BSD Family Update
Friday, July 10, 2020
Fall 2020 Update
Greetings BSD families:
I want to provide an update on our planning process for school for fall 2020. Our goal is to best serve our students’ needs while also working to meet the State’s health and safety requirements, as outlined in the Reopening Washington Schools 2020 Planning Guide.
We are moving forward with the following instructional models for fall 2020 as presented at last night’s Bremerton School Board meeting.
Families will have the opportunity to choose from three learning pathways for fall 2020.
Hybrid Learning: Students will be split into two groups (A,B) and will attend school in-person two days a week and have continuous, remote learning with classroom teacher support the remaining days of the week.
Continuous Learning 2.0 (enhanced, 100% remote learning): All learning is conducted remotely using consistent digital learning platforms throughout the District. This will be an improved model over the distance learning implemented on an emergency basis in spring 2020, incorporating more accountability, robust learning, individualization, and teacher support.
Existing BSD Alternative Learning Experiences (ALEs) including:
Existing RHS site-based model
A new RHS remote model
Parent partnership (Home Link for K-8)
Existing ALE programs for high school students including Drawbridge and Online Options
In the coming weeks, we will be providing you much more detailed information on each of these pathways, and families will be asked to select one for the 2020-21 school year for their students.
We recognize that the limited classroom time and the alternating schedule in our Hybrid Learning Pathway creates challenges for many students and families. The decision to implement a hybrid model is largely due to space limitations. Because six feet of space is required between students and teachers while in the classroom, our schools can only accommodate 9 to 14 students in each classroom at a time. This greatly limits the number of students we can bring back to any school at the same time.
We also realize some families may not be comfortable sending their children back to school in the fall. For those families, we are offering the Continuous Learning 2.0 - a 100% remote option. Participating with remote learning in our district will provide your student(s) consistency in curriculum, affording them a smoother transition back to traditional in-person schooling when the time comes.
Recognizing that “one size does not fit all,” we are expanding capacity for several existing District Alternative Learning Environment options including Home Link, Online Options and Drawbridge. Renaissance High School will also be offering site-based and remote learning options with small class sizes and limited on-site instruction requirements. Students with disabilities will also have additional options in alignment with the IEP Teams’ decisions.
One message we heard loud and clear from families is that students need more structure and support with remote learning than they received in the spring. We are developing an improved, more robust online learning experience that will have a universal platform for delivery for students in both our Hybrid Learning and Continuous Learning 2.0 pathways.
Throughout this process our guiding principles have and will continue to be to:
Put the safety of students, families and staff first;
Mitigate, monitor & minimize the spread of COVID-19;
Consider all populations with an equity lens; and
Acknowledge the needs of families returning to work.
We want to thank the many people who have been a part of this planning process. Thank you to the 50 parents, students, teachers, staff and community members in our Fall Start 2020 Workgroup for their contributions and time the past month. Thank you to all students, staff, parents and community members who have completed our surveys and to those who have contacted us directly with your thoughts, ideas and concerns. Your input is essential - and appreciated.
We know this update leaves you with many questions. Please know our staff is working through the details of these educational pathways and are developing the processes and protocols to implement the State’s health and safety requirements that continue to evolve. We will continue to update you as our plans solidify.
Thank you for your continued support. Have a great weekend.
Aaron Leavell, Ed. D
Superintendent
2020-21 kindergarten registration open!
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bremerton School District Non-Discrimination Statement
BSD Family Updates newsletter (Distributed 7/10/2020)