SEPTEMBER 11, 2020, KEIZERTIMES, PAGE A3
For elementary students, up to three
hours online and family check-ins
BY MATT RAWLINGS
Of the Keizertimes
Salem-Keizer elementary
schools will offi cially start
their comprehensive distance
learning on Tuesday, Sept. 15.
After spending the last several
months planning for online
learning, the district has laid
out what parents and student
should expect school days to
look like.
“These are our best laid
plans. But we know that,
down the road, we might
need to adjust based on what
the needs are,” said Heidi Li-
tchfi eld, one of the directors
of elementary education for
Salem Keizer Public Schools
(SKPS).
Tuesday through Friday,
elementary students will start
the day with live sessions of
teacher-facilitated, applied
learning. For a minimum
of 60-90 minutes — and a
maximum of three hours —
teachers will work with their
students on a variety of dif-
ferent topics, including: read-
ing, writing, social emotional
learning, English language
development and math.
Students will also be par-
ticipating in either a music
or physical education session
has missed class or doesn’t
every day.
“We didn’t want the kids have access to certain materi-
to be at the computer for six als, those kids would be at the
hours per day. There need- top of the list of priorities for
ed to be boundaries around teacher engagement.
“We assume it’s going
the amount of time applied
to be a little
learning took
bit bumpy at
place,” Litch-
fi rst,” Litch-
fi eld said.
fi eld said.
Litchfield
Each Mon-
also said that
day will be a
teachers can
student sup-
personalize
port day. No
schedules, so
synchronous
while
each
learning will
instructor will
take
place
have a certain
on Mondays.
list of expecta-
Instead, stu-
tions that they
dents will be
are required to
working in-
meet, the spe-
dependently,
cifi cs of sched-
ules will vary
— Heidi Litchfi eld but there will
target-
from school
SKPS director of be
ed,
in-person
to school and
elementary education
small
group
class to class.
instruction
For
ap-
that
takes
prox.60
to
place.
90
minutes
From now until mid-Oc-
per day, on Tuesday through
Friday, students will also be tober, the small group in-
working on assignments re- struction will be designated
lated to live sessions, either for special education students
independently, or with the in a one-on-one classroom
help of their teacher or in- environment.
“For September, we’re
structional assistant. Addi-
tionally, at least for the month focusing on kids who can’t
of September, teachers will access online instruction
also hold family check-ins without support,” Litchfi eld
said. “There is also testing for
four days per week
“It’s just to make sure fam- SPED students that has to be
ilies are connecting and get- done in person.”
The district also plans to
ting access to our systems and
to make sure families are do- have music and P.E lessons
ing ok,” Litchfi eld said. “We on Mondays.
Starting in October, after
want teachers to use this time
to listen to the needs of the gathering assessment infor-
mation, the district is hoping
children and parents,”
The priorities for teacher to use Mondays as in-person
check-ins are based on school small group time for those in
engagement, so if a student need of support — in-person
“These are
our best laid
plans. But
we know
that, down
the road, we
might need
to adjust.”
groups are likely to be fi ve
people or less.
“Everyone gets the same
scoop of ice cream Tuesdays
through Fridays. Mondays are
for the kids that need an extra
scoop,” Litchfi eld said.
Over the last week, schools
have been scheduling times to
either retrieve personal items,
or to pick up items needed
for school. During this time,
each elementary student will
pick up a mass workbook for
their classes.
Parents and students also
have access to HomeCoach,
an online support system the
district is offering to answer
parent and student questions,
as well as give access to train-
ing and give technical assis-
tance.
“HomeCoach is there to
make sure parents have ac-
cess to all kids or training and
technical support. We will
continue to add things to it as
the year goes on,” Litchfi eld
said.
“This is new to all of us, so
we just need to work as hard
as we can to support each
other.”
KT on staycation
Submitted photo
Dennis and Theresa Spencer celebrated their 51st anniversary
August 30 at home in backyard having a barbecue. You too
can have your photo in the Keizertimes. Simply take the paper
to your destination, snap a picture with you and your group
holding it, and send the photo along with everyone’s fi rst and
last names to kt@keizertimes.com.
Orientation for kinder students Sept. 14-18
During the week of Sep-
tember 14-18, kindergarten
students will be invited to an
in-person meeting with their
teacher to learn important
kindergarten information, get
answers to their questions, and
do a short in-person assess-
ment to get ready for the year.
Teachers are excited to
meet their new students and
are committed to making
kindergarten a wonderful be-
ginning of a student’s school
experience.
In addition to the in-per-
son visit, Kindergarten stu-
dents will have opportunities
to connect with school per-
sonnel during the week but
this week will have a modifi ed
schedule to allow teachers and
staff to meet every student
and their parent/guardian at
the school in individual ap-
puzzle answers
pointments.
Schools will follow all
physical distancing guidelines
to ensure that these visits are
done in the safest way possible
and they are a good experi-
ence for our students and their
parent. Face coverings are re-
quired for any in-school visits.
You can access more infor-
mation about Kindergarten,
including videos and FAQs,
on the HomeCoach page
of the Salem Keizer Public
Schools website.
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These Salem-Keizer houses of worship invite you to visit. Call to list your church in our Worship Directory: (503) 390-1051
KEIZER COMMUNITY CHURCH
380 Churchdale Ave N (1 block West of Dutch Bros)
503 -393 - 0222 • KeizerCommunityChurch.com
SUNDAY:
Sermons can be found online at
www.keizercommunitychurch.com
WEDNESDAY:
6:30 pm Awana; Youth Group; Adults
www.KeizerChristian.org