UPDATE!!
Due to the continuing rise of COVID-19, it has been decided that Darrell Lynn Hines Academy will continue Virtual Learning until further notice for the safety of our students and staff. Thank you for your cooperation. (Updated: 11/2/2020)
August 28, 2020
Dear DLHA Families,
I am writing to provide you with an update of the COVID-19 pandemic as it relates to instructional activities at Darrell Lynn Hines Academy. First, I want to thank you for entrusting to our care the education of your children. They are assets to our school community, and their health, safety, and well-being are very important to us! I also want to thank all of the parents/families who were able to respond to the Parent Reopening Survey which aided in considerations made for reopening processes.
It is our hope that students are back in school as soon as possible! We understand the importance and significance of our student’s education. We are moving to do everything possible to see that our students return in a safe and responsible fashion. As such, we are using and relying upon the recommendations of stakeholders such as the CDC and the Milwaukee Health Department to guide our efforts in decisions concerning the opening of school.
Currently, districts have been advised that instruction can move between three models (in-person, hybrid, or virtual) using a decision matrix of health indicators and attendance.
In an effort to ensure a safe, strategic reopening transition for all students, families, and staff members, we have decided to offer a 100% virtual instruction model for the start of the 2020-2021 school year as the first phase of our reopening plan.
As the risk of the spread of Covid-19 is minimized, and all safety measures are securely in place and approved, we will move to phase two of reopening. The start-up and hybrid model are briefly described below.
Our Virtual start-up model: (completely virtual)—all students will receive all necessary resources to participate in preparation for virtual learning. We will provide computers and supplies to ensure students have what they need to be successful within a virtual setting. We will host onboarding parent sessions to ensure everyone understands the virtual learning expectations and has the necessary information to remain connected to school activities and student needs and progress.
Phase two of reopening: (hybrid model)—students participate in face to face instruction two consecutive days per week and participate in virtual activities and independent practice, three days a week (one day a week designated for mid-week deep cleaning).
The first day of online instruction will be Tuesday, September 1. Please be on the lookout for more information about virtual learning soon! Though we have every intention of moving to phase two of our reopening plan early on, currently, we do not have a specific reopen date for in-person instruction. As soon as the Milwaukee Health Department and CDC provides guidelines that determine it is safe to move to the hybrid or face-to-face model, DLH Academy families can be assured that they will be alerted and that we will continue to keep everyone abreast of all new developments as they occur.
Thank you again for partnering with us. We have worked extensively these past few weeks in training our teachers and preparing for virtual instruction. We have learned a great deal about this process and have some awesome online tools to ensure our students are continuing their learning. We are grateful that our families are also aware of some of these online programs already, so that it should be an easy transition for our students to navigate. We look forward to the start of another successful school year this fall! Please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns. Stay safe and be well.
Sincerely,
Lois Fletcher
Principal