Return to Learning Announcement
GILES COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS
October 26, 2020
GCPS Parents, Students and Staff:
As we continue to navigate through the challenging times we are all facing, GCPS will begin to offer more in-person instruction for our students. Please review the information below that outlines the plan for in-person learning, schedules, transportation, and other items moving forward.
Return to Learning Plan (Update)
It is anticipated that all Pre-K - 3rd grade students will have the ability to transition to 4 days a week of in-person instruction beginning on November 16th, 2020. With this transition, students and staff within these grade levels will be required to wear masks at all times (except while eating) because the physical distancing goal for these grade levels will be 3 feet, along with the continuation of the other safety measures for the school system (i.e. - promoting the washing of hands, temperature checks, daily cleaning, etc.). A final decision will be made by noon time on November 10th, 2020 (during a scheduled School Board work session) to make sure that conditions are still acceptable for this plan to proceed and that items are in place to move forward. Once PreK-3,d grade students return for 4 days a week, the Hybrid model/schedule will no longer be an option for those grade levels. Parents of students in PreK-3,d grade are being asked to make a decision on whether their child will attend 4 days a week or be a full-time virtual student once these changes are made. This decision will need to be made by Friday, October 30th and this choice will remain in effect for the remainder of the 2020-21 school year. Your decision is required because an accurate student count for each class is necessary so that we can ensure physical distancing and overcome any other logistical challenges.
However, students who are attending school 4 days a week, can go to full -time virtual at any point if parents feel it is in the best interest of their child.
Students in the 4th through 12th grades will continue under the current Hybrid Instructional Model
(Group A students - Monday/Wednesday; Group B students - Tuesday/Thursday, with virtual instruction on the other days) until a decision is made to begin transitioning more grade levels to in-person learning. When the decision is made, information for those grade levels will be communicated at that time.
Arrival/Dismissal and Transportation
Under this new plan, beginning on November 16th, all buses will return to their traditional routes from previous years. Buses will operate their complete routes each day in order to pick-up students for attendance. With the addition of more in-person instruction, more students may be on the bus and the requirement of wearing masks on the buses will continue moving forward, as well as temperature checks. These traditional routes will be posted on the SB webpage, as well as each schools web page, beginning on November 9th. In addition, the instructional day will change to 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. for all students in the elementary/middle schools. Doors will be open at 8:00 a.m. for drop off and bus arrivals and the day will end at 2:30 p.m., with parent pick-up beginning at that time. Following this, buses will be loaded for the remaining students.
We appreciate your continued understanding and patience as we approach the end of our 1st 9-weeks of Hybrid instruction. And, we appreciate your support as we begin to transition to more in-person instruction for our students. We have had, and will continue to have, the safety of all involved at the forefront when making decisions moving forward and will continue to look for ways to provide the best education possible for our students, while again being as safe as possible .
We look forward to continuing our school year and if you have any questions, please let us know .
Sincerely,
Terry E. Arbogast, II
Division Superintendent