The 2014 School of Distinction award winners include 54 elementary schools, 22 middle/junior high schools, 17 high schools, and 8 alternative schools. This is the 8th annual School of Distinction award recognition in Washington State. Liberty Ridge Elementary is a six time winner of the SOD award.

John Welch, Puget Sound ESD Superintendent states, "We are pleased to be a partner in honoring schools within our region that set a high standard in realizing dramatic achievement gains for students. We recognize the difficult and important work that this takes. We salute the students, families, educators, and communities for their successes and for setting a high bar for us all."

Work is underway and on track for the district to launch its new Website in the New Year! 

The new site is being developed to better connect the district with its students and families. The district launched a community Website Survey last spring, enabling the district to get feedback and input on how parents, students, and staff want to use the Website. The survey provided data on what information is accessed most frequently, what devices visitors use when accessing the Website, and what users would like to see more of to make their web experience more informative and useful.

The district oversaw the management of the new site design and chose Schoolwires as its new content management platform. The new site is currently in production and is expected to launch in the first quarter of the New Year. The new site will offer a more personal user interface called the "MyView Page." This feature gives every district parent and student instant access to their classrooms, calendars and services of choice.

The new site incorporates vertical scrolling panels to present enhanced information and will be mobile phone and tablet responsive. The site will also feature streaming video and photo galleries for schools, sports, clubs and special events.

Winter is just around the corner and weather is quickly changing!  Weather conditions may require school schedule delays or closure.  Even when road conditions in the valley appear passable, bad weather on the hill often causes hazardous driving conditions and impacts the district's ability to operate buses safely.  Safety for your child is our primary concern.

When inclement weather occurs, our goal is to make information available to families about school closure or changes in the school schedule by 5 a.m.  In this digital age, here's how we can quickly reach you with this information:

• Family Access:  Log into Family Access and click on "Skylert" located in the left-side column.  The district uses this tool for school announcements and news.  Please make sure you confirm the ways in which you choose to receive information.  Your options in the "Emergency" column designate how we contact you with closure or school schedule changes.  Note that if all "emergency" boxes are checked for various contacts, you could receive closure or changes in the school schedule multiple ways!  By house phone, cell phone, email, and text.  
   
• FlashAlert Newswire (previously known as schoolreport.org):  The FlashAlert system gives you access to emergency messages, such as breaking news, weather closure information, and news releases from school districts around the country.  The Sumner School District partners with FlashAlert to inform media of closures and school schedule information.  

The District Emergency Hotline (253-891-6011), the Sumner School District Website, Facebook, and Twitter are also tools the district uses to keep you informed.  

Previous teachers recognized this month include Andy Kyllo from the Elhi Hill High School Program, Jennifer Ireland from Lakeridge Middle School, and Scott Sousa from Crestwood  Elementary.

Visit the Sumner School District Website to read more about these teachers and their dedication to student learning!