Preparing For Distance Learning

Good afternoon parents,

I just want to thank each of you for your patience as we try to navigate the news of the school dismissal. I do not have a lot of answers at this point, but do want to get a few details to you today.

As mentioned in previous emails from the district office, school meals will continue to be provided at our normal service times. They will be served in a grab-n-go service pattern. Students should only be on school grounds long enough to pick up their grab-n-go meals. Breakfast will be served from 8:10 – 8:40 and lunch from 11:00 – 1:00 pm. There will be no food service during our spring break on March 19, 20, & 23.

Using information provided by the district, I have created a plan to help teachers to develop an organized way to get information about homework to you each day. I feel so fortunate that I do have a background in educational technology and am familiar with the resources available. Once I have presented the plan to them in the morning, they will begin developing the lesson delivery for each day. One of my biggest concerns is for those that do not have access to the internet at home. I have created a survey to get a sense of the needs for each of our students. Please take 30 seconds to click on the following link to answer a few questions. https://forms.gle/Jc6Lsd9nmwH1hgX76

For those that do not have internet access, please be aware of the following:

Distance Learning Website for Families

The district has created a site entitled distancelearning.graniteschools.org that is intended to provide families with general guidance on how to access Google Classroom, Canvas, and other digital curriculum you may need. They will continue to add information to this site leading up to Wednesday.

Paper-based Access to Learning Materials

Granite School District will make learning opportunities available to ALL students. Paper-based materials will be made available for families that cannot access the online learning option due to a lack of internet access or other access barriers such as a student’s young age, disability, or English language proficiency. Based on your answer on the above survey teachers will determine if this is your child’s learning situation and will have packets prepared for Wednesday pick-up.

As always, the expectation is that students will be accountable for the work assigned and we ask for parents to work with their teachers and children through this non-traditional circumstance. Retakes, assignment turn-ins and so forth will be coordinated with teachers through email, Class DoJo, Remind, or teacher work phone (please do not text teachers). Teachers will be working their normal contract hours from 8:20 – 3:40 pm. Please do not expect them to respond outside of their contract hours.

As we anticipate the need to pick-up Chromebooks, Packets, and personal supplies from the school, we plan to follow the district guidelines and have that occur on Wednesday. Below you will find a very TENTATIVE schedule. After looking over the above survey results and meeting with teachers and staff tomorrow, we will have a better idea of what this may look like. For now plan on the following schedule:

Families whose last names begin with the following letters will come at the assigned times. (We are trying to limit the number of people gathered at a time).

A-D 9:00

E-H 10:00

I-M 11:00

N-R 12:00

S-Z 1:00

PTA fundraiser

The PTA chocolate fundraiser is due to be completed tomorrow. The PTA will be at the school during the lunch pick-up time (11:00 – 1:00) to finish processing all your chocolate needs. They will have a table out in front of the building to collect money and fill final orders.

Again, I just want to thank you all for your patience. I know that we may be presented with many unexpected situations in the next coming weeks. Please know that we are doing our best to support your children. I saw this on Facebook and feel compelled to share. I know these times can be so stressful.