Our digital learning coordinators have worked hand-in-glove with our teachers to provide online learning opportunities for students. Our teachers and clerical staff have prepared printed instructional materials for students without online access.
Our Buzz Line, 413-1234, has proven to be a valuable resource to our students and their families. We will maintain the Buzz Line through the close of the school year on May 22.
We are proud that our school system holds the highest level of academic accreditation, and we are fortunate that our robust digital learning program has allowed us to continue to satisfy the rigorous requirements of our accrediting agency by providing instruction while we are unable to meet with our students face-to-face.
Even as we are continuing our instructional program, teachers have been granted flexibility in how they evaluate students and assign grades so that they can take into account extenuating circumstances that some students may experience. If your child is having difficulty completing his or her assignments for any reason, please contact your child’s teacher. Teachers are able to work with their students to accommodate individual situations that families may be facing.
Our teachers are planning to conclude instruction the week of May 4-8. There will be no new assignments given after May 8. The last two weeks of the school year will be devoted to allowing students to make-up any missed assignments or to complete projects. Teachers will be available to work with students online or by phone the weeks of May 11 and May 18 as needed.
Students who are working on instructional packets are asked to complete and return their packets or submit pictures of their assignments by Wednesday, May 13. Grades will be finalized by Friday, May 22. Each school will distribute instructions for returning Chromebooks, textbooks, library books and other supplies.
Conscientious students and parents are naturally worried about grades during this time of nontraditional instructional delivery. Please rest assured that your child’s teachers will be very flexible in assigning grades. It is our expectation that grades earned during this time will help and not hurt students’ year-end averages. Again, if you have any concerns about your child’s ability to complete his or her assignments, please feel free to reach out to your child’s teacher or principal. If you are unable to reach your child’s teacher, please call the Buzz Line at 413-1234.
We are very disappointed that we will not be able to celebrate graduation with our seniors as scheduled in May. Our seniors deserve a graduation, and we hope to be able to provide a ceremony for them. We are monitoring guidance from state and local officials and will set a date for graduation as soon as it is deemed safe to do so. If it should become evident that we cannot hold a traditional graduation this summer, we will plan a virtual graduation program. We will stay in touch with seniors and their families about our plans as they develop.
Thank you for the many ways that you partner with us to provide the very best for our students. Please feel free to call on me if I can assist you in any way.
Sincerely,
Lisa Williams
Superintendent