August 13, 2020
As expected, more questions have come up since posting our plan. Believe me, I feel your frustration. I have spent all of July trying to keep up with legislation and executive orders and it’s not easy to plan for the unknown. As well, superintendents try to plan as a county because of coordinated programs, but sometimes what works in one district, does not work in another. The Burr Oak back-to-school plan was built based on the following:
Making sure we provide families and students with a strong base on how to navigate virtual learning at the beginning of the school year, because at any point it can be mandated by the State of Michigan and it will not be like it was in March. Compulsory education laws will apply and students that don’t check in and complete work will be held accountable. We want our students to be successful!
St. Joseph County shared programs (CTE, dual enrollment)
Feedback from parents
Teacher preparation for three types of learning
Three learning options:
1) 100% virtual off campus
2) two to three days on campus blended with at-home learning
3) on campus everyday unless we are mandated to have students learn from home due to an executive order or mandated quarantine
As you can see on the calendar below, we have three dates and times for families to pick up their devices (K-2 iPads, 3-12 Chromebooks). When you pick them up you will have an instruction sheet as well. Please follow the instructions for each student. This will help us sort out any technical issues early on. There will be at least one or two introductory “student assignments” as well. This will help us identify any issues with the learning formats we are using in the classrooms.
AUGUST
17 | 18 | 19 iPad/Chromebook pickup 6:30-8:30 pm -meetings by appointment will begin and go through the 28. We will call to set up the appt. | 20 iPad/Chromebook pickup 6:30-8:30 pm | 21 iPad/Chromebook pickup 10am-2:00 pm |
24 1st off campus day of learning (see instruction sheet given to you with iPads and Chromebooks) | 25 2nd off campus day of learning (see instruction sheet given to you with iPads and Chromebooks) | 26 3rd off campus day of learning (see instruction sheet given to you with iPads and Chromebooks) | 27 4th off campus day of learning (see instruction sheet given to you with iPads and Chromebooks) | 28 5th off campus day of learning (see instruction sheet given to you with iPads and Chromebooks) |
31 -1st on campus day of school for families that chose on campus learning. -Blended learners will be given a schedule. -Bus routes begin. | *Reminder: Student drop off time 7:45am to 8am Students will be released from the building at noon. |
IMPORTANT!!! Students who are coming to campus each day will be required to bring iPads and Chromebooks with them everyday. This is especially important in the first four weeks of school. You must also charge the devices at home each night; you will be provided with a charger.
We believe that if we do the first four weeks of school in preparation for possibly having to go completely off campus at some point, we will stay ahead of whatever our state tells us we need to do. We will continue to evaluate our schedules as the year progresses and inform you of any changes.
Continue to send any questions you might have about the upcoming school year through our Facebook messaging system, through email, or by calling at 269-489-2213.