Learning Model Update – December 21, 2020 Dear WPS Families and Staff,
As promised, we are sharing additional information about the plan to bring our PreK-5 learners back to school for in-person instruction. We greatly appreciate your patience as we have been working hard to develop a plan that provides the best possible learning experience for students, while keeping the health and wellbeing of our staff and students at the forefront of all we do.
Governor Walz shared that the change for elementary schools is a "monumental move" that was prompted by a deepening understanding of where and how the virus is circulating, the ways to minimize its spread—and a growing concern about the academic, social and emotional losses for kids and families when school buildings are closed.
Timeline to Bring Back Our Youngest Learners January 4-15 — We will remain in distance learning in grades PreK-12 through January 15. Tier 1 school day childcare will also continue for K-5.
January 4 — Small groups of special education, English Learner and other students who may need additional support will return to select schools. Wayzata Kids before- and after-school childcare registration for the new in-person learning model will open this day. More information will be shared with K-5 parents.
January 14 and 15 — There will be no school or Wayzata Kids childcare for all PreK-5 students (including Distance Choice students) to provide staff time to prepare for students' return to our schools. All other grades will have school on these days in their current learning model. These two planning days are required by the Minnesota Department of Education. Full-day preschool will remain in session.
January 19 — K-2 students will return to school for in-person instruction (5 days/week). Preschool returns to in-person instruction (the same as this fall). In addition, special education and EL students in grades 3-5 will return for half days of instruction. This does not include students in our Distance Choice learning model. Bus transportation will resume. Tier 1 childcare for grades 3-5 continues.
January 29 — The elementary planning day originally scheduled for February 5 will be moved to January 29. There will be no school for PreK-5 students (including Distance Choice students) on this day to provide staff time to further support students' return to our schools. All other grades will have school in their current learning model on January 29. Non-school day childcare will be available for a cost through Wayzata Kids Childcare for currently enrolled Tier 1 families.
February 1 — Students in grades 3-5 will return for in-person instruction (5 days/week). This does not include students in our Distance Choice learning model. Bus transportation will resume.
Additional Safety Precautions Will Be in Place In addition to the health and safety measures already in place to help keep our students and staff safe, please note the following enhancements that will be in place when students return in alignment with the state's Safe Learning Plan:
How Does This Affect Students in the Distance Choice Learning Model? The Distance Choice learning model will be similar to what it has been, with changes made to improve the experience for students and respond to the need for the two learning models to run smoothly. Parent and staff feedback from our recent Wayzata Learns survey and collaborative work with Distance Choice teachers will inform program improvements and changes. We will be communicating Distance Choice program enhancements to families in early January.
Elementary Learning Model Change Form Families with elementary students who would like to change from the learning model they selected at the beginning of the school year must resubmit a new form no later than Monday, December 28 at 8 a.m. Because of the significant change to in-person learning, we need you to resubmit a new form even if you recently submitted a request to change your student's learning model for semester 2. Middle School and High School Will Remain in Current Learning Models for Now
The timeline for secondary learning model adjustments will depend upon local conditions and the district's ability to maintain effective health protocols to ensure a safe learning and work environment for all students and staff. Further information about semester 2, which begins on February 1, will be communicated with families at a later date.
Contact Tracing and Quarantining Will Continue Our top priority has always been and will remain the health and safety of our staff and students. To mitigate the spread of COVID-19, we must all remain vigilant. It is crucial that students and staff who are ill stay at home. Please be aware that due to the new elementary guidelines for in-person learning, it may be necessary for an entire classroom to quarantine and switch to distance learning if a student or staff member gets infected with COVID-19.
We Are Grateful for Your Continued Partnership It has been a long nine months since the pandemic began and we are looking forward to bringing our youngest learners back to school for in-person instruction. We remain hopeful the situation with the virus improves so we are able to make similar changes with our middle and high school students as soon as it is safe.
And as we approach winter break, we need your help like never before. Our plans to bring PreK-5 students back for in-person learning, and eventually our secondary students, are contingent on what is happening with the virus, our ability to provide appropriate staffing and any additional guidance we may receive from the Minnesota Departments of Education and Health. Please do all you can to help reduce community spread of the virus over winter break and beyond so that we are able to start and maintain in-person learning with our youngest learners in January.
We can't express our appreciation enough for all you have done to support your child(ren) during this most challenging time. The old proverb that it takes a village to raise a child has never been more true. Additional details will continue to be shared with you from your school in the coming days and weeks and you can visit our Wayzata Learns webpage anytime for more information.
Stay well,
Chace B. Anderson Superintendent |