Principal Madden’s Update — November 11, 2020
Dear Caregivers,
I hope you are doing O.K. I know these are incredibly challenging times.
I wanted to send an update about the School Committee vote on Monday, November 9. The School Committee voted to approve a full-day hybrid model for our school. I have included a link to the article in the Hampshire Gazette about the meeting, if you are interested.
https://www.gazettenet.com/Northampton-school-committee-talks-about-hybrid-plan-37241619
Timelines
• The K/1 students will not start in person services until November 30.
• 2/3 in person students will begin on December 14.
• 4/5 in person students will begin on January 4.
K/1 teachers will have only asynchronous learning on November 23 and 24 in order to prepare classroom spaces. At each grade level increase, teachers will get two days to prepare classroom spaces.
I am meeting with Special Education faculty this Friday and will be in touch about how the hybrid plan might affect your child’s special education services and schedule.
I will have a Town Hall for caregivers on Tuesday, November 17 at 6:00.
Meeting ID: 922 6792 7035
Passcode: 176596
Parents will have to decide by November 20 (call or email me) if you want to change your mind about what you already chose about your children being remote or in-person.
I also wanted to reassure all of you that none of our students will be switching teachers during the hybrid model. Some of you have contacted me with worries about that.
I also wanted say that I had no idea that I was going to be asked to present the administration’s hybrid plan at that School Committee meeting. Andrea Egitto (NASE president and kindergarten teacher here) didn’t know she was going to be asked to present the other plan either, and it was unfortunate the way it forced us to be on “sides” like that. Andrea and I get along quite well, and my job is to support you, your children, and the teachers and staff, and I aim to continue to do just that, no matter what challenges we face. I am meeting with staff and listening to what is troubling to them so that we can problem-solve around those issues. I can share some of our thinking on Tuesday at the Town Hall. I have no doubts that our school community can address hybrid learning with the same zest and creativity that we have with the remote learning.
Thank you for your continued patience and communication.
Sarah Madden
Principal