Dear Families,

I hope this email finds you well as we wrap up the last week of instruction with students. I know this remote learning experience has been difficult for all of us, and placed a considerable amount of demands especially on you as parents. Thank you for hanging with us through the spring semester! Below you will find updates on summer school, school nutrition, graduation, and school-issued material return:

Summer School: We are offering optional continued learning opportunities throughout the summer. This Remote Summer Learning (S-Term), like our 4th quarter, looks very different from previous summer school experiences. We are targeting our focus on offering additional opportunities to help students academically, social-emotionally, with a generous amount of fun-filled movement activities, prepare for the next school year. While students/families choosing not to participate will in no way be "behind" when school starts due to electing not to sign-up, we are offering a chance for kids to get a preview and practice skills they have already learned this year. Please note there is a session offered each month which will provide a nice variety of "screen time" and a chance to still have a carefree, play-based summer. Here is the sign up form with course offerings. Here are the dates and a preview of how the courses will operate:

Dates:

Session 1: June 22- July 2, Monday -Thursday

Session 2: July 20- July 30, Monday - Thursday

Session 3: August 10 - August 20, Monday - Thursday

Session 1:

• • 8:00 AM - 10:00 AM: Whole group lesson, guided practice and feedback and independent application/task/activity

  • Continuation of math, literacy, STEM (science/arts/hands-on) and movement practice and review (review of critical concepts, standards, content from previous grade level)

Session 2:

• • 8:00 AM - 10:00 AM: Whole group lesson, guided practice and feedback and independent application/task/activity

  • Preview of next grade-level (use the first units of math, reading/writing/phonics) to create lessons, include a day of STEM and embed movement

Session 3:

• • 8:00 AM - 10:00 AM: Whole group lesson, guided practice and feedback and independent application/task/activity

  • Preview of next grade-level (use the first units of math, reading/writing/phonics) to create lessons, include a day of STEM and embed movement

Daily Schedule:

8:00 AM - Morning Meeting

8:10 AM - Live Whole Group Session

8:30 AM - 9:00 AM - Independent Practice and Work

9:00 AM - Live Whole Group Session

9:30 AM - 10:00 AM - Independent Practice and Work

School Nutrition: we will be serving lunch all summer. The sign-up sheet is sent out each week on Friday. We will continue the same pick-up locations. CHANGE: Starting June 16, we are offering meal pick-up on Tuesday and Thursday (you will still receive meals for multiple days)

Graduation: We are tentatively planning in-person graduation on August 7 at 7 p.m. on the football field (rain date is August 8 at 7 p.m.) This plan may change based on health conditions and safety guidelines. Please join us in honoring our seniors this Saturday night at 8:00- 8:20 p.m. by turning on your porch lights as we illuminate the athletic field at the high school, to celebrate the 2020 Senior Class on the day they were scheduled to graduate!

School-Issued Material Return: All school-issued materials need to be placed in a disposable bag, i.e., plastic baggie, grocery bag, etc., for return. If your child intends to enroll in summer school, please keep your child's chromebook until the end of the session they enroll in and then return at the meal pick-up at the District Office drive-up. If your child is not enrolling in summer school, please drop off your child's chromebook as soon as possible at the same meal pick-up location.

Safe Start to School in September: We know there are many questions about how the school year will start in regard to the ongoing uncertainty around COVID-19. There is an advisory team forming in June composed of school officials, health officials, teachers, students and parents from Montello, Westfield and St. John's Lutheran to plan for a safe reopening of schools in Marquette County in September. We will share updates and information on a regular base via Infinite Campus, MSD Website, Social Media and the Marquette Tribune.

On behalf of the Board of Education and MSD staff, please know how grateful we are for your ongoing, valued input and support. We are doing our very best to consider the health and well-being of everyone during this topsy-turvy time. I am exceedingly proud of your kids and each of you family members for your resilience and patience as we maintain our strong commitment to learning and growth for students.

Sincerely,

Marggie Banker, Ed.D.