Recent fires in the Santiam Canyon delayed local school openings and added stress to teachers and staff already adjusting to COVID-19 restrictions.
“We began school on Sept. 28 with distance learning,” said Andy Gardner, superintendent of the North Santiam School District. “The fire has set us back a couple of weeks in terms of finalizing our plans to bring in some students for limited in-person instruction. This information will be forthcoming in the next two weeks.”
Gardner said the shift to online learning is asking a lot of NSSD families and staff.
“Staff is learning new software with the intent of improving our distance learning over last spring’s schooling, and this is an adjustment,” he said. “We also acknowledge the burden that families must bear in distance learning.”
Connecting students online and supporting them to remain engaged are critical, Gardner said.
“We have purchased hotspots to support families so they can connect online,” he said. “We still have work to do
here, particularly in the Lyons and Mehama area.”
Gardner said parents and students found it hard when in-person school was ruled out in August and that the district will closely watch health conditions in the area and plan ahead for opportunities to bring in students.
“It’s my hope that beginning even the distance learning can begin to re-establish routines and connection with our staff and families,” Gardner said. “Once we get up and running, our focus will then shift to planning to return our students to school when our health metrics allow it, with a strong emphasis on safety.”
For individual school updates, visit www.nsantiam.k12.or.us or www.facebook.com/nssd29j.
Santiam Canyon School District schools started school on Sept. 30, a decision that Supt. Todd Miller did not take lightly.
“We knew our families are in a wide range of different situations right now,” Miller said. “We wanted to start school to begin to get some normalcy and supports for our students.”
Miller also acknowledged that some students faced obstacles to starting school, and although school is important, safety and security comes first.
“The Santiam Canyon just took a big hit, but now is our time to stand together and support each other as we rebuild our communities and improve our future,” Miller said. “Together, we can do this.”
More information on SCSD schools can be found at www.santiam.k12.or.us or www.facebook.com/SCSD129J.
“Welcome to the start of the 2020-21 school year,” Darin Drill told Cascade families. “In my 13 years as superintendent, I can say without a doubt that this is the start of the most unique school year I’ve ever experienced. I can also say without a doubt that we have the staff and students that can handle these challenges.”
Drill looks forward to viewing the creative ways staff members will connect with students and when students can return to their schools.
For information on Cascade School District, visit www.cascade.k12.or.us or follow the district at www.facebook.com/CascadeSchoolDistrict.
Regis St. Mary Catholic School students and staff started their school year on Sept. 23 with the first all-school Mass at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church with the Fr. Luan Nguyen.
For more information on the 2020-21 school year, visit www.regisstmary.org or www.facebook.com/regisstmarycatholicschool.
