Union Gap School District

WE NEED YOUR HELP TO SECURE NEW INTERNET SERVICES! The Union Gap School District is part of an effort in trying to increase broadband access in our region. One of our first tasks is to map access to show need. I am asking Union Gap families to access this site from your home computer/device and take the 1 minute survey. It is a speed test that will log your upload and download speed. No identifying data will be published. It will populate a map with dots. Everyone is encouraged to take this survey, so please spread the word! Especially those at limited speeds. If you are not able to access the internet at all, you can report this by taking the survey from a mobile device, or a public connection such as one of our school parking lot drive-in hotspots. Here is the link: https://www.commerce.wa.gov/building-infrastructure/washington-statewide-broadband-act/speedtestsurvey/ Let's get as many dots as possible! There will be significant opportunities to secure funding, but we need to be ready with our needs assessment. Thank you for helping with this important effort. Lisa Gredvig Superintendent

SCHOOL UPDATE BASED ON HEALTH GUIDANCE: LEARNING ENVIRONMENT The school year will begin on August 20, 2020, with students engaging in an upgraded fully-remote/distance learning model. In this model, all students will learn from home. We will remain in distance learning through Quarter 1 which ends on October 23. We will re-evaluate our community infection rate with the Yakima Health District at the end of September to determine if a hybrid model is possible following this time. Depending on the progression of the virus, we are prepared to remain in this model but are also ready to transition to “in-school learning.” Parents will have the option to remain in distance learning when a hybrid model is approved by health authorities. HOW IS IT DIFFERENT FROM THE SPRING? This fully-remote/distance learning option will be a significantly enhanced version of the approach that we used in the spring of 2020. Here are some of the components for the upcoming year: • Teachers will teach and connect with their classes daily. • Students will follow a consistent school day schedule five days a week and it will include Specialists. • Students will be expected to attend classes daily and attendance will be taken. • Grading practices will return to normal with all school work graded accordingly. • Technology will be provided to meet the needs of students. • ClassDojo will be the learning platform for grades K-2 and Microsoft Teams will be used for grades 3-8. • We will be training parents/students, in person or virtually, on technology in the coming weeks. As conditions with the virus progress, we will continue to keep you apprised of any changes or adjustments to the learning and teaching process. Information regarding your student’s learning schedule and details is forthcoming. Please continue to check for updates on ClassDojo, district website and mobile app. Thank you for your patience and unity as we move forward in this unprecedented time.

See you TODAY (Tuesday) for our last meal distribution from 10:30 - 11:30 am. We will start back up with meal distribution when school starts. Again, note new time - only an hour. It is hot outside! See you soon!

See you TODAY (Tuesday) for meal distribution from 10:30 - 11:30 am. Again, note new time - only an hour. It is hot outside! See you soon!

Fall learning is dependent on the health status of our area. Please see ClassDojo for specifics. This information was also mailed to all UG families today.

See you TODAY (Tuesday) for meal distribution and crafts from 10:30 - 11:30 am. Again, note new time - only an hour. See you soon!

Reminder: Bulk meal distribution is tomorrow (Tuesday) from 10:30 - 11:30 am due to summer heat. See you then!

The founder of Respuesta Comunitaria Latinx al COVID-19 en Washington scheduled a live Facebook event with the state school superintendent last week. The interview is in English and interpreted in Spanish by a certified interpreter. Here is the link to the recorded event: https://www.facebook.com/walatinxcovid19/videos/298762077974506/

Reminder: Survey closes Friday The Union Gap School District is planning for the 2020-2021 school year discussing a variety of scenarios based on guidance from the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI), the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) and Yakima Health District (YHD). As part of our planning process, we need your feedback. Please complete one survey per family. This survey is in English and Spanish. For Spanish - Click on link below and change the language to Spanish in the upper right of the survey. https://bit.ly/2BomB61

See you TODAY (Tuesday) for meal distribution from 10:30 - 11:30 am (note new time - only an hour).

Meal distribution will start back up again tomorrow (Tuesday) with a new time from 10:30 - 11:30 am due to summer heat. See you Tuesday!

#MaskUp

Families: To be clear, no school district has a choice in making sure that all students and staff have face coverings if school is able to open for face to face instruction. Students DO have the option of wearing face shields instead of masks. We also have to maintain social distance which won't allow us to open "as normal" in the Fall. There will be an opportunity for distance learning for those families that do not want to attend school for personal reasons. These students will be accountable for being engaged with home learning and completing work. We are still working with the Yakima Health District and receiving guidance from the state in determining our Fall plan. As stated previously, a draft of the plan should be available in the next two weeks. We will abide by all health guidelines to keep students and staff safe at all times. As a reminder, you can access all requirements the district has to abide by here: https://bit.ly/2Zp1nwN

The Union Gap School District is planning for the 2020-2021 school year discussing a variety of scenarios based on guidance from the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI), the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) and Yakima Health District (YHD). As part of our planning process, we need your feedback. Please complete one survey per family. This survey is in English and Spanish. For Spanish - Click on link below and change the language to Spanish in the upper right of the survey. https://bit.ly/2BomB61

If you would like to submit any questions or concerns about school opening in the Fall, please submit them here: https://bit.ly/2A5druz

ESD105 Superintendents want to remind you to wear masks when in public. Let’s do our part to #stopthespread and reopen our schools in the fall! #maskup #inthistogether

A friendly reminder for those who received a district-provided computer/tech device(s): Please plan on returning these TODAY (Friday). Returns can be made at the front of the school from 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM and 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM. Also, 7th and 8th grade art items are bagged up and waiting for their owners to collect.

Reminder that today is our last meal distribution until July 7th. See you today (Tuesday) from 10:30 - 12:30. We will be handing out masks as well. Just let us know if you need them!

Families: Yesterday, the Office of Public Instruction released the much-anticipated guidance for returning to school in the fall. As Union Gap School District plans for different school scenarios required by this guidance, be assured that we are committed to doing whatever it takes to protect our community’s health and ensure that every child can achieve to their highest level. We anticipate sharing our reopening guide with you no later than the week of July 20. Planning efforts will be ongoing throughout the summer and our strategies may be adjusted and refined as we head into the school year. Clear and transparent decision-making is a priority for us, and we will provide regular updates to make sure you have the latest information. If you are interested in reading the state's guidelines, you can find them here: https://www.k12.wa.us/sites/default/files/public/workgroups/Reopening%20Washington%20Schools%202020%20Planning%20Guide.pdf Stay safe. Please heed health officials' guidance in our county. We want to see our students. Lisa Gredvig Superintendent

Below are two videos regarding community transmission of COVID-19. Please take a minute to watch. Please wear a mask and social distance so we can get our infection rate down. English - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=maLYajm07xQ Spanish - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yznQuk2GOWE