Learning Models Summary – update as of July 28, 2020
Following you will find more detailed information regarding the 3 learning scenarios we are carefully considering as we prepare to open up on September 2, 2020. Thank you to the re-opening task force for their time spent on research and discussion this summer! We anticipate the complete Re-Opening Hope School document will be sent out to families on August 11th. None of these decisions are easy, and we ask for your prayers as we lift this up to Him. Thank you!
Under the in-class learning and hybrid models, new safety protocols are in place. These include:
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- Face coverings required for all students and staff
- Students required to follow social distancing guidelines (“Eagle wings”)
- Students will be screened at drop-off for temperature checks and COVID-19 symptoms; students with a temperature 100.4 degrees or higher and/or with COVID-19 symptoms must remain home
- Visitors to the building will be limited; school will provide a drop off location for forgotten items and/or paperwork outside the front of the school
- School will be regularly disinfected professionally
- Students will eat snacks and lunch in classrooms and remain with only their class for recess and specialists/electives
- Students will be kept in classroom cohorts throughout the school day
- Drop-off and pick-up times will be slightly staggered to minimize exposure to other classes
Option 1 – In Class Learning
Under the in-class model, all students would be in class for full-time learning, with safety protocols and social distancing in place. Some spaces that are typically shared spaces such as the Commons and the Fellowship Hall would be utilized for classes with higher numbers of students. Until the pandemic conditions change, classrooms will remain in separate cohorts at all times. Middle school teachers will rotate through middle school classrooms with masks and social distancing in place.
Option 2 – Virtual Learning
The virtual learning model will follow the basic structure of last spring’s online learning, with additional direct instruction times via live streaming. Teachers will stream live instruction from their classrooms (or homes, as necessary) in all core subject areas. A typical day will include math, literacy, history, science and/or history, PE or music, and faith/religion. Preschool through grade 2 will use Seesaw as their learning platform and grades 3-8 will use Schoology. Grading systems will remain consistent with our normal grading standards and students will be expected to attend school virtually every day. Please note there is not a discount for virtual learning, as it actually takes even more preparation than in-class learning; however, we see the importance of offering this model. All students in grades K-8 will be issued a Hope-owned iPad to easily transition to virtual learning.
In all models, students will have the full-time virtual learning model available to them. If you believe your student would like to opt into the virtual model for trimester 1, please send Mrs. Wallace a note at swallace@hopeseattle.org, stating you are interested.
Option 3 – Hybrid Learning
In the hybrid model, students will be assigned to one of two groups, either A or B. Students in Group A will attend school Mondays and Tuesdays, and attend virtual school Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. Students in Group B will attend virtual school Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays, and attend school Thursdays and Fridays. In the hybrid model, the structure on Wednesdays will be different than the other days of the week; more time will be spent on live-streamed or recorded specialist classes, completing assigned work, and small instructional groups with their teachers, while less time will be spent on live streaming of core subject areas. Under this model, students will attend school on the usual class schedule (the idea of longer days 4 days per week has been discarded due to lack of interest on the survey).
Under the hybrid model, we would most likely separate Groups A and B by last name. If your family carpools with another family at Hope and would like to be placed in the same group if possible, please send a quick email to Mrs. Wallace at swallace@hopeseattle.org, stating who you carpool with, as we proactively plan ahead.
Again, we plan to share a detailed Re-Opening Hope School plan on August 11. Based on the needs of our students and safety protocols, we may end up opening with one model in one age group, and a different model in another age group. Mrs. Okabayashi will be on vacation the week of July 27 but you are invited to join a Zoom call the evening of August 11 to ask any questions you may have about the re-opening plan. We will be in touch soon, and blessings on your summer!
