Superintendent's Weekly Message

Good evening Students, Staff, Families and Community,

I hope this email finds you doing well and taking good care of yourselves and your family. This weekend the month of May will come to an end, leaving us with just two weeks until graduation and three weeks until the end of this school year for all of our students. The feedback we continue to receive from our families tells us that celebrating the culmination of the Class of 2020’s high school careers and the many unknowns that surround the 2020-2021 school year are the primary topics of concern.

Graduation:

This is a reminder the virtual graduation will air on our YouTube Channel, “Blaine School District, WA”, on Friday June 12, 2020 at 5:00 pm. 

As I mentioned last week we have been working on a Phase 2 plan.  If, and only if, Whatcom County is in Phase 2 by June 8 at 4:00 pm we will move to a pre-recorded session. The basics of this plan will involve recording on June 10. Students would receive a predetermined time to come walk across the “stage area” and have their picture taken. In order to meet social distancing expectations it will be critical that the schedule is followed. 

We are still working on the details of where this recording and stage area will be located and are awaiting final guidance from our health department. There remains a possibility for limited family viewing, and we will communicate the final plans as soon as possible. As mentioned in my previous weekly message, if we remain in Phase 1, this will be a virtual presentation of prepared slides for each student.  The final decision regarding the celebration for our graduates will be made no later than 4:00 P.M. on Monday, June 8. 

2020-2021 School Year:

Right now there are still far more questions than answers. Just a few of the questions families have asked us so far are in regards to the method of delivery for education, transportation, meals, social distancing, cleaning and the wearing of face coverings. We are working every day to problem solve around these, as well as many other issues. One thing has been made abundantly clear so far, and that is that we should all expect the coming school year to look different than both the start of this year and its end.

 In addition to the state guidance, what we need now is your input. On this coming Tuesday, June 2, 2020, we will be publishing a survey that addresses some of the above points. We can plan all we want, and we can outline what we think will work best for our students and families, but we also realize collaboration with our families is essential for a successful plan. We also acknowledge that every family has to do what is best for them, and every family’s comfort level will be different. In the shortest and briefest of terms, the delivery model we implement will only work if you are willing to be a part of it. Please, watch for our survey next week and give us your input.

When I was honored with the opportunity to become your superintendent last August I could have never guessed this first year would look the way it has. Yet despite the adversity we have faced, we have faced it together. At every turn, I have been blessed to see our community coming together. When this all began in March I said this would be our time to shine, and it has been, and will continue to be, just that. It’s a great night to be a Borderite, and, as always, a great night to be your superintendent.  

Dr. Christopher Granger

Every Student. Every Day. In a New Way.