Learning Model Planning Update: Top 10 Things Families Need to Know/10 cosas principales que las familias deben saber sobre el modelo de aprendizaje

Last week we announced a plan to transition to a 4-day hybrid model that continues to offer a distance learning option. We thought it would be helpful to list the most important things families may need to know at this time. We hope this serves to clarify our planning, with more detailed communication to come, as we prepare elementary school for a 4-day hybrid model start on Wednesday, March 3rd, and middle school on Monday, March 15th.  In order for this plan to be safe, successful and sustainable, we will need our entire community to follow recommendations, adapt to new situations, and support one another.

1. The 4-day Hybrid Learning Model combines Cohorts A and B on-site Monday – Thursday with Flexible Fridays continuing throughout  March

2. Most class sizes will be within our normal range of 20-28 students, with a few slightly larger class sizes of 29-31 students at our Bloomington Campus

3. Several Richfield campus elementary staff who are familiar with our program will be reassigned to teaching positions to ensure sufficient coverage

4. A Distance Learning Model will continue to be offered, and we expect students to remain in their current distance or hybrid learning programs

5. Requests to change learning models must be made by February 12th and will be approved based on program capacity or specific medical concerns

6. Bus routes will be adjusted to combine on-site students with lunches and learning packets for distance learning students picked up on site on Fridays

7. There will be No School on staff planning days scheduled for Monday and Tuesday, March 1st and 2nd, Friday, March 26th, and Monday, April 5th 

8. A 5-day in-person learning model for both elementary and middle school is planned to start on Tuesday, April 6th, and continue to the end of the year
 
9. Fridays when school is in session will be early-release days from April through the end of the year with parent pickup and bus departure at 1:15 p.m.
 
10. We continue to monitor the situation using our decision-making metrics and will be ready to reassess our plan at the March school board meeting  

Thank you once again to all of our teachers and staff for their hard work, flexibility, and care in providing such high-quality distance and on-site learning programs. Thank you to our parents as well for their continued patience, support, and trust in our school. And, finally, thank you to our students who remind us every day why we do what we do: their learning, wellbeing, and development remains at the very heart of all of our efforts.