2020-21 Reopening Plan

Yes, the Board of Education approved the plan at the August 17 Board meeting.

The district will utilize School Messenger to send texts and emails. Updates will also be posted to the district’s Facebook page and website.

We will use a combination of data from the communities’ positive case rate, positive cases within the school district, and the percentage of teachers who are able to teach. The specific metrics are being worked on in collaboration with the Health Department.

When looking at the City of De Pere, the incidence rate has been steady since early March. It has not exceeded 4%. Locally, within the greater De Pere area the incidence of positive COVID cases remains below 5%.

Please check FAQ for answers before calling

• Supply/textbook/device pickup: School Offices
  • Hemlock Creek Elementary (920) 425-1900
  • Westwood Elementary (920) 337-1087
  • WDP Middle School (920) 337-1099
  • WDP High School (920) 338-5200
  • Phantom Knight (920) 425-1915
• 4K questions: Scott Marsden, [email protected], 920-337-1087 x1323
• Acellus (online curriculum delivery tool, Gr 6-12): Joe Feldhausen, [email protected], 920-337-1393 x8035
• Food Services: Diane Leahy, [email protected], 920-337-1393 x8023
• Remote Learning Enrollment, device needs for students: Maggie Gertz, [email protected], 920-337-1393 x8060 (to enroll, email the name(s) and grade(s) of children)
• Student Services: Jenni Secor, [email protected], 920-337-1393 x8012
• Transportation/Busing: Judi Thomson, [email protected], 920-337-1393 x8018

A letter will be sent out via School Messenger from our School Nurse as directed by Public Health to all staff members and families in the building.  Should further action need to be taken by any individual(s) (such as quarantine), a second letter will be sent out as a follow up, again from the School Nurse as directed by Public Health.

A letter will be sent out via School Messenger from our School Nurse as directed by Public Health to all staff members and families in the building.  Should further action need to be taken by any individual(s) (such as quarantine), a second letter will be sent out as a follow up, again from the School Nurse as directed by Public Health.  

As of today, we are planning to return to school in-person, five days per week, with specific risk mitigation procedures in place.

Parents can choose between in person instruction or remote learning.  For the remote learning option, we are asking for a trimester commitment.

Instructional models could change by classroom, building, grade level, or district.  These decisions will be made in conjunction with our local health department.  In the event that individual classrooms, grade levels, schools, or the entire district are ordered to quarantine or close by the De Pere Health Department, daily instruction will temporarily shift to a remote learning structure led by your child’s teachers.

Yes, if the District needs to change course, parents would have the opportunity to move from the remote learning option to the in-person blended option.

The purpose of the August 10th deadline is to allow the schools to move forward with planning.  Based on the number of students who choose remote learning, class lists will all have to be redone, as well as finalizing other procedures in the buildings based on the number of students who will be present.  We know that this may change, but it will allow us to do some of the extensive planning that needs to happen.

As the district engaged in planning for the return to school, all scheduling scenarios in the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction’s Education Forward document were considered.

No, a medical excuse or documented underlying health condition is not needed in order for a family to consider the remote learning option. For the remote learning option, we are asking for a trimester commitment.

Standard grading practices will be used.

Remote learning students will need basic school supplies at home such as paper, pens/pencils, highlighters, markers, crayons, water colors, etc.  Students would also benefit from headphones or ear buds.

Yes

The platform for connecting with families will be the app called Remind.  There will be a minimum expectation of two activities provided per day.  Throughout the week, those activities will include literacy, math, science, fine motor, movement, and free play/exploration. The teacher will do a daily morning message outlining the activities for the day.  Families will be encouraged to send work back to the teacher, but this will not be an expectation.

The 4K remote teacher will also offer small group Google Meets.  At minimum, these will be offered at least once per section per week.

Families of remote students will be provided 4K kits to assist in learning and play-based activities approximately every 2 weeks.  The method of delivering these kits has not been completely worked out yet, but will be communicated soon.

There will be teachers specifically designated at each grade level that will be the virtual learning teacher for that grade.  That teacher will be available throughout the day to answer questions, connect with students and parents, and provide whatever is needed for our remote students to succeed.  Their sole job will be taking care of the needs of the remote students at that grade level, so an in-person class of kids will not be competing for that time.  Their hours will have some flexibility so that they can meet the needs of families who may need to schedule a Google Meet in the evening after parents are home from work.

There will be supply pick up at the beginning of the year and then as needed throughout the trimester/year.  These supplies may include, but are not limited to, library books, workbooks, math manipulatives, or specific art supplies.

Teachers will do a daily morning message outlining the activities for the day.   Daily videotaped lessons  from the child’s teacher will be available for teaching new content.   In addition, there will also be consistent opportunities for real-time interaction with the remote teacher and other remote students.  Those times will be determined between the families and the teacher so that they will work for everyone.  We understand that when students are working from home, there might be some days in a family's schedule that make it easier to complete work and other days that will be more difficult, so there will be opportunities for families to complete some of the work at their own pace without getting behind to a point where it impacts the student’s educational progress.    

The content and pacing of the online learning will be consistent with students involved in in-person learning.  Students will be graded based on their normal grade level standards.

Specialists will provide grade level specific instruction one time per week for art, two times per week for music and physical education, and one time every other week for counselors.

Students in grades 6-12 will use Acellus, which is an online curriculum delivery tool.  It allows the student to work through the content in a self paced format.  In addition, West De Pere teacher(s) will be assigned to those students.  Those teachers will be responsible for monitoring progress, offering assistance and answering questions, grading, and providing a virtual academic and social connection to the school.

For any course that West De Pere offers that Acellus does not, that student will have the option to either livestream into that class or choose an alternate Acellus course. 

The content between Acellus and in-person learning is based on the same standards.  While not taught in exactly the same manner, similar material will be covered so that transition back to in person curriculum will not be difficult.

There will be supply pick up at the beginning of the year and then as needed throughout the trimester/year.  These supplies may include, but are not limited to, library books, workbooks, textbooks, or other curricular supplies.

Email [email protected] with the name and grade of your student(s) you wish to disenroll from remote learning. You will receive a confirmation email. Please note that the last day to switch from remote learning to in-person learning is August 28. After that time, the student will be “locked in” to the remote option until the end of the 1st trimester (November 20).

A note about busing: After 3:00 PM Friday, Aug 21, no bus additions (students switching from remote to in person) will be made until September 15. Starting September 1st, there will be a 2-week waiting period.

For grades K-8:  Yes, to enroll in remote learning during the trimester, email [email protected] with your child(ren)'s name(s), grade(s), and school(s). 

For grades 9-12:  Due to the granting of credits toward graduation requirements, there will be deadlines for making a change each trimester.  For trimester one, the deadline is 3:00 p.m. on Friday, September 18.  For trimester two, the deadline is 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday, December 1.  For trimester three, the deadline is 3:00 p.m. on Friday, March 5.  These dates are consistent with dates by which in-person students are also able to switch from one course to another.

A survey was sent out to families with students in Grades K-4 (4K students are not required to use devices at this time and Gr 5-12 students already have district devices assigned to them as part of our district’s 1:1 Chromebook program). District personnel determined needs based on the survey results. Families in need of a device will receive one through their child’s school. If your situation has changed since you completed the survey and you now need a device, please submit a request here. 

If you are having trouble with your school-issued device, please submit a tech support request here.

Yes. Lunch can be picked up at Westwood Elementary, Hemlock Creek Elementary, and the High School, however, lunches will not be free/reduced price unless you are enrolled in the free/reduced lunch program. In order to be able to pick up lunch, you'll need to complete a Google form each week, which will be emailed to parent(s)/guardian(s) of remote learners. The form will also be posted on the food service website: http://www.wdpsd.com/food-service/

Students with last name A - L will be in person at school on Monday and Tuesday and will do remote learning on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday.  Students will last name M - Z will be in person at school on Thursday and Friday and will do remote learning on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday.  Exceptions will be made for families with students who have multiple last names so that all students in a family can attend on the same day.

Risk mitigation measures will be the same as those in Scenario A.

Teachers will determine the content that is most vital to be taught in person. Generally, new content will be in person and opportunities for practice will be assigned for completion at home. On remote learning days, students will also receive a video with morning message from the teacher and a read aloud.  Remind will be used as the primary instructional delivery tool for 4K students on their remote days.

Teachers will determine the content that is most vital to be taught in person.  Seesaw will be used as the primary instructional delivery tool for elementary students on their remote days.  Daily lesson plans for the remote days will be posted in the Seesaw journal each morning by 8:30.  Students will be expected to complete all Seesaw activities and other activities assigned that are not on Seesaw. 

Teachers will determine the content that is most vital to be taught in person.  Google Classroom will be used as the primary instructional delivery tool for middle school students on their remote days.  Lessons and required activities for the remote days will be posted in Google Classroom each morning for each class.  Students will be expected to complete all Google Classroom assigned lessons and activities before they return to school for their next in person day.

During their remote learning days, students will join each of their classes synchronously via Google Meet.

Remind will be the primary tool used for connecting with 4K families.  There will be a minimum expectation of two activities provided per day.  Throughout the week, those activities will include literacy, math, science, fine motor, movement, and free play/exploration. The teacher will do a daily morning message outlining the activities for the day and a daily read aloud.  Families will be encouraged to send work back to the teacher, but this will not be an expectation.

4K teachers will also offer small group Google Meets.  At minimum, these will be offered at least once per section per week.

Families of remote students will be provided 4K kits to assist in learning and play-based activities approximately every 2 weeks.  The method of delivering these kits has not been completely worked out yet, but will be communicated soon.

Seesaw will be used as the primary instructional delivery tool for elementary students.   All teachers will post a morning message each day to welcome/connect with the students and to provide an overview of the day’s expectations.  The morning video and daily lesson plans will be posted in the Seesaw journal each morning by 8:30 a.m.  Students will be expected to complete all Seesaw activities and other activities assigned that are not on Seesaw.  Daily instructional videos will be provided for reading, writing, and math.  Instruction in science, social studies, and special areas will happen on a rotating schedule.  Students will consistently be provided with teacher feedback on their work and will be graded using our regular standards-based grading system.  

Google Meets will also be scheduled throughout the week.  Some may focus on relationship building while others may focus on content delivery.  

Students who do not have an adequate device at home will be provided with a district-owned device to use.  

There will be supply pick up at the beginning of this scenario  and then as needed throughout the school closure.  These supplies may include, but are not limited to, library books, workbooks, math manipulatives, or specific art supplies.

We understand that when students are working from home, there might be some days in a family's schedule that make it easier to complete work and other days that will be more difficult, so there will be opportunities for families to complete some of the work at their own pace without getting behind to a point where it impacts the student’s educational progress.

Secondary students will engage in synchronous learning each day using a modified schedule.  They will log in to a class via Google Meet at 9 a.m., 10 a.m., 11 a.m., 1 p.m., and 2 p.m. each day.  High school students will follow their regular 5 period schedule using these times.  Middle school students will be provided with an alternate schedule that allows them to join half of their classes every other day in this model in order to avoid the high number of virtual transitions that would otherwise be needed each day.  

Google Classroom will be used as the primary instructional delivery tool for organizing assignments, resources, etc. 

Yes, they will be required for all staff and for all students grades 4K - 12.  Cloth face coverings are most essential in times when physical and social distancing is difficult and can assist with minimizing the risk of transmission to both students and staff.  Therefore, the use of cloth face coverings will be one of WDPSD’s most critical prevention measures which allows our schools to start safely and stay open.  

"Face covering'' means a piece of cloth or other material that is worn to cover the nose and mouth completely. A face covering includes but is not limited to a cloth face mask, a bandana, a disposable or paper mask, or a neck gaiter.  A face covering does not include face shields, mesh masks, or masks with holes or openings.

There may be face covering breaks when social distancing can be maintained and during vigorous physical exercise. There will be face covering breaks while outside and while eating.  

Information regarding the proper use, removal, and washing of face coverings will be provided to parents and reinforced with students at school. 

Face coverings will be provided for students who come to school without one.

If there is a medical reason that prohibits a student or staff member from wearing a face covering, medical documentation will be required and must be submitted to the district nurse. 

Should a student with a disability require exceptional circumstances, we will work with the students and families to develop the skill and problem solve around the challenges of wearing a mask.

The placement of student desks and tables will be evaluated by classroom teachers in order to maintain physical distance among students to the greatest extent possible. 

All areas within the school will be disinfected daily following their final use for the day.  This includes desks, tables, bookcases, and other hard surfaces within the classroom.  This also ensures that all learning areas will be ready for school in the morning.

During the course of the school day, custodial staff will focus on disinfecting high touch areas throughout the building.  This will include door knobs, handrails, light switches, and other locations determined by the custodian and building staff.  All classrooms will also be equipped with a spray bottle of disinfectant and microfiber cloths that can be used throughout the day as deemed necessary by the classroom teacher. 

Whenever possible, each student will have his/her own materials/supplies to use.  However, when it is necessary to share materials and supplies, they will be disinfected throughout the day. 

Other mitigation strategies that may be used include, but are not limited to:

• Floor markings in high traffic area
• Plexiglass shields in office and in food service areas
• Teaching of hand washing routines and coughing/sneezing etiquette
• Signage reminders throughout the buildings
• Backpacks allowed in classrooms to minimize hallway congestion with lockers
• Water bottles allowed (no drinking fountains)
• Assigned lunch room seating
• Pre-packaged grab and go meals with no self service options
• Altered passing times (secondary)
• Cohorting classrooms (elementary)
• Swiping ID badges for lunch room check out rather than using the keypad
• Sanitation stations in key locations in buildings
• Spreading out and/or staggering lunchroom and recess procedures
• Altered arrival and dismissal procedures to be defined by each building

Sanitation stations include hand sanitizer, gloves, and surgical masks. 

No. The use of volunteers in our buildings is suspended until further notice, unless it is related directly to curricular needs.  Those volunteers will be screened prior to entry. There will be opportunities for parents to volunteer virtually or from home.

All meetings, including open house, parent/teacher conferences, and IEP meetings will be held virtually using Google Meet.

Changes are necessary based on the findings from the airborne study related to singing and playing of instruments, the Music Education in Wisconsin - General Guidance document from WSMA, and consultation with local health departments.

• Masks must be worn at all times.
• Instrument masks must be used for all instruments with the exception of percussion.
• Social distancing of 6 feet for all singers and instruments with the exception of 9 feet for trombones must be maintained at all times.
• Indoor rehearsals must last for no more than 30 minutes. After that time, the room should be cleared for 20 minutes. This also applies to practice rooms.
• Outdoor rehearsals are encouraged as a mitigating technique when possible.
• All instruments must be 1:1 - no sharing.  Percussion equipment, if shared, must be sanitized between each use.
• Chairs and music stands must be sanitized between each use.
• Sheet music can not be shared.
• Focus of instruction and rehearsal should be on practice/performance in small groups or individually.  
• No concerts will be held this year, unless there is widespread control of the virus.

Singing and/or playing instruments will only occur if all of the guidelines listed above can be followed.  Otherwise, general music instruction will focus on standards that relate to music theory, music appreciation, music history, and/or other music standards that do not involve singing and/or the playing of instruments in large groups.

Fifth grade band will not be offered this school year.  Rationale:  We do not believe it will be a positive first experience with band for these new learners.

Fifth grade choir will not be offered this school year. Rationale: We do not believe it will be a positive first experience with choir for these new learners. Additionally, 5th grade choir is an extracurricular activity and it would not be possible to social distance the large group of students.

• Singing should only occur if all of the guidelines listed above can be followed.  Otherwise, choir instruction will shift temporarily for this school year to focus on music theory, music appreciation, music history, and/or other standards related to music that do not involve singing in large groups.
• Technology may be used to allow students opportunities to sing together.  
• Singer’s masks will be provided for students.  If a student loses his/her singer’s mask, he/she will be responsible for replacing it and may not sing until a replacement is procured.

• Playing instruments will only occur if all of the guidelines listed above can be followed.  Otherwise, band instruction will shift temporarily for this school year to focus on music theory, music appreciation, music history, and/or other standards related to music that do not involve the playing of instruments in large groups.
• Technology may be used to allow students opportunities to play instruments together.  
• Instrument masks will be provided for students in grades 6-12 band.  If a student loses his/her instrument mask, he/she will be responsible for replacing it and may not play the instrument at school until a replacement is procured. 

Parents/guardians will be notified by the De Pere Health Department if their child has been in close contact with someone who tested positive for COVID 19.  (Close contact is defined by the De Pere Health Department as having been within 6 feet or closer for fifteen or more cumulative minutes during the time that the person who tested positive would have been contagious.)  This notification will include guidance and information regarding the need to quarantine. 

The De Pere Health Department, together with school and district administration, will make classroom/school quarantine and closing decisions on a case by case basis. 

Parents will be responsible for daily home screening of their students.  This includes reviewing health screening questions each morning prior to sending their child(ren) to school.  These questions include:

• Has my child had any signs or symptoms of a fever in the past 24 hours, such as chills or sweats, or had a temperature that is elevated or greater than 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit?
• Does my child have any of the following symptoms:  cough, shortness of breath, sore throat, nasal congestion/runny nose, body aches, loss of taste and/or smell, diarrhea, nausea, or vomiting?

Please keep your child home if he/she is not well.  Do not medicate your child to temporarily curb symptoms.  If a child tests positive, the parent or guardian should contact the district nurse and the De Pere Health Department as soon as possible.

We recognize our increased emphasis on having students stay home if they are feeling ill will probably cause more students than usual to miss school.  Individual circumstances will be taken into consideration.

No, instruction will be provided for students during quarantine.  This may happen in a variety of formats, depending on the grade level and the length and type of quarantine.  If a student is quarantined, that does not mean they will automatically be moved to the remote learning model.  They will go back to their regular classroom when the quarantine is over.

Students who present with symptoms of COVID 19 during the school day will safely rest in each school’s identified isolated satellite health room while waiting for the arrival of a parent or guardian.  The school will contact the student’s parent or guardian to pick up the student as soon as possible.  A pre-identified staff person will stay with the student while awaiting the parent or guardian’s arrival.

An isolation room is an extra health room in each school that is not located near the school office.  It will be staffed by a trained health aide at each building.   It will be equipped with appropriate PPE and will provide a place for students to rest comfortably while they are waiting to be picked  up if they are exhibiting symptoms of COVID 19.

Bus ridership will determine routes. To maximize student safety on the bus, the following safety procedures will be in place:

• Masks will be required of drivers and riders.
• The bus will be filled from the back to the front.
• As much as possible, one child to a seat, with the exception of family members who will sit together in the same seat.
• Seats will be assigned.
• High touch areas of each bus will be disinfected between each route.
• Windows will be cracked open for ventilation purposes when weather allows.

As with all other potential exposure situations, if your child has been in close contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID 19, the De Pere Health Department will provide notification regarding the need to quarantine and the duration of that quarantine.

Schools will follow established procedures and services for students in special education based on each student’s Individualized Education Program (IEP). It may not be feasible, depending on the needs of the individual student, to adhere both to distancing guidelines and the criteria outlined in the IEP. In these situations IEP teams may collaborate to seek creative solutions and/or revise the student’s IEP.

Special education supports and services will be available for all delivery models and will be provided based upon the student’s Individualized Education Program (IEP). Services will be determined individually in collaboration with parents. Case managers will be reaching out and communicating with parents in late August upon their return to the work setting.

There may not be a need to meet to update an IEP or 504 as long as services are provided in a manner that matches the student’s individual plan.  If changes are needed or other issues need to be discussed, please reach out to your child’s case manager. If you have selected the virtual instructional format, the special education case manager will be reaching out. 

The answer is yes and yes.  We will be working to reach out to you early in the year as each special education case manager will be connecting with students on their caseload and their guardians.  We have roughly 400 students receiving special education students, so this may happen before school or in the early days of school being back in session.  Counselors will be reaching out related to 504s as the school year begins and as they communicate those plans with teachers.  If you have concerns, questions, or would like to speak with us please do not hesitate to reach out to your case manager or school counselor in late August.  You may also reach out to our Director of Student Services, Amy Schuh. We always value and want to encourage parent involvement and communication.  Please do not hesitate to reach out to us!

The district has ordered special masks that allow the therapist’s mouth to be visible for speech and language therapy sessions.  This will allow them to demonstrate proper techniques to the students they serve.  Some additional disposable masks have been ordered when students have the limited need for these masks in therapy. 

The Department of Public Instruction released guidance for consideration of “additional services” just before the end of the last school year.  Our district focussed on addressing this need with our graduating seniors in the final days of last school year.  The guidance will be shared with staff in August and a district letter will be sent to all guardians of students in special education in early September.  The guidance and information will assist the IEP teams in working collaboratively to examine this on an individual basis over the first six months of the 2020-21 school year. 

Yes. Free lunch can be picked up at Westwood Elementary, Hemlock Creek Elementary, and the High School. In order to be able to pick up lunch, you are encouraged to complete a Google form each week, which will be emailed to parent(s)/guardian(s) of remote learners. The form will also be posted on the food service website: http://www.wdpsd.com/food-service/

Yes, you need to fill out a form every week to be able to pick up free meals. The link to the forms is here http://www.wdpsd.com/food-service/virtual-learning-breakfast-lunch-order

No, both virtual and in person breakfast and lunches are provided for free of charge from the USDA.

Yes, both are free provided by the district until December 31st or USDA stops free meals.