Insider News

We continue to monitor COVID activity data published by Public Health - Seattle & King County. As of the time of this posting, King County continues to experience a resurgence in COVID-19 cases. 

Student mental health remains as important as ever, given the impacts of prolonged physical separation from schools and peers. Our HPS Mental Health Toolkit has timely resources for your students.

We are working to continue to centrally support and fund digital tools for the 2021-22 school year. Please see below for an updated list of centrally-funded digital tools for the upcoming school year. 

Are you wondering how many secondary students chose to return for in-person learning? The data is in. Of those responding, around 40% of students are choosing hybrid learning, and 60% prefer to stay remote. We are still waiting to hear back from some families and expect those numbers to change slightly.

Due to how secondary instruction is structured in content areas, all requests approved by Human Resources were level 4 high-risk requests. HR is working with individuals who did not receive approval to explore further options prior to considering a leave.

Read this message from Superintendent Enfield has we head into Spring Break. She reminds us to take a moment for ourselves to relax and rejuvenate as we have endured many changes and challenges this year. 

Over the last several months, staff across the district have been engaging in learning in some really big areas--Standards Based Instruction and Grading, Professional Learning Communities, and Universal Design for Learning—all while engaging in personal and collective learning around race and equity. 

While each is distinct and deserving of our attention, we are seeing more and more connections between these efforts. See the connections and resources to support them.

Check out the hiring, registration dates and how we invite students for summer learning.

Childcare is available for Highline elementary-aged students, as well as children of district employees. There have been a few changes to childcare options effective April 19. See the changes and register today.

Starting April 19, secondary students will have access to breakfast and lunch at no cost when on site for hybrid learning. Meal kits will continue to be available to elementary and fully-remote students and to supplement the days when secondary students are not on campus. Meal kit pick-up days will be Mondays (one location only) and Wednesdays and Thursdays (multiple locations). 

Highline Virtual Academy is seeking an equity-driven founding teacher team to support the inaugural class. Two teacher positions are open -- one STEM and one Humanities. The staff at Highline Virtual Academy will be organized as content generalists and will work collaboratively across disciplines.

The transition to hybrid in-person learning will continue with our middle and high school students on April 19.  We want everyone to be prepared when it's their turn to go back to school. We created a video to show our safety expectations in action. The video is available in multiple languages. Please share these videos with students and families.

After 12 months of teaching behind a computer, Jessica Ingersoll has a piece of herself back. "I'm back in my element being in the classroom," shares Ms. Ingersoll, a Madrona Elementary School IAC teacher.

Families expressed gratitude to teachers, school staff and district leaders for making it possible and safe to return to classrooms in person this spring. Read what three teachers, three families and several students told us.

We look forward to celebrating our graduates in-person this year. Please see the updated 2021 graduation schedule, which includes ceremonies at Highline Memorial Stadium and the Performing Arts Center. Each graduate will be allotted two guest tickets. Seating will be socially distanced and other safety protocols will be in place. All graduations will also be live-streamed.

It's so good to see you! With first-day butterflies and smiles in our eyes, we welcomed more than 1,000 fourth- and fifth-grade students back to in-person learning this week. It was the first time in more than a year these students have entered a classroom. 

Jim Fortner, a former Highline teacher and coach, passed away on March 24 in Arizona where he lived with his wife. He taught science and PE from 1969 to 2003 primarily at Tyee and Evergreen high schools, with short stints at Pacific and Chinook middle schools.

Many of our students and families will be observing Ramadan. We want to share guidance co-created with families and community around being mindful of our Muslim students who may be participating in Ramadan and how it may impact their learning during this month.

Families with students attending schools in person or remotely may request a change in assignment. The change in assignment process is based on current student assignment and transfer policy and procedures 3132. Each school has their own Change of Assignment request form, which are located on our main website under the 2021 Learning tab.

Teaching, Learning and Leadership is planning summer learning for our students. The focus: enhancing learning in reading and math and social-motional learning. Apply today to be part of summer learning for our students. 

To support the shift to hybrid instruction, TLL has compiled resources to support secondary staff with instructional planning. 

All staff are invited to a webinar on Friday, April 2 at 4:30 p.m. This is your opportunity to hear directly from Sid White, Director of Facilities Services, about air quality and ventilation in our school buildings and mitigation measures to ensure ventilation meets COVID safety standards. 

This week we continue exploring the concept of wellness as it relates to work/life balance. We have shared definitions, a continuum and other overarching ideas. Now, let’s dive a little deeper into how the concept of wellness impacts us on a daily basis.

During the month of April, Highline recognizes the achievements of Arab Americans through the celebration of Arab American Heritage Month. This is a time not only to celebrate, but also to educate students on Arab Americans' histories and contributions. Access resources that will help you incorporate all of the April Heritage Month celebrations.

Wondering about state testing, COVID testing and lunch safety? We have answers. Here are this week's Hybrid Hot Topics.