unless essential. Emergency rooms need to be able to serve those with the most critical needs. If you have symptoms like cough, fever, or other respiratory problems, contact your regular doctor first.
2. Stay home when sick.
3. Practice excellent personal hygiene habits, including handwashing, coughing into tissue or elbow, avoid touching eyes, nose, or mouth.

Stay away from people who are ill, especially if you are 60 and older or have underlying health conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, lung disease, or a weakened immune system.

For current information about this evolving public health situation, visit the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s 2019 Novel Coronavirus page.

The Washington State Department of Health has established a call center to address questions from the public. If you have questions about what is happening in Washington state, how the virus is spread, or what to do if you have symptoms, please call 1-800-525-0127 and press #.

For local information, visit the following online resources:

• Public Health — Seattle & King County’s blog
• Questions and answers about a novel coronavirus in Washington:
  • Blog format and PDF format
  • 關於華盛頓新型冠狀病毒的問題和解答 (Chinese, Traditional)
  • 关于华盛顿新型冠状病毒的问题和解答 (Chinese, Simplified)
  • Preguntas y respuestas sobre un nuevo coronavirus en Washington (Spanish)