Wilshire Park message to families on learning model changes

Mar 3 2021

March 3, 2021

Wilshire Park families,

We are excited to begin a transition to in-person learning. Our Local Incident Team (LIT) continues to evaluate and monitor local COVID-19 data. The LIT has reviewed aspects of our school day and mitigation strategies, and supports the switch to in-person learning. And, of course, we want to start as soon as possible. View updated FAQs PDF (as of March 5, 2021).

Here is the timeline:

By Monday, March 8: families who want to switch their student’s learning model can complete one of the following Google Forms that pertain to them, or send an email to Anna Nagle at anagle@isd282.org:
- Request switch from in-person learning to distance learning
- Request switch from distance learning to in-person learning
Friday, March 12: No in-person school. Asynchronous day for teachers to prepare for in-person model starting the following week.
Monday, March 15: all hybrid students report to school for in-person learning, Monday-Friday from 8:30-1:30 p.m.
Monday, April 5: distance learning students who switch to the in-person learning model will join in-person classes with a different teacher.

Please read the following information carefully. If you still have questions after reviewing this message, there is a link at the end of this email to join a virtual meeting tonight at 6:30 p.m., Wednesday, March 3.

In-person learning schedule and important info:

Cohorts A&B will be invited back from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Teacher assignments will remain the same for hybrid students.
Any student making a switch out of distance learning will have a new teacher beginning April 5.

Distance learning schedule:

The distance learning schedule will remain the same.

Mitigation strategies for in-person learning:

Classroom pods will include 18-24 students.
We will move to three-feet of social distance (rather than six).
Pods will remain together for lunch and recess.
Art and music specialists will go into classes (rather than move kids throughout the building).
Vaccines have been made available to all staff. With this in place, new guidelines indicate teachers will not need to quarantine if exposed, and will need to quarantine if they test positive for COVID-19.
Bi-weekly onsite COVID-19 testing program.
Staff and students are still required to wear masks; teachers also have access to face shields.

Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) recommends testing of school-age children every two weeks:
MDH announced a recommendation for all school-age youth returning to school, youth sports, or extracurricular activities, and their families, to get tested every two weeks through the end of the school year. While it is not a requirement, regular testing complements other safety measures already in place, such as masking and social distancing. Getting tested every two weeks from now until the end of the school year can help keep schools open and sports operating, and ensure we are limiting the spread of COVID-19.
Testing resources are available at COVID-19 Testing for Kids and Families.

LIT will continue to monitor data for any potential learning model shifts:
The LIT meets on a weekly basis and considers learning-model changes every six weeks. Local public health experts recommend the use of a six-week trend line data analysis due to the delay in COVID-19 case counts. The data continues to show lower COVID-19 cases and a vaccine effort for our community is well under way. The LIT knows the indicators and tools to watch, and a three-week upward trend would signal a spike is coming, so we continue to monitor the data.

Childcare options:
Village Kids will provide fee-based care on school days from 7-8:30 a.m., 1:30-3 p.m., and 1:30-5:30 p.m. Full- day care (7 a.m.-5:30 p.m.) is available on non-school days.

Tier 1 Care
Child care for children of qualifying Tier 1 families will continue to be provided on school days from 1:30-3 p.m.

Meeting tonight at 6:30 p.m. for families that may have additional questions:
If you still have additional questions, I will be offering a meeting for families tonight at 6:30 p.m., Wednesday, March 3. No need to sign up—the link is here.

Thank you,

Principal Amy Kujawski
Wilshire Park Elementary School