Central Kitsap School District

Spanish | Tagalog

As the second week of this extended school closure comes to an end—and with spring break on the horizon—we wanted to take a moment to let you know what’s ahead.

Changes during spring break (March 30 – April 3)
We will be closed for spring break, except for childcare and limited meals. We will serve hot meals Monday through Wednesday next week at our current meal distribution sites. On Wednesday (April 1) we will also be giving each child a bag with meals for Thursday and Friday. Our meal distribution sites will be closed on Thursday (April 2) and Friday (April 3). You can continue to keep your child learning during spring break with our compilation of at-home learning resources.

Does your elementary child need access to a computer?
If you have a child in grades K-5 who does not have access to a computer for at-home learning, we may be able to help. We have a limited number of Chromebooks for use throughout this extended school closure. If you also have a child in grades 6-12 who already has a district Chromebook, we ask that you would please share that device. Request a device for your child.

Teaching and learning update
Although we are in the midst of an extended closure and cannot provide traditional in-person instruction, education must continue. We are excited about the work we are doing to prepare new learning activities for our students. This week, our teachers have been collaborating virtually in teams to create Google Classrooms. After spring break, we will be sharing more information about how we will manage and monitor student learning moving forward.

Class of 2020 update
There are many details to finalize when it comes to our seniors. Our plan is to develop a path forward for every senior to be successful, and we are working toward ensuring all our seniors have what they need to graduate. We will share more information when the state provides that guidance to us.

Next week won’t be the one many of us envisioned. But we hope you are able to find some time to relax and have some fun with your family. We will continue working behind the scenes on behalf of our students and will keep you informed by email, on our website and on social media. Have a safe spring break! 

Spanish | Tagalog

Last night, the governor issued a new order requiring all residents to stay at home except for crucial activities. The stay-at-home order went into effect immediately and will last for at least two weeks. The order does not affect our ability to provide childcare or meals. We will continue to provide childcare and meals for children.

Current childcare locations will remain open. We will provide free meals for children at our meal distribution sites.

We will continue to keep you informed by email, on our website and on social media. 

Spanish | Tagalog

Last week, our focus was on basic needs: providing childcare, providing meals, and ensuring safety through social distancing. Thank you for your patience as we worked out those details. This week, we are broadening our focus to include planning in other areas for the weeks ahead.

Our new normal

This unique situation is requiring school districts across the nation to lean in and redefine their purpose. For us, that means serving both our students and our community. Our nurses personally made masks for local healthcare workers, our food services, grounds and maintenance staff have teamed up to help us provide about 1,500 meals daily, and our teachers are eager to get creative about collaborating with and supporting each other and our students. We are proud of the way our district and our community is coming together to provide support to those around us. 

Learning support: Keeping your child on track

We are excited to continue updating our list of at-home learning resources for families to use with their children. Additionally, our teachers are working collaboratively this week to design and prepare to roll out new Google Classrooms for all grade levels, going live after spring break. We are also developing a plan to distribute devices to the families of elementary students who need them. More information to come about the distribution of devices later this week. We look forward to sharing new ways of keeping our students active and engaged! 

Update on graduation for Class of 2020

We recently received new guidance from OSPI around credit requirements, High School and Beyond Plans, graduation pathways, available waivers, and local graduation requirements. Our district and high schools are prioritizing meeting specific graduation requirement needs for seniors and will work to ensure they graduate. We are working closely with the state on this and will share more detailed information as soon as we are able. 

Meal pickup locations

We are consolidating our meal distribution sites to maximize staffing. Beginning Thursday, March 26, families who were picking up meals at Klahowya Secondary School will be asked to visit an alternate distribution site. For the most up-to-date list of pickup locations and times, or to let us know if you are unable to access meals, visit CKschools.org/closuremeals. 

School playground closures

As a school district, we have a responsibility to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. We are committed to doing our part to flatten the curve and comply with the recommendations of public health authorities. Therefore, we are closing our school playgrounds. 

Spring break plans (March 30 – April 3)

Childcare and meals will continue over spring break, and we have a plan in place for operating those services. School-based employees, including teachers, will not be working over spring break. All our buildings will remain closed to the public. 
 
We know there are still many unanswered questions, and we are working on finding those answers. As we do, we will continue to provide updates by email, on our website and on social media. Thank you, again, for your patience and support. We will get through this together. Until then, be kind, compassionate and strong for yourself and others! 

Spanish   |   Tagalog

We understand this is a difficult time for everyone. Right now, our focus is on meeting the basic needs of our students, staff, families and community. Please take a moment to watch this video message from our superintendent, Dr. Erin Prince, which includes answers to questions on childcare, meals, social distancing and learning opportunities.

Our teachers are eager to support our students as quickly as possible. But it’s important to understand that we are very limited by state and federal policy in how we can provide instruction during this closure. Dr. Prince has asked teachers to “pause” this week while we wait for further guidance from OSPI. We should have more information by the end of this week. Until then, we know you want to keep your child learning when our schools are closed. We have compiled this list of at-home learning resources for all ages.

We will continue to provide updates by email, on our website and on social media. Thank you for your continued patience and support.

During this extended school closure, we will offer free meals to all children 18 and under. We will also provide meals to our Special Education students up to age 21.

We will begin providing boxed lunches on Wednesday, March 18. Each meal will also include breakfast for the next day. You can pick up meals Monday through Friday between 11:00 a.m. and Noon at multiple sites across our district. You do not need to leave your car. Children must be present to claim a meal.

Learn more at CKschools.org/ClosureMeals

Our childcare providers are still finalizing childcare options. We will share more information on that soon. Thank you for your patience and support.

Spanish    |   Tagalog

We have been closely monitoring updates and best practices regarding community spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) throughout our state and nation. The situation is constantly changing, and it has become clear that school districts across Kitsap County cannot continue to operate.  

Beginning Monday, March 16, all CK schools will be closed to students through at least Friday, April 24. We have asked staff to talk with students about this closure, and to ensure they bring home all necessary personal belongings.

We know this decision will have an enormous impact on our students, staff, families and community. Our schools are so much more than just a place to learn. Although educating students is our primary mission, we also provide critical services and support to numerous families in our area. We are working on plans to serve our students and families during this closure. This will include:

• Food Services – We will ensure students who need help are provided with nutritious meals.
• Childcare – We are working with our childcare partners on options.
• Learning Opportunities – We are looking at ways to provide remote resources for students.  

We don’t have all these answers now. It will take us more time to fully develop and communicate the specifics for each area with guidance from the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI). We will provide updates as we finalize these plans.

All CK Schools staff will report to work on Monday to continue our planning efforts.

We know this is a difficult time. The next few weeks will pose challenges. But we are so proud of the way our staff and community have come together to face this public health crisis. Please be patient with us during this challenging time as we work to provide answers to your questions. We will continue to keep in touch with additional information and guidance.

These last few weeks—and the anxiety around the spread of the novel coronavirus—have not been easy for anyone. We are truly in uncharted waters. We are so grateful to our amazing staff, families and community for your patience, support and understanding. Together, we can and will get through this difficult and uncertain time.

School closure questions

We are working closely with state officials and public health experts around school closure decisions. We learned today that the governor has ordered the closure of all K-12 schools in King, Snohomish and Pierce counties from March 17 through at least April 24. The governor has not directed school closures in Kitsap County at this time. However, he has asked us to plan for how we would address the needs of our staff, students and families in the event of an extended closure.

What to expect next

This situation is new for everyone, and it is constantly changing. We are doing our best to make the right decisions for our staff, students and community. We will communicate with you any additional information or guidance. Thank you, again, for your patience and support.

UPDATED (March 11, 2020)

We currently do not have any COVID-19 cases in our district, and we will continue to keep our schools open as long as possible.

However, we also want to do our part to slow the spread of COVID-19 in our community. With that in mind, we have made the difficult decision to suspend all before and after school and evening activities, athletics and events at our schools. We are also suspending all outside community use of our buildings and facilities.

This suspension will begin immediately and will be in effect at least through the end of spring break (April 5).

This suspension will not affect our before and after school childcare providers.

Thank you for your support.

School closure or event cancellation considerations

Any decisions regarding school closure or cancellation of events will be done in consultation with our local and state health departments. If we do have to close schools, we must ensure equal access to education for all our students. With that in mind, the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) guidance states: It will likely make more sense to cancel school and/or district services and make up missed days at the end of the school year, rather than deploying a distance learning model that can be accessed by some, but not all, of your students.

If we do have a closure, or your child misses school, we will also work with you and your child to make up missed work. Please follow your school’s regular process for absences. In addition, we have compiled these online learning resources that families can choose to use in the event of a school closure.

When to keep students home

If your child has a cough or other symptoms, you might be unsure about whether you should keep your child home from school. For guidance, please contact your child’s health care provider or call the Washington State Department of Health at 1-800-525-0127 and press #. Phone lines are currently staffed from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., seven days a week.

If you do keep your child home, please call your school’s attendance line and share the specific reason for the absence—particularly if your child has flu or respiratory symptoms. We will excuse all absences due to student safety concerns, illness, health conditions or medical appointments.

What to expect next

The health and safety of our students, staff and community remains our top priority. We will keep you informed as we learn more about COVID-19 and its impact on our schools and community. Thank you for your support!

As the situation with the novel coronavirus continues to change rapidly, the health and safety of our students, staff and community is our top priority. We will continue to keep this page updated; we've also added a list of Frequently Asked Questions.

How We Clean Schools and Buses

Our custodial, maintenance and transportation staff clean schools and buses using a disinfectant that is effective against viruses like the novel coronavirus. They focus on surfaces and objects that students and staff frequently touch (“touchpoints”), such as handrails, doorknobs and faucet handles. This is what you can expect:
Each building has been provided with district-approved cleaning supplies. Our staff can use them throughout the day in our classrooms and workspaces as needed.

Other Preventative Measures

The best way to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus is to promote good handwashing. This short handwashing video may be helpful for you to use with your child. We are prepared for students to request the opportunity to wash their hands more often, and our custodians will work to keep soap and paper towels stocked throughout the day. We are also developing a short presentation for our staff to use with students with up-to-date facts and reminders.

What to Expect Next

Any decisions regarding event cancellation or school closure would be done in consultation with the Kitsap Public Health District.

The situation with the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) continues to change rapidly. You may have heard that some schools in our state have briefly closed. We are committed to keeping you informed as we learn more about this illness and its impact on our community.

What’s changed: The latest on COVID-19

Public health officials have confirmed that COVID-19 is spreading in our state. Although no cases have been confirmed in Kitsap County, we should be prepared for "community spread." (Community spread means people have been infected with the virus in an area, including some who are not sure how or where they became infected.) The Centers for Disease Control recommends that school districts work closely with local health officials regarding any decision to close schools or cancel events. At this time, local health officials do not recommend school closures or event cancellations. Recommendations may change as we learn more about this virus. We will keep you updated.

How we’re responding: Our preventative approach

Our custodial and maintenance staff are trained to use disinfectants safely and effectively. We clean our schools and buses daily using a disinfectant that is effective against viruses like COVID-19. This includes sanitizing surfaces and objects that are touched often, such as bathrooms, water fountains, desks, countertops, doorknobs, hands‐on learning items, faucet handles and phones. We are also working with school nurses and medical professionals to promote good handwashing and preventative measures to all our students.

A reminder: How you can help prevent spread of COVID-19

You can help reduce the risk of your child getting and spreading viral respiratory infections, including coronavirus, by taking these simple steps: 

• Wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
• Avoid touching eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands.
• Avoid contact with people who are sick.
• Stay home while sick and avoid close contact with others.
• Cover mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing, then throw the tissue in the trash and wash hands.
• Clean and disinfect objects and surfaces.

As you are likely aware, countries around the world are facing an outbreak of respiratory illness caused by a novel coronavirus called COVID-19. While the current risk to the general public is considered low, we want you to know how we're preparing.

How we're preventing the spread of illness in our schools – including coronavirus
The health and safety of our students, staff and community is our top priority. We follow a regular cleaning and disinfection program to prevent the spread of germs in schools and on our buses. We are actively working with local, state and national health agencies as they monitor this situation. The Washington State Department of Health has not advised schools to take any special precautions beyond what is normally recommended to prevent the spread of viruses in schools.

What you can do to prevent illness
You can help reduce the risk of your child getting and spreading viral respiratory infections, including coronavirus, by taking these simple steps: 

• Wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
• Avoid touching eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands.
• Avoid contact with people who are sick.
• Stay home while sick and avoid close contact with others.
• Cover mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing, then throw the tissue in the trash and wash hands.
• Clean and disinfect objects and surfaces.

How we make decisions about closing schools
Before closing schools or canceling events we will work closely with local and state health agencies. Any decision to close our schools will be done in consultation with their guidance and recommendations.

Learn more about coronavirus
The news surrounding COVID-19 changes frequently. These resources can help keep you informed:

• U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Washington State Department of Health
• Kitsap Public Health District
• Coronavirus Fact Sheet

We appreciate your help in keeping our students, staff and community safe. If you have additional questions, please do not hesitate to contact your child's school directly. Thank you!