Dear North Penn Families,
Further information regarding the hybrid return to school for later this month is ready for your review. Students electing hybrid instruction will be scheduled into two groups that will allow for smaller class size and appropriate social distancing of 6 feet.
- Group A will be eligible to attend school on Monday and Wednesday.
- Group B will be eligible to attend school on Tuesday and Thursday.
- Group A and B will alternate eligibility for attendance on Fridays. Classes on Fridays will be dismissed two hours early in order for teachers to have additional preparation time. (Important: Regular school hours will be held on Friday, 10/30. Two-hour early dismissals as mentioned above will begin on Friday, 11/4.)
When students are not receiving in-person instruction, they will be at home and lessons will be livestreamed from the classroom to their Chromebook. Students who choose 100 percent virtual instruction will also participate in the same manner on all days of the week.
We have received some questions regarding the fluidity of our plan, meaning whether or how easily students can switch back and forth between hybrid and virtual. Students who select hybrid may remain home and learn virtually at any time if they are not feeling well, may be apprehensive about attending in person for any reason, etc. Students who select virtual instruction will be able to switch to hybrid only if and when we determine there is physical capacity within a classroom to add students and maintain proper social distancing. We are developing a process for this request.
Our intention is that our hybrid/virtual model will remain in place until it can be expanded to permit students to attend in person more frequently. Though some surrounding school districts are assigning end dates for their hybrid instruction, we would rather stay flexible and determine this date when conditions support a change.
Please understand that because of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) needs of our staff, not all teachers are able to return to the classroom for in person instruction at this time and therefore some will continue to instruct from home. This means that there is a chance that students taught by those teachers could be reassigned to a different teacher or their teacher may not be present in the classroom on in person days. In these situations, another adult will supervise in person students. As we work through the logistics surrounding these requested staff leaves and accommodations, it is not possible at this time to communicate which classes may be impacted.
Before we can assign your child’s hybrid group, you must complete a form online indicating your preference between hybrid and 100 percent virtual for each of your students. We need this form completed by Monday, October 12, 2020 at 8 p.m. A link to the form can be found in the original email sent by the North Penn School District on October 7, 2020. To view the form in another language, right click on the page, select translate and your desired language.
A Return to School Guide has been prepared to help answer the questions you may have. View the Return to School Guide. We have also produced a video that explains the technology being used as well. A link to the form can be found in the original email sent by the North Penn School District on October 7, 2020.
As a reminder you can view a detailed School Reopening Timeline.
We look forward to seeing you soon. Take care and stay North Penn Strong.
Curtis R. Dietrich, Ed.D.
Superintendent