2020/21 School Year Updates

January 11, 2021 Update

GFW preK-12th grade has returned to our model of in-person following hybrid guidelines at all grade levels.

This means that students who were in learning pods will move back into their classrooms and senior high students will return from the distance learning model. All classes will utilize the learning pods for any overflow students in the classroom. This model is the same as how we started the school year. All families will still have the option to continue distance learning if they choose to do so.

School Updates

January 5, 2021 Update

The school board met over the holiday break and decided that GFW students in preschool through eighth grade would return to school on January 4th in the same learning plan as they were prior to break, distanced out in pods with para support where needed.

Ninth through twelfth grade will continue to distance learn for the first week.

On Monday, January 11th GFW preK-12th grade will return to our in-person following hybrid guidelines model with all students returning to school.

This means that students at the junior high will move from their spaced out learning locations back into their classrooms with the use of learning pods.

All families will have the option to continue distance learning if they choose to do so.

There will be no school on Friday, January 8th so that desks can be moved and staff can prepare to move to a different learning model. We are still evaluating all of the requirements in the latest information from the Department of Education and will let you know about the updates in our upcoming newsletter.

December 10, 2020 Update

The Minnesota Department of Health has adopted the CDC guidelines for possible shorter quarantine times after exposure to COVID-19. GFW will follow these guidelines but it is important that you know your options and the expectations for quarantine.

December 1, 2020 Update

GFW Schools continue to provide a safe and caring environment for staff and students. Current active cases of COVID 19 remain in the single digits within our schools. Despite these low numbers, other data points indicate that we need to make some changes to support the safety of our entire community.

Starting on December 7th, 2020, GFW Public Schools will move students in grades 9th-12th to distance learning.

The Minnesota Department of Health and the Minnesota Department of Education guidance allows some students to continue in-person learning during the distance learning period. GFW Public Schools will utilize its Multi-tiered System of Support Team to identify students who will have the option to continue in-person learning on a part-time or full-time basis.

Students in PreK-8th grade will continue in-person following hybrid guidelines with additional social distancing and safety procedures which will include dividing each class in half during the day.

GFW Public Schools believes in-person learning best meets the educational needs of students. At the end of December, the GFW School Board will review its learning models to determine potential changes.

November 25, 2020 Update

At a school board on November 24, several learning models were considered as COVID-19 numbers continue to rise in the counties served by our district. While a learning model change could be on the horizon, the board has chosen to continue our learning model of in-person learning following hybrid guidelines.

School will begin on Monday, November 30 with extra emphasis on safety precautions, social distancing, and working together keep this model working. Please keep students home if they are feeling ill and follow the safety guidelines established by the Minnesota Department of Health.

We are excited to welcome and serve all students for the 2020-21 academic school year. This school year will undoubtedly be different from any other school year we have experienced as families, students, and staff. Our school staff have been working tirelessly with the Minnesota Department of Education and the Minnesota Department of Health throughout the summer to prepare for the school year.

GFW will use three learning models throughout the 2021 academic school year

In-person
In-person (Following Hybrid Guidelines)
Distance learning

We are happy to announce that we have enough space in our buildings to allow all students to return all day, everyday for in-person learning while complying with all Minnesota Department of Education and Minnesota Department of Health guidelines for hybrid learning. In the simplest of definitions, GFW can run all aspects of what is included in the hybrid model with 100% attendance. For families who are not able or ready to return, they may select distance learning as an option. Our Back to School Plan documents the details of each of the models.

The safety of our students, staff, and community is at the center of our Back to School Plan. We will be continually monitoring state, county, and local data as well as partnering with public health officials to make decisions. We ask that families stay flexible as we monitor and adjust to the data. This means we may need to change from one model to another model during the academic school year; we may also need to update the details within each model in order to respond to new executive orders, guidance, and data. We will make changes as needed here on the back to school website and push those updates out through emails and social media.

I believe our staff can and will provide a great education for our students this year that will meet the academic and social emotional needs of our students.

We look forward to a successful year!

Sincerely,

Jeff Horton