The first day of school is almost here!   And here’s how to find the info you need.

Start with the school district website at www.lyleschools.org.  Important dates are on the calendar – it’s on the far right of the navigation bar. If you’re using your cell phone or other device, click on the three horizontal bars just below “Home of the Cougars” and select from the options there. You can also select from the “Dallesport Elementary,” “Lyle Secondary” and “Our District drop-down menus to find things like school lunch menus, staff names and emails, and bus schedules.

Need to register your student in Lyle Schools?

Come to our office in the school at 625 Keasey Ave., Lyle, between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. Or call 509-365-2211, ext. 120.

The first day of school is August 24, and since it’s a Wednesday, the start time is 9 a.m. Students can start arriving at 8:30 a.m. so they have time for breakfast (free!) and to catch up with friends they haven’t seen for a bit.  On all other days of the week, school starts at 8 a.m., with students beginning to arrive at 7:30 a.m.  

Kindergarten starts on August 24^th, too, and continues to be a full-day program.

ECEAP staff will do one-on-one orientations with incoming families for 2022-23 school year from August 24-30. The first day of class for ECEAP is August 31. This year, ECEAP/pre-Kindergarten will be five days a week instead of four, with an all-day option. Please keep an eye on the front page of the website and on our Facebook page (@LyleSchools) for more information.

Supply Lists? Nope.

The school district provides basic education supplies – you don’t have to worry about pencils, erasers, lined paper and the like. Parents can supply a backpack, closed-toe shoes that are appropriate for playing outside, and a jacket for when the weather turns colder. Families of our younger children (K-2) should also consider leaving a change of clothes in their lockers in case of an accident. If you need assistance with obtaining school clothes for your children, reach out to us.

Health Requirements

A note about immunizations: Some are required to attend school, but note that the COVID vaccination is not required for students at this time. You can find these at www.lyleschools.org. Select “Health Information” in the “Our District” menu.

Looking for School Breakfast and Lunch Menus or Bus Routes?

Menus will be shared here.

You can find bus routes here. They will be posted a little later in August.

Want to email your child's teacher?

Go to the main navigation bar and click on either Dallesport Elementary or Lyle Secondary and pull down to the staff selection.

Athletics

Fall athletics gear up before school even starts. If you have a secondary student planning on joining the football or volleyball teams, check with our school office for more information. Game schedules will be posted on the district website (“Athletics” in the Lyle Secondary School menu) soon.

Also, if you enjoy coming to our games, know that this year we will begin charging admission again. We’re working with Home Town Ticketing to make it possible for Cougar fans to pay with a credit card online – also on the athletics page – or at the door. If you’ve ever had to scramble to find a cash machine before a game, you’ll know what a great idea this is!

We’re looking forward to seeing everyone back this fall.  We expect it to be the most normal start of a school year since 2019! Keep watching our webpage and Facebook page for introductions to new staff and other news. Go Cougs!

During a special board meeting on May 31, 2022, the Lyle School District Board of Education approved Lyle School District working with White Salmon Valley and Klickitat School districts in developing a transportation co-op. 

Staff pay, benefits and other specifics pertaining to transportation employees will be bargained with the Public School Employees local. Our bus drivers have done a valiant job of covering multiple routes this past year. With the input of our drivers and their union representation, we expect the co-op to ultimately provide more stable work conditions, benefiting our drivers as well as students, instructional staff and families.

The approved co-op agreement provides for the operational, managerial and organizational functions of the three districts' transportation functions. This includes route scheduling, reporting mileage to the state, providing an official dispatch center and other non-driving activities.  The maintenance and repair of district buses has been handled by the White Salmon Valley School District bus garage since 2018 and will continue under this agreement. 

There are multiple reasons for pursuing the co-op arrangement.

• Reflecting the hiring issues widespread across the country, Lyle School District has had difficulties keeping enough drivers on staff to cover all four routes and transportation for multiple extracurricular activities. Students, particularly those riding the "Panda" route to and from Dallesport/Murdock have been delayed throughout the school year. Parents' schedules and plans have been disrupted, too. Although the district has recruited heavily, it has picked up only two additional drivers during the school year, one of whom is not fully licensed yet. The district lost several drivers in the same time frame.
• Training, testing and licensing a new bus driver is a complicated process. It typically takes two to three months if the prospective driver has no previous commercial driving experience.  Lyle School District sends new potential drivers to Vancouver for training and testing. The co-op, using White Salmon’s current process, will conduct training and testing on site and will be able to complete the process more quickly. 
• Lyle School District has not had a transportation manager since last fall. The position has changed radically in the past few years, due in part to the nature of new buses.  Like cars, they now require high-tech diagnostics, maintenance and repair equipment, which requires special training.  Where the district's transportation manager once performed mechanical work on the district's buses, it's now almost incredibly difficult to find someone with those skills willing to work part-time. To find such a person who could perform the other parts of the job – the paperwork, state reporting, routing and so on -- is even harder. The co-op will provide all of these functions.
• Transportation funding from the state has long been inadequate for small, rural districts. However a co-op receives far more stable and predictable funding due to state rules. As before, levy funding received from our property owners will be used to fill in where state funding to the district is inadequate.
• But ultimately, this decision is about our students and their education. Neither our staff, administration nor board want to put students and families through another year in similar circumstances. Students need to be in school on time to learn with their peers. Families need to depend on buses being on time and running regularly. 

Watch for more news about our new co-op throughout the summer.

Beginning October 1, 2022, students can apply for financial aid for the 2023-24 college school year. With all the uncertainty caused by COVID, education beyond high school is more important than ever. Applying for financial aid gives you more options for the future. 

In Washington, there are two ways to apply for financial aid: 

• Most people should complete a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). The FAFSA is used by U.S. citizens and eligible non-citizens to apply for both state and federal financial aid. 
• The WASFA (Washington Application for State Financial Aid) is an application for state financial aid only. The WASFA is for people who are undocumented or who do not qualify for federal aid because of their immigration status -- and can be used in limited circumstances by others who cannot or choose not to file a FAFSA. 

Applying for financial aid is a crucial first step toward college or job training. Many families assume they won’t qualify, but there’s more help available than ever before. Last year, a family of four making up to $102,000 could qualify for financial aid in Washington. The only way to know for sure if you’re eligible is to apply. 

Learn more, get support, and apply for financial aid at wsac.wa.gov/apply. 

(THIS ARTICLE WILL BE UPDATED IN OCTOBER, 2022).

Don’t Let Financial Aid Myths Limit Options for the Future

Download the Financial Aid Myths Flyer in English    Descargue el folleto Mitos de la ayuda financiera en español

Think you can’t afford college or training? Financial aid helps many students pay for education beyond high school, and more families in Washington are now eligible. Even if you didn’t qualify before, you might now!

Myth #1: My parents make too much money, so I won’t qualify for financial aid.

Fact: Applying for financial aid is the only way to know for sure whether you qualify. With Washington College Grant, an eligible student from a family of four making up to around $102,000 per year can receive some money for college or training.

Myth #2: Financial aid only pays for universities. That takes four years—I need to start working now.

Fact: Financial aid can be used for many types of full-time or part-time education or training, including career and technical schools, community colleges, some apprenticeships, and yes, universities too. You have options!

Myth #3: I can’t apply for financial aid because I don’t know what I’m going to do after high school.

Fact: You can complete a FAFSA or WASFA financial aid application before applying for college or training. You can make your final choice about whether and where to go later, and you’ll know more about what you can afford.

Applications are now available for fall 2022! Learn more and apply for financial aid on the Washington Student Achievement Council website. http://wsac.wa.gov/

Parents, we are currently experiencing a higher level of COVID activity in the community than last year.  Testing is an important part of our strategy for keeping school open during this time. 

We all know how challenging life has been during the pandemic and the stress it has caused on families -- especially when it comes to having to quarantine for symptoms or a close contact situation. Long quarantines are not ideal for learning and social development. The CDC and the state recently changed the requirements for the length of quarantine for someone who has come into close contact with a person diagnosed with COVID.  You can read our letter here. Testing plays an important role in shorter quarantine times.

In an effort to reduce the amount of time our families have to wait for COVID test results, we can now provide testing for staff and students who have been identified as a close contact to someone with COVID, or who have symptoms, here at the school. This will also help reduce the strain on local medical offices and the hassle of getting your kids to a testing location. 

There are a few things we would like you to know:

We will never test a student without a signed permission slip and the parent present. The parent or student is usually the one to administer the shallow nasal swab. This swab only needs to be inserted ¼ to ½ inch into the nose.

We currently offer two different tests to our students and staff.

• Rapid antigen tests. We currently offer this test to quickly screen for a positive. If a rapid test comes back negative, it is followed with a PCR test to confirm the results.  
• PCR tests. This test will be given with parental consent after a student has experienced COVID-19 symptoms and the rapid test showed negative. Parents will not be charged for this test, but if you have insurance, your insurance will be billed. You will be sent a link after giving consent for the test, and you will enter your insurance information there. Your student’s results will also be available to you within the next 48-72 hours.

We are not a public testing site. We cannot offer testing for anyone other than our students and staff as it is needed. (Again, please be assured that we will not test anyone without explicit consent and a signed permission form)

If members of your family who are not students in Lyle School develop symptoms, it’s still important to get tested.  

Where can you get tested?  The first step is to call your medical provider or the Klickitat County Public Health Department at 509-773-4565. The health department's hours are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The following medical clinics all offer PCR testing for non-patients by appointment:

• North Shore Medical Group in Bingen
• MCMC in The Dalles
• Klickitat Valley Health in Goldendale

For contact information and more testing site options, go to  https://www.gorgeimpact.com/testing

We want to be sure you have information on how to sign up for a COVID-19 vaccine appointment, should you choose to get vaccinated, or if you choose to have your child vaccinated. Adults and children 5 and older are now eligible for a free COVID-19 vaccination. A parent or legal guardian must accompany the minor.

As a reminder, COVID-19 vaccination is not currently mandatory for students.  Boosters are approved for everyone 18 and up and for those who've had the Pfizer vaccine, a booster is approved and encouraged for those 16 and up . For more information about COVID vaccinations visit www.cdc.gov.

Looking for COVID testing resources? Go here.

Current Vaccination Opportunities:

Ongoing Vaccination Clinics

As part of the Federally-funded “Vaccines for Children” (VFC) program, Skyline Hospital offers childhood immunizations at no cost. The Moderna COVID vaccine is available through the clinic for those 18 years old and older.

Schedule an appointment by calling 509-637-2810.

Other Local Vaccine Appointment Options Include:

• Your healthcare provider. If your regular health care provider has a waiting list or provided instructions for scheduling an appointment, follows those instructions.
• Klickitat County Health Department. Go to their website to sign up for your vaccination.
• Local pharmacies. Visit www.VaccineFinder.org to find pharmacies near you with vaccine.
• Visit Klickitat Valley Health’s Website. www.kvhealth.net
• Or call Klickitat Valley Health: 509.773.4029
• Check with North Shore Medical: 509-493-2133
• Washington Department of Health’s Vaccine Locator. Visit www.VaccineLocator.doh.wa.gov to find facilities near you with vaccine.

COVID-19 vaccines are free. If you have health insurance, you may be asked to provide that information. But if you do not have insurance, you will not be charged.

History. Expectations. Perceptions. They can lift kids up. And, too often, they can sink kids' hopes. 

But, every once in a while, a kid comes along and listens to his own heart – and his mom. Joey Nelson was one of those kids.

He graduated from Lyle High School as valedictorian in 2007.

Today, the Yakama Tribal member is a Medical Doctor in residency at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle. The Columbia Gorge News shared his story in the June 23, 2021 issue.

You can read more about his experience as a small-town student finding his way through college and eventually into medical school on our Graduate Profiles page on our website.  

We're looking for more Lyle graduates to profile. Please email deb.stenberg@lyleschools.org with your suggestion. Make sure to include contact information!

The State of Washington required all public school districts to submit a plan for the upcoming school year in late May.  Lyle School has been able to offer hybrid education since the beginning of the school year in September and has steadily increased the number of in-person days for students as we safely progressed through the school year.  Our plan submitted to the state is as much a report on what we have been doing in the current school year as a statement of what we will be doing next year.

Review Our Academic and Student Well-being Recovery Plan here. See our 2021-2022 school year calendar.

Parents Can Complete Registration Forms and Update Information Online

Lyle School District has just switched over to a completely online registration system, giving parents access to all of the forms they have filled out on paper in the past. This move will save staff time and allow parents to ensure their children's information is input accurately.  Called "Family Access," this new feature is part of Skyward, the same program currently used by parents to access students' grades, absences information and other ongoing student data. The system provides more security; only people who need and are authorized to see this information have access.  Parents can update contact information there as well to ensure they get timely communications from the school.

There's no doubt that coming back to school or enrolling in a new school requires a lot of paperwork. And there's nothing worse than filling all of those forms out, then misplacing them or having them go missing when you send them to school with your child. Now, instead, parents can do this all online, as they have time, and go back to confirm that the information is right.  

See the attached PDF for directions in how to use Family Access and the Online Registration and Information Update features. 

In addition to the Contact and Health Updates, the school is required to collect the following forms/information. Many of these impact services that families can receive outside of the school setting, like EBT cards for food benefits or assistance in obtaining housing.

• Verify Military Status
• Verify Ethnicity/Race. The state has added several additional race categories. Feel free to change it if you feel your race is better identified than as previously reported
• Housing Questionnaire
• Media Release-We are required to inform you of your right to allow or disallow certain information to be published or released outside of the school
• Home Language Survey
• Food Service Application. Please review this application. There are certain programs that use this application for benefits such as: Pandemic EBT, ASB Waivers, Running Start Fee Waivers, and others.  IF you do not qualify, please mark the form accordingly
• Income Verification. This is VERY IMPORTANT. To meet our Community Eligibility for FREE meals for our students, we must get an Income Survey from families.  All information is kept strictly confidential and is only released to the Authorized Food Service Administrators for the District. Please help us keep all of our kids fed without charge.

Need help? Have questions? Don’t hesitate to reach out to us at support@lyleschools.org or at 509.365.2211.

Lyle Schools Offers Effective Hybrid Learning, and Safe, Effective In-Person Instruction

Throughout the Columbia Gorge and across the nation, schools are grappling with the best and safest way to deliver educational services during a global pandemic. Many education staples such as in-person classroom learning and meal services that have traditionally required face-to-face interaction were no longer permitted early in the pandemic due to concerns over COVID-19 transmission. Essentially, education transformed to remote learning overnight, something few schools were prepared for.

By the end of the summer, Washington’s Governor Inslee released a new framework for returning to in-person education, which allowed students and teachers to return to the classroom in small groups as long as COVID-19 remained low in the surrounding county. At that point, Klickitat County, whose population is under 25,000, had fewer than 200 recorded cases. The town of Lyle had a single recorded case, while Dallesport had seven, which were quickly contained.

To the Lyle School District reopening team, which included administrators, teachers and support staff, bringing back small groups of students that needed the most support with distance learning seemed a logical and important first step.

The team worked closely with the county health department, maintaining a laser focus on state-required safety precautions as it developed a plan for hybrid learning. This involved small groups of students rotating through the school building for in-person instruction on select days each week and participating in class remotely outside of those specific on-campus hours. Before classes started, parents and students came to the school for pre-arranged mini-conferences with their teachers. They checked out new laptops and learned how to log in and where to find their classes. The process for participating in class is the same each day, whether the student is in the school or at home.

The reopening team developed protocols for monitoring the health of students and staff for return to school, as well. Staff self-monitor and attest via a written form that they are well each day. Students arriving at school receive a quick health screening, including a temperature check. Safety protocols also emphasize mask-wearing, hand-washing and physical distancing throughout the day.

To support remote instruction, the district was able to purchase Smart Boards for every classroom in addition to the personal laptops, expenditures that were possible thanks to CARES Act funding. Teachers attended multiple days of training in using the devices, and continue to train in Microsoft Teams software and best practices in remote instruction.

Unlike larger districts with more staff, Lyle doesn’t have the option of assigning one grade-level teacher to remote learning and another to on-site instruction, because there is only one teacher per grade level at the elementary level, and one per subject at the secondary level. Lyle teachers stepped up to the challenge and agreed to simultaneously instruct students physically in their classroom and those logged in remotely.

“While our goal is to keep students and staff learning in person as much as possible, our team is prepared to transition to remote learning quickly, if needed.” Superintendent Ann Varkados explains. “Using technology like Microsoft Teams for simultaneous in-person and remote instruction allows for less disruption if we need to pivot to online learning.”

In fact, on September 14, 2020, less than a week after the start of the school year, Lyle School students and teachers proved that point by quickly moving to all-remote instruction when wildfire smoke led to a five-day halt to all in-person instruction in Klickitat County schools. By then, most students had at least one day of in-person instruction that involved logging in and using their devices. It was a crash course in live remote instruction, but by the end of the five days, teachers were expressing new-found confidence in their skills.

With the county’s COVID-19 infection rate now even lower than on the first day, the school is gradually increasing the number of days students can be in school. On Monday, October 5, all Kindergarten and first grade students – both exceptionally small classes of 7 or less -- returned to the building full time. Additional grade levels through middle school will be phased in, with students in grades 2-8 coming to the building at least twice a week.

At the high school level, students’ individual needs and learning styles are guiding decisions about who should receive more on-site instruction. Students who lack adequate Internet access are especially high priority for attending school in person.

Lyle Education Association Co-President Cody Magill is excited about the learning model, explaining, “The adoption of this program puts teachers in a position to be more flexible. We can more readily tailor our approach for each student, addressing individual gaps by accessing resources in a manner that promotes equity. It puts us at the forefront of education moving forward.”

Providing instruction under these circumstances, even in a small district, is not simple. Administrators in other districts have taken notice of what Lyle is doing. Principal Lori Smith recounts first hearing from a staff person whose spouse operates a daycare and sees first-hand how area districts are providing remote instruction. Lyle, she said, was “rocking it,” on par with another, much better-funded, Gorge-area school district. Since then, Principal Smith has heard other positive comments and even fielded calls from administrators in other districts, asking about the school’s approach.

Nevertheless, parents’ fears around the pandemic and in-person instruction have hit Lyle hard, something else it has in common with districts across the country. The absence of 25 students means a quarter-million dollar loss to the school’s operating budget. Staff are eager to get the word out that great things are happening in Lyle, in hopes of reassuring parents who have been hesitant to enroll students this year. That could include parents who have been trying to homeschool their students or who have enrolled them in the larger, less personal remote learning programs, or Kindergarten parents who simply decided to wait out the year. For families who want to continue learning remotely, the district will accommodate them through at least the end of this school year.

The school is also accepting out-of-district transfers for all grades. Out-of-district parents must take responsibility for transporting their children to and from school. Call 509-365-2211, extension 120, to learn more about enrolling.

“We can all agree that in-person is how kids learn best,” said Superintendent Ann Varkados. “I’m proud of our team for creating safe and sustainable practices for bringing kids back to school and encourage families to learn more about the good things happening at Lyle School District.”