SLCS District Update
November 24, 2020
Note from the Superintendent
Hello SLCS Families,
The Board of Education voted last evening to amend the Extended Covid-19 Learning Plan previously approved on November 16th for the elementary level. The plan now includes remote instruction for the period December 7-18th. The recommendation for this adjustment to the plan was based on three main areas: the incubation period after Thanksgiving, the importance of consistency and routines at the elementary level, and the system impact on the instructional programs. The video of the Board of Education meeting presentation from last night can be accessed via the link provided https://bit.ly/37bfgmu. Additional information regarding the elementary schedule is also provided below in the section for elementary families.
I want to take this opportunity in the spirit of the Thanksgiving holiday to extend my most sincere THANKS to the entire SLCS staff, parents, and community. Your continued support and cooperation is paramount to the work we do and vital to the continued success and support of our students. The challenges before us will only be turned into triumphs through a continued spirit of teamwork and collaboration.
Happy Thanksgiving to each of you and your families!
Sincerest Regards!
Steve Archibald
Elementary Families
In-Person/Hybrid Schedule Update:
Below is the schedule for our Elementary Hybrid In-Person/Remote Pathway:
11/25 - 11/27: No school - Thanksgiving
11/30 - 12/18: Remote Learning
12/21 - 1/1: No school - Winter Break
1/4 - 1/8: Remote Learning
The remote learning schedule will be similar to the schedule followed in September. Please click here to view.
Elementary Report Cards:
On Wednesday, November 25, elementary report cards can be accessed through the Illuminate portal. Information about how to access your student’s report card can be found in the Online Parent Report Card Letter.
On the report cards this year, you will notice that we have added your student’s scores from the NWEA MAP Growth Reading and Math assessments taken this fall. The purpose of the MAP Growth tests is to help identify your student’s strengths and needs. Your child’s MAP Growth results are represented as RIT scores. Like inches on a ruler, the RIT scale measures student progress in equal intervals, regardless of a student’s grade—and it remains stable over time. As a result, we can accurately measure students’ growth and understand where they are performing on the learning continuum. RIT scores help teachers identify specific areas of focus for instruction. Teachers use these scores to identify how to best support students in their classroom. Please see the chart below for average fall RIT scores by grade level.
Kdg 136 1st Grade 155 2nd Grade 172 3rd Grade 186 4th Grade 196 5th Grade 204
Additionally, to help simplify reporting, we have adjusted the science and social studies sections of the report card to show student progress in overall units of study rather than individual standards within each topic area. Since we are reporting on broader student progress on a unit of study, we have adjusted the rubric used to mark science and social studies to better communicate student progress in the subject areas.
Secondary Families
Middle School
For those students in 6th and 7th grade, the end of the first trimester of instruction is Friday, December 4th. Please check Skyward for your student’s schedule for the second trimester, which begins Monday, December 7th.
Remote Instruction Reminders
As secondary students continue to learn remotely over the next several weeks, we would like to provide a few reminders about classroom expectations in the remote setting:
Cameras - Students should have their cameras on during class, unless there are extenuating circumstances that have been communicated to the building administrator, a school counselor/social worker, or a child’s teacher. Teachers need to see their students to be able to interact with them effectively in the remote environment. Much of the feedback teachers receive during instruction is from body language from students, and this is impossible to obtain when cameras are turned off. In order to have meaningful interactions and conversations, we respectfully ask that parents talk with their children about keeping cameras on during class time.
School Schedule - Students should be getting up, getting dressed, having breakfast, and preparing themselves for school each day. Students learn better when they have a routine that allows for them to have a distraction-free environment in order to concentrate on their school work. We encourage families to try and find a location in your home for your child to work each day to help build a routine with them to participate effectively in their classes.
Special Education
Contingency Learning Plans
Contingency Learning Plans (CLP) have already been developed for most of our students with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs). The purpose of the CLP is to describe how FAPE will be delivered during the COVID-19 pandemic when situations arrive, such as a returning to fully remote instruction. If a CLP has not been developed you can expect your child’s case manager to schedule a meeting to create one. If you would like more information about Contingency Learning Plans click here to view the Michigan Department of Education guidance document.Self-Contained Classrooms
Returning students to in-person instruction is a priority of the SLCS Special Education Department. Earlier in the fall we were able to successfully return hybrid/remote students in the self-contained programs to in-person instruction before the general education population returned. We are currently reviewing each self-contained hybrid/remote program in order to assess the viability of returning students placed in these classrooms to in-person instruction prior to winter break.
Annual Notifications
Each year the special education department shares with parents two document: Annual Medicaid Notification and Procedural Safeguards. Click here to access the Consent for Medicaid School-Based Services. Click here to access the Procedural Safeguards.
Food Service
No food distribution this week. Next distribution will be Wednesday December 2nd at South Lyon High School from 4:30-6:00 at door 11.
Remember: ALL STUDENTS EAT FOR FREE!