COVID-19 Planning
Today, Minnesota Governor Walz announced that schools will have autonomy and some flexibility to decide which scenario starts their school year. Schools will be guided by the Minnesota Department of Health and will base decisions on local county thresholds — specifically for River Grove, the number of COVID-19 cases over the past 14 days per 10,000 Washington County residents.
The scenarios that Minnesota schools may use are:
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- Scenario 1: In-Person Learning (IPL) for all students with enhanced health and safety measures. In this scenario, schools will create as much space between students and teachers as possible, but schools will not be held to strictly enforcing 6 feet of social distancing during primary instructional time.
- Scenario 2: Hybrid Learning (HL) model with strict social distancing and capacity limits. In this scenario, the overall number of people in school facilities and on transportation vehicles must be limited to 50% maximum occupancy. Sufficient social distancing of at least 6 feet between people must occur at all times.
- Scenario 3: Full-time Distance Learning (DL) only.
Because the model is based on the number of COVID-19 cases in the county, the operating scenario is likely to change over the course of the school year.
River Grove prioritizes and is responsive to the safety concerns and preferences of our families. Therefore, we are asking our enrolled families to complete a short but very important survey so we can fully understand our families’ needs. Please respond by Tuesday, August 4, 6:00pm. Following the Teaching Team and Board of Directors meetings, a more detailed survey will be sent with specific questions.
On Thursday, August 6, 6:00pm, the River Grove Board of Directors will be meeting via Zoom to discuss the results of this survey, the recommendations from the Teaching Team and administration on the specifics of River Grove’s models, and a possible additional calendar change which may delay the start of school to give teachers additional time to plan.
River Grove Enrolled Family Survey
Important Notes:
- In River Grove’s Distance Learning scenario, we will continue to emphasize quality teacher-student relationships and connectedness. Students will still be considered part of the class. In addition, we may create specific special outdoor campus events, carefully planned to include all students who are in a particular classroom.
- You do not need a medical excuse to choose full-time Distance Learning.
- With enough written notice (such as 10-14 school days), your family may change to a different model (assuming the scenario is being offered by River Grove). For example, if you start with all Distance Learning, with sufficient notice your student will be able to change to the Hybrid Learning model assuming there is enough physical space available in the classroom. (Subject to Teaching Team discussion and Board approval.)
- The Hybrid Learning scenario may follow an “A/B/C” pattern. For example, roughly half of the families who choose Hybrid Learning will be in the “A” group and students will be on-campus for two “A” days a week. The other half of the families who choose Hybrid Learning will be in the “B” group; their students will be on campus for two “B” days in a week. The fifth day (“C”) may be independent at-home learning for all students. (Subject to Teaching Team discussion and Board approval.)
- Scenario 1, In-Person Learning, may have four on-campus days with one at-home learning day, or five on-campus days. (Subject to Teaching Team discussion and Board approval.)
- In both the Hybrid Learning and In-Person Learning models, we anticipate a significant portion of the school day will take place outside.
Thank you! We are looking forward to getting all of our students safety back on our amazing campus 100% of the time.