Parent Communications

Dear Mead School District Middle School Families, 

Last month, you may recall that we moved to a "healthy hours" schedule with our student chromebooks to help reduce screen time and address concerns with misuse of technology. As our district continues to review and assess use of student-assigned chromebooks, we are reaching out to share that beginning this Monday, May 1st, middle school students will no longer have the capability to email one another using their district-issued email addresses. This restriction will be in place for the remainder of the 2022-23 school year, but it will not affect students' ability to email school staff, teachers or family members. 

This change will allow our technology staff and administration to take the time necessary to review expectations for students heading into the 2023-24 school year. 

Thank you for your continued support of the Mead School District. 

Dear Mead School District Families - 

The Week-Ender is just one vehicle our district utilizes to highlight some of the great things that are happening in the Mead School District. And, April is National Volunteer Month! Read on….

This Week: Celebrating National Volunteer Month with a ‘Thank You’

April is National Volunteer Month in the United States, and we’d like to take this opportunity to say “THANK YOU!” to our more than 1,700 volunteers in the Mead School District. Our students and staff are so lucky to have such unbelievable support from community members in our schools. It enhances the experiences of our students, it lends a helping hand to our staff and it shows that we are all committed to working together.

Volunteers in our district support learning activities in the classroom, chaperone events, assist with coaching, serve behind the scenes and the list goes on and on…. For all of our volunteers out there, again, “THANK YOU!”

Dear Mead School District 2nd-8th Grade Families - 

Camps at the 2023 Mead Summer STEM Academy (MSSA) are filling up fast! For students currently in 2nd through 8th grade, registration is open.

We'd like to highlight our camp called Force Olympics! In this camp, students will get to test Liquid Nitrogen cannons to measure mass, volume, pressure and force as they blow ping pong balls high into the sky! Click the link below for how to register for Force Olympics and other available camps.

Visit the MSSA Homepage here for camp schedules, information about each module and videos from camp supervisors!

Dates: July 10-13, July 17-20, July 24-27
Location:  Northwood Middle School Building, 12908 N Pittsburg, Spokane WA  99208
Time:  Monday-Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. each day
Cost:  $150 per module*
*Breakfast, Lunch, and Camp T-shirt are included

Each module is limited to 20 students and are for students currently in Grades 2-8 in the Mead School District. Check the camp listings at the link above to see which modules are available for each grade. Questions? Email msdstem@mead354.org.

Dear Mead School District Families,

The Mead School District looking for volunteers to help us serve students, staff and families in how we utilize and manage technology.

Technology has become a constant in our lives, even more so over the past three years of working through remote learning and the shift of access to curriculum to online platforms through our curriculum providers. As many of you know, we are a 1:1 technology district with each student assigned a Chromebook. As we take a look at what the future holds for technology usage, and in the spirit of collaboration, we are looking to put together a Technology Advisory Committee that consists of six community volunteers and six staff members. This group will serve the district by providing an avenue for parents, staff and students to share concerns regarding technology usage and management, and then work together to create solutions that address those concerns.

The deadline to apply through the form below is Friday, April 28.

Once applications are received, district administrators will review them and select six community members. The group selected will: (1) represent a geographical spread of the school district by address and school boundary area, as well as a combination of parents/guardians who represent elementary, middle school and high school students; (2) meet twice per month initially and likely move to once per month as established; and (3) decide future dates/times of subsequent meetings. The first meeting will take place at the District Office on Tuesday, May 9, at 6:30 p.m.

Submit an application here.

Dear Families of 5th-8th Graders: 

Mead School District is once again partnering with Historic Flight Foundation to bring you Flight Night, a STEMForward event, on Wednesday, April 19! This event is nearly identical as the Flight Nights held last year, so please give others a chance to participate if you've already attended. The registration is limited to 60 participants. 

Click here to register!

Participants will meet at the Historic Flight Hangar at Felts Field (5829 E Rutter Ave., Spokane, WA 99212) and explore the world of aviation. The group will tour the facility, learn about the history of aviation, do a skill-build on their own aircraft and take part in a paper airplane competition. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. for check-in. At 6 p.m., we will begin with a welcome and introduction before heading into the stations of exploration until 8:00 p.m. when parents can pick up their aviators. Parents are welcome to tour the facility or enjoy a night out. For more information about HFF, visit the website at https://historicflight.org/.

If the registration link above is full, click here for the WAITING LIST.

Dear Mead School District 2nd-8th Grade Families - 

The Mead School District is excited to announce the schedule for the 2023 Mead Summer STEM Academy (MSSA) for students currently in 2nd through 8th grade! This year's theme is "Curiosity" and registration opens on Wednesday, April 12. Participants will learn about Historic, Current and Future Explorations, Robotics, Food Chemistry, Game Design, Digital Photography, Flight and Space, Nature, Planet Earth, and the Little Spokane River.

Visit the MSSA Homepage here for camp schedules, information about each module and videos from camp supervisors!

Dates: July 10-13, July 17-20, July 24-27
Location:  Northwood Middle School Building, 12908 N Pittsburg, Spokane WA  99208
Time:  Monday-Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. each day
Cost:  $150 per module*
*Breakfast, Lunch, and Camp T-shirt are included

Each module is limited to 20 students and are for students currently in Grades 2-8 in the Mead School District. Check the camp listings at the link above to see which modules are available for each grade. Questions? Email msdstem@mead354.org.

Registration Opens April 12, so be on the lookout tomorrow (Wednesday) at 4 p.m. for how to register!

Dear Families of Incoming Kindergarteners - 

Welcome to the Mead School District! As the parent or guardian of a recently-registered incoming kindergartener for the 2023-24 school year, we wanted to reach out to share an opportunity to hear more about our Dual Language Immersion (DLI) Program at Midway Elementary School. DLI Program Directors are hosting an  informational night on April 18 from 6-7 p.m. at Midway (821 E Midway Rd, Colbert, WA 99005).

More information about the program can be found at www.mead354.org/dli.

It is not required to attend the above informational session to submit an application.

Participation in our Dual Language Immersion Program is voluntary and application is open to any incoming Kindergarteners throughout the district. Transportation is provided from each student's neighborhood school to and from Midway Elementary. Students do not need to reside in the Midway Elementary boundary to apply.

Dear Mead School District Families - 

Sending anyone interested a friendly reminder about the Outdoors For All Foundation (OFA) Adaptive Cycling event right here in our school district later this month. OFA will be on site with a trailer full of adaptive bikes for students to try out! The event will give students who may have never been able to engage in bicycle riding due to a disability an opportunity to try different adaptive bikes that meet their physical needs. OFA staff will also be available to provide information about upcoming grant opportunities and how to apply for these funding sources, which could cover as much as 100% of the adaptive equipment costs for individuals with disabilities.

Check out this video from Issaquah School District on a similar event put on by OFA or read more about OFA here.

Families wishing to attend will need to register in advance and be in attendance for the event with their child. Register early if you are interested as there are a limited number of one-hour time slots available: 

• For preschool through 5th grade students: 
  • Tuesday, April 25th at 5-8 p.m. at Mead High School Fieldhouse
• For 6th-12th grade students:
  • Friday, April 28th: 5-8 p.m. at Mt. Spokane High School Fieldhouse
• Families may register for either event regardless of student age, but it is encouraged to register for the event appropriate to the age of the student to help event organizers manage the expected turnout.

Registration and Liability Waiver
Click here to get your student registered by April 19 to help event organizers prepare: Tuesday  |  Friday

• OFA will contact registrants directly after they have completed the liability waiver to set up a time slot on the desired day chosen by the registrant. Time slots are in one-hour increments at each event: 5-6 p.m., 6-7 p.m., 7-8 p.m. If you have a specific time-slot need, please email Kyle at kyleh@outdoorsforall.org.  

Please note: for young adults outside of preschool-12th grade, Outdoors For All is putting on additional events in the Spokane area in late April. Please reach out directly to OFA for referral to these events at kyleh@outdoorsforall.org. 

Dear Families of 5th-8th Graders: 

Mead School District is once again partnering with Historic Flight Foundation to bring you Flight Night, a STEMForward event, on April 19! For those that attended Flight Night earlier this fall or last year, this event is nearly identical, so please give others a chance to participate! 

This is a courtesy email to inform those interested that a link to registration information will be emailed out this Thursday, April 13 at 6:30 p.m. If interested, please monitor your email at that time as this event has just 60 available spots for 5th-8th graders from district schools.

Participants will meet at the Historic Flight Hangar at Felts Field and explore the world of aviation. The group will tour the facility,  learn about the history of aviation, do a skill-build on their own aircraft and take part in a paper airplane competition. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. for check-in.  At 6 p.m., we will begin with a welcome and introduction before heading into the stations of exploration until 8:00 p.m. when parents can pick up their aviators. Parents are welcome to tour the facility or enjoy a night out. For more information about HFF, visit the website at https://historicflight.org/.

The Mead High School Pantera Yearbook group (photo attached) won its second-ever Columbia Scholastic Press Association Gold Crown Award for the 2022 yearbook titled “In Case You Didn’t Know”. The CSPA is one of two national associations that oversee student journalism programs nation-wide. For those getting up-to-speed with student journalism, winning a Gold Crown is like winning the Super Bowl in the journalism world. Winning back-to-back Gold Crowns is even more rare, so much so that MHS is the ONLY school in Washington's history to ever win this national award back-to-back. 

The Pantera Yearbook crew is also a National Scholastic Pacemaker Finalist (the other national award given to the top programs across the nation). Pacemaker winners will be announced on April 21st in San Francisco this spring. Stay tuned for that! 

For more information on the CSPA Gold Crown Awards, click here. And help us wish a well-deserved congratulations to Pantera Yearbook students and Advisor Makena Busch! 

Dear Mead School District Families and Staff - 

The Outdoors For All Foundation (OFA) is putting on an Adaptive Cycling event right here in our school district in late April with a trailer full of adaptive bikes for students to try out! The event will give students who may have never been able to engage in bicycle riding due to a disability an opportunity to try different adaptive bikes that meet their physical needs. OFA staff will also be available to provide information about upcoming grant opportunities and how to apply for these funding sources, which could cover as much as 100% of the adaptive equipment costs for individuals with disabilities.

Check out this video from Issaquah School District on a similar event put on by OFA or read more about OFA here.

Families wishing to attend will need to register in advance and be in attendance for the event with their child. Register early if you are interested as there are a limited number of one-hour time slots available: 
 

• For preschool through 5th grade students: 
  • Tuesday, April 25th at 5-8 p.m. at Mead High School Fieldhouse
• For 6th-12th grade students:
  • Friday, April 28th: 5-8 p.m. at Mt. Spokane High School Fieldhouse
• Families may register for either event regardless of student age, but it is encouraged to register for the event appropriate to the age of the student to help event organizers manage the expected turnout.

Registration and Liability Waiver
Click here to get your student registered: Tuesday  |  Friday
 

• OFA will contact registrants directly after they have completed the liability waiver to set up a time slot on the desired day chosen by the registrant. Time slots are in one-hour increments at each event: 5-6 p.m., 6-7 p.m., 7-8 p.m. If you have a specific time-slot need, please email Kyle at kyleh@outdoorsforall.org.  

Please note: for young adults outside of preschool-12th grade, Outdoors For All is putting on additional events in the Spokane area in late April. Please reach out directly to OFA for referral to these events at kyleh@outdoorsforall.org. 

Dear Mead School District Families and Staff,

I am reaching out to you today with extreme sadness after a senseless act of gun violence at the Covenant School in Nashville. It is truly tragic for the families, students and staff members personally impacted, and our thoughts go out to all those faced with having difficult conversations with children concerning this horrendous act.

Each time something like this happens in a school a handful of concerned community members reach out to us for reassurance that we place student safety in the highest regard. I want to take this opportunity to outline some of the things we have in place to keep our students safe. While this list isn’t all-inclusive, it will give you an idea of what we have been working on for the last decade to greatly minimize the chance something like this were to happen in our school district. 

• The Mead School District has Crisis Management Plans in each building, as well as a District-wide Crisis and Emergency Response Plan. Over the years we have built a very strong relationship with Spokane Emergency Management, as well as local law enforcement agencies.
• Our schools have single points of entry. Visitors must be granted access to the buildings via the main entrance. All exterior doors remain locked during the day.
• Interior classroom doors are always locked and ready for a quick lockdown in the event of an emergency. 
• Our district has a robust Threat Assessment Team in place. The Threat Assessment Team is made up of community experts and they meet regularly to go over safety concerns regarding specific students. The goal of these meetings is to ensure that students of concern have appropriate support in place to be successful. We recently hired a full time staff member to facilitate the threat assessment process. 
• The District also has an anonymous “Report a Concern” button on our district and school web homepages, and 509-381-0360 can also be called to report any situation that may pose a threat to students or staff of Mead School District. 
• This school year, the District has begun conducting building safety and security assessments for each of our school sites. We are in the process of completing round two this month. 

Please be assured that we take many other precautions to help ensure the safety of our students. Students may be anxious or worried in the coming days at school. Below are some resources to help your child respond to this incident. Counselors will be available to meet with students and help them process this event, as needed

Link to Parent Resources

If you have questions or concerns about school safety, please feel free to contact me or your child's principal.

Sincerely,

Shawn Woodward
Superintendent

The group of 14 Mt. Spokane Wildcats that make up the debate team under the leadership of head coach Jessica Klingback compiled an average GPA of 3.81 to earn the title of Academic State Champions in Debate/Forensics category. Recognized by the Washington Interscholastic Athletics Association (WIAA), the team/group with the highest average GPA for its activities and classification is recognized as Academic State Champion. 

Pictured below, from the bottom to the top, and left to right: 
1st row: Kyra Young, Emma Bryant, Eleanor Weitz, Aliyah Pitts, Cairo Weitz, Raymond Vallejo
2nd row: April Witham, Julia Kolman, Kyleigh Campbell, Ellie Henshaw, Alexis Mohn 
3rd row: Tori Hausmann, Dillan Sessler, Luke Blue, Payton Frederick, Evan Schmidt 
4th row: Noah Pounder, Beau Tampien, Connor Robert, Eric Agius, Nate Sexton 
Not pictured: Nicole Ostlie and Samiele Christensen

Dear Mead School District Families and Staff --

The Mead School District Board of Directors, pending successful contract negotiations,  selected Travis W. Hanson as Mead School District’s next superintendent during the regular meeting of the board on Monday, March 13, 2023. 

Hanson, who is currently the Superintendent of Deer Park School District, is expected to take over as Superintendent on July 1, 2023, replacing departing Superintendent Shawn Woodward who has accepted a similar position in Monroe (Wash.) School District. 

“We are very excited for the future of the Mead School District under Travis’ leadership,” Board President Denny Denholm said. “After reading through our community’s feedback obtained from a recent survey, working through hiring process options and reviewing previously vetted candidates for the position, it was clear to us that Travis checked all the boxes.”

Hanson has served as the Superintendent of Deer Park School District since 2013, beginning his work there in 2005. A product of the Mead School District, Travis graduated in 1990 from Mead High School, where he returned to teach in 1996. This was followed by a brief period of time working at Mead’s District Office as a Curriculum & Technology Specialist. His two daughters are graduates of Mt. Spokane High School. 

“Through our conversations with Travis, and knowing he went through our hiring process as one of three finalists  just four years ago, it became clear he was the right person to lead our school district,” Board member Michael Cannon said. “During his decade as a superintendent, Travis has proven himself to be well-respected Statewide. That experience, coupled with his familiarity with the Mead community and his strong background in managing a district budget, directly aligns with the top themes from our community survey and discussions as a board.”

“I'm humbled and honored to be selected as the next superintendent of this incredible school district,” Hanson said. “I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to return to Mead and look forward to being a part of the exciting things being done every day both inside and outside the classroom. I have fond memories of my time as both a student and teacher in Mead and will work tirelessly to ensure young people continue to experience all that has made a Mead education special.”

The Board of Directors will begin contract negotiations immediately. Current MSD Superintendent Shawn Woodward will continue in the role until June 30, 2023.

Dear Mead School District Families: 

Mead School District Special Services is hosting an informational parents' night for the families of students who access special education services in our district. Families will have a chance to learn more about the components of the Individualized Education Program (IEP) and navigate their student’s individual support!

The event is open to the families of Mead School District students ages 3-21 who access Special Education Services on Thursday, March 16, from 5-7 p.m. at the Union Event Center (12509 N Market St., Building D - directly south of Union Stadium). The event will also be available live on Zoom for those not able to attend in person.

Zoom Information:
https://mead354-org.zoom.us/j/89059479044 
Zoom Meeting ID 890 5947 9044

Dear Grades 5-8 Families, 

The Mead School District STEM Forward Series continues this year with STEMPlosion at Whitworth University. Mead School District students in Grades 5-8 are invited. The registration for this event will open Wednesday, March 8 at 7 p.m. via a link sent to all families of students in Grades 5-8 at that time.

Program Information: STEMplosion at Whitworth University
You're invited to a STEMplosion taking place in the Johnston Science Center at Whitworth University from 6 - 8pm on March 14th, 2023! This free event is open to 60 students in Grades 5-8.  Students will meet in the auditorium of Whitworth's Johnston Science Center (39 on the map linked below). Parents are welcome to stay for the introduction and learn more about Whitworth and the college application process.

This is an opportunity for students interested in Computer Science and Informational Technology to participate in a variety of activities,  including computational games, Hour of Code, Whitworth CS projects and programming puzzles. Students will meet faculty and students from the college's computer science department and learn about their involvement in the Spokane Hackathon.  Students will gain a broader understanding of the exciting opportunities in the field of computer science and information technology. Parents can leave and come back, tour the campus, or wait for students in the HUB. Whitworth map: https://www.whitworth.edu/cms/about/map-and-directions/

Dear Mead School District Families and Staff, 

The Mead School District Board of Directors will hold a Special Board Meeting on Tuesday, March 7, 6 p.m. at Union Event Center (12509 N Market, Building D). The meeting will also be streamed live on Zoom at the link below. At the meeting, the Board will discuss the hiring process for the District’s next Superintendent: Click here for Meeting Agenda.

Special Board Meeting
Tuesday, March 7 at 6 p.m.
Union Event Center, 12509 N Market St. (Building D)
Zoom: https://mead354-org.zoom.us/j/82462590195 

At the most recent Regular Board Meeting on Feb. 27, the Board discussed the results of the community-wide survey regarding the hiring of a new superintendent. A recording of that meeting and a link to the minutes can be found here.

Dear Mead School District Families - 

As part of the Mead School District's commitment to the strategic priorities, improving communications and maintaining a strong two-way communications model are areas of focus. Via the survey link below, the district is looking to identify how best to communicate information to our stakeholders.

We welcome your open and honest feedback about the frequency, channel, timing and delivery of communication you have received from the Mead School District during this school year. You can expect this survey to be sent out annually, which will give us year-to-year data and comparisons to understand where we need to improve.

The anonymous survey, located at the link below, should take 5-10 minutes. It will be open for two weeks, closing on Friday, March 16, 2023.

***Please note: this survey covers communications from the district level, not the individual schools.***

Click here to complete the 2022-23 Family Communications Survey.

Dear Mead School District Families - 

Enrollment for 2023-24 is now open for incoming kindergarteners and new K-12 students to the Mead School District. Please visit www.mead354.org/enroll for more information and links to online registration or PDF paper registration packets. 

Current Mead School District students do not need to re-enroll. Students are eligible to register for Kindergarten if they turn 5 years old prior to September 1, 2023. 

Online Registration for New Student Starting 2023-24 (K-12 Only).

For general enrollment questions, please call the Mead School District at (509) 465-6000.

The Mead School District is also accepting applications and interest forms for students in the following programs:

• Dual Language Immersion (DLI) Program at Midway Elementary
  • Only accepting applications for Kindergarten-age students (Age 5 before Sept. 1)
  • 20 spots available through lottery process after applications are received 
  • Regular kindergarten registration must be completed prior to submitting DLI application
  • Click here to find information and application forms for our Dual Language Immersion Program
• Transitional Kindergarten (if Age 4 after Sept. 1, 2023) 
  • Free, full-day early entrance kindergarten for children who are 4 years old by August 31, 2023
  • Students must demonstrate financial, academic or social-emotional need and cannot be currently enrolled in another early learning program
  • Click here to find more information and interest forms for our Transitional Kindergarten Program
• Mead Learning Options 
  • Mead School District’s non-traditional options for students and families that cover a range of teacher-directed and parent-directed learning, as well as available virtual and outdoor learning options
  • Click here to find more information and interest forms for Mead Learning Options

Dear Mead School District Families, 

Due continued worsening weather conditions and difficult roads, the Mead School District is cancelling school for today, Tuesday, Feb. 28. This includes cancellation of all after-school activities.

Dear Mead School District Families,

Due to inclement weather and difficult road conditions, the Mead School District will be on a two-hour delay to start school today, Wednesday, Feb. 22. Buses will also run two hours later than the normal (M,T, Th, F) schedule. 

With this two-hour delay occurring on a Wednesday, buses will run two hours later than the regular-day (M, T, Th, F) schedule. This means add two hours to your M, T, Th, F bus pick-up and school start-time schedule.

Wednesday, Feb. 22 - School Start Time:

• K-5 Elementary - 11:00 a.m.
• 6-8 Middle School - 9:55 a.m.
• 9-12 High School - 10:00 a.m.

In addition to school starting two hours late, please note the following:

• NO Breakfast Program
• NO AM Preschool
• NO Before School District Programs (academic, music, athletic, extra-curricular, etc.)
• NO AM NEWTech Skills Center Busing 
• NO Zero-hour classes for high schools

Dear Mead School District Families and Staff - 

As some of you may know, our Superintendent Shawn Woodward has recently accepted a superintendent position in Monroe (WA) School District, effective July 1, 2023. The Mead School District Board of Directors is in the early stages of the superintendent hiring process and is seeking community input on the qualities, skills and qualifications you'd like to see in our next superintendent. The Board will compile the results of the survey linked below and build a profile that will help guide them throughout the superintendent search process.

The survey will take approximately 5-10 minutes and remain open to the public until February 23, 2023. Click here to complete the survey, and look for future updates on the selection/hiring process on the district’s homepage, as well as via email notifications.

Regarding his departure, please read the community letter below, sent on behalf of Shawn Woodward:

It is with many emotions that I reach out to share that I will be moving on from the Mead School District at the end of this school year. I feel immense gratitude for the way students, staff and families of this school district welcomed my wife and I nearly four years ago and all that we accomplished along the way. As I look back, I know that we faced unprecedented challenges that were some of the biggest of my career thus far in education, but together we overcame them.

We moved to the east side of the Cascades almost 11 years ago with our three children, and now that we are empty-nesters, my wife and I are at a time in our lives where we wish to be closer to our family. The bulk of our family lives in the greater Puget Sound area, including one of our daughters. For this reason, at the end of this school year, we will be moving to Monroe, WA, where I will begin serving as the Superintendent of the Monroe School District beginning July 1st. 

Thank you for your continued support of the Mead School District. I’m confident that the systems and supports that have been established have the school district on a great trajectory. You are a special community that I am proud to have served as superintendent.

Sincerely,
Shawn Woodward

Dear Mead School District Families - 

Due to conflicting events going on around the district, the Special Education Information Night: IEP Support has been rescheduled for Thursday, March 16 at 5-7 p.m. from the original date of Feb. 21. The location will remain the same: Union Event Center (12509 N Market St., Building D - directly south of Union Stadium). Read on for a reminder of the event details.

Mead School District Special Services is hosting an informational parents' night for the families of students who access special education services in our district. Families will have a chance to learn more about the components of the Individualized Education Program (IEP) and navigate their student’s individual support!

The event is open to the families of Mead School District students ages 3-21 who access Special Education Services on Thursday, March 16, from 5-7 p.m. at the Union Event Center (12509 N Market St., Building D - directly south of Union Stadium). The event will also be available live on Zoom for those not able to attend in person - check back here just prior to the event for the Zoom link. 

Please note that this event has been rescheduled for March 16 from the original date of Feb. 21.

Dear Mead School District Families - 

The Mead School District is hosting an informational parents night for the families of students who access special education services in our district. Families will have a chance to learn more about the components of the Individualized Education Program (IEP) and navigate their student’s individual support!

The event is open to the families of Mead School District students ages 3-21 who access Special Education Services on Thursday, March 16, from 5-7 p.m. at the Union Event Center (12509 N Market St., Building D - directly south of Union Stadium). The event will also be available live on Zoom for those not able to attend in person. 

Save the date! 

Dear Elementary Families - 

The Mead School District Learning and Teaching Department would like to share information regarding upcoming parent-teacher conferences that will take place on February 15-17 in all of our elementary schools. 

As with conferences that took place during October, these conferences will take place in person. Families may let their classroom teacher know if meeting virtually is necessary. Parents will receive information from each child’s school with a link to sign up for a conference time. 

Conferences are a valuable resource for parents and teachers alike. They provide an opportunity to build strong communication channels between home and school. Information provided by families during conferences also assists teachers in creating the most effective learning environment possible for each student. 

Conferences, which take place twice each school year over a three-day period, are a valuable resource for parents and teachers alike. They provide an opportunity to build strong communication channels between home and school, while allowing time for parents/guardians to learn more about their child’s progress. Information provided by parents during conferences also assists teachers in creating the most effective learning environment possible for each student. 

In honoring families who have special circumstances, we do have procedures in place for those of you that need multiple conference times. Please contact the school for assistance. 

If you have other questions, please contact our Learning and Teaching Department at 465-6000.

Dear Mead School District Families and Staff - 

Our schools have a fantastic (and friendly) clothing donation drive competition set to run from Jan. 30-Feb. 27 to benefit the Mead Student Resource Hub in partnership with Teen & Kid Closet. Organized by Mead High School ASB Advisor Skyler Lamberd, 14 district schools will have a donation box located at or near the entrance of the school to see who can collect the most items. 

More than 50 students from MHS ASB and Farwell Elementary ASB got together last week to decorate and deliver the oversized cardboard donation boxes for all participating schools. Youth in the Mead School District and surrounding communities will directly benefit from the drive through the district’s Student Resource Hub, a free clothing and school supply resource in North Spokane for local students and families in need. Click here to read more about it!

“The idea behind [the donation drive competition] is not so much what they’re going to win, but what they’re contributing,” said Kelly Schultz, Mead School District Student and Family Services Coordinator. “We feel it’s essential for our students to have a sense of community and understanding that they could be helping a neighbor.”

For those interested in donating clothing to benefit the drive, please look for the donation boxes at participating schools. And, if you are looking for ideas on what to donate, check out the Student Resource Hub’s up-to-date needs list here.

Dear Mead School District Families,  

The Mead School District is preparing to launch a new app-connected GPS system in our school buses!  On January 30, the primary email address that we have on file for your child(ren) -- if they currently ride the bus -- will receive an invitation that includes a unique link for getting connected to this new service called Stopfinder. After piloting the program with a small group of bus routes, we are ready to provide it district-wide. The new service is an easy-to-use, all-in-one parent app that will enable you to see your student’s bus schedules and bus location in real-time using the bus GPS through geo-alerts that you customize. 

​In addition, you will be able to stay connected to our District Transportation Department by sending and receiving messages through the secure Stopfinder app. As the weather turns cold, snowy and otherwise unpredictable, it is a great time to use this solution to ease family stress and be able to confirm a child’s bus location or communicate directly with the Transportation Department. Please note that this system only tracks the location of the bus vehicle, not of an individual student, so you may receive alerts of your student’s bus even if that student chose not to ride the bus on a given day.

And the best part is: the alerts, messages and sharing settings for your student’s schedule are controlled only by you!

What the Stopfinder App Can Do

• View your student’s daily transportation assignments
• Securely share your student’s schedule with caregivers
• Send private messages to Mead School District Transportation Department
• Receive notifications and updates related to transportation
• Send real-time vehicle location notifications based on GeoAlert regions you create for your student.

Look for that emailed invitation on January 30th for more information and your unique link to register!

Read more about StopFinder here.

Dear Mead School District Families - 

Please read the below information carefully for some important upcoming date reminders! 

• For students in Grades 6-12: this Friday, Jan. 27, is an early release for middle schools and high schools. Students in Grades 6-12 will be released at 11 a.m. from school.

• For all students: Monday, Jan. 30, will be a regular school day. It was originally scheduled as a Snow Day, but is now being utilized as a regular school day due to the Snow Day school cancellation the district experienced on November 30. 

• For students in Grades K-5: Friday, Feb. 3, is a scheduled early release day for all elementary schools. Students in Grades K-5 will be released at 12:45 p.m.

Dear Mead School District Families - 

Here’s one final reminder for no late start TOMORROW, Wednesday, January 25, 2023! Please be mindful that tomorrow we will be on the regular (M, T, Th, F) schedule that day for both bus pickup and school start time, as stated here:

Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2023 School Start Time Schedule

• Elementary (Grades K-5): 9:00 a.m.
• Middle School (Grades 6-8): 7:55 a.m.
• High School (Grades 9-12): 8:00 a.m.
• *All buses will run on the regular (M, T, Th, F) schedule

Please note that ECEAP and Developmental Preschool will also start on its normal (M, T, Th) schedule on Jan. 25th. 

This change in schedule is due to finals week at the high school level during the end of the first semester. High school finals need the full day, and due to that, all K-12 must be on the regular schedule to allow for our buses to run all routes for all grades.

Dear Mead School District Families - 

Free family event this Wednesday! 

Preparing our students to be future ready is multifaceted and having the skills to navigate challenges, be resilient, and care for oneself is critical. As the second event of our Future Ready Series, the Mead School District is excited to provide an opportunity for our community to hear about our district’s team approach to building future-ready youth, connect with local organizations that support this work and even win some really cool raffle prizes. See below for more details!

Future Ready Event #2: Team Approach to Building Future-Ready Youth
Date: Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2023
Time: Doors open 5:30 p.m., Event ends at 7:30 p.m.
Location: Mt. Spokane High School (6015 E Mt. Spokane Park Dr., Mead, WA 99021

5:30 p.m.

• Check-in to child care (if needed), grab some refreshments, visit our partner booths, raffle sign up (The MSHS Commons)

6:30 p.m.

• Keynote Speaker, Staci Cornwell - MSD Mental Health Coordinator

7:30 p.m.

• Closing Remarks and Raffle Winner announcements
  • Thank you to all of our amazing partners and organizations who donated the fantastic raffle prizes: 
    • 12 month membership to MUV fitness
    • 2 week passes to MUV fitness
    • Papa Murphy's Pizza
    • Dickey's BBQ 
    • Starbucks Coffee
    • Sonicare toothbrushes
    • $100 gift card for a Photo Canvas wrap
    • Pet Goodie basket
    • Mrs. Cavanaugh Chocolates
    • Village Cinemas
    • ACE Hardware Bucket of Household Items
    • And more…

Dear Mead School District Families -

The Mead School District is continually exploring options to serve our families, and one way we’ve done that recently is the launch of our Transitional Kindergarten (TK) at Shiloh Hills Elementary. We are looking at the possibility of expanding the TK program to additional elementary schools based on interest from families and students throughout our district. 

Below is a link to a short (1-2 minutes) survey to gauge potential interest from families in our community who may have children who qualify for TK. This survey is optional, does not collect any contact information and is not a commitment to any future program.

The deadline to complete this survey is Tuesday, January 31, 2023.

Click here for more information on Transitional Kindergarten and to complete the survey.

Thank you!

Dear Mead School District Families - 

Here’s a friendly reminder to mark your calendars for no late start next Wednesday, January 25, 2023! We’ll send an additional reminder the night before, but please be mindful that we will be on the regular (M, T, Th, F) schedule that day for both bus pickup and school start time, as stated here:

Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2023 School Start Time Schedule
Elementary (Grades K-5): 9:00 a.m.
Middle School (Grades 6-8): 7:55 a.m.
High School (Grades 9-12): 8:00 a.m.
*All buses will run on the regular (M, T, Th, F) schedule

Please note that ECEAP and Developmental Preschool will also start on its normal (M, T, Th) schedule on Jan. 25th.  

This change in schedule is due to finals week at the high school level during the end of the semester. High school finals need the full day, and due to that, all K-12 must be on the regular schedule to allow for our buses to run all routes for all grades. 

Dear Mead School District Families and Staff, 

We are excited to share with you a save-the-date for the second of three family engagement community events we'll host this year as part of our Future Ready initiative. This event will feature a keynote speaker and a number of community partners to help connect our families and staff with local mental health resources and other information on January 25th at 5:30-7:30 p.m.

Check out the flyer below for more! 

A week prior to the event, we'll send out more specifics about our community partners and timeline for the evening.

Dear Mead School District Families - 

Please mark your calendars for no late start on Wednesday, January 25, 2023. We’ll send additional reminders leading up, but please be mindful that school will be on the regular (M, T, Th, F) schedule that day for both bus pickup and school start time, as stated here:

Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2023 School Start Time Schedule
Elementary (Grades K-5): 9:00 a.m.
Middle School (Grades 6-8): 7:55 a.m.
High School (Grades 9-12): 8:00 a.m.
*All buses will run on the regular (M, T, Th, F) schedule

This change in schedule is due to finals week at the high school level during the end of the semester. High school finals need the full day, and due to that, all K-12 must be on the regular schedule to allow for our buses to run all routes for all grades.

Dear Elementary Families - 

Registration for Elementary (K-5) After School Sports through the Mead School District's partnership with SYSA is open for Sessions 4 and 5! Dates, times, locations and how to register can be found at the link below. For questions, contact Spokane Youth Sports Association directly at receptionist@sysa.com. 

Mead After School Sports Program

Registration Deadlines:
Session 4 – January 5th (Session runs Jan 16-Feb 10)
Session 5 – February 16th (Session runs Feb 27-Mar 24)
Please note that transportation info for the After School Sports Program will be sent after the registration deadlines to all participants who are registered.

Dear Elementary Families - 

Registration for Elementary (K-5) After School Sports through the Mead School District's partnership with SYSA is open for Sessions 4 and 5! Dates, times, locations and how to register can be found at the link below. For questions, contact Spokane Youth Sports Association directly at receptionist@sysa.com. 

Mead After School Sports Program

Registration Deadlines:
Session 4 – January 5th (Session runs Jan 16-Feb 10)
Session 5 – February 16th (Session runs Feb 27-Mar 24)
Please note that transportation info for the After School Sports Program will be sent after the registration deadlines to all participants who are registered.

Dear Mead School District Families, 

Due to icy, difficult road conditions, the Mead School District will be on a two-hour delay to start school today, Friday, December 9. Buses will also run two hours late. 

In addition to school starting two hours late, please note the following:

• NO Breakfast Program
• NO AM Preschool
• NO Before School District Programs (academic, music, athletic, extra-curricular, etc.)
• NO AM NEWTech Skills Center Busing 
• NO Zero-hour classes for high schools

Dear Mead School District Families - 

The Mead School District has continued to monitor the difficult road conditions, especially on the residential streets. Today, some of our buses had a challenging time navigating side streets, and Spokane County officials informed us this afternoon that residential streets will not be plowed until Sunday. Given these factors and expected worsening road conditions this evening into tomorrow, all extra-curricular events this evening have been canceled, and school will be canceled for tomorrow, Friday, December 2, 2022. This school day will be made up during a Snow Make-up Day scheduled for May 26, 2023. 

Dear Mead School District Families,

Due to inclement weather and difficult road conditions, the Mead School District will be on a two-hour delay to start school today, Thursday, December 1. Buses will also run two hours late and on snow routes. 

In addition to school starting two hours late, please note the following:

• NO Breakfast Program
• NO AM Preschool
• NO Before School District Programs (academic, music, athletic, extra-curricular, etc.)
• NO AM NEWTech Skills Center Busing 
• NO Zero-hour classes for high schools

Dear Mead School District Families,

Due to inclement weather forecasted overnight, activities scheduled to start before school are now canceled for Thursday, Dec. 1. As of this notification, school will begin on time, but all before-school activities, including athletic practices, zero-hour classes, clubs, music and other extra-curriculars are canceled for Thursday morning.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Please monitor email, phone and the district website for updates about the start time for school tomorrow. District administrators are continuing to monitor the weather forecasts and the impacts it may have on our school district. You will be notified as soon as any additional delay or closure decisions are made. 

Dear Mead School District Families, 

Due to inclement weather and difficult road conditions, the Mead School District is canceling school for today, Wednesday, November 30, 2022.

This is includes the cancelation of all after-school activities, including athletic practices, plays, concerts, games and clubs.

This school day will be made up during our first scheduled Snow Make-up Day on January 30, 2023.

Dear Mead School District Families,

Due to inclement weather forecasted overnight, activities scheduled to start before school are now canceled for Wednesday, Nov. 30. As of this notification, school will begin on time, but all before-school activities, including athletic practices, zero-hour classes, clubs, music and other extra-curriculars are canceled for Wednesday morning.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Please monitor email, phone and the district website for updates about the start time for school tomorrow. District administrators are continuing to monitor the weather forecasts and the impacts it may have on our school district. You will be notified as soon as any additional delay or closure decisions are made. 

For those who would like to opt-in to receiving SMS text message alerts from the Mead School District, you can do so by sending the word "YES" to 67587 on your mobile phone.

Due to icy, difficult road conditions, the Mead School District will be on a two-hour delay to start school today - Tuesday, November 8, 2022. Buses will also run two hours late. 

In addition to school starting two hours late, please note the following:

• NO Breakfast Program
• NO AM Preschool
• NO Before School District Programs (academic, music, athletic, extra-curricular, etc.)
• NO AM Skills Center Busing 

For more information about two-hour delays, click here.

Dear Mead School District Families and Staff - 

With the cold and possibly snowy months ahead creating the potential for a weather event to impact the school day, we wanted to share some information and links to help you be prepared in the case of a school delay or closure! Please read below how a delay will work on our Late Start Wednesdays, too.

There are many factors taken into consideration when deciding whether to delay or close schools for the day. It is always our goal to keep schools open and on time during snowy weather, but safety comes first. Parents, guardians and students should always assume the school day will be conducted as normal unless they hear from the district via phone call, email, district webpage, facebook and twitter accounts or the local media.

These decisions take into account road conditions for our school buses, walking routes to schools and the day’s forecast. Families should take their own situation into account when deciding whether their child should attend school or not and be sure to make an attendance call if staying home is the best option. Our goal is always to make the decision to delay or close by 5:30 a.m., with information pushed out to families, social media and news media before 6 a.m.

Two Hour Delay Information (be sure to read new Wednesday info) 
A two-hour delay will mean that your bus will be at each stop two hours later than the normal – M, T, Th, F – pick-up time (example: 7:05 a.m. would become 9:05 a.m.). If a two-hour delay occurs on a Wednesday, buses will run two hours later than the regular-day (M, T, Th, F) schedule. This means that if a two-hour delay is called on a Wednesday, just add two hours to the M, T, Th, F bus pick-up and school start-time schedule.

For more information on School Delays and Closures, including snow routes, early dismissal and impacts on before and after-school activities, breakfast programs and preschool, go to www.mead354.org/delay.

Dear Elementary Families - 

The Mead School District Learning and Teaching Department would like to share information regarding upcoming parent teacher conferences that will take place on October 12-14 in all of our elementary schools. 

This year, these conferences will take place in person. Families may let their classroom teacher know if meeting virtually is necessary. Parents will receive information from each child’s school with a link to sign up for a conference time. 

Conferences are a valuable resource for parents and teachers alike. They provide an opportunity to build strong communication channels between home and school. Information provided by families during conferences also assists teachers in creating the most effective learning environment possible for each student. 

Conferences take place twice each school year. This first conference will be used to set the stage for the year, with parents/guardians and teachers talking through ways to ensure success for that student. The next conference - taking place in February - is another opportunity for parents/guardians to learn more about their child’s progress. 

Each set of conferences takes place over a three-day period. 

In honoring families who have special circumstances, we do have procedures in place for those of you that need multiple conference times. Please contact the school for assistance. 

If you have other questions, please contact our Learning and Teaching Department at 465-6000.

Dear Mead School District Families - 

On September 20, the Mead School District hosted the first of three events in our Future Ready Series. Hosted at Mead High School, the event drew more than 250 community members! Attendees were able to connect with more than 25 local partner organizations, listen to a keynote speaker and take part in a Q&A with local mental health professionals. The event is part of our commitment to providing an educational experience in which all students feel welcome, supported, and are ready for their future.  In order to support that commitment, our district will be hosting two more Future Ready community events during the 2022-23 school year, and we want to hear from you!

Below is the link to a survey for us to gather feedback from both community members who attended the event and others who weren't able to attend. This information will help us plan our next event.

The survey will take about 5-7 minutes to complete. We appreciate your time and support!

Click here to complete the survey.

Dear Mead School District K-6 Families, 

On behalf of Hooptown Youth League Basketball, the link below contains more information on the Hooptown Youth League and links to register. The deadline to register is Thursday, Sept. 22. 

Hooptown Youth League

Please direct questions to: hyl@spokanehoopfest.net.

Dear Mead School District Families and Staff - 

Preparing our students to be future ready is multifaceted and having the skills to navigate challenges, be resilient, and care for oneself is critical. As the first event of our Future Ready Series, the Mead School District is excited to provide an opportunity for our community to come together with local agencies to discuss student wellness and mental health, as well as connect with some of the resources available to our families. See below for more details!

Community Resource Event feat. Guest Speaker Tessa Stuckey
Date: Tuesday, September 20th, 2022
Time: Doors open 5:30 p.m., Event ends at 8:30 p.m. 
Location: Mead High School Mall and Theater

5:30-6:00 p.m.

• Hotdog and chips served
• Book fair available
• Childcare check-in
  • Childcare available in the library for kids ages 5-10

6:00-7:00 p.m.

• Guest Speaker, Tessa Stuckey - Author of For The Sake Of Our Youth
  • Raising kids in a digital and social media world brings unique challenges. Tessa will speak to the importance of connecting with kids and establishing the protective factors necessary to help our kids when they need it most.  

7:00-7:30 p.m.

• Community Resource Fair
  • Visit with community agencies from the Spokane area to learn more about the services they offer to support mental health and wellness.  

7:30-8:15 p.m. 

• Panel Discussion
  • Ask questions of our guest speaker and our community partners as part of a forum discussion related to student wellness.  
  • Topics will include: Understanding our Youth, Building Resiliency, Enhancing Protective Factors, Developing and Reinforcing Positive Relationships.

Dear Mead School District Families -

The Mead School District is continually exploring options to serve our families, and one way we’ve done that recently is the launch of our Dual Language Immersion (DLI) Program in the Spanish language at Midway Elementary. This program was made possible by state grant funding, and as a requirement to this grant, we are looking at the possibility of expanding the DLI program to an additional elementary school in the district based on interest from families and students. 

Below is a link to a short (1-2 minutes) survey to gauge potential interest and languages of interest from our community. This survey is optional, does not collect any contact information and is not a commitment to any future program.

The deadline to complete this survey is Friday, Sept. 23, 2022.

Click here for the Dual Language Program Potential Expansion Interest Survey

Dear Mead School District K-6 Families, 

On behalf of Hooptown Youth League Basketball and for those interested, the link below contains more information on the Hooptown Youth League and links to register. 

Hooptown Youth League

Please direct questions to: hyl@spokanehoopfest.net.

Dear Mead School District Families - 

This is a reminder that our Wednesday Late Start schedule begins tomorrow, Sept. 7. Bus routes will run on the 40-minute late start schedule, so please plan accordingly. 

• Elementary (Grades K-5)
  • Mon., Tues., Thurs., Fri.: 9:00 a.m.-3:20 p.m.
  • Wednesday: 9:40 a.m.-3:20 p.m.

• Middle School (Grades 6-8)
  • Mon., Tues., Thurs., Fri.: 7:55 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
  • Wednesday: 8:35 a.m.-2:30 p.m.

• High School (Grades 9-12)
  • Mon., Tues., Thurs., Fri.: 8:00 a.m.-2:35 p.m.
  • Wednesday: 8:40 a.m.-2:35 p.m.

Schools will open their doors at the normal time on Wednesdays with supervision available for students who need additional support. This time frame until they transition to breakfast or class lineup will be supervised, but not structured with activities.

Wednesday Late Start does not apply to students in Mead Learning Options programs, including North Star, Five Mile Prairie, Mead Virtual Program, Aspire or Outdoor School. Students in those programs will begin at their normal start time. 

Reminders for High School students who attend Skills Center Programs on Wednesday:  Each Wednesday, students must board a bus at 8:40 a.m. at Mead High School or Mt. Spokane High School to travel to their program of study at NEWTech Skills Center. 

For more information about Late Start Wednesdays, click here.

Dear Mead School District Families and Staff, 

We are excited to share with you a save-the-date for the first of three family engagement community events we'll host this year as part of our Future Ready initiatives. This first event will feature a guest speaker and a number of community partners to help connect our families and staff with local mental health resources and information on Sept. 20 at 5:30-8:00 p.m.

A week prior to the event, we'll send out more specifics about our guest speaker, community partners and timeline for the evening.

Please look for more information in the near future! 

Dear Mead School District Families - 

With Washington’s State of Emergency coming to an end at midnight today (Monday, Oct. 31, 2022), the Department of Health (DOH) has revised its illness-related guidance in regards to COVID-19. 

The full document, which covers requirements, recommendations and strategies for disease mitigation, can be found here: 

• Washington DOH K-12 Guidance
• Spokane Regional Health District K-12 Guidance is expected to be updated this week. It will be linked on our District website as soon as it is available. SRHD has shared that its guidance will be similar to the DOH document above and reinforce strategies for preventing and responding to COVID-19. 

The school district is required by the document linked above to do two main things: (1) work with the Local Health Jurisdiction – SRHD – in the investigation of cases, suspected cases, outbreaks and suspected outbreaks that may be associated with the school, and (2) to continue posting the number of positive case of COVID-19 at each of our schools on our COVID-19 Dashboard. 

Overall, students who are ill should stay home, and then return to school when symptoms have mostly resolved. This prevents both recurrence of the illness and exposure to others, which keeps our population of students and staff at its healthiest. Our schools will follow school district Illness Guidelines for all symptoms (found here) as had been done prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Please know that testing for COVID-19 will also be available for all students and staff at our schools who choose to get tested due to symptoms or exposure. 

So far this year, our school nurses have seen a number of cases of COVID-19, Influenza and RSV that have contributed to illness in our schools. For those who are interested, here are some helpful resources and recommendations:

• SRHD Influenza Resources
• SRHD RSV Information  |  CDC RSV Resources
• Additional Resources from SRHD for Communicable Diseases

Thank you for your help and diligence as we work together to keep our students and staff healthy! 

Dear Mead School District Families,

Over the past couple of months, our community has asked a lot of great questions about what our students are learning in the Mead School District. This interest has given us an opportunity to reflect on our current practices and work together to ensure we are meeting the ever-changing needs of our students. Community inquiries have led to us utilizing our website to put more information at our community’s fingertips and presenting reports on policies and procedures related to curriculum materials, libraries and learning standards. 

At the September 12th Board Meeting, the District presented reports on Library Media Center policies and procedures, Curriculum Adoption policies and procedures, and processes for community members to share curriculum or book concerns. Following that meeting, a community member shared some concerns with an online materials collection accessible to some students. The websites listed in the collections were posted online for a high school research assignment in 2015 and had not been reviewed for content since that time. The collection was immediately reviewed and subsequently removed due to being out of date and no longer being utilized. The district has made specific changes moving forward to enhance screening of library resources meant to be used for classroom assignments. 

We’ve also committed to creating an easy way for our community to access curriculum and learning standards for every grade, course and content area in the Mead School District. On the district website, we have begun a long-term project to outline all learning standards, curriculum and supplemental materials used in our classrooms. We’ll be adding more on a weekly basis; please click here to see the progress we are making so far with our elementary grades. 

Finally, we’ve also received significant interest from parents/guardians who’d like to review lists of book titles available in our libraries and/or to have access to books their child may be checking out. To access our libraries, parents can utilize Follett Destiny to search collections, check out books or place holds (click here for how to login). Furthermore, if you have concerns about materials in our libraries, the process for “reconsideration” of library materials can be found here. 

We are proud of the efforts of our educators to live our mission of “Ensuring high levels of learning for ALL students” each and every day in the Mead School District. We will continue to do whatever it takes to also ensure our families stay apprised of what that learning looks like in our classrooms. 

Have a great weekend!

Sincerely,
Shawn Woodward
Superintendent 

Dear Mead School District Families - 

Next month, the Mead School District is hosting an informational family night for the families of students who access special education services in our district. Parents will have a chance to connect with staff members and volunteers, ask questions and learn more about the district's special education services. 

The event is open to the families of Mead School District students ages 3-21 who access Special Education Services on Thursday, November 10th from 6-8 p.m. at Mead High School, 302 W Hastings Rd.

Save the date! 

Dear Middle School Families - 

The STEM Forward Series continues this year with the annual Medical Mystery Investigation event hosted by WSU Spokane. Mead School District students in Grades 6-8 are invited. The registration for this event will open Monday, Oct. 24 at 7 p.m. via a link sent to all families of students in Grades 6-8.

Registration Begins: 7 p.m., Monday, Oct. 24, with a link to registration emailed to Grades 6-8 families
Spots Available: 150

Program Information
This will be a three-week virtual event series, with an in-person reveal on the evening of December 2nd.  It will involve students watching recorded videos released November 14th, 17th, 22nd, 28th, and 30th. The event begins with a Welcome Video and the first clue on November 14th and culminates in an in-person celebration event on December 2nd to reveal the mystery diagnosis.

Each registered participant will receive a Medical Mystery T-shirt delivered to their school. Participants will watch the videos via Google Classroom. These will be recorded by WSU Health Sciences programs and will include a clue and activity. Using deductive reasoning skills, participants will work throughout the month to discover the cause of the medical mystery.

Participants are able to watch the clue videos on their own time, while also having the opportunity to submit questions throughout the week through the Google Classroom link.  When the clues are revealed they will include a task for students to complete. Students are encouraged to submit recorded video, photos, or written email in the Medical Mystery Google Classroom link showing their participation.

On Friday, December 2nd, students will have a chance to make a diagnosis and see if they're correct at the culminating in-person celebration at the downtown campus of WSU Spokane. This celebration will include a STEM bag, dinner and a Financial Literacy event for students.

If interested, please look for a link sent via email at 7 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 24 to register!
Because this is an online event, there will not be a waiting list.

Dear Mead School District Families and Staff -

Tickets are now on sale to the general public for the 2022 Battle of the Bell football game between Mt. Spokane and Mead High School! We are expecting a sold out crowd at Union Stadium, so don’t wait to check out the information below on how to purchase your tickets. 

Game Information

Varsity Football: Mead HS (visiting team) vs. Mt. Spokane HS (home team)

Friday, October 28, 2022 at 7 p.m.

Union Stadium - 12509 N Market St, Mead WA 99021

Televised locally on SWX

Ticket + Attendance Information
Tickets are now available for purchase on the “Tickets” page at gowildcatsgsl.org or by scanning the QR code below!

• Up to four (4) tickets allowed for purchase per account
• High school students with current ASB designation on Student ID card and all GSL Sports Pass Holders do not need to purchase tickets to attend. Simply show the ID or Sports Pass at the gate to enter.
• Please accompany students 8th grade and younger (ticket required) with an adult if attending the game
• No outside food/drink and no re-entry allowed.
• Purses, diaper bags and clear bags are allowed. No backpacks allowed, and all bags are subject to search.
• No RV or trailer parking in the paved lots.

The 2022 Battle of the Bell football game between Mt. Spokane and Mead High School is right around the corner, and we are expecting a sold out crowd at Union Stadium! If you are interested in attending, here’s your early heads up on the ticket availability and sales process. 

Game Information
Varsity Football: Mead HS (visiting team) vs. Mt. Spokane HS (home team)
Friday, October 28, 2022 at 7 p.m.
Union Stadium - 12509 N Market St, Mead WA 99021
Televised locally on SWX

Ticket + Attendance Information
Ticket sales will go live to the general public this Monday, October 17th at 3 p.m. on the “Tickets” page at gowildcatsgsl.org! You will also receive an email at that time with a link to purchase tickets.

• Up to four (4) tickets allowed for purchase per account
• Students with current ASB designation on Student ID card and GSL Sports Pass Holders do not need to purchase tickets to attend. Simply show the ID or Sports Pass at the gate to enter.
• Please accompany students 8th grade and younger (ticket required) with an adult if attending the game
• No outside food/drink and no re-entry allowed
• Purses, diaper bags and clear bags are allowed. No backpacks allowed, and all bags are subject to search.

Dear Mead School District Families - 

This message is a friendly reminder that there is no school this Friday, Oct. 7. This day is reserved as a Learning Improvement Day (LID) for our teachers and staff to engage in professional development activities. Our school district has two LID days scheduled each academic year – Oct. 7 and March 17 this year. 

For students who access before and after school programs at either the YMCA or Boys and Girls Club, please note the following:

• YMCA Before and After School Programs will take place at the YMCA on Friday, Oct. 7, Thursday, Oct. 13 and Friday, Oct. 14 for students that are enrolled in those programs. Questions can be directed to Multisite Coordinator Payton Williams at 509-777-9622.

• Boys and Girls Club will be closed on October 7th and October 12th-14th due to insufficient staffing. Questions can be directed to Club Director Nick Neely at lsgprogram@bgcspokane.org. 

For reference, the full academic calendar can be found on any school or district website under the Academics dropdown menu, or by clicking here.

We hope you enjoy the long weekend and know that our staff is working hard to ensure high levels of learning for all students!

Dear Mead School District Families - 

As part of our learning program, the Mead School District provides Chromebook access to all students. This device is the property of the Mead School District. Families have the opportunity to enroll in the district’s optional Chromebook Insurance Program (CIP) annually. 

While not mandatory, this insurance program is highly recommended as it provides coverage in the event the device is lost or damaged.  

To opt into the insurance program, there is an annual fee. Free/Reduced lunch options requests available at your school.  Fees must be paid prior to September 16, 2022.  To purchase Chromebook insurance, follow the directions here: Purchasing Chromebook Insurance Using Online Payments.

Chromebook insurance costs, coverages and more information are available at the links below:

• For Grades K-2 (excludes Mead Learning Options), please note that Chromebook Insurance is NOT being offered for K-2 students, as these students’ Chromebooks will reside mainly in the classroom and will be managed like other K-2 classroom materials.
• Elementary (Grades 3-5) Chromebook Insurance Flyer
• Secondary (6-12) Chromebook Insurance Flyer
• Mead Learning Options (K-12) Chromebook Insurance Flyer
  • MLO includes North Star School, Five Mile Prairie School Elementary and Secondary, Mead Virtual Program 6-12, Engine K-5 Mead Virtual Program, Mead Outdoor School

Opting out of the program means families of students in Grades 3-12 (K-12 for Mead Learning Options) will be held financially responsible for the full cost of repair or replacement associated with any damaged, lost or stolen equipment. A fine will be placed on student accounts for the cost of replacing or repairing the equipment. 

Lack of action prior to September 16, 2022, will be considered an opt-out. 

Questions? Please contact your child’s school with questions on how to purchase Chromebook insurance.

Dear Mead School District Families - 

The Washington Department of Health released updated K-12 COVID-19 Requirements for the 2022-23 school year - the full document is linked here. Important changes to the state guidance are listed below, but please refer to the DOH document linked above to get the full update.

• Students or staff who have tested positive are required to isolate for 5 days before returning on Day 6. The date of symptom onset or positive test is Day 0, the following day is Day 1. 
  • The individual may return to school/care after the isolation period if:  
    • Their symptoms have improved or they are asymptomatic, AND 
    • They are without a fever for the past 24 hours without use of fever-reducing medications.
• Students/staff who have symptoms of COVID-19 are required to follow this symptom flowchart here. 
  • COVID tests are available at school. 
• The District will update our COVID-19 dashboard and report to SRHD with positive cases on a weekly basis. 

Our goal is to keep our classrooms healthy and safe, and the best way to do that is to keep students/staff home who are sick. Thank you for your assistance in keeping our schools a positive and healthy environment!

The following message was sent to families of students who are registered to ride the bus for the 2022-23 school year.

Dear Parents/Guardians, 

Thank you for registering your student(s) to ride the bus with Mead School District Transportation Department. Your student(s) have been assigned to a bus and routed for the upcoming school year. Please confirm your student(s) bus route number, departure/arrival time and bus stop location before the start of school. You can access this information here by entering your Home address.

Important note: Beginning on Sept. 7, bus riders will be picked up 40 minutes later on Wednesdays.

If your student(s) is a pre-schooler or has an IEP, you should receive a phone call from our office staff no later than the following Friday. 

For questions, please contact us by email at transportation@mead354.org or by phone at (509) 465-6107.

Sincerely,
Mead School District Transportation Department

Dear Mead School District Families, 

Mead School District Nutrition Services welcomes you to the 2022-23 school year. This important newsletter linked below includes beneficial information for all families in our district, including meal prices, meal payment procedures, free/reduced meal qualifications and forms. Please read through the entire linked document for information pertaining to your family. 

For questions regarding meals or Nutrition Services, please email nutrition@mead354.org or call (509) 465-6100. 

2022-23 Nutrition Services Information Packet (PDF)

Thank you,

Mead School District Nutrition Services