Greetings Parents,
On Monday, August 10 the Board of Education approved a plan for all Dearborn Public School students to return to school on-line. Students from kindergarten through high school will take classes online at least until sometime around the beginning of October. The board will reevaluate conditions later in September to see if it is possible for some or all students to begin returning to their classrooms perhaps in a blended model of in-class and on-line learning.
Online learning for the fall will be more structured than what students and parents saw in the spring after the emergency school closures due to COVID-19. Students will be expected to attend live virtual classes with their teacher every school day and attendance will be counted. Work will be graded on a more traditional scale, unlike the standards used in the spring. Schools will be contacting students with the teacher assignments and more information before class begins Aug. 31. Parents and students should watch their emails because more schools may opt to communicate electronically this year instead of mailing back-to-school packets.
While learning is online, the district will also provide in-school learning labs for students. These small groups will offer additional in-person assistance to students for academic and social-emotional issues. Each of the district’s 36 schools will create its own schedule for learning labs. Most often teachers will recommend students they feel will benefit from the learning lab, but parents and students will also be able to request additional help.
The District understands there are parents who want their children in a 100% virtual learning program no matter what phase the State is in or how other students in the District are attending school. For the parents who want a 100% on-line option for the entire school year, the school district has created the Dearborn Virtual Learning Program for students K-12. Parents selecting this option are opting their children into the program for a one-year commitment. The linked document provides more information about the Virtual Learning Program https://vlp.dearbornschools.org/
In order to meet staffing, transportation, and several other components of our new school environment, it is vitally important to know how many students will join the Virtual Program. Parents seeking more information and/or are interested in opting their child(ren) into the year-long Virtual Learning program are highly encouraged to visit our school on Thursday, August 13 between 9:00 and 3:00.
School staff will be on hand (social distancing, limited numbers, and masks will be enforced) on Thursday, August 13 between 9:00 and 3:00 near the main door to meet with parents. If you have children at different grade levels and buildings, you do not need to attend meetings at multiple schools. Opt-in forms will be available and parents can opt-in all their children at one location. Here is a link to the complete schedule of schools and meetings.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1SdFISdKk-c1Lbkz7Vj5irylxEkqJOKZy2J3HJGvJ_tI/edit#heading=h.e1437s49s5yw.
If you are not comfortable meeting in a safe environment at the school or are unable to attend on one of the scheduled days, please call or email the school so we may discuss this option and begin the opt-in process for your children.
Only parents choosing to opt-in for the Virtual Learning program need to come to the school and complete the forms. All other students will be assigned to classrooms at Long and receive additional information for getting started soon.
Stay healthy, stay safe!