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The Reporter September 2020
SCHOOL NEWS Dighton-Rehoboth Reopening Plans
InStep Dance Studio 26 Olney Street • Seekonk, MA 02771
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By Joe Siegel The 2020-2021 school year will begin on September 18 with remote learning. The Dighton-Rehoboth Regional School District plans to transition to hybrid learning and ultimately in-person instruction depending on the rate of Covid-19 infections in Massachusetts. Teachers will return on September 2 for 10 days of professional development in accordance with the state’s Department of Elementary and Secondary (DESE) guidance. Superintendent Anthony Azar sent parents and families a full summary of the district’s return to school plans last Friday. The document reads, in part: In addition to classroom time where both teachers and students are present, structured learning time may include directed study, independent study, technology-assisted learning, presentations by persons other than teachers, school-to-work programs, and statewide student performance assessments. Direct instruction will happen daily, but without time minimum or maximums. DRRSD recommends 15 minute mini lessons with the opportunity for additional discussion using Google Meet as a platform. Hybrid learning will be a combination of in person learning and remote learning as defined in this document. In a hybrid model, grades 1-12 students will report to school 2 days per week and will work remotely from home 3 days per week. Staff will report 5 days per week. Staff will work a half day on Wednesdays to give custodians an opportunity to clean the building. All students are required to wear a mask/face covering that covers their nose and mouth. Face shields may be an option for those students with medical, behavioral, or other challenges who are unable to wear masks/ face coverings.
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Vaccination Reminders for Families
Dear Dighton-Rehoboth Families, We hope you are well and have enjoyed your summer as best as possible. Our staff is preparing for the opening of the 2020-2021 school year. We have been working extremely hard to prepare students and staff for a year of learning regardless of a remote model or a hybrid model. To support whichever model we are in, we have planned a comprehensive professional development schedule for staff beginning on 9/2 and continuing until 9/17. As a reminder the first day for students is 9/18/2020. We will be starting the year in a remote learning model with a goal to transition to hybrid learning beginning on 10/13/2020. Building principals will be providing information regarding specific student schedules as well as additional information regarding the start of the school year. A distance learning website will be used to provide students access to teacher webpages, programs and applications, as well as student and parent technical support resources. High priority students, as identified by the DESE guidance, will also be starting on 9/18/2020 with direct in person instruction and services. For students, who meet this criteria, families and guardians will be receiving additional correspondence from the District Special Education office. This year, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health is requiring an influenza immunization for all children 6 months of age or older who are attending Massachusetts child care, pre-school, kindergarten, K-12, and colleges and universities. Students will be expected to have received a flu vaccine by 12/31/2020 unless either a medical or religious exemption is provided.
