Written by: Josh Griffin, Principal As we approach the midpoint of the first semester, the D’Evelyn faculty, staff, and administration are taking stock of how the year has gone so far and considering possible adjustments to our operations that will better support student learning. We acknowledge the limitations that exist due to our remote/hybrid learning environment necessitated by the Covid-19 pandemic; however, it remains our hope that we provide students as many quality opportunities for learning and participation in school-related sports and activities as possible. We are continually working closely with the district to create extracurricular and social opportunities for students that follow state, county, and district health guidelines. Thank you to the students, teachers, and families that completed surveys in the past two weeks. Your input provided valuable feedback, and I have shared that feedback with the D’Evelyn faculty, Steering Committee, and Accountability Committee. I am grateful for the validating, positive feedback, and equally appreciative of the constructive feedback we received in this survey process. Among several common themes elevated in surveys from all constituents, I highlight the following concerns/growth opportunities:
As an administrative team, we believe that many of these concerns can be addressed, if not resolved, with strategic thinking and thoughtful adjustment to our daily and weekly schedules for school. Below, I have outlined the various considerations we face in planning for the 2nd semester. After reviewing this article, I ask that you provide your feedback in the survey linked at the bottom. Please know that we are planning for the continuation of remote and hybrid learning in 2nd semester. In the event that Jeffco Schools adjusts course, and we are able to reopen school fully in the 2nd semester, we will plan to do that rather than follow our hybrid schedule. I know that considering changes to our schedule will elicit varied responses from our community. The stark reality is that there is no perfect solution to the school schedule question due to the limitations we face as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. I appreciate your thoughtful review of the following overview of our plans and considerations for potential adjustments to the schedule for the second semester. When we developed the schedule for this semester, and as we look at potential changes for next semester, we view the matter through two important foundational considerations:
Based on community feedback and our observations of the function of our school day so far this year, we will adjust our bell schedule in the following ways:
Beyond the aforementioned planned changes, the administration is considering two additional potential changes to our daily schedule that, if approved, would be implemented at the start of 2nd semester. Please know that we have not made any decisions, and it is possible that we could choose both, either, or neither of these two potential options. Potential Change #1 → Redesign the bell schedule to release students from school in the early afternoon This change would allow students to attend their three classes per day and return home for the bulk of the afternoon. We would provide grab-and-go lunches for interested students, and host remote 7th Hour / Office Hours for students at the end of the day. We would coordinate bus transportation to align with any modified school day schedule. A potential schedule could look like this: This proposed schedule has multiple benefits and I highlight the following:
Potential Change #2 → Change in the rotation of assigned hybrid learning days Below, you will find our current schedule plan on the left and the proposed new schedule plan on the right: As illustrated in the graphics above, the fundamental changes shown in the potential transition are:
There are a multitude of benefits to this proposed change, and I highlight the following:
As mentioned above, for these two proposed changes, we may choose to implement both plans, one of the plans, or neither of the plans. No decisions have been made. It is important for us to hear feedback from our community. As you are able, please complete the very brief survey linked here to provide your input on the scheduling considerations we are reviewing at this time. Thank you for your continued support as we navigate and grow through the challenges of remote and hybrid learning. This is a remarkably strong community with a shared vision in providing an outstanding liberal arts education for our students. I am so grateful for your support and contributions to our great school. Comments are closed.
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