Back-to-School Message from Superintendent Goldman
Post Date:09/07/2021 3:35 PMDear families served by Northwest Regional ESD:
As the Superintendent of Northwest Regional ESD, I want to wish all of the families and students in our programs a very warm welcome back for the 2021-22 school year.
No matter what type of services you receive from us—whether that’s family coaching, specialized support in a community preschool setting, your child may attend one of our schools, or you receive any of the other highly specialized services we provide—I know the educators who work with you are absolutely committed to ensuring they connect with you and your child in these turbulent times.
We’re starting the school year amid rising COVID infection rates. At the same time, we have spent 19 months distanced from one another, craving more care, connection and in-person support. I’ve asked our educators to start this year with love, with patience, and with empathy. I know you and your children have been through so much. I know our educators are ready and excited to lean into this school year, even with all the challenges we will be addressing together.
At Northwest Regional ESD, the services you receive—and the relationships you have with our educators—are by nature highly specialized and highly individualized. It will be hard for me to describe exactly what the school year will look like for you and your family because those questions are best discussed with the educational team who works directly with you.
But there will also be some commonalities across all our programs. While I am hoping and praying for a full, uninterrupted in-person school year—the reality is that we will likely be forced to cycle in and out of face-to-face and virtual service due to the pandemic. And many of our services still won’t look exactly as they did before COVID-19.
Even still, our educators will personalize connections with your family in the days and weeks ahead so we can be responsive and adapt to your needs under a variety of public health realities. No matter the obstacles we’ve already overcome—or those that still stand in our way—I feel a profound responsibility to support both your family’s safety and your family’s humanity, as well as that of our educators.
Thank you in advance for reviewing the important back-to-school safety information page that includes tips for a safe and successful year. We need everyone to do their part to keep our schools and programs open and our educators, families and communities safe.
Most importantly, please DO NOT show up to school or appointments with any sign of illness, including cold-like symptoms.
Thank you for your flexibility as we work to meet your needs in these challenging times. I know I speak for all the educators at Northwest Regional ESD when I say we are extremely excited to see you and your children as we start the school year. Wishing you the very best in the weeks ahead.
