Dear Families,
We have had an outstanding return! Students have done wonderfully and the joy of learning is very evident throughout each classroom. While we are grateful for technology, it is so wonderful to see screen time on pause and children learning in their classroom spaces with their teachers. The community and relational aspect of classrooms is key to growth of the whole child.
As you know, our energy has gone toward getting school open and we will continue to be diligent in our efforts to keep every child and adult safe. We are proud of our mitigation plan and believe the strategies in place follow best practices with the C.D.C. and the American Pediatrics Guidelines for safe school reopening, while still creating learning spaces that feel good for children.
A Few Highlights:
Canvas Pages/ Student Absences: I invited teachers to fully prepare for student return. They are working tirelessly. Now that routines are in place, they will be creating a flow on Canvas, if they haven't already, for students to access when they are not present in school. Thank you for your patience, while this shift to return in-person has been successful teachers needed just a bit of time to provide Canvas support for student absence. As a project-based learning school, our work is less-scripted and requires a different approach when students are out. Teachers will communicate directly with their families the process to access work if children are out.
Absences: If students are out, but still able to work asychronously, this will be marked as an “Excused Absence.” The rationale behind this is we still need a record that the child was not physically present at school. With it being “Excused” the child is still getting credit for the work they are able to do that day. We encourage children to engage in learning at home if they are not at school.
Valentine Day Celebrations: Of course this is on our minds! Your child's classroom teacher will be communicating the safe way in which their classroom will celebrate.
Success!: I wanted to end this note with affirmations…..
Thank you to each individual on the “Parent Design Team” who helped with barriers. We have thanked them before, and we are thanking them AGAIN! Up until the weekend before 3-6 kids, parents were volunteering to make additional (custom sized) barriers!
Thank you to our Mitigation Leadership Team for all their work over the last few months! Thank you to all the staff in the parking lot before and after school!
Thank you to parents who have supported us in preparing your child for school. They are doing AMAZING!
Thank you to parents Liz Provencio and Denny Wells who have supported being guest substitutes in the office as we have had different staff members on leave.
Thank you to parents for your flexibility in new plans and procedures. We have 202 kids loaded in cars, safely, in 7 minutes at the end of the day!
Thank you to our STAFF for being brave and putting forth their best effort to open school and always caring about each and every child.
Parent Maggie Miller shared this thought that I felt was appropriate to end my note with, “I am nervous, I am scared. I am happy, I am prepared.”
Chugach is prepared, thanks to our community, and we take the care and well-being of your child(ren) very seriously!
Warm Regards,
Clare
