Mansfield Public Schools
Tuesday, April 21, 2020
Dear Mansfield School Community,
Governor Baker announced today that Massachusetts schools will remain closed for the remainder of this school year. I don’t think that this comes as a surprise to anyone, but it still takes me aback because it is such a difficult time for everyone and we all know that students are supposed to be in their physical classrooms -- not their remote ones.
We will continue to move forward educating students with the remote learning plan that has been implemented. Families have differing opinions about the district’s plan and the students’ workload, while schools are working hard to meet a wide variety of student and family needs. Students have access to the learning activities through the schools’ resource pages on the district’s Covid-19 website and teachers are engaging students in a number of ways. During the past three weeks, the Digital Learning Department has trained faculty in the use of google tools that will allow them to interact more fully with students. Later this week, the Commissioner of Education is going to provide districts with additional remote learning guidelines that will include the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s new recommendations about teaching of the essential standards (sometimes called “Power Standards”) that will prepare students for their next grade. I am satisfied with their recommendation because, although the current guidance has been to provide learning that goes deeper into previously taught material, students are ready to move forward with the learning standards that would ordinarily be taught during the spring. I thank students’ parents and guardians for the extra support you are providing. Remote learning doesn’t happen without your efforts.
In addition to the collaboration with their faculty on remote learning, the central office leadership team and principals are also working on the other operational activities that are required to move the school district forward. We are planning end of year activities such as transitions from one school to the next and making decisions about how we can provide spring celebrations remotely. We are also planning for next year by creating schedules; revising curriculum materials based on the end of this year; and planning classroom placements. The Commissioner has promised that the Department will provide guidance on summer activities at a later time.
Spring is supposed to be such a special time of year in schools and it is usually a time of field trips and field days and other “fun” events. This year will look very different, but my faculty and staff will continue to engage and motivate students to continue with their learning. Most importantly, they will help our students to continue to feel as valued members of the Mansfield School Community.
Sincerely,
Teresa Murphy
Superintendent of Schools
*NEW* Chromebook Printing Instructions
https://sites.google.com/mansfieldschools.com/covid-19/technology-resources?authuser=0
In addition, a Technology Resources tab has been added to our COVID-19 Website to help answer your questions.
Schedule Change for Breakfast & Lunch Distribution
As a reminder, breakfast and lunch will be distributed on
Wednesday, April 22 and Friday, April 24.
The regular schedule will resume the week of April 27.
Contact Information
Email: school.notifications@mansfieldschools.com
Website: www.mansfieldschools.com
Location: 2 Park Row, Mansfield, MA, USA
Phone: 508-261-7500
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Mansfield-Public-Schools-508839202499633/
Twitter: @MansfieldSchool