Everitt Family Newsletter
July 31, 2020
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Dear Everitt Families,
It was nice to "see" many of you on Zoom last week. Thank you for sharing your questions, concerns, hopes and ideas for the coming year. It is absolutely vital that our community continues to stay connected to one another as we navigate truly uncharted territory together.
Also, thank you for your patience with us as we worked through rapidly changing guidance from our district to create a more detailed plan about both our remote and hybrid learning models at Everitt. Please remember that though this newsletter contains our best thinking and plans right now, they are subject to change as we respond to shifts in policy from our school district, our county health officials and our state. Although I will always do my best to communicate as much as I can, as soon as I can, the most up-to-date information from our district can be found at the restart website: https://www.jeffcopublicschools.org/restart_jeffco
The video below shares the same information that is written in the rest of this Newsletter. If you prefer to watch instead of read, it's there for you. If you prefer to read instead of watch, you're welcome to do that instead. The presentation I use in the video is linked HERE if you'd like to reference or share it later.
I empathize and understand how difficult the choices are in front of us. As a parent, I know that each option feels right in some ways and wrong in others, and I sometimes feel paralyzed by uncertainty and skepticism. Despite that understanding, I ask you to make and share this decision as soon as you can. One of the most important things you can do to help us finalize schedules and plans is to complete THIS NEW SURVEY to let us know your intentions for either in person or hybrid learning this fall. If you have questions before making this choice, don't hesitate to call or email. I will do my best to give you the information you need. Please also note that even if you filled out the first survey earlier in July, we ask that you fill out this new one as well.
I am so grateful to get to be a part of this extraordinary community, and I thank you for sharing your kids with us; it is our honor to serve them.
Jeena
Jeena Templeton, Principal
Everitt Middle School
jeena.templeton@jeffco.k12.co.us
303.982.6288
What will school look like for students who've chosen 100% remote learning from home?
Will Everitt students be taught by Everitt teachers?
All Jeffco secondary schools had the option to send their students who choose 100% Remote Learning to Jeffco Virtual Academy. Our leadership team chose to opt out and keep our remote students and teachers at Everitt for the following reasons:
It is important to us to keep our Everitt community together.
It is important to our families that Everitt students are taught by Everitt teachers.
JVA only offers asynchronous learning, where students get assignments for their classes at the beginning of the week and are expected to complete those assignments on their own time, with limited real-time interaction with their teachers. Everitt families have expressed frustration with that model, and we find that our students struggle in that kind of learning environment.
What does the remote learning decision mean for Everitt?
We will have a remote learning team of teachers and a hybrid team of teachers.
Our remote teaching team will have access to and will utilize JVA's rigorous and engaging, grade-level curricula.
Our remote learners may not get all the electives they were hoping for and expecting, but they will have electives. This depends on which Everitt teachers are approved to work remotely and which Everitt teachers are returning to teach students in-person. We should have that information by the middle of August.
We will be able to offer real time learning and interaction for our remote learners with Everitt teachers and their peers. We believe this benefit outweighs the disadvantages.
What will remote learning look like for Everitt's remote students?
Students will begin the day checking in via Zoom or Google Meet with their Crew teacher, who will help them organize their day and connect with one another.
Students will follow a remote learning block "bell schedule."
Students will receive true, remote instruction from each of their teachers and will connect with their peers in real time.
Students will have some work and assignments to finish on their own, just as they would have work time in the classroom and homework at home.
What will a Everitt remote learner's weekly schedule look like?
What might a remote learner do during each class period?
Final thoughts about remote learning:
We are waiting for information about which of our teachers have been approved for a remote assignment and which will come back to teach in our hybrid environment. We expect to have that information by August 10. Then, we can start to build a master schedule and individual students' schedules.
We appreciate your patience. If you have questions about remote learning that this newsletter didn't answer, call me at 303.982.6288 or email Jeena.Templeton@jeffco.k12.co.us. My door is always open.
What will hybrid learning look like Everitt?
Hybrid Learning Cohorts
Students with last names that begin with A-K will attend in-person classes on Monday & Tuesday and participate in remote learning on Wednesday & Thursday.
Students with last names that begin with L-Z will attend in-person classes on Wednesday & Thursday and participate in remote learning on Monday & Tuesday.
**GO FARMERS!
What will the weekly schedule be for students with last names that start with A through K?
What will the weekly schedule be for students with last names that start with L-Z?
What happens to the schedule when there are holidays or breaks?
- The calendar below shows when each group is in the building, learning in-person.
- Please note the changes in routine that happen the week of September 7 and the week of October 12.
What to expect when students are in the building, learning in person:
- Students will wear masks when they're inside, except when they're eating.
- Students will get outside for breaks, recess and even some classes.
- Hand washing and sanitizing will be scheduled throughout the day.
- Students will be screened each morning for COVID symptoms.
- We will work to maintain social distancing in each classroom.
- Classrooms and common areas will be cleaned and sanitized regularly.
- Students may not have all the electives options we have in a typical year.
What to expect when learning at home in the hybrid model:
- Students will log in to Google Classroom each morning.
- Each teacher will post their lessons and expectations for the day. This will include pre-recorded instruction and materials for students to engage with, as our hybrid team of teachers will be teaching in-person at the same time.
- Students will follow a schedule to help them manage their time and stay engaged in learning throughout the day.
- Teachers will share weekly learning expectations with students and families so that you're clear what students are working on at home and what students are working on here at school.
Final thoughts about hybrid learning:
We are waiting for information about which of our teachers have been approved for a remote assignment and which will come back to teach in our hybrid environment. We expect to have that information by August 10. Then, we can start to build a master schedule and individual students' schedules.
We appreciate your patience. If you have questions about hybrid learning that this newsletter didn't answer, call me at 303.982.6288 or email Jeena.Templeton@jeffco.k12.co.us. My door is always open.
The school supply list is ready!
When will we get more of the information we need to help our kids successfully start the school year?
Registration support on August 14: If you need support in registering your student or paying fees, we will be available to support you in the Everitt parking lot. You will get a detailed plan and schedule for in-person registration on Friday, August 7. Online registration is open now on Jeffco Connect.
Material pick up on August 19: You may pick up Chromebooks, get help with registration, pick up your yearbooks, drop off shared supplies like boxes of tissues, etc. You will get a detailed plan and schedule for that event next Friday, August 7.
Virtual Back to School Night and Parent Orientation on Wednesday, August 19: Teachers and office staff will provide you the information and resources you need to support your student both online and at school—resources like how to find their schedules, check their grades, contact their teachers, etc. This virtual orientation will come to your email by 4:30 pm.
Student remote learning orientation on August 24: Students will connect with our Everitt community and learn how to be a successful student in this unprecedented year. Families are welcome to join their students online to hear the same messages!
Student Hybrid Learning, In Person Orientation: 8th Graders on September 1; 7th graders on September 2; and 6th graders on September 3. More details to come on Friday, August 14.
What we need from you:
For us to create student schedules, we need to know which students plan to learn 100% remotely and which students plan to join us for hybrid learning.
Even if you've already filled out the preference survey sent from the district, please complete this second survey (linked below) by August 7 to let us know your plans.
Friday, August 14: Registration support. (Detailed schedule to come on August 7).
Wednesday, August 19: Materials pick up and Virtual Back to School Night (Detailed schedule to come on August 7).
Monday, August 24: Remote Learning Orientation for all students.
Tuesday, September 1: In-person Hybrid Learning Orientation for 8th Graders. (Detailed schedule to come on August 14).
Wednesday, September 2: In-person Hybrid Learning Orientation for 7th Graders. (Detailed schedule to come on August 14)
Thursday, September 3: In-person Hybrid Learning Orientation for Incoming 6th Graders. (Detailed schedule to come on August 14)
Monday, September 7: Labor Day, No School
Tuesday, September 8: Hybrid Learning begins.
A Note from our PTA!
Please also join the Everitt Middle School PTA Facebook page to connect with other parents and ask questions/share information.
Our vision this year is to determine where our support is needed and meet those needs where we can as well as to continue on our mission of building community among Everitt families. We’d love to have you join us!
If you have any questions and/or ideas please reach out directly to Dan Weinstein at dan.b.weinstein@gmail.com
Everitt Middle School
Everitt Middle School believes that all students should engage in learning that is self-directed, collaborative, and rigorous with a focus on real world application learning in a Project Based Learning environment.
Email: jeena.templeton@jeffco.k12.co.us
Website: https://everitt.jeffcopublicschools.org/
Location: 3900 Kipling St, Wheat Ridge, CO 80033, USA
Phone: 303-982-1580