Lower Merion School District: Winter Flex Extension Information

Press release from the Lower Merion School District:

2021-02-23

Extended Winter Flex Option

Lower Merion School District will continue to offer an alternative attendance option for all families with students in grades K-8 through the month of March. While we continue to explore plans to move forward with reopening, we recognize there are families who would like an option to remain virtual during the month of March.

The extended "Winter Flex Option" will begin on March 1, 2021, and is open to all current Winter Flex and hybrid students in grades K-8. Students must enroll in the Winter Flex Option for the entire month of March. Parents/guardians of current Winter Flex students must re-register for the month of March, and Winter Flex is also open to hybrid students who did not register for the month of January and/or February.

Any student enrolled in Winter Flex during the months of January and/or February who demonstrated inconsistent or inadequate attendance or who is not experiencing success in this format will not be eligible for Winter Flex and must return to the hybrid model of learning. Schools will contact families directly regarding concerns.

As in the past, families electing to participate in the Winter Flex Option will not be required to report their child absent, and the days will not count toward accrued absences, unless a child is unable to participate virtually due to sickness or other appropriate reasons for absences. Students enrolled in Winter Flex will be marked present if they attend all assigned sessions and submit all assigned work.

All students enrolled in the Winter Flex Option are expected to attend school virtually and connect with their teachers on a daily basis. Participation in class will consist of both synchronous and asynchronous learning during class time.

At the middle school level, students will continue to follow their schedule using technology when they are not in school, as is the current practice.

At the elementary school level, students will continue to follow their schedule using technology when they are not in school. Students will be given access to a Zoom meeting link and will view appropriate parts of the lesson while the teacher instructs the students who are physically in school. Please note that teachers will prioritize the in-person learners. This experience will be more limited than the fully remote or fully in-person instruction. Students participating in Winter Flex will continue to follow their current hybrid schedule and will have asynchronous learning at various times throughout the day. All assignments will be available digitally.

To register your child for the Winter Flex Option, please submit a March Winter Flex Request Form. Registration will be open through February 26, 2021.

This press release was produced by the Lower Merion School District .The views expressed here are the author’s own.