Message from Dr. Gill
Dear Families,
I hope this message finds you and your family well. I am writing to address a few concerns that we have received recently regarding our Phase II Learn-from-Home initiative. First, I want to reassure you that we do not intend for our efforts to cause additional stress for our students and families during these challenging times. We understand that families have their own unique struggles and are making sacrifices in a variety of ways. We also understand that families must take care of their most basic needs first before attempting to address other competing demands, such as at-home learning. We are sensitive to this, and I promise you that our first priority at all levels is to be compassionate, supportive, and flexible.
I acknowledge that the volume of Learn-from-Home materials may seem overwhelming at first. However, please keep in mind that we do not typically deliver instructional materials in this manner. Under normal circumstances, our teachers provide instruction and related materials in smaller increments. Due to our unfortunate and challenging circumstances, this was not possible. To help make this transition easier, our teachers will be working directly with students to break these materials down into pieces that are more manageable. I ask for your patience as our plan unfolds over the coming weeks and months. We understand that you are not professional educators and that each student’s and family’s situation is different. We simply ask that you do the best you can to work through these assignments with the help of our teachers.
A final area that appears to be causing concern is regarding the three assignments per course that students are required to complete for the remainder of the school year, especially as it relates to advancing to the next grade level. Please note that these assignments are not intended to be gatekeeping assignments to prevent students from advancing, nor are they graded. Rather, they will give our teachers more information so that they can help each student gain the skills and content considered most essential for moving forward. Again, we recognize that each family has unique challenges, and our team is ready to support and work with all students individually.
As always, I am grateful for your patience, understanding, and support of our efforts through these unprecedented times. We genuinely care about the well-being of our students and families, and we are eager to help you in any way possible. Please do not hesitate to reach out to your principal, teachers, school counselors, or others if you need assistance.
Sincerely,
Dr. Michael Gill
Superintendent