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At the end of our second week of In-Person Learning and approaching the end of the first trimester, we are naturally reflecting on how well we have minimized health risks and maximized learning. Distance and Online School Learning classrooms have hit their stride. Our in-person teachers and students were delighted to be rejoined on campus and resume regular schedules with much more opportunity for interaction and feedback from their teachers.

Students have adjusted well to wearing masks. Surprisingly, it has been more challenging to practice social distancing than it has been to consistently wear masks. Our children have been trained since they were little to walk in compacted lines, and now, we are asking them to stretch out those lines and ensure there is ample space between students.

Parents can help by practicing with children how to monitor and adjust for personal space when out in public. We will continue to fine tune procedures for safety. Together, our consistent attention to mitigation strategies can help to keep all students, staff, and community members healthy. 

 

We have all been adjusting to change, and it seems that change and COVID are our new normal. So far this year, we have experienced virtual, hybrid, and traditional delivery based on local levels of COVID spread. Although the adjustments have been challenging, we are now well prepared for any delivery model in the event of a second COVID wave. 

 

Educators and parents around the world have worried about the potential learning gap from school closures and shifts to virtual learning. The Liberty Elementary School District recently completed its annual beginning of the year individual K-3 literacy assessments. The results were fantastic. In all but 1st grade, our students started the year at higher literacy levels than previous year groups of students despite school closure last spring. We credit this academic growth to an outstanding teacher/parent partnership. We will use the data to identify and provide intervention support to ensure all students are on track with their learning. First trimester assessments will be administered in the next two weeks. We will be monitoring these results closely as well. 
 

We invite you to join us in reflecting on the first trimester. It’s a great opportunity to celebrate with your children new skills they have learned that they might not have learned in traditional school and also to celebrate your children’s teachers or support staff for remarkably rising to the challenge. If you have a story to share, we would love to recognize our children and staff with some highlights in our district communications.

Thank you for your steadfast support and flexibility as we navigate the complexity of educating children in a pandemic. We are committed to continually improving and making sure we deliver on our promise of an exemplary education for your children.
 


 

Lori Shough, Ed.D.
Superintendent

 



How will I know if my child has been exposed to COVID?


If a student in your child’s class or your child’s teacher tests positive or is exposed to someone who tested positive, your school principal will notify you by email. The letter will explain that your child was exposed as well as provide you with information about quarantining your child and the date your child can return to school. A letter will also be emailed to all the families in the school to let parents know that there was a case of COVID and what symptoms to watch for in the next few days.

You can help keep everyone safe by keeping your child
isolated at home when he/she has symptoms of COVID, was exposed to someone with COVID, or is awaiting test results. Children must be symptom-free for 24 hours without medication before returning to school after experiencing COVID-like symptoms. Your school will always notify you of any known exposures to COVID.


 




First Trimester
Benchmark Assessments


Each year, the district administers 1st trimester benchmark assessments. The assessments are designed to evaluate how well students learned standards taught during the first trimester. In-Person Learning students will be assessed during the school day. Distance Learning and Online School students will be assessed virtually.

Parents can play an important role in virtual assessment to support students in logging in and remaining focused. Please do not support students with the thinking or reasoning with their responses.

Accurate knowledge of assessment results are used to determine how best to help your child make further progress. Trimester 1 English Language Arts and Math benchmark assessments will be given November 2nd -13th. The Writing benchmark will be given on November 16th and 17th. 

 




Electronic Report Cards

Report cards will be issued virtually through ParentVue. You can actually access your child’s grades at any time, not just at the end of the reporting period.

Download the ParentVue app and check up any time to learn if your child is missing work or is making academic progress. The first trimester grading period ends on November 6th.


If you have forgotten your password or are logging in for the first time, contact your child's school front office for assistance.

 




Instructional Delivery Models

 

Distance Learning and Online School students will continue with virtual delivery all year unless parents request a transfer to another class or school. In-Person Learning students may shift among traditional, hybrid, or virtual depending on recent health benchmark data.

Currently, In-Person Learning students are attending school for full days for a regular school schedule with traditional delivery with mitigations. This means that they attend every day just like they did last year except that precautions are being taken with
masks, hand washing, and social distancing to the extent possible.

The district will remain in traditional delivery with mitigations unless there are three consecutive weeks that the district does not meet at least two of the three health benchmarks at the minimal threshold. The soonest In-Person Learning students could shift to another delivery model is November 19th.

The district website is updated every Thursday afternoon with the most recent data and information about potential changes in delivery models.


 




Free School Lunches
 

School breakfast and lunch meals are free for ALL children until the end of the school year. The USDA has made the commitment to ensure all children across America have access to nutritious food as the nation recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Free Grab ‘N Go breakfast will be offered to all students as they arrive at school. In-Person Learning students will be offered free lunches in the cafeteria during the lunch period. Distance Learning students can continue to pick up both breakfast and lunch from 7am - 8am, daily.

 

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Liberty Elementary School District
19871 W. Fremont Road, Buckeye, AZ 85326

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