March 15, 2021- Clackamas Middle College Family Survey-Education Models for Spring Term
CMC Community,
Earlier this month, Governor Kate Brown released guidance regarding the reopening of Oregon's schools. In this guidance, she is directing schools to provide in-person instruction (hybrid) to 6-12th grade students by April 19th. Both the North Clackamas School Board, and our Clackamas Charter Alliance School Board approved movement toward this date as well.
As mentioned in my last communication update, everyone in our College Prep Program will begin the Spring Term in Comprehensive Distance Learning (CDL). As we move toward compliance of Governor Brown's directive to re-open schools, we will look to transition students and families (who choose) to a hybrid model if/when it occurs in April. We will continue to run CDL for the remainder of the 2020-2021 school year for those families choosing this option.
To return safely in a Hybrid Model, we will ensure that:
- CMC Staff has the opportunity to receive both COVID-19 vaccine doses
- Clackamas County meets the Health Metrics of below 200 cases per 100,000 residents
- Maintain proper safety protocols as guided by ODE and OHA
- Elementary schools demonstrate the ability to limit transmission in the school environment
As we look to complete our Winter Trimester this week, and begin of our spring trimester (March 29th), we will continue the planning of a potential transition to a hybrid model in a safe and effective manner for the CMC Community. The planning will include feedback from stakeholders, creation of a hybrid schedule that can be streamlined with our current CDL model, submission of any plans for Oregon Health Authority approval, and updated information pertaining to metrics from Clackamas County.
Students in our college programs will take online courses through CCC during the spring trimester, and can access their college schedule through their college account.
Because April 19th falls in toward the beginning of our Spring Trimester, we are looking to provide our families two options of education models to choose from for the remainder of the school year:
- The first option/choice of educational models is Comprehensive Distancing Learning (CDL), or the educational model we have provided to-date for the 2020-2021 school year.
Parents/Students may choose to stay in this model, and continue the services provided throughout the remainder of the 2020-2021 school year.
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- Clackamas Middle College's Comprehensive Distance Learning will enable students to learn from home and will be focused on community building, communication, and high-quality instruction.
- Students opting for this model will have a schedule consisting of four classes
- Students and teachers continue to be engaged daily in teaching and learning
- All students will have access grade-level content
- Teacher checks for understanding and misconceptions
- Students receive feedback on their work
- Students own their learning
- Students will be expected to use a provided laptop as part of the comprehensive distance learning model.
Clackamas Middle College's Hybrid model will enable students to be in a traditional classroom two-three days a week, and two-three days a week off-site. One day per week is reserved to include grade level advisories or College Readiness Seminar. Students and families choosing this option will attend EITHER- Monday, Tuesday- 12:30pm-3:30pm; or Thursday, Friday- 12:30pm-3:30pm/
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- Students opting for this model will be placed into small cohorts (or groups) to allow adequate physical distancing with other students and reduce the risk of virus infection.
- Every effort will be made to keep siblings in the same cohort.
- Most classes will have between 10-15 students at one time to meet physical distancing requirements.
- Disinfecting protocols will be in place for district transportation, classrooms, and high contact surfaces.
- Face coverings are required for use for everyone in the CMC Community
- Students will be expected to use a provided laptop as part of the hybrid model. This will reduce the risk of virus spread.
- Students opting for this model will have a schedule consisting of four classes
- Students and teachers continue to be engaged daily in teaching and learning
In order to help with the planning and choice, we have created, and will send out a brief survey to help capture family feedback. When you receive the survey, please submit it as soon as you can. Your feedback is essential for scheduling purposes and student success. We would like to have all feedback by this Friday, March 19th.
I am excited for the possibility of students to return safely to our campus with the Hybrid Model, while being able to continue educational services to students and families choosing the CDL Model. We will work to ensure a safe, healthy, and productive learning environment for each student in all programs.
Our process will be updated as necessary to reflect the situation concerning the pandemic, and any changes and updates will be communicated to the CMC Community.
As always, thanks for your patience and flexibility in trying to help us serve each of our families.
Take care and stay safe.
Respectfully,
Brian Sien, Ed.D.
Principal
Clackamas Middle College