[TNS-list] Windows for Changing to Blended Learning Program

[Dyanthe Spielberg]

Dear Families,



Earlier this week, I wrote to share that the DoE had changed its policy
from quarterly opt-ins to only one opt-in period for the entire school
year. This was new information for all of us.



Our School Leadership Team, a group made up of elected parents, teachers,
and me, have agreed that we will offer families two additional times (as
originally promised by the DoE) to make the shift from remote-only to
blended: after February Mid-Winter Break and after April Spring Break.  We
believe that this will support families to reach decisions for their unique
circumstances and also keep the number of in-person students low at a time
when COVID rates are rising.



We are able to offer additional opt-in periods because we intentionally
created classes so that students and teachers stay together, regardless of
remote-only or blended choices.  In a time of so much uncertainty and
anxiety, we believe that these relationships and classroom communities
ground all of us - children, families, and teachers.  (As students shift to
blended learning, many children around the city will have new teachers and
students in their classes, but not at TNS.)  This is only possible because
our teachers are working beyond their union’s contract expectations and
many are teaching both remotely and in-person.



At this point in time, we have two cohorts (A and B) that are
blended/in-person. Please remember that if a large number of our all-remote
students opt into the blended program, there is a good chance that we would
need to switch from a two-cohort model to a three-cohort model school-wide.
This would mean that in-person students would be divided into three cohorts
and attend school for 1 to 2 days per week (instead of the current 2 to 3
days per week).



If you would like to request that your child move from 100% remote to
blended learning beginning the weeks of November 30 - December 7, you must
complete and submit the Learning Preference Survey
<https://www.nycenet.edu/surveys/learningpreference> between Monday,
November 2 – Sunday, November 15.



We will be hosting a Town Hall on Thursday, November 5 at 4 p.m. to explain
the process of opting into blended learning in 2021. We will also share
building and safety updates at that time.



Sincerely,

Dyanthe



-- 

tnsny.org
DSpielberg at schools.nyc.gov
Preferred pronouns: *she, her, hers*
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