español
Dear Parents, Students, Staff and Community Members:
This week, we began the first phase of our online learning plan, which addresses the academic and social-emotional needs of our 166,000 students. Thank you for your patience as we work through this new model and staff and students begin to teach and learn in new ways.
During our second week (April 6-8) of remote learning, we will:
- Continue to reconnect students and teachers.
- Continue to ensure staff receive the professional development and support needed to provide a high-quality, remote learning experience for students.
- Begin a transition to weekly routines and schedules for students and teachers that are developed by each school and shared directly with families.
- Begin the introduction of mathematics and literacy lessons at the elementary level.
- Continue the process of completing assignments in each class to finish the third marking period, which ends on April 17.
The schedules in our online learning plan are designed to provide both structure and flexibility for students, teachers and families. As a reminder, online learning plans will not follow the schedule of a typical school day. Schools will post specific schedules on their websites by Monday, April 6. Families will also receive information directly from their schools about student schedules. Although specific schedules may differ from school to school, they will ensure all students have the opportunity to continue to progress in their courses; receive regular guidance and support from their teachers; and access any other social-emotional supports they may need. Just like in our traditional classrooms, our teachers will use the approach that works best for students.
We will continue to build upon and adjust our plan as we all—students, families and staff—become familiar with a new remote learning environment.
As a reminder, we have modified our spring break and online instruction will take place on April 6, 7 and 8. There is no school for students on Thursday, April 9. Schools and offices are closed on Friday, April 10, and Monday, April 13.
What to Expect
(For Parents and Guardians of Elementary Students)
Next week, teachers will continue to work with students on becoming familiar with the various tools and platforms that will be used for distance learning. Students and parents/guardians will receive communication from their teachers about how to access information and content through platforms, such as myMCPS Classroom, Google Classroom, email messages, and other communication tools. These existing platforms will be the primary way that teachers will send messages, instructions, assignments, and stay in contact with students and parents/guardians.
On Monday, April 6, your child will:
- Participate in a math lesson.
- Participate in an ESOL lesson related to math if your child receives ESOL services.
On Tuesday, April 7, your child will:
- Participate in a live literacy lesson to familiarize students with reading/language arts in the distance learning environment.
- Have opportunities to connect with their teachers during their virtual office hours, which will provide the opportunity to check in for continued guidance, reteaching and support.
- Have an opportunity to check in with the school counselor for social-emotional support.
On Wednesday, April 8, your child will:
- Participate in a math lesson.
- Have an opportunity to check in with the school counselor for social-emotional support.
In addition, students will begin to engage in art, music and physical education (P.E.) lessons, according to a schedule determined by the school. Students will also have weekly class meetings with their homeroom teacher.
Case managers, special education teachers and related service providers will continue to connect with their students. ESOL teachers, counselors, pupil personnel workers, paraeducators and other staff will also continue efforts to connect with students and families.
Important Note: On Friday, April 3, hard copy packets for Prekindergarten and Head Start students will be available at meal distribution sites, along with Eureka Math packets for elementary students. These packets are available for families who are unable to access the lessons that are online at this time. Parents of elementary students who have not been able to get a laptop (Chromebook) should contact their child’s principal.
What to Expect
(For Parents and Guardians of
Middle and High School Students)
Students and teachers will continue to focus on outlining assignments and plans to successfully finish the third marking period, which ends on April 17. Teachers will continue to plan assignments with their school teams and check in with their students. Students and parents/guardians should check myMCPS Classroom, Google Classroom, email messages, or other communication tools that students are accustomed to everyday. These existing platforms will be the primary way that teachers will send messages, instructions, assignments and other critical information. Students in specialized programs, such as career and technical education programs, or those who attend Thomas Edison High School of Technology, will also receive information directly from their teachers about continuity of learning within the program.
We understand that many high school students are worried about their grades. We want to assure you that teachers will provide maximum flexibility and fairness in grading as students complete their assignments for the third marking period. Our collective goal is to reduce any stress about grades to the greatest extent possible. Students will have access to their school counselors for additional support that may be needed, and we encourage them to take full advantage of that opportunity to connect and receive support.
On Monday, April 6, your child will:
- Receive guidance and instruction from their teachers about finishing the third marking period in each course, with specific tasks and assignments to complete. Teachers will send this information through the online platforms mentioned above, for students to access at any time.
- Begin completing assignments in each of their classes.
- Receive a schedule of teacher office hours for April 7-8, which will provide the opportunity to check in with each teacher for continued guidance, reteaching and support. Each middle and high school will coordinate office hours across all content areas and communicate those to their school community.
On Tuesday, April 7, and Wednesday, April 8, your child will:
- Continue to work independently on classwork in the morning.
- Check in with teachers during office hours in the afternoon, as needed. These sessions are not mandatory, but are available to all students at specific times so that they can receive the support they need. To keep the schedule manageable for students and teachers, some of your child’s classes will have office hours on Tuesday, and the remaining classes will have office hours on Wednesday.
Secondary students who have not been able to get a laptop (Chromebook) should contact their principal. Students will be able to access content sent by their teachers at any time, through use of online platforms and/or email.
Case managers and special education teachers will continue to connect with their students. ESOL teachers, counselors, pupil personnel workers, paraeducators and other staff will also continue efforts to connect with students and families.
Looking Forward
We are excited to be reconnecting with our students and colleagues and we ask that you continue to be patient and understanding as we make this transition. We are in this together, and are moving forward with the best of intentions to do what is best for our students. For ongoing updates on remote learning, please go to our Continuity of Learning webpage.
Sincerely,
Montgomery County Public Schools
