Learning Updates
- February 3, 2021 Grades 3-5 Return to School Plan
- January 4, 2021 K-2 Return to School Plan
- December 18, 2020 Updates School Reopening Plan
- November 6, 2020 Secondary Schedule Change
- October 12, 2020 Hybrid Transition Update
February 3, 2021 Grades 3-5 Return to School Plan
Dear Grades 3-5 Families:
In December 2020, Governor Inslee issued new guidance on the key metrics for students to return to school for in-person instruction. As a result, Franklin Pierce Schools will prepare to invite back additional students for in-person instruction beginning with Kindergarten students on Thursday, January 28.
We realize that remote learning is working well for some students and families and does not work well for others. We hope that you will consider both learning options below and make a decision that works best for your child and family. If you have questions about what the options are, please feel free to reach out to your child’s teacher or the school office.
Over the past three months, students and staff participating in in-person learning through our support centers have adhered to our safety protocols and maintained a healthy working and learning environment. They have accomplished this through daily attestations, proper use of PPE, strict sanitization protocols, wearing masks and social distancing. We will build on these systems as we welcome more students to return to our schools. Know that your child’s return to school will be different and that there will be several changes in place to keep our students and staff safe and healthy.
In-person Learning Timeline:
· Kindergarten students are currently scheduled to return to school for in-person learning 4 days/week beginning Thursday, January 28.
· Students in Grades 1-2 are currently scheduled to return to school for in-person learning 4 days/week beginning Monday, February 8.
· Students in Grades 3-5 are tentatively scheduled to return to school for in-person learning 2-4 days/week beginning Monday, February 22.
January 4, 2021 K-2 Return to School Plan
In December 2020, Governor Inslee issued new guidance on the key metrics for students to return to school for in-person instruction. As a result, Franklin Pierce Schools will prepare for the return of additional students for in-person instruction beginning Thursday, January 28.
Over the past two months, students and staff participating in in-person learning through our support centers have adhered to our safety protocols and maintained a healthy working and learning environment. They have accomplished this through daily attestations, proper use of PPE, strict sanitization protocols, wearing masks and social distancing. We will build on these systems as we welcome more students to return to our schools. Click the button below to find out more regarding K-2 Return to School Plan.
December 18, 2020 Updates School Reopening Plan
Dear FPS Families:
Earlier this week, Governor Inslee issued new guidance on the key metrics for students to return to school for in-person instruction. As a result, FPS will prepare for the return of additional students for in-person instruction in early 2021.
We will work with public health experts to follow science on the best strategies to keep staff, students and families safe. Over the past two months, students and staff participating in in-person learning through our support centers have adhered to our safety protocols and maintained a healthy working and learning environment. They have accomplished this through daily attestations, proper use of PPE, strict sanitization protocols, wearing masks and social distancing. We will build on these systems as we welcome more students to return to our schools.
While there are many unfinished details in planning for the return of students, we hope that the following information offers a roadmap for what to expect:
- All decisions to welcome students back into schools will be made in adherence to Tacoma Pierce County Health Department guidelines.
- We will give a minimum of a two week notice to staff, students and families prior to students returning for in-person instruction. At this point, the earliest possible date that additional students would return to school would be Tuesday, January 19.
- We will utilize a phased approach to welcome students to return for in-person instruction (Ex. Phase 1: Grades K-1, Phase 2: Grades 2-3; Phase 3: Grades 4-5; etc.). There will likely be 1-2 weeks between each phase.
- All staff and students will be required to adhere to health and safety protocols including but not limited to: daily health attestations, the proper use of PPE, consistent sanitization measures, masks and social distancing. Current guidelines that limit the number of students in a class to 15 will require a hybrid/modified schedule to accommodate all learners.
- We will continue to offer remote learning options for families that choose not to receive in-person instruction.
We recognize that this year has been challenging as we have been forced to adapt to a new way of offering education and a new way of living through a pandemic. We will plan to transition in a careful and thoughtful manner so that families can plan for the changes ahead.
Wishing you health and hope as we head into the new year,
Lance Goodpaster
Superintendent
November 6, 2020 Secondary Schedule Change
Dear FPS Middle School and High School Families:
First of all, we want to offer our sincere gratitude for all that you have done to weather the start of a school year like no other. You have endured a lot with technology challenges, a changing schedule, and helping your child adjust to a completely different form of teaching and learning.
During the summer and early fall, we were hopeful that remote learning would be temporary and that we could plan to return to school quickly. Currently, our local numbers continue to trend upward and we anticipate staying in remote learning longer than previously expected. As we approach the end of the first quarter, we think it is important to assess how things are going and to make adjustments that will ultimately benefit students.
Teachers, students and families have shared that asynchronous (independent) learning time is not effective. To address these concerns, we will be moving away from the cohort model in order to free up more time for synchronous (scheduled) instruction starting the week of Thanksgiving (Monday, November 23).
- Middle schools will operate on a modified 6-period day each day between 8:30am and 3pm on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday.
- High schools will operate on a modified 3-period block schedule each day, alternating periods 1-3 on Monday and Thursday and periods 4-6 on Tuesday and Friday.
- Wednesdays will remain asynchronous (independent) learning days.*
- Please reference the school schedules listed on the right.
*GATES High School will hold advisory classes on Wednesdays.
We realize that change is hard, particularly during this stressful season. No one solution will provide a perfect remedy for all students and families, but we are hopeful that more scheduled learning time with teachers will help students engage more fully. We cannot thank you enough for your partnership, dedication and commitment to your students and to our education system during this challenging season.
Sincerely,
Franklin Pierce Schools
Public Information Office
October 12, 2020 Hybrid Transition Update
Dear FPS Community:
Earlier this month, we shared information about the plan to begin welcoming students back into school as early as the week of October 19. Since stating our intention to move in this direction, there continues to be an increase in positive COVID-19 cases in Pierce County. School districts across the county have been encouraged to pause on reopening plans. While we will continue to plan for the hybrid transition, we do not have a specified date when general education students will return to buildings.
The transition for students to return to buildings is driven by comparing local case rates with a state decision making tree. Last week, the case rate/100,000 jumped over 75, placing Pierce County in the high activity level category. We will continue to monitor these numbers and determine a timeline for students to return to school when the case counts are deemed appropriate to do so.
We will continue to plan carefully so that we are prepared to make the transition to hybrid learning when the timing is right. In order to minimize the amount of stress that students and staff have to endure, we will wait to transition to hybrid learning until we are confident that case numbers are stable and will offer a minimum of a two week transition period between announcing our plan and opening our schools.
Thank you all for your patience and persistence during this season of unknowns. Many indicators suggest that this pandemic is not going to go away quickly. Please know that the health and safety of staff and students is our top priority as we consider the road ahead.
Sincerely,