Category: News

We’ve put all of Principal Chris’ communications with families in one online document. Click here to catch up on what is going on at the EEU with regards to COVID-19 procedures and updates.

Members of the Haring Center Community: 

I hope you and your loved ones are safe and healthy. The deaths of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, and Breonna Taylor, along with the history of racial injustice and racial violence in this country intensify the pain and anger during an emotional time in our community amidst a public health crisis that is disproportionally impacting the Black community. 

Black Lives Matter.

To our Black families, staff members, and friends: we stand beside you and see the deep pain and trauma that the loss of these lives and the history of systemic violence and injustice carries. We stand beside you as members of the Haring Center community and recognize the work that we have to do as individuals, as a community and as an institution to combat systemic racism, police brutality, and injustice. We commit to doing this work every day within our classrooms, in our building, and beyond in our community. We commit to reflection, listening to and learning from other community organizations and voices who are focused on this important work.

We must work together to create safe spaces to express our emotions, share pain, and raise our voices. This work is important to all of us.

The EEU is currently accepting applications for preschool and kindergarten head teachers for the 2020-2021 academic year.

Please click here for more information.

Hello EEU Families,

Seattle Schools has just announced that schools will be closed for a minimum of 14 days starting Thursday, March 12th.

FROM SEATTLE SCHOOLS:

We have been following the guidance of Public Health Seattle & King County and implementing preventive and responsive strategies, but in light of Governor Inslee’s request that all citizens practice measures to slow the spread of COVID-19, it is now time for the district to act swiftly. Starting tomorrow, Thursday March 12, Superintendent Denise Juneau and the Seattle School Board will close Seattle Public Schools for a minimum of 14 days as the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) currently guides. This necessary action is an effective way to disrupt widespread infection. Beginning Thursday, March 12, all school building activities including school day instruction, childcare, health services, enrichment, etc. are canceled until further notice.

I will continue to provide you updates as information becomes available. On behalf of the Haring Center and EEU staff I want to say that our hearts are with all our children and families.  We know that disruption in services is extremely challenging for families and we hope to be back in session as soon as possible.

FROM SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS:

On March 10, an Aki Kurose Middle School staff member was lab confirmed with COVID-19. In an abundance of caution, Aki Kurose Middle School will be closed until further notice. We are working directly with Public Health Seattle and King County and will follow Public Health’s recommendations when making decisions to reopen the school. Disinfectant and cleaning of the building and learning spaces will follow the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendations.

The Experimental Education Unit (EEU) and the Haring Center remain open at this time.  I will continue to provide any updates as they become available

EEU Families and Staff,

The EEU and Haring Center remain open. We continue to work in partnership with Public Health, the University of Washington, Seattle Public Schools, and the Department of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF). To date, there are no confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Seattle Public Schools or at the EEU. If a Seattle Public school has a community member who is diagnosed with COVID-19 by a medical professional, that building will close. This includes the EEU.

The EEU and Seattle Schools share the goal to keep our doors open as long as possible while prioritizing the health and safety of our students, families and staff. 

We continue to ask for your help in keeping our community healthy and safe. We ask that children, families and staff members stay home if they are sick and consult medical professionals. In addition to postponing all activities outside of school hours, we have suspended all school tours and trainings until further notice to limit the number of people entering the building.

While we are open and here to provide education and support, we also respect and honor every family’s ability to make the best decision for their child and family about participating at the EEU with the current health and safety concerns.  We will not question a family’s decision to keep a child home and only ask that you let your teacher or the front office know your child will be absent.

In addition to these updates, we wanted to provide additional resources regarding Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19). We have found the following handouts very helpful:

• Novel Coronavirus Fact Sheet
• Personal Preparedness for COVID-19

These handouts have also been translated into several different languages and can be accessed using the links below:

https://www.doh.wa.gov/Emergencies/NovelCoronavirusOutbreak2020/FactSheet

https://www.doh.wa.gov/Emergencies/NovelCoronavirusOutbreak2020/HealthEducation

We appreciate your continued support and patience as we do our best to address the health and safety concerns of our community. We will continue to provide updates as information becomes available. Thank you.