Good Morning Washington Local,
We did it! We've made it to the final three days of school. We are all excited to head into what promises to be a summer full of activities at Washington Local, but before we do, I want to recognize some of the unsung heroes who got us through this year successfully.
First, a shout out to our Transportation Department. They are the first and last contacts your students often have with us each and every day. They transport our most precious cargo and this year we certainly relied on them to have eyes in the back of their heads as we battled distancing and safety restrictions all year. Mechanics kept our buses running, dispatchers kept us informed, and our bus monitors provided that extra layer of protection that kept us safe.
Did you know our Nutrition workers have safely served over 2 million meals over the past 15 months? We are looking forward to having things return to normal in the fall so we can get them back to what they love best--making hot meals for our kids!
Our Custodians, Maintenance, Pony Driver, and Warehouse workers worked especially hard to keep us safer than ever before. Whether it was unpacking hundreds of boxes of food, keeping our buildings well-maintained, filling hundreds of hand sanitizing stations many times each day, delivering mail, or disinfecting with the foggers, they kept us healthy and running strong.
Our Safety Aides had a big challenge this year keeping students in cohorts and masked--while still having fun. Thanks for watching over our kids! They had so much fun during Zone Recess because of you!
Our Classroom Aides have really been there for us this year. They’ve provided the encouragement and assistance to make this year successful. Whether we were online or remote, they really helped our kids succeed.
Did you know our Technology Staff manages over 13,000 computers -- about 2,000 per employee. They came through for us over and over this year to keep us going whether we were remote, virtual or in-person. Thank you.
Every day our secretaries wear many, many hats! They hold the fort down so that our kids are safe, families are well-informed, and schools run efficiently. Secretaries all around the district play a critical role in making sure we are running smoothly.
Our Print Shop helped us communicate so many important safety messages this year that helped us find our way, know which way was up, and helped our teachers stay focused on teaching.
We gave a shout out to teachers a few weeks ago, but we can't finish the year without acknowledging them again for all the ways they helped us learn this year. Counselors, coaches, deans, nurses, school psychologists, Speech/Occupational/Physical Therapists, and our social worker supported and nurtured students to make it through to the end of this very trying year.
Our Central Office crew is there every day ensuring we get kids enrolled, bills get paid, people get hired and paid, students receive vital services, curriculum resources are there for whatever model we are in, networks are safe and running, and we are following all the state and federal laws. Everyone had to learn many new skills this year, and Central Office employees were exceptional at adapting.
Principals and Administrators have worked long hours, stressed over the constant changes coming from County and Columbus, and still managed to put a smile on every morning to welcome our kids to school.
Finally, a big shout out to our students, families and the Washington Local Community. Every week it seemed like there was a new change to our procedures as the Department of Health reacted to COVID data. Never before have we had to shift so many different times and provide so many options. We are excited to return in the fall as a district who has learned a lot and will provide an even better experience for our students. We lived up to our hashtag, #onedaybetter, each and every day this year. Thank you for your patience, your flexibility, your grace, and most of all for entrusting us with your very best every day!
Enjoy your summer and stay tuned to our social media channels for updates throughout the summer.
Kadee Anstadt, Ed.D.
Superintendent/CEO
Washington Local Schools
3505 W. Lincolnshire Blvd.
Toledo, OH 43606
419-473-8220
Cell: 419-343-0961