Pin Oak Family,
We continue to be overwhelmingly thankful for the way our students, teachers, and community have stepped up over the past few weeks! Today, I'm including preliminary information on what we currently know about our next phase of learning which begins on Monday, October 19th.
We will discuss these plans more with our Cluster Leaders today, our SDMC on Tuesday, and then distribute a formal plan on Wednesday, October 14th.
Our number one priority is student and staff safety.
Some of our teachers have already talked to me about the possibility of teaching outside. I'm planning to meet with them on Wednesday, October 7th, to brainstorm how that might look.
I have attached guidelines from the district concerning Performing Arts and Athletics - we have not yet been approved for these to resume, but we are hopeful.
Please know that things/guidelines change almost daily during this time. It's very likely specifics will be adjusted again before October 19th, but we have a starting point, structured around 500 in-person students, and we will work through it together. I'm looking forward to tackling this challenge with you so we can get our teachers and students back in the building (or at least on the property) safely. I cannot tell you how much we appreciate our community and students. I'm proud of our efforts to be problem solvers, team players, risk-takers, learners... the list goes on.
Thank you!
Michelle Shoulders
#ChargeOn
Current Updates:
- 60% of our students will continue to learn virtually and 40% (just under 500) will be joining us in the building on October 19th for the second six weeks.
- We are still working on the exact breakdown by grade level and class.
- Our plans are for both our virtual and in-person students to keep their same schedules and teachers. Students will learn simultaneously, if possible. We will all stay on the same Learning Schedule for class times and Blue/Silver/Charger days. We will have the same learning expectations for virtual and in-person learners.
- All after school programs (Performing Arts, Athletics, etc.) are available whether a student is learning virtually or in-person (if/when extra-curricular activities are district approved to resume).
- We are not currently planning to offer the After School Care Program so the building can be sanitized nightly. (Let's see how things go and we can always add it based on need.)
Timeline:
- October 6th @ 4PM: SDMC Meeting
- October 7th @ 3PM: Faculty Meeting
- October 8th @ 6PM: Virtual Open House (more details forthcoming)
- October 12th: All Teachers Continue Teaching Virtually From Their Classrooms
- October 19th (8:30AM-4PM): In-Person Students Start at Pin Oak (more details forthcoming)
Safety for In-Person Learning:
- We will have wellness areas/doors assigned by House for building entrance and exit.
- Campus visitors will be limited to the front door area near the main office.
- All students and staff are required to wear PPE.
- PPE will be provided daily for students and staff. (However, students and staff can wear their own PPE if appropriate for work/school.)
- The number of students in each class will be limited. Overflow areas will be set up in the House Commons and other areas.
- Student desks must face the same direction.
- Backpacks will remain with the student but be placed against the wall of the classroom. Student phones will remain in their backpack.
- High touch areas will be cleaned hourly.
- Sanitizer stations are already available in each class.
- Parents must be available to pick up their student if they have a fever or don't feel well.
- Some of our classes will meet outside, so students must wear our school colors each day: royal blue, white, or grey. They can wear a polo, spirit shirt, or sweatshirt. The school store will be open (times TBA) for the purchase of items with the POMS logo, or you may purchase solid-colored shirts in royal blue, white, or grey elsewhere. This is for supervision and safety reasons since students will be outside. All pants/shorts must be school appropriate length.
- Students will have an opportunity to eat breakfast outside in designated locations, if the weather permits. Social distancing will be observed since masks will not be required outside while eating.
- Students will eat lunch outside in designated locations, if the weather permits. Social distancing will be observed since masks will not be required outside while eating.
- Students will be allowed to enter the building starting at 7:30 a.m. All students must be picked up by 4:30 p.m. unless participating in an after-school activity with their coach or teacher. (More details about approved programs forthcoming.)
- In the event of COVID exposure, all families will be notified to switch to virtual learning while the building is cleaned (1-2 days).
