The priority of deciding how to open schools in September will be ‘the safety of students and staff by providing the safest learning and working environment for everyone’
Woodland Public Schools continues to closely monitor the state’s health and safety guidance to assess the ability of our schools to meet the requirements and recommendations for the different possible reopening options. District officials understand the amount of anxiety families feel right now and they report that they are feeling the same anxiety with their own families.
While the situation continues to change, scientific data suggests the virus poses little risk to children. However, this same data also shows the virus load in children is the same as adults meaning that while the risk to our students could be low, the risk to their parents and our staff members could be high. Accordingly, the priority of district officials when deciding how to open schools in September will be the safety of students and staff by providing the safest learning and working environment for everyone.
New information about the novel coronavirus COVID-19 and its impacts on the region, state, and nation continue to affect the way people think and feel about a return to in-person learning in the fall. As the 2020-21 school year approaches, Woodland School District officials will continue to provide updates via both the Skyward Family Access email system as well as on the website at www.woodlandschools.org.
Woodland Public Schools offers full-time, remote-learning alternatives for students in grades K-12
While district officials work diligently on planning for the different potential outcomes of the return to school this fall, they also want to take the opportunity to re-introduce the district’s two existing, award-winning alternative- and remote-learning programs available for free for all Woodland students: Lewis River Academy (LRA) for students in grades K-8 and TEAM High School for students in grade 9-12.
Both programs have served students throughout Woodland Public Schools for many years and provide authentic, rigorous, and enhanced alternatives to in-school instruction for students in any grade. In fact, the district has put plans in place to provide staffing and support as necessary should the two programs see increased enrollment this fall.
Does your family live in a surrounding school district and not Woodland? Not a problem. Any interested student can enroll in LRA or TEAM by applying for a Choice Transfer boundary exception. More information is available on the district’s website here: https://www.woodlandschools.org/choice-transfer
Lewis River Academy (K-8)
Lewis River Academy (LRA) offers families of K-8 students innovative at-home curriculum with dedicated teacher support alongside optional in-classroom activities. In addition to teacher support, families and students use online platforms like Edgenuity (www.edgenuity.com), FuelEducation (www.fueleducation.com) and Odysseyware www.odysseyware.com) to work on their studies.
LRA requires the same amount of rigor as traditional schooling with students dedicating, approximately one hour per subject per day, just like any other student. The program also allows enrolled students to take electives like art and band as well as participate in extracurricular programs like clubs, drama, and athletics at Woodland’s other schools while continuing their core classes at LRA.
TEAM High School (9-12)
TEAM offers Woodland’s high school students a path to earning a diploma (not a GED) with an approach to school that accommodates extenuating life circumstances facing individual students such as full-time work, challenges with traditional school schedules, or family responsibilities. The dedication of students and staff at TEAM has paid off with the school’s graduation rate doubling In the past few years.
Students create a learning plan with TEAM’s teachers and work at their own pace within the scope of remote program minimums. TEAM students check in with the school’s staff via video teleconferences, phone, email, or even by text message on a weekly basis. Students are assessed based on multiple-choice quizzes taken online at home and through tests and exams taken at the TEAM building by appointment while adhering to proper hygiene and social distancing guidelines.
To enroll at TEAM as a remote learning solution, students will need access to a computer or other form of technology connected to the Internet at their homes. If your family needs support obtaining Internet access, please reach out to the Family Community Resource Center for assistance (www.woodlandschools.org/fcrc).
While learning is self-directed at TEAM, the school’s teachers can provide instruction and support in all subject areas whenever a student needs additional help or would benefit from more detailed lessons. If a student struggles to make progress at any point, the school’s teachers help students adjust learning plans, if necessary, to ensure academic success leading to graduation.
Jillian Domingo teaches English, social studies, and all humanities and business courses for TEAM. She is a National Board Certified Teacher, and holds a master’s degree in education from University of California Irvine, a bachelor’s degree in English literature, and teaching certificates in English, language arts, social studies, and history. Domingo is also working on acquiring her teaching certification in computer science and art.
Elizabeth “Liz” Vallaire teaches math and science for TEAM. She is currently working on her master’s degree in special education at Washington State University and holds a bachelor’s degree with a double-major in biology and zoology along with minors in writing and anthropology from Humboldt State University. She holds teaching certificates in biology, general science, health/fitness, art, and math. Vallaire was also the Washington Association for Learning Alternatives Teacher of the Year in 2019.
Just like K-8 students enrolled at Lewis River Academy, students enrolled at TEAM High School can take electives like art and band as well as participate in extracurricular activities including clubs, drama, and athletics at Woodland High School while earning their high school diploma at TEAM.
Learn more online or at Virtual Open Houses
To learn more about LRA and TEAM, you can visit www.woodlandschools.org/lra and www.woodlandschools.org/team, respectively. Additionally, we are pleased to announce an upcoming virtual open house where our staff will introduce and describe their programs as well as provide the opportunity to answer any questions you may have:
Virtual Open House
When? Tue., Aug. 4, starting at 6 p.m.
How? Join us using your PC, Mac, iPhone or Android smartphone with the following Zoom link: https://zoom.us/j/98896517597
In addition to asking questions during the open house via chat, you can also send any questions you may have in advance to Jake Hall, Executive Director Learning Alternatives and Supports, at hallj@woodlandschools.org.
To learn more about how Woodland Public Schools educates students and serves the community, visit the dedicated news webpage at https://www.woodlandschools.org/news/wsd
Information provided by Woodland Public Schools.
