On Monday, kindergarten and first grade students whose families have opted for in-person learning will return to our elementary buildings for the first time since March. In-person/hybrid students in grades 2 and 3 will join them on Wednesday, Feb. 3. This week we announced that we are targeting Feb. 23 for grades 4 and 5 to return to buildings. In all cases, families who want their children to remain 100 percent remote were able to select that option.

For all families with students returning to buildings in person, it is vital that you check your voicemail and your email at the end of each day and the beginning of each day. If your child was exposed to a student or staff member with a positive test result, we will notify you using the phone numbers and email addresses in your child’s Skyward file. If you need to change the contact information in your child’s Skyward file, contact the registrar at your school. If you would like to sign up to receive text messages, click here and follow the instructions to opt into the system.

This week, each elementary building sent out videos and information about how to follow health and safety protocols when returning to in-person school. Please check your email and watch the video from your student’s school if you missed it this week. Additionally, here is a video about how to complete the Daily Health Screening, which is required for your child to attend in-person school, and a video about bus safety.

A list of frequently asked questions is available on our Reopening website. If you have a question that isn’t answered in the list, email us at TSDMessages@tahomasd.us.

For a sneak peek of the virtual musical, click the link above. Tickets are on sale now at www.tahomadrama.org

The most difficult part about performing in, rehearsing, directing and producing a virtual high school musical is: everything! It’s an obstacle that Melissa Bean, Ken Riggs and Tahoma High School Drama students took on with their usual dedication, innovative ideas and creativity.

The first-ever Tahoma High School virtual musical, “Little Women,” will premiere in living rooms across Maple Valley – and the state and country – Feb. 5. Tickets are on sale now at www.tahomadrama.org, and audience members will have the option to stream the production for 48 hours anytime between Feb. 5 and 14.

“It was all challenging!” Director Melissa Bean said. “Theatre is so dependent on interaction and relationships on stage, so to create a show when students couldn’t be in the same room was definitely difficult. That being said, the kids were so amazing and adapted very quickly to this new way of creating theatre.”

The production was filmed entirely by the students from their homes, using green screens and cell phone cameras.

Asked about the cast of this production, Bean said. “They’re not only talented, they’re adaptable, they’re hardworking, and they were completely committed to the project.” The entire project was out of everyone’s comfort zones, from the cast members to Bean herself, she said, but each one gave it their all. “There are times that I forget that they weren’t filming in the same room – and I am the one who put all the separate videos together! They truly embraced their characters and I am so proud of their work.”

The music in the production is fantastic, she said, adding that Musical Director Ken Riggs did a great job working with the students and compiling all of their individual tracks together. Bean added that another of her favorite elements is the portrayal of how the sisters interact. “There are moments throughout where the sisters’ relationship to each other just feels so real – at times you feel like you are simply watching siblings bicker and play in real life!”

Riggs agreed that the technical challenges and the fact that the cast couldn’t be in the same place were the biggest difficulties. “For Melissa and me, it was a technical challenge to combine a number of different single recordings and try to make it seem like a group. For the kids, it was a challenge to act or sing by themselves in scenes or songs that have other people in them,” he said. The cast’s individual and collective strengths helped bridge those gaps, though.

“This is a great show that took many, many hours to put together,” Riggs said. “The final product turned out to be something I think we can be proud of, and I know I’m proud of the work everyone put in to make it happen.”

A spring musical is planned, and will also be virtual. It will be announced soon, Bean and Riggs said. For now, they hope the community will enjoy the show, which they call a labor of love.

“Even though we weren’t able to work together in person, I am so incredibly grateful that the kids were still able to work on a show during this crazy time in our world,” Bean said. “Fortunately, the students have amazing family support who helped them throughout this whole filming process – it truly took a village to put this together and I am so grateful for their help!”

Cast members include: Victoria Evans as Jo March, Michaela Jones as Meg March, Hadley Plett as Beth March, Erin Stewart as Amy March, Ellie Rector as Marmee, Cooper Perez as Laurie, Ian Duarte as Professor Bhaer, Josie Sanders as Aunt March, Tayte Erickson as Mr. Laurence, Porter Buck as John Brooke, Molly Stitt as Mrs. Kirk, Addie Jones as Clarissa, Anna Meyers as The Hag, Hannah Knauss as The Troll, and Joseph Knauss as The Knight.

Tahoma students were among those who donned their pearls and Chucks (the Converse athletic shoe that Vice President Kamala Harris is known for wearing), some literal and some figurative, to watch the first American woman, a person of color, installed as the United States Vice President on Jan. 20.

From kindergarten to senior in high school, our students give voice to this historic event, expressing inspiration and hope for a better future. Cedar River kindergartner Hazel T. said she is so excited to have a woman American Vice President. “She can do hard things, so I can do hard things, too!” Hazel said.

Cedar River third grader Danika P. wore her pearls and Chucks for this momentous occasion. She shared her thoughts on Vice President Harris, “Now hopefully people will stop underestimating girls.” When thinking about her future, Danika said “It means I could be President someday and continue making America a more equal and better place to live.”

Maple View Middle School (MVMS) eighth grader Simi S. said she feels a connection with Vice President Harris. “Me, myself, being an Indian girl makes me feel very happy that someone of my own ethnicity is being represented and is being heard in the society we live in today.” She said she felt represented when Harris Tweeted in honor of the Sikh holiday of Guru Nannak Dev Ji's birth.

Caroline P., also an MVMS eighth-grader, shared: “I think that this will inspire women everywhere. If Kamala Harris can become the first woman vice president, then I can become the first person to do something, too.”

Maple View student Nathan A., eighth grade, said of the future impacts: “There will be more women in government, politics, and other male-dominated careers and more gender equality in jobs. It may impact me personally in that my sisters or cousins might be encouraged to pursue these careers such as government or S.T.E.M. careers.”

MVMS ASB President Zoe C., eighth grade, said she will be represented as a woman of color by our new Vice President. Zoe states, “I felt that having a person like me, in a president seat was finally attainable. When she was elected she said, 'But while I may be the first woman in this office, I will not be the last. Because every little girl watching tonight sees that this is a country of possibilities.’” That's when I knew that this is a country truly a place where you can achieve your dreams.”

A THS senior, Saanvi Mehrotra, said “As a South-Asian American, I felt represented and proud, but most importantly I felt empowered! The historic moment gave me a sense of hope for the future. Growing up, I rarely got to see a woman like me in politics or a high leadership position like that of the Vice President of the United States of America. Seeing Kamala Harris being sworn in was the moment I realized that the glass ceiling has been shattered.” Mehrotra continued, “it made me feel that I, too, am strong enough to break the barriers that often come in the way for women to reach that level. It made my dreams bigger and gave me the power to achieve higher.” She adds, “The historic moment was a pivotal step to opening the doors for women and girls of color so they too can contribute to shaping the future of America and bettering our democracy! Our voices are more important than we think they are.”

Last weekend, Tahoma’s We the People team won the 2021 We the People Washington State Competition.

"These students have chosen to take on this challenge. It is a huge commitment by Tahoma’s Constitutional warriors, a ton of work & time," adviser Gretchen Wulfing said. "These incredible Tahoma seniors are an inspiration, they represent all different places on the political spectrum and engage in daily lively civil discourse. I believe these young adults will uphold our Constitutional principles and protect our democracy."

Five Tahoma High School band members were accepted into the Western International Honor Band. This honor ensemble is comprised of student musicians from over 18 different countries. Additionally, one of the students was accepted into the honor ensemble on two separate instruments.

Due to the virtual setting this year only, students had a unique opportunity to audition on multiple instruments. Each of the students will have an opportunity to work with three well-known composers in the band world along with clinics and workshops with instrumental professionals, professors and Symphony Orchestra members as far away as the New York Philharmonic.

The students are Cara Lisy, clarinet; Nandini Yogi, flute; Ian Duarte, alto saxophone; Zorrin Danz, tuba; and Alejandro Albright-Reveles, bass clarinet and tenor saxophone.

Tahoma School District is taking steps to improve the way it reviews and recommends adoption of books and other materials that support curriculum. One of those changes is establishing an ongoing committee to be part of the materials review process.

The district is seeking staff, parent, and secondary student members for the new group, called the Instructional Materials Committee (IMC). This committee reviews the work of content-review teams that recommend new instructional materials for adoption by the school district. The IMC verifies the team’s process has followed best practice and district policy and procedure, has reviewed the recommendation being made for any materials with potential to be objectionable to the community, and reviewed the cost-benefit ratio in the recommendation. The Instructional Materials Committee then recommends final approval of the materials to the School Board.

This is a standing (ongoing) committee where members must commit to at least one year of service. Ideally, some members serve multiple years to support continuity. This committee has a time commitment of approximately 3-4 hours per month. Expect one 2-hour evening meeting per month and an estimate of 1-2 hours per month done independently for meeting preparation. Committee meetings are held from 6-8 p.m.; meetings are conducted online through video conferencing. If you are interested in participating, please submit your information using the following link.

Tahoma is seeking parents and students who would like to participate in a focus group to discuss the potential shift to hybrid, in-person learning for grades 6-12.

Parent feedback is needed around the proposed A/B hybrid model as well as an option for families who may choose to remain 100% remote. Parent perspective is needed to help the district understand the opportunities and limitations in both of these models.

The time commitment for this focus group will be 2 hours. There are daytime and evening time options. Depending upon the number of parents expressing interest, we will make selections that provide a diverse representation of voices in the groups.

If you are interested in participating, please submit your information here.

Student Focus Groups: With the potential shift to a secondary hybrid model, the school district is seeking students who would like to participate in a focus group. District and school planners are interested in your feedback around our A/B hybrid model as well as the option for students who may choose to remain 100% online. Having student voices will help planners understand the opportunities and limitations in both of these models.

The time commitment for this group will be one hour (during WIN Wednesday for middle schools or Power Hour for Tahoma High School). Follow this link to sign up.

In case you missed our invitation, we’re sharing it again here in the newsletter.

Dear Tahoma families, community members and staff,

We’re reaching out with a special invitation. At the end of 2020, we asked you to participate in a survey to help shape the School Board’s -- and district’s -- focus for the next five years. Now we’re inviting you to the next step in that process: a virtual Board Goals 2025 Cafe, from 6-8 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 3. We know that you’re busy, and it’s hard to dedicate two hours on a weeknight, but we think you are likely to enjoy this opportunity that will help determine how to best serve our students.

The parents/guardians, students, staff and community members who completed the survey indicated that the top four areas that are most important for student success, and most in need of improvement are:

The cafe is the next strategy that we will use to understand what the district’s stakeholders mean when they say they want an improvement in one of these areas for student success, said Dawn Wakeley, Executive Director of Teaching and Learning. Other strategies that may be used after the initial cafe include focus groups, listening sessions, cafe sessions on a specific topic, meetings with specific focus groups such as the Equity Committee, Technology Advisory Committee or COVID-19 Task Force.

During the cafe, we will hear an introduction and welcome, then work together in Zoom breakout rooms. If you would like to participate that evening by sharing your thoughts and ideas with us, please click here to register: http://bit.ly/TSDgoals2025cafe

We look forward to working with you and connecting virtually at the cafe!

Sincerely,

Tahoma School District

The idea that it’s okay to not be okay, but let’s not stay there, was highlighted in a comfortable, clear conversation with mental health therapists, Carrie Erickson and David Downing last night during “Goodbye 2020, Hello 2021: Embracing Our Mental Health,” which was hosted live on YouTube.

“As we embark on our journey to create awareness and increase mental wellness for our district, we are excited about the different events that we have been able to provide,” said Liz Thibert, Wellness Coordinator for the district.

The event was facilitated by Tahoma School Board Director Pete Miller and was created through a partnership of the Tahoma Behavioral Health Collective, City of Maple Valley, and Tahoma School District. If you missed it, please visit the Tahoma Wellness Team YouTube channel to view this impactful conversation. If you are in need of community resources, please go to the TSD Wellness Page.

If you weren’t able to tune in live on Thursday, please click here to watch a recording: bit.ly/TSDembracingMentalHealthJan28

As the school district prepares to welcome kids back into buildings, Backpack Buddies is making adjustments, too. “During these changes our main goal is to get our bags in your kids’ hands,” Backpack Buddies of Maple Valley President Mindy Gamble said.

If your child participates in the program and will be attending school on campus, bags will be sent home with your student starting Friday, Feb. 5. If your child will remain in the fully remote online learning model, then you still have the choice to pick up at Backpack Buddies’ three locations. For specific details, watch for an email from Backpack Buddies.

Backpack Buddies provides food for students to eat over the weekend, for families that might not otherwise have enough food on non-school days. More information about the program is available on their website: https://backpackbuddiesofmaplevalley.org/ 

King County announced today that it is opening two new community vaccination sites to help expand vaccine access to vulnerable older adults in South King County. Establishing these new locations now will help the county prepare for high-volume access once more vaccine becomes available.

The sites will be at the Accesso ShoWare Center in Kent and the General Services Administration Complex in Auburn. The two sites will begin at 500 doses per day, six days per week for now, due to the number of vaccine doses that are available.

Vaccinations are available by appointment only from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday. For the full details and information about how to register, click here.

Tahoma High School band students this week released their first virtual performances from the Quarter 2 bands. The performance includes one chart from each of the two jazz bands, and seven soloists from the Symphonic Winds recital concert. To watch the concert, click the link above.

The group of parents, students, staff and community members working together to study and suggest a short-term and a long-term plan for relieving crowding and ensuring there is enough room for students met this week, for the first time since early last year.

When school buildings were closed in March due to COVID-19, the district pushed pause on important work being done by the Citizens Housing Advisory Committee. The group is considering any slight adjustments or tweaks needed to the in-district attendance boundaries, as well as what should be considered in years to come. At the end of their work together, they’ll make recommendations to the School Board.

The committee members will receive updated demographic information, current enrollment numbers and other pertinent information. Their next meeting will be near the end of February.

The Tahoma School Board was honored Tuesday as part of the annual School Board Recognition Month proclaimed by Gov. Jay Inslee for the month of January. Superintendent Mike Hanson read Inslee’s proclamation aloud, and shared a list of Board accomplishments and projects from the past year. 

Glacier Park Principal Shelly Gaston shared a video that a group of students made to thank the board members. Public School Employees of Washington President Ruthie Mackie and Tahoma Education Association David Aaby each thanked the board members on behalf of their associations. Maple Valley City Council members and Mayor Sean P. Kelly read aloud a proclamation in the board’s honor. The board mentioned that they also received letters of thanks from high school students in recent weeks.

In other action, the board:

Please join us in recognizing Tahoma’s counselors next week for National School Counseling Week 2021, “School Counselors: All in for All Students,” sponsored by the American School Counselor Association. The week is designed to highlight the unique contributions of school counselors within U.S. school systems and how students are different as a result of what school counselors do.

“Professional School counselors are critical supports on campus that all students can access. Not only do they support career and academic success but most importantly, they are here to support and foster the social-emotional needs of our students,” said Liz Thibert, district Wellness Coordinator. “Their hearts for caring for our students, families, and staff are quite remarkable. I have worked with Professional School Counselors from all around the state and I am honored to work alongside (Tahoma’s) phenomenal team. They are innovators and determined to help as many students as possible. Like teachers, they had to move their counseling offices from campus to online. The creativity that happened over this time period has been outstanding! Thank you to each of our counselors and social workers that have worked tirelessly to support our community. In addition, thank you to our district and School Board for supporting us with more counseling staff. Help me in celebrating your school counselor or social worker by reaching out and letting them know how much they have impacted you or your student.” 

Parents or community members with specific questions or concerns about school counseling programs should contact the school counselors at their local schools or Thibert at lthibert@tahomasd.us. 

A new effort is underway to provide free COVID-19 vaccinations to all school employees. The plan, announced today by state Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal, will be carried out in a partnership with Kaiser Permanente healthcare system and the state Department of Health. Vaccinations could begin in a few weeks, depending upon how quickly the state’s phased vaccination schedule progresses and on how much vaccine is available. 

According to information from OSPI, those eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine currently include groups in Phase 1 Tier 1A, 2A, and 1B. Educators and staff in K-12 facilities are expected to be eligible to receive the vaccine after 50 percent of the currently eligible population are vaccinated, in accordance with state Department of Health plans. Future phases of the vaccination process are not yet established.  

For more information on the COVID-19 vaccine or to determine which phase you fall in, visit the Washington Department of Health website. To read more about the “Get Ready” vaccination plan, click here.

The HOSA (Future Healthcare Professionals) Club at THS is asking community members to participate in upcoming blood drives in our area. The need for blood donations is great due to the current pandemic situation.

The Four Corners LDS Church is hosting pop-up blood drives on Feb. 1, 2, 8 and 9. You must sign up in order to donate.

For general donation information or other ways to donate, visit Bloodworks Northwest online: https://www.bloodworksnw.org/ 

In January, some students at the high school returned to conditioning workouts, in small groups, outdoors, with masks. Some clubs and student activities will be able to meet next month.

As shared in a letter to high school families last week, Tahoma coaches are excited about the return to athletics and activities, and are committed to the health and safety protocols and procedures that are in place to help protect students, coaches and advisers. The sports and activities calendar has been completely altered by COVID-19, and everyone is adjusting and working to adapt to the many changes since last March. The Tahoma School Board approved revisions to the return-to-play guidelines for activities and athletics that were originally approved in October.

Beginning in February, clubs and some student activities will be able to meet in the building. Meetings will be in assigned locations, with assigned entrances, exits and restrooms. Groups will be kept at 15 students, in assigned pods of five students. Masks and social distancing will be required. For additional information about THS Student Activities, visit https://vhoom.info/THSActivties.

Both middle schools are communicating directly with their families about athletics and activities at their schools.

The Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA) released recommendations earlier this month, but ultimately left it up to each league to set schedules and seasons that work best for the school districts in the league. The North Puget Sound League (NPSL) schedule for this year’s adjusted sports seasons was approved by the WIAA this week, and includes three shortened seasons. Click here to view the full schedule. The shortened seasons give all sports the opportunity to compete.

Here are some key points:

Free meals being served curbside, for Tahoma students and any children 18 and younger, via a USDA program, at Lake Wilderness Elementary and Tahoma High School. For times and other details, click here.

To check out what's on the menu, click here.