I thank you for your patience and understanding during this unprecedented time. As many schools are planning for the start of the 2020-21 school year there are several factors that continue to change on a weekly basis. As a parent, I am sure that you have many questions and that as the start of school approaches, your questions and concerns may increase. Please know that we at Southern Door are doing our best to keep your child’s safety and education at the forefront of our decision making. We are here for you and care greatly about your child's success. This week there will be very specific information (open house, building access, health and safety, transportation, classroom procedures etc…) coming to you via Infinite Campus messenger which will likely answer many of your questions and hopefully alleviate any of your concerns. Below are a few Frequently Asked Questions and you can also refer to the Fly Like and Eagle Re-entry plan posted on our website.
Have a great week -
Brenda Shimon
Middle School Principal
What Things Are the Same for Both Face-to-Face and Remote Learning:
1. Curriculum Standards, Instruction, and Expectations for Student Learning. Students in both settings will be provided with the same curriculum standards, instructional strategies, expectations, and assessments to ensure a high-quality educational experience for all students. While the remote setting may not be able to duplicate all of the classroom interaction with peers or all the hands-on experiences of a lab in an on-site classroom, the engagement of students in their learning and the ability to connect with staff and receive instructional support will be an important part of the remote learning experience.
2. School attendance requirements are in place whether your child is an on-site or a remote learner. During the previous remote learning experience last spring, school attendance was not required to be taken and was temporarily waived. This year, however, Compulsory School Attendance is in place (https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/statutes/statutes/118/15) and requires your son or daughter to be visually present during remote learning through the duration of the instruction on the scheduled day and time. Remote learning will follow the board approved school calendar. Absences from face-to-face learning or remote learning may occur during this time for a variety of reasons, which could include being ill or quarantined themselves. The regular policy for missing work when absent will be in place. Students have one day for every day of absence, plus one additional day, overall to complete missed work. For example, if a student is missing for three days, they have three days, plus one to complete missing homework and hand it in to the instructor. With the addition of Google Classroom, students will receive their daily assignments on the day they are absent, whether they are in school or at home. All attendance will be tracked regardless if a student is face-to-face or remote.
3. State and district testing are scheduled to be done on site for all remote and face-to-face learners. State testing is legislated by the ESEA ACT and is currently required for students who participate in remote and/or face-to-face learning https://dpi.wi.gov/esea All students will need to be physically present on the Southern Door campus during state and district testing scheduled dates and times.
What Does Face-to-Face On-Site Learning Look Like This Year? We believe that students will ultimately receive the highest degree of interactions with their peers and instructor in this setting. We also believe that we want to do this as safely as possible.
1. Face coverings or masks will be required. At present, the Governor’s order and county advisory are in effect with face coverings/masks being required. The Board of Education has also modified the original Fly Like an Eagle Re-entry Plan to include the requirement of face coverings/masks to protect the health and safety of everyone, as long as the pandemic remains a concern. Specific areas and times will be designated to remove face coverings as well as our compliance with exceptions to this requirement as determined by an individual's physical or health condition.
2. Passing time will be scheduled as it has in the past. Expectations during passing time include maintaining safe physical distance, a one directional hallway when possible and a keep moving philosophy. Students will not be socially gathering in the hallways, between classes and may use this time to access lockers, restrooms, the office, etc. Students are expected to arrive to class within the expected three-minute passing time.
3. Lunch - During the scheduled lunch periods, students will have additional tables set up in the hallway, outside the cafeteria, and in other larger spaces. Students may choose to eat in specific areas, depending on their level of comfort. Students can choose from the school entree or bring their own cold lunch. Since Lunch or ala carte items cannot be purchased with cash, money should be deposited into your child’s school lunch account prior to purchasing items.
4. Instructional classrooms will look different depending on the identified COVID-19 activity level. https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/covid-19/local.htm. Specific examples include spacing of desks in classrooms, instructional activities, group activities, and procedures for day-to-day tasks. Each classroom will utilize the Google Classroom to organize classroom activities and assignments. Staff will set expectations of the kinds of activity permissible during each of the levels – high, medium, and low, as well as discuss the process that will be in place should the school experience a short-term shut down as determined by Public Health and the superintendent.
5. Screening and health concerns continue to be a top priority in the face-to-face environment. Parents will be provided a tool to assist in reminding themselves and their children of the COVID symptoms. and must come to school symptom free. https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/covid-19/symptoms.htm. Students must come to school symptom free; however, if once at school, they display symptoms, they will be immediately referred to our school nurse who will contact parents for next steps. Door County Public Health is in the process of developing additional information to assist parents and schools in this area.
6. Cleaning will be done between classes and whenever necessary in classrooms, restrooms, large areas, etc., depending on the amount and frequency of student activity and follow COVID-19 activity level and Department of Health Services recommendations.
What Does Remote Learning Look Like This Year?
1. All remote learning will be synchronous. This instructional method provides an opportunity for your child to receive direct instruction as part of a class or cohort within our school system. Your child will remote in and access instruction on the day and time it is scheduled to occur within the school setting, during the school day. Your son or daughter’s schedule will remain in place and will be utilized in a remote setting until you elect to return them to the face-to-face setting. Using the synchronous learning method allows your son or daughter to transition back into the face-to-face learning environment at the beginning of the next quarter grading period –or at the end of the pandemic, unless a personal situation requires a special accommodation determined in consultation with the school counselor and principal.
2. School attendance requirements are in place whether your child is an on-site or a remote learner. During the previous remote learning experience last spring, school attendance was not required to be taken and was temporarily waived. This year, however, Compulsory School Attendance is in place (https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/statutes/statutes/118/15) and requires your son or daughter to be visually present during remote learning through the duration of the instruction on the scheduled day and time. Remote learning will follow the board approved school calendar.
3. State and district testing are scheduled to be done on site for all remote and face-to-face learners. State testing is legislated by the ESEA ACT and is currently required for students who participate in remote and/or face-to-face learning https://dpi.wi.gov/esea All students will need to be physically present on the Southern Door campus during state and district testing scheduled dates and times.