Mrs. Terwill Suarez Tomino
I am writing to inquire about curriculum guidelines the teachers will be given. How will hybrid lessons be presented? Will there be a recording device to allow students at home to participate with the other students and teacher that are physically in class?

There was a spectrum this past spring of instructional methods. My child had a teacher in One of my child’s core classes that created presentations via loom or screencastify and held live q&a. My child had another teacher whom taught synchronous classes and offered live help.

On the other hand, there was a particular teacher that seemed to just cut and paste her own teacher plans onto the LMS she chose to use. Part of her materials described teacher materials, curriculum notes and in class hands on activities/objects. That made me think she did absolutely nothing to adapt for 100% remote instruction. Assignments and zoom links were sometime sent at the same time they were due or at the same minute the kids were supposed to log into zoom. This was an honors class. This was unacceptable. Due to the teacher’s lack of live availability and excessive amounts of busy work assignments, that were noted as classwork objectives, my child received a grade that didn’t reflect the amount of time and effort they put into the class. There were too many hoops and obstacles for the students to maneuver including an unreasonable amount of limited time for assignment completion. Each assignment read like a never ending webquest that was more suitable as sub lesson plans. Nothing was actually taught for the last three months of school.

Another core class was khan academy videos. Just videos and practice problems. No actual teaching. I understand the quick turn around and the time consuming process of providing devices for all students but when you have students ready to go and those kids having nothing to do I it felt was a waste of time. Lost momentum. Especially with the honors and preAP classes. If it wasn’t videos and self- teaching it was endless handouts. Popping a video up with a handout is not teaching.

I know many schools and teachers who were able to adapt within a month or so but for my child the lack of teacher prep got worse and worse instead of better. One teacher I repeatedly emailed replied To me stating my child still had 2 years to pick their grade point average up. Unless this quarter is wiped from the record books their grade point average will suffer. My child had a 4.0. so far this year because of the class weights. It might seem like oh no first world problems but I’m really hoping my child earns some scholarships to pay for college. For a teacher to send that in writing left me with the impression that this teacher was indifferent and didn’t really care about her students’ successes or failures. I felt their was no reflection on her part in how the eoy had looked like for herself and for the students. I feel all teachers have the responsibility to provide every opportunity for student success. I would NEVER negate a parent that way I felt I was by the response I received. I would hope a fellow teacher would consider all factors before standing by her alleged adapted curriculum for 100% remote instruction.

If the plan continues to be hybrid or 100% remote I want not only student expectations but I also want to know clear expectations, objectives and curriculum guideline teachers are to follow. I don’t expect written in stone syllabi but a flexible timeline would be helpful. Our families deserve that. My child did have teachers in the spring that were prepared and provided a look ahead with a tentative schedule of events.

I do want to thank the teachers, staff and administrators who did care to provide quality remote services on the fly. I hope your opening plan doesn’t fail my child or any of the other kids in the district. I know many teachers who busted their butt to pick up right where f2f instruction stopped. It’s a shame a few too many teachers at colonial sd missed the memo.

In defense of colonial school teachers,  I also don’t think teachers should be asked to put their own health on the line when asked to be f2f four days a week and making contact with hundreds of kids a week. Sick teachers can’t work either. Hospitalized teachers can’t work either. Teachers are public servants but not front line workers. Let’s get 100% remote learning at a top academic level before throwing things in the air to teach in hybrid mode. I know research states kids need SEL but at what cost? Philly is 100% remote. Not sure why colonial isn’t following the lead of the largest school district in the state.

I appreciate the time you took to read this email.

 

Rebecca Lederer
For all virtual plan, will students be taught by teachers at their school or will it be a district wide virtual program where the students will all be taught the same curriculum?

 

Michelle Renneisen
I have a son that will be in 10th at PWHS and another son that will be in 2nd grade at Ridge Park this upcoming school year.

First I would like to say thank you to Dr. Christian and the board for all the work you put into planning this upcoming school year. I wouldn't want to be in your shoes during this whole situation. Dr. Christian, I think you are a saint with the way you are dealing with all the questions us parents have. I have watched the previous meetings on youtube that dealt with the reopening of schools and while I hoping that our district will still do the hybrid model (that's what I signed my boys up for), upcoming meeting that it looks like it won't be a reality just yet.

So I do have questions.

How much of the virtual learning will be live via Zoom or other platforms?

My husband and I both are essential workers that have to work out of the home. During the Spring, our older son was able to help our younger son with logging on to assignments or Zoom meetings when he needed help for the most part but if he has live online classes he has to attend to my younger son may not be able to get on his classes...so my question here is...Will all live classes be taped in some form so students can log on to them later if they cannot get on to them live for one reason or another (whether it be helping a sibling out or even a power outage)?

Finally, will there be some kind of check-in with the students and/or parents to see how their emotional/mental well-being is during virtual learning? I'm asking this because my 2nd grader had meltdowns almost on a daily basis during the Spring semester at home (he has high anxiety) and being home was not only stressful on him but on everyone in our house when the meltdowns occurred as it is hard being at work all day and then coming home to him having meltdowns because he doesn't want to do school work online (one of the reasons I chose hybrid for him).

Thank you for your time and I'm sorry if you answered these questions before...again I would not want to be in your shoes right now.

Becky Hahn
I just had a quick question regarding the 100% virtual option. Would this pertain to our k-5 kids as well?  I know we are all aware these kids tend have the most difficulty with online curriculum and wasn’t sure if it would be possible to spread these kids out throughout the district and allow them at least a couple days in person instruction? My son has an IEP for learning disability and we are specifically concerned how he will proceed in the virtual forum or if in person would be a possibility.

Thank you for the time and all your hard work especially in the last few months. There is no perfect solution and we appreciate your time.