Board Approves Shift to Temporary Online Learning Model

Pretty Black Girl Playing on Tablet ComputerThe Johnston School Board held a special meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 10 to address how we, as a district, should proceed with safely educating our students as COVID positivity, quarantine, and absence rates rise among students and staff. They approved a recommendation to shift to remote (online) learning for grades 6-12 to begin on Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2020 and grades PreK-5 beginning on Friday, Nov. 13, 2020.  A waiver will be submitted to the Department of Education to seek approval for a temporary online learning model from Nov. 16 through Nov. 24, 2020.

For Students in Grades PreK-5

  • Wednesday, Nov. 11 and Thursday, Nov. 12, students will attend school in-person with on-site learning (if applicable). Both days are 3-hour early outs.
  • Friday, Nov. 13 will be an at-home, online learning day in an asynchronous model (no live teacher instruction and students will complete work/assignments independently).
  • Monday, Nov. 16 will be their first at-home, fully online day with synchronous, teacher-led instruction through Zoom class calls, small group Zooms, and guided learning.
  • As a reminder, the district shifted elementary learning management systems at the quarter. Calvert Learning is no longer used and all instruction is delivered through Seesaw, a tool our elementary students (and many families) are familiar with. The additional guidance from teachers aid in delivery and instruction.
  • Teachers will be sending a schedule of the week’s Zoom calls and learning by Sunday evening. Whole group sessions and instruction will be recorded and available to watch, should a student not be able to attend in person.
  • Please refer to the Elementary Temporary Remote Online Learning Document for questions and specifics related to online learning.

For Students in Grades 6-12

  • Wednesday, Nov. 11 and Thursday, Nov. 12, will be at-home, online learning days in an asynchronous model (no live teacher instruction and students will complete work/assignments independently).
  • Friday, Nov. 13 will be their first at-home, fully online day with synchronous, teacher-led instruction. Students will utilize their current procedure for retrieving the weekly lesson plan for their work.
  • If students are participating in concurrent enrollment courses, they will follow the guidelines set forth by DMACC.
  • As a reminder, when we are in temporary online learning utilizing the DE Waiver (11/16/2020 – 11/24/2020) there are no activities or practices allowed, including sporting events.
  • Please refer to Secondary Temporary Remote Online Learning Document questions and specifics related to online learning.

Meal Pick Ups

In the interim of our temporary shift online, our Nutrition Department will continue providing free meals to any Johnston student who wants them while they are learning remotely. Each student will receive a meal bundle of 5 breakfasts and 5 lunches for the week.

As school finishes out this week, secondary students who have requested meals will be sent home with a 3-pack of breakfasts/lunches for the remainder of the week; elementary students who have requested meals will get their 1-pack of meals sent home with them on Thursday.

We will offer FREE Grab-n-Go Curbside Meals at the following dates/times:

  • Monday, Nov. 16 from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at Beaver Creek Elementary (KTC entrance) and the Johnston High School north/auditorium entrance.
  • Wednesday, Nov. 18 from 4-5 p.m. at Beaver Creek Elementary (KTC entrance) and the Johnston High School north/auditorium entrance.
  • Monday, Nov. 23 from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at Beaver Creek Elementary (KTC entrance) and the Johnston High School north/auditorium entrance.

We hope this helps while students are learning remotely. No identification is needed to pick up meal bundles while we have temporarily moved online. Please contact the JCSD Nutrition Department at 515-278-0278 if you need meals for this week.

Ongoing Health Metrics

We are actively monitoring the positivity rate in Polk County and health metrics in our own district. If you have a child who tests positive, please contact their school to let them know. This helps us keep a pulse on community spread here in Johnston and what this may mean for our safe return to learning.

As November 30 approaches, we will be communicating with our families on how we will return, any additional mitigations steps put in place, or other necessary information.