October 2, 2020

FROM PRINCIPAL BARNETT

Buccaneer Family:

Our six graders were amazing last week. We were able to have 100% of students in dress code, carrying the correct bag, and following the correct pathways throughout the building. Here is a summary of reminders of the information that has shared and will continue to be shared out:

Have a fever or showing COVID symptoms? Stay home. Contact your teachers and attendance office.
Follow the dress code and wear an acceptable mask.
You may bring a lunch to eat in an approved area. Food deliveries will not be permitted. Leaving campus for lunch is not allowed. All students are provided lunch for no cost.
Arrive early. Doors open at 8:00 AM. Each grade has a specific entrance. Students are expected to be in class by 8:20AM.
Bring headphones, charged computer, and charger in a clear backpack.
School ends at 3:55 PM. Please make plans to leave campus unless in a supervised practice.

I know there are a lot of questions about what instruction will look like when students return. We are calling this "concurrent" or "simultaneous" learning because teachers will be teaching students simultaneously in-person and participating remotely. This is an incredibly complex task that none of us has done routinely and there is very little research on this type of instruction. We are committed to figuring this out and being the exemplary school for teaching and learning.

If you would like to read more about this process, here is an article about Asynchronous vs. Synchronous Learning and The Concurrent Classroom. You will see some variances depending on what is best for a program, content, grade level, and balance of in-person/remote learning participants. If you have questions, please reach out to the teacher directly.

Sincerely,

Chandra Hooper-Barnett

Principal/Head of School

J.L. Long Middle School

Dallas ISD

International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme World School

972-502-4704

Long on pride!

STUDENTS RETURN TO CAMPUS TOMORROW!

All Grades Return to Campus October 5th

All students who have elected to return to campus for instruction will return to school on Monday, October 5th.

We will be using a 5-day instructional model (Monday – Friday) which means students are at school every day if their parents chose in-person instruction for their child*. Students who have elected to remain home for virtual learning will continue with their schedule as usual.

Wednesday is, and will continue to be, an asynchronous learning day even for the students who are on campus. This is the time when teachers can implement teaching strategies to reinforce and evaluate understanding such as small group instruction and reteaching of content. Students who are on campus will still attend all classes according to the Bell Schedule, and will complete work as assigned by their teachers via Google Classroom. Teachers will be available for both students on campus and at home to provide small group instruction as necessary. We will continue with this instructional model until we are instructed to do otherwise.

Details on how to have a successful first week back on campus can be found on our PTA Website!

*If you originally elected to return to campus via your Parent Survey, but now wish for your student to continue learning virtually, you may do so. No notification to school administration is required. Please note that if your student has elected to learn virtually, he/she must remain in that format until the beginning of the next 9 week grading period (November 9).

PARENT TEACHER CONFERENCES