BSD Family Update
Tuesday, July 28, 2020
Important Fall 2020 Update
Dear BSD Families:
Today, I am announcing that Bremerton School District, along with many other schools in Kitsap County and around the state, will be starting the 2020-21 school year with 100% remote learning.
As you likely know, COVID-19 cases are on the rise in our state and in Kitsap County. The most recent data indicate--and the Kitsap Public Health District confirms--that with the current community transmission rate, it is not safe to reopen schools in person at this time. (Please see a link to the letter from the Kitsap Public Health District below).
We recognize the many benefits of educating our students in person. However, our priority remains the physical health and safety of our students and their families, our staff, and our community.
At this time, we cannot predict how long we will remain in this 100% remote learning model. We will continue to rely on public health guidance in monitoring community health and reassess the situation in November which is half-way through the first semester. We are determined to return to in-person instruction as soon as it’s safely possible.
Please know - this Continuous Learning 2.0 remote model will not be the same online learning you experienced this spring. This will be a more robust remote learning experience with increased expectations for student participation, more consistency for delivery of content, and better feedback to students and families.
I realize that our families will be impacted by this decision in many different ways. Some of you will feel enormous relief. Others will be faced with new hardships. We are committed to:
Improving our Continuous Learning 2.0 (100% remote) learning model with more accountability, robust learning, individualization, and student support.
Social-Emotional Learning: Building relationships, a sense of belonging and connectedness within our classrooms and schools.
Streamlining communication and using standardized online tools and platforms districtwide.
Ensuring equitable access to internet connectivity and devices.
Supporting students and families with unique needs, including special education services, English language learners, students experiencing homelessness and others.
Providing meals for students. Details of our fall meal program will be shared when solidified.
Helping our families connect with community services, including childcare and behavioral health.
A collaborative planning approach with parents, teachers and staff, with a mutual commitment to the health and safety of our students, staff and their families.
We will continue to communicate as our plans solidify. I encourage you to submit your questions online or by calling 360-473-1002. While we can’t answer every question individually, your feedback helps guide our planning and communication. We will answer as many questions as possible in a Frequently Asked Questions document which will be posted by the end of the week.
Aaron Leavell, Ed. D
Superintendent
2020-21 kindergarten registration open!
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BSD Family Updates newsletter (Distributed 7/28/2020)