Dear Medway community,
We are missing our students and hoping you and they continue to be well during this unsettling time. My apologies for the lengthy emails. We are doing our best to consolidate information into a common space. The purpose of this email is to introduce the Remote Learning Plan of the Medway Public Schools.
Recently, I shared with you that the Commissioner of Education, Jeffrey Riley, from the Department of Elementary Secondary Education provided guiding principles in support of school districts’ work to shift from “enrichment / enhancement (optional) learning experiences” for students, to required remote learning - to deepen student understanding of previously learned content and to engage in new learning with all students. Commissioner Riley recently published a letter to families regarding the shift to remote learning. His letter can be found here.
Key to the success of a true remote learning model and of high priority to our colleagues across the district is the establishment of systems of support for our most vulnerable learners - our students with disabilities, english language development needs, and students who come from economic disadvantage. Our work over the last weeks has been anchored in connection, wellness and continued learning in our heads, and coordinating a plan for remote learning for ALL of our students - especially our most vulnerable - in our hearts.
We are incredibly proud of the optional, alternative / enhancement learning plans that our educators across the district have designed for students over the last two+ weeks. While you may not see a significant shift in the learning plans that will be shared with you and our students, beginning Monday, April 13, we are aiming to improve upon the work that we have engaged in, in the following, important ways:
- Enhanced coordination between and among educators and service providers.
- Increased clarity regarding a structure for learning in this way
- Clarity of support for educators to offer feedback/assessment of student progress and communication of this progress
- Decreased / more intentialized ‘screen time
We have ambitious goals for success AND, given the current circumstances and our lack of experience in this unfamiliar educational frame, we are expecting to make mistakes, learn from them, and adjust. Our current situation has forced us to try something different in support of our students. We know this transition is going to be challenging to navigate for quite some time. We remain steadfast in our commitment to connection, wellness, and continued learning and even take these to the next level during this pivot to required remote learning; our students deserve nothing less.
In the following pages, please find a detailed, comprehensive explanation of Medway Public School’s Remote Learning Plan. There are many details, interactive links, guidelines, and structures to support your understanding of this important district work. While we recognize that school closures right now are through May 3, we have developed this plan with some expectation that school closures will persist beyond May 3.
Please know that we have done our best to develop a plan to meet the needs of our students. We expect that there will be challenges. We encourage you to connect with our teachers and building-based leaders to problem solve these challenges. Please continue to reach out to them in patience and partnership throughout this next phase.
Thank you again for your trust, encouragement, and continued support of our work. Our whole Medway community remains concerned for everyone’s wellness and safety. You are in our thoughts as we navigate these challenges together and work to care for our own health and well-being and the continued health and well-being of others.
Sincerely,
Armand Pires, Ph.D.
Superintendent of Schools