Greetings Lake Dolloff Community!

I hope this message finds you safe, healthy, and enjoying the summer. Thank you for your strong collaborative efforts, which made 2019-2020 a successful school year. I continue to feel honored and proud to serve as Principal of our school. This year brought unexpected challenges and called for us to unite in ways that we never imagined.

I am so proud of our many scholars that remained engaged in learning as they participated in weekly zoom sessions, completed iReady lessons and used our Canvas website to access resources and turn in assignments. I am impressed by our teachers and support staff, who remained intentional on providing resources and instruction focused on grade-level standards. I speak for our entire staff, when I express gratitude for our wonderful families. We appreciate your two-way communication, continued grace and hard work that has taken place in your homes.

This year was truly game-changing. It called for courage and strength from all stakeholders. It was inspiring to see our families, staff and community actively committed to helping our scholars grow and achieve.

I look forward to this fall as I am already excited to embark on this 2020-2021 school year. Below you will find important information coming from our district leaders to be shared with all our scholars and families.

SUMMER LEARNING: This year, FWPS is providing essential summer learning for all scholars. Engaging in learning throughout the summer months will support your scholar in being prepared for when we return to school. We ask that you set aside 90 minutes a day if your child is in grade K-5 and 110 minutes a day for grade 6-12. A daily schedule and free online resources have been posted to the FWPS website at  https://www.fwps.org/summerlearning. A learning packet will also be mailed to your home for all scholars who were in K-11th grade last year. Packets should arrive in your mailbox the week of July 6. We are also really excited to share a new experience geared toward our youngest of learners. Tune into FW Channel 21 Monday-Friday from July 6-August 7 each day between 9-5 to see amazing 20-minute reading and math lessons. There will even be math lessons taught in Spanish each hour. These lessons will be posted to our FWPS YouTube channel as well

FALL RE-OPENING: Using guidance from the State and the DOH, we are planning for a safe return that prioritizes learning. What we know is that we will begin the year with a hybrid model (some face to face instruction and some remote instruction). At this time, FWPS is exploring several hybrid models that provides a combination of face to face instruction and remote learning. We have received input from parents and guardians, scholar and staff. The early results reveal the Pre-K-12 two day face-to-face and 3-day remote model is the most desired option. Please stay tuned for more information to come in the coming weeks.

HEALTH, SAFETY & RE-OPENING: Health and safety are a priority. As we prepare for our Fall Re-opening, we are using the guidance from the Department of Health and OSPI. Our district is hard at work developing health and safety protocols with social distancing guidelines, arranging schedules that minimize contact, considering bus transportation and engaging in deep cleaning protocols to minimize the spread of germs. As part of ensuring a safe learning environment, students will be required to wear face masks. Please take the time this summer to both reinforce and practice the wearing of face masks. We will continue to place health and safety as a priority as we look toward the fall.     More updates will be provided as our team continues to tactfully plan, organize and communicate next steps to launch learning for all Federal Way scholars in the fall. I hope everyone has the opportunity to rejuvenate and relax during the next few weeks of summer.

In partnership,

Julie McBride, Principal