Dear Rangers,

This is a scary time for all of us, and I want to recognize the staff of the Quilcene School District who have stepped up to the plate and has helped craft our ideas on how to continue to provide services to the community.

I first ask for your patience and understanding as we learn more about the individual and community impacts of the closure of schools. Know that we are thinking of, and planning on, how best to serve the families of the Quilcene School District in a time when the situation changes almost daily.

Below Mr. Moss and I, along with our administrative team have outlined a plan that we hope will best serve the needs of kids and community. Please know that as we receive more guidance from the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction along with the Governor’s office, these plans will change. As they do, we will do our best to keep you informed.

While we will try to put all of our actions in place as soon as possible, it may be early next week before all of these new systems will be working. To be able to ensure we are delivering the best possible level of service, we need some information from our parents and families.

• Tomorrow our office staff will be making phone call home to all families. The purpose of these calls will be to further identify which families will need which services. In addition, we will use this information to begin to identify what supplies and materials (including Chromebooks) will need to be prepared to send to homes. 

One of our most basic needs is simple – a good meal. We will strive to provide a breakfast and lunch to any person 18 years old or younger who wants it - even kids from outside the District or children not yet enrolled in school. To do that,

• We will be providing breakfast and lunch Monday - Friday each week during the school shutdown. We will begin tomorrow, March 17^th with these meals being provided on a pickup basis at the school from 10:00 AM to noon.
• Starting Wednesday, March 18^th, we will then expand to several locations and bus stop delivery on Wednesday. Our buses will be stopping at several locations in our district for those families in the area who want to pick up food from us. Please refer to the schedule below for locations and times where breakfast and lunch will be available for pickup beginning on Wednesday:
  • Quilcene School Cafeteria: 10: 00 – 12:00
  • Coyle Fire Hall:  10:15 – 10:45
  • Coyle Community Center:  10:50 – 11:20
  • Dabob Fire Hall:  11:45 – 12:15
  • Faith Farm:  10:15 – 10:45
  • Lake Leland Dock:  10:50 – 11:20
  • Discovery Bay:  11:45 – 12:15
  • Linger Longer Bay:  10:15 – 10:45
  • Hiddendale:  10:50 – 11:20
• It is essential that we have a good count for the number of meals that we need to prepare and have available. As mentioned above we will be calling each family in the district. You may also email Tammy in the office at tthompson@qsd48.org, or call 360-765-3363.

Children need to know that there is a routine and a purpose, as well as be assured from the adults in their lives that things will be OK, even if they are a bit weird at the moment.

• One of the most important components as we move towards what things will look like over the next six weeks will be establishing a routine with your kid(s).
  • Some things you should consider when establishing a routine:
    • Wake Up Time
    • Breakfast
    • Times for Structured Play
    • Reading Time (or being read to for younger students) 
    • Lunch Time
    • Outdoor Time
    • Exercise Time
    • Dinner Time
    • Family Time
    • TV Time
    • Bed Time

We also recognize that just as this is scary and ambiguous for parents and staff, our children will need support for their fears and misgivings.

• Our District Counselor, Tiffiny Jaber, will be available throughout the closure. To contact her you can reach her at her email, tjaber@qsd48.org, or by calling her at (360)477-6572.

• Over the duration of the next six weeks, we will continue to offer mental health services weekly, Monday-Wednesday from 8:00 am - 2:00 pm,  for all students. This service will be provided by Rebecca Williams of MCS Counseling. Rebecca has worked in her current capacity for two years and many of our students have already established an ongoing relationship with her. To utilize these services, Rebecca can be reached at (360)930-9370.

• • Student Under 13- Parents or guardians must call to give authorization.
  • Students 13 and Over- Are able to call directly 

This week, our learning and teaching staff will be working on a multitude of ways to help your children stay engaged and active while they are away from school. This will take a few days of planning, and while some students came home today with materials to work with, most students can expect to be contacted by their teachers next week.

Keep watching our web site, Facebook, and ClassDojo for updates. If you have any questions, would like to talk to me or Mr. Moss, or any of our instructional or administrative staff, please do not hesitate to call or email.

Thank you Quilcene,

Frank Redmon

Superintendent

Quilcene School District

360-765-3363