Canton middle and high schools prep for all-in return

The Canton School Committee last week received a positive report from administrators about the first few days of all-in learning at the elementary level and also received confirmation of starting dates for both the Galvin Middle School (April 15) and Canton High School (April 28).

At the three elementary schools, K-2 students returned for full in-person classes on March 23 and grades 3-5 made their return on March 30.

Deb Rooney, PreK-8 director of teaching and learning, said the focus for the first few days is for students from both cohort A and B to meet and connect with one another. Assistant Superintendent Derek Folan described the experience of returning for full days as an “absolute joy,” noting “great teamwork, commitment and energy” from teachers and staff as well as excitement from students. Superintendent Dr. Jennifer Fischer-Mueller and Folan also voiced appreciation for local health and safety officials for coordinating safety protocols. They also highlighted the significant effort that staff and administrators put into organizing classrooms and lunches. School Business Administrator Barry Nectow noted that most elementary classrooms were able to exceed three feet of distancing between desks with seats at lunch spaced six feet apart. Nectow also reported that bus transportation went smoothly on March 30.

In other elementary news, Folan reported that before-school music lessons were due to resume April 5 and pooled testing for JFK grade 2 was scheduled to start on April 6. Nectow said tents were installed on the grounds of the elementary schools and can be used to extend teaching and learning outside and for lunch.

At GMS, April 12 and 13 are designated as staff preparation days and there will be no school for all students. April 14 will be the last remote Wednesday with students returning for full school days beginning Thursday, April 15. GMS Principal Sarah Shannon hosted a webinar for parents to discuss the all-in program and it can be viewed online. Shannon reported that 15 students changed their enrollment status from the Remote Learning Pathway to the all-in program and two students switched to the RLP program.

At the high school, while the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education has confirmed that a full day must consist of 5.5 hours of in-person learning, CHS Principal David Turcotte said he is not waiting for DESE to set a return date. Instead he set Wednesday, April 28, as the first day of all-in learning at CHS with April 26 and 27 designated as staff professional development days. The school hours beginning April 28 will be 8 a.m. to 2:29 p.m., five days per week. Turcotte said students will follow a modified version of the 2019-20 CHS schedule. He expects a net gain of nearly 50 students for the all-in learning program and also expects an overwhelming majority of remote staff to return on or before April 26. Lunch plans are being developed for both indoor and outdoor seating. Turcotte said his greatest challenge ahead will be logistical planning for the upcoming MCAS exams on May 3-4 (ELA) and May 17-18 (math) …

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Posted by Mike Berger on Apr 9 2021. Filed under News, Schools. Both comments and pings are currently closed.