Dear Rising Tide Families,

Through the first few days of this extended closure, our leadership team, operations team, and faculty members have demonstrated tremendous flexibility, collaboration, and commitment in the work of supporting students and families. Our families have also shown great understanding and support of our school community and broader community. I have a few updates and reminders to share with families.

We now have a COVID-19 Information page on our website, including an archive of our emails to families since March 9, food services information, Chromebook loaner program information, external resources, and resources from our Wellness Team. We will keep updating this page throughout the extended closure in addition to emailing information directly to families.

This morning, from 9:30 am until 12:00 pm, families who requested hard copies of learning opportunities or Chromebook loaners were able to pick them up at the school. If you did not pick a Chromebook loaner today, but need one for your family, please complete the Rising Tide Chromebook Loaner Program Survey and we can arrange another window of time for families to pick up a Chromebook.

Each teacher at Rising Tide has posted opportunities on Google Classroom, for each course, for students to practice skills related to the course as well as opportunities for explorations related to the course. As I wrote on Monday, although these learning opportunities provided by the teachers will not replicate the important practice and exploration that can happen when school is in session, the suggestions from teachers are intended to keep students thinking and growing as Communicators, Investigators, Self-Directed Learners, and Community Stewards. Our teachers have done a wonderful job developing creative ways for students to practice skills and explore topics connected to their courses. Please encourage your children to stay engaged and connect with their teachers through Google Classroom.

These posted opportunities for practice and exploration will not be graded, but students are able to ask teacher’s questions through each Google Classroom. If the guidance from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s Commissioner Riley changes for the approach to teaching and learning in public schools in Massachusetts during this extended closure, we will communicate any new guidance with families.

Among many resources available to families, WGBH in Boston has created a Distance Learning Center with free, trusted digital resources in partnership with the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

 

With the information we have now, we will return to school on Tuesday April 7 after a three-week closure, during which our teachers have been able to suggest learning opportunities for students to stay connected to learning. We will start the fourth term on April 7, and teachers will provide second semester checkpoint feedback to all students on progress from January 27 through March 13. At this point we still plan to hold Student/Advisor/Parent conferences from April 15 through April 17.

 

As of this afternoon, we do not have any new information regarding the testing schedule for the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS).

If we are able to return on April 7, we will follow as many calendar items and events as scheduled, and reschedule as many special events as reasonable and appropriate. There are many questions that I imagine we all share to which we don’t yet know the answers.

What I do know is that our staff members at Rising Tide will remain committed to supporting students and families through this challenging time, and that we will find creative ways to overcome each aspect of the challenges before us.