Northwoods News
A Message from Principal Nixon--July 9, 2020
Dear Northwoods Families,
I hope you and your families are doing well and staying healthy. The purpose of this newsletter is to summarize the school reopening information that you received from the Wake County Public School System on July 2, 2020.
Please know that information is changing rapidly, so you should continue to check local news outlets for updates. All information enclosed in this newsletter is current as of today, July 9, 2020.
Respectfully,
Joe Nixon
Principal
State Board of Education Reopening Plans
WCPSS Reopening Plans
Important School Reopening Information
Hopefully by mid-July, Governor Cooper will announce the reopening plan for public schools - Plan A, B, or C. Please refer to the Return-to-Campus Guide for Families (p. 5) to read WCPSS's descriptions of Plans A, B, & C (pictured above). Please note that the Wake County Public School System has the option to open under a more restrictive plan than what Governor Cooper announces.
For example, if Gov. Cooper announces schools will open under Plan A (full student attendance), WCPSS may choose to open with the more restrictive Plan B or Plan C. In my opinion, it is highly unlikely WCPSS will open under Plan A even if the Governor announces schools open under Plan A.
That being said, Plan B is only an option at this time, albeit the most likely option. The purpose of getting Board approval and releasing the details of Plan B last Thursday was to give families and employees time to start planning should Plan B become a reality. For quick reference, I have listed the details of Plan B below as written in the Return-to-Campus Guide for Families.
Plan B Overview:
K-12 students will experience a combination of in-person learning in the school building with their teachers and classmates and online instruction through an online platform. Both learning environments will have high expectations and will result in work that contributes to the student’s overall grade. Teachers will strategically place learning opportunities in each environment to create an overall experience that aligns to rigorous state standards for the grade level or course. Experiences during online instruction will be a combination of recorded and live instructional sessions. We are exploring options for PreK students to attend school daily as soon as is feasible.
Plan B Details:
- The three-week rotation being recommended by the district is the safest for students and staff while still allowing for in-person instruction for all students.
- In Plan B, students will be assigned to groups (1, 2 or 3). Siblings will be in the same groups. Groups will attend school in an ongoing rotation by attending school in-person for one week and receiving online instruction for two weeks.
- The three student groupings will first be made by the Transportation Department based on bus routes, and then the Office of Student Assignment will ensure siblings are in the same group. Lastly, principals will review student groupings and make class assignments.
Families Not Ready or Unable to Return to Campus
K-12 families will have the option to choose the WCPSS Virtual Academy for fully online instruction in the 2020-2021 school year if they are not ready or able to return to a school campus. Details can be found on page 6 of the Return-to-Campus Guide for Families.
- Families must commit to at least one semester, with a recommendation of a one-year commitment.
- More information can be found at https://www.wcpss.net/Virtual-Academy.
- Students can apply to WCPSS Virtual Academy beginning the July 10th.
Timeline
- July 10: Parents will receive additional information from WCPSS about the Virtual Academy.
- Application window opens for WCPSS Virtual Academy
- Mid-July: Governor will announce his plan for reopening schools
The Return-to-Campus Guide for Families outlines everything the district is doing, along with what we need families to do, to maximize a safe and healthy environment for your child. Please take some time to familiarize yourself with the important information contained in this guide and on WCPSS’s Return-to-Campus website: https://www.wcpss.net/returntocampus.
As I receive additional information from the county and state, I will pass it along to you. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me. Thank you for your continued support.