Latest News

This week, we experienced a delay in updating our COVID dashboard, which shows all reported positive COVID cases in our schools. Our practice is to update the dashboard every 24 hours. 

In the last week, our COVID response team has reported that posting new cases has taken longer than 24 hours for two reasons.

Families are being asked to indicate if they will send their students to school in person for the 2021-22 school year or elect a remote option. We are planning for a full reopening of all schools for students PreK through 12. We also recognize some families have health concerns that may lead them to choose remote learning.

All families are being sent a link to a selection form. It must be completed by May 27.

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. 

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

What has been done to improve ventilation in schools? Will Highline change to three-foot distancing? Will secondary students be reassigned to different teachers in hybrid? 

Here are this week's hybrid hot topics.

Superintendent Susan Enfield updates families and staff on the Governor's emergency proclomation to return students to school buildings means for Highline.

It is almost one year to the day since the pandemic closed our school buildings to students, staff and families. Today we welcomed back Pre-K, kindergarten and first-grade students, as well as students in our IAC program in grades K-12 across the district.

Superintendent Enfield's message to families on Wednesday touched a nerve that taps into the frustration and anger many of us a feeling right now. Dr. Enfield has a few words about that, and she also shares some good news about vaccination for Highline staff

Here are answers to more questions we are hearing. How will we ensure students keep their masks on? What circumstances trigger the closure of a classroom or school? Why are hybrid students only in person for 2.5 hours a day?

Highline leaders have been pushing for access to testing and vaccines for school staff. Here is updated information on both.

Superintendent Susan Enfield gives an update on Distance Learning. "After much careful deliberation, the board and I have made the decision that Highline will remain in full distance learning for the first semester of this year." 

Highline is facing budget cuts for the current year because our revenue is down. Find out why.

Our plan to bring staff and students in ILC classrooms back to school buildings is on pause for now. We had targeted October 8 as a return date. Then we learned that guidance on PPE for staff could be changing. Updated guidance was issued earlier this week. We will keep staff and families informed. 

We've had several Zoom bombings within the last week. We want to remind you of these steps to safeguard your meetings and class time.

Help us continue to plan for fall by filling out a survey. Your answers will inform workforce planning efforts across Highline

Our second optional staff webinar will be this Wednesday, July 29. This webinar remains a voluntary opportunity to hear updates and learn about our current thinking as we plan to ‘Return to Learn’ in a fully distant model this fall. Please see below for your employee group times, as well as Zoom links for the corresponding webinars

I have been fiercely hoping to have our students back in our schools this fall because I recognize that physical connection is a significant part of knowing our students by name, strength and need. 

Ben Guayan, ILED, shared in this week’s Highline Wellness tip that many of the same strategies he found effective before the pandemic are still helping him regulate and manage his stress now.

Like most everything else, summer school will look different this year. We will offer targeted summer school programs in a distance learning format

We are five weeks into our Highline Wellness practice. Have you been taking advantage of our tips and strategies for managing stress? 

Feeling a little isolated and confined? Do you have a little cabin fever? Take a brain break and learn about this week’s wellness strategies.

Highline Public Schools was an early adopter and remains a national leader in implementing Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS). To support our ongoing wellness during the COVID-19 closure, we are highlighting three upcoming staff wellness training resources.

As we work to navigate the ever-changing and challenging circumstances created by the Coronavirus, we rely on our social and emotional learning strategies and skills to support ourselves and each other.

We want to keep you updated on our response to Coronavirus. Today, principals received lesson plans for grades K through 12 on communicable disease prevention. Principals will ensure that every student receives at least one lesson from this curriculum by Friday.