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Dear Methow Valley School District Students, Parents, and Community Members,

After 32 rewarding years in public education, I am announcing my decision to retire at the end of the 2024-25 school year. While this is admittedly bittersweet, I am excited about the next chapter of my life.

I often think back to my arrival in the Methow Valley, equipped with the aspiration of serving as the Methow Valley School District's next Superintendent and a handmade card from my then three-year-old daughter. The card read, "Good luck, Daddy. Please ask them if there's a school for me." Following my interview, I returned home and stated, "Ingrid, there's a school for you. And, the teachers are amazing." That was nearly twelve years ago. The journey since has been transformative, personally and professionally

As Superintendent, I am grateful for the opportunity to have worked alongside a visionary board, dedicated staff, and a supportive community who shows up time and time again in support of our youth. Together, we have fostered a collaborative, purpose-driven environment, creating endless opportunities that honor each and every student. Frequently stated by former board member Mary Anne Quigley, "We can't do it alone. We can do it together!

In preparation for this transition, I want to assure you that I am focused on finishing strong, committed to supporting our students and staff throughout the remainder of this year. 

Looking ahead, the Methow Valley School District Board of Directors will begin the search for a new Superintendent. You can expect to receive more detailed information about the process, opportunities to participate, and updates along the way.

Thank you for the incredible journey we've shared. I am forever grateful.

With gratitude,

Tom

Honoring a Legacy of Service: MVSD Board Director, Gary Marchbank

It is with gratitude and appreciation for the opportunity to serve as a school board director that Gary Marchbank announces his decision to step down from the Methow Valley School District Board of Directors, effective December 31, 2024.

During a recent conversation with Gary, he was asked to reflect upon his sixteen years of service as a school board member. Gary expressed a deep sense of satisfaction and fulfillment from having served in support of our schools and community - navigating challenges, celebrating successes, and working to help every student reach their full potential.

Gary also emphasized the importance of open dialogue, respect, and relationships during his tenure by sharing his favorite quote: “The greatest human empowerment is the ability to change one’s mind." He added, "Our schools do best when we listen to each other, embrace civil discourse, and seek common ground.”

When asked about Gary, Board Chair Dana Stromberger commended Gary's contributions, stating, “Gary's dedication and commitment to service in support of our schools is truly unparalleled. He leaves behind a remarkable legacy, not to mention some pretty big shoes to fill. Gary has set a standard for what exemplary service on a school board should look like, serving as a model for others to follow.”

Vice-Chair Judith Hardmeyer-Wright added, "I am forever grateful for having been able to serve alongside Gary. His humble nature, listening skills, and strong commitment, particularly in support of the district's Career and Technical Education courses have resulted in the development of pathways toward graduation and beyond that did not previously exist, ensuring every student is valued and feels dignified. In fact, it is Gary who has always said, 'Education is at its best when it provides students with an opportunity to rub elbows with the real world'."

Long-time board member Frank Kline summed it up well by stating, "Gary is friend to all. His servant leadership style, collaborative, solution-oriented approach, and 'focus on the big picture' will be missed dearly."

Extending his heartfelt thanks to the community, Gary concluded our conversation by stating, “Thank you for the privilege of serving. It has been an honor to work in support of a community that cares so deeply about our youth, their education, and their future.”

Looking ahead, the Methow Valley School District will provide more information regarding the process for filling the vacant board seat shortly following his official resignation date.

Until then, please join us as we honor Gary Marchbank for his service in support of the Methow Valley School District.

Dear Methow Valley Students, Parents, and Community Members,

I hope each of you are well, enjoying the vibrant colors, crisp air, and beauty associated with fall in the Methow Valley!

Looking ahead at an extended forecast that includes a change in temperatures and the possibility of a few snowflakes, I want to remind you about the procedures we have in place regarding “School Closures, Delays, and Emergency Bus Routes.”

Depending on the conditions, possible changes to the regular school schedule might include:

MVSD schools closed for the day

MVSD schools operating on a two-hour delayed start schedule

MVSD schools operating on a two-hour delayed start schedule with emergency bus routes* in effect

MVSD buses operating on time with emergency bus routes* in effect

*Emergency Bus Route information can be found on our School Closures, Delays and Emergency Routes page.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Q: What would cause a school closure?

**A: **The MVSD will close its schools when it is determined that the conditions (weather, fire, smoke, flooding, prolonged power outage, etc.) are unsafe for normal school operations.

Q: When schools are closed for the day, what does that mean for before and after-school activities?

A: When schools are closed for the day, all before and after-school activities, athletic practices and events, and the Head Start Preschool program are cancelled.

Q: How often does the Methow Valley close its schools due to adverse weather conditions, power outages, or otherwise?

A: Seldom. Recognizing the closure of our schools creates a significant disruption in the lives of the families and community we serve, the MVSD takes the decision to close its schools seriously.

Q: If school is closed, will students be required to make up the day?

**A: **Yes. If school is closed for the day, the missed school day will be added to the end of the school calendar.

Q: What would cause a two-hour delayed start?

A: Typically weather-related, the MVSD will initiate a two-hour delayed start to the school day when the conditions require additional time to ensure the safe operations of the school district, allowing bus drivers, parents, and our student-drivers the additional time necessary to safely travel to school.

Q: How are programs impacted when operating on a two-hour delayed start?

**A: **When operating on a two-hour delayed start, bus drivers will begin picking up students two hours later than the normal scheduled time. This means if your student regularly catches their bus at 7:30 am, they would catch the bus at 9:30 am.

Q: How does a two-hour delayed start to the school day impact the rest of the school day and after-school programs?

**A: **School will let out at the regular dismissal time and the afternoon routes will operate on their normal schedule.

Q: How does a two-hour delayed start to the school day impact an Early Release school day and after-school programs?

A: Schools will let out at their regular (MVE: 3:10 pm, LBHS/ILC: 3:20 pm) dismissal times and afternoon routes will operate on their normal schedule.

Q: How does a two-hour delayed start impact the Head Start Preschool program?

A: In the event of a delayed start to the school day, the Head Start Preschool program will operate on a two-hour delayed schedule as well.

Q: What is an emergency bus route?

A: Several routes may be impacted by adverse conditions making it unsafe for the bus to travel on certain roads. Riders on affected routes will meet the bus at their designated emergency stop. (Visit our School Closures, Delays and Emergency Routes page for details.)

Q: What if conditions change or an event takes place during the school day? Will you close schools early?

A: With the exception of extreme weather conditions or an event (e.g. fire, prolonged power outage) making it unsafe to remain in the school building(s), we make every effort to avoid closing our schools early. If it is determined that we need to close school early, we would use the lines of communication listed below to notify families of these changes.

Q: How does the MVSD make decisions about changes to the regular school day?

A: It’s not a perfect science given the many variables, but it begins and ends with one constant – the safety of our students, staff, parents, and community members. Working in consultation with the WA DOH and county road crews, the MVSD assesses and evaluates each event using multiple sources of information (weather forecasts, current and predicted road conditions, possible power outages, air quality measures, etc.) in support of its effort to make an informed decision.

Q: What if the MVSD is operating on-time or on a delayed schedule, but I believe the conditions where I live make it unsafe for me or my student(s) to attend school. What should I do?

**A: **The MVSD Transportation Department provides busing services to the largest geographic attendance area in the state of Washington. As such, we recognize that the conditions in Lost River may vary greatly from those in Carlton. We trust that each parent will make an informed decision that they believe is in the best interest of their student’s safety and well-being. If a parent believes the conditions in their area are unsafe for travel to and from school, they should notify their student’s school that their student will not be attending school and that they are excusing their absence.

Q: How will the MVSD communicate these potential changes to the school schedule?

**A: **Changes to the regular school schedule will be communicated using several sources of information. These include:

**School Messenger – **With School Messenger, we will phone, text or email you whenever there’s a change to the regular school day schedule. Please make sure the school has accurate contact information.

Skyward Messenger – With Skyward Messenger, we will email students and parents whenever there’s a change to the regular school day schedule. Please make sure the school has accurate contact information.

Radio – Tune into the following radio stations to hear changes to our school schedule – KOZI “Community Radio” (103.1 FM) and KTRT “K-Root” (97.5 FM).

Social Media – We will post updates about school closures, delays and emergency bus route modifications on the MVSD Facebook page.

Q: When can I expect the district to notify me of the changes?

**A: **The MVSD will make every attempt to notify students, parents, and community members of changes to the regular school schedule no later than 6:00 am.

You can find more information about school closures, delays, and/or changes to bus routes on our School Closures, Delays and Emergency Routes page or by contacting the Transportation Department at (509) 997-2113.

Be safe,

Tom Venable

Superintendent, Methow Valley School District

Don’t miss out when Liberty Bell Drama Company adds it all up and reveals “The Magic Number”, a collection of modern short plays, monologue and song. The Magic Number hits the stage at 7:00 PM on November 4, 6 and 7 at The Merc Playhouse. Doors open at 6:30. MVSD students and staff as well as families of the cast and crew will get in free. Tickets for general community members are $15 at the door. The performance is PG-13 and may not be appropriate for young children.

Come find out what the magic number is. Is it the 48,000 things on your all-important to-do list? Is it the 15 souls a Vietnam vet carries with him? Is it the 8 dolphins that need to pull Santa’s boat in the age of climate change? Is it the 19 reasons you should date Matthew Weaver? Is it the 5 people that make a family or the -1 that changes everything? Is it that 1 precious thing that makes you remember that you matter? Is it the 1 person that can make all the difference? And aren’t we all 1, all the same in the eyes of the sun?

In a heartfelt announcement, the Winthrop Music Association recently announced its significant contributions to local programs, made possible by the generous support of festival attendees at this year’s Winthrop R&B Fest.

With a commitment to fostering community through music in the Methow Valley and beyond, the Winthrop Music Association Board of Directors has allocated funds to various deserving organizations:

• The Cove Food Bank: $5,400 to support their mission of providing assistance to those in need within the Methow Valley.
• Methow Valley School District Music Program: $3,800 to enhance music education for local students.
• Liberty Bell High School Boosters: $5,000 to support festival parking and community initiatives.
• Tommy Zbyszewski Methow Valley Education Foundation Scholarship: $1,000 honoring the memory of a local firefighter lost during the 2015 wildfires.
• Room One: $2,600 for their vital social services in the Methow Valley.
• Washington Blues Society Musician Relief Program: $750 to assist musicians in need.

The Winthrop Rhythm & Blues Festival is brought to you by Winthrop Music Association (WMA), a 501(c)3 non-profit organization formed in 2005 whose mission is to BUILD COMMUNITY THROUGH MUSIC. We believe that music is a catalyst for joy, connection, and healing

Since its inception in 2005, the non-profit Winthrop Music Association has contributed over $100,000 to support these and other local organizations, helping to enrich our community and preserve the cultural fabric of the Methow Valley.

Please join us in thanking the Winthrop Music Association for their unwavering support and commitment to enhancing the lives of community members through music and outreach.

For more information about the Winthrop Music Association and its initiatives, please visit: https://​winthropbluesfestival.com/

The 2024 LIHEAP Waitlist  is now open and applicants can join the waitlist at https://bit.ly/OCCACLIHEAP24

The Okanogan County Community Action Council's Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) helps low-income households manage their home energy costs.

**LESS THAN A MONTH AWAY! JOIN US FOR PARENT UNIVERSITY - SATURDAY, OCTOBER 5 **
What better way to start the school year off than with Parent University! Join us on Saturday, October 5 from 8:15-1:00 p.m. on The Bush School campus for a half-day conference exploring a variety of topics relevant to raising children in today's society.
The event is headlined by keynote speaker, Dan Lerner, a leading expert on happiness and success. Dan will be touching upon the topic of, "Using Positive Psychology for Excellence and Success During Unprecedented Times." 

Open to the greater Seattle area and all K-12 parents and guardians, Parent University will offer an opportunity to learn from multiple speakers - including Morva McDonald, Vice President of Leadership and Governance at the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) and Caroline Blackwell, Vice President for Equity and Justice at NAIS. The two will be leading a community conversation on Citizenship: Living and Learning in Gracious Space. 
The event registration fee is $20, and childcare is provided for registered attendees. Click here to learn more about the Parent University speakers and view the full schedule and event details.  
Volunteers Needed for Parent University

To ensure the in-person conference runs seamlessly, we are recruiting Bush parents and guardians to assist with a variety of tasks. Parent University is a service that our school provides to the greater community, and we cannot do it without your help. Please contact Events and Volunteer Manager Kerry Quinn at kerry.quinn@bush.edu.

Get ready for an electrifying night under the lights! This Friday, the LBHS Mountain Lions are set to host the top-ranked Okanogan Bulldogs in what promises to be an unforgettable football game.

This isn’t just any game—it's a head-to-head battle between the reigning 1B state champion Mountain Lions, currently ranked #9 at the 2B level, and the defending 2B state champion Bulldogs!

But that’s not all—this game will also feature a thrilling duel between two of the standout players of 2023. LBHS's own quarterback, Lucien Paz, will be going toe-to-toe with Okanogan’s ace, Carter Kuchenbuch, in a showdown between the State 1B and 2B Class Players of the Year. Expect dazzling plays, strategic brilliance, and some Friday night magic!

Mark your calendars for a 7:00 PM kick-off this Friday and join us at Mountain Lion Stadium for a night of action-packed football right in our own backyard. The Booster Club will be on hand with mouthwatering concessions, and don’t forget to deck yourself out in spirit wear to show your Mountain Lion pride.

As always, LBHS is proud to offer free admission for all sports events, so bring your family, friends, and a hearty appetite. With no charge at the gate, you can focus on enjoying the game and supporting our county's incredible student-athletes.

Grrr...