Schools are back in session prior to two-week Winter Break

DAYTON–After moving to remote learning for two weeks due to a rise in local COVID numbers, Dayton School District resumed in-person learning for the week of December 13-18 after numbers dropped off, just before the two-week scheduled winter break.

“By going back to in-person learning, students can turn in work they have completed, see their teachers and friends again before the holidays, learn new things, and share some positive holiday spirit,” said Superintendent Guy Strot. “Teachers, if needed, will also be able to send home materials with the students on Friday in case we cannot return right after Christmas. No one knows what the future holds and this is a possibility.”

At the December 17 School Board Meeting, Principal Kristina Brown reported the middle and high school students and staff seemed to make a smooth transition to remote learning and back to in-person learning.

Governor Inslee held a press conference December 18 announcing less stringent metrics for schools to open and stay open. With these changes Lacy Fehrenbach, Deputy Secretary for COVID Response at the State Department of Health stated, “In the case of an outbreak or increasing transmission rates, school districts do not need to revert to distance learning if they can contain the spread in their schools.”

Despite plans earlier in the school year to extend the school day for middle and high school past the current 12:30 dismissal time, Brown and staff decided that they would delay until possibly spring break. The staff was also in favor of continuing in-person learning for the partial day over exclusive remote learning.

These decisions were made due to COVID guidelines and safety issues having lunch during a longer day. Also, it’s easier to manage positive cases with staff in finding substitutes and with students in following through with quarantine and isolation protocols. Additionally, by continuing the early dismissal time, many students, including those with special needs, are receiving added educational support.

The District is looking at two options for schedules should middle and high school extend the in-person school day later in the school year. One would be to continue with the current red/yellow schedule where most periods alternate every other day. The other would be to have all periods every day. Questions about the second option include when to schedule band and time for educational support remain to be resolved.

Associated Student Body Representative Cassidy Laughery presented to the Board its recent activities, including providing daily video announcements when school went remote to engage and connect with fellow students. The ASB put together goody bags promoting mental health to give out to the students with various treats, pampering items and materials about self-care. During the past week students decorated an upside-down Christmas tree in the Commons. Principal Brown said, “It’s upside down just like our lives are right now with COVID.”