Lyle Has a Great First Day Back to School
By Cole Goodwin
Lyle School District Pre-K-12th graders returned to full-time in-person learning on Wednesday August 25th.
“We had a great first day of school,” said Ann Varkados, Lyle School District Superintendent. “Kids are excited to be there and teachers are excited. We’re looking forward to having kids in class every day.”
“We transitioned to having kids in class everyday fairly quickly, so we’re not experiencing what most districts are with having all kids back in school,” said Varkados.
Elementary students arriving on August 25 get a spray of hand sanitizer as they line up to walk in the school.
Last year Lyle School District operated with a hybrid learning model that utilized online and in-person learning. The state asked schools to make adjustments during the school year based on COVID transmission rates. Due to health precautions and low transmission rates in Klickitat County, elementary students were back to full-time in-person learning by November. High school students were for the most part were in-person four days a week by the end of the school year. The six-foot social distancing requirement had been the main issue holding the school back from attending in person every day.
"The school year started with all students attending in-person two days a week and participating in class remotely the remainder of the week. Principal Lori Smith gradually transitioned students to as many in-person days as possible while meeting the state safety requirements. For the younger students, who were fewer in number and struggled the most with distance learning, this worked out to full time in-person learning before the end of the fall. The majority of older students stayed in a hybrid schedule through the entire school year except for those whose home internet was insufficient or who otherwise struggled with online learning. By the end of the year, though, even high school students attended in-person classes four days a week,” said Deb Stenberg, Communications Director.
Small Class Sizes + Supportive Community = More Learning & Low COVID Transmission
Lyle School District is quite small with approximately 220 students enrolled (up from last year) and about 16 teachers. Lyle School District attributed their small class sizes, parent and community support as some of the reasons Lyle School was able to operate without any outbreaks during the previous school year. The schools hopes to receive the same support from parents and the community in the coming year so that they can keep kids in school and learning all year long.
In accordance with state mandates, students and staff are required to socially distance (3 ft), wear masks inside school buildings, although they are allowed to take them off outdoors, except for in situations in which it is not possible to socially distance themselves. Lyle School will also be doing regular hand sanitizing before school and after recess, surface disinfecting, and as visual screenings for COVID-19 symptoms.
Paraeducator Ping Kilian greets elementary students arriving for the first day and sprays hand sanitizer for them.
Big smiling eyes on the first day of school for this student and Kindergarten teacher Shelly Spadaro, now in her 30th year of teaching.
Lots of Learning to Look Forward To
With enrollment up this year, many classes are full and ready to get learning. With about a dozen students in Kindergarten the school would however welcome additional five-year olds.
“We have a new science curriculum at the secondary level and we’re excited to start that,” said Varkados.
The new curriculums include Amplify Science which was approved for grades 6-8 and Inspire Science, which covers biology, chemistry, physics, and physical science was approved for 9th-12th grade.
“We’re also continuing our school improvement efforts at the secondary level,” said Varkados, “We have a program called ICU, which is an initiative where kids get support to finish their assignments during lunch and after school.”
The purpose of ICU is to teach students responsibility, take away the option to not complete assignments and support students who need extra help completing their work.
Lyle School District’s Pre-K learning program was also an intensely popular option for parents this year and all classes are filled up. Pre-K’s attend school four days a week, Monday-Tuesday and Thursday-Friday.
Kindergarten teacher Shelly Spadaro helps a new student put away his lunch box and coat.
Free Food For Everyone
This year Lyle School District will also once again be offering free breakfast and lunch for its students regardless of whether they are in the school building or learning at home. The program is funded through the Community Eligibility Program (CEP).
Curious about what’s for breakfast or lunch? Check out this month’s breakfast and lunch menu.
