Planning our return to school on April 26th

How are we going back to school on April 26th?

Smith Academy: Planning our return to school on April 26th 

Good morning, 

I wanted to share an update in our plans for the return to school, 7-12, five days a week, 7:30-2pm, starting April 26th. 

If you haven't done so already, please provide feedback through completing the surveys in this document.

Thanks

Chris

 

As of March 22nd, in our hybrid model, we have 100% of students who want to be in person 4 days a week in all grade levels: 139/ 179 students are in the building 4 days a week.

 

Why are we going back on April 26th?

 

  • DESE guidance came out on March 9th and gave a date for Elementary schools (April 5th)and also for Middle Schools (April 28th). 

  • Combination of falling infection numbers, teacher vaccinations and low/ no transmission in schools, increasing concerns about the ongoing effects of the pandemic on student SEL and academic progress. DESE additional information.

  • We are a combined MS/ HS. There is no guidance on how we can run hybrid and in-person and staff under an MOA and staff under the CBA and staff on both.

  • Logistically it is challenging to run two starts and ends of days, four sets of buses and be cohesive with HES, on top of how we schedule staff in both a hybrid and a regular schedule.

 

Planning steps: 

 

We cannot control what we have to do, but we have some control over how we do it!

 

  • March 9th:Guidance from DESE

  • March 10th - ongoing: Staff feedback and questions on the guidance and going back

  • March 17th: Who is coming in/ staying remote? (Families)

  • March 24 - 31st: Family survey: What would you like to continue from hybrid/ not continue? General feedback

  • March 24 - 31st: Student survey: What would you like to continue from hybrid/ not continue? General feedback

  • March 10-April 5: Health & Safety, CBA requirements, Student and staff Schedules, buses, lunches. At this stage we will be planning a return based on our regular 7:30-2pm schedule.

  • Week of April 5th: Staff to be shared plans and asked for feedback during the weekly staff meeting on April 7th

  • Week of April 12th: (First week of Q4): Buildings and planning sign off from the BoH & COVID Coordinator, Communication with students and families about what April 26th will look like

  • April 26th: Orientation for students new to the building (Survey)