March 18, 2020 by Kory Hokanson
Update 4-24-20
To ensure students’ and staff health and safety, Lincoln County School District #2 approved Adapted Learning Plan will continue through May 29. Students in LCSD #2 will not be returning to classrooms for the remainder of the 2019-20 school year. This decision was made collaboratively between the school district, county government and local health authorities. High school students will get further guidance from their building principals on Monday.
Star Valley, Cokeville, and Swift Creek High graduation ceremonies are still being planned for the same date and time as was previously calendared. All three high school principals have organized graduation planning committees composed of student body officers, senior class officers, parents and staff. At this time, we do not know exactly how these ceremonies will look. The high schools in the district are working very hard on providing the best opportunities possible to celebrate the accomplishments of the graduating classes of 2020 while still following the recommendations in place from the State of Wyoming, Lincoln County and local health care professionals.
The administrative team is meeting next week to determine if any adjustments to the Adapted Learning Plan are warranted. Changes, if any, will be communicated to parents and students.
We sincerely want to thank our students, parents and community for all of your support in this unprecedented time.
Regards,
Wade Hirschi, Chairman, Board of Trustees
Eileen Merritt, Vice-Chairman, Board of Trustees
Lane Allred, Board Clerk
Connie Day, Board Treasurer
Tim Teichert, Board Member
Tyler Brog, Board Member
Lanny Draney, Board Member
Matt Erickson, Superintendent
Dr. Amanda McAdams, Director of Elementary Education
Jason Horsley, Director of Secondary Education
Nathan Wescott, Director of Special Services
Administration met with all teachers and staff today to review new procedures during the school closure period including a schedule for
For all students, Lincoln County School District #2 use of interactive audio and video conferencing may be used as options to provide Adapted Learning Instruction while schools are closed for the COVID-19 pandemic. Please click this link to read more about this resource as well as the process to OPT-OUT if you so choose. https://lcsd2.org/…/Informed-Audio-Video-Delivery-of-Academ…
Materials/Assignments Pick-Up Schedule
Elementary Schools
On Wednesday, April 8, from 1:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Star Valley elementary schools will have a material pick-up/library book drop-off. Please bring any school library books for drop-off in a receptacle. Please see individual schools below, including Cokeville, for more directions (check school websites as well).
AES: On Wednesday 1:00 p.m. -7:00 p.m., Kindergarten and 2nd grade please pull up in your car in the drop-off lane, tell us your student and teacher name and we will retrieve and bring the packet/s to you. 1st and 3rd grade parents, please pull up in the bus area and use the same procedure. Please stay in your car.
On Thursday 8:00 a.m. -3:00 p.m., there will be self-serve for any remaining packets from tables under the covered entry near the front office. (Teachers are washing hands, wearing gloves, and practicing social distancing. We encourage you to return work digitally via texted pictures, email, SeeSaw, or whatever works best between you and your child’s teacher.)
CES: Packet pickups will be on Thursdays from 2:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m. Please check the school website for additional information.
EES: Wednesday, April 8, from 1:00 p.m. -7:00 p.m. You are allowed to drive to the rear of the building and park. Please come to the rear exterior door that is labeled for your child’s grade level. Staff will take your name, go to your child’s cubby and retrieve any items in the cubby to include: important literature books for reading, textbooks, and other information for our adapted learning plan. If you are unable to come during these times, please contact the school at (307) 885-2472 so we can arrange for an alternate pick up time.
OES: Wednesday, April 8, from 1:00 p.m. -7:00 p.m. Please pull in through the SOUTH main school entrance and pull up to the curb in front of the office. Please stay in your car. Please have a sign with LARGE letters stating your child’s name and the name of their teacher. Staff will then retrieve the materials and deliver them to your vehicle.
TES: Wednesday, April 8, from 1:00 p.m. -7:00 p.m. The available packets are a replication of the Google Classroom. If you are already using Google Classroom with your teacher, you do not need to pick up packets at school. For example, most 3rd grade students are logged on to Google Classroom and won’t need to pick up packets.
For those families NOT able to or wanting to use Google Classroom, please pull up to the main school entrance and stay in your car. Please have a sign with LARGE letters stating grade, teacher name, child’s name. Staff will then retrieve the materials and deliver them to your vehicle.
Star Valley Middle School
Star Valley Middle School will be allowing one family in the building at a time for pick-up and delivery of paper assignments. The building hours will be Tuesdays and Thursdays through the end of April from 7:30 a.m.- 5:30 p.m. Please note that the front doors will be locked, so please knock on the front door. If no one opens the door, it is because we are helping another student. If you need to pick up something from your locker/PE locker or a band instrument, you will be able to do that; however, classrooms and the library will not be available. If you need assistance please contact (307) 885-5208, (307) 887-2015 or (307) 248-1433.
Cokeville High School
Cokeville High School students may pick up items left at school Monday-Thursday from 8:00 a.m.- 12:00 p.m.
Star Valley High School
Star Valley High School Students may pick up music instruments and other items left at school Wednesday, April 8 from 1:00 p.m.- 7:00 p.m.
Students will not be allowed to meet or “hangout” at the school. Although we recognize their desire to be together, picking up items will be limited to retrieving the item(s) and exiting the building. We want to protect our students and staff during this interaction. If you are sick please do not come to the school to pick up items.
Good Afternoon. We are excited to announce the Wyoming Department of Education (WDE) has approved the LCSD2 Adaptive Learning Plan during the extended school closure. What does this mean? Beginning April 6th, 2020, LCSD2 students will receive educational services remotely according to the approved Adaptive Learning Plan. All LCSD2 staff will be meeting, virtually, Monday morning at 8:00 with their respective principal or director for final plan implementation details. You can expect to receive information Monday afternoon, April 6 from your student’s teacher and/or school with specific details. We understand this new adventure creates many questions. LCSD2 looks ahead with optimism. We understand that this adaptive approach may be different for each student. We accept the challenge and we will rely on increased communication with parents, students, and teachers during this time. It is not our intention to replicate the classroom or a typical school day inside a student’s home. It is our intention, however, to provide learning opportunities to support your students unique needs. We ask for your continued support as we navigate this national emergency. Please don’t hesitate to provide feedback to your child’s teacher or principal.
Grab and Go Breakfast and Lunch
Grab and Go Breakfast and Lunch will again be available beginning Monday, April 6, for all children 18 years of age or younger, to include preschool, enrolled or not. Children do not need to be present. Parents/guardians may pick up the meals. To help with meal preparation please go to the following link Grab and Go Sign Up on our website or type https://forms.gle/SGrgm1hCNRjUkc7h9 in your menu bar, to sign up for these meals.
Dear Parents of Star Valley High School Students,
Good Morning. We have finalized our plan for instructional learning opportunities and delivery, student food pickup, and student resources during the school closure. Please share this letter with your student. Yesterday, when I met virtually with our teaching staff I was inspired by their genuine concern for our students and their willingness to “go beyond” to provide instruction and support for them. Tuesday, teachers reached out to their homeroom students to “check-in”. If you or your student have not connected with his/her homeroom teacher please ensure your contact information is correct in Infinite Campus so we can effectively communicate with you during this time.
Star Valley High School Students can participate with our at-home learning opportunity through the Canvas instructional platform. SVHS students should be familiar with this platform. Teachers will be contacting students later this week through Canvas and/or school email. We ask that students respond promptly to requests from teachers to ensure communication is happening. Teachers will be creating lessons and providing feedback regularly, generally between 8am-4pm. To meet the individual demands of all students, we have asked that teachers respond within 24 hours to student and parent communication. Please be patient as we navigate this new adventure, and don’t hesitate to reach out to your child’s teacher if you need additional support.
The following list may be helpful to both you and your student:
Counselors will be available during the school closure. If you have questions or concerns regarding credits, graduation, etc. Counselors can be reached daily.
If your call is answered by voicemail, please leave a message or send an email and a counselor will contact you.
Students or parents may come to the building Thursday – Friday March 18th-20th from
7:30am – 12:30pm to pick up needed items left at the school. (Band instruments, PE clothes, Art supplies, etc.)
Students will not be allowed to meet or “hangout” at the school. Although we recognize their desire to be together, picking up items will be limited to retrieving the item(s) and exiting the building. We want to protect our students and staff during this interaction. If you are sick please do not come to the school to pick up items.
I trust, during this historic time, we can provide a learning opportunity that will support Star Valley High School students. Please take a moment to enjoy the additional time with your child. SVHS administration will be available throughout the school closure. If we can support you or your student in any way, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
Thanks,
Jason Horsley
Principal
Star Valley High School
UPDATE March 17, 3:25 p.m.
Today, each building held meetings with administration and teachers to work on a unified plan for delivery of instruction and to create a list of possible educational resources for parents/students. In addition, the food service team met to discuss a plan for food availability for all children ages 18 years and younger at specified sites. Tomorrow, after administrators meet again, parents and students should expect more information on the following: food service schedule/sites, educational resources for families and community, and a preliminary plan for delivery of instruction.
Notification was received by the Wyoming Dept. of Education that all schools would be held harmless for closures occurring on school calendar days from March 16 to April 3, 2020. What this means for Lincoln County School District #2 is that we will not be required to make up the days that schools are closed through April 3.
Dear Families and Community:
The district administrators met today and discussed preliminary plans for staff and students affected by the school closure in Lincoln #2. The direction for the next two days is as follows: Tuesday- staff meetings will be held to create a unified plan for delivery of instruction and to provide a list of possible educational resources for parents/students. A plan for food service to students will be developed. Wednesday- administrators will meet to coordinate the delivery of resources.
Due to the ever-changing direction we are receiving from the state and national level, we will continue to provide notification as information becomes available. Additional updates will be provided after the administrators meet on Wednesday.
We have applied to the Wyoming Dept. of Education for a waiver on our required school days due to the emergency closing of school. Once a decision has been reached, we will have direction regarding possible make-up days.
This has been an incredibly challenging time for the entire LCSD2 community. We want to thank you for your patience and understanding as we have dealt with this unprecedented situation. We will continue to keep you updated via email, text, social media, and our website.
Once again, thank you.
Sincerely,
Matt Erickson, Superintendent
Lincoln County School District #2 school closure! Late this afternoon, Sunday, March 15, Governor Mark Gordon and State Superintendent Jillian Balow recommended that all schools are closed to students through at least April 3. LCSD#2 is following the recommendation of Governor Gordon and Supt. Balow and will close all schools until April 6. LCSD#2 Administration will release further plans after meetings are concluded Monday morning. Updates will be on our websites, social media and SVI. District administrators will be contacting staff over the next few hours.
As of right now, school will continue in LCSD#2 as planned. Supt. Erickson has a conference call scheduled at 8:30 a.m. on Monday morning with Governor Gordon, Jillian Balow and Dr. Alexia Harrist. Following the call the district administration team will meet to discuss recommendations based on that conference call. We encourage parents to do what they feel is best for their own family. Leniency with absences will be handled on a case by case basis. Updates will be provided on social media and school websites as they become available. If more urgent communication is needed the school district will use the emergency school notification system.