BWRSD Community Update 4/8/20
Message from Jonathan Brice, Superintendent of Schools
Dear BWRSD families,
I hope that distance learning has become more manageable as we work to provide a level of normalcy for you children, and that we are able to find the right level of academic demand and flexibility. Thank you for all that you are doing to support distance learning. Please enjoy this long weekend and all it represents to you.
Take a moment and watch one of our students practice his music lesson with the help of his pets. https://flipgrid.com/s/41dd42164d70
Today’s update has information about the following topics:
Senior Activities
Sports
Summer Activities
Grades/Report Cards
Meal Distribution (Double meal distribution Thursday April 9)
Information from Rhode Island Healthy Schools Coalition
BWRSD Online Tech Support for Families
Senior Activities:
Class of 2020 Update
Hello Class of 2020 Students and Families!
We have received several inquiries with respect to the status of graduation, and other Senior Class activities. Although we do not know when social distancing will be relaxed, we want you to know that we are exploring various options for graduation and other senior activities
As you know, graduation is scheduled for June 13, 2020 at Roger Williams University. Provided social distancing is no longer required and it safe to congregate in groups, graduation will go on as planned. In the event that social distancing remains in place, we are exploring other options such as postponing the graduation ceremony to a later date in the summer, or some form of virtual graduation. We are also considering similar options for Class Night.
Alternatives for other senior events and activities such as Senior Prom are also being explored, such as postponing the Senior Prom to a later date in the summer. Finally, some students have asked about your yearbooks. One way or another, we will get them to you!
As information becomes available we will keep you updated on our progress. Keep the faith, and think positive thoughts! We can do this!
Sports:
All play hinges on the elimination of social distancing requirements and recommendations from the CDC. The Student Athlete Advisory Group met last week and the coaches met this week; they are committed to providing the best experience possible, regardless of how much we play or do not play. 2020 Seniors will be celebrated for their dedication to Athletics! NCAA commitments will be celebrated! Letterman awards will still go out! Coaches have been sending individual workouts to players, student athletes please do your part: stay in shape, stay healthy, stay home!
The proposed start date of the 2020 RIIL spring sports season was delayed until May 4, contingent upon students returning to regular in-class instruction on that date and in accordance with all R.I. Department of Health and public safety guidelines. If permitted, teams will play a modified schedule with games beginning no earlier than May 11. The potential spring sports season ending date would be extended to June 27. Please note this timeline will be reevaluated and modified based on new announcements about distance learning.
Here is the link to the press release.
Summer Activities:
No decisions have been made about BWRSD summer programs, including COZ and ESY-Extended School Year, at this time. We are committed to operating summer programs when it is safe to do so and social distancing is no longer needed.
Grades/Report Cards
In light of the transition to distance learning and unanticipated early vacation, we have adjusted the report card distribution timeline as follows:
Elementary Report Cards
Trimester 2 Grading Period Ends - April 7
Report Cards Available to Families - April 20
Middle and High School Report Cards
Quarter 3 Grading Period Ends - April 16
Report Cards Available to Families - April 24
We will be distributing report cards to families electronically via the Aspen Parent Portal. If you have not yet accessed the Aspen Parent Portal, you should have received an email message today, with your credentials and directions for access to the Parent Portal from the following email address: aspen-sysadmin@myfollett.com. Please make sure to check your SPAM folders if you do not receive it.
Attention AOL users: AOL does not accept messages from aspen-sysadmin@myfollett.com. Please consider using an alternate email address for school communications. Please contact your child's school to make contact changes.
Please email portal@bwrsd.org for assistance if there are any issues with accessing the Parent Portal account.
Meal Distribution
Just a reminder that BWRSD will be distributing meals on Thursday, April 9, 2020 for both Thursday and Friday. Meal locations are Colt Andrews School, Kickemuit Middle School, and Hope & Main. Locations will be open from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Information from Rhode Island Healthy Schools Coalition
Please click on the link below to view the April 2020 e-newsletter with information and resources from the RI Healthy Schools Coalition (https://mailchi.mp/rihsc/april-2020-enews?e=c3680d2f56).
BWRSD Online Tech Support for Families
Please continue to email BWRSDTech@BWRSD.org for support during this time of Distance Learning. The email account is accessible 24 hours per day, and you can expect a response within 1 school day. The most common issue for not being able to access apps such as STEMscopes is that they may not be going in through CLEVER or that families need to have students login to the Chrome browser with their BWRSD credentials. Here are directions.
Sincerely,
Jonathan T. Brice
Jonathan T. Brice, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools
1. BWRSD Distance Learning Plan
2. Parent Resources for Google & Seesaw Classrooms
3. COVID-19 Information
4. BWRSD Community Updates