— from Eric Webb, Orcas Schools Superintendent —
Although it is our desire to have all of our children back on campus in September as we have in the past, the current state of the pandemic calls for student instruction to be creatively restructured. Our goal is to offer authentic learning opportunities while placing the health and safety of our students, their families, OISD staff, and our greater Orcas Island community first. This goal led to the formation of the OISD Safe Return to School Steering Committee.
Work groups of parents, staff, and community members came together at the request of the steering committee to brainstorm and research instructional models and schedules with an emphasis on elementary children participating in in-person instruction on campus. Draft models and schedules have been compiled and will be presented to the OISD Safe Return to School Steering Committee this Friday, July 17. Plans will be released to the public next week, once approved.
Parents of elementary students will have scheduling formats from which to choose based on their unique needs. Older students will participate in a hybrid model consisting of a combination of in-person and online instruction. Students of all ages will also have the option to enroll in OISD’s top-rated OASIS program.
Regardless of what is to come, I can assure you that school will be in session in September.
Take care of one another and be well.
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