Dear WASD Families and Staff,
As you may know, Governor Wolf has closed schools indefinitely. Therefore, it is important we continue to provide you with at least a weekly update.
For the next two weeks, March 30th through April 10th, we have moved to an Enrichment model of our Continuity of Education. From April 14th and beyond, WASD will move to planned instruction. This model will provide students opportunities to move forward with their education, and not just enrichment and review.
WASD is working the best it can to prepare an instructional model that can be beneficial to all students. We realize that this will be a challenge for families, but we ask that we work together to be as successful as possible. Learners in grades 6-12 will be using Schoology and grades K-5 will be using Google Classroom. Hard copy materials will be provided to learners/families who do not have technology access.
There is daily communication with principals and they have also been in daily communication with our teachers and often times the para educators. As we progressed from just sharing resources, to sharing enrichment, and working toward a planned instruction format, our principals and faculty have stepped up to the challenge but it is very obvious each person processes this circumstance very differently. Our theme of Teamwork Makes the Dream Work is a daily reminder to all of us.
In addition to providing education to 4,200 learners K-12 from gifted to self-contained special education, our families are operating in very different circumstances:
· Both parents/guardians who are still working outside of the home
· Both parents/guardians who are still working inside of the home
· Single parents/guardians who are still working outside of the home
· Single parents/guardians who are working inside of the home
· Parents/guardians who are now home due to unemployment
· Stay home parents/guardians
Within each of these structures, the number and ages of children will vary. The point in this explanation is that our next step into "planned" instruction we will need to be cognizant of all of these family dynamics. The family dynamics may be driving the need and capability of effective access and attention to on-line planned instruction. If you are still working full time and are now asked to help support your child/ren in an on-line learning format this may be an overwhelming task.
We will do our VERY best but there is no way this will be an ideal situation and satisfy all our families. I am certain each week will be another learning experience. We will be asking families to share WASD issued devices as we move to a blend of on-line and hard copy materials. On-line planned instruction will not consume the same seat time as a traditional school day and learners/families will have flexibility to complete assignments over the course of one week. We will be providing a consistent balanced workload K-12.
Thank you for your support as we navigate through this challenging time.
A reminder-- Thursday, April 9th through Monday, April 12th the schools will not be operating and completely closed. I encourage everyone to relax, recharge and enjoy the holiday weekend. We will start fresh on Tuesday, April 14th moving forward with planned instruction for all our learners. Student meals will be provided through Wednesday, April 8th, but will not be distributed on Friday, April 10th. Meal distribution will resume on Monday, April 13th.
Please refer to our webpage and Facebook sites for updated information.
Stay healthy, and stay #BoroStrong!
Tod F. Kline
Superintendent of Schools