Dear PSD Staff and Families:

In our commitment to keeping everyone updated on what’s happening during remote learning and the continuing COVID-19 pandemic, we are resuming publication of our State of the District messages. Please see today’s updates: 

Welcome Back!
School starts Tuesday, Sept. 8 for students in grades 1-12 and Friday, Sept. 11 for our kindergarten students. Please refer to your school’s schedule for Tuesday activities and note that we will have late start on Wednesday, Sept. 9. See our Reopening Peninsula Schools Guidebook for more information about our plan to start the school year in Stage 3 with a limited number of students working with staff in school buildings. 

Schools are busy preparing for the first day. Check out these back to school events happening across the district.

Reopening Peninsula Schools Guidebook - Sept. 2 Edition
We continue to update our Reopening Peninsula Schools Guidebook. Today’s edition includes new information, including:

• Special education reopening information, including how students in special education programs will be working with staff in school buildings;
• An updated elementary school sample schedule (update on Wednesday only); and 
• An updated 2020-2021 school year calendar.

Reopening Stages Planning Survey Results Are In
Thank you to everyone who completed our recent survey. The purpose of the survey is to help us in our preliminary planning, as the answers submitted were not binding but give us an overall family perspective. We received survey submissions representing 4,223 students. Here’s what was reported:

• Roughly 2/3rds (68%) of families would allow their child to attend in-person supplemental learning in small groups of 5 or fewer students with a maximum of 2 adults if permitted.
• 61% would allow their child to attend in larger groups with up to 50% of the school's capacity if permitted.
• A little over half (54%) would have their child return if in-person attendance was permitted for all requesting it.  

This information was shared with our school board and will be used to help us throughout the reopening process.

Free Meals Are Coming Back
We have great news for our families! The USDA has extended funding for student meals so we will once again offer Grab and Go meals at select schools throughout the district. Meals are available at no charge to Peninsula School District students 18 years and younger through December 31, 2020, depending on federal funding. This is a change to what we recently sent out. We still encourage families to submit free and reduced meal price applications if appropriate. For applications and meal pickup details, click here.

New Immunization Requirements
On August 25, the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) and the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) changed immunization requirements for the 2020-2021 school year.

Compliance with immunization requirements must be met before the first day of returning to school building campuses for any in-person learning or services. Students participating in full remote learning do not need to fully meet the immunization requirements to start school, but will need to before returning to campus.

Schools will continue to work with families to bring students into compliance as soon as possible. You may get more detailed information from your school health team. For further information and immunization resources, please visit our website.

PSAT/NMSQT Coming in January
Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT) testing for 10th and 11th grade students generally occurs at PSD high schools in October. This test provides students with information about their current level of preparation for postsecondary education and can qualify 11th grade students for a National Merit Scholarship. To accommodate the large numbers of schools engaged in remote learning this fall, the College Board has announced a new testing date of January 26. At this time, PSD is planning on offering 10th and 11th grade students the PSAT/NMSQT at this new winter date. The Saturday, Oct. 3 testing date at PHS has been canceled.

Getting Ready for Students
Our school-based staff are meeting this week to get ready for the school year. PSD teachers and other staff are taking part in three virtual professional development days prepared by the Department of Learning and Innovation. Topics include social emotional learning (SEL) and equity, among others.

Let’s Celebrate #PSDSCHOOLSPIRIT
PSD staff and families . . . we want your photos! Share your #PSDSchoolSpirit on your #PSDFirstDay of school with us! Take a photo wearing your school spirit wear or colors and share the photos with us! Tag us on social media or email the photos to info@psd401.net. We’ll post them on social media and our website on the first day of school.

Thank you for your patience while we continue to work through the many details related to school reopening. Please stay tuned for more information as we start the school year.

Thank you,

PSD Leadership