On Thursday, September 4th, the WWSC School Board met to discuss ways to help our teaching staff deliver the best WW instruction and curriculum possible.
\r\nThere were several actions approved including: staffing, additional supports, and improvements in technology/connectivity.
\r\nThe action that affects our schedule and our community is an adjustment to include a virtual day for students in grades 7-12 on Wednesdays each week. This means that NO students in grades 7-12 will physically attend school on Virtual Wednesdays. This will begin on Wednesday September 9th and continue up to Fall Break. We will continue to evaluate the need and frequency for a Virtual Wednesday for the months following Fall Break. This type of hybrid model is not uncommon in schools across the state. The Virtual Wednesdays will count toward our required 180 student days.
\r\nThis action is NOT due to mitigating the spread of Covid, but to allow our teachers that are simultaneously teaching in-person students and virtual students during a school day time to plan and prepare the high standard of instruction we expect at West Washington. We believe that our mitigation plan to social distance, wear masks, and sanitize has been largely effective and those plans will remain intact.
\r\nData to Support this decision-
\r\nStudents participating Virtually:
Corporation-Wide
157 students
18% all students K-12
K-6
59 students
13% all students K-6
7-12
98 students
22% all students
Students with extended periods of quarantine/absence are added to the virtual list. This increased the numbers above and the burden on teachers teaching virtual and in-person students simultaneously.
WWSC is one of the few schools that deliver our own curriculum with instruction from our own teachers. We are not pushing out a “canned” online curriculum.
Students in grades 7-12 have a greater capacity to complete tasks independently and not need child care.
Reported concerns from meetings with teachers to support the need for additional time to take on the incredible task of teaching in-person and virtual students simultaneously.
On Virtual Wednesdays (Grades 7-12) teachers will have work and instruction posted by 9:00 am. Students in grades 7-12 are expected to complete the assigned work on Virtual Wednesdays by 9:00 pm to be considered in attendance. Technical questions and support can be requested by filling out the online Tech Ticket or through the Jr/Sr High School Office (812) 755-4996.
\r\n***Students in grades PreK-6th will be expected to be in physical attendance on Wednesdays. The only exceptions are the elementary students that are already virtual or students that are out sick.
\r\n***This is not a “DAY OFF” for students or staff. Our staff will be working diligently, in our buildings, to prepare the high quality instruction for which West Washington is known.