In a continued effort to inform our families we would like to offer updates on our continue work towards completing our “Return to Learn” plan for the PORTA District. This week we have heard from Public officials and physicians that they are advising districts to consider returning to school in smaller groups. As such, we have added a new element to our “Return to Learn” Plan. As you know from last week’s report our first plan is to offering in-person teaching as we have traditionally in our buildings at the start of the New Year, as long as we are in Stage 4. As a backup to our 1st choice we have also developed a plan that will split grades/classrooms in half and those groups will attend in-person on separate days of the week. Group 1 meeting on Monday and Tuesday as Group two commutes into the classroom via Google meets and then on Thursday and Friday Group two attends in person and Group 1 participates on line. In this scenario, Wednesday will be a remote learning day, allowing for small group enrichment, scheduled group/office visits and deep cleaning of classrooms. If we are forced to use this backup plan in August, we will solicit your personal choices for days of attendance to aid in child care needs and understand we will work diligently to ensure families are receiving in person learning on the same days. We will do our best to meet everyone’s needs, but undoubtedly there will be some that will not receive their first choice.
Grades K-2 are particularly difficult to plan for, but at this point we are considering an online curriculum that is a home-school platform, making it easier for parents to offer a good educational experience to their young children. Additionally, we will be offering supplemental small group activities with our teaching and ParaPro staff to help parents through the teaching and learning process. As we solidify our online choices and practices for our “return to learn” plan we will be reporting back to families. We anticipate releasing our plan during the week of July 20th.
We do ask that parents be prepared to return to Stage 3 full remote learning, we will do our very best to prepare students and families early in the school year if we are able to meet face to face.
In the Governor’s message on Wednesday he reiterated the wearing of face-masks, social distancing and enhanced disinfecting, during this stage. We know the wearing of face-masks is a very controversial issue among residents across all school districts, but we also know that face-masks do make a difference and our goal is to delay or halt any and all closures due to a large outbreak of Covid in our district. These three simple steps of wearing masks, washing hands and social distancing will be instrumental in staying in school this fall. As such, we also understand that wearing masks will be difficult for some, so please know that we will do everything we can to give students breaks from the use of masks, through outside social distancing opportunities.
Things are changing daily and information I shared today may be different next week so please begin to take steps for the return of your students to in person learning by purchasing masks and reinforcing social distancing and hand washing.
Registration for K-6 will take place at “Roots” on July 30 from noon to 7PM and on July 31 7AM to 11 AM. Registration packets will be mailed or arranged for pickup at the end the July 13th week or early in the week of the July 20th.
Families may pickup registration packets at PORTA Central beginning on Monday, July 20th from 9:00-11:00, Tuesday, July 21st from 4:00-6:00p.m. and Wednesday, July 22 from 9:00-11:00. Parents will take packets home to fill out and then return them with fee payment on July 30 from Noon-7:00p.m. at Roots and also Friday, July 31 from 7:00-11:00a.m. at Roots.
Jr/Sr High registration packets will be mailed between July 17th and 24th and registration will be held at the Jr/Sr high on July 30 (noon to 7pm) and 31st (7am-11AM) for new students.