COVID-19 Communications 2019-20

View communications sent in 2020-21 regarding COVID-19 here.

Dear HSSD Staff,

On Wednesday June 3, a COVID Comeback Task Force of 33 teachers, students services staff, and administrators convened at the District Office Training Center to begin our planning to reopen our schools this fall. The purpose of this team is:

To champion the development of a school reopening plan that responds to community health requirements and reflects best educational practices to meet the social, emotional and academic needs of each of our students.

In the coming weeks, we will seek further input and involvement from stakeholder groups, including our teachers and support staff. Thank you in advance for engaging in these crucial conversations, whether by serving on a subcommittee, completing a survey, or following along with the updates on our website.

This is a presentation we have shared with our Board of Education in preparation for the Monday, June 8 meeting. We will share updates with families as part of my video message Monday, June 8 as well as a more detailed email to families and staff later next week.

We will also provide ongoing public updates on the HSSD website staff portal and COVID19 webpage.

The next meeting of the Task Force is June 17. Our goal is to have a first draft of the plan available for review and input by the end of the month and updates as needed by the July 20 Board of Education meeting.

Our HSSD Graduate Profile guides our belief that our students should strive to become Self-Starters, Adaptable, Responsible, Solutionists, Critical Thinkers, Communicators, and Collaborators. The challenge of safely reopening our schools represents an opportunity for us to model these characteristics.

In closing, please join in the celebration of the Bay Port Class of 2020 by viewing the Virtual Commencement program - available online beginning Sunday, June at 2 p.m. We are proud of our graduating seniors and we are excited to honor them with this presentation. Stay tuned in for a special message from Mr. Frieder at the end of the program.

Best wishes for a strong finish to a remarkable year.

Transforming Together,

Damian  

Dear HSSD Families and Staff,

As we head toward a three-day weekend, I hope this message finds you and your family healthy. Please see relevant updates on our work in progress below.

Summer School Course Guide Coming May 29; Registration June 3-4

As indicated in an email earlier this week from our summer school staff, the HSSD Summer School program will proceed in an online-only format for all students in grades K-12 this year. The course guide is being developed and will be posted online Friday, May 29 by 6 p.m. See our summer school website for registration information and other details.

Student Belongings Pickup

Lamers buses continue delivery of student belongings this week and next. For those who did not receive deliveries, Lamers and HSSD are partnering to provide a central location for pick-up of student belongings for parent convenience. Both the belongings of students we were unable to deliver and the belongings of students who are open-enrolled to HSSD will be brought to Lamers Headquarters on 1934 Cardinal Lane right across from Forest Glen Elementary. 

Starting Tuesday, June 9, 2020, parents may pickup students’ belongings at Lamers. Lamers headquarters will be open and staffed from 7 a.m. through 3:30 p.m. Monday - Friday. This service will be available through Tuesday, June 16, 2020. Parents may arrive at Lamers headquarters to collect their child(ren)’s things at their convenience. 

HSSD Operations Department and Lamers have collaborated on sorting the students’ belongings and creating a system for parent collection based on current social distancing guidelines for your safety. All students’ belongings not collected from Lamers by the end of the day, Tuesday, June 16, 2020, will be returned to the HSSD District Office until the start of the next school year. 

Survey Closes Tomorrow: Digital Learning and Social and Emotional Wellness

Thank you to all those who have submitted a response to our Digital Learning and Social and Emotional Wellness survey already. If you have not yet completed the survey, it takes 10 minutes. The link is still open until Friday, May 22 at 4 p.m. - click here to share your responses. 

Honoring the Bay Port Class of 2020

Our Senior Awards Program was celebrated on Twitter yesterday with 82 seniors receiving 136 scholarships totaling $1.14 million. In case you missed it: the presentation is available online.

Notes from Mr. Frieder: 

• For students receiving Honors/High Honors and Youth Service Learning medals: they have been mailed home.
   
• Earlier today I sent an email to seniors and their families regarding helping us out with some photos for our virtual commencement program. Thank you in advance for sharing. We are excited to commemorate our Class of 2020 on June 7!
   
• Since our last message, Brown County Department of Public Health shared the following update with schools May 15.
  
  “It is necessary to take measures to prevent, suppress and control COVID-19 in order to protect the health and well-being of individuals. Any graduation event held at this time should be virtual or non-contact, and should not physically convene groups of people together. Public gatherings such as traditional graduation ceremonies are not advised.”
  
  We remain committed to hosting a safe in-person celebration with our seniors, families, and staff, date and time to be determined. We are in touch with local and state health officials for updates to safety recommendations as we plan future celebrations of our Class of 2020.
   
• I welcome your ideas for ways we can celebrate our seniors - reach me by email at michfrie@hssdschools.org.

Other Updates

• We are pleased to announce that meal service at our seven community locations will continue throughout the summer. Visit our website for details.
   
• The Giving Tree has resumed accepting donations of non-perishable food items on a limited basis. Items can be dropped off Wednesdays from 9 a.m. until noon at The Giving Tree, located within Green Bay Community Church, 600 Cardinal Lane in Howard.
   

In closing, please continue to stay informed on the HSSD COVID-19 response by visiting our website. In my video message Monday I shared reflections on sacrifice. I am thankful for all the sacrifices our students, families, and staff continue to make during our school closure. This Memorial Day I am also mindful of the ultimate sacrifice made by so many who came before us to ensure our safety and freedom. #KeepOn Giving!

With Unity,

Damian LaCroix, Superintendent
Howard-Suamico School District
damilacr@hssdschools.org
920-662-7709

Dear HSSD Families and Staff,

I hope this message finds you and your family healthy. With less than one month left in our 2019-20 school calendar, we continue our efforts to bring a challenging year to a successful close. Thank you for your ongoing partnership, patience, and perseverance. Please see relevant updates on our work in progress below.

Wisconsin Supreme Court Addresses “Safer at Home” Order

The Wisconsin Supreme Court acted yesterday to strike down most of the Safer at Home order. One important exception is the section related to public school closures: the state Supreme Court ruling did not change Section 4a of the Safer at Home order. All HSSD schools will remain closed until June 30 or until a new order changes what is currently in place.

What does this mean for HSSD? It means we will continue digital learning at home through June 4 for seniors and June 9 for students in grades K-11. It means we are still unable to hold an in-person commencement to honor our graduating Class of 2020 or in-person gatherings of any type on our grounds at this point.

In many other regards, it means uncertainty. 

As we have often said, this is a fluid situation characterized by frequent changes. The safety of our students, families, and staff remains our top priority. Our goal is also to communicate as clearly and quickly as we are able, even if we do not have answers to questions, or if the answers may be frustrating. With humility, please allow me to share that we are just as frustrated by the limitations of our current situation. However, this does not lessen our resolve to make decisions we believe will help keep our students and staff safe.

We continue to receive guidance from local and state health agencies as well as our educational colleagues at the state and regional levels. We are in daily contact with these groups to understand how current and future changes to legislative orders and updated guidance from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention impact our local decisions.

We will continue to provide updates as they become available.

Survey: Digital Learning and Social and Emotional Wellness

As a follow up to our earlier survey in April and to support our continuous improvement efforts in HSSD, I’m pleased to share our second Digital Learning survey - click here to share your responses. 

In addition to questions about our updates to the HSSD Digital Learning Plan, the survey also includes questions related to social and emotional wellness to inform response and planning for our students services team. The survey is open to HSSD families and staff, and a version of this survey will be also distributed to Lineville, Bay View, and Bay Port students.

The survey will be open for responses until Friday, May 22 at 4 p.m. and it takes approximately 10 minutes to complete. The results of the survey will be shared with department leaders, building principals, and our teaching staff so that we can make thoughtful and data-informed adjustments to plans as needed.

We will also post results on our HSSD website. Thank you in advance for your participation.  

If you have any questions regarding the survey, please contact Brian Nicol, Director of Communications, at brianico@hssdschools.org or 920-662-7825.

Honoring the Bay Port Class of 2020

We hope you saw the coverage of our senior sign delivery in The Green Bay Press-Gazette Saturday. Congrats and thanks go out to Principal Mike Frieder and more than 50 staff volunteers for brightening the day (and the lawns!) of our seniors and families.

Notes from Mr. Frieder: 

• Join us on Twitter for the Bay Port High School Class of 2020 scholarship ceremony Wednesday, May 20 beginning at 9 a.m. More than 120 scholarships will be awarded totaling $1.09 million. Follow Bay Port Student Services on Twitter to watch the announcement of individual winners. The presentation will be available on the HSSD website later that day. 
   
• Our planning for a virtual commencement ceremony June 7 at 2 p.m. is underway. While we are disappointed we won’t be together on that day, we are excited to honor the Class of 2020 with a memorable program. We hold out hope that an in-person celebration with this outstanding group of seniors will be possible later this summer. As we have shared in the past, our hopes to safely hold an in-person celebration with our students and staff will align with guidance from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services and the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction. If guidance from these groups changes, we will adjust and accelerate our plans accordingly.
   
• I welcome your ideas for ways we can celebrate our Class of 2020 - reach me by email at michfrie@hssdschools.org.

Other Updates

• Tomorrow, Friday, May 15, will be a regular digital learning day according to our updated plan. It was originally scheduled as a professional development day for HSSD staff and a day off for students. 
   
• Bay View will celebrate its eighth grade class making the move to Bay Port with an online presentation Monday, June 8 at 6 p.m. Families of eighth graders: watch for a personal invitation from Principal Steve Meyers coming soon.
   
• Summer swim lesson registration is postponed until further notice. The Howard-Suamico Community Pool will be closed until at least June 30 and will reopen according to the same schedule as the school district.
   
• Meal service at our seven community locations will continue until at least June 30. Our plans include extending summer meal service beyond June 30 and we will share details once they are confirmed.
   
• The Giving Tree has resumed accepting donations of non-perishable food items on a limited basis. Items can be dropped off Wednesdays from 9 a.m. until noon at The Giving Tree, located within Green Bay Community Church, 600 Cardinal Lane in Howard.
   

In closing, please continue to stay informed on the HSSD COVID-19 response by visiting our website. COVID-19 is testing our perseverance as a learning community.  Perseverance is defined as “steadfastness in doing something despite difficulty or delay in achieving success.” Thank you for your faithfulness in forging ahead together as we enter the home stretch of this school year.  #KeepOn persevering!

With Unity,

Damian LaCroix, Superintendent
Howard-Suamico School District
damilacr@hssdschools.org
920-662-7709

Dear HSSD Families and Staff,

I hope this communication finds you and yours healthy. As we look forward to more sunny spring weather, please accept my warmest wishes in advance for special Mother’s Day weekend. I am writing to share details regarding HSSD Summer School and other timely updates related to our COVID-19 response.

HSSD Summer School Update

Based on guidance from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services and with the safety of our students and staff foremost in mind, the following modifications are planned for HSSD Summer School in 2020:

• HSSD will offer classes in a digital format only for students in grades K-12. There will be no in-person summer school classes.

• Registration will be free for all summer school classes and will begin in early June; exact date to be determined.

• There will be one four-week HSSD Digital Summer School session: July 6-31.

• Plans include options for four sessions of class daily, one hour each.

• High school credit-based classes will be offered and may begin and end slightly earlier or later than the dates and times noted above.

• HSSD School Nutrition will continue to provide meal service throughout the summer with details on service times and locations coming in the near future.

• Visit our Summer School website for ongoing updates including answers to specific questions as they become available.

Delivery of Student Materials

Lamers school buses will be running afternoon routes beginning Monday, May 11 to return student materials from desks and lockers to homes. HSSD staff members will be riding the buses to assist in the drop off of materials. Elementary school deliveries are scheduled first. Buses will deliver materials to HSSD families living outside of Howard and Suamico as well. Detailed information on timing and content of deliveries will come directly from building Principals.

Update from Wisconsin DHS Regarding Commencement Activities

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services announced important recommendations related to High School Commencement activities earlier today. Included in their communication was the following:

At this time, the Department of Health Services recommends that schools cancel or postpone all in-person ceremonies for spring and summer graduations. Public gatherings such as traditional graduation ceremonies are not advised until the state has met benchmarks articulated in the state’s Badger Bounce Back plan and the state determines that it is safe to do so.

-Wisconsin Department of Health Services, May 7, 2020

We continue to closely monitor updates in this area as they relate to our current and future plans to honor our Bay Port High School Class of 2020, including our virtual commencement program scheduled for June 7, 2020 at 2 p.m.

Senior Signs

Senior signs have arrived! Check your front doorstep Saturday morning for a special delivery from Bay Port High School staff for all our 476 Bay Port seniors.

In closing, thank you to all who have reached out to celebrate our employees during this Staff Appreciation Week. We are honored to serve our students and community. Please stay informed on the HSSD COVID-19 response by visiting our website as, together, we continue to learn and persevere during the final weeks of the school year. #KeepOn everyone!

With Unity,

Damian LaCroix, Superintendent
Howard-Suamico School District
damilacr@hssdschools.org
920-662-7709

Dear Bay Port Students, Families, and Staff,

Thank you to those who took time to reach out to us with questions regarding our developing plans to honor the Bay Port High School Class of 2020 shared yesterday in an email and on the HSSD website. We are writing today in response to those questions and to share more detail than could be provided in the space of yesterday’s message.

If public health officials allow us to have a gathering in person to celebrate the accomplishments of the Class of 2020 yet this summer, we will. If yesterday’s message was unclear on that point, we apologize. It was not our intention to cause frustration. We want to be forthright about the facts as we understand them today.

One common concern expressed in your responses was the lack of an in-person event for our seniors and staff to gather one last time and say goodbye. Hope for this type of gathering is understandable. We share this hope. Disappointment in the uncertainty we are living with today is understandable. We share this disappointment.

The safety of our students and their families is our top priority. As difficult as some of our recent decisions have been, we would never propose a plan that would risk the health and safety of our students, families, or staff. We simply cannot make these decisions independent of the Governor's Emergency Stay at Home Order or the direction of the Department of Health. Creative ideas such as drive-thru ceremonies, parades through town, and one last visit to the high school to pick up diplomas are not allowed under the Governor’s Safer at Home order in place for public schools until June 30. We continue to monitor developments in the Badger Bounce Back Plan and how they relate to school events.

Principal Frieder and his team continue to advocate to honor our seniors in meaningful and memorable ways, inclusive of all 476 members of the Class of 2020. For example, we are also considering the following:

• Regardless of plans for commencement, seniors will be able to order their cap and gown at this link.
• We are working on a plan to distribute diploma covers for family photos.
• We are planning to hold a virtual scholarship ceremony.
• Yearbooks will be delivered directly to homes as in the past.
• We will be distributing complimentary yard signs to all seniors in the coming weeks. Details to come.
• Our goals for the virtual commencement presentation include musical performances, speakers, and every senior’s name presented on screen.
• We will continue to work with our senior class officers to explore other creative ideas.

Your support and advocacy are deeply appreciated. Please provide feedback and ideas regarding ways we can honor the Bay Port High School Class of 2020. We will continue to share weekly updates to keep you informed as we move forward together.  

With Pirate Pride,

Damian LaCroix, Superintendent

damilacr@hssdschools.org

920-662-7709

Mike Frieder, Bay Port High School Principal

michfrie@hssdschools.org

920-662-7024

Dear HSSD Families and Staff,

As we prepare to enter the month of May, I hope this communication finds you and yours healthy. Please see details regarding grading below and other timely updates on important related responses to COVID-19.

Grading Updates

Grades K-6 Summary:
Students will continue to engage in learning until June 9. End of year report cards will include a written narrative description of individual student progress by their classroom/house teachers. Grade level summaries of essential learnings in mathematics and literacy will also be provided.

Grades 7-8 Summary:
Students will continue to engage in learning until June 9. End of year report cards will include for each course either: (1) a “Pass” (rather than A, B, C, D), or (2) an “Incomplete” if there is not enough completed work to assess a passing grade. Those earning an “Incomplete” will be encouraged and supported to successfully continue their learning during summer and/or into the following school year.

Grades 9-12 Summary:
Seniors will continue to engage in learning until June 4. Freshmen, Sophomores, and Juniors will continue to engage in learning until June 9. Second semester report cards for all students will include a choice for each course of either: (1) recording the letter grade earned (A through D-minus), or (2) recording “Pass.”

“Pass” indicates course completion and high school credit earned. Letter grades contribute to student grade point average (GPA), while “Pass” does not impact student GPA. 

Students earning a letter grade of “F” will have “Incomplete” recorded on their report card and will have options to successfully complete their learning. Students will have the opportunity during summer and/or the following school year to earn high school credit and achieve a grade of “Pass.” A grade of “Incomplete” does not impact student GPA.

Note: Bay Port students enrolled in dual credit courses with external post-secondary institutions (i.e. NWTC, UWGB, SNC) can choose letter grades or Pass/Incomplete for their Bay Port transcripts, but must seek guidance from their post-secondary institution regarding COVID-19 grading and transcripts with that institution. 

Bay Harbor to Serve Meals

Recently, we distributed a new record-high 2,200 meals in one day. Due to increased demand, our School Nutrition team is adding a seventh location for free breakfast and lunch for all students 18 and under. Meals will be available for pickup at Bay Harbor Elementary Mondays and Wednesdays from 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. starting Monday, May 4 through the end of the school year, June 9. 

Zoom Video Conferencing

In response to persistent safety concerns and based on guidance from multiple sources of input, including the FBI and Department of Homeland Security, the District will be restricting student access to the Zoom video conferencing platform. HSSD student devices will no longer be able to access Zoom as of 4 p.m. today, Thursday, April 30. We are providing accessible and safe options including Google Meet and Cisco WebEx to replace Zoom for those classes who have been using the platform. Teachers will be transitioning to those new channels with ongoing support from our Technology Department.

To Be Determined

• With school buildings closed until June 30, our facilities team is developing plans to safely return student materials to families. Further communication regarding timing and details of this process can be expected in the near future.
   
• Thanks to a partnership with Elevate97, Bay Port High School will be providing complimentary yard signs for all families of the Class of 2020 seniors. Details regarding availability and pickup will be shared directly from Principal Mike Frieder to seniors and their families next week.
   
• Thank you to our seniors and families for feedback regarding commencement plans to honor our graduating class. With prospects for a safe in-person gathering increasingly unlikely, plans are underway for a virtual commencement presentation on the same date and time as the original event, Sunday, June 7 at  2 p.m. We will communicate more information as details become finalized.

In closing, please continue to stay informed on the HSSD COVID-19 response by visiting our website. I am proud of the collective adaptability and responsibility our students, families, and staff have demonstrated in the six weeks since Safer at Home was implemented. Let’s continue to remain positive, supportive, and hopeful as we set our sights on June 9 and final weeks of the school year. #KeepOn persevering!

With Unity,

Damian LaCroix, Superintendent
Howard-Suamico School District
damilacr@hssdschools.org
920-662-7709

Dear Bay Port and Bay View Students, Families, and Staff,

We are grateful for your continued connection and effort as we work together, while apart, during this time of school closure. We are pleased to check in today with an update regarding our Digital Learning plan to support adaptations unique to our schools. We appreciate the response to our Digital Learning survey. Thank you for guiding our decisions with your input.

As indicated in Superintendent LaCroix’s email Wednesday, below are details regarding what will be the same as the K-6 plan and what will be different for Bay View and Bay Port. These changes will take effect beginning Monday, April 27.

Changes to our Digital Learning Plan for all K-12 students will address three critical goals. With these changes, we will:

• See a commitment to time dedicated to students connecting with their teachers on matters in addition to academics;
• Experience more time for teachers to collaborate, plan, and address student learning needs; 
• Observe a decrease in the volume of student work. 

With our focus on those goals, we are making the following updates to our plan for Bay View and Bay Port:

1. Teachers will use Mondays to review and assess student progress and collaborate and plan with their grade level, department, and members of their Professional Learning Communities (PLC). 
    
2. A noteworthy change for Bay View and Bay Port students will be a decrease in the weekly amount of time dedicated to learning lessons and activities. This was a clear point of concern in the survey responses. Rather than daily time guidelines for activities, we are now indicating weekly guidelines for 60 minutes per subject per week for Bay View students and 90 minutes for Bay Port students.
   
   Teachers will provide learning experiences and activities at the beginning of each week instead of on a daily basis;
   
   Students should continue to check Schoology each morning for updates;
   
   Students are encouraged to pace and spread out their work throughout the week.
    
3. There are a few exceptions to these guidelines at Bay Port. Students taking Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccaleaureate (IB), or dual credit college classes may receive opportunities for review and exam preparation that extend beyond the time guidelines. These opportunities are optional, but many students in these classes have indicated a desire to have access to extra support.

The attached graphic (above) provides an overview of the changes. We will check in with a follow up survey in two weeks to gauge how well we are doing with these updates to our Digital Learning Plan. 

We continue to be impressed and grateful for the adaptability and dedication of our students and staff. Please stay informed on the HSSD COVID-19 response by visiting our website. As always, feel free to contact us with any questions.

Go Pirates!

Mike Frieder, Principal
Bay Port High School
920-662-7024
michfrie@hssdschools.org

Steve Meyers, Principal
Bay View Middle School
920-662-8120
stevmeye@hssdschools.org

Dear HSSD Families and Staff,

I hope this communication finds you and yours healthy. In my video message on Monday, April 20, I shared our intent to provide an update today regarding adjustments to our Digital Learning Plan. These changes are based on recent survey feedback and the Governor’s emergency order to close school buildings and cancel in-person classes through June 30. Please see details below and other updates regarding important related initiatives.

Survey Results 

We posted a summary of results from the HSSD Digital Learning survey on our website Monday. More than 2,000 responses from families and students provided clear and helpful feedback to inform Digital Learning Plan adjustments. The dominant theme of the responses focussed on one word: Time. Related highlights include the following: 

• Sixty-six percent of Bay Port students indicated they are spending more time on the assigned work than our planning guidelines indicated. 
• Among all K-12 parents, 49% responded their students were spending more time than shown in our plan guidelines. 
• We are pleased that 88% of K-12 parents reported their students have been productive on the assigned work. However, we are mindful that the amount of time being spent on the work appears to be more than intended.

Most important among the anonymous survey comments, students and parents alike asked for more time to connect with teachers on topics not directly related to academics. Not surprisingly, the relationships we built throughout the year are feeling the strain of isolation. Given the unprecedented conditions, we believe social and emotional wellness must be emphasized as much as academic learning. Our staff is ready and able to help; consequently teachers will also devote more time to addressing these critical student needs.

The updates below focus on adjusting our allocation of time to better reach our goals of: 1) staying relationally connected; and 2) maintaining learning momentum leading up to June 9.

Grades K-6 Digital Learning Plan Updates Beginning Monday, April 27 

• Mondays will be for student choice. Activities from related arts teachers will be presented along with opportunities for review, catch-up, reflection and enrichment activities. Staff will use Mondays to review and assess student progress and collaborate and plan with their grade level, department, and members of their Professional Learning Communities (PLC).
• Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays will continue to engage students in learning activities according to daily time guidelines in the HSSD Digital Learning plan.
• Fridays will be devoted to student and family check-ins and communication with staff as needed. There will be no new assignments from teachers given on Fridays. 
• See the graphic (above) for a visual reference of plan updates.

Grades 7-12 Digital Learning Plan Updates Beginning Monday, April 27 

• Based on the unique social, emotional, and academic needs of our middle school and high school students, Bay Port and Bay View administration are updating the Digital Learning plan specific to their schools. Plans will be shared with students, families, and staff by this Friday, April 24.

Based on your feedback and staff input, we expect to: 1) see a commitment to time dedicated to students connecting with their teachers on matters in addition to academics; 2) experience more time for teachers to collaborate, plan, and support student learning needs; and 3) observe a decrease in the volume of student work.

Please direct any questions regarding these changes to your building Principal.

Other Initiatives

• The Giving Tree Food Pantry matching gift challenge has been boosted by a generous $5,000 pledge from the Packerland Sunrise Rotary Club/District 6220. This donation brings the new match challenge total to $25,000 - all to support immediate needs of families and children who depend on the pantry. Click here to donate and double the value of your gift.
• Beginning Thursday, April 23, at 5:30 p.m. we will kick off the new online format for the Taste of the Villages auction. While the event cannot be held in person this year, gifts of time and donations from sponsors allow The Giving Tree to host an online auction event with more than 70 items up for bid. The proceeds are the primary funding source for the annual operations of The Giving Tree. Stay tuned for an update tomorrow and an invitation to participate in this important online auction event.
• We are incredibly proud of the efforts of our School Nutrition team which has served more than 30,000 student meals since the start of our school closure. HSSD will continue to serve free breakfast and lunch to all students 18 and under through the end of the school year, June 9. 

To Be Determined

• Our Teaching and Learning department is partnering with Principals to define and communicate our approach to K-12 grading and year-end progress reports. We anticipate an update on this item by Thursday, April 30.
• Our Facilities team is leading a discussion of how we can safely return contents of lockers/desks and student medication to families.
• Bay Port Principal, Mike Frieder, is gathering input regarding HSSD Commencement plans for the Bay Port Class of 2020.

In closing, please continue to stay informed on the HSSD COVID-19 response by visiting our website. All messages are posted and archived there, in addition to just-in-time news and updates. Thank you in advance for your grace and patience as we take another step into uncharted territory. While challenging, I am confident that our community will emerge stronger and better by sticking together during the difficult days to come.  

With Unity,

Damian LaCroix, Superintendent
Howard-Suamico School District
damilacr@hssdschools.org
920-662-7709

View the summary of the Digital Learning Survey results.

In total, more than 2,000 parents and students completed the Digital Learning Survey. Thank you for your input. 

Dear HSSD Families and Staff, 

Today Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers ordered all Wisconsin schools to stay closed through the end of the 2019-20 school year, in order to save lives during this health crisis. The order also states schools may continue providing educational services and meals for students through the rest of the school year.

This news brings up many questions for HSSD students, families, and staff. We are working quickly to find the answers to inform planning in the coming weeks.

What we know now:

• HSSD will continue learning at home through the end of the school year, June 9.
• HSSD will serve free breakfast and lunch to all students 18 and under through the end of the school year, June 9.

 What we will announce as soon as we know:

• Stay tuned for updates to the HSSD Digital Learning plan based on survey feedback and today’s news. We will share changes to the plan next week that will take effect April 27.
• We are working with the state to find out whether HSSD summer school will proceed as planned or whether there will need to be adjustments.
• We will find ways to honor our Bay Port Class of 2020 seniors who lost out on important experiences during their last year with us in HSSD. We have received many inquiries regarding Commencement. We are evaluating alternatives at this time in the event that we are unable to safely hold Commencement on its scheduled date.

 Keep up to date on the HSSD COVID-19 response by visiting our website. Our collective efforts are making an impact. We are flattening the curve as we #KeepOnWI staying safe and informed. 

With Unity,

Damian LaCroix, Superintendent
Howard-Suamico School District
damilacr@hssdschools.org
920-662-7709

Dear HSSD Families,

As announced in my Monday video message this week, we are sharing a brief survey to support our continuous improvement efforts in the Howard-Suamico School District related to our Digital Learning plan during the current extended school closures. We also shared a similar survey with our Lineville, Bay View, and Bay Port students this morning. 

The survey takes approximately 10 minutes to complete. The results of the survey will be shared with building principals and our teaching staff so that we can make thoughtful and data-informed adjustments to our digital learning plan as needed. The survey is anonymous - we will not ask for your name unless you choose to share it with us.

We will send a similar survey in a few weeks to measure our progress. Thank you in advance for your participation.

Click here to take the survey: https://survey.k12insight.com/r/ZsyBJS.

Sincerely,

Damian LaCroix, Superintendent
Howard-Suamico School District

Dear HSSD Families and Staff,

Please see the important updates below regarding specific items related to our extended closure.

• As the Friday before Easter, April 10 was originally a scheduled day off from school. We will not have any Digital Learning activities planned for that day. It will remain a day off for all staff as well.
   
• We have added a new feature on the HSSD COVID19 webpage. There are now live feeds from Schoology and Seesaw that provide real-time updates on service interruptions. We have been in direct contact with both companies to advocate for improved services.
   
• The Howard-Suamico School District wants to ensure you and your family are supported throughout these unprecedented times now and in the upcoming months. We understand that jobs and finances may be unpredictable. If you find yourself in need, please consider these district support options.
   
• We have received questions about who qualifies for the meal service available at six sites in our community. There are no registration or requirements to participate. Meals are free for all children 18 and under.
   
• New District Office hours went into effect March 30: Monday - Thursday from 7:30 a.m. - 4 p.m. The District Office will be closed on Fridays for the remainder of the school closure period. Please continue to call ahead if you do not have an appointment 920-662-7878.
   
• All district indoor and outdoor athletics facilities are closed to students, staff, and the public for the duration of the Governor’s Safer at Home order. This includes all Bay Port and Bay View athletic fields, tennis courts, and track. This also includes all elementary school playgrounds.
   
• The format for the annual Taste of the Villages event to benefit The Giving Tree scheduled for April 23 has changed. In place of an in-person gathering, The Giving Tree will be holding an online-only auction raising funds to support daily operations and the HSSD Back to School event. Stay tuned for more information regarding the online auction. 
   
• HSSD Summer School signup is on hold at this point. We are awaiting guidance from the Wisconsin Department of Health regarding our summer school schedule and potential changes. We will communicate an update on the status of summer school as soon as it is available.
   
• Stay informed. Stay healthy. Please continue to visit our website for updates.

Enjoy the weekend!

Dear HSSD Families and Staff,

This morning Governor Evers shared the details of his Safer-At-Home order. The new order impacts operations in the Howard-Suamico School District and will require some changes to plans we had previously announced. Please continue to visit the COVID-19 page on the HSSD website for ongoing updates in addition to the new information below.

Please review the following specific items related to the Governor’s Safer At Home order. 

• Our new target date to reopen schools in HSSD will be Monday, April 27. This date is tentative and subject to change based on future guidance from the Governor, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
• Starting Monday, March 30, our School Nutrition team will change to a two-day schedule for meal pickups. Pre-bagged meals for the week will now be served on Mondays and Wednesday only. Families can pick up two days' worth of meals on Mondays and three days' worth of meals on Wednesdays. The six site locations remain the same. 
• The Village of Howard and Village of Suamico have asked us to share their encouragement to have residents participate in the upcoming April 7 election by mail-in ballot rather than in-person voting on election day. At this point, the election will proceed as scheduled April 7. To request an absentee ballot by mail, visit www.myvote.wi.gov. 

Our plans for digital learning beginning March 30 remain in place. In the coming days, we will continue to provide relevant information to help students, parents, and staff take informed personal and professional action. Thank you for your ongoing patience and persistence.   

With Unity,

Damian LaCroix, Superintendent
Howard-Suamico School District
damilacr@hssdschools.org
920-662-7709

Dear HSSD Families,

I am writing on behalf of the entire HSSD team to extend our collective support as we head into an uncertain spring break - and a period of extended school closure. During this past week, I have witnessed our teachers and staff working tirelessly to connect with students, feed families, and prepare for the start of digital learning March 30. Mere words limit my capacity to adequately express the pride I feel in their ingenuity, compassion, and resolve for serving our community to the best of their ability. Although plans are rarely perfect, they are designed to respond to oncoming challenges. As necessary, we will adapt and adjust to help those entrusted to our care.

A common question has been the recent change to the original school closure order. This week Governor Evers modified his order to close Wisconsin schools to direct that schools are now closed indefinitely. As of today, we do not know what this means for our scheduled return date of Monday, April 13, 2020. This situation is fluid and changes are occurring daily. The uncertainty is frustrating for all of us. We will continue to provide just-in-time updates on our HSSD website at: www.hssdschools.org/covid19. I will provide an update March 30 regarding any new developments relevant to HSSD.

Please see the information below regarding specific items related to our extended closure.

• Join me in sharing gratitude for the superb work of our School Nutrition team. More than 1,300 meals have been served to HSSD students since Tuesday. The meals are free for all kids 18 and under and are available at six sites in our community throughout spring break and for the duration of the closure.
   
• Many have reached out to inquire what they might do to help those in need in our community. If you are so inclined, please visit The Giving Tree website where they are accepting monetary donations to maintain pantry stock of food, personal hygiene items, and other critical needs.
   
• All HSSD school buildings will be closed during spring break March 23-27. The District Office will remain open during normal business hours, 7:30 a.m. - 4 p.m. Please call ahead if you do not have an appointment 920-662-7878.
   
• Our Digital Learning Guide for Families has been published on the HSSD website. Please use it as a first-step resource for questions and support as we transition to digital learning March 30. Your child’s teacher and principal are also valuable resources for questions not addressed in the guide. 
   
• We will maintain an updated list of HSSD event postponements and cancellations on the HSSD website. Principals will announce event changes directly to students, staff, and families, and we will document these online as a reference.
   
• A message from The Village of Howard: We are seeking poll workers for the April 7, 2020 Election. If you have high school seniors or college students seeking employment (workers must be 18) please contact Lynn Kobus at lkobus@villageofhoward.com for more information. Compensation is $10/hour.

Only a few days into this health crisis, we are feeling the loss that comes with school closures and event cancellations. We are determined to exercise purpose-driven leadership as our antidote to the pandemic. Our loving expression of support for our students - and each other - during this uncertain time is more contagious than the virus. The collective power of community will eventually prevail over fear and anxiety. Let’s keep the faith - and stay strong - in the difficult days ahead.

With Unity,

Damian LaCroix, Superintendent
Howard-Suamico School District
damilacr@hssdschools.org
920-662-7709

Dear HSSD Families and Staff,

I am writing to provide updates on a number of timely items that are important to our families and staff. This is an unprecedented public health crisis in our nation. I could not be more proud of the response of our teachers, principals, and support staff in mobilizing to support our students and families.

This situation is fluid with changes throughout the day. We are committed to sharing any potential changes to the HSSD plan as quickly and accurately as possible. We will use email and a dedicated page on our HSSD website: www.hssdschools.org/covid19 to share updates. We will also use our SchoolMessenger alert system to call and communicate any significant changes directly with families and staff, as we did with yesterday’s cancellation.

Please see the information below regarding specific items related to our extended closure.

• Drive-through HSSD School Nutrition lunches are available at six sites in our community starting today, Tuesday, March 17. Click this link for details.
• HSSD 4K classes at our community partner sites are closed beginning today Tuesday, March 17 and will tentatively reopen Monday, April 13 in accordance with the District schedule. 
• We will share updates from the Governor and Wisconsin DPI on our website regarding State guidance on attendance, make-up days, State testing, and more. 
• Our focus at this time is on safety, wellness, and planning. Principals and teachers will continue their work this week to support our transition to digital learning at home during this extended closure. Families and students can expect to hear directly from their teachers by Friday, March 20 regarding our HSSD digital learning. Digital learning starts after spring break on Monday, March 30. We will also have a digital learning guide for families available on our HSSD COVID-19 response website by Friday, March 20.

​​​We are grateful for your continued patience and understanding as we work through this complex situation. If you need support as you talk with your children about coronavirus COVID-19, we have assembled resources on our website for you.

I will remain in touch with updates.

Sincerely,

Damian LaCroix, Superintendent
Howard-Suamico School District
damilacr@hssdschools.org
920-662-7709

Dear HSSD Families and Staff, 

Based on a new order from Governor Evers at 1:30 p.m. today regarding large group gatherings in the state, all HSSD schools and 4K classes will close Tuesday, March 17.

Staff will report Tuesday as scheduled. Parents and students can access schools Tuesday through Friday this week from 8 a.m. - 3 p.m. to pick up student medications and materials as needed.

For ongoing information and resources, visit our website dedicated to the HSSD COVID-19 response at www.hssdschools.org/covid19.

I will provide further updates tomorrow by email and on our website.

Sincerely,

Damian LaCroix
Superintendent

Dear HSSD Families and Staff,

We have kept our schools open as recommended by state and local public health authorities. We know that in addition to education, schools provide vital support to our communities and that closure will have a major impact on our families. Today Governor Evers issued an agency order to close all K-12 public and private schools beginning next week. 

In response, all Howard-Suamico School District schools will close to students, effective Wednesday, March 18 until at least April 13. 

Students and staff will report to school March 16-17. Staff only will report March 18-20, unless directed otherwise by their Principal/Supervisor. School offices will remain open through Friday, March 20 so families can pick up their student’s medication and other personal items. 

The closure will allow for 14 days of social distancing following the end of HSSD spring break. Any plans for school after April 13 will be determined in the coming weeks.

We understand that extended school closure will create hardship for many families. The school day is the centerpiece of the lives of many people. Children count on the reliable routine that a school day offers, from the classroom setting to the many people at school who know them, care for them, and provide recognition of them five days a week.

Contemplating weeks without that structure and care may seem daunting. Please know that we are doing our very best to make decisions that will help care for all of us through this time. As we have noted previously, this is a dynamic situation with frequent changes and updates. Our core priorities during this unprecedented health crisis are:

1. Safety of students and staff, and the communities we serve;
2. Providing daily meals for those who count upon our School Nutrition services; 
3. Maintaining learning momentum to the greatest extent possible, given the circumstances.

Free meals will be available to all students under the age of 18 starting Wednesday, March 18. Locations for Wednesday are as follows:  

• Howard Elementary School | 10:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. | 631 W. Idlewild Ct., Green Bay, WI 54303
• Meadowbrook Elementary School | 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. | 720 Hillcrest Hts., Green Bay, WI 54313
• Deer Run Park | 10:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. | 1757 Barlament Dr., Green Bay, WI 54313
• Pinewood Park | 10:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. | 1013 Harwood Ave., Green Bay, WI 54313

No forms or registration are required. 

Over the next few days, we will communicate our plan to support families in the following ways:

• Providing learning support materials online, via email, and hard copy. These are not meant to be a substitute for classroom instruction but will help students practice their skills and learn independently during the closure.
• Champions childcare options for our families who need to continue working during our closure.

We will be sending frequent updates with information and resources via email, text messages, the COVID-19 page on the new HSSD website, and social media channels. We will communicate HSSD staff-specific information via email and on our secure staff portal of the website.

Families and staff can also visit our COVID-19 wepage for additional resources. We strongly encourage our families and staff to understand COVID-19 symptoms, social distancing, and treatment protocol and to follow the CDC travel guidelines. 

We are grateful for your patience and understanding as we continue to work through this difficult situation. We will get through this challenge together.

Sincerely,

Damian LaCroix, Superintendent
Howard-Suamico School District
damilacr@hssdschools.org
920-662-7709

HSSD Announces Event Cancellations and Postponements Due to Public Health Emergency

Thursday, March 12, 2020

Following Governor Evers’ declaration of a public health emergency due to the novel coronavirus, COVID-19, and related updated guidance from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services regarding events of 250 or more people, the Howard-Suamico School District is announcing the following event cancellations and postponements to date. Please note: postponed events listed below may be canceled at a later date and other scheduled events may be canceled or postponed in the future.

This list may not be all-inclusive at this time. Contact your building principal for clarification regarding a specific event, if needed.

Regarding social media rumors today of Bay Port students testing positive for COVID-19, there are no known cases of COVID-19 reported among any HSSD students or staff.

Thursday, March 12

• Meadowbrook Family Reading event POSTPONED
• Bay Port Forensics event POSTPONED
• Bay View Musical POSTPONED
• Suamico Celebration of Learning event POSTPONED
• Microsoft Girls Workshop at Bay Port POSTPONED
   

Friday, March 13

• Bay View Musical POSTPONED
   

Saturday, March 14

• Bay View Musical POSTPONED
• Destination Imagination at Bay Port POSTPONED

Sunday, March 15

• Youth Softball Clinic CANCELLED

Monday, March 16

• Suamico 4th Grade Field Trip CANCELED
• Bay Harbor Ellis Island Simulation POSTPONED

Thursday, March 19

• Bay Harbor Interest Fair POSTPONED

Good morning HSSD Families and Staff,

I am writing today to provide an update based on information shared with the school district this morning.

Reports today indicate that the first presumptive positive case of coronavirus COVID-19 in New Jersey was diagnosed in an individual who attended a conference at a New York City hotel two weeks ago. We were informed today that this conference was held in the same hotel where Bay Port choir students later stayed during their bus trip to New York City for a performance Sunday, March 8 at Carnegie Hall. Our understanding is the diagnosed individual was not a guest of the hotel and was not in contact with any of the members of the Bay Port trip, having left the conference days before our group’s arrival. HSSD parents on the trip observed cleaning staff in the hotel Monday after the students had left to return home. The manager indicated that the public areas of the hotel were being cleaned nightly, as were the rooms of all attendees of the conference. 

Out of an abundance of caution, our school nurses have maintained ongoing communication with the Brown County Health Department and Wisconsin Department of Health Services starting last week. After an update regarding our choir trip this morning, these agencies have advised us to maintain our current protocol that we communicated with families and staff Friday, March 6. 

Regarding Spring Break travel for our families and staff, the CDC maintains no restrictions on travel within the United States. Families and staff traveling outside the country are advised to visit the CDC travel website for further guidance. The risk of COVID-19 transmission remains low for those traveling within the United States.

Also, as indicated in our prior communication to families and staff, our facilities department initiated a broader cleaning protocol of high-touch surfaces this week. In accordance with guidance from local, state, and national agencies, families are reminded of the following good health practices:

• Wash hands regularly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds;
• Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap is not available;
• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, then throw the tissue in the trash;
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands;
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick;
• Stay home if you have a fever or experience illness, contact your primary care provider as needed;
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.

To be clear, we were not advised by these health agencies to initiate a different protocol regarding students, staff, or chaperones returning from New York. Students returned on the bus last night, Monday, March 9 and attended school today. 

This message is intended to inform our families and staff of the most current information and provide assurance that we are in contact with coordinating health agencies to guide our decision making regarding the safety of our students and staff. This is a dynamic situation and we will provide updates as needed.

Feel free to contact our school nurses for additional support or if you have questions.

Ann Spaeth, RN, BA
920-662-7245
annspae@hssdschools.org

Janelle Martell, RN, BSN
920-662-7946
janemart@hssdschools.org

Sincerely,

Damian LaCroix
Superintendent
Howard-Suamico School District
920-662-7709
damilacr@hssdschools.org

Good Afternoon All,

This is a follow up to Jennie Garceau's email last week regarding Coronavirus COVID-19.  Our staff, in partnership with our cleaning service provider Building Services Group (BSG), will begin disinfecting high-touch surfaces on a daily basis. Some will be done after school (beginning tonight) and the remainder will be done in the morning before school starts on a daily basis. High touch surfaces include, but are not limited to, desktops / tabletops / door handles / light switches / and hand railings. This is in addition to all normal cleaning and disinfecting of surfaces being done on a daily basis.

This is a significant undertaking and we need staff assistance to support this initiative. It will help our efforts tremendously if desks and tables are free of materials (no pencils, paper / water bottles) on surfaces. I'm confident everyone can understand the difficulty if we move people's materials. This will include staff work areas as well - we will avoid staff immediate work area unless they also are clear of materials.

Any disinfectant needs a certain amount of dwell time in order for it to be effective. In order to appreciate the benefit of the disinfectant it needs to remain on the surface for eight minutes of dwell time. Staff will apply the disinfectant to the desktop, for example, let it sit for at least eight minutes dwell time and then wipe the surface.

Finally, our efforts will help minimize the potential of Coronavirus COVID -19 from spreading. However, continually reinforcing the basics with staff and students remains the best defense in the spreading of COVID - 19 or any other germs:

• Wash your hands often.
• Wash your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds, especially after you cough or sneeze.
• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze or do so into your elbow.
• If you feel sick, stay home from school and limit contact with others.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.
• Stay home if you're sick. 

If anyone has any questions or concerns please feel free to reach out to myself, Jennie Garceau or any of the nurses.

Thanks,

Al Behnke

Dear HSSD Families and Staff,

As news continues to emerge regarding the novel coronavirus, COVID-19, the Howard-Suamico School District wants to remind families, staff, and students that washing your hands, covering your mouth when coughing or sneezing, and remaining at home when sick or feverish are the best ways to prevent the spread of flu or other respiratory illnesses. 

HSSD and other school systems across the nation have been advised by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to "plan and prepare." The District is coordinating with local authorities, including the Brown County Health and Human Services Department and the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS), to ensure a continuity of efforts. The District is updating its emergency response plan to reflect guidance from these agencies. The DHS reports that 39 people in Wisconsin have been tested for the virus, including one positive test. If you wish to stay up to date on the testing and results in Wisconsin, the DHS has a website that is updated weekdays by 2 p.m. 

School nurses and custodians play a vital role in keeping schools safe and healthy learning environments. HSSD nurses are available to monitor student health on campus. The HSSD facilities department is committed to regular cleaning and disinfection of all high-touch surfaces, including school buses. 

It is important to remind families that students who are showing symptoms of fever or other illness should not come to school while sick. Additionally, families are encouraged to provide updated contact information through your child's school office.

In the meantime, families are reminded of the following good health practices:

• Wash hands regularly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds;
• Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap is not available;
• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, then throw the tissue in the trash;
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands;
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick;
• Stay home while you have a fever or experience illness;
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.

While the District is being proactive in its approach, these messages are not intended to cause alarm, but to keep students and staff healthy and safe. Prevention remains our priority.

Sincerely,

Jennifer Garceau
Director of Student Services
Howard-Suamico School District
jenngarc@hssdschools.org
920-662-7881