SBLSD News

With the evolving situation regarding COVID-19 and increased transmission rates in the community, we want to assure you that our priority is to keep students and staff safe, and schools open.

To support the health and safety of students, staff and community in our schools, here are ways we’ve increased mitigation measures:

- Providing access to increased PPE

- Providing access to rapid antigen testing

- Emphasizing social distancing and masking

- Keeping buildings closed to visitors during the student day

Please help us maintain safe and healthy learning environments by keeping your child home if they are sick. If your child has symptoms or if you think they may have been exposed to COVID-19, we encourage them to get tested.

While there has been new CDC guidance with isolation timelines, we are waiting for information from the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department for changes to take place. Currently, SBLSD will continue to follow these state Department of Health guidelines until otherwise updated. Learn more about COVID-19 prevention measures at school and Q&A regarding protocols.

We appreciate your support and know that it takes all of us working together to keep schools open and safe for everyone.

As communicated previously, we’ve been piloting a Test to Stay program for students at Daffodil Valley Elementary. Good news, we’re expanding the voluntary, parent-consent COVID-19 testing program to every school in our District. With the purpose to reduce instructional loss for students exposed to COVID-19 at school, the program is for students who are unvaccinated and identified as a close contact* of an individual at a school or school-related event who tests positive for COVID-19. Learn more about the Test to Stay program and watch for details from your child’s school.

* Defined by the Washington State Department of Health, a close contact is an individual who has spent 15 or more minutes over a 24-hour period within 6 feet of the confirmed case, or within 3 feet in a K-12 indoor classroom setting. Each confirmed case in SBLSD is contact-traced and families are notified if their child is determined to be a close contact.

Incoming 9th graders and their families are invited to attend our high school curriculum and activities showcase events, which offer an opportunity to better understand students' choices for classes at Bonney Lake and Sumner high schools, including graduation requirements, academic offerings, electives, extra-curricular activities and athletics.

Click on the links for each school to view their event schedule:

- Sumner High School, Jan. 11, 5:30-7:30 p.m.

(International Baccalaureate presentation, 6:30-7 p.m.)

More information: (253) 891-5500

- Bonney Lake High School, Jan. 13, 6-7:30 p.m.

(Advanced Placement information session, 5:30-6 p.m.)

More information: (253) 891-5700

Are you interested in learning more about your elementary student’s core curriculum? SBLSD is hosting a first-ever event for families to view Language Arts, Math and Social Emotional Learning elementary curriculum at one of three events held in each region of the District.

Elementary Curriculum Showcase

- Jan. 20: 5:30-7 p.m., Crestwood Elementary, 3914 W. Tapps Dr E (Bonney Lake)

- Jan. 27: 5:30-7 p.m., Daffodil Valley Elementary, 1509 Valley Ave (Sumner)

- Feb. 3: 5:30-7 p.m., Donald Eismann Elementary, 13802 Canyon View Blvd E (Tehaleh)

What to expect at each event:

- View elementary core curriculum in Language Arts, Math, and Social Emotional Learning for each grade level.

- View 4th and 5th grade Human Growth and Development/Puberty videos, and 5th grade HIV AIDS video. Opt-out forms will be available after viewing the videos.

- Talk with some teachers at the host school and others in the region.

- Get information about 2022-23 kindergarten registration and readiness programs.

- Visit resource tables hosted by elementary specialists in PE, Music, and STEM

We’re offering the same event three times, providing flexibility with dates and locations in hopes that more families can attend. You do not need to attend the event within your school’s region. Light refreshments will be available. There will be no activities for children or childcare.

At last month’s meeting, the School Board proclaimed January 2022 as Sumner-Bonney Lake School District Whole Child Month. The Whole Child approach is an effort to transition from a sole focus on academic achievement to one that also promotes a child's social, emotional and character development.

To celebrate Whole Child Month, we’ve created activities for families to engage with their child each day in January. We encourage you to use this activity calendar that can be adapted to meet the age of your child. After completing an activity, please tag us on social media to share your progress.

Still curious what the whole child is all about? Watch this video (an oldie, but a relevant goodie) that highlights SBLSD’s commitment to the Whole Child, with a belief that educating the heart is just as important as educating the mind.

January is School Board Recognition Month and we honor our board members for the crucial role they play in our schools and communities.

Elected school board members voluntarily tackle the enormous job of governing our school district in providing vision and leadership, while taking actions and making decisions that affect the present and future lives of our children. Watch this short video to learn more about the role of a school board.

We thank our board members for their commitment and contributions to Sumner-Bonney Lake School District, and for serving with a willing heart, positive attitude and the desire to make a difference.

Thank you to our board members (listed in order of photo, left to right): Deb Norris, Erin Markquart, Paul Williams, Kevin Lewis and Richard Hendricks.

Attendance waiver applications for the 2022-23 school year must be submitted now through Jan. 21, 2022, for optimal consideration. Waiver applications submitted after Jan. 21 may be considered if it’s determined that grade level and building capacity allows. Visit the Attendance Waiver webpage for the types of waivers, timelines and more information.

The public is invited to attend School Board study sessions and meetings, which are held both virtually and in person. Please note that dates, times and locations are subject to change. Agendas and meeting links are published a day prior to each meeting.

- Study Session: Jan. 12 | 6 p.m. | Central Office (1202 Wood Ave)

- Board Meeting: Jan. 19 | 6 p.m. | Maple Lawn Elementary (230 Wood Ave)

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