USD 428 Continuous Learning Plan

During these unprecedented times, quality education continues in Great Bend USD 428.

Following the leadership of the Kansas Department of Education, USD 428 launched a Continuous Learning Plan (CLP) on Monday March 30. The plan provides for eight-weeks of remote learning. Utilizing available technology as well as paper/pencil packets, our teaching staff has re-imagined education.

USD 428 is also caring for the emotional health and well-being of our students with plans to consistently connect with families through a variety of mediums. The USD 428 Food and Nutrition Department is also serving free meal packages in partnership with the US Department of Agriculture. Meals can be picked up daily from 11 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. at all five elementary buildings and at the Central Kitchen.

Guiding principals: Communication, Order, Input, Culture

Mindset

  1. Remember – this Continuous Learning Plan is for 8 weeks. We are not looking at traditional school. Focus on 4-6 standards and how we can ask students to show their learning of the standards.
  2. Share the calm- don’t join the chaos.
  3. The goal is to have Continuous Learning by not adding stress to students, teachers, and parents.
  4. When planning remember: Less Is More
  5. We want teachers to pick out the most important standards (HS 4-6, K-8 2-3/subject) and just do those
  6. USD 428 staff are encouraged to remember GRACE and FLEXIBILITY as we implement the Continuous Learning Plan.

Safety Protocols

  1. USD 428 is promoting remote learning outside of the school building. Limited face-to-face interactions are planned.
  2. Staff follow Social Distancing Practices (a) no more than 10 individuals in a room at a time, (b) individuals will maintain a 6ft. distance from each other, (c) individuals will wash hands often and use hand sanitizer, and (d) remember to not congregate in locations, and (d) any groups that convene on the premises should be stable/consistent groups.
  3. Rooms will be disinfected after each use.
  4. The buildings are closed to the public. Patrons are encouraged to call the office and make appointments should they need anything from the school.

Building Procedures

  1. Each school building will have daily office coverage between the hours of 8am-3pm.
  2. Staff members are encouraged to come into the building only when necessary.
  3. Certified staff will develop office hours while working remotely. Teachers are asked to be accessible to their administrators during the hours of 8am-3pm. GBMS teachers are asked to be available to students/parents daily from 9am-12pm. GBHS teachers are asked to be available to students and parents daily from 9am-2pm.
  4. Certified staff will communicate regularly (at least once a week) with parents and/or students. The purpose of this communication will be to check on progress of student learning, assist students/parents on instructional matters, maintain relationships, and check on the general well-being of students/families. Staff will keep a communication log which will be submitted to the building principal regularly.
  5. Building principals will conduct regular staff meetings via Zoom, as well as, continue communicating with their staffs via email.
  6. Building principals have developed plans for students to pick up personal items from the schools. These schedules are communicated with students/families via emails and social media.
  7. Each building will send out both a staff and parent survey to determine technology access for each student. Ryan will work with Principals in providing technology devices for teachers and students.
  8. Building principals will send letters to parents about the building’s Continuous Learning Plan and work to regularly keep parents informed via social media, phone calls, and mass emails.

Elementary Academic Support

  1. K-6 teachers will use the district lesson plan template. Teachers will collaborate with their grade level partners to develop weekly instructional plans.
  2. K-6 teachers will plan for 30 minutes daily math instruction and 30 minutes daily reading
  3. instruction.
  4. Technology platforms that teachers will use are Google Classroom, Screencastify, and Zoom.
  5. K-6 teachers will use the district created Grade level Google Classrooms. A link to these will be posted on each elementary school’s website.
  6. Students have 2 options to complete work: electronically or paper/pencil. Arrangements are made at each elementary building on checking out Chromebooks to families who would like an electronic device for their students to complete their work.
  7. Work will be provided each week according to the mode of instruction. Paper/pencil work will be distributed on Mondays. Electronic work for each week will be provided by Monday morning. Packets will be handed out when students pick up their lunch.
  8. Enrichment lessons will be provided to students as optional learning activities.
  9. Elementary Family Support Workers will work with school staff on providing optional Social-Emotional Learning activities for students. They will also assist and/or facilitate parent communication.
  10. Special Education teachers will work with the regular education teachers in providing lessons for special education students. They will also reach out to their students to ensure that they have the instructional materials and instruction that they need.
  11. English Learner teachers will follow-up with families to ensure that they have the materials and resources that they need for remote learning.
  12. Instructional coaches will be available to assist teachers in lesson planning and with using the technology platforms.
  13. Teachers are to submit their weekly plans to their building principal; time to be determined by the principal.

Secondary Academic Support

  1. GBMS -Teachers will focus on 2-3 main standards when planning for instruction and they will use anticipated due dates.
    • GBHS – Teachers will focus on 2-3 standards per 2- week period.
  2. GBMS - Each Monday, all assignments for the week will be posted in the appropriate Google Classrooms.
    • GBHS – By Monday morning, all assignments for the 2-week period will be posted in the appropriate Google Classrooms. Assignments are due on the Sunday at the end of the 2-week period.
  3. Teachers and students will continue using the Google Classroom platform. They are also encouraged to use Zoom and Screencastify.
  4. GBMS will provide weekly instruction in the core subjects of Science, Social Studies, Math, and ELA. Teachers are to plan for 3 hours/day of student work.
  5. GBMS and GBHS elective teachers will provide lessons and class activities. CTE classes will continue addressing their competencies.
  6. Core teachers are asked to collaborative in creating student assignments.
  7. GBMS – students who do not have a computer at home, may pick up their school Chromebook during the assigned pickup times.
  8. Secondary counselors will work with school staff on providing optional Social-Emotional Learning activities for students. They will also assist and/or facilitate student/parent check-ins and promote communication.
  9. Special Education teachers will work with the regular education teachers in providing lessons for special education students. They will also reach out to their students to ensure that they have the instructional materials and instruction that they need.
  10. English Learner teachers will follow-up with families to ensure that they have the materials and resources that they need for remote learning.
  11. Teachers are to submit their weekly plans to their building principal; time to be determined by the principal.

Special Services Academic Support

  1. Sped providers should contact students’ parents on their caseload regarding options and how services will be provided in order to meet student needs within the limitations that we are bound to.
  2. Each student and his/her needs will be considered individually and there will be a plan in place to help the student work toward meeting his/her goals on their IEP and to progress in the general education curriculum as it is presented in the last 8 weeks of school.
  3. Special Education staff should continue to communicate and collaborate with regular education staff to help make accommodations to materials being sent out
  4. Anytime teachers call, email, text, etc. the parent or general education teacher about a student, login to the student in Webkidss and complete this form. Multiple providers will be filling in this form.

Helping Hands Pre-K and Parents As Teachers (PAT) Academic Support

  1. No students will attend
  2. Teachers contacting parents weekly and delivering packets of information to parents.
  3. Materials such as crayons, etc. will be included in weekly packets.
  4. A Facebook page will be developed and accessible for families with activities posted weekly including hands-on games, teachers reading stories for families to watch, etc.

Miscellaneous Information

  1. All ELA, math and science general assessments were suspended on March 17th.
  2. Graduation will be postponed and HS Seniors will pick up caps and gowns on Monday, March 30th.
  3. USD 428 is waiting for guidance from KSDE regarding the attendance policy for the 4th quarter of the 2019-20 school year. Until further notice, teachers will use assignment submissions and student/parent communication logs to verify attendance.
  4. Students new to USD 428 are advised to call their school attendance center to make arrangements to enroll.
  5. Professional development for teachers under the Continuous Learning Plan will include training on the technology platforms of Zoom, Google Classroom, and Screencastify. Instructional Coaches, Principals, and District staff will provided On-Demand training at the teacher’s request. Principals will also provide building PD, as needed.
  6. Technology support for students/parents will be available by teachers, administrators, and the DEC technology staff. Students/parents need to communicate needs to their teachers who will contact the appropriate departments for help. Ryan will utilize the Remote Desktop Google Support platform to help with technology issues.