A word from Mr. Bruner about moving forward with distance learning.
Hello AEEC Families!
Now that we have come to the harsh reality that we will no longer be able to join together for the remainder of the 2019-20 school year, I am reaching out to provide some guidance on our next steps as a school family.
Let me start by saying the past two weeks, while of course difficult, have also brought to light the many talents and skills, as well as spirit of determination and love, within our Auburn City Schools organization. The administration and teachers are now ready to move forward with a confident plan for distance learning. This plan was built with consideration of those with and without technological tools and reliable internet access.
You will, if you have not already, receive an invitation from your child’s teacher to join our learning platform, Seesaw. This is where you will receive your weekly assignments and resources and where you and your child can communicate with the teacher and submit work. Look for this first edition to be sent Sunday afternoon in preparation for the upcoming week. This week, March 30-April 3, will act as our trial week. While assignments will not be graded, please engage with the content so we can assess how each child is connecting and responding to the work. Teachers will still review and provide feedback as needed.
A couple notes about this trial week: While you or your child may be tempted to complete all work in one setting, it is most beneficial for young learners to spread this out to allow time to engage with and solidify the essential skills that have been identified. Following a schedule and aligning with the plan is recommended. This will also be a week for our special education and support teachers to assess each of the children with whom they work. This will be particularly important as we learn more together and alongside local and state agencies, of best practice in meeting the needs of all of our learners in a distance format.
Through our technology surveys, we have identified those families with whom hard copies will be mailed. Included is a self-addressed stamped envelope. You may return work via mail or, better yet, send a picture to your child’s teacher. We are working on a plan to distribute loaner iPads to those with WiFi but no device.
Included in each plan are activities from our specials area. While not graded, this will be a fantastic way to keep connected with Specials teachers and exercise our body as well as their artistic and musical brains!
Finally, we want to stay connected. Each week, your child’s teacher will have regular Zoom times. We understand life situations may cause logistical issues to where your child cannot always attend. We are certainly understanding toward this and will look to be creative in ways we can still connect to the teachers’ message, such as recorded Zooms, chats, or other means.
I sincerely hope you all are safe, healthy, and enjoying your family more than ever. If we can do anything at all, please reach out to me, your teacher, or any leadership team member. While in a traditional school setting or not, we are here for you and your child.
Warm regards,
Matt Bruner
mlbruner@auburnschools.org
