I hope this message finds everyone safe, healthy and enjoying their summer. I know that many parents are feeling nervous, concerned and worried about the upcoming school year and need as much information as possible in order to plan for their family. As you are aware, decisions continue to be updated and changed based on current information. Mrs. Cervantes and I are excited for the new educational year at Edison and continue to revise Edison’s plan for return to school based on state and district decisions. It is important for you to remember that the environment is fluid, so DPS and Edison continue to respond and decisions continue to be made and changed due to the realities and recommendations of each day. I will continue to update the community.
I again, apologize for the long letter, but please read this information carefully as information and dates have changed once more.
First day of school – August 24 and remote for all students:
As you know, on Friday, July 17 our superintendent Susana Cordova communicated updated information regarding the beginning of this school year. Based on new data and guidance, DPS made the decision to delay returning to school in person. DPS will begin the 2020-21 school year with remote learning, with a delayed first day of remote school on Aug. 24 to allow our teachers time to welcome students back remotely and plan for the school year.
Annual Family Update – Open July 27:
The annual student registration process will launch on July 27, 2020. Families are strongly encouraged to register online through the Annual Family Update to avoid in-person interactions.
Please note that a mandatory supplemental form will be included to capture each student’s enrollment decision for either the In-Person Learning or the 100% Virtual/Online Program.
You must have a Parent Portal account to participate online. If you need to open a Parent Portal account so you can do the update and have access to other important information about your student, go to https://myportal.dpsk12.org/ and click on Getting Started . You will need your student’s DPS ID# to start your account. If you forgot your password or you can’t log in, you can get help by emailing portalteam@dpsk12.org or calling the portal hotline at 720.423.3163. If you don’t know your student’s ID# you can email Michelle Miller in the office at michelle_miller@dpsk12.org or Barbara Schrant at maria_schrant@dpsk12.org.
To access the Annual Family Update, go to the DPS website at https://www.dpsk12.org/ and click on the Departments & Services tab and scroll down to SchoolChoice and Enrollment. There will be a link for Annual Family Update once it is active on July 27. You will use your Parent Portal username and password to get in. Only the parent listed as the first emergency contact in the primary household in IC can do AFU.
If you do not have computer access, you may come to Edison to complete your student’s annual update on August 7 from 9:00-3:00. If your child has had additional immunizations please bring an updated record.
Additional applications to be completed online
We encourage parents to sign up MySchoolBucks at: https://www.myschoolbucks.com through the Parent Portal. This will give parents the ability to pay for school lunches, field trips and school fees on-line with a credit card.
If you need a Free/Reduced Lunch form, you can do this through https://www.myschoolapps.com/Application
Remote learning vs online learning
As you are aware, for the 2020-21 school year, DPS is offering parents the opportunity to choose for their children to attend school in-person or to participate in 100% virtual/online schooling. It is my understanding that parents will choose their option, for the semester, when they complete the Annual Family Update. It is my current understanding that:
If you choose the 100% virtual/online option – Students will participate in a district run online program for the 1st semester of this school year. Students may use personal devices or borrow a Chromebook from Edison to engage in daily online learning. Students will continue to be enrolled as Edison students (will NOT lose their ‘spot’) while attending the online school, but would not be connected to an Edison classroom teacher or receive the Edison curriculum during this time.
If you choose the in-person learning option: Students will attend Edison either remotely (Aug 24-Sept 8 and as necessary due to quarantines or health requirements) or in-person every day and participate in Edison’s curriculum with Edison’s teachers. It is important to understand that things will look different at Edison. When we return to in-person learning:
We will have many new health and safety guardrails in place to include: students will remain with their homeroom cohort of students all day (with some students having a 2nd cohort), each grade level will enter & exit the building from a different door, students will not be allowed to play on the playground before or after school, students and staff will receive health screenings each morning, all students and staff will be required to wear masks and wash hands frequently, student desks will be separated in classrooms, students will eat lunch in classrooms, common spaces will be disinfected frequently, etc. As all of these safeguards get finalized, I will share this specific information with parents.
If a student or staff tests positive for COVID19, the cohort will move to remote learning, taught by an Edison teacher with Edison curriculum, for the 14 day quarantine period, and then return to in-person learning at Edison.
In order to support Edison students with consistent instruction and learning, in the event of movement between in-person and remote learning, DPS has purchased a new remote learning platform which is very student and parent friendly, called Seesaw. Students will be taught, using this platform, while participating in both remote and in-person learning. We will share more information regarding this as we get closer to school starting.
Teacher Assignments
I know that students (and parents) get very excited to find out who their teacher for the upcoming school year is. Please know that teacher assignments are now listed in IC and parents will be able to see this information when they complete the Annual Family Update. That said, given the current circumstances, with students choosing online learning and some teachers being assigned to teach online, it is VERY likely that some classroom teacher assignments will change. These changes may occur up until the first day of school. Thank you for your understanding and flexibility during this unprecedented time!
Virtual One-on-one Meetings – August 19 & 20
For students who will be participating in Edison’s in-person/remote learning during the Fall, in order to support parents and students with beginning the school year in a remote environment, Edison’s classroom teachers will be hosting virtual one-on-one meetings with each student in their classroom on August 19 and 20. During this time, teachers will complete quick reading screenings, share learning expectations for the first two weeks of school and introduce students to the Seesaw platform.
Please watch for information regarding how to sign up for these virtual one-on-one meetings.
Please note, the Kindergarten assessment day for August 11 is now CANCELLED. Kindergarten students will participate in virtual one-on-one meetings August 19 & 20.
Distribution of Chromebooks and curricular materials – August 20 & 21
Due to the decision to start the school year remotely for all DPS students, Edison students who currently have Edison Chromebooks may plan to keep these to use for remote or online learning this Fall.
Parents of students who will be participating in Edison’s in-person/remote learning environment, please plan to come to Edison to pick up educational materials on August 20 or 21. Please wear a mask. We will be distributing the following: Chromebooks to student who do not have these, math workbooks, reading packets, guided reading books, spelling packets, white boards, etc.
Back to School Night – Virtual – August 20
Back-to-school night is an important event each August in which teachers provide parents and students with a lot of information regarding school and classroom expectations, as well as begin to build new relationships. This year, in order to keep everyone safe and healthy, Back-to-School night will be virtual. Please plan on the following:
Parents will receive an email from teachers on August 14 with important information regarding the school year and links to Google Meetings.
Each teacher will host a 30 minute virtual Back-to-School night meeting via GoogleMeets on August 20. Meeting times will be as follows:
3:00 – ECE
3:30 – Kindergarten
4:00 – 1st grade
4:30 – 2nd grade
5:00 – 3rd grade
5:30 – 4th grade
6:00 – 5th grade
Discovery Link:
Discovery Link is planning on providing before and after school care this year, however, will be at reduced capacity in DPS buildings at the start of school.
If you need to sign up your child for Discovery Link, before and/or after school care, please go to the following website: https://discoverylink.dpsk12.org/https-docs-google-com-document-d-17x40qkngu3vkpd2kn8uok2s72zskp6mebyibrt%207d5fy-edit/
Enrichment Classes:
We are hoping to offer after school enrichment classes this Fall at Edison. Decisions are being finalized, however, if we do offer these, they will be on a reduced capacity and students would be limited to a maximum of one afternoon enrichment class.
DPS will continue to communicate closely with the public health departments and government officials as we respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. As decisions are made and adjustments are made, DPS and I will communicate this with families.
Thank you for your continued support, flexibility and kindness during this difficult time. Please feel free to reach out to me with any questions or concerns at Sally_whitelock@dpsk12.org
Sincerely,
Sally Whitelock, Principal
