3rd round of students to return to Sumter School District classrooms

Phase 3 begins Thursday, Friday; final phase starts Nov. 12

Posted

With another significant transition of students to a hybrid/blended model of instruction on Thursday and Friday, all but Sumter School District's eighth-graders will have stepped into the classroom by the end of next week.

Superintendent Penelope Martin-Knox distributed a letter Friday afternoon to parents and families of district students to provide an update on the final two phases of the instructional transition amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

With Phases 3 and 4, all grades and students in the district will be eligible to move to hybrid instruction by Thursday, Nov. 12.

In Phase 3, fourth-, fifth- and seventh-grade students will move to a blended model on Thursday. Then, on Friday, high school students with last names beginning with M-Z - or Cohort B - also transition to hybrid. During Phase 3, which lasts one week, Cohort B high schoolers will report to school for face-to-face instruction on Friday and also Tuesday, Nov. 10.

High school students with last names A-L - called Cohort A - started hybrid on Oct. 26 but will return to virtual during Phase 3. After attending school Monday, Cohort A will not attend in person again until Thursday, Nov. 12. That day begins Phase 4 and will also be the first day of hybrid instruction for the district's eighth-grade students.

Cohort B, unlike Cohort A, will run without any stoppage of hybrid, in-person instruction.

Like previously in the blended learning model, students are divided into two groups. Group A will receive face-to-face instruction in the classroom on Mondays and Thursdays - also called schools' "A" days - and live, virtual instruction remotely on Tuesdays and Fridays. Group B will have the reverse scenario: face-to-face classroom instruction on Tuesdays and Fridays - also called schools' "B" days - and virtual instruction on Mondays and Thursdays.

Both groups will continue to learn asynchronously - independently and online that is not real-time instruction but pre-recorded lessons - on Wednesdays. On that day, teachers and staff will continue to receive professional development, and staff will deep clean facilities.

Parents do have the option to keep their children in virtual instruction for the entire semester, which ends Jan. 20, with appropriate documentation.

Martin-Knox said schools will provide families with additional information on class assignments and bus schedules. The district will do its best to honor the preferences of parents and keep siblings together, she said.

Additionally, in her statement, the superintendent noted key dates in November that will impact instructional days. On Tuesday, schools are closed for Election Day. Likewise, on Wednesday, Nov. 11, schools will be closed in observance of Veterans Day. Monday, Nov. 23, through Wednesday, Nov. 25, are designated as virtual learning days. On those days, students will receive pre-recorded lessons and assignments. Then, later the same week, on Nov. 26-27, schools will be closed for the Thanksgiving holiday.

As students are moving to the hybrid model, Martin-Knox said it's important for parents and families to remind children of safety guidelines established by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, to include the importance of staying 6 feet apart, wearing masks, washing hands and following school bus and classroom safety protocols. Additionally, students should not share supplies, masks, food or water bottles. The district will continue to adhere to its practice of not permitting visitors beyond the school lobby, she said.

"Collectively, we are making every attempt to ensure every student is engaged in instruction," Martin-Knox said. "Please reach out to your child's school if you need additional assistance. We are here to support you and answer any questions you may have."