WUSD Returns to On-Campus Learning!
Dear WUSD Community,
I’d like to take this opportunity to welcome students, staff and families to the 2021-2022 school year! On behalf of all staff, we are so excited to see all students back on campuses. The first day of school will be Monday, August 9th. If you have not yet completed registration for your student(s) you can do this on-line this year through the Tyler SIS parent portal. If you would like assistance with this, please stop by any school—we have staff on-site at every school campus Monday – Thursdays to help you with the registration process.
This year WUSD will have a 4-day instructional week. Students will attend school Monday-Thursday; there will be no school on Fridays. School buildings and district offices will be closed on Fridays. Feedback from our Whiteriver Community last winter supported making this change. Families shared this kind of school week would be a good fit for their schedules—there will be no absences on Fridays!
Our Phase 3 and 4 mitigation plans are all in place to ensure a safe learning and work environment: 1) face masks will continue to be worn by all staff and students at every campus/department 2) hand washing and sanitizing stations will be readily available 3) 3+ foot social distancing will be in place as much as possible throughout the school day 4) temperature checks and health screenings will be completed daily 5) WUSD has added staff to support more cleaning and sanitizing at all school campuses and 6) weekly COVID19 pool testing will be available to all staff and students. Pool testing is very non-invasive. All students can be trained to self-swab just the lower area of the nostril. This is an added layer of protection for our students and staff to ensure we resume school safely. Campuses will continue to be closed to visitors, but parents may schedule appointments to meet with staff as needed.
From now until August 9th, WUSD will be communicating important back to school announcements via the WUSD Facebook page, Tyler SIS parent portal, emails and robo-calls/robo-texts so please be sure we have a current, working email address and cell phone number that you check regularly.
While this year continues to present challenges, I’d like our community to know that we are prepared to face them with optimism and hope. We look forward to resuming on-campus learning for all students this year. We are excited to have the opportunity to celebrate students’ personal and academic success and ongoing perseverance. Our updated mission statement is: WUSD, working together with community, will empower all students to achieve their highest potential, graduating prepared for higher learning and careers. Please join me in actively seeking opportunities to develop greater community partnerships. Consider how each one of us can support students to reach their fullest potential. The race to graduation starts in preschool and each one of us has a role in helping every student reach the finish line!
Please be safe, enjoy your last few days of summer break, and we will see students on Monday, August 9th,
Jennifer Plath; WUSD Superintendent