ACCOUNTABILITY
Are the synchronous "lessons" mandatory or will they be recorded (ie. morning meeting, closing circle)?
We're envisioning that synchronous lessons will be recorded so families have flexibility as to when they might access them.
How long are the pre-recorded lessons?
This will depend on the particular lesson, but a safe estimate might be 10-15 minutes or shorter for most content-based lessons. Given the planning to date, we expect that the total amount of programming time for distance learning in all scenarios will be somewhere around 3 hours per day.
How will attendance be determined for the virtual days in both models?
Specifics on actually taking attendance are still TBD and the focus will be on student engagement with the lessons and material.
How will you grade and/or assess student work?
Our priority will be on student engagement - both while onsite and when distance learning - with a strong focus on supporting the social and emotional needs of our students. Assessing student work will be ongoing - both onsite and in distance learning - and with regards to the latter, the seesaw learning platform appears to lend itself to greater accountability.
CLASS PLACEMENT
Will my child have the same teacher they were assigned to whether we choose distance or hybrid?
It is our intention to keep classroom assignments in order to maintain continuity, connection and community for both staff and families. We can envision a scenario in which an assigned teacher will have some students in the 'opt in' distance scenario as well as other students in the hybrid model. We certainly don't expect that one teacher will be able to generate and deliver all the content for both 'opt-in' distance and in-person hybrid scenario learning and are planning for teachers to team up in order to maximize their expertise and capacity. We're hoping that this approach will still allow us to maintain more personalized connections between one teacher and her/his families.
When will families know what cohort their children are assigned to?
All schools are now following-up on the District survey with phone calls to families who have not yet indicated their programming preference. We anticipate that families will be informed of the cohorts on September 4.
CONNECTION WITH OTHER FAMILIES
How can we connect with other families choosing the same plan (all distance learning or hybrid) as our family?
We do not anticipate sharing out specifics on families who have chosen particular plans (confidentiality issues) and will need to look into the possibilities for connecting folks once the cohorts are developed.
DISTANCE LEARNING
Will the distance learning option accommodate for an asynchronous approach (as in no scheduled classes, but work is completed as time allows)?
Yes, we understand that there needs to be flexibility in plans to account for different family schedules.
Do distance learning students still have access to diversified arts, particularly the library to get new books?Â
Yes. With regards to library books, we still need to work out specifics for students in all cohorts.
Do hybrid kids and full time distance kids get the same material?
Yes and no. Students in hybrid and 'opt-in' distance scenarios will get the same content, however, students in the M/T and TH/F hybrid model will have more direct interaction with their teacher as they will be onsite on their two cohort days. These students will inevitably receive more in-person social-emotional content.
What is the schedule for full distance learners? How much are they expected to be available during the school day for live lessons?
This is still to be determined. Content for full distance learners will be generated in a way that there will be very specific times for any live lessons. We realize that families choosing this model also need the flexibility to access content asynchronously and we expect to be recording sessions in order to provide this option.
If my child is full time distance, when will they get live time with their teacher?
We absolutely want to create opportunities for children to get in-person time with their teacher, regardless of whatever model they choose. Specifics on how this can happen still need to be worked out.
FLEXIBILITY WITHIN PLANS
If we choose hybrid for our child(ren), can we change them to distance at any point?
Yes
If our children start school in the hybrid model but we switch to distance learning a week or two into the school year - will the teacher assignments for our children change?
No (with the caveat that if there are extreme shifts in enrollments we may need to make adjustments). The summer work of our Kate Furbish Elementary School scheduling committee was predicated on the possibility that all students may eventually be accessing the full distance model. We built the hybrid and 'opt-in' distance models with this in mind in order to ensure continuity should circumstances change throughout the year.
FOOD AND NUTRITION
Will lunches still be provided to families who qualify for free or reduced lunch even if they opt into distance learning?
We'll need to check with Food Service on this, but we're going to assume that families who qualify for free and reduced lunch will be provided with those meals regardless of what option they choose. In school, we anticipate that lunches will likely happen within classrooms to maintain cohorts. Details on exactly how this will happen will be determined in the next two weeks.
HOMESCHOOLING
What is the difference between all distance learning and homeschooling?
In a homeschooling scenario families fill out paperwork for the State and generate all educational content for their students. In a distance model, the student is still enrolled in the Brunswick School Department and accesses BSD programming.
I have multiple children, how can I effectively home-school them?
This would be a family-based decision.
HYBRID PLAN
Is the school district planning to start in the hybrid model?
At this time the district is planning to start in the hybrid model with September 14 being the first student day. For families choosing the hybrid model, students will be in either one of two cohorts M/T or TH/F. Students in the hybrid model will have in-person learning at school for two days of the week and then at-home programming for three days of the week. For families choosing distance learning, their students will have at-home programming five days of the week.
MASKS/FACE COVERINGS
What will happen when kids who take off masks or cannot keep socially distant?
With very few exceptions, masks will be required of everyone in the building. It is the expectation that social-distancing is non-negotiable. Having said this, there are invariably learning curves and our staff are experts with regards to coaching and supporting students in these realms. The District has been clear that should a student not wear a mask, they will need to access distance learning.
How long will kids be expected to wear masks between breaks?
This is TBD, but we need to ensure safe, regular and predictable mask breaks for both students and staff.
Will staff will be allowed to wear face shields vs masks? I know a reassuring smile from a teacher can go a long way to easing our little ones in an environment that will look so different than they are used to.
We'll need to get more direction from medical personnel on this, but the requirement as we understand it is that masks need to be worn. A priority in the next two weeks is to codify ways in which we can provide reassurance to students (and each other) in a covid-compliant environment. For example, we have talked about having teachers wear a pin with their smiling face on it, so that students know what they look like without a mask on.
MATERIALS
When we will get a supply list?
Teachers will be sending out letters (if they haven't already) with more information on this. Frankly, it's not yet 100% clear as to exactly what supplies will be necessary this year and we expect these lists to evolve.
Will the supply list be different depending on if we choose distance or hybrid?
Not entirely sure at this time, but we anticipate that there might be some differences. More information to follow.
OUTDOOR SPACES
What does outdoor classroom space look like at KFS?
Kate Furbish has some beautiful outdoor spaces and we're meeting with Alicia Heyburn from Teens to Trails to conduct a full inventory of outdoor spaces there before the start of school. It's our understanding that at least one of the larger playgrounds will be completed by the start of school and the finish date for the other is indeterminate at this time. We anticipate that while at recess, students will maintain classroom cohorts.
Will students be able to eat lunch outside?
We're committed to ensuring that students have as many outdoor experiences as possible during their days onsite. This includes the opportunity for lunchtime outside and details have yet to be worked out.
PRE-KINDERGARTEN
What will PreK will look like inside the classroom?
Hopefully families have had a chance to see the presentations that we've sent out over the summer. Once we're all in the building and classrooms are set up, we'll create a second round of videos to share the spaces. Click HERE to see the presentations from this summer (one is embedded in the other and a KFS tour is included).
Will kids be allowed to play together at center time? Will they be allowed to move freely in the classroom?
Still very much TBD - we will be following the guidance from CDC and our school medical personnel. We all know the importance of both play and movement with this age group and are getting creative with ways to incorporate them into the day as much as possible,
Will they be allowed to share toys?
Still very much TBD - we will be following the guidance from CDC and our school medical personnel. We expect that the sharing of toys, manipulatives, books, etc... will be limited.
SOFT OPENING
What does the soft opening look like?
At this time we anticipate that the soft opening will look very much like a typical start of a PreK- 5 school year except in the hybrid model - M/T and TH/F. Our staff are experts at helping students transition into school and meeting their social-emotional and academic needs in a variety of ways. Details are still to be worked out and we'll be reaching out to families once things are clarified from a District-level.
TECHNOLOGY
What is the best laptop for social distance learning, that will work with all of the schools platforms/programs?
The District is shifting to a one-to-on model and we anticipate that all students in PreK to Grade 2 will eventually have iPads. Timeline on this is still TBD. Similar to last spring, the District will provide devices to families who need them. Please know that this does NOT mean that families need an iPad to access any of the District learning. The content will work on multiple types of devices.
If my child needs a device for distance learning, how do I get one from the District?
The technology department will be gathering this information from families in the coming weeks in order to get devices to families. It's our understanding that there is a national back-log of orders and it's uncertain as to exactly when the devices will be onsite in the District.
TRANSPORTATION
If we opt into busing are we held to it or vice versa (if we opt out of busing but situations change, can we use busing)?
We'll need to double-check with transportation as bus space is very limited and we're not sure about this year's routes. Opting out of busing is very simple, though opting in after routes are established is still uncertain.
VOLUNTEERING
Can parents volunteer to help outside?
That's something still TBD and we need to consult with our medical experts. We so very much value our volunteers and are actively working on ways to continue their involvement. We anticipate that much of our volunteer support will be virtual as we start the year.