North Thurston says high school in-person learning will expand to 4 days per week
North Thurston Public Schools has announced that its high school students in its hybrid learning program will be back in classrooms four days a week starting May 3.
“Starting May 3, all high school students enrolled in hybrid learning will attend Monday through Thursday, with Fridays staying remote,” the district announced in an email to families. “Student spacing during lunches and in common areas remains six feet. Our 100 percent remote students will continue with their current program.”
The expanded in-person learning was made possible by new federal COVID-19 guidance that allows 3 feet of spacing between students in the classroom — even though the district intends to enforce 6 feet of distancing elsewhere.
Other Thurston County school districts have made similar announcements.
In Olympia, elementary, middle and high school students currently attending hybrid in-person learning two days a week also will move to four days on May 3.
In Tumwater, the school district is aiming to expand to four days during the first week in May.
Elsewhere, the following districts have also announced expanded learning plans.
▪ Rainier has already expanded in-person learning for kindergartners as well as first- and second-graders.
▪ Tenino is set to expand in-person learning to grades K-5 on Monday, April 26 and grades 6-8 on May 3. Plans for grades 9-12 are still to be determined.
▪ In Yelm, grades K-2, 6, 9 and 12 will expand on Thursday, April 22. Grades 3-5, 7-8, 10-11 will start May 6.
This story was originally published April 20, 2021 at 10:53 AM.
