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Covid-19 Updates

Graduation Letter - June 15, 2020

June 15, 2020

2020-21 Goodbye Letter to Seniors and Families

Dear Amazing RHS Families:

Congratulations on the upcoming graduation of your senior! I cannot thank everyone enough for your endless hours of supporting your students during the last four years—both at school and at home especially during this last trimester. Families went above and beyond the call of duty to provide whatever was necessary to add to our students’ already rich school experience. Stating that it was not a smooth ending, barely touches the surface of how 2019-20 school year concluded. Still, within this letter, I would like to emphasize the precious memories and magical images from the 2020 graduating class.

With this email, I am sending you several attachments and links capturing the 2020 graduating class. You will be able to watch a beautiful video assembled to capture some of our students receiving their yard signs. Please find that video on our YouTube page at https://youtu.be/xZD7xBeOmC4. You will find the Class of 2020 Banner gracing our beautiful building. As COVID 19 continued, the picture was made into a banner to celebrate the Class of 2020. This banner will hang in the commons representing “resiliency and fortitude” for generations to remember the 2020 graduating class and these extraordinary times. A little history on the photo: On October 16, RHS seniors were scheduled to take their annual panorama picture for the yearbook in front of the school. Unfortunately, it was raining. Because time had been allotted for this event in the senior schedule while 10^th and 11^th graders were taking the PSAT, we decided to have the seniors make their way to the gym and take a few pictures there. The yearbook class never anticipated using any of the gym pics except perhaps as an extra as a reminder that our annual yearbook pic of the class initially had been rained out. However, due to COVID-19, a date for the annual senior pic was never able to be scheduled and taken. We felt fortunate to have a picture of the Class of 2020 taken together.

June 1, 2020 was a beautiful day. Together, we created memories despite our challenging surroundings. I enjoyed seeing 204 out of 248 families during our drive-through graduation. I must say that the opportunity to congratulate the seniors and families face-to-face is one joyful experience I will treasure forever. The enclosed video better captures the pride and happiness you feel for your students closing this step in their lives. Thus, it caught the enthusiasm and love expressed by our teachers and staff as the cars approached the “stage.” In addition to the links enclosed, we will be gifting two 5x7 photos per student commemorating the occasion. The prints will be provided as students come to pick up their diplomas later in June. Additionally, graduates should have received their proofs by now via email (check spam folder) and snail mail, but for anyone still looking for the photos, the easiest way is to direct them to https://www.gradimages.com/. where they can search by school and graduate name. We are also offering a YouTube link that shows the recorded event from start to end. I am taking the liberty to enclose all photos as everyone included did not opt-out of sharing photos/ videos. Please view the presentation at https://youtu.be/_H9-fZiS4ps.

Finally, I am enclosing the graduation speech scheduled to air as part of the virtual commencement ceremony on Monday, June 15, 7PM. If possible, I would be grateful if you print the speech for you and your student. In case you haven’t noticed, I have an accent. You know what they say, “You can take the girl out of Peru, but you can’t take the Spanish out of her accent.” 😊 As my last principal-student conversation with your students, this would mean a lot to me. Thus, at times, recordings can be distracting and do not capture the intention of the speaker.

A Final Word to RHS Seniors

Thank you for all your hard work throughout the school year. I am so honored to be your principal; you make me proud to be a Renton High School for the last 12 years of my life. You kept me laughing and young at heart. I am grateful for your joy, compassion and empathy, intellectual development, and amazing talents.

I hope you walk away from this year knowing that you are powerful and that you can improve society. I hope that you cultivate deep self-love and confidence in yourself and that you remember that kindness matters. You are made of love, hope, and joy. As a principal, I love each and every one of you, even you who came to class late or sometimes barely showed at all while I collected your cell phones or checked your language, discussed with you why you weren’t doing your homework or when you acted against our student honor code. I hope I modeled that it is always important to separate the behavior from the person, and yes, to reflect and to try again. Yes, I love you all.

I will treasure the memories of each of you. Wherever your calling takes you in this next year, as you walk down its streets and sidewalks, I wish for you to keep your memories alive. Ending high school does not mean the dead-end of conversations, or that the trains of thought come to an abrupt halt or less than the friendships freeze in time. Instead, over the next few months, as you go into post-secondary options and employment, the books read in the different rooms at RHS will become part of another’s “cabinet of imagination and council chamber of thought.” You will learn that these memories aren’t passive but that those experiences will actively help you to contemplate, ponder, and apply them to new ideas.

I would like your memory to guide your decisions, to encourage you to engage in a significant quest, and to dream of a love that is caring and loyal. I pray that the most significant fruits of our time together ripen in the upcoming years of pondering, delighting, and understanding the memories of these years. Best wishes to our graduating 12th graders, whom I will miss much—please come back and visit. Everyone have a safe summer break.

Until we see each other again, here’s wishing you love, laughter, and learning.

“Diversity is being invited to the party. Inclusion is being asked to dance.” –Vernā Myers

Student Update - June 12, 2020

June 12, 2020

Dear RHS Students and families,

As we end the second-to-last week of the trimester, I hope all of our 9^th, 10^th and 11^th graders are wrapping up courses successfully and will be making good use of the next 5 days until all final work is due. (See timeline at the end of this letter.) Before we go into the weekend, please read over the reminders and updates below. The first item is very important, as the school district is asking for your help in planning for next year.

Give us your input:

Renton School District also has created a 100-member steering committee and work groups to review options for the 2020-2021 school year. Families are invited to assist with this process by providing feedback about their experience with in-home learning during the past three months. As we continue efforts to plan for the fall, we are eager to incorporate feedback from our community regarding their current experiences and desires moving forward. Please take a moment to contribute your voice through this survey! The survey will be open through Tuesday, June 16.

Mandatory Immunizations:

Washington State law now requires all school-going children to have complete immunizations on record with the school they attend. (Washington State Law, RCW 28A.210.080). At this point, if your student is either missing proof of their vaccination or have not completed their series, they will not be allowed to be enrolled in classes at RHS this fall.

Please read the letter from Nurse Dillard, RHS’s school nurse with full details for any family who is unsure if their child is fully immunized.

Pay Fines and Return RHS property:

We will host a three-day period where students and/or families can come to RHS to pay any fees/fines and return any RHS property, equipment, supplies, or tools that have been borrowed. Your coaches and teachers can let you know if you have any items to bring back, if they haven’t already done so.

A detailed process was emailed separately and posted on the RHS website on 6/11/20, but these are the key points:

Drive up process. Please wear a mask, and you will not need to get out of your car.
Divided by alphabet:
- June 16: Last names A-G
- June 17: Last names H-N
- June 18: Last names O-Z
10 am to 1 pm, each day
Cash and Credit/Debit Card only for the paying of fines or fees. No personal checks or money orders accepted.

Seniors – all fines and fees must be cleared from your account in order to receive your diploma.

As a reminder, Renton School District high school students, grade 9-11, may keep their Chromebooks over the summer to ensure access and support learning. The only students needing to return a Chromebook will be those who are leaving the school district, which includes our graduating seniors who will drop off their Chromebooks.

Additionally, any student leaving the district or any family who does not want to continue to have the Chromebook at home over the summer may return the device to the school during the Fine/Return Process dates.

During the summer, families may receive alerts from our monitoring software if their student has searched for materials which may indicate a self-harm concern. These alerts are meant to provide a family the resources to begin a conversation to address any potential health concerns. Additionally, you can reach out your personal health provider for resources or Crisis Connection: 1-866-427-4747 or Teen Link: 1-866-833-6546

Tri 3 Timeline

Date	Task	Notes
May 22-26	Teachers to inform students about getting an incomplete	Check Family Update from 5/18/20 on RHS website
June 8th	Last Day new assignments will be provided
June 12	Moving Up Assembly/Senior Slide Show https://rentonhs.rentonschools.us/students/moving-up-2020	Premiering on RHS’s YouTube at 1:00 pm
June 16	Drop off Athletic Locks/ Textbooks/ Equipment/ Pay Fines Fines can be paid online: https://wa-renton.intouchreceipting.com/ Cash or credit cards; no personal checks accepted If not returning to RHS in the fall, return Chromebook	Last Names A-G Directions emailed 6/11
June 17	Last Day for 9^th - 11^th graders to turn in any missing/makeup assignments and credit retrieval classes	All work due by 3:00 pm
June 17	Drop off Athletic Locks/ Textbooks/ Equipment/ Pay Fines Fines can be paid online: https://wa-renton.intouchreceipting.com/ Cash or credit cards; no personal checks accepted If not returning to RHS in the fall, return Chromebook	Last Names H-N Directions emailed 6/11
June 18	Drop off Athletic Locks/ Textbooks/ Equipment/ Pay Fines Fines can be paid online: https://wa-renton.intouchreceipting.com/ Cash or credit cards; no personal checks accepted If not returning to RHS in the fall, return Chromebook	Last Names O-Z Directions emailed 6/11
June 19	Last Day of School
June 26	Grades due and need to be submitted on Skyward by teachers	11:59 pm

Warmly,

“Diversity is being invited to the party. Inclusion is being asked to dance.” –Vernā Myers

RHS Equipment/Textbook/Borrowed Items Returns

Dear RHS Students and Families,

During June 16^th- 18^th, you will have an opportunity to come to RHS to pay any remaining fines, return any RHS property (including your Chromebook only if you are a senior or not planning on coming back to RHS in the fall) and pick up any items left in your locker or medications from the health room.

Please read over the process below, and use the map provided to help guide you. If you do not have any returns, fines, or items to pick up, you can ignore the rest of this message.

Warmly,

The RHS Admin Team

Process:

Come on your day – by last name.
- June 16: Last Names A-G
- June 17: Last Names H-N
- June 18: Last Names O-Z
Arrive between 10:00 am and 1:00 pm.
Drive up process. Enter on Tobin Ave. (See map below)
- Walk ups ok – follow staff directions and maintain social distancing/wear a mask at all time.

STEP ONE

For Seniors and non-returning students only, stop at the first table to return your Chromebook. All 9-11^th graders returning to RHS in the fall do not return their Chromebook. You can pass station 1 if you are not returning your Chromebook.
- Stay in your car; wear a mask. Roll down your window to hand over your Chromebook.
- Staff will assess your Chromebook for functionality and damages.
- You do not need to return your case (due to COVID-19 decontamination concerns). You do need to return the charger.
- Any damages will get a fee assessed if you do not have Chromebook Insurance.

STEP TWO

If you have any remaining fines to pay or RHS property to return, pull forward to either of the next two tables. Be mindful of other cars in line; we will work quickly, to keep your wait time short.
- Remain in your car, staff will come to you.
- Roll down your window. Through the car window, hand over any items you need to return, such as:
  - Library books and textbooks
  - Musical instruments
  - Art supplies
  - Athletic equipment and locks
- Pay any fees/fines you have:
  - Cash
  - Debit or Credit Card
  - No personal checks/ money orders accepted

STEP THREE

Go to the final table at the end if you have any medications the school nurse was holding on to in the health room, or if you had any personal items in your locker.
- Keep your mask on and remain in your car. Roll down your window.
- A runner will come to your car – through the window, communicate the name of the student and what items (medication and/or locker items) you are picking up.
- Runner will communicate with the nurse, and will get your locker items, if any.

Note – if any RHS property (books, athletic equipment, etc.) is found in your locker, it will get processed for return rather than given back to you.

Family Notice - Immunization Letter

June 2020

Hello Renton Family,

I hope this email finds you doing well and healthy. We miss you and hope to see you as soon as possible. I am writing this letter to inform you that your student is required to be fully immunized before attending the 2020-2021 school year (Washington State Law, RCW 28A.210.080). At this point, if your student is either missing proof of their vaccination or have not completed their series, they will not be allowed to be enrolled in classes at RHS this fall.

Please make sure that your student is school-ready and fully protected from all 14 preventable diseases by calling your healthcare provider or by going online to MyIR (My Immunization Record) at https://wa.myir.net/newregister/2/. MyIR allows you to take control and check your student’s immunization anytime to make sure that they are up-to-date. Once you review your student’s immunizations on MyIR, please provide one of the following as soon as possible as to not delay school participation in the fall:

1. Medically verified documentation from a healthcare provider showing that your student received the required dose(s) or vaccine. https://www.rentonschools.us/learning-and-teaching/health-services/immunization-informatoin

2. Information regarding your immunization appointment once scheduled:

Date:
Time:
Hospital/Clinic Name:
Hospital/Clinic Phone Number:
Medical Provider’s Name:

3. A Certificate of Exemption, completed with a healthcare provider, showing that you have medical, religious, or personal reasons for not vaccinating your student.

If you need more information about finding or paying for a doctor, please call the King County Community Health Access Program at 206-284-0331 or 1-800-756-5437 (Interpreters are available).

The HealthPoint Teen Clinic located inside Renton High School is also a great resource for other health care needs. Although they are not currently servicing vaccinations, they can be reached at 425-424-6310 for many primary healthcare services.

I can also be reached at 425-204-3402 or celeste.dillard@rentonschools.us. I am here to help families

through June 25^th to assist for the safety of all.

In health,

Celeste Dillard, BSN, RN

Renton High School Nurse

“Stay Safe. Stay Healthy. Stay Vaccinated.”

Please let us know if you need any assistance and we will gladly help to the best of our abilities.

Health Insurance
Language other than English, please specify:
Transportation
Call from Nurse
Other:

Parent Update - June 5, 2020

June 5, 2020

Dear RHS Parents,

We are writing this update to you with a mixture of heavy hearts and pride. At a time of much uncertainty due to school closures for health concerns and safety due to COVID-19, we are again feeling the collective grief and trauma that our students and families are experiencing in the wake of the discriminatory killings of black Americans. At the same time, we had our spirits lifted this past Monday to witness our graduating seniors come to RHS to pick up their diploma covers and to be celebrated for their past four years of hard work and dedication towards their goals and aspirations.

RHS strives to be a place where students and staff learn together, and where our students and parents are heard, valued, and understood. Our IB Diploma program is an actionable intervention that currently equalizes chances for our students as we continue to build the desired advocate classroom. Sociologist Eduardo Bonilla-Silva stated it best: “the fight is not about equality of opportunity but equality of results.”

Our society right now is not providing equity of results for alHowever, we want to take the moment to highlight our amazing graduating seniors, many of whom joined peaceful protests on Monday after coming to RHS to participate in their graduation ceremony. They exemplify the heart of our learning community – to recognize inequities, to stand up for their rights and the rights of others, and to make their voices heard while listening to those who are being ignored. We are proud of our graduates and hope they continue to be the change this world needs.

As we near the end of Trimester 3, we have reminders and updates for all students to ensure we end the 2019-2020 school year as strong as we can.

Moving Up Assembly:

Please tune into RHS’s YouTube channel on June 12^th at 1:00 pm to watch the Moving Up Assembly, hosted by our own RHS 2019-2020 ASB. Watch the countdown here: https://rentonhs.rentonschools.us/students/moving-up-2020

Pay Fines and Return RHS property:

We will host a three-day period where students and/or families can come to RHS to pay any fees/fines and return any RHS property, equipment, supplies, or tools that have been borrowed. Coaches and teachers will inform your student if they have any items to return if they have not already done so.

A detailed process will be emailed separately and posted on the RHS website, but these are the key points:

Drive up process. Please wear a mask, and parents and students will not need to get out of your car.
Divided by alphabet:
- June 16: Last names A-G
- June 17: Last names H-N
- June 18: Last names O-Z
10 am to 1 pm, each day
Only cash and Credit/Debit Card will be accepted to pay for fines or fees. No personal checks or money orders will be accepted.
Parents of Seniors – all fines and fees must be cleared from their account in order to receive their diploma.

As a reminder, Renton School District high school students, grade 9-11, may keep their Chromebooks over the summer to ensure access and support learning. The only students needing to return a Chromebook will be those who are leaving the school district which includes our graduating seniors who will drop off their Chromebooks.

Senior Parents: Community Service Waivers/Forms, High School and Beyond Plans, and Completion of Washington State History are NOW PAST DUE. Your senior will not receive his/her diploma unless these have all been completed. Let your senior know it’s time to get them done and turn them in.

Senior Waivers:

Parents of seniors, here are some important reminders about Senior Waivers:

Seniors should only waive those classes they are NOT currently passing or won’t be able to pass. Washington State only offered waivers to seniors for certain classes which are graduation requirements for the third trimester. Using a waiver for classes does not give your senior credits; it only allows your senior to receive their diploma despite those required classes they may fail. Parents, seniors who do not submit their waivers by the June 11th deadline will be given incompletes in any classes which they are failing. This means they must complete the class before they can receive their diploma. June 10^th is the last date your seniors can officially submit class work to their teachers. If you or your senior have any questions about waivers, please email their counselor immediately.

Seniors who have not yet turned in their waiver forms must send them via email to RHS.CreditWaiver@rentonschools.us before 2:30 pm on June 11. If your senior did not receive a waiver, they should email the above email address and let them know as soon as possible.

Diploma Pickup Process:

Seniors having completed all requirements and earned their diplomas can come to RHS on the days of June 23 to June 26 between the hours of 10:00 am and 1:00 pm to pick them up in front of the Main Office drop off area along with their community service certificates, their diploma cover if they were unable to join in the June 1^st pick up, and any other items they may still need to be pick up.

Enter on S. 2^nd St. and stop at the first table. Our staff will be there to assist you or your senior if you have any questions.

Summer School:

As a reminder, seniors get to access summer school openings before any other grade level. May 12^th to June 14^th students will be identified and added to the enrollment spreadsheet by their counselor. Students will receive an official enrollment letter during this time. June 23^rd - August 6^th is the duration of Summer Credit Recovery online courses. (There will be no classes July 3^rd due to the Fourth of July holiday.) For more help, please email your student’s counselor.

Incompletes:

By now, teachers should have communicated with you and your student if you are currently earning an Incomplete in their classes. An Incomplete is a placeholder for a grade for that class – your student will still need to earn the credit before they can graduate. If possible, we recommend that your student focus on completing the work for their Tri 3 core classes (English, Math, Social Studies and Science) to avoid the Incomplete.

As announced last week, our last day of school will be June 19^th. Please let us know if you and your student need our assistance.

In Solidarity,

“Diversity is being invited to the party. Inclusion is being asked to dance.” –Vernā Myers

Student Update - June 5, 2020

June 5, 2020

Dear RHS Students,

We are writing this update to you all with a mixture of heavy hearts and pride. At a time of much uncertainty due to school closures for health concerns and safety due to COVID-19, we are again feeling the collective grief and trauma that our students and families are experiencing in the wake of the discriminatory killings of black Americans. At the same time, we had our spirits lifted this past Monday to witness our graduating seniors come to RHS to pick up their diploma covers, and be celebrated for the past four years of hard work and dedication towards their goals and aspirations.

RHS strives to be a place where students and staff learn together, and where our students are heard, valued, and understood. Our IB Diploma program is an actionable intervention that currently equalizes chances for our students as we continue to build the desired advocate classroom. Sociologist Eduardo Bonilla-Silva stated it best: “the fight is not about equality of opportunity but equality of results.”

Our society right now is not providing equity of results for all its people. However, we want to take the moment to highlight our amazing graduating seniors, many of whom joined peaceful protests on Monday after coming to RHS to participate in their graduation ceremony. They exemplify the heart of our learning community – to recognize inequities, stand up for their rights and the rights of others, and make their voices heard while listening to those who are being ignored. We are proud of our graduates, and hope they continue to be the change this world needs.

As we near the end of Trimester 3, we have reminders and updates for all students to ensure we end the 2019-2020 school year as strong as we can.

Moving Up Assembly:

Please tune into RHS’s YouTube channel on June 12^th at 1:00 pm to watch the Moving Up Assembly, hosted by your 2019-2020 ASB. Watch the countdown here: https://rentonhs.rentonschools.us/students/moving-up-2020

Pay Fines and Return RHS property:

A detailed process will be emailed separately and posted on the RHS website, but these are the key points:

Drive up process. Please wear a mask, and you will not need to get out of your car.
Divided by alphabet:
- June 16: Last names A-G
- June 17: Last names H-N
- June 18: Last names O-Z
10 am to 1 pm, each day
Cash and Credit/Debit Card only for the paying of fines or fees. No personal checks or money orders accepted.
Seniors – all fines and fees must be cleared from your account in order to receive your diploma.

Diploma Pickup Process:

Seniors having earned their diploma can come to RHS on the days of June 23 to June 26 between the hours of 10:00 am and 1:00 pm to pick up in front of the Main Office drop off area, along with community service certificates, your diploma cover if you were unable to join in the June 1^st pick up, and any other items still needing to be picked up.

Enter on S 2^nd St and stop at the first table. Our staff will be there to assist you if you have any questions.

Summer School:

Senior Waivers:

Some important reminders about Senior Waivers:

Students should only waive those classes they are NOT currently passing or won’t be able to pass. Washington State only offered waivers to seniors for certain classes which are graduation requirements for the third trimester. Using a waiver for classes does not give you credits; it only allows you to receive your diploma for those required classes you are failing. Seniors who do not submit their waiver by the June 11th deadline will be given Incompletes in any classes which they are failing. Seniors, June 10^th, is the last date you can officially submit class work to your teachers. If you have any questions, please email your counselor immediately. You may want to include Ms. Konkol in on your email. Her email is: aleta.konkol@rentonschools.us

Seniors who have not yet turned in their waiver forms must send them via email to RHS.CreditWaiver@rentonschools.us before 2:30 pm on June 11. If you did not receive a waiver, email the above address.

Incompletes:

By now, teachers should have communicated with you and your parent/guardian if you are currently earning an Incomplete in their class. An Incomplete is a placeholder for that class – you will still need to earn the credit before graduation. If possible, your focus should be on completing work for your Tri 3 core classes to avoid the Incomplete.

In Solidarity,

“Diversity is being invited to the party. Inclusion is being asked to dance.” –Vernā Myers

Parent Update - May 26, 2020

May 26, 2020

Dear Senior Students and Families,

We have the final timeline for seniors and graduation, followed by a few more updates that are important for all seniors. Please read over the below carefully to make sure you do not miss any important dates:

Date	Task	Notes
May 22-26	Teachers to inform students about getting an incomplete	Check Family Update from 5/18/20 on RHS website
May 26	Senior Surveys are due to Ms. Fulmer in the Career Center in the Library. https://forms.gle/8YZT6oU1PTc1bmmKA	It collects scholarships & future students’ plans after high school.
May 28	Assembly graduation awards including honor cords, athletic awards, and Moving Up assembly awards.	Honor Cords will be handed out on June 1 at the IPAC
June 1	IPAC Virtual Commencement	Specific details will be emailed to students
June 1st	Last day new assignments will be provided for seniors
June 10	Last Day for seniors to turn in any missing/makeup assignments and credit retrieval classes	All work due by 3:00 pm
June 11	Final day seniors can send waiver request to Counselor to waive graduation requirements by 2:30 pm.
June 12	Moving Up Assembly/Senior Slide Show https://rentonhs.rentonschools.us/students/moving-up-2020	Premiering on RHS’s YouTube at 1:00 pm
June 12	Last day for seniors
June 15	Online premier of the 2020 Commencement Ceremony on RSD’s YouTube https://www.youtube.com/user/RentonSchoolDistrict
June 16	Drop off Chromebooks/ Athletic Locks/ Textbooks/ Equipment/ Pay Fines Fines can be paid online: https://wa-renton.intouchreceipting.com/ Cash or credit cards; no personal checks accepted	Last Names A-G Directions will be emailed soon
June 16	Finalized expedited assessment appeals can be sent to J. Harrington once students have completed all requirements for graduation: HSBP, Communities Service form or waiver, WA State History
June 17	Counselors give final clearance on students meeting graduation requirements
June 17	Drop off Chromebooks/ Athletic Locks/ Textbooks/ Equipment/ Pay Fines Fines can be paid online: https://wa-renton.intouchreceipting.com/ Cash or credit cards; no personal checks accepted	Last Names H-N Directions will be emailed soon
June 18	Drop off Chromebooks/ Athletic Locks/ Textbooks/ Equipment/ Pay Fines Fines can be paid online: https://wa-renton.intouchreceipting.com/ Cash or credit cards; no personal checks accepted	Last Names O-Z Directions will be emailed soon
June 19	Last day to submit Credit Retrieval course work for all online credit retrieval classes
June 19	Last Day of School
June 22	Teachers send email to seniors notifying them of failure to earn credit in their course
June 23-26	Pick up diploma and any graduation awards	Picture ID is required. All fines must be cleared, and all other obligations met
June 26	Grades due and need to be submitted on Skyward by teachers	11:59 pm

Incompletes

Renton School District is requiring that teachers email students and their families if they are currently going to earn an Incomplete for their class for Tri 3. However, if you receive an “Incomplete Warning” email, this is not notice of your final grade. Any senior currently not passing/earning a A-D letter grade has until June 10^th to submit work. We hope that students use these last weeks wisely to complete all work and avoid incompletes as much as possible.

Summer School:

As a reminder, seniors get to access summer school openings before any other grade level. May 12^th to June 14^th students will be identified and added to the enrollment spreadsheet by their counselor. Students will receive an official enrollment letter during this time. June 23^rd - August 6^th is the duration of Summer Credit Recovery online courses. (There will be no classes July 4th due to the Fourth of July holiday.) For more help, please email your counselor.

HSBP Reminder

It is strongly encouraged that seniors complete their High School and Beyond Plan, Community Service Form or Community Service Waiver Form, and meet their WA State History Standard and any other outside course requirements due prior to May 29th but no later than June 12th for on time graduation. Some consideration will be given for those seniors with special circumstances to be able to turn work in a week later on June 19th.

Waivers:

At the end of this week, RSD will be sending to all seniors notice of waivers they are eligible for. Please check your school email at the end of the week.

Graduation Walk Plan

All seniors received an email today that states the plan for recording the Graduation Walk plan, most importantly including the specific time slot for when to come to RHS to participate. Please check your student email, and continue toc check your email this week as we are waiting on Gov. Inslee to announce when Phase 2 will be enacted, which impacts our Graduation Walk plan.

Warmly,

“Diversity is being invited to the party. Inclusion is being asked to dance.” –Vernā Myers

Parent Update - May 18, 2020

May 18, 2020

Dear Parents and Guardians,

As students continue to work through In-Home Learning, we are often updating and adjusting what we can do to best assist students and parents in being able to access Canvas or upload work to Canvas as well as into assisting with hardware issues such as needing a hotspot or passwords to school emails. We are striving to meet your needs as quickly as possible as we continue to embrace the various components of In-Home Learning. As students work hard to complete assignments, we want to suggest that parents review their grades in Skyward when you have a chance. While many parents have received pairing codes to also view their student’s work in Canvas, if you haven’t yet done so, please contact any one of your student’s teachers, and they will be happy to assist you. Remember you only need one pairing code to access all of your student’s classes in Canvas.

Some parents have asked why they are seeing an “F” in Skyward when their student is experiencing difficulties, and they thought that no students will be receiving an F in the third trimester. Please note, due to the way Skyward works, if your student does receive an “F” in a class, those Fs will be converted to Incompletes at the end of the trimester, and your student will be given an opportunity to make up the incomplete grade.

If your student is having any issues with accessing Canvas or uploading your work successfully to Canvas, please Email your teacher and:

9^th and 10^th graders, CC Ms. Woehr: susannah.woehr@rentonschools.us
11^th and 12^th graders, CC Ms. Konkol: aleta.konkol@rentonschools.us
IB students please also include Mr. Collie: malcolm.collie@rentonschools.us

If your student is having Hardware issues such as: problems with your Chromebook, or if you need a hotspot or a charger, or you can’t remember your password, please contact by Email both:

Mr. Gochanour: brandon.gochanour@rentonschools.us
Dr. San Martin: giovanna.sanmartin@rentonschools.us

Additionally, we realized that hotspots aren’t as reliable as actual WiFi. The district has updated in information page regarding companies providing free or severely reduced cost internet during this time. Please look over the following resources for any family with stable housing (from our Students & Families Page under “Free/Low-Cost Internet”):

Comcast is offering Internet Essentials as an affordable way for homes who receive public assistance to get online. The plan is available for about $10 per month. Besides, they are increasing speeds for all customers in response to emergency measures associated with the coronavirus, and new customers receive two months free Or call 1-855-846-8376 for English and 1-855-765-6995 for Spanish.
Charter/Spectrum: Charter Communications is offering free Spectrum broadband and Wi-Fi access for 60 days to households with K-12 or college students at any service level up to 100 Mbps. Installation fees are also waived. This is only for homes that do not already have a Spectrum broadband subscription.
Mediacom is upgrading its low-cost Connect2Compete internet program and offering 60 days of free service for qualifying families who subscribe before May 15.
Suddenlink: New household with K-12 or college students who do not currently have home internet access can get free internet for 60 days.
Wave Broadband is extending policies and programs in response to COVID-19 through June 30. The company will offer continued connectivity, deferred payments, Internet First Program to customers.

As part of the State’s mandate to monitor and give feedback to your student, teachers and other Renton High staff have been checking in to see why some students still haven’t accessed some of their classes on Canvas. We have worked hard to update our information so that we have the most accurate phone numbers and email addresses and connect with you to see how we can best support you and your student. If you think that we may not have either your correct phone number or email address, please contact: Linda.PappasStallman@rentonschools.us with your updated information.

Parents, we are working on creating a plan for students to turn in any textbooks, library books, athletic equipment and uniforms, cameras, art supplies and any other materials borrowed from RHS. We are hoping you are aware that in order for your student to receive a diploma when they graduate, all school fines must be paid and all equipment borrowed must be returned. Please note, all fines can be paid online at: https://wa-renton.intouchreceipting.com/ We know that some parents desire to pay with a check or cash when they return other borrowed items. Because of this, we are planning for in-person fine / equipment return days to happen after June 15^th. Please check your school email or our RHS website for more information. Scheduled days and times will be advertised so that you will have plenty of time to plan for this.

If you aren’t a parent of a senior skip to the last paragraph: Parents of SENIORS: Renton School District will be sending out a communication in the next week or so regarding the waiving of required credits for graduation for the Class of 2020 due to the impacts of COVID 19 and the closure of public schools for health and safety reasons on their senior year. This waiver is under the authority of the Renton School District as granted by application to the State Board of Education (SBE) and only applies to the Class of 2020 and those students who were on-track to graduate as of February 29, 2020 (WAC 180-111).

Please help your senior understand that accepting this waiver may have postsecondary impacts which could include: having to make up the course in college; preparation for majors (e.g. nursing, engineering, and other STEM fields); admission and transfer to out-of-state and graduate and professional schools; and perhaps, even employment eligibility. If your student has been accepted by a four-year college or university, we are strongly urging that they complete the class, and even take an incomplete and finish it during the summer if necessary. For example, some four year colleges or universities may require them to complete the second semester of Senior English prior to enrollment or may have the student take an extra class (for which they will have to pay) in order to meet the university entrance requirement. The credits will show as “waived” on our transcripts, allowing the student to meet the 22 credit requirements for the Class of 2020 graduation. However, there are certain other graduation requirements that cannot be waived by this waiver. Please read the credit waiver communication closely for full details when you receive it. This waiver does not waive other graduation requirements: ELA & Mathematics graduation pathways (although you may be eligible for an Expedited Assessment Appeal, Community Service (This involves a separate waiver already available on our RHS website,), High School & Beyond Plan and Washington State History. We know this is a lot of information to share with you at one time but be patient as future emails will explain the details.

Graduation is on the minds of all seniors and their families. Please know that there are plans in the works regarding a graduation ceremony. RHS will send more information on or before Friday, May 22, 2020, with our school-specific details. It is truly important that you and your seniors continue to check your emails (school outlook emails for your seniors) for these all-important details. Those seniors who would like an opportunity to give a Graduation speech should email their speeches no later than 6pm on Wednesday, May 20, 2020, to Jeffrey.Heft@rentonschools.us, Sara.Khelghatian@rentonschools.us, AND Michael.King@rentonschools.us Selected entries will be notified and asked to give their speeches orally in Zoom meetings on Thursday, May 21^st. Seniors have already received detailed emails on speeches. Last Friday, my staff and I had the honor of visiting several homes of our Class of 2020 students and enjoy bringing a smile to their faces as we presented them with signs recognizing them for being a senior in the Class of 2020. It had to be one of the most heartwarming events of the last few months.

With the end of the school year in clear view, let us continue to keep the lines of communication and collaboration open. We are here for you and your students. Let us know how we can help.

Warmly,

“Diversity is being invited to the party. Inclusion is being asked to dance.” –Vernā Myers

Student Update - May 18, 2020

May 18, 2020

Dear RHS students,

We are now in the final month of school. With approximately four weeks left, we know many of you have been quite successful with completing your work via Canvas and are getting your questions answered by your amazing teachers. We also realize that many of you are experiencing stress and anxiety over completing your work. To that end, we have one reminder about who to email if you are experiencing difficulties with uploading to Canvas, or with your hardware.

CANVAS and Hardware issues:

If you are having any issues with uploading your work successfully to Canvas, or if you are having issues with your Chromebook, your hotspot, or other hardware problems that are preventing you from successfully completing your work please email the following individuals so we can help you out:

Canvas:

Email your teacher and:

9^th and 10^th graders, CC Ms. Woehr: susannah.woehr@rentonschools.us
11^th and 12^th graders, CC Ms. Konkol: aleta.konkol@rentonschools.us
IB students please also include Mr. Collie: malcolm.collie@rentonschools.us

Hardware issues:

Email both:

Mr. Gochanour: brandon.gochanour@rentonschools.us
Dr. San Martin: giovanna.sanmartin@rentonschools.us

Comcast is offering Internet Essentials as an affordable way for homes who receive public assistance to get online. The plan is available for about $10 per month. Besides, they are increasing speeds for all customers in response to emergency measures associated with the coronavirus, and new customers receive two months free Or call 1-855-846-8376 for English and 1-855-765-6995 for Spanish.
Charter/Spectrum: Charter Communications is offering free Spectrum broadband and Wi-Fi access for 60 days to households with K-12 or college students at any service level up to 100 Mbps. Installation fees are also waived. This is only for homes that do not already have a Spectrum broadband subscription.
Mediacom is upgrading its low-cost Connect2Compete internet program and offering 60 days of free service for qualifying families who subscribe before May 15.
Suddenlink: New household with K-12 or college students who do not currently have home internet access can get free internet for 60 days.
Wave Broadband is extending policies and programs in response to COVID-19 through June 30. The company will offer continued connectivity, deferred payments, Internet First Program to customers.

Book/Equipment Return and Fine Repayment:

We are in the works of creating the plan for students to turn in their checked-out textbooks, athletic equipment, cameras, art supplies, and other materials borrowed from RHS.

Hopefully, by now you have been made aware that in order to receive your diploma when you graduate, all school fines must be paid, any textbooks or equipment borrowed must be returned. While all fines can be paid online at https://wa-renton.intouchreceipting.com/ we know that students desiring to pay with a check or cash, as well as preferring to return borrowed items rather than pay for them, will need a date and time to do so.

To that end, please know we are planning for the in-person fine/equipment return days to happen after June 15^th. Again, please check your school email or the website. We will advertise when to come return your borrowed items and pay any outstanding fines well in advanced of the scheduled days and times.

The next month will fly by, as it always does. We wish so much that we could be spending these final days of the 2019-2020 school year with you on campus, rather than sitting at our makeshift workspaces at home. We are very close to the finish line, so this is the time to sprint, not stroll. Keep going and know that all of RHS is running right alongside you.

Warmly,

“Diversity is being invited to the party. Inclusion is being asked to dance.” –Vernā Myers

Parent Update - May 8, 2020

May 8, 2020

Dear Parents and Guardians,

As I connect with families, staff, and students for a variety of reasons, I realize that we are all currently experiencing a very stressful time in our lives. Many of you have shared with us, the teachers, or a counselor that you and/or your students are experiencing some difficult moments. A few of you have even referred to these moments as “melt downs.” These are challenging times. Some days may be great and others downright hard. So, for you who are struggling, I want to share some ideas from one of the documents that State Superintendent Chris Reykdal included in his State Bulletins that came from the National Association of School Psychologists entitled, “Helping Children Cope With Changes Resulting From COVID-19.” (A link to the full article will appear under our “Resources” tab here on our RHS website.) If this does not apply to you and your family, just stop here and go directly to the last two paragraphs. Otherwise, here are some of the document’s recommendations to consider:

Stay calm, listen, and offer reassurance. Acknowledge some level of concern about COVID-19 without panicking.
Be a positive role model. Children react to and follow your reactions. Talk with your students about their fears.
Remind them that when we wash our hands and practice safe distancing that we are already practicing preventive measures to give them a sense of some control over their risk of infection and to help reduce their anxiety.
Model problem solving, flexibility and compassion as you work with them through adjusting daily schedules, balancing work and other activities.
Focus on the positive. Make time spent together as fun as possible. Do family projects. Be creative. Sing, laugh, and go outside. Make up a dance that everyone in the family does or make up words to a song that the family knows and likes. Take family selfies. If possible, connect with nature, and get needed exercise.
Consider practicing deep breathing. Deep breathing helps to calm the nervous system.
Establish and maintain a daily routine. What does this look like for your family? Effective routines have certain components remain the same each day and often occur at the same time. Have everyone get up a certain time. Eat breakfast if that is what your family does or take a walk outside. Have students work in 60-minute intervals and then take 10-15 minute breaks between each “class.” Set a lunch time and a dinner time. Try to respect each other’s need of quiet or uninterrupted time.
Identify projects that might help others. This could include: writing letters or creating signs for older relatives or neighbors who are stuck at home. Send those family selfies and other positive messages over social media.

I am sure we have all done some of these things during this time of closure, but it’s good to be reminded of them and to get a few new ideas.

In case you don’t already know, our HealthPoint Teen Clinic at Renton High and offering mental and emotional support for our students at this time. If your student is struggling or feeling overwhelmed please have them call 425.424.6310 and leave a message, and HealthPoint will return their call.

There may be moments when we all feel more than a little overwhelmed by all that is going on around us. Find some “me” time for yourselves. Last, but not least, remember to stay connected to our school. Again, please let us know if you or your students need help. At the bottom left side of the RHS webpage, click on the “How Can We Help?” in red so we can assist you. Let us continue to communicate and collaborate with each other in order to make the rest of our In-Home Learning school year better for you and your students.

Yesterday, RHS staff members lined the sides of the student parking lot and waved and cheered as many of the Class of 2020 students picked up their caps and gowns. It was a joyous occasion with happy tears both inside and outside of the cars. We all need more of those happy moments. I sincerely hope you and your family enjoy the sunshine and outdoors this weekend and are able to spend some time together.

Warmly,

“Diversity is being invited to the party. Inclusion is being asked to dance.” –Vernā Myers

Student Update - May 8, 2020

May 8, 2020

Dear Seniors and families,

Yesterday, we hosted the cap and gown pick up for National Achiever, the company seniors purchase their graduation gear from, at RHS. If you came out and picked up your graduation gear, thank you! It was wonderful to see you.

If you were not able to come pick up your cap and gown and other items, please read carefully below, as I will tell you now how to get your items.

In November, National Achiever came to RHS and had all seniors fill out a cap and gown request form, which was used by them to order a cap and gown for all students who turned in a form. If you submitted a form, then National Achiever got a cap and gown in your size ready.

Already Paid For Orders

Since November, students have been able to pay National Achiever for their ordered cap and gown, as well as add other graduation gear to their order. Fully paid for orders that were not picked up May 7^th have two options for receiving:

Be delivered to your home by RHS staff. Deliveries should be completed no later than May 29^th. If an order cannot be delivered by then, we will communicate with your family.
Pick up at RHS’s main office. If you do not want to wait until May 29^th for a delivery, you can come to RHS’s main office doors. There, you will find a sign with a phone number to call. Ms. Carlson will be there Monday -Thursday 10 am to 12 pm to answer the phone, take your name, and walk out to the door your cap and gown order.

Reserved But Not Paid For Orders

If you have not yet paid for your cap and gown but still want it, there is a reserved order waiting for you. All you need to do is go to this website: https://highschool.herffjones.com/secom/home

You will need to log in, then complete your order. It will get shipped to you direct from National Achiever.

As a reminder, Renton High School does not in any way take money for or can troubleshoot issues with cap and gown graduation gear orders, so please go to the above website to order and if you need help, please call National Achiever at 425-357-1338.

Warmly,

Parent Update - May 1, 2020

May 1, 2020

Dear Parents and Guardians,

Happy May First! As we enter into our 8^th week away from school as we used to know it, I am reminded that we are all on an uphill learning curve and understand that this new way of learning isn’t always easy for families, students or teachers. Making this transition from school life as we once knew it to embracing the new components of In Home Learning, we realize that we are all learning how to do so many things differently. Last week, we shared that your student will actually receive a letter grade for the work completed in his/her present Trimester 3 classes. Most teachers, by now, have posted their criteria for earning an A, B, C, D or an I (Incomplete) in their Canvas courses and the results are in. Happily, teachers are informing us that they are witnessing a much higher percentage of students now logging into their classes.

As part of the State’s mandate to monitor and give feedback to your student, teachers and other Renton High staff have begun checking in to see why some students still haven’t accessed any of their classes on Canvas or if they have, why they haven’t completed some of their assignments and turned them in. We have worked hard to update our information so that we have the most accurate phone numbers and email addresses and connect with you to see how we can best support you and your student.

What we are finding now is that since we have made the move into students receiving grades, they are beginning to make more of an effort to complete their assignments. While we are exceedingly pleased with this, we are witnessing a new trend that we would like to share with you. Some students are doing their In Home Learning after 3pm. While we are excited that they are addressing their school assignments, we would like to gently remind parents and students that the hours teachers work is Monday through Friday, 8am until 3:00pm. Students are being encouraged to attend the teacher office hours for specific classes where they can get help on their assignments and receive an instant response to their questions. However, we are asking that if your student needs assistance or has a question for a teacher and emails them after 3pm, that they please understand that they may not receive a response until the next day but no later than 24 hours. All that we ask is that students exercise a little patience, as teachers may be attending IEPs, Professional learning committee meetings, or hold office hours before they are able to respond to a request.

We would like to offer two other important pieces of information. First, in order to better serve our families, the district is making some changes to our school meal program: Beginning Monday, May 4, they are closing some sites that have participation levels of less than 50 children picking up daily meals. Families will still be able to pick-up meals at any sites near their home. (See list of all meal sites here). Specifically, our Renton High School site will close, but our families can pick-up meals at nearby Sartori Elementary. Also, Beginning Monday, May 11, we will move from a 5 day/week meal service to a twice per week meal service. Meals will only be available Mondays and Wednesdays at all meal sites. Please note that the Monday pick-up will include meals for Monday and Tuesday while the Wednesday pick-up will include meals for Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. We will provide grocery bags to make it easier for families to carry multiple-day meal packs. Families are also encouraged to bring a backpack or bag to comfortably carry 2-3 days of meals.

Secondly, parents of seniors, this is just a reminder that the Cap and Gown pickup is still happening on Thursday, May 7th. It is drive-through style. You will not get out of your car.

If you have Questions about pickup? Please email Susannah.woehr@rentonschools.us.

We know we are experiencing some degrees of anxiety as we all tackle both the technological and emotional challenges which In Home Learning has brought about. Again, please let us know if you or your students need help. At the bottom left side of the Renton High School webpage, click on the “How Can We Help?” in red. We are pleased to know that some of you have already begun using this feature on our website. When you fill out the form, it enables us to better assist you. We truly are all in this together. Let us keep the communication and collaboration as a top priority as we navigate the challenges that sometimes seem overwhelming. At some point, I hope you find some time to enjoy the sunny weather when it is present, enjoy some of this time spent with your family, and somehow find a little quiet time for yourselves.

Warmly,

“Diversity is being invited to the party. Inclusion is being asked to dance.” –Vernā Myers

Student Update - May 1, 2020

May 1, 2020

Dear RHS students,

We are now wrapping up the third week of Tri 3’s In-Home Learning. Many of you have found your groove and are completing work successfully. We have heard from many families and students that they are feeling very supported right now and appreciate all the hard work and time the RHS staff is putting into continuing their education during these unusual times. Our teachers have given us reports of the levels of engagement in their classes, and we are happy to hear than a high percent is logging in every week to Canvas.

We have also heard from some families and students that they are feeling overwhelmed and frustrated by the workload and communication from RHS staff. Your education is our top priority. In this update, I will address these concerns, and help clarify expectations for learning and communication.

To start, the main concern has been the time between emailing a teacher and their reply. If you need an immediate response from a teacher, please ask it during their office hours. Otherwise, they will respond to your email questions between 8:00 am and 3:00 pm Monday through Friday within a reasonable amount of time, typically no longer than 24 hours. If you email a teacher outside of these hours, please allow up to 24 hours for a response. Please remember that our teachers spending their days fully busy. They are grading, creating or adjusting lessons, answering other emails in the order they received them, or attending other various meetings – all on top of also caring for their families who are also quarantined at home; many of whom are homeschooling their own children as well.

The next concern has been feeling overwhelmed by the amount of work. Let us start by looking at the weekly amount of work being assigned. It is a total of 15 individual assignments. That is three a day if it is divided over 5 days of school. It is important to remember that humans are creatures of habit. We need routine to feel safe and comfortable. All of us have had our daily routine upended by COVID-19. It is so important that you set up a routine that works for you and your family, but also closely resembles the one you are familiar with. Try to keep a sleep schedule that is consistent and follows typical night hours (approximately 10:00 pm to 7:00 am is a good 9-hour span for teenagers). Set yourself up in a desk-like area for schoolwork. Upright, good lighting, table in front of you. Space out your weekly assignments so you do not procrastinate and have all 15 to do on Friday. They all get posted every Monday, so it is up to you how to break that up. You could do 5 assignments a day, and only do school for three days a week, or you could do three a day, starting with the hardest ones first to get them out of the way.

If you stay up all night and sleep all day, you will miss out on Office Hours and will end up emailing your teachers well after 3:00 pm. So of course, you will feel frustrated because you will have to wait until the next day to get a response. Set yourself up for success and get yourself back into a school-minded routine. Include time for ways to relax, get some exercise (following social distancing measures) and some time doing something away from your computer. And know that all your teachers are going through the same quarantine situation you are, while individual circumstances maybe variable. They, too, are having to figure out a routine that allows them to meet your educational needs, as well as the needs of their families and their own emotional well-being. Just as we always believe that all of our students want a successful future and desires learning, trust that all RHS staff want to support you and help you achieve your goals – especially in this time of COVID-19.

We are in this together!

Warmly,

“Diversity is being invited to the party. Inclusion is being asked to dance.” –Vernā Myers

Student Update - April 24, 2020

April 24, 2020

Dear RHS Students,

I hope this brief update finds you healthy and ready for a weekend break from your course work. Please read carefully below; there are some very important new pieces of information we want to share with you, along with some reminders.

Grading:

This week, the State Superintendent released his guidance for grading for all schools in WA. Renton School District Superintendent and his cabinet quickly communicated with all teachers and administrator what that now means for Trimester grading. Students WILL be earning a letter grade, not Credit/No Credit as we originally thought was going to be the plan. By next week, your teachers will post on their Canvas courses the criteria required for earning an A, B, C, D, or I (Incomplete).

Because we recognize the undue burden COVID-19 has placed on some students’ ability to access their education equitably, students will be given an Incomplete if they fail to earn at least a D in a course 3^rd trimester. This means that students will be given the opportunity to either have more time past the end of the Tri (currently still set for June 19^th) to complete enough course work to a proficient standard, or will have access to credit recovery in future years, without the incomplete course being recorded as an F on their transcript for this trimester. This means that you do not get to sit back and do nothing this Tri and fail! You still need to earn the credits from Tri 3 classes to stay on track to graduate. You are responsible for doing the work to show proficiency to earn credit. Schools are simply providing methods to get this done and not have COVID -19 be a reason for why you didn’t earn credit.

Weekly Attendance:

Starting 4/24/20, all teachers will be recording in Skyward weekly attendance every Friday. So long as at some point over the week, every Monday through Friday, you engage with your teachers in some way (log into Canvas, submit work, respond to an email or call, or join office hours) you will be marked present. If you have no communication with your teacher(s) of any kid, including just checking out the week’s assignments on Canvas, you will be marked Absent/No Contact for that week.

As a follow up, Dean Powell and the Student Re-engagement Team (SRT) will then make calls home to your family to check in about your non-participation or communication with your teachers. If you cannot access Canvas or your work, this is an ideal time to ask for help.

Phone Calls:

Please be aware that many RHS staff are using a Google Voice phone number to call or text families. If you see a phone call/text come in from an unusual area code, it might be one of your teachers or another staff. Please check your voicemail if you do not pick up and know you can call or text them back at that number.

Email:

You may not be aware, but you do have two email addresses. One is your Outlook address, and the other is through your Google account. Students can go into their email and forward one to the other. I personally forward my Gmail to my Outlook so that I only have to check one place. Here is a link to Google support with how to forward your Gmail. We send weekly updates to your Outlook, but often Google Forms, like the Post-Secondary Survey below, are sent to your Gmail. Please ensure you either check both or forward one to the other.

Social Media for RHS:

RHS is on social media! We know many students and families use social media to stay informed about updates. Follow @TheRealRentonHS on Instagram for updates from administration and @RentonSpiritSquad to get updates from ASB on Instagram.

Also, The Real Renton HS is on Facebook and Twitter (Renton High School @TheRealRentonHS). Tell your parents and make sure to follow us!

Post-Secondary Survey:

For all Class of 2020 students: spring is the time of year that your plans for after graduation are recorded and updated. Ms. Fulmer in the College and Career Center is asking that all seniors take a few minutes to complete this survey about your post-secondary plans. https://forms.gle/zJCWT6zBqdVtWqUJ9

Warmly,

“Diversity is being invited to the party. Inclusion is being asked to dance.” –Verna Myers

Parent Update - April 24, 2020

April 24, 2020

Dear Parents and Guardians,

It’s so hard to believe that it is nearly the end of April. At times, the onset of spring with its themes of renewal and growth collides with our present situation of confinement. Still, I am hoping this finds you and your family well and able to have established some semblance of a routine as we continue the In-Home Learning. Just a few days ago, the State Superintendent conveyed his guidance bulletin for grading in all WA schools. Dr. Pattenaude and his cabinet quickly communicated this update to teachers and staff as to how it will be applied to Trimester 3. Most importantly, we need you to know that your student will receive a letter grade for the work completed in his/her current Trimester 3 classes. This makes it imperative that you encourage your student to do quality work when completing assignments. It is not enough for your student to just check in on Canvas, they must complete the assignments and turn them in. Because of this, we continue to advocate that you sign up for an observer account in Canvas so you can see firsthand what assignments your student is completing.

Beginning next week, teachers will post their criteria for earning an A, B, C, D or an I (Incomplete) in their Canvas courses. Because the state and the district understands that all families are not in the same place in terms of enabling students to equitably access their classes, students will be given an Incomplete if they do not earn at least a D in a class for the third trimester. Although not finalized, we know that other opportunities will be given for your students to demonstrate proficiency in their classes and therefore to earn credit. These may include such options as summer school, taking the course next fall, and/or completing online credit recovery courses to name a few. To stay on track to graduate, students must pass all five of their Trimester 3 classes to earn 2.5 credits. If you have more questions, please contact your student’s counselor.

As part of the State’s mandate to monitor and give feedback to your student, teachers and other Renton High staff may be checking in to see why your student hasn’t accessed any of their classes on Canvas or if they have, why they haven’t completed some of them and turned them in. Please be aware that many Renton High staff are using Google Voice to call or text families. This service enables staff to communicate with others without giving out their personal home phone number. So please do not just disregard a phone call or text coming from an unusual area code. If you do not pick up, please know you can text or call the teachers and staff back at the number given in your voicemail. Also, feel free to email your student’s teachers as well if you have questions.

Renton High is committed to not allowing hardware issues to keep your student from learning. We know we are all experiencing a high learning curve as we tackle the challenges which In-Home Learning has created. As a reminder, please let us know If you or your students need help. At the bottom left hand side of the Renton High School webpage, click on the “How Can We Help?” in red. This will enable you to fill out a form letting us know how we may assist you. Finally, all of us are feeling the uncertainty as this situation continues. However, I truly believe if we can continue to communicate and collaborate, together, we will be able to successfully see our students through this difficult time.

Warmly,

“Diversity is being invited to the party. Inclusion is being asked to dance.” –Verna Myers

Parent Update - April 20, 2020

April 20, 2020

Dear Parents and Guardians,

I am hoping this finds you well as you continue to deal with the responsibilities of everyday parenthood and the transition of your student to learning at home. It cannot be easy, but every single RHS teacher, counselor, staff member is also working hard to ensure that students are not left behind. If your child is not yet engaging in Canvas activities, expect a phone call home soon to check in and find out what help they might need. If you haven’t yet, one thing all families can do to support their student is to help the set up a learning space at home that is well lit, away from distractions like a TV, and is seated upright at a table or desk. It’s a small change, but one that helps promote a focused mindset.

As we have just completed our first week of assignments for your student’s third trimester classes, I am hoping by now your students are able to access their classes on Canvas and have begun to turn in their assignments. Because students will be receiving credit for these classes, please remember if you haven’t done so already, you can still sign up for an observer account in Canvas which will enable you to see your student’s assignments and support your student staying focused on their academic success in In- Home Learning. On the average, students in grades 9-12, should be spending 30 minutes per class per day with a maximum of 3 total hours per day. Please email your student’s teachers if you have questions regarding specific assignments.

Many of you have reached out wanting to know the status of yearbooks and senior caps and gowns. As of right now, the 2019-2020 RHS yearbooks will be completed and made ready for pick-up August 24^th, 2020. Please plan to come to RHS from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm on that day. Specific details have been sent out and are also included in our update to your student. The 2020 caps and gowns seniors have ordered from National Achievers will be available for pickup on May 7th, with specific times listed below. Distribution will be a drive-through style in the Student Parking lot. Enter on Logan Ave S. Please bring your student ID and your receipt of purchase. You will present your receipt/ID through your car window, and a runner will get your gear and bring it to you. You then exit on 2nd Ave S. We will plan a second pick-up date for early June for anyone who cannot make it on May 7th.

May 7th Cap and Gown Pick-up Times are:

10:00 am to 11:00 am - Last names A-H
11:00 am to 12:00 pm - Last names I-P
12:00 pm to 1:00 pm - Last names Q-Z

If there are any questions or concerns about the caps and gowns besides pickup, please contact National Achievers directly. https://www.nationalachiever.com/contact-us/

Regarding other refunds, please know we were recently informed that athletic refunds will occur automatically, as will any fees associated with a field trip during this trimester.

Please let us know If you or your students need help. At the bottom left hand side of the Renton High School webpage, click on the “How Can We Help?” in red. This will enable you to fill out a form letting us know how we may assist you.

Finally, recently we met with some of the leaders of the senior class. I was reminded that we are driven by our love for our students. We know many of our students are struggling to feel connected. It’s so important that families check their emails regularly to get these updates and encourage their students to stay on top of engaging in their coursework. Stay in touch with us so that we can help make a better tomorrow for your students.

“Diversity is being invited to the party. Inclusion is being asked to dance.” –Vernā Myers

Student Update - April 20, 2020

April 20, 2020

Dear RHS students,

I hope this letter finds you doing well at the start of the second week of Tri 3’s online coursework. Hopefully, your teachers and other staff have been helpful in answering your questions about the learning experiences being spotted to Canvas, and your families are connected to an observer account so they can help keep you focused on academic success during In-Home Learning.

I also want to say that we understand how the shift from normal to COVID-19 life can be very disorienting. Your days used to be filled with making the trip to school, going from class to class, getting to see your friends and teachers, and participating in sports, activities and whole school events. Now, you have to create your own daily schedule filled with online work, emails, Zoom calls, Canvas Chats and other computer-based activities – all of which are balanced against new family responsibilities, and the disappointment in not being able to return to school and your regular life this year. All of us, your teachers, parents, support staff – all of us feel this way, too. Truly, we are in this together.

As you head into your second week of online learning, please read over the rest of this letter to get important updates and information.

Zoom Meetings:

There are updates to the expectations and security with all Zoom meetings. Please see the updated directions here: directions for students (also available translated in Chinese, Russian, Spanish, and Vietnamese).

Regarding Zoom expectations, please pay attention to what your teachers now post before entering a Zoom call. There will be updated expectations for behavior such as: be respectful; responsible learning behavior is expected; stay on mute until you wish to speak; use the "raise hand" feature to be called on; use video if possible, and avoid distractions such as playing games or chatting online outside the Zoom call.

We have updated our discipline policy to reflect the potential infractions that can occur should any student exercise poor choices while engaged in a Zoom call with teachers and fellow students. As with being in the classroom, swearing, rude hand gestures, use of derogatory language, and being dressed inappropriately will not be tolerated. Should any student engage in such behavior, the consequences are one of two: 1) no longer being able to access any communication with teachers except for email communications and/or 2) being permitted to join Zoom calls only with a parent present in the call with you. In short, your computer is your classroom, now – so all expected academic and professional behavior in the classroom is the same when learning from home.

Yearbooks:

You can still purchase a yearbook online! Go to https://wa-renton.intouchreceipting.com/ Login using your( student’s) last name & lunch ID. Select to view all items at Renton High School and you will find it under the ASB Card & Yearbooks tab.

To get your Yearbooks, please plan to come to RHS on August 24^th, 2020 from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm. As of right now, we are planning distribution to be a drive-through style in the Student Parking lot, as described below for cap and gown pick-up. Please bring your receipt of purchase as well as a picture ID. We will have a printout of all students who purchased a yearbook ready as backup. If this system changes, we will communicate it closer to the August 24^th.

Athletic and Field Trip Refunds:

All fees associated with Spring sports and any filed trips scheduled to occur during the school closure that you have already paid will be automatically refunded. You do not need to do anything. If you have questions you may email stephanie.carlson@reonschools.us and ask. Please allow 24-48 hours for a response. If you have questions regarding cap and gown refunds, please see the Cap and Gown section below.

Caps and Gowns:

The 2020 Caps and Gowns seniors have ordered will be available for pickup on May 7^th, 2020 specific times below. This is after the current Stay At Home order by Gov. Inslee will have ended on May 4^th. If this order gets extended, we will postpone pick-up and plan for a new date. Please check your emails the day before just in case!

Distribution will be a drive-through style in the Student Parking lot. Enter on Logan Ave S. Please bring your student ID and your receipt of purchase if you have it. You will present your receipt/ID through your car window, and a runner will get your gear and bring it to you. You then exit on 2^nd Ave S. For anyone without access to a car, you may walk up for pickup, but please observe the 6-foot distance rule. We will plan a second pick-up date for early June for anyone who cannot make it on May 7^th.

May 7^th Cap and Gown Pick-up Times:

10:00 am to 11:00 am - Last names A-H
11:00 am to 12:00 pm - Last names I-P
12:00 pm to 1:00 pm - Last names Q-Z

If there are any questions or concerns about the caps and gowns besides pickup, please contact National Achievers directly. https://www.nationalachiever.com/contact-us/

Please know that if your student cannot come in person for either yearbook or cap and gown, a family member can pick up for them. They will need to bring the receipt of purchase with their name on it, or bring their RHS student ID.

Email:

Please check your email daily. Your teachers communicate, as do your administrators via email. Updates and notices will always get emailed to your school email account. Plus, many of your teachers are planning whole class Zoom meetings and lessons as part of the weekly curriculum; do not miss out because you weren’t checking your email!

Post-Secondary Survey:

Before I go, I want to let everyone know and hope you find comfort in learning that your admin has been working with ASB, the Senior Class officers, the advisors, and the Superintendent and district leadership to address all concerns that have come up as we navigate the final term online, especially graduation. We are meeting this week with Dr. Pattenaude and senior representatives from all four high schools to give feedback and help plan what the ceremony will look like. Nothing is being ignored or forgotten, and all due effort is being made to ensure that we honor the accomplishments of our gradating seniors the very best we can.

Warmly,

“Diversity is being invited to the party. Inclusion is being asked to dance.” –Vernā Myers

Student Update - April 16, 2020

April 16, 2020

Dear RHS students and families,

Many of you have reached out wanting to know the status of yearbooks, and caps and gown. This letter is to let everyone know the status of both and the process for distribution. This plan is subject to change based directives from WA State Governor Jay Inslee concerning COVID-19 and the health and safety of everyone. We will immediately communicate if a change is required.

The 2019-2020 RHS yearbooks will be completed and made ready for pick-up in late August. The later date is because Herff-Jones, the company that prints the yearbooks, currently has their printing factories closed due to COVID-19. They plan to open in the summer and get yearbooks printed and shipped to schools in time for pickup in late August.

For Yearbooks, please plan to come to RHS on August 24^th, 2020 from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm. As of right now, we are planning distribution to be a drive-through style in the Student Parking lot, as described below for cap and gown pick-up. Please bring your receipt of purchase as well as a picture ID. We will have a printout of all students who purchased a yearbook ready as backup. If this system changes, we will communicate it closer to the August 24^th.

The 2020 Caps and Gowns seniors have ordered will be available for pickup on May 7^th, 2020 specific times below. This is after the current Stay At Home order by Gov. Inslee will have ended on May 4^th. Distribution will be a drive-through style in the Student Parking lot. Enter on Logan Ave S. Please bring your student ID and your receipt of purchase if you have it. You will present your receipt/ID through your car window, and a runner will get your gear and bring it to you. You then exit on 2^nd Ave S. For anyone without access to a car, you may walk up for pickup, but please observe the 6-foot distance rule. We will plan a second pick-up date for early June for anyone who cannot make it on May 7^th.

May 7^th Cap and Gown Pick-up Times:

10:00 am to 11:00 am - Last names A-H
11:00 am to 12:00 pm - Last names I-P
12:00 pm to 1:00 pm - Last names Q-Z

If there are any questions or concerns about the caps and gowns besides pickup, please contact National Achievers directly. https://www.nationalachiever.com/contact-us/

Warmly,

Dr. Giovanna San Martin| Principal

Renton High School | Giovanna.sanmartin@rentonschools.us

Letter to Seniors - April 9, 2020

April 9, 2020

Dear Seniors,

This letter is not about academics but to encourage you during this most tumultuous and uncertain time. This communication also serves as a promise to not let you fade away just because we may not get to PHYSICALLY end your four years at RHS. Class of 2020, this is supposed to be your year! This is supposed to be the year for your senior prom, final athletic practices and contests, and the Moving Up Assembly. Although plans for graduation have yet to be released, we realize it might look differently. Please know that we will keep you posted.

Indeed, you might not get to enjoy these special moments, but that is no reason to not create new ones. While we, all of us, must do the very best we can under the present circumstances, I want you to know that you can count on RHS staff and me, Ms. San Martin, your principal, to commemorate special moments in a way that will still enable you to create positive memories that last a lifetime while understanding that they just might not be like the typical ones we all were expecting to have and are used to. You, the graduating Class of 2020 have the power to make the most out of this adverse situation. You can remain stuck and accept not doing anything about it, or you can be resilient and innovative and join in the development of new ways to honor your accomplishments.

I have known you for the past four years as the Class of 2020 cohort. I have watched your behaviors closely. I know that you embrace differences and push boundaries for the student community to be respected and cared for. You do this all on your own, fighting for what you know to be right with a deep sense of social justice built inside each of you. I have seen you navigate between the physical and digital realities with an ease that older generations lack. Many of you have also held a job for the past two years while completing your education. You have challenged yourselves through academics, sports, activities, family obligations and responsibilities, and community service. You are a diverse generation that has faced very different and difficult challenges, and, in most cases, you have overcome these challenges without blemishes. Sometimes Generation Z is a wonder to me as to how well you adapt, connect, and uplift your unique perspectives. In other words, you are strong and powerful, and I am very proud of you.

Starting Monday, April 13^th, I am asking you to share with the world all that is the best about the RHS Class of 2020 by helping me to develop a senior page on our RHS website platform and social media accounts named the RHS 2020 Seniors: Connect and Uplift. I need you to send all types of thoughts, memories, photos, podcasts, poems, in any type of medium (be mindful it still is a school website, so you know it must be appropriate 😊 (there will be more information to come regarding this component). I want you to use this platform to connect and uplift each other, your families, your teachers and staff, and our community.

This is just the beginning, seniors. Start capturing all of the positive things you want to share about your RHS experience the past four years, your memories and joys, and even the challenges and struggles you had to face to get to where you are today – on the precipice of a new beginning. Please send your thoughts to my email at: giovanna.sanmartin@rentonschools.us. I will share them with our community on your special page on the website. Send me what you are thinking during this crisis, written or recorded, send messages to friends, teachers, other students, and staff members, in any medium that connects and uplifts others.

You are making history. Let us hear and share your story. Yes, let us mourn a little for what you did not have, but you must understand that you cannot ever be forgotten for that is just impossible! Your voices are so present in everything we do and will continue to be so. Even though we aren’t together in the brick and mortar building called Renton High School, let us break the bonds of time and space and expand Thee Renton High School to include wherever you are. We need and want to hear your voices!!!!! This pandemic cannot silence you. Class of 2020, our community needs you, our 11^th, 10^th and 9^th graders need your leadership! This year may not be what you wished for, anticipated or imagined, but together we can make it very much your year! 2020 will be a year to remember! I know we can do it, together. I look forward to seeing how you inspire all of us. And my precious children, I do have plans for you. We will unveil them soon. Be ready to make it count.

Stay healthy, Class of 2020 and know that all RHS staff has your back!

Dr. Giovanna San Martin| Principal

Renton High School | (425) 204.3401

RHS 2020 CLASS - YOU ARE ALWAYS ON MY MIND AND HEART

Parent Update - April 3, 2020

Friday, April 3, 2020

Dear RHS Families,

As we shared last week, the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) and Governor Inslee are currently formulating a plan for how to address the loss of learning during school closures, graduation, and other vital aspects of your student’s education. Renton School District wants to ensure we communicate with all our families as we get updates on this ever-changing situation. We would like to address what this change will look like, share with you our platform to be used for distance learning, and discuss how we will maintain safety first. Please look for our letter coming 4/13/20 where we will detail all the information, processes, and supports families need to know about In-Home Learning.

In accordance with the guidance from OSPI, we are transition the student and teachers from optional activities to required learning experiences. We are still calling it “In Home Learning” and all resources can be found on the In-Home Learning page on our school website.

By 4/13/20, each of your student’s teachers will be sending out a course outline along with the

teacher’s office hours as to when they will be available for 60 minutes twice per week. Most RHS teachers will utilize Canvas platform for distance learning. Teachers will post three weekly activities for each of your student’s classes. They will continue to publish these activities by 7:20 am every Monday through the school closures. They will also follow up by communicating with students who have not engaged in the class, no later than Friday, April 17, 2020. IEP accommodations will be adhered to as appropriate. As teachers present new content through a conventional learning model, students will receive assignments and activities designed for students to demonstrate competency towards appropriate standards. Students will receive written or oral feedback on assignments on a regular weekly basis.

As part of our move to distance learning, our staff can now use virtual conferencing tools with your students. These means they can video chat with your student and they can see each other through the computer screen. For safety reasons and to ensure these conversations are appropriate and professional, RHS staff will record live video conferences with your student and other students. The video conference must be approved in advance by a school administrator. It also must be recorded and saved in a location that is accessible by a school administrator. Video Conferencing for classes must have at least 3 participants so as not to have one on one conferencing. If the video function is turned off for both participants, Zoom/other video conferencing tools can be used for 1-1 communication. This is an accommodation for this in-home learning time.

The hallways of Renton High are unusually silent. We miss your students greatly! Please know that we are thinking about all of you during these unprecedented times. We cannot wait until we can all return to RHS and get back to the business of learning!

Stay safe and healthy,

Dr. Giovanna San Martin| Principal

Renton High School | (425) 204.3401

Student Update - April 3, 2020

April 3, 2020

Dear RHS Students,

Thank you for the individual responses to the past two letters I have sent. Reading your questions, comments, and responses have meant a lot to me. Your communication has confirmed that many of you are focusing on learning despite the COVID-19 challenges the world is enduring. Thus, I was able to see how the IB profile characteristics (inquirers, communicators, caring, and reflective) are embedded in your actions and thoughts. I am delighted that you are connecting quite often with all of your teachers for this third trimester and keeping up not only with the content activities on the website, but the additional enrichment activities on canvas posted by your teachers, carefully designed to keep you informed on your third-trimester courses. I am counting on you continuing (or starting) to engage with online instruction, especially since just today we got notification that schools will be closed through May 4^th, per Gov. Inslee’s latest safety update.

At this time, I have some excellent news that will provide further instructional stability for this last trimester of the school year (until we go back). Based on the recommendation from the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) and Governor Inslee, RHS and the RSD will be addressing the loss of learning during school closures, graduation, and other vital aspects of your education by providing a distance learning model design to offer rigorous and culturally responsive learning experiences to enable students to complete their 2019-20 school year on time. Starting on April 13, you can count on the following:

Each of your teachers will be sending out welcoming letters including a course outline along with the teacher’s office hours as to when they will be available for 60 minutes twice per week.

Teachers will utilize Canvas as the online learning platform.
Teachers will use conventional learning or project-based learning depending on the courses offered.
Teachers will present new content through a conventional learning model or project-based learning.
Teachers will provide assignments and activities designed for students to demonstrate competency towards appropriate standards.
Teachers will publish in Canvas three assignments/activities each week on Monday.
Teachers are scheduled to provide office hours; the schedule is attached in this email and will be posted on the In-Home Learning page on our school website.
- AACs academic tutoring hours are also attached to this email and posted to the website.
Teachers will provide feedback on assignments on a regular weekly basis.
Teachers will follow up communication with students who have not engaged in the class, no later than Friday, April 17, 2020. IEP accommodations will be provided, as appropriate.

OSPI is currently determining how credit will be awarded. This decision might look like a Pass/No Credit system or the traditional grading system. Considerations are currently being given as to how the differences in grading may impact student transcripts (e.g., NCAA eligibility, college/university admissions). As soon as it’s decided we will communicate with all of you as soon as we know.

Your responsibility:

Weekly completion of the three assignments in Canvas in each of your enrolled Tri 3 courses. Based on feedback, this may include re-submission of the activities when missing to demonstrate competency standards. Weekly and timely completion of work expectations will lead to the effective accomplishment of the course.
Accessing office hours when unclear on how to complete an assignment or any other academic-related questions.
Provide your parent/guardian with access to Canvas no later than April 13^th. Instructions for how to do this can be found on the In-Home Learning page .

Several video meeting platforms for distance collaboration will be used for two-way communication. Nevertheless, Canvas remains as the central platform. Speaking about Canvas, as I previously wrote, I hope that you provide the pairing code to your families. But we are also prepared to provide them with a Canvas code if you forget to do it. It is vital that your family checks on your work completion. The How to Access an Observer Canvas Account for Parents/Guardians is being sent to families separately.

As your teachers and you engage in virtual platforms, please abide by the following guidelines. These guidelines are to protect the safety of all users:

Any video conferencing (such as Zoom, Google Hangouts, etc.) with a teacher or staff member is required to be recorded. Families can opt out of having the video function turned on for their child during these video conferences. Please fill out the form found here.
Ensure your surroundings are professional and appropriate – anything that can be seen by others should be school-appropriate.
Maintain school-appropriate dress and language on all video conferences.

I know that some of you are stressed out about how you will successfully earn credit and complete the school year. This system is how we will do it. Please put your concerns and perhaps fears at rest. Your well-being and academic success are what drives our work. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to email me directly or use the Help Form to ask a question, found on the website.

Remember to check the RHS website, and read our letters sent to you via your outlook email. I know this spring is very different from previous ones. However, it is in your hands to make it better for all those closest to you. You continue to make me proud. I love you and miss you very much, my precious children.

Stay safe and healthy.

Dr. Giovanna San Martin| Principal

Renton High School | giovanna.sanmartin@rentonschools.us

Parent Update - March 27, 2020

March 27, 2020

Dear RHS Families,

We are now at the end of our second full week of school closures, social distancing and doing our part to slow the spread of COVID-19. We know it has been a challenging time, especially when your normally engaged student is now at home wondering what the next few weeks will bring.

To start, we want to remind you that every Friday, starting today, we are posting Content Activities to the RHS website under In-Home Learning to keep your student’s scholarly skills sharpened. Please go to: https://rentonhs.rentonschools.us/for-families/in-home-learning to access them. Additionally, many of our amazing teachers are adding more enrichment activities weekly or even daily to their Canvas pages. Please encourage your student to check in on their third trimester classes and see what other work they can access to keep their academic lives active. At this time, none of this work is required or will be graded.

The Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) and Gov. Inslee are currently working to formulate a plan for how to address the loss of learning during school closures, graduation, and other vital aspects of your student’s educational lives. Renton School District is working in partnership with OSPI to ensure we communicate in a timely manner with all our families and students as we get updates on this ever-changing situation.

Regarding your health and well-being, RHS students and families can still contact the HealthPoint clinic staff and receive care. If any students need to get in touch, they can call the clinic line at 425-424-6310. They will most likely have to leave a message, and they can expect a call back soon. Only the most urgent and necessary visits are being arranged in-person. Most visits are happening virtually by phone or video chat.

Finally, for those of you who are experiencing hardships due to COVID-19, such as loss of income, housing insecurity, or inability to meet other basic needs, Communities in Schools of Renton-Tukwila has been doing amazing work during this time; including getting donations for an emergency fund for families. If you are in need, you can email one of our two CISRT liaisons who will be able to take your request:

9^th and 10^th graders Tyrell Laury tyrell.laury@rentonschools.us

11^th and 12^th graders Glisenys Heyward glisenys.heyward1@rentonschools.us

Please know that we are thinking about all of you during these strange times. We cannot wait until we can all return to RHS and to the work we love – getting all of our young people educated and prepared for their post-secondary lives.

Stay safe and healthy,

Dr. Giovanna San Martin| Principal

Renton High School | (425) 204.3401

Student Update - March 27, 2020

March 27, 2020

Hello Renton High School Students,

We hope this letter finds you and your family doing and well. We know these are uncertain times, so we hope that this letter can provide you with more clarity and understanding of what you can be doing, as well as how we are working to provide next steps for your education. The purpose of this letter is to update you on various areas. While we may not have all the answers at this time, we will do our best to provide you with information and direction.

COVID-19 Update

All schools and school districts in Washington State are still under order from the Washington State Governor, Jay Inslee, to remain closed through (at least) April 24, 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We have not been provided with another date or any other information regarding returning to school. As soon as we receive information regarding our return, we will communicate this to you and your family.

Graduation

The administrative and counseling teams are working diligently regarding graduation for the Class of 2020. We are working collaboratively to find out what graduation requirements are/will be. As we find out more direction from the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) and Governor Inslee, we will inform you of what will happen for graduation. We should know more information in the coming weeks. Some things you can do to take care of business while you are at home include: Online Credit Recovery and the High School and Beyond Plans. These are exceedingly important to seniors because your credit recovery classes are something that you can devote much of this time to complete. This may include some of your classes which you have failed second trimester. If you haven’t heard from your counselor yet, you may want to contact him/her. If you know you have Online Credit Recovery classes to complete, get in touch with Mr. Heft as soon as possible so you can be working on them now. Certain restrictions regarding taking quizzes and tests have been lifted so you can now take them at home. If you have not finished your High School and Beyond Plan, please work on it. If you have completed everything except your community service, please wait on this. We are waiting to learn if the community service requirement will be waived or not. If not, we’ll give you directions for how to complete it.

In-Home Learning

While we are all greatly impacted during this pandemic, we still value you and your education, and want to ensure learning is still accessible. As of Friday, March 27, 2020, teachers have posted content learning activities for students. Content learning activities are available on our website at https://rentonhs.rentonschools.us/for-families/in-home-learning. These content learning activities are recommended and encouraged to be completed. Content learning activities will be updated weekly each Friday during the closure.

Teacher Communication

All teachers are currently still actively working from home daily. If you need to communicate with a teacher regarding a content learning activity to receive clarity and/or feedback, you can email them. All teacher/staff email addresses can be found at https://rentonhs.rentonschools.us/our-school/faculty.

Let me leave you with these words to consider by award-winning author, Paulo Coelho: “When we least expect it, life sets us a challenge to test our courage and willingness to change; at such a moment, there is no point in pretending that nothing has happened or in saying that we are not yet ready. The challenge will not wait. Life does not look back.” Do not wait, get started, and know that you will come out of this challenge changed for the better.

Stay safe and healthy,

Rashaad Powell| Dean of Students

Renton High School | (425) 204.3400

2020 Prom Notice - March 25, 2020

March 25, 2020

Dear RHS Senior Class of 2020 and Families,

Yesterday evening, the venue where we booked our prom notified us that they are canceling all events in April and May of 2020 and will most likely cancel all events booked through June and July as well. In their email to us, they stated, “The situation around COVID-19 has reached a level that requires immediate action to help curb the spread of the virus. The health and safety of all is our highest priority.”

RHS’s prom this year was booked for May 30^th. While it is unsurprising that this venue, along with other venues across Washington State, are presently cancelling their events due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it is still – understandably – very disappointing. Please know that while all of us at RHS empathize with our students and families regarding this situation, we must fully support the measures being taken to keep everyone safe and healthy.

At this time, we do not have an alternative plan or solution and cannot speculate as to how an alternative might be prepared. However, as things continue to develop with school closures and the pandemic, we will work with Mr. Willecke, advisor to the Senior Class of 2020, and the class officers to discuss what is and isn’t possible. If any student or family has ideas for how we might be able to make up for the loss of this rite of passage for our seniors, we welcome them.

Please contact me if you have any follow up questions or thoughts.

Sincerely,

Susannah Woehr, NBCT

RHS Assistant Principal/Activities Coordinator

425.204.3461 | susannah.woehr@rentonschools.us

Parent Letter - March 18, 2020

March 18, 2020

Dear Renton High School families,

I hope this communication finds you all well and healthy. I appreciate your patience regarding receiving instructional guidance for the remaining five weeks of school closure beginning Monday, March 23, through Friday, April 24.

Today, students will be receiving email communication from me, detailing the steps to retrieve content area activities aligned with their trimester three courses. These content area activities will need to be retrieved once per week. Starting Friday, March 27^th, 2020, we will be posting these activities to our school website under the In-Home Learning link for them to access, and families to review to support their students. These content area activities will not be required nor be graded but is an opportunity for students to complement future learning for when we return to school. Please go to https://rentonhs.rentonschools.us/for-families/in-home-learning to view the activities. They will be updated weekly every Friday during the closure, starting 3/27/2020.

Also, RHS faculty will continue or start to post to their Canvas additional enrichment activities that are aligned to Tri 3 coursework for each course taught in Tri 3 – posted weekly. I am very grateful to the RHS faculty for expanding opportunities for learning besides the content unit activities. Again, none of these activities posted will be graded, but are vital to keeping your student thinking and reflecting as a scholar. Ongoing student learning is our priority and if they complete these units, the remainder of the trimester face-to-face will be smoother. My humble request is for families to encourage their students to complete the activities despite of these not being graded. Let me know if you have any questions.

Food Services

Lunch are available for children at all school locations, between 11am and 12pm each weekday.

Trimester 2 Wrap Up

Grades will be available on March 27. Report cards and a graduation check-up letter will be sent home, so all families will be up to date about their student’s progress towards meeting all graduation requirements after grades have been posted for second trimester. All grade levels will receive a grad check. All parents, specifically parents of seniors, should remind their students to complete Career Cruising activities/High School and Beyond Plans. Please know that we are mindful of the impact the 6-week closure will have to all of our students’ educations and will be taking measures to diminish the severity of the impact.

Finally, we understand that the families of our seniors want to know how graduation will be impacted. We are certain that a plan will be enacted in coordination with the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction that will allow for all 12^th graders to meet their graduation requirements in time to access their post-secondary plans in a timely manner.

RHS administration will continue to update all staff, families, and students as frequently as we are updated. We will do our best to post information on the Renton High School website. Students should be checking their school email in their Outlook program in their Chromebooks DAILY. We are aware of the uncertainty and questions that are arising for all families about the impact to this 6-week closure will have for their student’s education. Please know we are working on a plan in collaboration with the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) for Washington state. More information from OSPI can be found on their FAQs page: https://www.k12.wa.us/sites/default/files/public/communications/SchoolClosuresQandA0312.pdf

Be well,

Dr. Giovanna San Martin| Principal

Renton High School | (425) 204.3401

Student Letter - March 18, 2020

March 18, 2020

Dear young men and women,

The building feels empty without your presence. It can be best described as anthropomorphism (yes, a good SAT word); kind of the building is there, but its soul is missing. 😊

I would like to reassure you on behalf of the faculty, staff and me, that your continuous learning is very important to all of us as well as the smooth completion of the 2019-2020 academic year. For that purpose, we need you to exhibit scholarly behavior and complete the weekly assignments regardless of them not being graded. This is the moment for you to demonstrate the embodiment of our school’s motto: pride, tradition and excellence. Look at your learning from the perspective of intrinsic rewards; this means learning to acquire information and education because it will lead you to a better future.

Starting Friday, March 27^th, 2020, we will be posting activities to our school website under the In-Home Learning link for you to access. These content area activities will not be required nor be graded but is an opportunity for students to complement future learning for when we return to school. Please go to https://rentonhs.rentonschools.us/for-families/in-home-learning to view the activities. They will be updated weekly every Friday during the closure, starting 3/27/2020.

Also, RHS faculty will continue or start to post to their Canvas additional enrichment activities that are aligned to Tri 3 coursework for each course taught in Tri 3 – posted weekly. I am very grateful to the RHS faculty for expanding opportunities for learning besides the content unit activities. Any additional activities they post to their Canvas pages are coming from their desire to help, and are not required work per the district. Again, none of these activities posted will be graded, but are vital to keeping you thinking and reflecting as a scholar. Ongoing student learning is our priority, and if you complete these units, the remainder of the face-to-face trimester will be smoother. My humble request is to encourage all students to complete the activities despite of these not being graded. Let me know if you have any questions.

Finally, to our seniors, I want to leave you with an adapted thought from Sir Kenneth Robinson, a British author, speaker, and international advisor on education: “You create your life, and you can recreate it, too. In times of downturn and uncertainty, it's more important than ever to look deep inside yourself to fathom the sort of life you really want to lead and the talents and passions that can make that possible.” I know you will rise to the unusual occasion we are facing now and overcome any barriers to reaching your future success. At the end of the day, what is important is for you to graduate and be ready for career attainment. For that purpose, your counselors, our College Career Specialist, and AACs will be in contact with you for this endeavor to become a reality.

We miss you all. Be well!

Dr. Giovanna San Martin| Principal

Renton High School | (425) 204.3401

Parent Letter - March 12, 2020

March 13, 2020

Dear Renton High School families,

Following yesterday’s new directive from Washington State Governor Jay Inslee, we will close all Renton School District schools beginning Monday, March 16, through Friday, April 24. Schools will be open for the last day of Trimester 2 finals on Friday, March 13. Please note the start time for finals on Friday is 8:50 am. School ends as usual at 2:03 pm.

We wanted to share information regarding the following essential services for students and families:

Breakfast and Lunch Services

Beginning Tuesday, March 17, 2020, meals will be available for any child, ages 1-18, in the front lot of each Renton School from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. daily during the school week. We are committed to providing access to meals to help ensure that all students’ nutritional needs are met during the closure.

Meals are “grab and go” - Students will not stay on-site to eat; meals are intended to be taken off campus and can be picked up through car windows.

Additionally, meals will be available at the following locations daily from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. daily:

· Green Tree/Park Hill, 6900 S 125th St, Seattle

· Creston Point, 13445 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, Seattle

· Royal Hills, 3000 Royal Hills Dr SE, Renton

· Stonebrook, 12210 SE Petrovitsky Rd, Renton

Student Medications

Students who have their medication held by the school nurse and would like to sign them out can stop by in the 30 minutes before school starts, lunch, or the 30 minutes directly after school. Authorized family members can stop by to pick up medications any time Friday March 13^th and Monday March 16^th. This is primarily for hands on medication if you need them. We would prefer that life-threatening conditions for the entire school year remain at school. Finally, students who have a diabetic condition have been contacted by the nurse to pick up their medications today (assuming they are here).

Trimester 2 Wrap Up

Grades will be entered on time. Once grades are posted, they will be mailed home even though school is closed. Additionally, counselors will be sending home to every student a graduation check-up letter, so all families will be up to date about their student’s progress towards meeting all graduation requirements after grades have been posted for second trimester. All grade levels will receive a grad check. All parents, specifically parents of seniors, should remind their students to complete Career Cruising activities/High School and Beyond Plans. Please know that we are mindful of the impact the 6-week closure will have to all of our students’ educations and will be taking measures to diminish the severity of the impact.

Communication During the Closure

Will all communication go out in all languages? In alignment with District Policy 4218, we are working to have translations of documents in the languages that make up 5 per cent or more of the total population (Spanish, Vietnamese, Russian, Ukrainian, and Chinese).

More information from OSPI can be found on their FAQs page: https://www.k12.wa.us/sites/default/files/public/communications/SchoolClosuresQandA0312.pdf

Be well,

Dr. Giovanna San Martin| Principal

Renton High School | (425) 204.3401

Student Letter - March 12, 2020

March 12, 2020

Dear Renton High School Students:

Following today’s new directive from Washington State Governor Jay Inslee, we will close all Renton School District schools beginning Monday, March 16, through Friday, April 24. Schools will be open for the last day of Trimester 2 finals on Friday, March 13. Please note the start time for finals on Friday is 8:50 am. School ends as usual at 2:03 pm.

We wanted to share information regarding the following essential services for students:

Student Medications

Students who have their medication held by the school nurse and would like to sign them out can stop by in the 30 minutes before school starts, during lunch, or during the 30 minutes directly after school. Authorized family members can stop by to pick up medications any time Friday, March 13^th, and Monday, March 16^th.

Trimester 2 Wrap Up

Grades will be entered on time and mailed home while school is closed. Additionally, counselors will be sending home to every student a graduation check-up letter, so all students will be up to date about their progress towards meeting all graduation requirements. We are also providing information to families about the impact on their student’s education if they are missing learning time in the classroom or missing their finals. Please do not add additional stress to your day. We will make sure that students are able to make up assignments, projects, and finals.

Students who were out of school for extended absences due to documented illness or quarantine/isolation:

Students who have extended medical absences should email their teachers to set up a time to take their finals once school resumes. The aim is for students to be allowed to complete the course. As we do with any documented illness that kept a student at home before the COVID-19 virus, students will be provided the same amount of time as the number of absences they had to turn in their work or to take their assessments.

Teachers may need to enter the grade as it is now or to enter a “W.”

If a teacher enters an “F” grade for a student, but they make up their work later, teachers can submit a grade add/change form to an administrator. Once this grade change is submitted to the registrar, the student’s grade will be updated on their transcript by the registrar.

Breakfast and Lunch Services

Meals are “grab and go” - Students will not stay on-site to eat; meals are intended to be taken off campus and can be picked up through car windows.

Additionally, meals will be available at the following locations daily from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. daily:

· Green Tree/Park Hill, 6900 S 125th St, Seattle

· Creston Point, 13445 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, Seattle

· Royal Hills, 3000 Royal Hills Dr SE, Renton

· Stonebrook, 12210 SE Petrovitsky Rd, Renton

Stay Connected

Our decisions may change as this situation evolves. We are committed to providing you with timely and accurate updates. We will continue to update our website and send you emails to your school email address as needed. Please check your emails daily.

Communication During the Closure

RHS administration will continue to update all staff, families, and students as frequently as we are updated. We are aware of the uncertainty and questions that are arising for all students about the impact this 6-week closure will have for their education. Please know we are working on a plan in collaboration with the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) for Washington state. For now, more information from OSPI can be found on their FAQs page: https://www.k12.wa.us/sites/default/files/public/communications/SchoolClosuresQandA0312.pdf

We understand our seniors will want to know how graduation will be impacted. Working with the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, we are certain that a plan will be implemented that will allow for all 12^th graders to meet their graduation requirements in time to access their post-secondary plans.

All students will be receiving resources for at-home learning. These activities are intended to support skill maintenance and development. Paper copies of the learning resources will be distributed to students during the last five minutes of the 5th period on Friday, March 13. These are “packets” and sets of activities for secondary schools. (These are NOT to be collected and graded, and students are not to be held accountable for completion. We are offering them as resources.) You can also find the resources posted on the district website. Additional copies will also be available at breakfast and lunch sites.

Students can take books home with them. IB Diploma and Certificate Students-this is a must-do for you. Don’t forget to take them!

All students should take their Chromebooks and chargers home with them.

Students can move ahead on completing the High School and Beyond Plan modules. Please email the AACs if you have any questions. Modules are self-explanatory and very easy to follow.

Salim Rich salim.rich@rentonschools.us ;

Amrita Heer amrita.heer@rentonschools.us ;

Brienna Agapov brienna.agapov@rentonschools.us ;

Karolina Szulkowski karolina.szulkowski@rentonschools.us

Finally, some time today will be set aside for you to clean out your lockers of all personal items. Nothing should be left in lockers (other than decorations, mirrors, etc.). If bags of materials or backpacks are left, they risk being thrown out.

Your teachers, staff and I will miss you greatly. Yet time passes very quickly. We will be together soon and ready to move on to better things.

Be well,

Dr. Giovanna San Martin| Principal

Renton High School | (425) 204.3401

Extended Absences Update - March 10, 2020

March 10, 2020

Dear Renton High School families,

By now you may have seen the Superintendent’s email update that was sent on Sunday, March 8. Additionally, we are providing information to families about the impact to their student’s education if they are missing learning time in the classroom or missing their finals. Please do not add additional stress to your day. We will make sure that students are able to make up assignments, projects, and finals.

How to support students who are out of school for extended absences due to a documented illness or quarantine/isolation:

1. Teachers are asked to connect with families and students who have extended medical absences and provide opportunities to take their finals after school, pending their availability. Another option would be for the teacher to submit the current grade students have earned without the final. The decision for which route to take will be made on a case-by-case basis by the teacher and will be communicated to the student and family by the teacher. However, the aim is for students to be given the availability to complete the course. As we do with any documented illness that keeps a student at home before the COVID-19, we provide the same amount of time as absences for students to turn in the work or take the assessments.

2. Teachers will need to enter the grade as it is now, or enter a “W." If a teacher enters an F grade for a student, but they make up work later, they can submit a grade add/change form, which has been signed by an Administrator. Once submitted, the student’s grade will be updated on their transcript by the registrar.

Stay Connected

Our decisions may change as this situation evolves. We are committed to providing you with timely and accurate updates. We will continue to update our Coronavirus (COVID-19) page.

Sincerely,

Student Safety Update - March 9, 2020

March 9, 2020

Dear Renton High School families,

By now you may have seen the Superintendent’s email update that was sent on Sunday, March 8. I am sending this follow-up communication to ensure that you clearly understand the impacts of that message on our school.

RSD Decision Through March 22…

At Renton High School This Means…

Athletics

At this time, school-related team sports practices will continue (with the exception of Hazen High School). We’re in ongoing communication with our athletic leagues to determine how we will manage spring sports. Athletic events are an evolving situation as surrounding school districts are also amending their plans each day.

ASB

At this time, school related ASB activities are still taking place, so long as they do not include competitions, or gatherings that invite others beside RHS students to the building.

RHS Athletics

All practices for the following sports will take place regardless if it takes place at the Memorial Stadium or RHS:

· Girls and Boys Track

· Girls Tennis

· Softball

· Boys Soccer

· Baseball

In the event of rain, coaches will follow the Rain schedule for gym use provided by RHS Athletics.

RHS ASB Activities:

The following ASB activities will continue to take place as planned so long as school is in session:

· Cheer Tryouts

· Spring Play tryouts and rehearsals

· Standard ASB club meetings

· Homework Help Center and Scholar

Saturdays

· State and IB testing

The following are CANCELED:

· Women Can Fly field trip March 20th

· Other field trips through March 22nd

Evening School Events

Effective March 9, information nights, STEM nights, concerts, dances, plays, etc. are cancelled through March 22. We will continue to monitor this situation and may extend these cancellations if warranted.

The following RHS Evening Events are CANCELED:

· Tri 2 Choir and Band concerts

· March 10th Spring Sports parent night

· March 11th Teacher of the Year Award -

Lance Winmill (postponed)

· March 12th College Info Night

As of now, March 25th Top 12 Senior awards to school board HAS NOT BEEN canceled.

RSD Decision Through March 22…

At Renton High School This Means…

Facility-Use

Consistent with the emergency proclamations declared by the City of Renton and King County in response to COVID-19, coronavirus, Renton School District is cancelling all external groups from using school district facilities through March 15. School based programs/organizations (e.g., Right At School, PTA, BSK) will continue to be allowed to use district facilities. Only external groups that rent/use facilities for their programs are affected by the new rule. We will continue to monitor this situation and may extend facilities-use cancelations if warranted.

RHS Facility-Use

All outside groups use of RHS is cancelled until further notice. This includes the use of RHS facilities for community events and sports activities by Renton High School personnel.

Notifications

In the event that the decision is made to close school, you will be notified using the same channels that we use for notice of other emergency closures (i.e., closures due to inclement weather). If there are any decisions made to close schools, we will inform our community immediately via SchoolMessenger, our district website, and our official social media channels: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

RHS Notifications

Please take a moment today to check that your contact information is current, and your emergency contacts are updated. It is important to have more than one emergency contact.

Please read all communications from school and the district.

If you know of families who have unsubscribed from SchoolMessenger, please encourage them to contact community.relations@rentonschools.us or (425) 204-2345 to re-register for school and district communications.

Stay Connected

Our decisions may change as this situation evolves. We are committed to providing you with timely and accurate updates. We will continue to update our Coronavirus (COVID-19) page.

Sincerely,

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Letter to Seniors - April 9, 2020

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Student Update - April 3, 2020

Parent Update - March 27, 2020

Student Update - March 27, 2020

2020 Prom Notice - March 25, 2020

Parent Letter - March 18, 2020

Student Letter - March 18, 2020

Parent Letter - March 12, 2020

Student Letter - March 12, 2020

Extended Absences Update - March 10, 2020

Student Safety Update - March 9, 2020