GOOD SHEPHERD REMOTE LEARNING DAYS
Dear Good Shepherd Families:
I pray this letter finds our students and families safe and healthy. I want to thank everyone for your patience and support as we make our way through these challenging days. The Illinois State Board of Education has provided us with direction as we transition into Remote Learning Days. Remote Learning Days will extend until the end of the closure period. Our current home learning plans and procedures are largely in compliance with the State recommendations and so in most respects this does not have an impact on what we have been doing.
You will find the specifics of the Good Shepherd Remote Learning Plan below, but in summary it says:
Teachers are working very hard during the closure period. This is way outside everyone’s comfort zone and has forced us to rethink what we do and how we do it. There is significant effort taking place to retool as we provide meaningful learning opportunities.
We are asking that tuition payments continue as usual for all classes, preschool through 8th grade, during this closure period. We hope that everyone sees value in the service that we are providing during these unprecedented and challenging days. In efforts to “social distance” those payments may be sent by mail to the school at 3201 Court St., Pekin, 61554. We also recognize that many families are experiencing various hardships during this time. If you have concerns about your tuition payment please submit those to me by email (drees@goodshepherdpekin.com) for review. The board will consider these requests on a case by case basis.
Also, as a calendar note, we will be observing our scheduled Easter Break from Saturday, April 4 through Monday, April 13. Remote Learning lessons will resume on Tuesday, April 14.
The unprecedented circumstances require that we adapt how we engage and interact with each other; our partnership with families is more important than ever. Please let me know of any questions or concerns. Know that you are in our prayers!
May God bless you and your family,
Dan Rees
drees@goodshepherdpekin.com
I pray this letter finds our students and families safe and healthy. I want to thank everyone for your patience and support as we make our way through these challenging days. The Illinois State Board of Education has provided us with direction as we transition into Remote Learning Days. Remote Learning Days will extend until the end of the closure period. Our current home learning plans and procedures are largely in compliance with the State recommendations and so in most respects this does not have an impact on what we have been doing.
You will find the specifics of the Good Shepherd Remote Learning Plan below, but in summary it says:
- Our Remote Learning Plan applies to grades Preschool through 8
- Remote Learning Days count as school attendance days on the school calendar.
- Communication is the key to our plan. Teachers will be available and responsive and they will provide frequent communication to families.
- Teachers will keep daily hours.
- While there is no substitute for classroom interaction, teachers will be providing daily assignments and resources through a variety of means.
- Lessons will focus on review/reinforcement, enrichment of previous learnings, and introduction (not mastery) of new skills and concepts.
- Grading is not focused on letter grades, but on an assessment of student engagement. Students will be assessed as either a “pass” or “incomplete” status. What we call “grades” are really a focus on the continuation of learning during this time.
Teachers are working very hard during the closure period. This is way outside everyone’s comfort zone and has forced us to rethink what we do and how we do it. There is significant effort taking place to retool as we provide meaningful learning opportunities.
We are asking that tuition payments continue as usual for all classes, preschool through 8th grade, during this closure period. We hope that everyone sees value in the service that we are providing during these unprecedented and challenging days. In efforts to “social distance” those payments may be sent by mail to the school at 3201 Court St., Pekin, 61554. We also recognize that many families are experiencing various hardships during this time. If you have concerns about your tuition payment please submit those to me by email (drees@goodshepherdpekin.com) for review. The board will consider these requests on a case by case basis.
Also, as a calendar note, we will be observing our scheduled Easter Break from Saturday, April 4 through Monday, April 13. Remote Learning lessons will resume on Tuesday, April 14.
The unprecedented circumstances require that we adapt how we engage and interact with each other; our partnership with families is more important than ever. Please let me know of any questions or concerns. Know that you are in our prayers!
May God bless you and your family,
Dan Rees
drees@goodshepherdpekin.com
Remote Learning Days
Guidance for Families
This plan, in compliance with Illinois State Board of Education guidelines applies to all Good Shepherd Lutheran School students and families in grades Preschool to 8. The ultimate goal of the plan is to ensure that:
The Remote Learning Plan
This plan, in compliance with Illinois State Board of Education guidelines applies to all Good Shepherd Lutheran School students and families in grades Preschool to 8. The ultimate goal of the plan is to ensure that:
- All students have opportunities for continued learning that focuses on critical concepts.
- Instructional loss is minimized during the closure period.
- Structures and processes are in place that connect Good Shepherd with its families and facilitate consistent communication.
- Grading policies embrace the guiding principle of “no educational harm to any child”. Therefore, grading is focused on continued learning, not on compliance.
The Remote Learning Plan
- Remote Learning Days count as student attendance days and therefore do not need to be made up.
- Assignments will be posted by the teacher each day by 8:00 a.m. The two and three day preschool classes will receive work for the days they usually meet.
- Teachers will work with families to communicate in the most efficient manner possible including the use of the common tools of TeacherEase, Google Classroom, and Class Dojo.
- Teachers will be available and monitor their email each day between the hours of 8 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. and respond to families in a timely manner.
- Assignments will vary in volume and length of time according to the grade level of student. The Illinois Board of Education has provided the following guidelines:
Grade level
Preschool
Kindergarten
1st & 2nd Grade
3rd, 4th, & 5th Grade
6th, 7th & 8th Grade
|
minimum
20 mins/day
30 min/day
45 min/day
60 min/day
90 min/day
|
Maximum
60 min/day
90 mins/day
90 min/day
120 min/day
180 min/day
|
- Lessons will focus on review/reinforcement, enrichment and enhancement related to the reviewed skills, introduction (not mastery) of new skills and concepts.
- The teacher will arrange for the collection of student work and the distribution of additional assignments or materials should that be necessary.
- Remote Learning grading policies must embrace the principle of “no educational harm to any child”. Therefore, the grading policy in grades Kindergarten through 8 is based on student engagement and the continuation of learning, not on compliance. Assessment by the teacher will be focused on either a “pass” or “incomplete” grade. The “incomplete” grade allows for additional teacher direction and time for work to be completed to a level of a “pass” grade.
- Students will return books and materials upon their return.
This plan will be updated as new information becomes available from the Illinois Board of Education.