Greetings TSD Families and Community!
As we wrap up the first week of teacher-guided learning opportunities for all students, I hope the connections back to school have been rich and meaningful. This week was intentionally built to reconnect students with teachers and check to see if students have access needed to the online platforms and delivery. It has also provided an opportunity to identify which students do not have access so that we can address the needs of students and families. Staff report that it’s been wonderful to hear or see their students!
With the closure of in-person instruction for the remainder of the year, we know there are questions about what this means for learning and reporting of learning. We are committed to providing educational opportunities for students to be ready for the next grade. The sections below provide a high-level overview in key topic areas with links to additional detail where appropriate.
Instructional Expectations
- The TSD @ Home Learning Plan will continue to provide at least three lessons for each grade level, content area and course as were previously communicated. This will occur as students and teachers are ready to move forward with new learning. At the very latest, new content will be delivered beginning April 21; your child may have noticed this has already started.
- The amount of time per task will be developmentally appropriate, with time on devices being less for early childhood and primary students than intermediate or secondary students.
- The district website includes resources to support students and families for social, emotional or behavioral well-being.
Feedback/Grading
- TSD @ Home focuses on student learning, not grades. Feedback from educators to students will continue to be an emphasis.
- Feedback to students will be in two areas: demonstration of progress toward learning outcomes and demonstration of effort. Teachers will provide feedback through the learning management system (Google Classroom, Seesaw, Schoology) and through a new task in the Infinite Campus gradebook for secondary students.
- End-of-year report cards for elementary students will provide progress reports as reported during February conferences, along with engagement and progress with at-home learning through the remainder of the school year.
- End-of-year letter grades will be reported for middle and high school students with the final grade being the grade as of March 16. All students will have the opportunity to submit late or missing assignments that were due prior to March 16 to improve their grade in a class. They will also be allowed to re-submit evidence of attainment of skills, content and knowledge that pertain to the assignments prior to March 16. These may be a result of new learning that ties back to previous content. Grade point averages (GPA) will be calculated at the end of the year based on the grade earned during the second semester.
- All students will be promoted to the next grade level unless a discussion about retention has been held between families, teachers and principals.
Summer School
- TSD will provide a summer school opportunity called TSD Link2Learning for students in English language arts and mathematics.
- TSD Link2Learning will be online and will be free of charge to students and families.
- The dates for this opportunity will be held in June 2020.
- Details on the program and registration information will be sent in early May.
Graduation Ceremony
- Seniors of the Class of 2020 and their families are completing a survey through Friday, April 10.
- Data from the survey so far reflects a strong desire to hold an in-person ceremony at a later date.
- Staff will communicate next steps with students, families and the community next week after analysis of the survey and determining options for an in-person ceremony.
Building Access
We have been working closely with the Larimer County Department of Health and Environment to develop a plan for building access. The latest data from county officials indicates that the peak risk of the virus is projected to affect our community in late April to early May.
- With this in mind, the district has set the weeks of May 11 and May 18 to tentatively allow students to pick up personal property, including technology, band and sporting equipment and any other extracurricular materials, and to return district property. This will ultimately be determined on guidance from the county and state.
- Building principals will communicate with families the schedule for student access. They will be building the schedule in accordance with guidelines from the Larimer County Department of Health and Environment.
Thank you for your continued support,
Dr. Marc Schaffer
Superintendent
Thompson School District