SMSCOVID19 | Sisters School District

January 7, 2021

Dear Sisters Middle School Families,

By now you’ve heard the big news, we have a return date for in-person instruction! It is with much anticipation and delight that we finally get to welcome students back in the building. It’s hard to believe that we have some students that started last school year but have yet to actually be in the building or meet anyone in person. We’re excited to form and reinvigorate our relationships and learning with students both old and new.

Today’s message will provide an overview of the next few weeks, the message will include:

Important information about what the Hybrid Learning Model looks like at SMS
Information for those not wishing to return to Hybrid
Key dates for our return
Invite information for Zoom sessions to learn more details about our return and time for Q/A.
ATTACHMENTS: Our COVID Handbook Addendum (key information about daily logistics) , Preventative Care Measures

Hybrid Model

Our hybrid model is exemplified in the table below, but first a few pieces of important information. While the change Governor Brown made to allow schools to open made the metrics advisory vs. mandatory, the vast majority of the rules were still required. One of the most strict requirements is that each student needs 35 sq/ft in each room (excluding furniture), due to this we can only bring in half of each class. As such, you’ll see that each student will physically come to school twice a week according to their last name. While many have requested a change in the days your child attends, we can’t grant those requests at this time for the following reasons. We chose the alphabetical split because it first and foremost allows all currently enrolled students an opportunity to enter the hybrid model if they so choose and because keeps families that have multiple students at SMS together.

SEO instead of Hybrid?

Parents who had students in CDL or SEO, or whom were wishing to change to SEO were asked in December to make a request for change if desiring to stay in SEO. If you too would like to change your students school option for next semester, which begins on January 25th, please reach out to Mr. Roth: tim.roth@ssd6.org ASAP.

Key Dates Leading Up to & Including our Return

January 14th: Pre-Recorded Zoom goes out to all students/parents regarding our return to school

January 18th: No School, Presidents Day

January 19th: “B” Day: Periods 4, 5, 6

January 19th: Q/A Zooms at 7:30am and 6pm to answer any questions for parents

January 20th: “A” Day: Periods 1, 2, 3

January 21st: No School: Teacher Work Day to prepare for students return

Week of January 25th: 5th & 6th Student Return on their assigned days for their 1st Week Back

Week of February 1st: 7th & 8th Student Return on their assigned days for their 1st Week Back; 5th-8th Grade All in Session on their assigned days

End of January/Beginning of February: Conference dates to be finalized shortly…..

Zoom Links

January 19th 7:30 am & 6:00pm