A closer look at Appleton school district's virtual guidelines

With so many questions about how virtual school is going to look for families, the Appleton Area School District has released new guidelines, kind of like an instruction manual you'd get with a new appliance.

SCHOOL IS GOING TOLOOK FOR FAMILIES...THE APPLETON AREASCHOOL DISTRICTHAS RELEASED NEWGUIDELINES... KIND OFA LIKE ANINSTRUCTION MANUALYOU'D GET WITH ANEW APPLIANCE.WE TAKE A LOOK ATWHAT YOU CANEXPECT WITH N-B-C26'S ABIGAIL HANTKE.ABIGAIL?LAST WEEK THEAPPLETON AREASCHOOL DISTRICTMADE THE DECISIONTO GO ALL-VIRTUALFOR THIS SCHOOLYEAR....THE DISTRICT SAYSWHILE MANY FAMILIESHAVE QUESTIONSABOUT WHAT ITSGOING TO LOOKLIKE...THEY'REHOPING THESEGUIDELINES CANHELP PUT SOMEPARENTS AT EASE."For myself, I also have thesame sense ofanxiousness, questions, Iknow not everyone canalways answer for me asa parent," said SteveHarrison, the assistantsuperintendent forassessment, curriculumand instruction.ASSISTANTSUPERINTENDANTSTEVE HARRISONKNOWS THIS SCHOOLYEAR IS GOING TO BEDIFFERENT.HOWEVER THEAPPLETON AREASCHOOL DISTRICTHAS A PLAN, THEY SAYIS BETTER THAN WHATWE SAW THIS LASTSPRING."As a district we learnedof the importance ofhaving one universallearning managementsystem, and so unlike lastspring, part of ourchanges for movingforward in the fall is usingCanvas," he said.THE DISTRICT'S NEWVIRTUAL GUIDELINESWILL BE FOCUSED ONKEEPING KIDS ON AROUTINE....ANDMAKING SURE THEYHAVE TIME TOINTERACT WITH EACHOTHER AND NOT JUSTSTARING AT A SCREENLISTENING TODIRECTIONS ALL DAYLONG.

WEDNESDAYSFOR ALL GRADES WILLBE USED ASINDIVIDUAL SUPPORTTIME FOR STUDENTSAND PLANNING...."For elementary students,we'll still be utilizing thesame instructional blocksof time."AND PARENTS, NOT TOWORRY, THE DISTRICTIS HOPING TO KEEPYOU FROM BEINGYOUR STUDENT'SFULL-TIME TEACHER."Certainly the role ofinstruction will remain withour highly-qualifiedteachers throughout thedistrict."WHILE THE DISTRICTSAYS THEY'RE STILLFINALIZINGSCHEDULES ANDTEACHERS...YOU'LL HAVE ACHANCE TO ASKMORE QUESTIONSDURING UPCOMINGVIRTUAL MEET ANDGREETS....BUT THEY SAY PARTOF THE KEY TOSUCCESS THIS YEAR,WILL BE KEEPINGOPEN LINES OFCOMMUNICATIONBETWEEN FAMILIESAND STAFF..."Whether we're in a fullyin-person hybrid or fullyvirtual environment, onething that absolutely willnot change is thecommitment of all of ourteachers, all of our staffmembers, for ensuring allof our students receive ahigh-quality education."THE FIRST DAY OFSCHOOL IS SET FORSEPTEMBER FIRST....HARRISON SAYSLAPTOPS ANDSCHOOL MATERIALSWILL BE DELIVEREDTO FAMILIES NOLATER THAN THESECOND WEEK OFSEPTEMBER.ABIGAIL HANTKE, NBC26IF PARENTS ARELOOKING FOR EXTRASUPPORT, THEDISTRICT SAYS A FEWLOCALORGANIZATIONS LIKETHE Y-M-C-A ANDBOYS AND GIRLSCLUB, HAVE SOMEOPPORTUNITIES TOHELP.YOU CAN CHECKOUT THE FULL SET OFGUIDELINES ON OURWEBSITE N-B-C 26DOT COM.OUR BACK TOSCHOOL COVERAGE