Letter to Families from Acting Superintendent, Dr. Chris Pearson
August 24, 2021
Hello Marysville School District Families,
Welcome to the 2021 - 2022 school year!
We are looking forward to the new school year and welcoming our returning and new students to school!
Our primary duty is to provide a world-class education while keeping our students and staff safe and healthy. We will accomplish this through our professional educators and support staff addressing and meeting the educational, physical, social, and emotional needs of our students, as well as by following the guidelines outlined by the Department of Health, the Snohomish Health District, and the priorities set forth in our COVID-19 Health and Safety Handbook.
Our instructional and leadership staff have been busy this summer providing hands-on, in-person learning opportunities for students, while also preparing to support students when they return to campus this fall. Below are just a few of the activities and initiatives in which are staff has been engaged:
Summer Success Program (summer school) serving over 600 students
Equity Advisory Team meetings and finalizing the district’s Equity Statement
Hundreds of hours of professional development training for staff on student mental and emotional health, trauma-informed instruction, race and equity, guided language acquisition, and AVID instructional strategies
The adoption of new curriculum materials for K - 5 Math and K - 8 Health
The hiring of trauma-informed, Mental Health Counselors & Multi-Tiered System of Supports Teachers
The development of the COVID-19 Health and Safety Handbook for families and staff
The appointment of Student Representatives to serve with the Board of Directors
All of the aforementioned initiatives reflect the work of our Academic and Student Well-Being Recovery Plan, which can be accessed on our website - click HERE.
The goals of the plan are to:
Identify which students and student groups need additional academic and well-being support;
Define how those supports will be provided;
Plan for recovery and acceleration of student learning and well-being over the summer, into the fall, and beyond.
Another initiative that we are implementing as a support for students and families this year is our “soft start” to the school year. The purpose of this ‘soft start’ is to connect our elementary students and transitioning students with their teachers and school community before the school year starts in order to support their feelings of safety and belonging. More information, including start dates for each grade level, is linked HERE for your reference.
Please stay connected with us and your child’s school to keep informed on upcoming announcements and events. Schools will communicate with students and families directly in the coming days. School offices are now open to serve families with questions or other needs. If you plan to visit your child’s school, masks and social distancing are required. You may want to call ahead as many inquiries may be handled over the phone.
As Acting Superintendent, it is an honor and privilege to serve the students and families of our Marysville and Tulalip community. On behalf of the Board of Directors and our district staff, we welcome our students and families back to school! Please join us at the district-wide Back to School Celebration tonight, August 24, at the MPHS campus! Staff and community partners will be on hand to answer questions, provide resources, and meet and greet students and families from 5:30 - 7:30 pm. This event is open to all students and families district-wide. A grab-and-go meal will be provided. I hope to see you there!
Respectfully,
Dr. Chris Pearson
Acting Superintendent
ps. Watch for important updates and information, including the Annual Notices and Back to School Guide and Bus Schedules, on our District and school websites; www.msd25.org. You can also follow us on Facebook (MarysvilleSD), Twitter (msd25), Instagram (msvlsd25), and Vimeo (MarysvilleSD).
