NEWS & UPDATES
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Students who have no way to connect to virtual learning will be given the option of printed hard copies of academic work. We hope this will be very, very few students as AISD will provide devices for students/families who reach out and let us know this is needed. More information may be found HERE.
The point at which we are able to return to face to face instruction on campus, we will continue the above schedule for synchronous instruction in each class according to the student’s assigned schedule. In this plan, we are dividing up the school into teams. Each team will have 3 classrooms, 4 teachers, and 36 students. Each teacher would supervise a homeroom class of 12 students, and those students will not be moving classrooms. We will have students grouped randomly in these groups of 12. Students will not change classes; they will remain in the designated classroom participating in synchronous instruction online. Students will need headphones or ear buds to be able to manage this. The teacher in the room is also teaching synchronously according to his/her assigned teaching schedule. During that time the students in the room will be working independently on their own assigned work and participating in their online live class activities. Students will eat breakfast and lunch in the same classroom (45 minutes). The rationale for this model is limiting exposure and safety protocols for social distancing and sanitization procedures. In the event of a Covid-19 positive person, this allows us to quarantine the 12-13 individuals (for 14 days) rather than a student’s 8 classes full of peers and 8 teachers (potentially 170+ people). This model allows us to build a smaller community group to support students individually during this challenging and uncertain time. Since the Fall, 2020 semester is fraught with so many variables that we cannot control providing safety through limited exposure and daily teacher support is our best option. Students will be able to come to campus after/before school for extra-curricular activities (where social distancing and safety precautions will be followed). Students may choose to do the instructional day virtually and report to campus for extra-curricular activities. This model also allows us to pull designated groups of students together on Fridays (once we are able to return to Face to Face) for specific activities and supports. While there are still potential issues to work through with this plan, and the risk of exposure is minimized, we feel like this is the safest way to allow a portion of our students to come back to the school building in person. When we are able to return physically to campus for face to face instruction, we need families to decide whether their student(s) will remain 100% virtual learning or return physically to the Homeroom of 12 with a teacher model. We need your decision by August 21st. We will send a survey to families right after this community letter is delivered. We must know how many and which students will be reporting to campus so that we can follow all CDC guidelines for social distancing and safety. We ask that once selected, students remain in either 100% virtual or face to face on campus through the grading period. Families can opt in or out between grading periods and with prior (2 weeks) notice. Students may apply/qualify for free or reduced meals at the link below. Otherwise, students will need to deposit money in their school account in order to have meals delivered to his/her assigned classroom once we return physically to campus. Please go to www.schoolcafe.com to apply for free/reduced lunch status or to simply deposit money into your student’s account in order to pay for breakfast and lunch meals for your student. Students may bring their breakfast/snacks/lunches from home as well. Lunch deliveries (Grubhub, Favor, etc.) are highly discouraged as we do not have the staff to deliver lunches to students individually and students are not to leave their designated Homeroom. We have to be able to limit exposure during the school day in order to provide the safety everyone needs. Food service will have lunch items available for students to purchase using their school lunch account monies. AISD is providing supplies for sanitizing desks, learning spaces, and classrooms. Students will be required to wear a mask when on campus (except when eating his/her lunch) as well as to be compliant with social distancing around others. We will have temperature screening stations (10 total) when students are entering the building. We will check for masks and complete a Covid-19 screening questionnaire with each student upon entry. Any student who is showing symptoms and/or a temperature higher than 100.0 degrees will be assigned to a staging room where the parent will be contacted about the situation. Monday, August 10th we will have a virtual Transition Camp for incoming 9th graders. Information will be shared about schedules, breakfast and lunch options, Counselors, absence notes, permits to leave during the school day, etc. Our students leaders on campus will devise the activities with the focus on making all students feel welcome, supported and how-to’s on making your high school experience fun and successful. More information to follow on this as it becomes available. Trojan Charge will be delayed until we are able to return physically to campus. Students will then be able to complete the process of parking permits, freshmen receiving their Class of 2024 t-shirts provided by the Senior Class of 2020, and other process. We typically do not issue lockers as students rarely use them. However, if your students needs a physical locker we will collect their information and issue a locker to those who request it. Also, hard copies of textbooks are not issued any more as digital versions of state adopted textbooks are available to all students via their Chromebooks. However, if you require a hard copy of the textbook we can issue those to you upon request. Anderson will have a Drive-up Registration for new students on August 3-6th at the front circle drive of the campus. The hours are 9-11 and 1-3. More information to follow as families are to remain in their cars and staff with bring registration materials to the vehicle. Further if you enrolled online and want to check the status of your student’s enrollment, course selections, etc. please email: mary.andrade@austinisd.org or stephanie.villegas@austinisd.org Stay connected with all the information and activities at Anderson High School: Check the website: www.andersononline.org Subscribe to the Trojan Times newsletter: http://eepurl.com/VPrpD Subscribe to the daily announcements: www.andersononline.org -contact us, faculty & staff, Diane Newberry and click subscribe to receive the daily announcements containing information about club meetings, school pictures, calendar reminders, etc. I appreciate everyone’s willingness to help. Our teachers are committed to providing the best teaching and learning possible. We recognize that every family has concerns and circumstances that guide their decisions. Teachers and staff also have health concerns and pre-existing conditions that must be considered. Hopefully, by January, 2021 we will be able to return to “normal school” as we knew it prior to Covid-19. We appreciate everyone’s patience and grace as we navigate these unpredictable and changing parameters. Our wonderful PTSA is working diligently to provide items the school will need to support daily instruction and enrichment. They are working with parents in our community who are asking how they can help. At this time we are exploring providing bluetooth microphones and speakers as teacher voices are muffled when wearing masks. In addition, we are seeking small video cameras to use as the embedded cameras and microphones in our laptops are sometimes not adequate. Disinfecting wipes or paper towels and spray bottles of disinfectant or alcohol will always be useful in the classroom. We have a community partner that is working to provide face sheilds for staff who need students to be able to see their faces when speaking. Thank you for being a supportive and caring community with the best interests of our students always taking priority. Please feel free to reach out if you have a question or concern. Sincerely, Sammi Harrison, Principal L. C. Anderson High School |