School closure

Posted April 21, 2020

Good Afternoon Staff and Families of LPS,

Sadly, but not unexpectedly, MA Governor Baker announced moments ago that all schools in Massachusetts will be closed for the remainder of the 2019-2020 academic year.

This is troubling news that will require great sacrifice, but our steadfast commitment to each other will endure. I have no doubt that the strength of our learning community will continue to sustain us through this troubling period.

Thank you for your patience and support as we prepare direction and information in response to this announcement.

Respectfully,

Marty O'Shea

Superintendent

Remote Learning Update

Posted April 5, 2020

April 1, 2020

Dear Elementary Families,

We wish to provide for you a follow up to Superintendent O’Shea’s communication on March 29th in which he conveyed the district’s plan to frame our students’ remote learning in a manner that will provide refinement in the following areas:

1. Enhanced Structure: Your child’s Remote Learning will become more intentionally structured. We will adhere to the MA DESE recommendation that students engage in meaningful and productive learning for approximately half the length of a regular school day. We recognize that children need additional time for reviewing assignments and organizing their work. Additionally, it is expected that students have time for play, physical activity, and arts-based exploration. Teachers will provide “teacher directed learning” following these guidelines:
2. Reading: 30 -minute lesson minimum three times weekly.
3. Writing: 30- minute lesson minimum three times weekly.
4. Math: 30- minute lesson minimum three times weekly.
5. SS/Science: The current Learning Opportunities structure will continue that provides a student varied choice to reinforce, apply, and deepen prior learning.
6. Art, Music, PE, Library/Media, Technology: Minimum of three structured learning opportunities per week.

• Note that lessons may be presented in many formats and include different components that encompasses 30 minutes.

II. Video Conferencing: Following the guidelines that were issued to families and staff on March 25, educators may have begun using Zoom or Google Meet as a tool to maintain essential teacher-student connections. These tools may be used PreK-5, but the decision will be left to the discretion of the teacher. Therefore, lessons in the above areas may be pre-recorded or may be synchronous lessons.

Importantly, we recognize the confounding issues that abound in providing synchronous learning to our youngest students. Many teachers have recorded read alouds, morning meeting messages, and various other activities that help children maintain familiarity and connection to the routines of their school world. That said, we hold no expectation that teachers at this grade span will teach through synchronous lessons. If implemented, we trust teachers will utilize it as they deem developmentally appropriate for children and manageable to families.

III. New material and concepts: While teachers will continue to reinforce, apply, and deepen prior learning across curriculum areas, introduction of new material and concepts will begin. Teachers will collaborate with their grade level colleagues, interventionists, and special education teams to determine new and essential learning in reading, writing, and math creating a flexible scope and sequence that is mindful of the learning standards.

Teachers will inform families of the determined time that will be considered “protected time” to plan with colleagues. Teachers will not be available during this time frame although students will still have Learning Opportunities in place.

IV. Feedback/Assessment: In grades PreK-5, student demonstrations of learning will continue to be shared with the teacher, when practically possible. Additionally, teachers at each grade level will determine and include the number of must do’s each day in reading, writing, and mathematics. The must do’s will be assignments/tasks that teachers will use to provide more specific feedback to students as well as provide for teachers an assessment of learning. Many students are familiar with this term and will understand that the task must be completed prior to other learning opportunity choices.

V. Intervention: Reading and math specialists and tutors will begin more focused intervention with their current students next week. Families can anticipate additional contact from specialists with the necessary information to move forward next week.

VI. Special Education: Special education services will continue, framed with new guidelines. The Longmeadow Public School District has been closely tracking state and federal advisories on how to provide equity and access for all learners. Longmeadow will continue to provide a free and appropriate public education (FAPE) to all students. Working collaboratively, principals, classroom educators, and special education teachers will provide resources, supports and services to ensure access and continuity of learning. Families can anticipate additional contact from special education teachers with the necessary information to move forward next week.

VII. Timeline: We know that families may have seen evidence of the shift described above this week, but plans will not be fully operational until Monday, April 6th, the end date of the original closure period that shaped our initial plans. We kindly ask for your patience as plans take shape. Plans will look slightly different at each grade span as teachers will be mindful of developmentally appropriate ways to facilitate learning in the most optimal way possible under these historical circumstances.

Our educators commit to continue and maintain strong and ongoing communication with families that demonstrates responsiveness to unique needs. As elementary school communities and as a district we are mindful of the disorienting circumstances that we find ourselves and we strive to demonstrate empathy, flexibility, and support to our students and families. We also strive to bring a semblance of normalcy to your child’s school world through our practices and decision making, knowing we provide a sense of familiarity, security, and comfort.

It is critical to us that you allow your child to continue learning through these guidelines if they are motivated by their work. However if at any point the learning becomes a struggle for your child or you, please pause, and contact your child’s teacher.

We encourage and welcome your insights and feedback in the days ahead. We send you our deepest wishes for the continued well being of our precious students and of you, our families.

Respectfully yours,

Donna Hutton, Principal Beth Nelson, Principal Amy Stec, Principal

Center School Wolf Swamp Road School Blueberry Hill School

Attach doc : Guidelines for Remote Learning March 16th https://docs.google.com/document/edit?hgd=1&id=1pdHiQTgcb9bYG4O4Ol9q1gCJGQl-NzF3b30Uj83q9S4

Guidelines for Student Technology Use

Posted April 1, 2020

Just a reminder, Blueberry Hill students in grades 2-5 signed the BHS Guidelines for Acceptable Use of Technology. Students in grades 3 and higher can send and receive emails from other Longmeadow teachers and students for school use only. Students cannot receive or send any email communications from outside our district. Emailing and messaging other students for personal reasons is prohibited and will result in disciplinary action. Second graders do not have access to email. Please encourage your child to practice safe and acceptable technology use in compliance with this policy.

Support Resources for Parents and Educators

Posted March 18, 2020

We have gathered resources for supporting students and parents around our current state of affairs due to the COVID-19 pandemic, especially our school closings. It is broken up into categories (resources for parents and teachers, resources for elementary school students, middle school students, high school students, and general mental health supports). This document reflects the collective care and commitment of our social workers and school adjustment counselors throughout our district. My sincerest appreciation to our own Mrs. Malikin and her colleagues for this work, as we know this will benefit our entire teaching and learning community. Support Resources for Families and Educators is also available on the "Parent" page.