Back to School Updates

We welcomed new staff to our school community for back to school workshops this week, with returning staff joining us yesterday. The positive energy was readily apparent and we are excited to be fully cooperating on our final plans and preparations for a safe, successful, and equitable start to the school year.

Please see the following updates as we look forward to seeing some of our students and families next week for various back to school activities:

Elementary Back to School Assessments: We look forward to safely welcoming students and staff back into our buildings for back to school assessments on Monday, August 31st. You should have received communication from your child(ren)’s teachers regarding the assessment schedule. Middle School Advisors for both hybrid and distance learning will be sending out communication to their students by Tuesday morning of next week. This email will include schedules and expectations for students in distance learning as well.

Please keep in mind that masks will be required, a symptoms checklist will be in place, physical distancing will be expected while on site, and please stay home if you are sick.

Back to School Resources: Please see the following pickup schedule if you are eligible or in need of technology and school lunch as well as distance learning materials:

Hybrid Student Tech Pickup for Eligible Families and Others in Need: 
Tuesday, September 1st, 10 a.m. – 3:00 p.m., Richfield Campus Door #4, Bloomington Campus Door # 8

Distance Learning Student Textbook and Planner Pickup and Technology for Eligible Families or Others in Need: 
Wednesday, September 2nd, 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m..(unless picked up on Monday during Assessment), Richfield Campus Door #4, Bloomington Campus Door #9

School Lunch Pickup for Eligible Families:
Thursday, September 4th, 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m., Richfield Campus Door #1, Bloomington Campus Door #9

COVID-19 Preparedness: We have met the safety requirements and recommended best practices of the base learning hybrid model, and have created a COVID-19 preparedness page on our website for families to reference. We will continue to add health and safety information and resources to this page, including recent postings of a short video that reminds us of the essential practices to which we must all adhere.

COVID-19 Monitoring: We will track local conditions daily at each of our campuses, and continue to monitor weekly county case rates and city-level data. Yesterday’s Hennepin County case rate decreased from 22.0 to 19.47, with decreases in city-level data as well. In addition to viral activity, we will monitor staffing levels and related organizational resources to ensure we can deliver our hybrid model safely and successfully.

COVID-19 Programming: Our hybrid and distance learning cohort rosters and assignments are set, with the next opportunity for a learning model change at MEA break. Please visit our website to see last week’s back to school communication and contact the appropriate personnel with questions regarding bus transportation and school lunch. If you need a technology device, please complete today the survey sent last week.

We hope you all have a good weekend,

The SHPA Administrative Leadership Team