Good Afternoon Pleasant Ridge Families,                                                                                               July 27, 2020

 

This is a joint communication from Superintendent Clark and the Pleasant Ridge Teachers Association, and we hope this message finds you all staying healthy and safe this summer. The purpose of this message is to provide you with information about your options for a safe return to school in August for the 2020/2021 school year.

 

In early July, a team of teacher leaders and administrators began holding meetings to plan for two high-quality instructional learning models in the fall, giving families a choice. We felt it was important to have a distance learning model as well as a blended learning model planned so that we are ready for a seamless transition should it be required by any mandates the local county health department or governor may issue. There were many logistical challenges in both plans, but the health and safety of our students and staff were of paramount importance. We used the Nevada County Public Health Department Guidelines document called, “A Public Health Guided Return to Site-Based Classroom Instruction,” and it was through the lens of safety that both teachers and administration developed the following plans for you to choose from. After reading the details and descriptions of each plan offered, please use the links below to inform the district of your choice by August 1, 2020. Regardless of which plan you choose, the district is committed to complying with all public health and safety guidelines, and each learning model will comply with the required instructional minutes and state standards for each grade level.

 

The Distance Learning model is currently an option, however, it could be the only option at some point based on state and county health department mandates.

Definition: a method of studying in which lectures are broadcast or classes are conducted by correspondence or over the Internet, without the student needing to attend a school. Also called distance education. 

Students learn at home 5 days a week, with daily teacher-led instruction.   
Teachers and service providers will connect with students remotely via Zoom and Google classroom.
Instruction includes a combination of live instruction, digital or hard copies of assignments, and/or pre-recorded       lessons.

Assessments and feedback will be included. 
Traditional grading will occur to maintain accountability.
Daily attendance will be taken.
Chromebooks will be provided to all students K-8 and tech training and support will be provided by the district.
Special Education services will be provided.

 

A blended learning model is currently an option based on our current county status. However, this could change and Distance Learning could become mandated should our COVID-19 numbers continue to climb, landing us on the “watch” list.

Definition: Blended learning is an approach to education that combines traditional face-to-face classroom learning as well as some learning at home.

Reduced student numbers for partial day on-campus classes with students in stable cohorts (small groups) to limit the spread of the virus.
A combination of in-person instruction and learning from home.
Alternating schedules of in-person instruction (e.g. Cohort A=Monday/Tuesday and Cohort B = Thursday/Friday. Or Cohort A would attend in-person in the morning and Cohort B would attend in-person in the afternoon. Both situations will include some teacher assigned work to be completed at home. Teachers and the administration are still working on the logistical details of an A/B or an AM/PM schedule and will decide on which plan to use based on the educational merit and the feasibility of each plan’s safety implications for students and staff.
CDC health and safety guidelines will be implemented and enforced. This includes face coverings for students and staff while on campus, 6-foot social distancing measures, self-administered symptom checks, student desk barriers, enhanced sanitization protocols, as well as eliminating congregate meetings such as large group recess, assemblies, field trips, etc…
Assessments and feedback will be included.
Traditional grading will occur to maintain accountability.
Chromebooks will be provided to all students K-8 and tech training and support will be provided by the district.
Special Education services will be provided.
Transportation will be available on limited access

 

It is important that all parents inform the district about what option is best for their child or children. At this time, Arete is not an option for any new students as enrollment is capped due to the state’s new ADA funding model. In order to plan and budget for each learning model, we ask that you log on to the registration portal and fill out the newly created form (Learning Model Choice) that will provide us with the education option you choose for the 2020-2021 school year. To complete the Learning Model Choice survey, please log into PowerSchool (https://psprsd.org) using a browser, and click the Forms link at the bottom of the left-hand menu. The survey is the topmost form on that page.  If you are having trouble logging into PowerSchool, or do not have a parent account, please contact your school site or our district office.

 

As space may be limited during the school year, we will not allow students to move back and forth between options due to appropriate class sizes and the ability to keep cohorts stable. We fully recognize the difficult decision that must be made, but it will help us ensure a high-quality educational experience for all of our students. Let’s continue to work together as a community to build the highest quality educational experience for our children while protecting the safety for all. We look forward to the day when the Nevada County Department of Health, the state of California, and the CDC deem it safe for all to return to school as normal.

 

Thank You,

 

Pleasant Ridge Union School District