Principal's Message

Wednesday June 10th, 2020

Hello Washington Families,

Happy Last day of School! It has seemed like a very long school year, but we made it! I am so thankful for your support, encouraging words, and positivity over the last few months. This school year has had many firsts for me in all aspects in my life, and I know that has been the case for all of you too. The last few months were undoubtedly challenging but the perspective we have gained is invaluable.

Due to uncertainties surrounding school reopening, as well as changing public health guidance, back to school events, for fall 2020, are yet to be determined. Our goal, in RBUSD, is to reopen our schools as soon as it is safe to do so, and that includes being thoughtful of community and school events. We will communicate reopening plans, including beginning of the school year dates and details, as soon as possible. Thank you for your patience and flexibility as we navigate these uncertain times. Please keep the RBUSD 2020-21 calendar for your reference to help you plan for next year to some extent.

As I shared in the podcast last week and during Coffee with Washington, our priorities as a school will shift slightly next year, but will also build upon very familiar themes at Washington. Over the past few years, we have implemented many different programs and practices to support the social/emotional well being of students. We will continue programs like Start with Hello, the Gratitude Campaign, Relationship mapping, and social emotional learning in the classroom. The physical and mental well being of our students, along with safety, will continue to be our top priorities. We will also further develop our capacity in the area of virtual learning. Although we are uncertain about the format for school next year, we do know that virtual learning could always be a possibility so it is vital that we continue to train teachers and staff in this area. Finally, we will be focusing on developing our instructional strategies to meet the diverse needs of students (in person and virtually) through the use of Universal Design for Learning, small group student centered instruction, and project based learning. Our commitment is to building positive relationships with students and creating an engaging learning environment.

I will send a Welcome Back letter in August, and will of course send any updates regarding next year as soon as anything is determined. I want to sincerely thank our staff, families, students, and PTA/Parent volunteers for their part in ending this school year strong despite our circumstances.

We wish everyone a summer filled with relaxation, engagement, and family time. We look forward to seeing all of you next school year!

Sincerely,

Andrea Bittick

Principal

Washington Elementary