SWSD Navigator - School Board Business Meeting, Wedn...

South Whidbey Schools Issue #129| March 20, 2025 Welcome to this week's edition of the South Whidbey School District Navigator Newsletter! We're excited to share the latest happenings and updates from our school community to keep you informed and engaged. Don't forget, at the bottom of this message, click [Message clipped] View entire message and read through the whole message. The Navigator is packed full of updates, contacts, and information. Annual CEE Survey - March 12-25, 2025 Please complete the CEE Annual Survey. Reminder emails will be going out today. We ask that you please complete and submit the survey by Tuesday, March 25, 2025.   The survey questions were developed by the Center for Educational Effectiveness, a Bellevue, Washington-based educational research firm, in collaboration with the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction for Washington State. This survey has been used with over 750,000 educational stakeholders in the Western U.S. This survey will provide our staff and leadership valuable information and feedback. Students and staff will have time in school to take this survey. We appreciate your help in reminding families to complete the survey. Your feedback makes a difference. Important Dates - Please Check ParentSquare for School Updates Falcon & Cougar Athletics Home Games; Band Calendar March 20: Reptile Man at SWES; March 26: School Board Meeting March 31 - April 4: Spring Break April 15, 17, 22, 24 - HS SBAC Testing (Assessments) April 17: SWES Family STEAM Night & Playground Groundbreaking Ceremony (5pm) April 19: SWHS Prom May 6, 8, 13, 15: MS SBAC Testing May 10: Big Band Swing Dance May 12-14: ES SBAC ELA Testing May 19-22: ES SBAC Math Testing May 27: ES 5th Grade Only SBAC Science Testing. 2025-2026 School Calendar School Updates Check the Lost and Found - All Items Will Be Donated to Good Cheer on March 28th Please take the time at both schools to check the lost and found for missing items. Both schools have many many items. On March 28th, all remaining items will be donated to Good Cheer. Senior Check List It is getting to be that time of year where we start to map out the high school graduation and all the deadlines and activities prior to graduation day. Please check your ParentSquare and StudentSquare posts for the checklist with dates, events, and contacts. Remind your fellow members from the Class of 2025 to do the same. June 7th will be here before you know it! Science rocks at South Whidbey Elementary! The Pacific Science Center visited our school with the Science on Wheels program. The South Whidbey PTA sponsored the "Blood and Guts" van. Our students engaged in a variety of activities starting with a kick off assembly on Monday followed by two days of classroom lessons and visits to the hands-on exhibits. The kids had a blast learning all about the human body. Thank you SWEPTA for sponsoring this awesome enrichment experience for our students.  Cougars Work on Balance Skills in PE PE Teacher, Erik Jokinen, teaches the middle school Cougars rotational units where students work to improve individual skills that will be used with cooperative games in the future like Mission Impossible and the Olympic competitions. Examples of these games are foot juggling, moon balls, pogo sticks, stilts, warrior tug-o-war, unicycles, go go pedals, and the list goes on. There's always something new in PE at the middle school. Pass the Plate The South Whidbey School Farm enjoyed their annual Pass the Plate event at the school Farm. The purpose of the event is to highlight food from other cultures while teaching the 5th graders how to prepare the foods and host guests. This year, the theme was flatbreads and dips. Each class experienced food from Mexico, Venezuela, Greece, Finland and the Middle East. Students requested copies of the recipes to share at home. See more Posted on March 18, 2025 by whidbeyschoolgardens Save the date! South Whidbey Elementary School Kindergarten Information Night will be on April 24th from 6-7pm. South Whidbey Elementary School provides a learning environment for your child to learn, grow, and develop in a nurturing and safe space. We have certificated teachers, outdoor programs, social opportunities, full time education, and it's free! Click here to register online today! SWHS Nerdy Birdies (math team) Swept the Regional High School Math Competition Congratulations to the South Whidbey High School Nerdy Birdies (math team) on their amazing showing on Wednesday, March 12th, at the Regional High School Math Competition put on by the Washington State Math Council (WSMC.net). The Falcons swept 1st (Team #2), 2nd (Team #1), and 3rd place (Team #3) in the topical section and placed 1st (Team #2), 2nd (Team #1) and 4th (Team #3) in the team section. The "4th place" team tied for 3rd but the judges applied a tie-breaker. This is the strongest showing ever at the Regional Level in the 10 years of existence of the Nerdy Birdies! South Whidbey High School Teams Team #1: Elsa, Aaron, & Stella Team #2: Teddy & Solomon Team #3: Elliot, Kate, & Dylan South Whidbey Middle School Doubles Pickleball Champions Congratulations to Alex Kukuk and Murphy Donnery on becoming the South Whidbey Middle School Doubles Pickleball Champions of the world! Thanks to all who participated! Falcons Perform at the SnoKing League Music Festival Our Falcon Wind Ensemble gave an impressive performance at the SnoKing League Music Festival in Shorescrest. Click here to watch/listen to one of their performances. School-based Mental Health Support Grant Thanks to a Community Health Grant from the Whidbey Community Foundation (WCF), students at South Whidbey Elementary School and the Alternative Learning Experience (ALE) program now have access to much-needed school-based mental health support. See https://www.whidbeyfoundation.org/investing-in-student-well-being-whidbey-community-foundation-funds-school-based-mental-health-support/ Frank Rose Gallery at the SW Community Center This week at the South Whidbey Community Center, Superintendent Jo Moccia and SWCC Director Gail LaVassar cut the ribbon at a dedication ceremony for the new Frank Rose Gallery. The gallery’s inspiration and visionary was Frank Rose who passed away on March 15th. Frank Rose was a passionate advocate for public art in Langley and within the South Whidbey School District. The Frank Rose Gallery is an accessible public art space and is a collaboration between the South Whidbey School District, the South Whidbey Community Center Campus Stewards, the Langley Arts Fund, Readiness To Learn and Langley's Creative District. It is located in the main hall of the South Whidbey Community Center. A new public art display will be hung in late spring 2025! NACAC ( National Association for College Admission Counseling ) Virtual College Fair! Sunday, March 23rd from 10:00 am - 3:00 pm (PST) Link for Registration: https://www.nacacattend.org/25VirtualMar23?utm_source=announcement&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=fairs_2025   Spring SBAC Testing - Assessments SWHS and SWA students will be taking the Washington state assessments on April 15th, April 17th, April 22nd and April 24th.  Meeting standard on the SBAC ELA, SBAC Math and Washington Comprehensive Assessment of Science(WCAS) is a graduation requirement pathway.  All students will be on a modified schedule during these days. Middle school students will be testing on May 6, 8,13, and 15th. Elementary school students who are testing will be testing between May 12-30th. Please see your ParentSquare messages for more information Student-Organized Regional Leadership Conference Empowers Student Board Representatives On Friday, March 7, Carter McKnight and Callahan Dobmeier, South Whidbey School Board student members attended a day long retreat with Board chair, Brook Willeford at the Northwest Educational Service District 189 headquarters in Anacortes. Students from across Northwest Washington met for a student-led leadership conference, focused on empowering current and future student board representatives. This was the first conference of its kind in Washington and could serve as a blueprint for other regions.Carter is not only a student board representative for South Whidbey, but is also the Chair of Washington State Student Representative Network. “I’d like to see more students with seats at the table and seen as equals in the decision making processes that impact current and future students,” Mcknight said. See more on the NWESD Website linked here. School Farm Spring Chicks and Farm Wish List! On February 27th, the chicken eggs that have been in the farm classroom for the past three weeks finally hatched! Students observed closely and anxiously awaited the arrival or eight eggs of various breeds from Bellingham’s Flower Feather Farm in an incubator. The Kindergarten classes prepared the incubator by “locking it down” in the days before the hatching. See more linked here. South Whidbey School Farm is looking for new and used items to help with infrastructure in the gardens (including lumber/wood/construction materials, amendments, and odds and ends). See more Plinked here. Coffee with the District ALL district parents/guardians are welcome to join Principal Richards in the South Whidbey Elementary School Community Room on Friday, March 21st at 8:30am, with guests Dr. Becky Clifford. This is a time to connect with other parents and learn more about our schools and our school community! If you missed a previous discussion, please see the videos, slides, and handouts on our website linked here. The webpage is filled with important information for families of students in every grade. Click image below to purchase yearbooks: School Board Student Member Applications Open till May 5, 2025 South Whidbey School Board is looking for the next student voice to be a student board member.  Interested students click her for the application. Student application packet submitted to Principal Patton by May 5, 2025. Interviews with School Board at the May 14, 2025 Workshop, 5:30pm. Board selects and announces Student Representative following interviews. May 28 new student representative seated May 28 final board meeting of term of outgoing representative Board Corner At our last workshop we shared our appreciation for the support staff in the district (including pies delivered to the campuses on Pi Day), discussed the selection of the student representative who will replace Carter McKnight as his two-year term comes to an end, and talked through the purpose and timeline for forming a committee to recommend a climate policy for the district to adopt. The current version of the resolution creating the committee will be up for a vote at the upcoming business meeting on Wednesday, March 26, and lays out a 6-12 month timeline for the committee to get a proposed policy to the board. The timeline has been set at that length because several of those months are over the summer and beginning of the school year, and that the board wants a comprehensive policy that can guide the district in an effective, efficient, measurable, sustainable, and long-term manner. On Wednesday, March 26, 2025 the South Whidbey School Board will have a Business Meeting at 6:30pm, via ZOOM WEBINAR and IN PERSON at the South Whidbey Elementary School Dr. Julie Hadden Community Board Room at 5380 Maxwelton Road, Langley.  The agenda is linked HERE.  Please click THIS LINK to join the webinar. Passcode: 234129 Webinar ID: 881 5979 3362 Future Meetings: April 9 Board Workshop April 23 Business Meeting May 14 Board Workshop May 28 Business Meeting -- Brook WIlleford, Board Chair Athletic Acclamations South Whidbey Gears Up For Spring Sports SW Record Article: By NATHAN WHALEN Photo by John Fisken Special to the News-Times All spring coaches provided their thoughts about their teams and updates on the upcoming sports season. GO FALCONS!!! Fastpitch Opened Their Season with a 16-3 win over Foster! Way to go Falcons! For Falcon schedules and standings, please visit the Emerald Sound Webpage linked here. SWSD students are encouraged to attend and enjoy SWHS sporting events! While at these sporting events, TK-8th grade students must attend with adult supervision. Students should not be left alone or unattended at any time during the event.  We appreciate your partnership in keeping our Orca and Cougar spectators safe and happy!   Please reach out to Kymy Johnson in the ASB/Athletics office if you have questions. kyjohnson@sw.wednet.edu or 360.221.6808 ext. 5423. Student Supports The SmileMobile is coming to town! Readiness to Learn is hosting the Smile Mobile again at the South Whidbey Community Center March 17-27th, the mobile dental unit will be here to serve kids (first tooth to 21) AND their adult family members. If you don't have insurance or a dentist, call and schedule an appointment-their services are free of charge. Everyone on the SmileMobile team is super nice, if for some reason they can't see you, they are up to date on the local resources and will connect you with a nearby dentist who can help. So, if someone in your family is in need of a dental check up call and schedule an appointment today! 1-888-286-9105. Connected & Protected Digital Safety Forum for Families South Whidbey Families are invited to this FREE digital safety event hosted by Oak Harbor Public Schools. Dinner & Childcare Provided. Arrive at 4:45 PM Interactive Breakout Sessions Covering: Online Safety Managing Screen Time Smartphone Control Artificial Intelligence (AI) Keynote Presenter Katherine Martinko Author of Childhood Unplugged: Practical Advice to Get Kids Off Screens and Find Balance Sign Up Learn More Class of 2025 -- Local Scholarship Applications LOCAL SCHOLARSHIPS ARE POSTED ON SWHS WEBSITE UNDER STUDENT SERVICES! https://swhs.sw.wednet.edu/academics/student-services/local-scholarships Above is the link to all of the local scholarships posted for 2025. It is very important to read everything at the top of the scholarship page before you get started, every year we have students that don't follow through with key pieces of applications. The SWHS General Scholarship link is provided on this page as well and we have made it more Google Docs friendly.   Things to Know: 1. There are different due dates for some of the scholarships, but the majority are due 4/7/2025 (the Monday after Spring Break). 2. DO NOT PROCRASTINATE! Your semester will only get busier. 3. You must submit a copy of your transcript with almost every scholarship! 4. I encourage you to do a quick review of the list and pick out the main scholarships that you meet the criteria for and make a list of those, then rank them for completion.   5. If you have questions, come talk with your School Counselor, but please Do Not ask a question that is clearly outlined for you in the directions (you need to read them first)! If you are seeking continued education next year, there is a scholarship opportunity for you on this list! Attendance Matters Often parents ask if they should provide a Doctor/Dentist note when their student is absent for an appointment. WA state requires a Parent meeting for 5 excused absences in any month or 10 excused absences within the school year. Please provide a Medical note if your child has been absent for an appointment to the Doctor, Dentist, Occupational Therapist and/or Counselors appointment.   Here are a few ways to excuse absences: Parent Square Pick-up Patrol (TK-5), Plan change, utilize the Absent button and please provide a reason. Call Attendance line, ES 360-221-0637, MS/HS 360-221-0937, SWA 360-221-7879 Dr.’s notes referencing appointments.    Handwritten notes. FOR SWES STUDENTS, CALL THE FRONT OFFICE 5 MINUTES BEFORE ARRIVING FOR EARLY PICKUP. MAKE SURE THE TEACHER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED WHEN/IF POSSIBLE.   SWES Pre-Arranged Absence form (attached here):  SWHS 9-12: Pre-arranged absence form SWMS 6-8 Pre-arranged absence form SWES-N ITK-5 Pre-arranged absence Form This form is for parents who plan on having their child out more than a day. Washington State does not excuse vacations, so we've created a form to create a bridge of communication. Fill it out, get it back to the office and we’ll get a signature from your child's teacher and take care of getting the principal's signature. Use this form to excuse absences when your child will be gone longer than one day.   Attendance/Truancy Requirements for WA State (attached here): https://www.sw.wednet.edu/connect/attendance School Bus Guidelines and Expectations A gentle reminder on the bus guidelines and expectations. The messes being left on the bus daily is beyond what we would expect of our students. There is no food or beverage allowed, this includes candy, gum as well. Full reminders on this site here  Items not allowed on the bus: Glass objects: bottles, jars, etc. Aerosol containers Food, drink, gum Live critters: bugs, animals, worms, etc. Oversized objects and instruments that cannot fit safely in the seat with the student Weapons: guns, knives (real or toy), razor blades, laser pointers, etc. Sports equipment that could endanger others Portable radios Any item that is dangerous, illegal or against school property Thank you for respecting our shared space and cleaning up after yourselves each day! Pies on Pi Day for Educational Support Staff The district expressed their gratitude all week for the educational support staff with a variety of pies for all to eat, The educational support staff include the administrative, office, paraeducators, custodians, maintenance, nutrition, technology, and transportation staff. Our gratitude for them is infinite, like Pi itself. Free and Reduced Meal Application The number one action parents/guardians can do to help school funding is complete the Free and Reduced Meal Application that qualifies the district for different funding. Those who qualify under direct certification (Medicaid, TANF, Basic Food, Foster Care) or McKinney Vento do NOT need to complete this application Thank you to those who have already completed the application. Through the submission of the Free and Reduced Meal Application, students may qualify for: Free and reduced-price meal benefits, Summer EBT benefits (if enrolled in a school that participates in the National School Lunch Program or the School Breakfast Program), and/or Reduced fees for other programs and activities. This information is also used by the state and federal governments to send increased funding and provide other educational programs in schools with higher populations of students experiencing poverty. The form is simple to fill out and confidential. There are no citizenship requirements for participation in the federal child nutrition programs that Washington’s schools operate, and immigration status is not requested or disclosed. Free & Reduced Meal Application Crisis Supports Mental health providers are on staff in our buildings that can help our students in need. Students can request to see a counselor by talking to any staff member in the building. To ensure that everyone has access to the help they may need, we would like to remind you of the following available resources: Employee Assistance Program National Center for Grieving Children & Families Tips for Grieving Teens Tips for Supporting a Grieving Teen NAMI Resources for Kids, Teens and Young Adults Crisis Line - 1.800.584.3578 24 Hour Crisis Line - 1.800.584.3578 SWPTA, SWEPTA, Boosters, RTL, SW CARES, and Volunteer Opportunities Click Here to join one of the South Whidbey Community Groups that support the schools Performing Arts Booster (PAB), Athletic Booster, 6-12 PTA, SWEPTA (K-5), or the Emergency Notifications Group. Performing Arts Booster meets the first Wednesday of the month at 2:50pm in the Band room. Next meeting will be on Wednesday, April 9th (due to Spring Break on the 2nd). VOLUNTEER APPLICATION   Facilities Update Bond Updates   Staff Highlights Be Our Next Highlight-Click Here Employment Opportunities Open Positions! It's a great time to apply and join our team! To see the current open positions and apply, visit our website:  https://www.sw.wednet.edu/our-district/district-office/human-resources Construction Project Manager Teacher-HS/MS Band & Music Assistant Coach - JV Boys Soccer Lead Mechanic/Maintenance Technician School Bus Driver - Afternoons School Bus Driver Trainer School Bus Drivers Athletic Trainer - Open until filled Also accepting application for substitute teachers, paraeducators, bus drivers, registered nurse, custodian, and food services. South Whidbey School District Comprehensive benefit package for eligible staff, which includes options for health insurance, dental insurance, vision insurance, long-term disability insurance, and compensated leave. Eligible positions are covered by the Washington State Retirement Plan.  For additional information and to apply, visit Fast Track: https://www.sw.wednet.edu/our-district/district-office/human-resources/open-positions Child Find Services: South Whidbey School District is responsible for locating, evaluating, and serving children in the district boundaries who may have a disability in one of the following eligibility categories: Intellectual disability, a hearing impairment (including deafness), a speech or language impairment, a visual impairment (including blindness), an emotional/behavioral disability, an orthopedic impairment, autism, traumatic brain injury, other health impairment, a specific learning disability, deaf-blindness, multiple disabilities, or for students, three through eight, a developmental delay and who, because of the disability and adverse educational impact, has unique needs that cannot be addressed exclusively through education in general education classes with or without individual accommodations, and needs special education and related services.( WAC 392-172A-01035).   The school district offers free screenings for children ages 3-5 with developmental concerns. The next screening dates are: 4/23/2025 Contact us at ahudkins@sw.wednet.edu or 360-221-6808 x 2206. Information is also available on our website at South Whidbey School District  (linked here). For students in grade kindergarten – grade 12 with concerns of a special education disability, contact the school counselor or principal. Contact STEPS (360) 679-1039 for children ages birth to 3. A child may be referred by any source that has knowledge about the student. South Whidbey School District serves all children (public school, private school, home school) residing within the school district boundaries. If your family is living in a temporary situation, you may contact the district where you are staying to attend a screening. SPED Records Retention In keeping with the Public Schools Records Retention Schedule by the Office of the Secretary of the State of Washington to retain the special education records of students for a minimum of 6 years when the student is no longer eligible for services or has withdrawn from the district.  2018-2019 will be destroyed August 31, 2025 2019-2020 will be destroyed August 31, 2026 2020-2021 will be destroyed August 31, 2027 2021-2022 will be destroyed August 31, 2028 Contact the special education office at ahudkins@sw.wednet.edu if you would like more information regarding student special education files or to request the file. Records will not be released to parent/guardian if student is age 18+ in accordance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA): Once a student reaches 18 years of age or attends a postsecondary institution, he or she becomes an "eligible student," and all rights formerly given to parents under FERPA transfer to the student.   It Takes A Village! Actions our school community can do to assist in student education: Complete the Free and Reduced Meal Application to assist with school funding. Daily Student Attendance — helps students in their classes and funding for the district Communication – review your ParentSquare messages, communicate with teachers. Share with the Community all of the positive events and achievements in the schools Print and post single page Navigator at local establishments Re-share district social media posts Invite members of the community to school events Talk to other parents/guardians about what is happening Advocate to elected officials the concerns of the district (link to slides from Coffee with the Principal) Respond to misinformation with links to the website or suggestion to contact info@sw.wednet.edu for correct information Connect with Washington advocacy groups: OSPI - Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction WSSDA - Washington State School Directors' Association WASBO - Washington Association of School Business Officials WAMOA - Washington Association of Maintenance and Operations Administrators WEA - Washington Education Association PSE - SEIU - Public School Employees of WAshington Donate money for ES Book Fair for students who don't have funds Volunteer – in schools/classes, SWEPTA, boosters, athletics, etc. Fill out planned absence slips when you know your child is going to be absent ahead of time so we can plan Engage with Q&A and other School Board Forums even if it's sending a question in ahead of time via email Contact Us South Whidbey School District 5476 Maxwelton Road, Langley, WA 98260 Tel. 360-221-6100 FAX 360-221-3835 Questions/Concerns/Stories: Email info@sw.wednet.edu SWHS/SWMS Attendance Line 360-221-0937 (email)   6-12 Questions? Email meaton@sw.wednet.edu    SWA Office Attendance Line 360-221-0937 (email)    SWA Questions? Email camundson@sw.wednet.edu    SWES (North and South Campuses)  TK-5 Attendance Line 360-221-0637 (email)   TK-5 Questions Email dhouck@sw.wednet.edu  ALE K-8 Questions? Email jzundel@sw.wednet.edu            Special Education Questions? Email ahudkins@sw.wednet.edu Athletics Questions? Email kyjohnson@sw.wednet.edu HR Questions? Email hsmith@sw.wednet.edu 988 - Suicide and Crisis Lifeline   If you or someone you know needs support now, call or text 988 or chat 988Lifeline.org.  Safety Study Hall Peachjar Digital Flyers South Whidbey School Spirit Wear

Thursday, Mar 20 2025

School Board Student Member Applications Open till M...

Student Board Member Application Due May 5, 2025 South Whidbey School Board is looking for the next student voice to be a student board member.  Selection Process: Interested students click the button above for the application. Student application packet submitted to Principal Patton by May 5, 2025. Interviews with School Board at the May 14, 2025 Workshop, 5:30pm. Board selects and announces Student Representative following interviews. Next available Business Meeting (May 28) ,student representative seated May 28 final board meeting of term of outgoing rep and first meeting of new rep. The Student Representative to the School Board will be expected to: Follow guidelines for submitting application to school board Serve from June 1, 2025 through the School Board Business Meeting in May 2027 Participate in an advisory capacity at School Board meetings by sharing ideas, suggestions, and concerns as well as advisory votes prior to the board taking action. Attend two official meetings per month (workshop/board) Act as a liaison between the school board and students in all schools Provide own transportation to/from meetings Have the opportunity to chair one board meeting during tenure Have the opportunity to attend the WSSDA conference with expenses paid by the district  Have the opportunity to assist board members at high school graduation, if not a senior  Role: To serve as a student representative to the school board by providing information, recommendations, and advisory votes at the regular school board meetings, and keep the student body informed of board action as appropriate. Term: The student representative will be selected by the board of directors in the spring of the year, to serve on the board for the following two years.  The student will serve a two year term beginning in June and concluding in May (of the second year).   Qualifications: The student must be actively seeking a diploma from SWHS or SWA In the 8-11th grades at the time of application Must have had at least a 2.0 GPA for the previous semester and must have passed all full-time classes. Students currently below a 2.0 GPA and/or failing one or more subjects may be considered; however, academics take precedence. Completion of application packet Application form Personal statement Signed acknowledgement by parent/guardian Commitment to attend workshops and business meetings of the school board

Friday, Mar 14 2025

SWSD Facilities Modernization and Upgrades Bids Due ...

Monday, Mar 10 2025

SWSD Navigator - School Board Workshop, Wednesday Ma...

​ ​ South Whidbey Schools ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Issue #128| March 5, 2025 ​ Welcome to this week's edition of the South Whidbey School District Navigator Newsletter! We're excited to share the latest happenings and updates from our school community to keep you informed and engaged. Don't forget, at the bottom of this message, click [Message clipped] View entire message and read through the whole message. The Navigator is packed full of updates, contacts, and information. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ THANK YOU to our Educational Support Team! ​ Next week, March 10th - 14th, we recognize and thank all of our educational support staff throughout the district. Our support staff are the engine of the district. They include the school office secretaries, registrars, paraeducators, kitchen, custodial, maintenance, technology, transportation, and district office support staff. The district thanks each and every one of our support staff for making a difference in the district every day! ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Annual CEE Survey - March 12-25, 2025 ​ Next Wednesday, March 12th, we will be starting the process of administering the annual Educational Effectiveness Survey (EES). On Wednesday, March 12, 2025, you will receive a ParentSquare post with a link to an online, multiple-choice survey.. The survey will have the subject line: District Family/Student/or Staff Survey – South Whidbey School District and will include instructions and your survey link. We ask that you please complete and submit the survey by Tuesday, March 25, 2025.   The survey questions were developed by the Center for Educational Effectiveness, a Bellevue, Washington-based educational research firm, in collaboration with the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction for Washington State. This survey has been used with over 750,000 educational stakeholders in the Western U.S. This survey will provide our staff and leadership valuable information and feedback. Students and staff will have time in school to take this survey. We appreciate your help in reminding families to complete the survey. Your feedback makes a difference. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Important Dates - Please Check ParentSquare for School Updates ​ Falcon & Cougar Athletics Home Games; Band Calendar March 6: HS Preregistration for 2025-2026 is due March 7: Coffee with the Principal March 3-7: Falcon Cheer Clinic March 8: Falcon Cheer Tryouts March 9: Daylight Savings Time Begins - Spring Forward March 10-14: Educational Support Staff Appreciation Week March 11: SAT Exams March 12: School Board Workshop March 12-25: CEE Survey March 14: Pi Day March 17-18: Pacific Science Center Days at SWES - Volunteers Needed March 20: Reptile Man at SWES; March 26: School Board Meeting March 31 - April 4: Spring Break April 17: SWES Family STEAM Night April 19: SWHS Prom ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ 2025-2026 School Calendar ​ ​ ​ ​ School Updates ​ ​ ​ ​ South Whidbey High School 25-26 Class Preregistration ​ Please see last week's ParentSquare posts from SWHS Counselor Leigha Patton. Both the completed and signed Preregisration Worksheet AND entering requested courses into the student's Skyward/Student Access are due no later than that same day of Thursday, March 6th, 2025, by 3:00pm. The Preregistration Worksheet REQUIRES a parent/guardian/caregiver signature before it can be turned in. If your household is experiencing computer issues and/or internet problems, your student is welcome to use the computers in the high school library to input their course requests into their Skyward/Student Access account.   As noted on page 13 in the online 2025-2026 Course Description Guide under the heading COURSE DESCRIPTIONS, courses will be offered based on teacher availability and number of student requests. If there are not enough student requests for any particular class(es), it/they may have to be cancelled for the upcoming school year. If this occurs, the students who requested the cancelled class(es) will be scheduled into one or more of their Alternate Courses.    The 2025-2026 Course Description Guide can be found: > The main SWHS/SWA website > https://swhs.sw.wednet.edu/ -OR- > https://swhs.sw.wednet.edu/academics/student-services/course-descriptions ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ South Whidbey Schools' Band Spring Concert ​ Last night's South Whidbey Schools' Band Spring Concert was fabulous! The students are learning and improving throughout the year. Watch the 6th grade band performance linked here. Save the date for upcoming performances: Swing into Spring Big Band Dance - May 10th, All Bands End of the Year Concert May 13th, WICA Jazz Band Concert May 23nd, Harshman Retirement Community Concert June 1st. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ SWMS Cougars Did Not Throw Away Their Shot! ​ When the South Whidbey Schools Foundation provided the 8th grade US History students with tickets to see Hamilton at the Paramount in Seattle, the students rallied behind this opportunity to see the live musical. They spent the weeks prior learning their history, writing, and performing "battle rap" and the "spoken word". "Battle rap" is when two or more rappers compete on a topic to see who has the best verses. The "spoken word" is a term for poetry that is performed aloud, rather than read on a page. It can include poetry readings, slams, hip hop, jazz, and more. They wrote and performed on multiple topics from “Most Distracting in History Class” to "Missing HW". Mrs. Richards, history teacher who applied for the SWSF grant, said the students were "SO GOOD. They did exactly what we asked of them, were respectful to each other, the bus driver, the people we encountered, the Paramount staff, and to other students. There were hundreds of kids from over 35 schools there so the chaos potential was high, but our kids nailed it. They were engaged and despite my many warnings, some of them even sang along to their favorite songs;) The Hamilton Hype Squad energy was next level." ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Lunch Time Legos ​ Thanks to teacher, Melanie Readshaw, South Whidbey Middle and High school students have another lunchtime social activity - building Legos. Each Thursday, she has a record number of middle schoolers attend. Students are talking, laughing, eating, and being creative. Originally, Mrs. Readshaw was simply trying to offer students who may want a quieter space to eat and do Legos. But it has become a popular social session. Lunchtime Legos is made possible with bins of legos donated by SWMS and personal purchases made by Melanie and Lawrence Readshaw (South Whidbey alum -class of ‘92). The couple purchased smaller sets to ensure students had time to complete them during lunch. Additionally, they brought in several larger LEGO sets and allow students to save and continue their builds till the following week. Lunchtime Legos is available every Thursday at lunch, to both high school and middle school students. HS students must sign up in advance with Mrs. Readshaw, MS students can just show up. So far, only middle school students have attended. This activity is planned to be available for the rest of the school year. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Glow Party Fundraiser a Huge Success! ​ The elementary school PTA’s Glow Party was a fantastic night of fun, dancing, and community spirit! With around 300 attendees, the event was filled with energy as students lit up the night under glow lights, enjoyed music, and participated in exciting activities. We were especially grateful to have high school basketball players and cheerleaders join us, engaging with students through face painting, pop-a-shot basketball, and even leading a fun dance circle. Thanks to the incredible support of our families and community, we raised a significant amount of money to continue supporting our students, teachers, and school. Thank you to everyone who made this event such a glowing success! ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Coffee with the District ​ ALL district parents/guardians are welcome to join Principal Richards in the South Whidbey Elementary School Community Room on Friday, March 7th at 8:30am, with guests Melinda Gardner (WIN), Jay Freundlich, and Brian Kenney (Farm), who will discuss Friends of the School Farm. This is a time to connect with other parents and learn more about our schools and our school community! If you missed a previous discussion, please see the videos, slides, and handouts on our website linked here. The webpage is filled with important information for families of students in every grade. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Dream Doors ​ Students from Lindsey DeMots fourth grade class created dream doors in honor of Martin Luther King Day. The class discussed Dr. King's legacy and how he had a dream of equality and justice for his country. Then students talked about their dreams for their country and the world. Students designed "dream doors" to show the world that they are working towards in the open door. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Martin Luther King Jr. Week of Service Recap ​ Posted on February 4, 2025 by whidbeyschoolgardens Every year South Whidbey Elementary students honor the work of MLK by participating in community projects during a week of service. Many classes chose to do a service project for Whidbey Island Nourishes through the farm program. Fifth graders, who have been refining their culinary skills all year, volunteered to pass along their knowledge and help lead 1st graders in making banana muffins. The muffins were packaged and donated to Whidbey Island Nourishes, who will distribute them to families. It was a lot of fun to watch the fifth grade volunteers step into leadership roles and to watch the first graders begin to learn what it means to do something in service of others. Over the course of the week, we baked over 350 muffins with 4 different classes! This year, we added a new project to show appreciation for the dedicated volunteers and staff at the W.I.N. kitchen, who help make this yearly project possible. Third and fourth graders made banana smoothies and served them to the volunteers to acknowledge all of their hard work. A big thank you to all of the students who came together to celebrate MLK’s legacy! ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Click image below to purchase yearbooks: ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Board Corner ​ Last Board Meeting we had one of our midyear updates on the School Improvement Plans, letting us see how our goals have filtered down to the building and classroom level. We also approved the three-year contract for Dr. Clifford, voted to oppose a WIAA amendment to keep trans athletes from participating in sports according to their chosen gender, and approved updates to several policies to support and protect students who have immigrated to this country.  At the upcoming Board Workshop, we will be discussing a resolution to create a committee to recommend a long-term climate policy for the district, as well as discussing the appointment of our next student board rep, and sharing our appreciation for the support—without whom our schools simply wouldn’t work.  On Wednesday, March 12, 2025 the South Whidbey School Board will have a Special Business Meeting to open an Executive Session, followed by a Workshop at 6:30pm, via ZOOM WEBINAR and IN PERSON at the South Whidbey Elementary School Dr. Julie Hadden Community Board Room at 5380 Maxwelton Road, Langley.  The agenda is linked HERE.  Please click THIS LINK to join the webinar. Passcode: 234129 Webinar ID: 881 5979 3362 Future Meetings: March 20 Board Visit to Sno Isle March 22 Board Members attend the Convening Conference March 26 Board Business Meeting April 9 Board Workshop -- Brook WIlleford, Board Chair ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Athletic Acclamations ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Falcon Boys Swim Team Medals at States! ​ The Falcon Boys Swim Team competed in the State Finals in Federal Way bringing home medals in 3 events! The relay team made up of all four swimmers, Senior Tyson Prendergast, Junior Jack Hempel, Junior Rowan Jung & Sophomore Caleb Lewis, placed 5th in the 400 Free Relay. Junior Jack Hempel also placed 4th in the 50 Free and 2nd in the 100 Free. The team placed 9th over all out of all the 1A/2A teams in the state. Way to go Falcons! ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Congratulations Falcon Wrestlers! ​ On February 21st, South Whidbey sent 8 Falcon wrestlers to the Mat Classic at the Tacoma Dome for State. Congratulations to Senior Kaylie Baker who got 2nd place in the 145lb Girls 1B/2B/1A tournament for the second year in a row. SWHS also had seven additional wrestlers compete this year including Junior Josie Ploof (170), Sophomore Logan Schnobrich (110), Freshman Dylan McKnight (106), Freshman Anthony Ellis (126), Sophomore Becket Walsh (138), Sophomore Hayden Baker (215) and Sophomore Owen Walker (285) Way to go Falcons! ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Spring Falcon Sports ​ Track, Girls Tennis, Boys Soccer, Baseball, Fastpitch, Boys Golf and Girls Golf turn out date was Monday March 3rd, right after school and meeting practice venues are as follows: Track: 3:00 pm in room #108 Girls Tennis: 3:00 pm at the HS tennis courts or Main Gym if raining. Boys Soccer:  3:00 pm at the South Whidbey Elementary School - Upper Field. Baseball: 2:50 pm at the HS Baseball Field Fastpitch: 3:00 pm at the HS Softball Field Boys Golf: 3:15 pm at UBGCC (Useless Bay Golf & Country Club) - North end of clubhouse under the deck. Girls Golf:   3:15 pm at UBGCC Range (Useless Bay Golf & Country Club)  Spring sports practice and game times/locations may be changed at times due to rain. Make sure to look for communications for coaches regularly. Families can sign up for all sports on Final Forms:  https://swhs.sw.wednet.edu/activities/athletics  Sign ups must be complete and sport physicals must be up to date to be eligible to participate. Sign up as soon as possible to start receiving emails/communications for the coaches. If you have any questions about FinalForms and paperwork please contact Kymy Johnson, our athletic secretary, at kyjohnson@sw.wednet.edu or call 360-221-6808 x5423. ​ ​ ​ ​ For Falcon schedules and standings, please visit the Emerald Sound Webpage linked here. SWSD students are encouraged to attend and enjoy SWHS sporting events! While at these sporting events, TK-8th grade students must attend with adult supervision. Students should not be left alone or unattended at any time during the event.  We appreciate your partnership in keeping our Orca and Cougar spectators safe and happy!   Please reach out to Kymy Johnson in the ASB/Athletics office if you have questions. kyjohnson@sw.wednet.edu or 360.221.6808 ext. 5423. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Thank You from the Athletic Boosters ​ The South Whidbey High School Athletic Boosters is incredibly grateful to everyone who contributed to this year's auction—their most successful one yet, raising over $42,500! From the generous businesses that donated items to the enthusiastic Falcon fans who placed bids, your support makes a lasting impact. These funds directly support our student-athletes by contributing to our scholarship fund, providing essential equipment, uniforms, and meeting coaching needs to keep our programs thriving. Missed the event? There’s still time to help us reach our $50,000 goal! Whether you're a business owner or a community supporter, your donation can make a difference. To contribute, contact Olivia Batchelor, Booster Club Co-President, and join us in empowering our student-athletes today! Swhsabcfalcons@gmail.com 360-544-2436 ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Student Supports ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ The SmileMobile is coming to town! ​ Readiness to Learn is hosting the Smile Mobile again at the South Whidbey Community Center March 17-27th, the mobile dental unit will be here to serve kids (first tooth to 21) AND their adult family members. If you don't have insurance or a dentist, call and schedule an appointment-their services are free of charge. Everyone on the SmileMobile team is super nice, if for some reason they can't see you, they are up to date on the local resources and will connect you with a nearby dentist who can help. So, if someone in your family is in need of a dental check up call and schedule an appointment today! 1-888-286-9105. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ 2025 South Whidbey Middle School Yearbook ​ 2025 South Whidbey Middle School Yearbook is on Sale NOW! Use the QR code, VIsit https://yearbookordercenter.com/?event=general.displayLanding&jobnumber=16064, or order your SWMS yearbook in person at the SWMS ASB Office. The cost of the Yearbook is $35.00. If you have been thinking about purchasing one don't wait and miss out!! GO Cougars! ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Class of 2025 -- Local Scholarship Applications ​ LOCAL SCHOLARSHIPS ARE POSTED ON SWHS WEBSITE UNDER STUDENT SERVICES! https://swhs.sw.wednet.edu/academics/student-services/local-scholarships Above is the link to all of the local scholarships posted for 2025. It is very important to read everything at the top of the scholarship page before you get started, every year we have students that don't follow through with key pieces of applications. The SWHS General Scholarship link is provided on this page as well and we have made it more Google Docs friendly.   Things to Know: 1. There are different due dates for some of the scholarships, but the majority are due 4/7/2025 (the Monday after Spring Break). 2. DO NOT PROCRASTINATE! Your semester will only get busier. 3. You must submit a copy of your transcript with almost every scholarship! 4. I encourage you to do a quick review of the list and pick out the main scholarships that you meet the criteria for and make a list of those, then rank them for completion.   5. If you have questions, come talk with your School Counselor, but please Do Not ask a question that is clearly outlined for you in the directions (you need to read them first)! If you are seeking continued education next year, there is a scholarship opportunity for you on this list! ​ ​ ​ ​ Attendance Matters ​ Often parents ask if they should provide a Doctor/Dentist note when their student is absent for an appointment. WA state requires a Parent meeting for 5 excused absences in any month or 10 excused absences within the school year. Please provide a Medical note if your child has been absent for an appointment to the Doctor, Dentist, Occupational Therapist and/or Counselors appointment.   Here are a few ways to excuse absences: Parent Square Pick-up Patrol (TK-5), Plan change, utilize the Absent button and please provide a reason. Call Attendance line, ES 360-221-0637, MS/HS 360-221-0937, SWA 360-221-7879 Dr.’s notes referencing appointments.    Handwritten notes. FOR SWES STUDENTS, CALL THE FRONT OFFICE 5 MINUTES BEFORE ARRIVING FOR EARLY PICKUP. MAKE SURE THE TEACHER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED WHEN/IF POSSIBLE.   SWES Pre-Arranged Absence form (attached here):  SWHS 9-12: Pre-arranged absence form SWMS 6-8 Pre-arranged absence form SWES-N ITK-5 Pre-arranged absence Form This form is for parents who plan on having their child out more than a day. Washington State does not excuse vacations, so we've created a form to create a bridge of communication. Fill it out, get it back to the office and we’ll get a signature from your child's teacher and take care of getting the principal's signature. Use this form to excuse absences when your child will be gone longer than one day.   Attendance/Truancy Requirements for WA State (attached here): https://www.sw.wednet.edu/connect/attendance ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ School Bus Guidelines and Expectations ​ A gentle reminder on the bus guidelines and expectations. The messes being left on the bus daily is beyond what we would expect of our students. There is no food or beverage allowed, this includes candy, gum as well. Full reminders on this site here  Items not allowed on the bus: Glass objects: bottles, jars, etc. Aerosol containers Food, drink, gum Live critters: bugs, animals, worms, etc. Oversized objects and instruments that cannot fit safely in the seat with the student Weapons: guns, knives (real or toy), razor blades, laser pointers, etc. Sports equipment that could endanger others Portable radios Any item that is dangerous, illegal or against school property Thank you for respecting our shared space and cleaning up after yourselves each day! ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Tax Refund for Washington Workers ​ Working Families in Washington State are eligible to receive a tax refund, separate from your federal taxes.  Who is eligible for the tax refund? Individuals and families are eligible if they meet all of the following requirements:  • Lived in Washington a minimum of 183 days.  • Are at least 25 and under 65 years of age OR have a qualifying child in 2024.  • Filed a 2024 federal tax return with a Social Security Number (SSN) or an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN).  • Eligible for the federal Earned Income Tax Credit on their 2024 tax return.  If you have low or moderate income, visit the website to see if you qualify and you can apply online too. The website,is super user friendly and I've heard the refund turnaround is pretty quick https://workingfamiliescredit.wa.gov ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Free and Reduced Meal Application ​ The number one action parents/guardians can do to help school funding is complete the Free and Reduced Meal Application that qualifies the district for different funding. Those who qualify under direct certification (Medicaid, TANF, Basic Food, Foster Care) or McKinney Vento do NOT need to complete this application Thank you to those who have already completed the application. Through the submission of the Free and Reduced Meal Application, students may qualify for: Free and reduced-price meal benefits, Summer EBT benefits (if enrolled in a school that participates in the National School Lunch Program or the School Breakfast Program), and/or Reduced fees for other programs and activities. This information is also used by the state and federal governments to send increased funding and provide other educational programs in schools with higher populations of students experiencing poverty. The form is simple to fill out and confidential. There are no citizenship requirements for participation in the federal child nutrition programs that Washington’s schools operate, and immigration status is not requested or disclosed. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Free & Reduced Meal Application ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Crisis Supports ​ Mental health providers are on staff in our buildings that can help our students in need. Students can request to see a counselor by talking to any staff member in the building. To ensure that everyone has access to the help they may need, we would like to remind you of the following available resources: Employee Assistance Program National Center for Grieving Children & Families Tips for Grieving Teens Tips for Supporting a Grieving Teen NAMI Resources for Kids, Teens and Young Adults Crisis Line - 1.800.584.3578 24 Hour Crisis Line - 1.800.584.3578 ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ SWPTA, SWEPTA, Boosters, RTL, SW CARES, and Volunteer Opportunities ​ Click Here to join one of the South Whidbey Community Groups that support the schools Performing Arts Booster (PAB), Athletic Booster, 6-12 PTA, SWEPTA (K-5), or the Emergency Notifications Group. Performing Arts Booster meets the first Wednesday of the month at 2:50pm in the Band room. Next meeting will be on Wednesday, April 9th (due to Spring Break on the 2nd). ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ VOLUNTEER APPLICATION ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ Facilities Update ​ ​ ​ ​ Preparations for Spring Sports ​ Our Maintenance Team is working tirelessly to prepare for spring sports. We recently upgraded the long-jump pits on our track to a silica sand rated for the long jump. This ensures that in a demanding sport our students will be able to jump safely with minimal impact on their bodies. Our team has also been pressure-washing the tennis courts and track facilities. In addition, we are preparing our natural grass fields for competition. This is on top of the installation of new infield top dressing on our baseball and softball fields that we undertook last summer and the upgrade to more powerful LED lighting in the stadium and grandstands. All improvements shared in this update have been funded with capital levy dollars approved by South Whidbey voters ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ This summer we will be continuing to update athletic facilities by resurfacing where needed. This will include resurfacing the tennis courts along Maxwelton Rd. and sanding, striping and refinishing our auxiliary gymnasium.  In our science classrooms at the middle-high school , we had all of the stainless steel sinks upgraded with new basins, drains, valves and faucets. Many of the old sinks had corroded or stained badly. The plumbing was either leaking or not working properly. Now, all of our lab stations and teacher prep sinks work as they were originally designed. Just a few weeks ago, we were pleased to restore lighting for the gallery in the activities hallway at the middle high school. The old, original track lighting serving that space had failed. We installed one track which now lights the displays along the back wall. We will be adding an additional track in the coming weeks. In February, we continued to replace old elementary school classroom furniture with the VS student desks and chairs which are our district standard. This high quality furniture is able to be adjusted to accommodate different student age-groups and affords higher levels of comfort compared to some of our older furniture.   ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ We have also been improving less visible, but vital systems. For the past few months we have been replacing water heating systems across the district, including the plumbing, expansion tanks and recirculation pumps. Many of these systems dated from the late 1980s to the mid-1990s and were at the end of their lifespan. In the next few weeks, our maintenance team will be participating in a training on the maintenance of this modernized equipment. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ We continue to upgrade fire monitoring, sprinklers and alarm systems. All of the detection devices and panels were modernized at the elementary school in November. Old or damaged devices were replaced at the middle-high school. During spring break, most of the horn strobes at the elementary school will be replaced with new strobes. At the same time, we will be replacing old sprinkler heads that no longer meet code. This will complete the modernization. In addition, we have consolidated our monitoring service at the elementary school with one company that provides responsive, comprehensive service districtwide. At our water plant, we have built upon our five-year DoH Sanitary Survey to begin the process of improving water distribution and treatment. This fall, we replaced the pumps that provide water to the schools, along with a new chlorine analyzer and monitoring system. This is the first step in doing a wholesale assessment and modernization of our water system. We are currently in discussion with an engineering firm to undertake this work. The improvements supported by our capital levy have been significant this past year and more numerous than can be captured in a brief update. Thanks to community support of the levy, we are improving our facilities every day. Thank you for your partnership. Scott Peacock (he/him) Director of Operations South Whidbey School District ​ ​ ​ ​ Bond Updates ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ Staff Highlights ​ ​ ​ ​ Be Our Next Highlight-Click Here ​ ​ ​ ​ Employment Opportunities ​ ​ ​ ​ Open Positions! ​ It's a great time to apply and join our team! To see the current open positions and apply, visit our website:  https://www.sw.wednet.edu/our-district/district-office/human-resources Teacher-HS/MS Band & Music Secretary 2 at the Elementary School. MS Guidance Counselor-Leave Replacement Assistant Coach - JV Boys Soccer Custodian-Temp Leave Replacement Lead Mechanic/Maintenance Technician School Bus Driver - Afternoons School Bus Driver Trainer School Bus Drivers Athletic Trainer - Open until filled Also accepting application for substitute teachers, paraeducators, bus drivers, registered nurse, custodian, and food services. ​ ​ ​ ​ South Whidbey School District Comprehensive benefit package for eligible staff, which includes options for health insurance, dental insurance, vision insurance, long-term disability insurance, and compensated leave. Eligible positions are covered by the Washington State Retirement Plan.  For additional information and to apply, visit Fast Track: https://www.sw.wednet.edu/our-district/district-office/human-resources/open-positions ​ ​ ​ ​ Child Find Services: ​ South Whidbey School District is responsible for locating, evaluating, and serving children in the district boundaries who may have a disability in one of the following eligibility categories: Intellectual disability, a hearing impairment (including deafness), a speech or language impairment, a visual impairment (including blindness), an emotional/behavioral disability, an orthopedic impairment, autism, traumatic brain injury, other health impairment, a specific learning disability, deaf-blindness, multiple disabilities, or for students, three through eight, a developmental delay and who, because of the disability and adverse educational impact, has unique needs that cannot be addressed exclusively through education in general education classes with or without individual accommodations, and needs special education and related services.( WAC 392-172A-01035).   The school district offers free screenings for children ages 3-5 with developmental concerns. The next screening dates are: 4/23/2025 Contact us at ahudkins@sw.wednet.edu or 360-221-6808 x 2206. Information is also available on our website at South Whidbey School District  (linked here). For students in grade kindergarten – grade 12 with concerns of a special education disability, contact the school counselor or principal. Contact STEPS (360) 679-1039 for children ages birth to 3. A child may be referred by any source that has knowledge about the student. South Whidbey School District serves all children (public school, private school, home school) residing within the school district boundaries. If your family is living in a temporary situation, you may contact the district where you are staying to attend a screening. ​ ​ ​ ​ SPED Records Retention ​ In keeping with the Public Schools Records Retention Schedule by the Office of the Secretary of the State of Washington to retain the special education records of students for a minimum of 6 years when the student is no longer eligible for services or has withdrawn from the district.  2018-2019 will be destroyed August 31, 2025 2019-2020 will be destroyed August 31, 2026 2020-2021 will be destroyed August 31, 2027 2021-2022 will be destroyed August 31, 2028 Contact the special education office at ahudkins@sw.wednet.edu if you would like more information regarding student special education files or to request the file. Records will not be released to parent/guardian if student is age 18+ in accordance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA): Once a student reaches 18 years of age or attends a postsecondary institution, he or she becomes an "eligible student," and all rights formerly given to parents under FERPA transfer to the student. ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ It Takes A Village! ​ Actions our school community can do to assist in student education: Complete the Free and Reduced Meal Application to assist with school funding. Daily Student Attendance — helps students in their classes and funding for the district Communication – review your ParentSquare messages, communicate with teachers. Share with the Community all of the positive events and achievements in the schools Print and post single page Navigator at local establishments Re-share district social media posts Invite members of the community to school events Talk to other parents/guardians about what is happening Advocate to elected officials the concerns of the district (link to slides from Coffee with the Principal) Respond to misinformation with links to the website or suggestion to contact info@sw.wednet.edu for correct information Connect with Washington advocacy groups: OSPI - Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction WSSDA - Washington State School Directors' Association WASBO - Washington Association of School Business Officials WAMOA - Washington Association of Maintenance and Operations Administrators WEA - Washington Education Association PSE - SEIU - Public School Employees of WAshington Donate money for ES Book Fair for students who don't have funds Volunteer – in schools/classes, SWEPTA, boosters, athletics, etc. Fill out planned absence slips when you know your child is going to be absent ahead of time so we can plan Engage with Q&A and other School Board Forums even if it's sending a question in ahead of time via email ​ ​ ​ ​ Contact Us ​ ​ ​ ​ South Whidbey School District 5476 Maxwelton Road, Langley, WA 98260 Tel. 360-221-6100 FAX 360-221-3835 Questions/Concerns/Stories: Email info@sw.wednet.edu SWHS/SWMS Attendance Line 360-221-0937 (email)   6-12 Questions? Email meaton@sw.wednet.edu    SWA Office Attendance Line 360-221-0937 (email)    SWA Questions? Email camundson@sw.wednet.edu    SWES (North and South Campuses)  TK-5 Attendance Line 360-221-0637 (email)   TK-5 Questions Email dhouck@sw.wednet.edu  ALE K-8 Questions? Email jzundel@sw.wednet.edu            Special Education Questions? Email ahudkins@sw.wednet.edu Athletics Questions? Email kyjohnson@sw.wednet.edu HR Questions? Email hsmith@sw.wednet.edu 988 - Suicide and Crisis Lifeline   If you or someone you know needs support now, call or text 988 or chat 988Lifeline.org.  ​ ​ ​ ​ Safety Study Hall ​ ​ ​ ​ Peachjar Digital Flyers ​ ​ ​ ​ South Whidbey School Spirit Wear ​ ​

Wednesday, Mar 05 2025

ALL INVITED to the SWHS Choir Concert Tonight 2/27 (...

Thursday, Feb 27 2025