Photo Courtesy Dr. Jon Tienhaara - South Bend School District is wrapping up a major athletic field upgrade that began last May. Contractors are scheduled to finish the project on or before Sept. 6.
SOUTH BEND - South Bend Superintendent of Schools Dr. Jon Tienhaara released a comprehensive overview about what to expect as the 2021-22 school year opens in his district.
South Bend School District starts school with in-person instruction for grades one through 12 on Wednesday, September 1, and kindergarten goes back Friday, Sept. 3. School starts at 8:30 a.m., and ends at 3:14 p.m. every day. Doors to campus open at 8:00 a.m.
"Back To School Night" for seventh and eighth graders is Monday from 5-7:00 p.m. on the junior/senior high campus.
"We are excited to welcome our students to the 2021-2022 school year," Tienhaara stated in a letter to the South Bend community.
Mask Update
In compliance with state protocol, as part of the daily schedules and routines, all staff, students and visitors will be required to wear face masks while inside the building and while riding the bus. Masks can be removed while eating snacks and lunch. For now, all students will be expected to wear masks during passing time and during time in the courtyard during lunchtime after eating. Wearing a mask outside during recess is optional for students.
All staff and students will need to complete the Health Screening each morning before entering the building. Families will have the opportunity to complete the survey online/via text, or students will be screened at the entrances to the building.
Classroom seating will be arranged to allow three feet distancing, to the best degree possible. Lockers (high school students) and "cubbies" (junior high students) will be available for students to store books, etc., but students will not be allowed to hang out in the locker rooms/cubbie locations any longer than it takes to get their books.
Six New Teachers
"We are welcoming six new teachers to the district this school year, and we are excited to have them on our faculty," Tienhaara said.
The new teachers include Joel Bale, Brittney Buchanan, Jessica Capps, Thomas Sanborn, Kendra Schray and Kristina Spoor.
Bale returns to South Bend after a six-year absence, he last taught at South Bend in 2015. Bale will teach high school CTE classes and junior high science.
Buchanan is the new second grade teacher, filling the position vacated by Mrs. Seaman, who recently retired. This is Buchanan's first year of teaching, and recently completed her student teaching at Willapa Valley School District.
Capps is the new junior high special education teacher. Capps worked for the district for the past several years as a para educator, and is currently in the process of finishing her teacher endorsement focusing on special education.
Sanborn is the new music teacher, who is moving to South Bend from the Spokane area. "This will be his first teaching position and he is very excited to revive the music program after last year's pause due to COVID-19." Tienhaara said.
Schray is the new sixth grade teacher, filling in for Mrs. DeLap this school year. DeLap will be serving as the elementary math specialist. Schray has been substitute teaching in South Bend and "is excited to have her own classroom," according to Tienhaara.
Spoor comes to South Bend from the Raymond School District and has been teaching the past 11 years. "She will be our new junior high science teacher, replacing Mrs. Alyssa Olsen, who is now the assistant principal at Mike Morris Elementary School," Tienhaara informed. "Mrs. Olsen has been a teacher with South Bend for the past nine years, teaching junior high science and student leadership. Mrs. Olsen recently completed her Washington State principal credentials through Grand Canyon University and completed an administrative internship at South Bend last school year. We are excited to have her on the elementary school staff and the South Bend district leadership team."
"In addition to the full time faculty noted above, we also are happy to have Mrs. Julie Haugan on staff half-time this school year," Tienhaara noted. "Mrs. Haugan is a former English teacher at South Bend and is coming back this school year to assist with Title 1 and learning loss recovery."
Early Learning Center
Amy Nelson is the director of the South Bend Early Learning Center, which according to Tienhaara, is something "South Bend School District provides comprehensive early childhood education and child care to the South Bend and neighboring Willapa Harbor communities."
The Early Learning Center's 2021-22 school year starts Sept. 15. Parent and student visits and conferences will take place between September 8 and September 14. Contact Director Nelson with questions, or call 360-875-5327.
Dr. Tienhaara also offered an update on Millam Field, which he said is nearing completion.
"South Bend School District is wrapping up a major athletic field upgrade that began last May," Tienhaara said. "Contractors are scheduled to finish the project on or before September 6. The project includes the removal of all previous natural grass and the installation of new drainage and synthetic grass turf. Also, part of the project is all new field events for track, the integration of a softball field, and new Musco LED field lighting.
"The project was primarily funded by capital project grant funds, legislative grant funds, and the Ben B. Cheney Foundation," Tienhaara noted. "We are very excited for this facility and the benefits it will provide the South Bend and larger Willapa Harbor community. Millam Field is used by all South Bend physical education classes, and hosts football and soccer contests for the Raymond-South Bend Athletic Combine. It will also see use by the Willapa Harbor Youth Football organization and the Willapa Harbor Youth Soccer Club."
In closing, Dr. Tienhaara said, "On behalf of South Bend School District, thank you for entrusting your students' education to us. We strive to provide the very best education and student opportunities possible, and we hope to partner with parents, community members, and stakeholders to ensure our schools are safe, welcoming, and supportive of student success.
"If at any time you have questions, concerns, or ideas as to how we can better serve, please feel free to contact me at jtienhaa@southbendschools.org, call me at 875-6041, or drop by to visit."
All school buildings can be reached by calling 360-875-6041.