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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:
- School staff will be required to wear face masks and face shields.
- K-12 students will continue to wear masks throughout the day, which now includes recess and PE.
- Students will remain with their classmates (referred to as a pod) throughout the day to reduce interaction with others in the building.
- Students will be spaced a minimum of 3 feet apart from each other in classrooms, while teachers will retain 6 feet of social distance from students. Clear barriers will be utilized as needed.
- School meals may be eaten in classrooms or other spaces in order to maintain separation between pods of students. Mealtime practices will be responsive to MDH and MDE guidance, as well as the unique nature of each of our facilities. Principals will work with their staff to make adjustments as needed and communicate with families.
- Students must continue to wear masks on school buses and drivers will maintain 6 feet of social distance from students.
- COVID-19 testing will be available on site for staff every two weeks.
- No visitors will be allowed in district buildings.
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
- Middle schools will remain in a distance learning model through at least the end of semester 1, which is January 29. Requests recently received for middle school students wanting to switch learning models for semester 2 will be implemented. However, no additional middle school requests can be made at this time.
- WHS will look to scale-up in-person experiences under the current modified hybrid model for select Term 2 courses after the winter break.
- The high school winter sports season will resume on January 4.
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.
- If you or someone in your family is ill, please reference the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) Decision Tree document to learn what your next steps should be. Report any student absences into Skyward Family Access, specifying if the absence is COVID-19 related. Our school nurses will follow up with any COVID-19 related cases. If you are tested for COVID-19, even if you feel well, it is important that you remain home and away from others until you receive the results.
- Everyone must be prepared to stay home and quarantine for up to 14 days if you become ill with or are exposed to COVID-19. We know being quarantined for 14 days is extremely challenging, but it is absolutely necessary to stop the spread of the virus. Learn how you can prepare for a possible quarantine.
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
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