Ewing school administrators, staff iron out details of continuity of learning plan

Don't panic.

That's the message Ewing Principal Greg Appleby wants parents and students to follow as the school transitions into a continuity of learning plan.

The plan went into effect Wednesday, April 1. Students picked up assignments and textbooks on Monday.

"I feel good about what our teachers have planned," Appleby said.

Students have been out of the building since March 17. Enrichment activities were distributed then, with work set to wrap up March 30.

Appleby said those activities came about from a combination of legal and educational advice.

"Originally, we came up with activities for a two-week closure," he said.

Due to COVID-19 concerns, schools in Educational Service Unit 8 will not return to normal school operations for the remainder of the year.

But that doesn't mean the school year is over.

On March 23, Ewing officials reported they were following recommendations from local health officials, Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts and Dr. Matt Blomstedt, commissioner of the Nebraska Department of Education, to shutter the school for the remainder of the year

Now, students in all grades will follow the alternative learning environment plan.

"We're not changing the school calendar," Appleby said.

Seniors will continue homework through May 1, while all other students will complete coursework until May 19.

The continuity plan came together after administrators listened to webinars with service unit personnel, fellow administrators, NDE officials and the governor.

"Last Wednesday, I held a Zoom session with all staff to get input."

Appleby said the final plan is a compilation of suggestions from other schools, some of his ideas and staff input, "to put together what works for us."

"We know it's not the same as being in class," he said. "Hopefully, 75% of the curriculum should have been taught."

He asked faculty to pick out essential curriculum students will need to know.

"They're professionals. We rely on their professional judgment to see what's really important for those kids to progress for the next year."

Students in preschool through grade six will be given approximately three lessons a week in reading and math and one lesson per week in other subjects, including special classes like physical education, art, music and guidance.

Expectations for upper grade levels differs.

Junior and senior high school students will be responsible for two lessons a week in core subjects.

Two lessons are equivalent to 100 minutes of class time in a normal school setting.

"That could be broken down into several mini-lessons," the principal said.

Families with special education or resource students will come up with a plan that works on an individual basis for their student.

There will be a trial and error period.

"I told teachers no fluff work, no busy work. I want the essentials you want these kids to leave your class with."

Teachers will rely on a variety of ways to share lessons and communicate, including Canvas, Zoom, Facebook live groups and email.

Appleby said, "We don't have one cookie cutter way it'll look. We have to do what works for students and teachers."

In the beginning, flexibility will be key.

"We know what it's going to look like on April 1. It may be different in 10 days," Appleby said. "We'll be flexible and make it work. We'll get through this together."

Required student testing has been suspended for the year - no ACT for juniors, no NSCAS general or alternate testing.

Officials at the Nebraska Department of Education said they intend "to pursue federal waivers for testing, accountability and reporting requirements."

Additionally, NDE personnel will work with ACT administrators to make sure students who would take the ACT as part of the statewide assessment may have the chance to take the test free of charge at a later date.