Mid-August Update

Dear Mitchell Families,

 

We hope this finds you and your family safe and well! We also hope that summer vacation has brought a mix of relaxation, fun and memorable moments. We look forward to hearing about those moments and seeing all of you, albeit virtually, in the very near future. 

 

As we look forward to the launch of the new school year, we recognize that you most likely have many questions, many concerns and many hopes for this new year. 

 

Our intent in communicating now is to share the details of our back to school plan for the 2020-21 school year. Our hope is that we can begin to address some of your questions, concerns and hopes while working collaboratively with you and the Mitchell staff to make this a year of excellence – whether it be virtually or in-person. To that end, we read this quote the other day: 

 

"Sometimes you never know the value of a moment, until it becomes a memory." 

 

We share this in recognition of the challenges ahead, but also in recognition of the strength of our community and the ways in which we work together to support our Mitchell kids and families. We will do this together and do it well! 

 

If you have not yet read the update from Superintendent Swift, we encourage you do so and have linked it for you.

 

Additionally, Dr. Swift has created a video that speaks directly to the elementary level and we have linked it for you as well.

 

We've gotten a number of great questions from our community, and we are addressing them below for everyone. The information below also includes a summary of the August 5 update (linked above) from Dr. Swift. 

 

Finally, you should have received an enrollment link from K12 Insight to choose an option for your child. This choice is due at the end of the day on Friday, August 14. 

 

What are the three options for Learning?

• A2 Student Link (PK-12^th)– This option provides a fully virtual experience for families and will remain fully virtual through at least the end of the first semester. Students will stay connected to their neighborhood school and be taught by a Mitchell teacher.
• A2 Classroom Connect (PK-12^th)– While this option will begin with a fully virtual experience, the intent of this option is to migrate back to an in-school, hybrid setting when it's safe. The hybrid setting will have kids attending some days in-person and some days virtually. Students will stay connected to their neighborhood school and be taught by a Mitchell teacher.
• A2 Virtual Academy – (Y5-12^th)A self-paced, independent learning option. Students complete coursework independently and at their own pace, receive teacher feedback, guidance and assistance as needed. Please know this option is disconnected from Mitchell school, there is no IB curriculum and there is little live instruction.

 What is the difference between A2 Classroom Connect and A2 Student Link?

• The primary difference is if parents plan on having students return to in-person learning, they should choose A2 Classroom Connect. If parents plan to stay home and continue virtual learning, then A2 Student Link is the better option. 
•  Dr. Swift Video Explanation

What will the weekly schedule be like? 

• Students will attend asynchronous and synchronous instruction on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday. This means kids will log in at designated times for lessons and course work. 
•  On Wednesdays, students will complete asynchronous learning activities and enrichments. Additionally, students can choose to take classes from Rec & Ed free of charge. 

If I choose A2 Virtual Academy, will I lose my acceptance as a schools-of-choice or in-district transfer student at Mitchell? 

• No. As long as families choose one of the three AAPS options and do not enroll elsewhere, you are still considered an AAPS student and may return to Mitchell.

When does school start? 

• The first day of school is Tuesday, September 8. Please know the following about the virtual launch of our school year:
  

o  Week of August 31– This is a week of "onboarding" for virtual learning. This might include technology distribution, internet connectivity support and Schoology training.

o  Week of September 7– Labor Day is on September 7^thand we will launch the school year on Tuesday, September 8 with kids. This will be a modified week with shortened days. Kids will attend school in the mornings with the afternoons set aside for continued onboarding activities. 

o  Week of September 14– This week will begin full days of instruction. 

o  I'll share more details as I have them. 

 

How will the IB work be integrated into virtual learning? 

• Planning is underway for the integration of the IB Learning Profile and our IB Units of Inquiry into a virtual school year. Teachers will continue to utilize the learner profile, teach the skills and attitudes of being an IB learner, and engage students in inquiry lessons and activities. While it might look a bit different in a virtual setting, we do expect that students will continue to ask questions, seek answers, reflect on what they've learned and take action to improve the world around them. 

Going forward, we will be communicating more frequently and posting updates to the Mitchell School News site. As always, we are happy to talk with you and/or correspond via email. 

 

Stay safe and be well,
Matt & Alison