Friday Family Message

Hello Families
Next week marks the end of the first quarter of the school year. I am always surprised by how quickly the first quarter passes.
I genuinely enjoy our connections with students and families during this time of year through fall conferences, holiday observances, and more.
During late fall, we are well-practiced in school routines and expectations, and students know what their teachers expect from them as learners. We value our partnership with families and ask for your support in helping to keep our schools a safe and welcoming place for all students and staff.
Next week also marks our observance of Veterans Day. I am grateful for those in my family who have served in the armed forces. I am thankful to those in your family and our community who have done the same.
While we can never truly express an appropriate “thank you” for the personal sacrifices made by those who serve and defend our country, we will be taking time to celebrate our veterans across all of our schools. Whether it be an assembly, a breakfast celebration, or a speaker, thank you for helping us remember the cost of freedom and democracy.
Inclement weather and school delays or cancellations
We are approaching the time of year when we prepare for the possibility of inclement weather impacting the school day. For your information, here is a summary of how our decisions are made as to whether we delay or cancel school:
Safety first! We consider the safety of our children on buses, our student drivers, families driving and walking to school, and the safety of our staff, including our bus drivers.
We monitor weather patterns using multiple methods 24/7.
When there is a concern about school starting on time, our staff drives the roads throughout the district as early as 3 a.m. We take photos, check road conditions, monitor traffic, look for hazards, etc. We typically drive the roads multiple times in the early morning hours to determine if conditions are improving, worsening, or staying the same.
Factors that are used in making delay and closure decisions include:
Weather forecasts and models
Passable roads across the entire district (both Stanwood and Camano)
Accessibility and condition of parking lots and school buildings
We strive to decide about the school day by 5 a.m. Once the decision is made, we begin communicating with families and staff.
Snow routes will be available for families soon and linked to our Friday Family Messages.
For more emergency weather information, visit our Emergency & Weather webpage. And for more information about inclement weather procedures, visit our Transportation department webpage.
Community meeting about the replacement levy
A common question so far has been how this replacement levy relates to property values — which have generally been increasing in our area in recent years.
When voters approve a school levy, they OK a capped dollar amount that can be collected — voters aren't approving a specific tax rate. So if your property values increase in an area, the rate generally decreases to ensure the district collects no more money than what voters approved.
Please join us at our next community presentation about the replacement levy from 5:30-6:30 p.m. November 7 at the Stanwood Library.
Additionally, if your group/organization would like to schedule an informational in-person presentation about the replacement levy from Superintendent Deborah Rumbaugh, please email scsdinfo@stanwood.wednet.edu.
There's still time to join CFAC
You are invited to join the Capital Facilities Advisory Committee (CFAC) to help us develop our long-term capital facilities plan and provide input on facility use to ensure the community's values and priorities are accurately represented.
This school year, CFAC intends to analyze future capital projects, review the importance of levies and bonds as well as discuss middle school attendance areas.
If you are interested in joining this committee, or would like to know more, please complete this form.
Don't miss the SHS fall play
The fall play is a powerful drama: "Radium Girls" by D W Gregory.
In 1926, radium was a miracle cure, Madame Curie an international celebrity, and luminous watches the latest rage — until the girls who painted them began to fall ill with a mysterious disease. Inspired by a true story, "Radium Girls" traces the efforts of Grace Fryer, a dial painter, as she fights for her day in court.
Powerful and engrossing, "Radium Girls" is an unflinching look at the peculiarly American obsessions with health, wealth, and the commercialization of science.
The play will be presented at 7 p.m. Nov. 10, 11, 17, and 18 in the SHS Performing Arts Center. Tickets are $9 for adults and $7 for students and can be purchased at the box office or online via GoFan.
Election Day is Nov. 7
One last reminder that General Election ballots are due Tuesday, Nov. 7. Visit our voter webpage for more voting and election information.
Come work with us!
We’re currently seeking several positions in a variety of areas:
- Emergency Teacher Substitutes (must have a four-year degree and attend a mandatory training on Nov. 13-14)
- Substitutes for bus drivers, food service workers, and custodians
- An athletic trainer at Stanwood High
All of these jobs help our students learn and grow in the Stanwood-Camano community. Please help us spread the word!
Anyone interested can visit www.stanwood.wednet.edu/JOBS to learn more and to apply!
School Board update
A few reminders
Get social with us!
Please remember to follow the Stanwood-Camano School District on Facebook, Instagram, Nextdoor, and Twitter, and follow my tweets @rumbaughsupt.