TIME TO MAKE DECISIONS ABOUT THE FALL - FAMILY CHOICE
- Mrs. Denise Griffin, CEO
- Jul 14, 2020
- 6 min read
This time is so crazy and unpredictable for every family in the world. Everyone is trying to decide what the right thing is to do for their families as schools are planning for the return in the fall. At last night's Board meeting, Encore adopted the COVID plan for this school year that includes a variety of logistics to put into place based on the ever changing guidelines from the CDC and the CDE. Over the next three weeks, Encore's staff will be reaching out to every family to get an answer to how you want to attend school in the fall. Your response is critical to Encore working to implement the "first choice" plan for Encore. The plan is called "Family Choice." This is subject to change based on guidelines and population limits, but Encore is going to press on with the "Family Choice Plan" for now.
School resumes in exactly two months from today.
SCHOOL STARTS ON SEPTEMBER 14, 2020.
JUNIOR HIGH - For Junior High there are three days of orientation on September 9 - 11. During this time you will meet your teachers, get important safety training about Encore, learn the campus if you are on the traditional or hybrid programs, and get your assigned Chromebook for the new school year. Orientation will be held both remotely and on campus from 9 am to 12 noon so all students can participate. You can get a copy of the current school calendar for junior high by clicking here. https://79c4c1e6-2822-4e0d-83ad-f6c529258476.filesusr.com/ugd/331cc4_abde134d78e14aa3b5150766718df925.pdf
HIGH SCHOOL - For new High School students, there is one day of orientation on September 11. During this time you will learn about the campus if you are on the traditional or hybrid programs and be able to meet with your high school counselors. This will be done both remotely and on campus from 9 am to 12 noon so all new students can participate. You can get a copy of the current school calendar for high school by clicking here.https://79c4c1e6-2822-4e0d-83ad-f6c529258476.filesusr.com/ugd/331cc4_ba5e2114302246afbdb28fc46af14029.pdf
ENCORE'S BELL SCHEDULE HAS CHANGED - Working ahead of pace for the state of California's law that goes into effect for the 21/22 school year, Encore has reworked the bell schedule for this fall. Encore's school day starts at 8:00 am with nutrition and academic tutoring at this time. The first class of the day starts at 8:25 am. You can see the new bell schedule by clicking https://www.encorehighschool.com/20-21-bell-schedule.
CHROMEBOOK CHECK OUT - For all students, you will be required to pick up your Chromebook during the week prior to school starting. If you are commuting from the Inland Empire, you can get your Chromebook on the first day of school. If you need other arrangements, please fill out the Contact Form on the website and we will help you make appropriate arrangements. (https://www.encorehighschool.com/contact-information) On Chromebook Check Out day, you will need to practice social distancing and wear a mask, we are going to check out Chromebooks through the drop off / pick up line so you will likely not need to leave your car.
Monday, September 7
(7:00 - 9:00 am) - Grade 11 & 12 Last Name starts with A - F
(9:00 - 11:00 am) - Grade 11 & 12 Last Name starts with G - L
(12:00 - 2:00 pm) - Grade 11 & 12 Last Name starts with M - Q
(2:00 - 4:00 pm) Grade 11 & 12 Last Name starts with R - Z
Tuesday, September 8
(7:00 - 9:00 am) - Grade 9 & 10 Last Name starts with A - F
(9:00 - 11:00 am) - Grade 9 & 10 Last Name starts wtih G - L
(12:00 - 2:00 pm) - Grade 9 & 10 Last Name starts with M - Q
(2:00 - 4:00 pm) - Grade 9 & 10 Last Name starts with R - Z
Wednesday, September 9 (For students not attending in person orientation)
(1:00 - 3:00 pm) - Grade 7
Thursday, September 10
(10:00 - 12:00 pm) Grade 8 Last Name starts with A - L
(1:00 - 3:00 pm) Grade 8 Last Name starts with M - Z
Friday, September 11
(9:00 - 12:00 pm) Makeup (Any student that has not picked up yet)
HOW DOES SCHOOL START? WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE?
FAMILY CHOICE - Again, things are changing every day, but Encore's current plan is to give families the choice of how they want to attend school in the fall. Preliminary surveys show that with Family Choice, Encore will be able to limit how many people are on campus to fit within guidelines. This is subject to change as actual confirmations from parents are created, but Encore wants to try to support the needs of our families as much as possible.
To see the actual plan that was adopted by Encore's School Board in last night's meeting, click here. https://3c0d1c7a-c8c6-4157-9d8b-7278b9cd1dd7.filesusr.com/ugd/331cc4_9603a89467b946f0870fdd6b9a8e8711.pdf
The plan that was adopted in last night's meeting includes 22 pages of hygiene, sanitation, and on campus rules and policies to make sure that everyone is safe and healthy on campus according to CDC Guidelines. Four pages go over the way that instructional programs will be administered.
BUS TRANSPORTATION - For the high desert buses only, the start of busing for this school year may be delayed until November 1 based on the current CDC Guidelines for school busing. If you want a traditional program, but ride the bus, when Encore calls you make sure to let them know that you want the traditional program but are riding the bus when transportation resumes. This will give you the flexibility to either carpool until November 1 or work on the COVID program until November 1. Riverside will run as planned (as of today). We apologize for the inconvenience, but the bus guidelines in our impacted neighborhoods are not feasible at this time. (Subject to change and we will update you as we are updated.)
YOUR RESPONSE IS CRITICAL
Over the next three weeks, Encore will be calling your family to find out how you wish to have instruction delivered to your students in the fall. You will want to choose very carefully because the program that you choose will dictate how instruction will be delivered regardless of the instructional model that Encore is implementing. Take some time to think about what program suits you because in the event that too many students choose an individual program, Encore may have to place that particular program on a lottery system until COVID restrictions change. If Encore has to limit program sizes, students will not be able to move between programs. Encore will do it's best to make every family's choice what Encore does to implement instruction for their family in the fall. We really want it to be up to you.
General Guidelines while on campus at any time:
Everyone should screen themselves prior to leaving for school and stay home if they are sick.
Everyone will be screened for temperature upon campus entry.
Everyone will wash their hands on entry.
Everyone is required to wear a mask. If a medical condition exists, you may wear a shield.
Everyone is required to social distance.
In the Family Choice model, students choosing Independent Study Program (Homeschool) can opt to not come on campus at all and have a weekly meeting with their program coordinator via Zoom.
Again, Encore knows that this is such a strange time and everyone's emotions, opinions, and outlooks are completely different. We support our families and hope that we can do all we can to support our people during this time of need. We love our Encore family and want to do all we can to keep everyone safe and healthy. If you have questions, please use the contact form on the encorehighschool.com website. I answer these questions daily. Keep watching our blogs in the coming weeks to see the innovations and hard work that our teachers are doing this summer to make sure that all of our students are supported this school year. I am so proud of Encore's veteran teaching staff. We will get through and we will all be stronger because of it.
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Denise Griffin, CEO is the author of this blog for Encore Education Corporation. Part of Encore Education Corporation is Encore High School, a free public performing arts regional high school in Southern California grades 7 - 12. Encore's program is currently taking applications for the fall 2020 enrollment. Encore offers full time, hybrid time, and independent study programs. Encore offers transporation from the Inland Empire and the high desert. www.encorehighschool.com. Where arts and academics grow together. WASC Accredited. Copyright 2020.
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