Dear Ridgefield families,
\r\nToday, Governor Jay Inslee and the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) announced updated health and safety requirements for the 2021-2022 school year. All students (including preschoolers) and staff will continue to be required to wear face coverings, regardless of vaccination status, in Washington K-12 schools this fall. Please note that this is a legal requirement from the state that schools must follow. Local school districts cannot implement less restrictive requirements.
\r\nLike all public schools in Washington state, Ridgefield School District follows the requirements issued by DOH. The District works with Clark County Public Health and our school staff on the implementation of the directives.
\r\nYou can read a complete summary of the changes here, but the key updates include the following:
\r\nAll staff and students must continue to wear face coverings/masks, regardless of vaccination status;
Physical distancing requirements have been updated to support the provision of full-time in-person instruction;
Updated quarantine protocols to reduce student exclusions from instruction.
Please note, these are the requirements in place to begin the school year. Covid guidance can and has changed throughout the pandemic, and Governor Inslee acknowledged the state would revisit requirements as circumstances warrant. I am optimistic better days lay just ahead.
\r\nThe top priority of the Ridgefield School District is to protect the health and safety of our students and staff. Our team members are hard at work to ensure all of the required guidelines are in place and we are ready for the start of school.
\r\nOur goal has always been to return our students to full-time, in-person learning and provide an atmosphere most supportive of our students’ educational and social-emotional needs. These updated guidelines allow us to start the school year in the safest manner possible while still providing a more typical learning environment than with remote or hybrid models. In addition to offering comprehensive, in-person academic opportunities, adhering to the required guidelines also makes it possible to continue offering the extra-curricular and athletic activities that are important to our students and families.
\r\nFor families seeking online learning options for the upcoming school year, Wisdom Ridge Academy provides high-quality, flexible learning options that suit the needs of individual students and their families. Enrollment in all of our district schools is open now, and the 2021-2022 school year begins on Tuesday, August 31st. To get started, visit our website at www.ridgefieldsd.org/o/district/page/boundaries-enrollment-transfers.
\r\nWe want to hear from you We are seeking community feedback about the Washington State Department of Health's Fall opening guidance. Using ThoughtExchange, participants will be asked to respond to one open-ended question, consider and assign stars to some of the ideas shared by others (20 to 30 is ideal), and learn what's important to the group. To participate in the survey and share your thoughts, please visit https://tejoin.com/scroll/390570994.
\r\nYour responses are confidential. You can come back as often as you'd like to participate and, in fact, we ask that you do come back to star some of the new ideas shared since you first participated. The ratings will help us understand the most important areas to focus on.
\r\nAs always, we thank you for your patience and understanding as we navigate these challenges. Stay well, and remain #RidgefieldResilient
\r\nSincerely,
\r\n
Dr. Nathan McCann Superintendent