South Washington County Schools Share New Fall Hybrid Model Schedule Information

Press release from South Washington County Schools:

August 15, 2020

First Day of School in Hybrid Model is Sept. 8

South Washington County Schools will start the school year in a full hybrid learning model on Sept. 8 for all grade levels. The hybrid model is a combination of distance learning at home and in-person learning at school on alternating days.

The School Board also gave the superintendent the authority to follow the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) Safe Learning Plan beginning on Sept. 11. The state’s previously announced plan uses a formula for COVID-19 infection rates over 14 days to determine a school district’s learning model.

On Sept. 11, a decision will be made on whether we will shift to the model recommended in the MDE Safe Learning Plan. Families will be given a one week notice if we must shift to distance learning or in-person learning for each grade level.

Elementary (K-5)
Elementary families will check their child’s online learning tool, SeeSaw, on a nightly basis on in-person days at school and each morning while their student is at home in distance learning. Teachers will post in Seesaw to provide instructions for daily work, as well as personalized activities.

Secondary (6-12)
Each student will engage in learning through the online learning tool called Schoology. It will be the main source for all course content in the hybrid model, both at home and in-person at school.
Transition Week for Students to Come to School Aug. 31 to Sept. 3

Students will have time to transition into the new school year through several transition days from Aug. 31 to Sept. 3. All students are strongly encouraged to participate to be prepared for the first day of school in the full hybrid model on Sept. 8.

Elementary (K-5)

Aug. 31 - Sept. 3: Students will be scheduled in small groups so they can meet their teacher, learn about safety procedures and practice healthy routines for bathrooms, classrooms and hand washing. Families will transport their child to school for at their assigned time and will then pick up their child at the end of the event. Your child’s school will soon share more detailed information about the transition week schedule.

Secondary (6-12)

Aug. 31-Sept. 1: Students in grades 6 and 9 will be scheduled to visit their school on their assigned in-person day in the hybrid model. Students will meet school staff, tour the school, become familiar with their class schedule and practice safety routines. Families will drop off and pick up their child on these days. Meals will be provided. Your child’s school will soon share more detailed information about the transition week schedule.

Sept. 2-3: All students in grades 6-12 will practice their hybrid schedule on the days in which they are assigned to attend school in-person. Families will drop off and pick up their child on these days. Meals will be provided. Your child’s school will soon share more detailed information about the transition week schedule.

Please note that due to the complexities of school bus routing this year, we are asking families to transport their child to and from school during transition week Aug. 31-Sept. 2.

When Will I Know My Child’s Schedule (Student Group A or B)?

Principals and school schedulers are working nights and weekends to work through student schedules for the hybrid learning model. Pending no unforeseen circumstances, we are planning for the following.

Timeline

Aug. 14
School schedules: See what a school day will look like at sowashco.org/hybrid

Week of Aug. 16
Elementary Students (K-5): Elementary families are likely to receive their household’s student group schedule in which they’ll be assigned to either an A student group or a B student group.

Secondary Students (6-12): Secondary families are likely to receive their household’s student group schedule in which they’ll be assigned to either an A student group or a B student group.

Week of Aug. 24
Secondary Students (6-12): Secondary students are likely to receive their class schedule.

A General Hybrid Schedule

All students in grades K-12 will be divided into two groups by household to reduce class size. For example, one family will receive either an A schedule or a B schedule for all students in their household regardless of grade level. Due to the complexities of the hybrid model, families will not be able to switch their schedule once assigned.

• Mon/Wed: Student Group A attends school in-person, Student Group B at home for distance learning
• Tue/Thu: Student Group B attends school in-person, Student Group A at home for distance learning
• Fri: Flexible Instruction Day - All students will learn on Fridays through:
  • In-person learning (exams, labs, individual and small group learning)
  • Distance learning opportunities (either real-time learning or remote learning)
  • Advisory class

This press release was produced by South Washington County Schools. The views expressed here are the author’s own.