April 15, 2020
Dear Sand Creek Community Schools Parent/Guardian:
Governor Whitmer’s April 2nd executive order mandates that all Michigan schools create and implement a Covid-19 Plan for Continued Learning by April 28th. This plan must ensure that all students are given an opportunity to continue their education from home in an effort to recover as much lost educational ground as is feasible under the current circumstances.
This document provides a detailed summary of our school district’s state approved learning plan for the remainder of the school year. Sand Creek Community Schools will begin implementing this upgraded “stay at home education” plan on Tuesday, April 21st. Our teachers and administrators have been working countless hours to create and design lessons designed to close gaps caused by the school closure. Sand Creek Schools has been providing voluntary student learning opportunities that support and reinforce learning that took place prior the school closure. Our revised stay at home education plan is designed to move our students forward to the best of everybody’s ability during these unprecedented times.
It is the sincere hope of our school district that our parents and students make a commitment to continue to learn and improve through this unique situation. This document spells out the details of Sand Creek’s educational plan for student learning from our teachers’ homes to our students’ homes. Extraordinary times requires extraordinary efforts. I’m confident that together we will make the best of the serious situation we’re currently in. Thank you for your continued patience throughout these trying times. It is appreciated.
Respectfully,
Steve Laundra, Superintendent/HS Principal
GOAL
Our overall academic goal for the next two months is to ensure that all Sand Creek students have an opportunity to achieve mastery of the coursework and lessons our teachers have deemed the most essential, given the time remaining in the current school year. Throughout these challenging times in education, Sand Creek’s mission will stay intact. Our teachers will continue maintaining positive relationships with our students while engaging them in meaningful instruction.
FAQ
How will educational content be delivered?
Our content delivery options will require our parents and students to commit to one of two learning paths. Parents can either choose an on-line based method of instruction, or a hard copy learning packet method of instruction. Parents must choose one or the other. Choosing both is not an option. If your children are able to access the internet from home on any electronic device, our school district encourages you to select the on-line option. If you do not have internet access from home, select the learning packet option.
Click here to register your child
What will the On-Line method of instruction look like?
For students with internet access and electronic devices in their homes, the school district is encouraging parents to register their students for participation in on-line education. This method of instruction and learning is more appealing to students and allows teachers more flexibility to interact with their students and to access their progress. Teachers will be using and trying a variety of electronic platforms for learning, including Google Classroom, Facebook, FaceTime, Zoom, YouTube, etc. If your home has the means for on-line instruction, the school recommends choosing this method of instruction. In some cases, teachers may request on-line students to pick-up a hard copy learning packet that will supplement their on-line instruction.
What makes our new stay at home education plan different from the one we’ve been using?
The learning plan we put in place shortly after our schools were closed was designed to offer our students’ teacher recommended learning opportunities. Those opportunities included enrichment activities and resources designed to support skill development, not new content. Sand Creek’s new learning plan will deliver new content through assignments, activities and projects in an effort to close the learning gap on content missed. Our new learning plan will deliver 2 days of traditional in-school instruction over a 5 day period. Students can expect to spend 2-3 hours of teacher assigned learning a day, five days a week, for the next seven weeks. The target goal for content and subject coverage is to deliver a minimum of 2 lessons per week, per subject per teacher for the next seven weeks. At this pace we will cover 3-4 weeks of new content over the next seven weeks of the school year.
What will the Learning Packet method of instruction look like?
Learning Packet students will be learning through hard copy lessons and assignments provided by their teachers.
Learning packets will include teacher instructions to help guide students and parents through the lessons. Due to safety concerns, Learning Packets will be a one-way street. Students completing learning packet assignments should hang on to their assignments until directed to submit them at a date to be determined. Teachers may encourage learning packet parents and students to take photos of their completed work to send to their teachers for evaluation and feedback. Our teachers will be attempting to make periodic contacts with their learning packet students as requested.
Will our students be receiving a traditional, full day of education, five days a week?
No. The target goal for content coverage in a “stay at home” setting is to deliver a minimum of 2 lessons per week, per subject, per teacher for the next seven weeks. Our goal is to cover 3-4 weeks of instruction over the last seven weeks of the school year.
Will student work be graded?
While assignment feedback to students will be provided, students will be receiving Satisfactory or Unsatisfactory grades for 2nd semester based on their academic standing when our school buildings were closed. That stated, the learning plans that we are about to implement are vital to the continued education and growth of students. The work assigned during the next seven weeks will help prepare our students for the upcoming school year. Students that were failing classes when school closed will have an opportunity to pass by participating in our stay at home education program. Students who were currently failing that DO NOT participate, may fail that class.
Are assignments actually due on the due date?
Dates of completion for activities and assignments will serve as a guideline to maintain structure and a schedule for our academic plan. However, if your child completes an assignment after a suggested due date, they may still submit the assignment for feedback.
How can I contact my child’s teacher?
Every teacher will host blocks of time for open communication with students and parents. Teachers may also be contacted outside of these hours through their school email account using the following pattern: Firstname.Lastname@sc-aggies.us. Teacher and administrator email address can be located on our school website.
What grade will my student be in next year?
Students Young Fives through 11th grade that are in good academic standing at the end of this school year will move up to the next grade level provided they were in good academic standing when school was shut down. Seniors in good academic standing that have met the school district’s graduation requirements will graduate with the Class of 2020.
What if our family doesn’t have access to the internet?
Students who do not have internet access at home can pick-up hard copy learning packets at the school on Monday’s of each week, starting April 20th. Students will not return their packets at this time; however, the school district will collect them at a later date. Teachers may request that students/parents take pictures of student work to send to teachers for feedback.
Will Sand Creek be distributing school owned electronic devices to students for use at home?
Sand Creek will not be distributing computers and Chromebooks to students at this time. Our recent technology in homes survey indicates that over 85% of our families have internet access. Future plans to provide school owned devices to students for use in their homes will be considered should the close closing be extended into the 2020-21 school year.
When can parents come to the school to pick up their belongings?
We are requesting that our parents take advantage of two scheduled opportunities to pick up their student’s personal and school belongings. The school is in the process of bagging and tagging student belongings from student lockers and desks for curbside pick-up scheduled for Friday, April 17th. These bags will likely include textbooks and workbooks that may be used during the stay at home education process. The schedule and format for picking up your student’s belongings is as follows:
Friday April 17th, 2020
Students north of Gorman Hwy. -- noon to 1:30 p.m. & 4:00 to 5:30 p.m.
Students south of Gorman Hwy. -- 1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. & 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
What do I do if my student has an IEP or 504 plan?
Your child’s special education teacher will be working directly with students that have Individualized Education Plans to provide accommodations to the best of their capability. Each building’s school counselor and general education teacher will be working directly with those students that have 504 plans. Parents will receive invitations to hold annual video conference or phone IEP meetings when applicable.
How can I contact staff members at Sand Creek?
Please click here-Ruth McGregor Elementary Staff
Please click here-Sand Creek Jr./Sr. High Staff
Who can I contact if we need counseling support?
andrea.rumler@sc-aggies.us – Sand Creek Jr./Sr. High School Counselor
claudia.lark@sc-aggise.us – Ruth McGregor Elementary School Counselor
Who can I contact for general information?
You may also call the administrative office at (517) 436-3108 to leave a detailed message and someone will return your call.
How do I contact an administrator?
PK-5 Jodie Gilbert Ruth McGregor Elementary Principal jodie.gilbert@sc-aggie.us
6-12 John Peacock JH Principal & 6-12 Dean of Students john.peacock@sc-aggie.us
6-12 Steve Laundra Superintendent/HS Principal steve.laundra@sc-aggies.us
What should Google Classroom look like?
This is an example of what a STUDENT VIEW of Google Classroom looks like:
How does a student get their codes for Google Classroom?
Every teacher has an individual code for each class. Some class codes are already being used by the students. Every student will be contacted by their teachers through their school email (6-12) or their parents’ email (K-5) to receive their Google Classroom codes, if they don’t already have them. Google classroom codes will also be posted on the school website. For a parent friendly guide to Google Classroom, please click here:
Parent Guide to Google Classroom - Please click here
Additional Building Specific Information Below |
RUTH MCGREGOR ELEMENTARY INFORMATION
How can I register for Preschool?
Please call 517-436-3108 or email andrea.marken@sc-aggies.us to register for Sand Creek 4-year Old Preschool.
Click here for more information on our preschool program
How can I register for Kindergarten?
Registration information will be available soon to register your child online.
When is the Pre-School, Young Fives and Kindergarten Open House?
Tuesday, August 18, 2020
When is the 1st through 5th Grade Open House?
Wednesday August 19, 2020
Will we receive another report card for the end of the year?
Students will not be receiving a marking period-3 report card, but they will receive an end of semester report card in June.
Will Kindergarten Graduation take place?
Kindergarten graduation has been cancelled.
When will my child receive their yearbook?
Your child's yearbook will be delivered to your student at the beginning of the next school year.
When will my child receive their 5th grade tall tale book?
Your child's 5th grade tall tale book will be delivered to the middle school and given to your student at the beginning of the next school year.
When do I need to return my child's library book?
Please keep your child’s library books safe at home for now, further instructions will be forthcoming.
SAND CREEK JR./SR. HIGH SCHOOL INFORMATION
Advanced Placement Courses and Testing
Teachers of AP classes will continue to cover content to prepare students for the AP assessments. The College Board will provide online AP assessments this school year. The link for the schedule is below:
https://apcoronavirusupdates.collegeboard.org/educators/taking-the-exams/ap-exam-schedule
Use this link below to find out more information about this year’s assessment:
https://apcoronavirusupdates.collegeboard.org/educators/taking-the-exams
Ms. Rumler will be in contact with these students to ensure they are set up for the appropriate AP assessment.
High School GPA
High School students will earn credit for every course they receive a Satisfactory grade. Satisfactory (S) and Unsatisfactory (U) second semester grades will not be factored into student GPA.
After School Credit Recovery Students
If a student completed and passed their course they will receive credit even without meeting the seat hour requirement. If a student has not completed their course they have the option of finishing it by June 10th with seat hours being waived. If a student does not have access to the internet and cannot complete their course they will have the opportunity to complete the course at a later date TBD, including seat hours.
On Line Education Students
Michigan Virtual
If a student completed their course through Week 7 in their pacing guide with a passing average score of 60%, they will receive a Satisfactory for the semester. We encourage these students to continue working towards completion of their course for enrichment purposes. Students who have not completed assignments through Week 7 and/or were below a 60% MUST continue working on their course to reach at least a 60% average to receive a Satisfactory for the semester.
Edgenuity
If a student completed their course through March 13 on their assignment calendar with a passing average score of 60%, they will receive a Satisfactory for the semester. We encourage these students to continue working towards completion of their course for enrichment purposes. Students who have not completed assignments up to March 13, on their assignment calendar and/or below a 60% average through that date MUST continue working towards that completion requirement.
How do I sign up for classes next school year?
Ms. Rumler will contact parents/students if they have questions about the scheduling form that has been already submitted.
Will prom be rescheduled?
We are hopeful to hold prom on a later date this summer if it is safe to do.
INFORMATION FOR SAND CREEK SENIORS
How do I know if I’m in good academic standing to graduate?
If you have achieved all of the credits necessary needed to graduate, including passing your second semester classes through March 13, 2020, you will graduate with the Class of 2020. If you are in the process of completing a credit recovery class, you must do so by May 20, 2020 to be eligible for graduation. All assignments due for the purpose of raising failing grades to passing grades are due no later than May 20, 2020.
What if I was failing a class that I need to graduate when school closed?
Seniors who were failing classes when school was shut down will be given the opportunity to raise their grade to Satisfactory by successfully participating in the stay at home education program described in this document.
Do I have to participate in the stay at home education process if I’m a Senior in good academic standing?
We recommend you participate in your courses through May 20, 2020. Teachers are providing lessons designed to cover valuable content that will help prepare our seniors for the future, no matter the path they choose.
Graduation
As of April 15th, our May 24th commencement exercise at Adrian College is on as scheduled. In the event we cannot hold commencement on this date, every effort will be made to reschedule it for a later date this summer.
If I am a senior, does it mean I automatically graduate?
No. In order to graduate, you must be a senior in good academic standing. Please see below for specific criteria.
Seniors NOT in good academic standing
- Contact your teachers immediately to develop an individualized plan of action to complete the necessary requirements to graduate.
- If you are already enrolled in credit recovery classes, you must pass them by May 20, 2020 to be eligible for graduation.
- All assignments used for credit must be completed and submitted as specified by the teacher by May 20, 2020.
Caps and Gowns
Caps and gowns were ordered and paid for earlier in the school year. All seniors that meet the graduation requirements and have met all financial obligations to the school will receive their cap & gown regardless if commencement is held or not. Stay tuned for more information regarding the pick-up of senior caps & gowns.
QUESTIONS ABOUT SCHOOL CALENDAR
Will we be required to make up all the school time we missed?
No.
When will the school year end?
Our last day of school will be Wednesday, June 10th.
The last day of school for seniors will be Wednesday, May 20th.
When is the Jr./Sr. High School Open House?
Wednesday, August 19, 2020
When is the 6th Grade Open House?
Tuesday, August 18, 2020
Will the start of the 2020-21 school year change?
No, but don’t forget that the Sand Creek school board and teachers agreed to start the 2020-21 school year two Mondays before Labor Day. The 2020-21 school year will start on Monday, August 24th.
Click here for a complete copy of the COVID-19 Learning Plan