Dear CH-UH Families,
Today, April 16, we began implementing Tier 3 of our extended closure academic plan. Administrators, specialists and teacher leaders have been working to finalize details of the plan, which can be viewed here. We empathize with families during this stressful time and recognize that these circumstances may impact the learning process. Flexibility is inherent in this plan and we will continue to make adjustments as needed.
Earlier this month, we surveyed our families to learn more about what’s been working well for them, and what has not, during the shutdown thus far. Your candid input informed our Tier 3 planning, inspiring the following new elements: - Students and parents will receive a weekly schedule of activities.
- Teachers will hold student support labs (formerly known as office hours) to provide additional academic support.
- Teachers have been provided a variety of instructional tools to use as appropriate for their classes, including student self-paced activities, online lessons, and the use of videos and interactive activities to support their planning. These tools are intended to better foster student learning over a digital platform and to help create a stronger connection with students.
A
comprehensive website has been created to include information from your child’s school and grade level. Here, parents can find the weekly schedule of assignments and the schedule for student support labs. These links will be updated by your child’s teachers as needed. If you or another District family you know is struggling with reliable internet, several different connection options can be found
here.
Finally, I want to share something a little more personal. Along with surveying our families, we also surveyed CH-UH staff to learn about their closure experiences. One thing we learned is that more than 70% of our employees now spend anywhere from part of the workday to the entire workday helping care for family members such as their children and/or aging parents because of the shutdown. This report was a clear reminder to me that our educators are experiencing many of the same stressors and issues that our families are experiencing. Their everyday lives have been flipped upside-down, too. And just like you, they are working to provide academic enrichment and a sense of normalcy for your children and their own loved ones. I am proud of them, and I am proud of you, for making the impossible happen in true Tiger Nation fashion.
Thank you for all you do. I look forward to our continued collaboration during this era of distance learning. Let’s finish the 2019-2020 school year strong.
Sincerely,
Superintendent Liz Kirby
Follow me on Twitter:
@CHUHSupt