#DragonStrong
Braver. Smarter. Stronger.
Dragon Families,
It's Sunday at 4 p.m. and you know what that means? Carroll ISD is committed to communicating regularly during our COVID-19 emergency closure. We joined other Tarrant County school districts on Friday in extending our closure through April 17. We plan to continue online learning throughout the closure. We will also continue meal delivery to qualifying students. Our hope is that closing our campuses a little while longer will help prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus which causes COVID-19.
We know that there are concerns about the long-term impact to the economy, individual mental wellness and the consequences of extensive media coverage surrounding the virus. We do understand and share in some of these same concerns, but we are also aware of local families who are now dealing with symptoms and may not yet be tested or counted in the county's confirmed cases. We hear more and more about younger, healthy individuals here and all across the country experiencing very serious complications from COVID-19.
While we have procedures to mitigate the spread of flu or infectious disease outbreaks in schools, our health clinics at campuses just aren't equipped with the resources or staff to manage multiple patients showing symptoms. While we didn't have a confirmed case at CISD before spring break, we were well aware of instances where schools were recommended to close for deep cleaning when students or staff showed symptoms, and we anticipated an increase in the likelihood of exposure to novel coronavirus following spring break travel. Then and now, the risks posed to our students and staff are just too great.
As a reminder, please stay home, avoid public interactions, playdates, sleepovers and touching public surfaces like playground equipment and swings. Keep six feet in between yourself and others when in public for essential activities. Wash your hands, use hand sanitizer when soap is not readily available and notify your doctor if you experience a dry cough, shortness of breath and fever. The sooner we can slow down the spread of COVID-19, the sooner we can return to school, and the economy can begin to bounce back.
Parents of students in PK-4 requested that CISD give families the weekend to work on lessons. We listened and responded. Week 2 lesson plans for PK-4 online Teacher-Based Instruction were rolled out on Friday at 4 p.m. If you have more time on the weekend to work through lessons with your children, you now have that flexibility. If you still need to access Week 1 lessons, simply scroll down on the webpage to find those lessons still accessible. Teachers in grades 5-12 will post the Week 2 lessons and assignments in Canvas Monday morning at 8 a.m.
Today, we promised to take a look at how Carroll ISD and other surrounding districts are handling grading and semester exams during the final nine-week period of the 2019-2020 school year. Our goal is grace > grades as we help students master the remaining curriculum content with meaningful teacher feedback. Because we cannot ensure the integrity or validity of grades during online learning, our goal is to help students maintain their existing grade point average and take this time to dig deeper into the content of our core subject areas. We want to do all this while supporting the emotional well-being of each child during the COVID-19 pandemic. Please read today's communication carefully.
We appreciate all that our parents and staff are juggling to make online learning a reality. Please don't forget that we are here to support and encourage you and your children.
Stay safe & be well,
CISD Leadership Team
Parents Can Monitor Online Work
Senior Class Rank & GPA Already Set
Underclassmen Maintain GPA
CISD is freezing each underclassman's grade point average (GPA) after the third nine-weeks for this year only. The 100% or 69% earned in the fourth nine-week period only gets averaged in the second semester grade, but not the student's total GPA. This ensures all underclassmen maintain their GPA or class rank to avoid negative consequences caused by the COVID-19 closures.
Our goal is to help students understand the content and gain meaningful feedback from core subject teachers. We want to minimize the effect this nine-week period has on a student's grade point average or class rank. Maintaining the current GPA, we hope, will reduce the stress and worry this extended closure might cause students and their parents.
And now, a video message from Superintendent David Faltys
Celebrating Our Class of 2020 Seniors
We want to reassure members of our Senior Class of 2020 that the Carroll ISD leadership team is doing everything we can to help preserve the end-of-year memories and special events typically enjoyed by our seniors. Although we received the difficult news that the hotel hosting our April Senior Prom had to cancel the event due to social-distancing restrictions, we are doing what we can to find a venue to host a prom later this summer. While this may not work for every senior, we hope we can still offer Senior Prom memories to those who can and wish to participate. We will offer refunds, as Principal Shawn Duhon communicated, to those who cannot.
As for Graduation 2020, we have not canceled this event and are still hopeful we will be back in school and able to celebrate at Dragon Stadium. That said, we are studying options for an indoor graduation ceremony later this summer if the extended closures cause us to change our original plans. Mr. Duhon is working with Jostens to schedule a drive-up event to pick up senior caps, gowns and invitations. We will also discuss a reprint or insert for invitations should an alternate graduation date/venue be necessary.
While we cannot change this pandemic situation for our Seniors, we want you to know how very proud we are of your attitude and resiliency during difficult times. You make us proud, and we hope you will look back years from now and remember not what you lost, but instead what you gained during this time of social distancing - a greater perspective and appreciation for your Dragon family. Thank you for joining together to support one another during times of adversity.
Stay Healthy & Flatten The Curve
Key steps in mitigating exposure to COVID-19:
- Educate yourself on the symptoms and prevention of COVID-19;
- Practice social distancing and stay six feet away from others;
- Do not hold sleepovers, playdates and group events;
- Wash hands regularly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds;
- Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap is not available;
- Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, then throw the tissue in the trash;
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands;
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick;
- Stay home while you have a fever or experience illness;
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
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Email: julie.thannum@southlakecarroll.edu
Website: www.southlakecarroll.edu
Phone: 817-949-8222
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/southlakecarrollisd
Twitter: @carrollisd