LM’s Plan for Reopening Fall 2020 – Update #3

Summer is passing quickly and I pray you are finding respite with your family.  Our pandemic response team continues to shape the Fall Reopening Plan, but each step involves many decisions and often under changing guidelines.  We continue to ask for prayers for the Lancaster community and grace and patience as we bring you more information in the coming weeks. We look forward to seeing you later this month!

Plan for Educational Delivery Choices

Elementary (PreK-5th Grade) students are able to choose from In-person or Hybrid academic models. Middle School (6-8th Grade) students are able to choose from In-person or Hybrid academic models. High School (8th-12th Grade) students are able to choose from In-person, Hybrid or Remote academic models.

Due to limited interest and the workload required for teachers, at this time we are not planning to offer exclusive online/remote instruction for elementary or middle school students. However, if you have indicated you are interested in exclusively online/remote instruction for elementary or middle school student(s), please talk directly to your campus Principal.

LM is providing in-person, hybrid and remote (high school only) learning options for our student this school year. See the details on each below:

• In-Person Model: We are maintaining the option to educate every student, in-person, every day, while taking precautionary measures to provide safe, healthy spaces for learning. Based on initial feedback, we anticipate most students will select this option, and so we are continuing to work diligently to have a safe return to the classroom. However, we recognize that during the year a student or faculty/staff member may either come in contact with someone with COVID-19, themselves get sick that will require them to quarantine or stay home, or the state will require us to close and go to fully remote instruction again. If that occurs, we are prepared to provide remote instruction. In the coming communication next week we will share more information about contact tracing and when students/employees are required to stay home or quarantine. See more information in the FAQs.

• Hybrid Model: In this option, students would attend school in-person three days a week – on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays; and complete school remotely two days a week  – Wednesdays and Fridays. When students are completing school remotely, they would access LM instruction through live streaming and/or video recording, and complete assignments, assessments, and communicate with LM teachers via our learning management system, Schoology or Seesaw, and the Google Suite. Note that this is not a two-cohort model which some schools plan to implement, but provides an option for reduced in-school presence. The hybrid model helps to reduce class sizes and is an option for those that aren’t yet comfortable with being at school everyday or want a flexible option in/out of school option. See more information in the FAQs.

• Remote Model: Students are able to stay home and access instruction through live streaming and/or video recording, and complete assignments, assessments, and communicate with LM teachers via our learning management system, Schoology, and the Google Suite. This fully remote option is available only for grades 9-12. If middle school families desire remote-only delivery, please contact us to explore options. See more information in the FAQs.

Choosing Your Academic Delivery Option for the School Year:

In addition to indicating your academic delivery model you also need to sign and complete the waivers that are part of this form. So please be sure even if you are choosing in-person instruction you walk through the steps to complete this form when it arrives next week. Stay tuned to your email inbox next week!

Reopening School FAQs

•  Face Coverings & Masking Requirement
• Traveling
• Hybrid Learning
• Remote Learning

Changes to Back to School Orientation:

Due to the state gathering limitations for holding groups of more than 25 people, we are moving all of our Back to School Orientation nights to a remote/online format.

Times may have changed, so please check the schedule link to confirm the date and time for your campus. You’ll need to use this page to access the video link for your online orientation event.

New Orientation Dates & Times:

Lancaster Campus (Grades 6th-12th)

We are moving back our orientation for new and returning students to Wednesday, August 19th at 7:00 PM (was previously August 18-20) and we are making it virtual rather than in-person. A link will be shared prior to that evening and a follow-up video recording. Please plan to join to learn back to school information and processes that will be new for everyone this year.

For new students, we invite you to attend campus on Wednesday, August 19th, last name A-L at 6:00 PM and M-Z at 7:00 PM to walk through your schedule and familiarize yourself with the campus.

Locust Grove Campus (Grades PreK-8th)

• August 18 – Virtual Zoom Meeting – On Tuesday, August 18 at 6:30 PM, you are invited to join our virtual Zoom meeting for all families. This will replace an in-person orientation meeting as we attempt to avoid large group indoor gatherings until these limitations are lifted.  A link will be sent for you to join.
  
• August 19 from 5:30 – 7:00 pm – K-5 English Class, all 6th graders, and any NEW middle school students  drop off supplies – On Wednesday, August 19,  K-5 English class students, 6th grade students, and all NEW middle school students are invited to come to Locust Grove Campus from 5:30-7:00 pm to drop off supplies, briefly meet your teacher and see your classroom.
  
• August 20 from 5:30 – 7:00 pm – K-5 Spanish Immersion students drop off supplies – On Thursday, August. 20, K-5 Spanish Immersion students are invited to the campus from 5:30-7:00 pm to drop off supplies, briefly meet your teacher and see your classroom.
• August 19 or 20 – PreK students will be divided by Mrs. Miller and invited to come on August 19 or 20. Please look for an email from her.

New Danville Campus (Grades PreK-5th)

All families are asked to attend at least the virtual orientation on the 19th, which will be recorded and emailed if you cannot attend that night.

• August 19 – 6:30pm – Virtual Back-to-School Orientation on Zoom – Mrs. Carson will present reopening safety guidelines, schedules, and other information for parents. This session will be recorded and emailed if you cannot join “live.” Join at this link, using the passcode “ND.”
• August 20 – Meet-the-Teacher Drop-In – Please swing by to pick up a packet with important information to read and sign before school starts. You may choose to come inside during your assigned time slot. Just park, wear a face covering, practice getting a temperature check at the door, find your child’s classroom, and say a quick hello to the teacher.
  • 6:30-6:45 – Drive-Thru only – If you prefer not to come inside, pick up your packet and greet your teacher from your car!
  • 6:45-7pm – Families with new students only – You will be assisted in finding your child’s classroom.
  • 7:05-7:20 – Returning families with multiple students – We will greet you and let you know which teacher to visit first.
  • 7:25-7:40- Returning families with only one student

Stay Tuned!

Please let us know if there is anything we can do to help your student or family with a smooth transition back to school.

We are immensely grateful for your support and patience as we put these new procedures in place. We are so thankful that you are each part of our LM community, and can’t wait to begin learning and growing with you again very soon!  Please continue to join us in praying for the safety, health and well being of our students, families, faculty and staff, and community. 

Sincerely, 

Dr. Pam Tieszen & the Pandemic Response Team

Pandemic Response Team:

CFO: Lorri Hengst

Director of Marketing & Communications: Aubrey Kreider

Director of Enrollment: Christy Horst

Principals: Lindsay Carson, Miles Yoder and Michael Charles

Asst Principal: Kirk Benner

Curriculum Team Member: Jennifer Esbenshade

Athletic Director: Marvin Sanders

Maintenance Director: Troy Hurst

Director of Food Service: Jennifer Strickler

Superintendent: Pam Tieszen