Return to Learn Updates

Dear Wayne-Westland Families,

At the regularly scheduled Board of Education meeting held on August 10, 2020, the board voted to begin the 2020-21 school year with distance learning for all Wayne-Westland students until at least October 23, 2020. Students will learn virtually with Wayne-Westland Community Schools teachers.

What will virtual learning look like in Wayne-Westland? For the past several weeks, our Return to Learn committee has been meeting to create the plan for the fall of 2020. The Virtual Learning Plan has been created to educate our students within the context of a public health crisis.

As part of the Return to Learn Plan, virtual learning will look very different than it did at the end of the last school year. Last March, we were responding to a crisis, without any notice, and our primary goal was to try to offer a sense of normalcy for students. Looking ahead to the upcoming school year, our students who will be learning at home will have a more structured virtual learning experience to include daily meetings with teachers as well as social-emotional check-ins, to keep students engaged and learning. In addition to virtual instruction, breakfast and lunch will be provided weekly for students.

Future communications that will be emailed to you and posted on our website will have information about:

• Virtual Learning school day schedules
• Breakfast and lunch services
• Learning material distribution information
• Classroom assignments and student class schedules
• Back to school packets and parent handbooks

With regard to fall athletics, we will adhere to mandates from the Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) for outdoor and indoor athletic programs; marching band will also follow the same mandates. MHSAA is expected to make an announcement on August 20 on what fall sports/activities will look like.

DATES TO REMEMBER

There will be three community meetings on August 12 at different times to accommodate your schedule. We will answer some of the questions that have been submitted by the community during these meetings. Please use the Zoom links to join us.

• August 12 at 10:00 a.m. - https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89670677366
• August 12 at 4:00 p.m. - https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82357545613
• August 12 at 7:00 p.m. - https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89224874598
• August 17 - Deadline for the District to submit the Return to Learn Plan to the state
• August 17 - Last day to register for Wayne-Westland Online Learning K-12 (Edgenuity program) which is a separate program from our Virtual Learning Plan. For more information and registration click - Wayne-Westland Online Learning or contact April Ostrander 734-419-2083 or ostrandera@wwcsd.net
• September 1 - First day of school for WWCS students

Our District 2020-21 calendar and schedule will remain the same as if we were teaching and learning together in person.

In addition to these dates, please look for a survey that will be sent out later this week which will help us continue to gather additional information to best help us support our students and families.

Although the year ahead will look different in many ways, we are excited to welcome another new year and look forward to serving our families and the entire community. We are committed to fulfilling our mission of teaching each child and supporting them on their individual pathways while keeping our community safe. Please make sure you check your contact information on your child’s profile in the Parent Portal so that we can reach out to you as needed to provide you with updates.

If you have any questions regarding our Virtual Learning Plan, please email info@wwcsd.net. The District will put all updates on our Return to Learn website and FAQ.

We appreciate your patience and understanding as we work through these new and changing times together. Thank you for your continued commitment to Wayne-Westland CommUNITY and for serving as a partner in your child’s education.

Sincerely,

John Dignan
Superintendent

Please read the Return to Learn Frequently Asked Questions. They will be updated as more information becomes available.

Return to Learn Frequently Asked Questions

Dear Wayne-Westland Families,

I hope you are enjoying a restful and healthy summer. As you know, we have been focused on the ongoing work related to our Return to Learn plan for the 2020-21 school year. Our top priority is student and staff safety. COVID-19 has created a unique situation for students, families, and staff to work together to find the best fit to support the community and the education of our children.

Wayne-Westland Community Schools has formed a committee dedicated to reopening school in the fall focused on academic excellence, and health and safety. The plans we have in place are thorough and ready to implement without delay in the event we need to switch plans. While we all want students back in school full time, direction and guidance we receive from the State of Michigan, the local health department, and the CDC may change details of these plans. One thing that won’t change is making the safety of our students and staff our top priority.

The three scenarios the District are preparing for include:

1. Face to face instruction (traditional model)
2. Hybrid instruction (students return to school two days a week)
3. Virtual instruction (all classes are online)

Here is a detailed explanation of each of the models in our Return to Learn plan. As you may know, the Return to School Plan from the State of Michigan does allow local districts to determine what model to use to deliver instruction.

Last spring, our teachers transitioned to remote instruction with little prep time. Our Curriculum Instruction and Assessment Department is working to ensure that should the need arise again, we will be better prepared to provide the best educational experience possible. They have also investigated best practices for virtual/hybrid learning and are gathering feedback and data on the successes and failures over the last ten weeks of the 2019-20 school year. Regardless of what model we will follow in the fall, the school calendar will be the same. Grades will be issued each marking period; the semesters and assessment calendar will be the same, and grading practices will be followed.

Our work has been focused on health and safety, transportation, food service and the logistics of reopening. Below are some quick updates on the planning process that follows the MI Safe Schools Return to School Roadmap.

Health and Safety protocols will follow the state-mandated requirements in cooperation with the CDC and local health department guidelines. Some of the key areas in development are:

1. Arrival/dismissal of students.
2. Usage/transition of shared spaces (hallways, cafeteria, commons, gymnasium).
3. Classroom usage (with social distancing, cleaning protocols, and health equipment).
4. Bathroom availability, usage, and cleaning.
5. Isolation room for sick students (location and process for admitting).
6. Check-in process for all visitors and guests.
7. After-school activities.

Our athletics department has been working within the MHSAA guidelines to restart interscholastic athletics, and summer workouts continue. We are working on plans for extra-curricular activities which also include the marching band.

Our marketing and communications team is developing processes for communicating the updates to families as clearly, concisely, and regularly as possible. Updates will be sent out as recommendations are finalized, accepted, and approved. We know there are a lot of questions. We have started a FAQ section on our District website. Please check the website weekly as we will continue to add more information as soon as it becomes available.

We are focused on putting together a comprehensive, compliant, and tailored-to-Wayne-Westland Community School plan for the fall. Our top priority is the health and safety of our students and staff.

We look forward to the opportunities for Wayne-Westland Community Schools to show everyone how we are encouraging students to develop their passion, character, and intellect. Rest assured, we will continue to strive to create and foster an atmosphere of collegiality and collaboration with our varied stakeholders as the final plans come to fruition for the beginning of the school year. I am looking forward to seeing all of the students and staff back in the halls of the Wayne-Westland Community Schools. By working together, we can make sure that the Wayne-Westland CommUNITY School system remains the stable force and spark that our children need to ensure a GREAT Future. We have a unique opportunity to move our school community forward and we will navigate this crisis together.

Dates to Remember:

• August 3 - Board of Education Study Session on Return to Learn models including safety and operations
• August 10 - Board of Education meeting. Superintendent Dignan will make a recommendation to the Board of Education and they will vote on the Return to Learn model to return to school.
• August 11 - Return to Learn presentation to staff. We will send the meeting information next week.
• August 12 - Return to Learn presentations to the community. We will send the meeting information next week.
• August 17 - Return to Learn plan due to Wayne County RESA for approval according to the governor’s Return to School Roadmap.
• August 17- Last day to register for Wayne-Westland Online Learning K-12.

We want to hear stakeholder's voices and provide two-way communication opportunities and involvement of our community. Please take this short survey to provide feedback that will assist in our decision making. Each week we will send out a short survey to monitor our progress planning, implementation and execution.

In our school commUNITY, we develop champions in the classroom, in competition, and in life. Thank you for your commitment to the Wayne-Westland Community Schools.

Sincerely,

John Dignan
Superintendent