LMASD Newsletter
October 13, 2020
LMASD SCHEDULE CHANGE - IMPORTANT
During the start of the pandemic last spring, teachers shifted to a virtual learning format almost immediately. While this was a tremendous learning curve for all educators around the nation, the true efficacy of those in the business of serving students was certainly demonstrated. In the spring, teachers spent hours of additional time planning and responding to their students. We worked through new technology and virtual teaching strategies. The positive outcome was the shift in our pedagogy.
Due to the uncertainty of the pandemic this fall, many school districts redesigned their school day. Some only offered a virtual format, some offered a hybrid model where students only attend in person two days per week and learn virtually the other three, and some, like LMASD, decided to return to school five days per week and still offer a virtual option. The staff accommodated parents’ requests and offered synchronous and asynchronous learning to ensure that all students were getting the high-quality education to which LMASD families are accustomed. Teachers are now pre-recording their lessons, designing and planning for a virtual learning classroom weekly, responding to our in-person students and our virtual students, and still trying to manage the day-to-day tasks that are part of the job.
As you can imagine, the demands placed on educators in this situation are not sustainable. Since districts have no additional revenue to add staff and eliminating either the in-person or virtual platforms is not an option, we need to provide more time for teachers to plan, assess classwork, meet with parents, and intervene to meet students’ academic and social-emotional needs.
Due to the extra time required of staff to plan for and respond to both a virtual and in-person learning platform during this pandemic (without the addition of new staff), the LMASD is revising the K-12 daily schedule to allow more time for staff to address the needs stated above.
Starting the beginning of the second quarter (November 9th), each Friday will be an early release day for all students in grades K-12. Students’ schedules on Fridays will be condensed so that they will still receive instruction in all academic areas. Students will be provided lunch and then dismissed at the following times:
- High School: Noon
- Middle School: 12:10 PM
- Elementary School: 12:20 PM
For the remainder of the 2020 calendar year, this affects the following Fridays: Nov. 13, 20, Dec. 4, 11, 18. This plan will continue throughout the 2020-2021 school year until further notice.
The building principals will be communicating the specific details of the dismissal process. Teachers will remain on-site during this time to record virtual lessons, assess on-line work, and meet with parents and students virtually.
Transportation
Friday Recreation Program
The Lake Mills Recreation Department (LMRD) will be offering a recreation program to students on Friday afternoons from 12:30-3:15 PM for students in grades K-5. There will be no bus transportation at 3:15 PM. However, students may be picked up from this program by an approved adult earlier than 3:15 PM.
If you think you may need this support, please fill out the survey to help us gauge attendance in the program. Answering this survey does not mean you are signing up for the program, it simply provides us information to help us finalize staffing and space needs. The LMRD will be sending out the detailed information and directions for registration once the survey closes.
The regular before and after-school program will remain the same. If your child is already enrolled in this program on Fridays, they will attend the program starting at 12:30 PM on the early dismissal days unless you contact the LMRD.
COVID-19 Community Spread
Absences are beginning to rise among students and staff. We are beginning to see the positive numbers of COVID cases rise in the Lake Mills community as well. As you have seen in other communities, there is a real possibility that we may need to shift to virtual learning as the ability to staff our schools on a daily basis is a challenge. Please be sure you have an alternative plan in place if the need arises to shift to virtual learning.
The Board adopted the following language at last night’s meeting:
When Individual School Buildings or the District May Shift to Virtual Learning
The determination to shift an individual school building or all the schools in the district will be made by the District Administrator in consultation with the Board of Education and the county/state health departments after monitoring relevant information, including the following:
Active number of COVID-19 cases in Jefferson County and the Lake Mills community
Active number of COVID-19 cases within an individual school building or across the district
Rate of transmission within a building or across the district
The number of absences among school staff impedes vital school and district functions.
The need for school-wide disinfection
Community hospitalization rate
District’s ability to do contact tracing
Number of active quarantines
Other metrics as determined appropriate
The shift to virtual learning will, in most cases, be a minimum of fourteen (14) days. This timeline allows for contact tracing to take place with the individuals who have tested positive, the potential presence of symptoms among those who have been exposed, quarantines to expire, and to plan for staffing needs.
LMASD COVID-19 Dashboard
Mr. Wiedenfeld's Horticulture & Landscaping Class
Every fall, Mr. Wiedenfeld's Horticulture & Landscaping Class designs and decorates the Lake Mills High School main entrance and the District Office with a fall/harvest theme to get some hands-on practice with landscape design elements. Thank you, Brent Johnson and Luke Wiedenfeld for their donations of chrysanthemums, pumpkins, corn stalks, and straw. Great job, students! The displays look wonderful!
Important October Dates
- Tuesday, October 15 & 22 | Middle School Parent/Teachers Conferences
- Monday, October 26 | Special Board Meeting
- Tuesday, October 27 | Districtwide Picture Retake Day
- Thursday, October 29 | Staff In-Service Day - No School
- Friday, October 30 | No School
Dr. Tonya Olson
Email: tonya.olson@lakemills.k12.wi.us
Website: www.lakemills.k12.wi.us
Location: 120 East Lake Park Place, Lake Mills, WI, USA
Phone: 920.648.2215
Facebook: facebook.com/LakeMillsSD
Twitter: @tonyaolson22