Weather woes make midwinter break a time for learning
Neither snow nor rain nor wind has proved too formidable to stop Issaquah students from learning this year!
While the challenge of fitting seven missed school days into the remaining school calendar was difficult—nobody wants to cancel much-needed break time—families and staff stepped up to make the best of the situation this week.
School halls that were supposed to lay dormant during midwinter break instead bustle with activity. Principals report that morale is high, although buildings are a bit quieter and more relaxed than during a
typical week. Teachers have taken the opportunity to thoroughly review old lessons and move forward with new lessons, assuring this recaptured time is filled with student learning.
Flexibility and cooperation have been critical to make this week a success. Students with prior travel plans were invited to follow the prearranged absence procedure, which allows them to coordinate with teachers to take work with them and/or make up the work with leniency when they return. Staff with prior travel commitments left complete lesson plans behind to make sure classrooms were productive.
About 20- to 25-percent of students Districtwide are absent this week, mostly from prearranged absences but also because of cold and flu bugs that caused absent rates just under 10 percent at several schools during the past two weeks. About 200 certificated staff-including teachers, principals, and specialists-are absent. Classroom positions have been filled thanks to dedicated substitutes, building teamwork, and teachers and substitutes from the Lake Washington, Bellevue, and Snoqualmie school districts who agreed to work here during their midwinter break. On a normal day during the first week of February, about 100 certified employees were absent.
Some schools spiced up the week with fun activities. Endeavour Elementary transformed into "Endeavour Island Resort, located among the Sammamish Tropics." Students received a formal lei welcome on Tuesday, took hula lessons during recess on Wednesday, and will wear beach outfits for Island Spirit Day tomorrow. "Resort" staff enjoyed special Tiki treats on Thursday.
"One mother said her kindergarten student was so excited about the hula lessons she could hardly sleep," Endeavour Principal Jodi Bongard said.
In surveys, families and staff both indicated a strong preference for making up the missed school days during midwinter break-the most optimal time for student learning, before culminating tests such as the WASL (Washington Assessment of Student Learning) and Advanced Placement exams and before an imminent summer break causes distraction.
"The students, realizing that they can attend during a cold, rainy week in February or a beautiful warm sunny week in July, seem glad for the tradeoff," said Jean Schreiner, principal's secretary at Maywood Middle School.
More information about make-up days:
