Distance Learning Plan - Appleton-Milan Elementary School Spring 2020

Distance Learning Plan -
          Appleton-Milan Elementary School
                     Spring 2020
Dear Parents and Guardians,

Our daily lives including school have been greatly impacted by CoVid-19.
During these unprecedented school closures, Appleton-Milan Elementary
staff are working hard to ensure that our students will be supported
emotionally, educationally, and nutritionally.

Teachers have been preparing lessons, activities, and experiences to keep
our students engaged, learning, and in community with one another. The
intention of this Distance Learning Plan (DLP) is not to replace the
experiences a student would have in the classroom, but to support
continued learning and interaction while away from school.

This DLP will provide some school-specific information and guidelines to
help your child start on this distance-learning journey. Together, we will
learn much over the next several weeks and our plans will continue to
evolve and improve.

We know this type of learning will be easier for some students than for
others. We look forward to working with you during this Distance Learning
Time. Please keep in close contact with your child’s teacher if you have any
concerns or questions. This alternative learning method is a new process
for us all and if there are ways we can improve upon it, we will definitely do
so. We hope to see you all very soon!

Always learning,

Maureen Heinecke
Appleton-Milan Elementary School Principal

Communication:

  ●   During the Distance Learning process, Teachers will be connecting with
      students via phone calls, emails, letters, Facebook Groups, Zoom, BLOOMZ,
      etc. throughout the duration of the DLP time frame. We will be diligent in
      communicating with students and encourage students, as well as parents, to
      connect with teachers if any questions about school work come up.
  ●   Teachers will be available from 7:30 am to 3:30 pm each school day.

School work for DLPs:

  ●   Paper copies/packets of assignments and assessments will be available for
      pick up ​7:30-9:00 am:
         ○ Appleton students will pick up their Distance Learning Packets at the
             Appleton-Milan Elementary School on the east side of the building.
         ○ Milan students ​(those who ride the Milan bus)​ will pick up their Distance
             Learning Packets at the GMI building in Milan.
         ○ If you are unable to pick up your child's packet at one of the offered
             locations, packets will be delivered using the school’s regular bus
             routes on Fridays starting at 8:30 am. The first delivery will be
             Friday, March 27th.
         ○ Conversely, the following Friday, completed student work will be
             dropped off at the Appleton and Milan locations and new materials
             may be picked up. Please note the following dates:
                 ■ Friday, April 3~note Spring Break occurs during this time
                 ■ Friday, April 17
                 ■ Friday, April 24
                 ■ Friday, May 1
  ●   Most classroom teachers have created an online Distance Learning Platform
      they will be using to supplement the paper packets that will be distributed to
      each child on Mondays of each week. Your child’s teacher has been in
      contact with students & guardians in their classrooms to find out who has
      access to the internet and an electronic device for learning (Chromebook,
      iPad, laptop, etc.)
         ○ Please know that electronic materials are supplemental and will
             enhance your child’s learning.
         ○ If you have an older sibling in your household who attends school in
             the 5-12 building, using their Chromebook as a great option.

●   Specialist Teachers will be sending home school work relating to art, music,
       and PE along with the teacher packets. If you have internet access, these
       teachers will also be posting academic work on their webpages.
   ●   Special Education Teachers will be connecting with students on their
       caseloads on a one-to-one basis.
   ●   Please remember that Distance Learning will look different at each grade
       level. If you have specific questions, please connect with your child’s
       teacher.

Attendance:

   ●   Teachers will track student attendance on a daily basis using a variety of
       methods:
          ○ BLOOMZ responses
          ○ Google classroom/Hangouts/Voice
          ○ Email
          ○ Zoom
          ○ Facebook
          ○ Phone/Text
          ○ Wonders2020
          ○ Paper packet responses
   ●   Teachers will take attendance to the best of their abilities using the above
       formats knowing they may need to adjust attendance once paper packets are
       returned the following week demonstrating that students have completed
       their Distance Learning Plan (DLP) work.

Assessment:

   ●   Students will be graded on the paper packet work or electronic work they
       complete and return to their teacher.
   ●   Please see specific guidelines from your child’s teacher as each grade level
       will have different forms of learning to meet their students’ needs.
   ●   All grades will use a pass/fail system.
   ●   Note: Any paper packets that are returned should have a parent signature.

Time​~​Here are a few guidelines:
   ●   K-2:

○   English Language Arts: 20-30 minutes
         ○   Math: 20-30 minutes
         ○   Social Studies/Science Rotation: 20-25 minutes
         ○   Art, Music, PE, Library: Limitless!
         ○   Other activities: independent reading, board games, etc.
  ●   3-4:
         ○   English Language Arts: 40-50 minutes
         ○   Math: 30-40 minutes
         ○   Social Studies/Science Rotation: 25-30 minutes
         ○   Art, Music, PE, Library: Limitless!
         ○   Other activities: handwriting, independent reading, board games, etc.

Meals:

  ●   LqPV is offering breakfast and lunch to all students. Those meals are free of
      charge to every child.
  ●   If you have yet to register for these meals, go to the LqPV web page at
      www.lqpv.org​, scroll down on the home page, and click on “Breakfast/Lunch
      Sign-Up”.
  ●   Meals can be picked up daily at the following locations between 7:30-8:30
      am.
          ○ A-M Elementary in Appleton (east side of the building)
          ○ GMI Building in Milan (parking lot)
  ●   If families are not able to pick up meals at the provided locations, there is a
      place on the “Breakfast/Lunch Sign-Up” form that allows families to request
      meals be delivered directly to their home.

                     How to be a Distance Learning Student

         ○   Make a schedule for your day
         ○   Keep a routine
         ○   Ask questions
         ○   Connect with peers/friends
         ○   Being honest when completing school work

                            How to be a Distance Learning Parent

         ○   Create a quiet homework space

○   Monitor/support student progress
○   Encourage your child to complete their work to the best of their abilities