December 7, 2021
Good Evening Roseville Area Schools Families and Staff,
This evening the school board approved our proposal to shift to distance learning from home on the three days prior to the start of winter break, December 20, 21 and 22. COVID-19 infection rates in our community remain alarmingly high, and the number of positive cases in our school buildings is higher than at any other time during the pandemic. Staffing shortages among crucial workgroups such as substitute teachers, health, nutrition, and custodial services are stretching our education system like never before.
Shifting to distance learning on these three days will aid in interrupting viral transmission in our community, providing a 16-day break from in-person learning and allowing families a chance to get their child a second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. Below are details about upcoming opportunities to access vaccines and boosters during this time. We are encouraging families to have students tested regularly, including after participating in family gatherings and before returning from winter break.
The shift to distance learning will also allow our staff the opportunity to catch up on essential work to support our students and to address their health and wellness which has been challenged during this difficult time. We are taking action now to support student learning opportunities through the remainder of the year.
Sign-up for Essential Worker Childcare Dec. 20 - 22
We encourage families—if at all possible—to keep their students home to participate in distance learning on these days. However, if you are a worker in an essential industry (including healthcare and public health, law enforcement, public safety and first responders, food and agriculture, judicial branch, National Guard, educators and school staff providing care for critical workers, and childcare providers caring for children of critical workers) and need childcare for your elementary school-aged student for December 20 - 22, please complete a registration for each child attending no later than Monday, December 13. Childcare will be provided for free at each of our elementary schools for families of workers in essential industries whose students are in full-day pre-K (age 4 by 9/1/2021) through 6th grade and will run the same hours our elementary schools typically run.
Sign-up to Have Free Meals Sent Home
If you need nutrition support for your students for December 20 - 22, please fill out this form by Monday, December 13 for each student. We will send home, at no charge, three-day meal packs with breakfast, lunch and snacks on Friday, December 17. This is available for any family whose children are in early childhood programs and up to age 18. We encourage participation for all families to help support our Nutrition Services department – much like restaurants, we rely on student participation to support our staff throughout these unprecedented times.
What Learning will Look Like December 20 - 22
Students in pre-K, ECSE and elementary grades will have asynchronous learning (not directly interacting with teachers in real-time) all three days, using paper choice boards. Technology will not need to be sent home for these three days. Students will have access to their teachers via phone and email if they need support.
Students in secondary grades will have synchronous learning (interacting with teachers in real-time using technology) on Monday, and asynchronous on Tuesday and Wednesday. Students will have access to their teachers via phone and email if they need support.
Please watch for additional information from your student’s teacher and school in advance of these days.
We know that school continues to be impacted by this pandemic, making things so difficult for students, families, staff and administration. We believe taking these steps will help slow down the transmission of the virus, and also offer a chance for everyone to rest and recuperate, and be better prepared for learning to continue in January, when many of our elementary students will have completed their series of vaccinations against COVID-19.
Thank you for all that you do to support your students and the well-being of our entire community.
Sincerely,
Jenny Loeck, Ed.D.
Superintendent
Free testing options include:
