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GHMS School Reopening Update 8/14/20
Good Afternoon Huesken Middle School Families,
I thank you for your patience as we work to finalize the details and communicate changes to the school year plan. It has not been easy to navigate the challenges that COVID has created, but the support and character of our community has driven us to find ways to overcome the obstacles. The video that I have created explains some key points for the reopening of school. The timeline below gives you an outline of where in the video you can find particular sections, but I also highlighted some of the areas so that you are informed of not only the plan, but the rationale behind some of the decisions. I recognize that some of the decisions we have to make will not please everyone. Please know that we have been analyzing the data, information, and feedback that we have received and have worked hard to make data driven decisions for the betterment of all of our students.
As a result of the information available to us, we have made adjustments and provided a more detailed description (with visuals) of each learning option. Whether you completed the survey or not, please take time to at least review the video sections for the learning options. Many had concerns about the virtual option based on the structure and offerings and chose face to face due to not having enough information. After you review the video, please reach out to me if you would like to change your commitment. I would just need to know the learners name, and which learning option they would like to be a part of. I would ask that you let me know of any change of plans by Tuesday, August 18 so that I can organize things and finalize plans to share schedules on August 19. If you do not want to change from the initial survey, you do not need to tell me.
Some of the changes have created procedures or structures that are different than how we have traditionally done them, but we have had to get creative to ensure we are providing an equitable, safe, and supportive learning environment where students can continue to learn and grow through this pandemic. The plan is flexible and will be analyzed as the year progresses. Our hope is to continue to build all aspects of our offerings at GHMS so that we can support our students and prepare them for success. This is a starting point based on what we know.
I thank you for all of the support, and genuinely am excited to welcome the students back. They have been my top priority and focus since March 13th. The lack of knowing has been stressful and has caused a lot of anxiety in many (myself included). Please know that we will work with you to overcome the challenges that may arise this year. We are a strong, caring, and committed community. Nothing will change that. Let’s work together to make 2020-2021 the best year and experience for our students.
Character, Community, Commitment
Denis P. Quirk
GHMS Principal
Denis_Quirk@ConestogaValley.Org
Video Link: GHMS Update August 14
Video Timeline:
- Opening Message and Thank you - 0:00 – 2:11
- Student Schedule Update – 2:11 – 6:00
- Face Covering Requirements – 6:00 – 10:52
- Learning Options:
- Survey Data Analysis & Interpretation – 10:52 – 17:50
- Face to Face Learning Option – 17:50 – 27:45
- Virtual Learning Option – 27:45 – 49:42
- Challenges & Moving Forward – 49:42 – 56:13
Video Highlights:
- Communication
- If you completed the survey, and requested the virtual option, Mrs. Kassay will be working with you to ensure you are set up for the school year.
- The survey data was shared and analyze on Monday, August 10th. We have spent the week analyzing, making adjustments, and communicating with families. The increase in virtual numbers is taking more time to communicate with all families, but we will have you and your student ready for the start of school.
- We thank you for your patience.
- Face Covering Clarification
- The section recaps the expectation and requirements related to face coverings in CVSD.
- Learning Options
- This section explains the changes to both our face to face program and virtual program. The changes were made through careful analysis and consideration of the information that we have been collecting.
- While developing and organizing our schedules, resources, and offerings, we focused on two primary goals:
- Provide and equitable and positive learning experience to engage students and have them be a part of our GHMS family regardless of their choice for face to face and online.
- Maximize our ability to mitigate the spread of COVID by manipulating and arranging factors of each option to promote social distancing to the greatest extent.
- Key Changes: (video explains each in more detail)
- Face to Face
- Removal of Activity Period
- Clubs and large group activities were the focus of activity period. Although we will come back to this when the situation improves, the activities that we would typically engage in during this time do not create the safest and controlled environments.
- Time has been evenly distributed to provide more time in each class. This will allow time for built in hygiene practices, flexibility with teachers manipulating their schedule to utilize other learning spaces or take mask breaks and increase learning time to build students back up from time lost.
- Large group music ensembles will now operate as smaller group music instruction to develop musicianship and skills. Music educators will focus on one team at a time to work with small groups and not mix students across teams. Music educators will also have opportunities for small group sectionals and lessons to continue the growth of our musicians during this time.
- Lunch & WIN Switched Time
- Lunch will no precede WIN.
- WIN stands for What I Need, and is used for intervention, remediation, enrichment, character education, and anything else a student may need. It is purposefully built in time to grow each student where they are. This time will follow lunch and be used to also help students take time to decompress, be kids, and ease back into the school day. Teams will use this time to take outdoor breaks and promote team activities to ease students back into school.
- Videos will come out next week to highlight building procedures and provide visuals for students to prepare for their first day.
- Removal of Activity Period
- Virtual Learning Option
- Key Point: Virtual learning is not what students and families experienced in the Spring. We analyzed, observed, collected feedback, and have built in structure for a positive experience.
- Learning Platform
- Utilize Zoom and Schoology to create a virtual learning environment where students can be on a team.
- Students will have a schedule that would look similar to that of face to face students. Courses are organized in a traditional bell schedule and allows them to organize their coursework and stay on track.
- As a cohort, students will still be a part of a team and have synchronous and asynchronous learning opportunities that promote relationship building, and collaboration. Teachers will lead instruction in similar ways to the classroom while keeping virtual and face to face students on pace as they work through curriculum.
- Use Schoology Calendar and Sapphire to organize assignments and due dates to help parents and students track progress.
- Provide a blend of synchronous and asynchronous with a team of teachers
- Provide and align virtual and face to face “schedule” so all students have equal access to educators and help.
- Added benefits of change:
- Virtual students get the same curricular experience as face to face
- Same schedule, access to teachers, interaction, and benefits from working with a common team of teachers.
- More structure to keep students focused and on track
- Eliminates students from being able to just click through learning experiences in a completely asynchronous environment
- This is how we would teach if we had to teach virtually across the entire school.
- Allows for less transition changes.
- If a student on a team were to get sick, or be absent, they have the opportunity to sign in during the virtual section for their team and continue their education remotely.
- Utilize Zoom and Schoology to create a virtual learning environment where students can be on a team.
- Face to Face