Hello Staff, Families and Community, We’re excited to welcome all scholars and staff back to our school buildings this fall! Scholars in grades 1-12 will start school on September 1, and kindergarten scholars will start school on September 7.

Like the rest of the world, the last 17 months brought new challenges for each and every scholar, family, and staff member in Federal Way Public Schools, as we all felt the effects of the global pandemic. However, our scholars and staff didn’t let these challenges get in their way. Despite the pandemic, our scholars, staff, and families created bright spots worth celebrating:

The graduation rate for the Class of 2020 rose to a new high of 88.2%.
87% of families participatedin Scholar Led Conferences in Spring 2021.
2,038 scholarsin grades 9-12 took and passed an AP, IB, or Cambridge course in the 2020-21 school year.
Percent of high school scholars regularly attending school increased 8% from the 2018-19 to 2020-21 school year.
Over 1,000 scholarsparticipated in Summer Learning.
115 scholarsin the Class of 2021 earned the Seal of Biliteracy.

Now, we’re starting the school year with full-time, in-person instruction, and we’re working to make sure the return to our school buildings is memorable, safe, and successful for each and every scholar.

We’re continuing to follow the latest health and safety guidance provided by the Department of Health and the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction as we plan for the start of the new year. Each school will be hosting an informational Zoom session on August 26 and August 30 at 6 p.m., where principals will share important back-to-school information, such as health and safety protocols and an overview of the first few days of school.

The first three days of school will be focused on rebuilding the school community and creating a sense of belonging for each and every scholar as they transition back to the school building. Each school will welcome scholars back to campus with activities designed to establish relationships and support the mental health and well-being of scholars. These will include tours of the school, creating a community shield, reviewing routines, and a chalk walk, where families, scholars and staff write welcoming and encouraging messages for scholars in chalk as they enter the school. 

We’re also excited to provide academic tutoring and mental health supports to scholars at all grade levels this school year. This will include access to online academic tutoring for all scholars and small group tutoring for some scholars. Additionally, all scholars ages 13 and up will have access to online counseling, and some scholars will have access to in-person mental health counseling. These opportunities will enhance the existing academic and school-based counseling supports at each building.  >Also new this year is the start of parent advisories at all schools, in addition to the existing Parent Advisory to the Superintendent. Over the past few years, we’ve seen this model work well for incorporating scholar voice, and we’re excited to expand our parent advisory in this way as well.

I’m so impressed by our scholars, families, and staff and all they accomplished in the middle of a global pandemic. I can’t wait to see how they continue to achieve and shine even brighter this school year.

In partnership,

Dr. Dani Pfeiffer, Ed.D., Superintendent