Return to Learn Updates

Dear Wayne-Westland Families,

At last night’s Board of Education meeting, the Board voted to have students return to in-person learning for all PreK-12 grade students on Monday, March 1, 2021. Students will return to a hybrid learning model. The hybrid schedule is below.

In preparation for the return to in-person instruction, we will follow our COVID-19 Preparedness and Response Plan, which includes all appropriate safety measures which meet the state guidelines. Please review the District Parent Handbook, which includes building specific protocols. You will also receive communication from your child’s school administrator with additional information for a safe and successful return to in-person learning.

As a reminder, on Friday, January 8, 2021, Governor Whitmer announced a goal of having all K-12 schools offer in-person learning by March 1, 2021. Alongside the MDHHS, the governor also announced new state guidelines for safety protocols and mitigation in schools. Additionally, we are working with the Wayne County Health Department to provide teachers the opportunity to receive COVID-19 vaccines. The health and well-being of students and staff continue to be a top priority. Please review our Return to Learn Website for more information.

IMPORTANT

• If you do NOT want your child to return to in-person learning this school year, you can register for Wayne-Westland Online Learning (Edgenuity) by 4:30 pm on Wednesday, January 13, 2021.
• All PreK-12 grade students will continue with the current distance learning instruction plan for the remainder of the first semester, which ends on January 15, 2021.

We again remind students and families to continue to adhere to COVID-19 safety recommendations made by the Wayne County Public Health Division. This includes wearing a cloth face covering or mask when near others, practicing frequent hand washing, staying home when sick and watching for potential symptoms of illness.

We are excited to welcome our students back into our schools and appreciate the patience and perseverance shown by our students, staff and families during this challenging school year. If you have any questions regarding the District’s In-Person Learning plan, please email info@wwcsd.net. Thank you for your understanding and patience as we work together through this process.

Sincerely,

John Dignan
Superintendent

Dear Wayne-Westland Families and Staff,

Happy New Year. I hope you all had a wonderful winter break. We are delighted to have our students and staff back this week as we continue to work on the best educational plan for our students and the safest plan for everyone to return to in-person instruction. As a reminder, a survey was recently sent out asking for your feedback; all survey responses are due by 11:59 p.m. on Friday, January 8, 2021.

A special meeting of the Board of Education will be held on Monday, January 11, 2021 at 7:00 p.m. The Board will discuss plans for possibly returning Pre K-12 grade students to a hybrid model of in-person instruction on January 19, 2021. You can watch this meeting via​ Zoom​. At this meeting, the Board of Education will use information from the surveys and data and guidance from health officials to determine when our students and staff will return to in-person learning. More details on school-specific plans will be sent by building principals after the Board confirms a date for returning to in-person learning. A ​District Parent Handbook​ with guidelines and protocols for returning to in-person learning will be updated as time goes on. I am resharing the​ October 29, 2020, Board presentation​ and the ​Return to Learn Website​ that was sent out earlier this fall for your reference. All Pre K-12 grade students will continue with the current distance learning instruction plan for the remainder of the first semester, which ends on January 15, 2021​.

If you have any questions regarding the District’s In-Person Learning plan, please email them to ​info@wwcsd.net​. Thank you for your understanding and patience as we work together through this process.

Sincerely,

John Dignan
Superintendent

Dear Wayne-Westland Families,

Already a time for reflection, this holiday season seems more meaningful for obvious reasons. As winter break approaches and with our students currently learning remotely, we encourage you to help your child continue to stay engaged and active in their classes.

Earlier this week, Governor Whitmer announced state restrictions on in-person learning for high school students will continue through December 20, at which point we will be on winter break. Wayne-Westland Community Schools is proceeding with our current Distance Learning model through at least January 15, 2021. This is consistent with the Wayne County Health Division’s recommendation that schools halt all in-person instruction for grades PreK-12 through January 14.

We remain in close contact with health experts, including the Wayne County Public Health Division. The health and well-being of our students and staff continue to be a top priority, and all decisions are rooted in efforts to protect our school community. We understand the desires of many to return to in-person learning, and we are listening intently to all feedback we receive. At the same time, we must do what we believe is best, based on the feedback of experts and our experience to date in the pandemic. For many reasons, we hope COVID-19 numbers will improve in time for the new year.

The continuously evolving crisis has called for immense patience from us all, and we are grateful for your grace and understanding.

We once again remind students and families to continue to adhere to COVID-19 safety recommendations made by the Wayne County Public Health Division. This includes wearing a cloth face covering or mask when in close proximity with others, practicing frequent hand washing, staying home when sick and continuing to watch for potential symptoms of illness. Please join us for the special Board Meeting on
January 11, 2021.

Together, we will continue to adapt, stay safe and put children first.

Sincerely,

John Dignan
Superintendent

Letter to Families from the Superintendent