CHS Cougar News
July 24, 2020
Hello!!
I hope this update finds you all enjoying the summertime and this beautiful (yet HOT) weather with family and friends! I have been fortunate enough to speak with many of you recently, either in person or via phone, so I know that despite event cancellations and closures many of you are still enjoying hiking, kayaking, strawberry picking, bonfires and more! I am so glad that we are all making the most of the crazy, and encourage you all to savor every minute...summer always just seems to fly right by. :)
I can imagine that many of you are eager (understatement of the century) to have a better idea of what lies ahead for us as we approach the upcoming school year. While we do not have answers for everything, what I can tell you is that the focus of the work of the Admin. Team has been on the topic of reopening, and in making this the best year possible for students and for staff.
Below is a link to Dr. Brewer's July 17th email regarding reopening. You will see that this details a spectrum of program models, ranging from a low-risk situation to a high risk situation. I want to be transparent with everyone in that ALL of these program models will be on the table for the year, and that we will need to be prepared to be effective in all of them, and adapt to circumstances as they arise. Cougars - if ever there were a time where TEAMWORK mattered, THIS is that time.
Now that we have more guidance as to program models, I will be reaching out to all of you individually to discuss how this will affect your world specifically. I WANT to know your concerns, your ideas, and especially anything that I can do to help support you this year. I have already chatted with a handful of you, and already the feedback that I have gotten has been great - LOTS OF GREAT IDEAS - and a willingness to help in whatever way possible.
I look forward to speaking with you all very soon,
Tori
Reopening Plan
7-17-20
Dear CCSD Families,
The Board of Education recently endorsed a CCSD Reopening Guide that will inform you of our return to school this fall. The comprehensive planning guide was developed by the Clinton Community School District Leadership team with the latest information and guidelines available at the time from local and state health departments, other school districts, and input received from a variety of stakeholder groups, including families and staff.
As we plan for the reopening of schools this fall in the Clinton Community School District, we must consider numerous factors to protect the health and safety of our students, staff, and families. CCSD will adhere to a number of safety protocols during the reopening of school as a way to minimize the risk of spreading COVID-19. As a district, we are also committed to providing an educational delivery platform model that will allow families to make a choice between in-person schooling and a home-based virtual education.
The CCSD Reopening Guide allows for a range of educational options to occur beginning September 1st. Slide 4 of the reopening guide outlines a decision matrix that shows the range of delivery models. It is imperative that all constituents be prepared to move between models. The decision to move between models or risk levels will be in consultation with public health officials and will be in-line with the guidance provided by these agencies.
The continually changing landscape we face due to COVID-19 makes it nearly impossible to make a firm decision over six weeks out from the start of school. Nevertheless, the Board of Education was asked on July 15, 2020 which model they would select if school were to have started this week and the orange model was identified as the preferred face-to-face option.
Families choose between full-time distance learning and in-person learning with half of remaining students attending Monday/Tuesday, half Thursday/Friday with Wednesday rotating between the two cohorts. (Orange)
Families choose between full-time distance learning and in-person learning with high school and middle school students having two classes per day on a four day rotating basis (Monday-1st & 2nd periods, Tuesday- 3rd & 4th periods, Wednesday- 5th & 6th periods, Thursday- 7th & 8th periods, Friday- 1st & 2nd periods, Monday- 3rd & 4th periods, etc…) and elementary students staying with their “school family” following similar schedules as they have; but many of their specials will be delivered in the classroom when possible. (Yellow)
A final decision regarding which model CCSD will utilize to start the 2020-2021 school year will take place in early August. Even then, CCSD and the community may have to shift between models as the situation regarding COVID-19 changes.
All families will receive an invitation next week to fill out a survey indicating their desire to have their children attend school this fall utilizing full-time distance learning. The survey will be open from July 21st through July 28th and the data collected from this survey will help to determine staffing for the upcoming school year. After families indicate their preference to enroll their child in full-time distance learning, a CCSD staff member will contact parents/guardians to further discuss the next steps in the process.
Families wishing to have their children attend school in a face-to-face setting can disregard the survey.
We are hopeful that the CCSD Reopening Guide provides some clarity to what the upcoming school year will be like. We are also cognizant that the reopening guide probably does not answer every question that you may have. We promise to keep you informed as we work together to open schools in September in a way that considers the health and safety of everyone. We thank you for your patience, understanding, and flexibility as we continue to prepare for what will certainly be a unique and challenging school year.
Sincerely,
Dr. Jim Brewer, District Administrator
Plan for Reopening this Fall: Improving Virtual Instruction
I want to thank you all for your participation in the many surveys that have gone out as of late. There is a strong possibility that we will be virtual at some point this year, so improving upon our platform will be a high priority. Here is a summary of the input from all CHS staff and families that we will be looking to address as we format what virtual learning would look like at CHS this year:
Streamlined protocol/format for lesson delivery/assignment posting, Grades 6-12
Streamlined communication with families regarding academic progress
Synchronous virtual learning with attendance taken
Streamlined protocols for dealing with student disengagement
Intentional and proactive SEL/mental health support for students and staff
Scheduled times for classes, while still allowing for flexibility for families
Increased staff access to building during virtual learning
Thank you again for your feedback everyone!
WIAA Update on Fall Sports
Yesterday, the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association [WIAA] Board of Control voted 8-3 to maintain fall interscholastic opportunities with a delayed start, as well as an alternate opportunity for schools unable to start in the fall due to COVID. At this time, however, no official decisions have been made regarding if, when, and how fall sports will be played at CHS specifically. A myriad of meetings are taking place with various stakeholders in Rock County, and in the Rock Valley and Capitol South (football only) Conferences. Please stay tuned for additional correspondence in the weeks to come.
New CHS Staff
Alex Copp, PC Technician
I am proud to introduce to you our new PC Technician Alex Copp. Alex is coming to us with about 6+ years of experience working at U-Rock as a technician. Alex is excited to be joining our Clinton family and has already hit the ground running. Alex will be setting up shop in our new IT Department Office in the Middle School near the Woodshop, and in the High School Library Office where Shane had been working out of last year. He can abe reached at extension 2501 or at alcopp@clintonwis.com.
George Dalbo, Social Studies
Justin Zander, MS/HS Tech Ed.
Hello Clinton,
My name is Justin Zander, I am the new Technology Education instructor for the HS/MS. I have been in the Madison area my entire life and have been teaching mostly construction and woodworking for the majority of the last 20 years. I am a licensed contractor and I hope to help familiarize myself to the area by offering help with those projects that you may not be able to tackle yourself. I prefer to stay busy. I am looking forward to joining the Clinton community.
Catrina Erskine, MS/HS FACE
Update on Additional New Hires.
Summer School Update
Session 2 of summer school is just around the corner and will offer those who registered the opportunity for 4K-8th grade students to get back into the building and re-establish routines, as well as the opportunity for high school students to recover credits. Huge thanks to all of our CCSD staffers who have contributed to the success of summer school!
Football: Mattress Sale Fundraiser!!
Band and Choir Accolades
On a similar note, two of our choir students, Kendra Barkas and Brynn Simpson, recently took part in a national a Capella competition that the a Cappella competition, and are featured in this video. Congrats to these ladies and to Mr. Bennett. We are so Cougar Proud of you all!