Parents & Guardians

Good Afternoon Beverly Parents and Families,

Thank you for your patience as we continue to navigate the uncertainties of this year’s school reopening. Our parents, staff and students stepped up in extraordinary ways this past spring to fill the gaps caused by our schools closures. Our commitment to partner with you this year is unlike any other. We have heard repeatedly that “we are all in this together” but nowhere is that truer than in educating our students. We have spent the summer preparing for all three scenarios this fall: remote, hybrid and in person. Our highest priority is to keep our students, teachers, and staff safe and although Massachusetts has some of the lowest transmission rates at this time, we have chosen a combination of remote and hybrid options that we feel is best for the Beverly Public School District.

These past two weeks, we have welcomed back staff and spent time preparing for the coming year. We continue to refine our plans and look forward to welcoming our students back in whichever model of learning they are participating. In Beverly, students in PreK - 4 will begin the year in a hybrid model (five days with an early dismissal) grades 5 & 6 will start with a hybrid model (two days in school, three days remote) on September 16th (Kindergarten will have a delayed start of September 24th). Students in grades 7 - 12 will begin the year in a remote model on September 16th, however, the school committee voted last evening to set September 29th as the date that our 7 - 12 students will begin transitioning to a hybrid model. Students and families in these grades will receive more information from their building principals as to the specifics of their individual schedules. For students in our Remote Learning Academy, remote instruction will begin on September 16th.

The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, working with our state’s top medical professionals, have put comprehensive safety guidelines in place to greatly reduce the transmission of COVID-19. Our school leaders and staff have worked diligently to create detailed school plans to ensure that we are fully prepared to execute all of the recommended safety measures, including, signs to direct staff and students, mandatory mask-wearing, physical distancing, hand washing and mask breaks, additional sanitizing of the school, notification of positive cases, and the ability to transition back to remote learning should it be necessary.

In the meantime, our teachers have received training on the safety protocols and guidance for in person learning. We are confident that they can provide engaging instruction when students are in the classroom, while implementing the safety measures we need to keep students, teachers and families safe. Teachers have received training on flipped classrooms, blended learning, and remote learning. We are confident that they are ready to teach our students through Google Classroom, Moodle, and Seesaw using a combination of best practices that will include, live, whole class instruction, teacher-led small group work, and independent student work.

We are committed to frequent communications to our families to ensure that we are transparent in our decision making and are providing families with information as so as it becomes available. Not only will you receive updates from your school principal, you can expect to regularly hear from your child’s teacher(s) to ensure you have a clear understanding of your child’s learning expectations for the fall. It is important that we hear your perspective regarding your perspective regarding your child’s learning needs as well as his or her social emotional development in order to put a plan in place for your child’s continued growth.

Given the heightened importance of communications over the next several months, we would ask that you reach out to us with your questions and concerns. We look forward to meeting this challenging time together and welcome your input to best serve your child.

As alway, thank you for the trust you have placed in us and in our partnership as we work together to educate your child.

Sincerely,

Sue Charochak, Ed.D.

Superintendent of Schools

As you consider how to support your child's online learning, be clear about the time of day any online video sessions will be held. During this initial week of closure, it is a great time to establish some learning routines. Moving ahead we will be sharing ideas for a schedule for your child to follow. Stick to as predictable a daily routine as possible. Don't forget to include times for breakfast, lunch and exercise. In addition, it is important to identify an at-home learning space. Ideally, this space should have:

• A computer, iPad, Chromebook or other device

• Good lighting

• Ready access to learning materials and tools

A dedicated learning space for virtual learning should ideally be located in a shared area of your home such as at the kitchen table, a large kitchen counter, or a desk in a living room or family room. When your student's learning space is separate from their bedroom and distanced from the television and their cell phone, it sets the expectation and tone that the space is for work and not play. Additionally, an online learning space in a shared area allows parents and guardians to readily support learning while also monitoring online activity.

Nothing disrupts a person's ability to do planned tasks more than having to stop and find the materials and tools that are needed for the task. Virtual learning experiences don't just require a device. Students who are learning virtually should also have the following materials and tools available to them:

• Paper, pencils, and pens

• Calculator, ruler, compass, counters (e.g., dry beans), or other items to support math

• Textbooks, trade books, composition notebooks, and other necessary curriculum resources provided by your student's teacher

• Phone, iPad, or computer with camera for taking pictures of work and/or recording videos of learning demonstrations

The above list is not exhaustive. As Beverly educators get smarter together about providing online learning as an option for students, this list will grow and guidance will be provided to parents and caregivers about how to access such materials and tools.