Dear Greendale Middle School and High School Families:
Thank you to everyone for their quick response to last week’s survey request. We have received responses from the majority of our GMS and GHS students and are working to place students in classes and schedules for semester 2 based on these preferences. If you did not complete the survey, your child will be scheduled according to the preference you selected in the fall. Here are the results of the survey.
Greendale Middle School Responses
21.2 percent of families selected fully-virtual instruction
78.8 percent chose the in-person learning environment
Greendale High School Responses
22.4 percent of families selected fully-virtual instruction
77.6 percent chose the in-person learning environment
As a reminder, the instructional model for second semester includes fully-virtual Wednesdays for ALL students in the district. Last week’s survey data indicated that 26 percent of our families have students in elementary school and many rely on the supervision of their older children on Wednesdays to support their younger students at home. A second semester learning plan will be shared with students and families next week and will include information on the Wednesday schedule.
All GMS students choosing fully-virtual instruction will be taught by Greendale Middle School teachers. Schedules and teacher assignments may be different in semester 2.
For GHS students selecting fully-virtual instruction, we will assign virtual sections of courses with enough students enrolled to be virtually taught by a GHS teacher. For other requested courses, some GHS virtual students will be provided with daily, synchronous instruction from an in-person Greendale classroom. Courses unable to be taught at GHS will be pursued through Wisconsin Virtual School. If this update changes your preference for learning environment, please email Associate Principal Chris Del Ponte by Friday, January 15, at 3:00 p.m.
For ALL students selecting in-person learning, we continue to look at class sizes and ways to utilize the largest classroom spaces available to maximize distance and minimize the number of students in a physical space. Additional locations will be used for lunch periods to ensure we maintain distance to minimize risk.
Here is the schedule for GMS and GHS students to begin the second semester:
January 18 - No School Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. Greendale Staff Day of Service
January 19 - No School for Students. Staff will be continuing to process the recent response survey data and scheduling students into the appropriate classes.
January 20 - 29 - ALL STUDENTS begin semester 2 in a fully-virtual environment according to their semester 2 schedules and following the daily, synchronous learning plan we used at the end of semester 1. During this time, Greendale Schools will be adjusting classes and class locations to maximize spacing for students and staff enrolled in in-person learning. Student schedules for semester 2 will be available in PowerSchool by 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 19. Course information and classroom logins will be shared with students in Google Classroom by 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday.
February 1 - In-school classes begin for students choosing in-person learning for semester 2. Fully-virtual instruction continues for students choosing virtual learning.
Navigating the many challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic are ongoing. Thank you for your understanding as we work together to provide the best possible learning experience for all students in Greendale Schools.
Sincerely,
Kim Amidzich, Superintendent
GMS and GHS Semester 2 Learning Plan Information
Greendale Schools is seeking feedback from GMS and GHS families regarding their preferences for a learning environment for the second semester of the 2020-2021 school year. Families may choose fully-digital learning or the in-person option while weighing the risks and making a choice that best meets your physical health needs, social and emotional needs, and academic needs. Parents/ guardians should complete the survey with their students.
In the in-person learning model, students return to school 4-days per week, in a regular school schedule with Wednesdays remaining fully virtual. Families should understand that students may not be 6-feet from one another in the classroom setting, but students will be distanced as much as possible. Staff would be able to maintain 6 feet of distance and other safety precautions will remain in place, including face coverings, sanitizing, frequent hand washing, and contact tracing close contacts for quarantine. Complete information on district mitigation strategies is shared here.
Please Note: With the in-person learning model, students may have increased likelihood of quarantine. If a student is identified for quarantine, the student will receive instructional materials and support, but should not expect live video instruction for the temporary absence. We appreciate that this may be an interruption for the quarantined students, and we must balance the disruption to students attending in person. If the period extends beyond three school days, teachers will work with families to arrange for live video support periodically during the absence.
Families are asked to respond to the survey by 8 a.m. on Tuesday, January 12, 2021, so that second semester schedules can be assigned to students and staff. Please complete one survey for each student in your household. The link to the survey has been emailed to families of students grades 6 through 12.
Families will be notified when learning will begin for the second semester by January 15, 2021.
The COVID-19 public health emergency is ongoing and new information and guidance is provided frequently. I encourage you to continue to monitor the Dashboard for Moving Learning Environments as well as the School Nurse webpage and Principal’s Weekly newsletters for updated information. Thank you again for your support of our schools.
Talking to Your Child About The Violence at the US Capitol
Images from the January 6, 2021, events at the US Capitol Building can be troubling to see. Greendale teachers were prepared with research-based strategies to support students' emotional response and questions in their digital classrooms on Thursday. Resources for use by families are shared on the School Safety & Student Wellness webpage. If your family needs additional support for this or any student wellness concern, please contact your school pupil services team.
Listen to Ms. Kilpin's Podcast
GSD School Social Worker, Trisha Kilpin, a 2021 Wisconsin Teacher of the Year, was featured in a WASB Podcast talking about her work that supports the social and emotional health of the students and families of Greendale Schools. The podcast includes interviews with two other #2021WITOY s. Listen to it here! (Ms. Kilpin's interview begins around the 22:40 mark.)
An Important Message from Mrs. Amidzich: Learning Update Presentation at the Dec. 21 School Board Meeting
Greendale Schools families received a phone call from Mrs. Amidzich, Superintendent of Schools on Friday afternoon, December 18. The transcript of that message is shared below. A recording of the message is shared here.
Hello Greendale Schools Families!
This is Kim Amidzich, superintendent of Greendale Schools. I am calling today with information about our return to learning after winter break and to let you know about an important presentation I will be making to the School Board at its meeting on Monday.
Please check your email for more information on my presentation and our plans to reopen for in-person learning after winter break.
As we return to learning after winter break, our goal continues to be to return students and staff to the safest environment possible in Greendale’s schools.
I appreciate the feedback from the community that has been shared with the Board of Education and me. We have received numerous emails from concerned families regarding the learning environment for students, and the desire to return to in-person instruction. An online petition has also been launched to gather community support for a return to five-days per week in person learning for our students.
I want you to hear from me and to know for certain: Greendale Schools hears and understands your concerns and your requests. We continue to seek the best balance of safety, learning, and social and emotional well-being for our students. As the superintendent of schools, I feel the full weight of responsibility for the safety and wellbeing of our staff, our students and your families.
I am happy to report that the spike in Covid-19 cases we expected following the Thanksgiving holiday has not happened! So on January 11th, all elementary students who chose in person attendance will return to the in-person learning plan with the safety mitigation measures in place! We intend for this learning plan to be in place through the end of the school year. Please know there may be occasional classroom quarantines or temporary moves to digital learning if cases of Covid-19 spike in a school, or the community, according to our dashboard markers.
This Monday, December 21st, the Board of Education will be hearing my update on student learning. I will provide detailed information on where we are now and what our plans are for the coming semester. The meeting begins at 7 p.m. and will be livestreamed on the district’s YouTube channel. A link to that channel is found on the district website. The Board meeting agenda, with written board reports, is also posted online.
In my report, I highlight the new quarantine guidelines from the CDC, and request the Board’s guidance on plans for second semester learning for students at Greendale Middle School and Greendale High School. Please read the report and tune into Monday’s meeting.
Our school teams are working to support student social and emotional wellness. I want to remind you of a resource that has been shared frequently in the principal’s weekly newsletters:
The Greendale Schools' Student and Family Assistance Program (SFAP) offers FREE access to professional mental health support for all Greendale Schools families and students. More information is also found on the website, or by calling (800) 236-3231. As always, our school counselors, school social workers, and school psychologists are available by phone or email for consultation and support.
To help students and families as the pandemic continues, Greendale Schools will offer FREE caregiver training. Details of that offering will be shared with families after Winter Break. We expect to offer a live webinar, with a recorded version available for families unable to attend the live event.
I want to close by saying that I am truly grateful for your support, patience and grace during this time of great uncertainty. I look forward to when the pandemic is considered over and I can welcome all of your children back to our schools.
Please be safe and well! Enjoy a great winter break. Thank you.
Celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King's Legacy: Art & Essay Contests
We are expanding the work that the Greendale Welcomes Diversity Program Committee started last year with its MLK Essay Contest by creating a Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Art Contest for Greendale students K-12. Students may choose to enter the Art Contest or Essay Contest as we will honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Both contests raise awareness about Dr. King's accomplishments using a theme from one of his sermons.
The requirements of the contest differ depending on the grade of the students, but all are intended to teach students about Dr. King’s legacy. Click Here for more information. Deadline for contest submissions is January 15, 2021.
Winners will be invited to present their submission at a Digital MLK Day Program on January 22, 2021 at 6:00 p.m.
Equity Report First 100 Days
Greendale Schools is moving forward with equity. In the past four months, I have witnessed the resilience, dedication and heart of the Greendale Community. We are working to gain trust from community members that have felt disenfranchised and unheard. We are creating structural change to address the bias systems that exist in our schools. We are celebrating our differences and seeing that we are stronger together. We are ensuring that our libraries and curriculum represent every student. We have work to do and we are open to feedback. Greendale Schools will be sending out equity updates quarterly to showcase the work we are doing to create a safe, loving and rigorous school district for all of our students. Please click on this link to read the first Equity Update: First 100 Days of the Director of Equity and Instruction. Please contact Maggy Olson, Director of Equity & Instruction, with any questions or concerns.
Digital Versions of GHS Yearbooks Now On Sale!
Digital versions of the entire collection of Greendale High School yearbooks is available for purchase! A history preservation project of the Greendale Historical Society, a flash drive with PDFs of the books is available for $25.
Phone orders: 414.421.1938 (24 hour, leave a message)
Please contact the Greendale Historical Society for more information!
REMEMBER FREE Daily Meals!
The USDA has extended the FREE meals program for all GSD learners through the end of June 2021! As a reminder FREE meals are available on school days for all children (ages 0 to 18).
Curbside meals (BREAKFAST AND LUNCH!) are distributed on school days, including Digital Wednesdays, from 11:30 a.m . - 1:00 p.m. from the circle drive at Greendale High School. No sign up is required and the child does not have to be present to receive the meal.
FREE MEALS are also offered to IN-PERSON LEARNERS in our school cafeterias. Families are eligible for ONE free Breakfast and ONE free lunch meal per day per student. The menu served is now listed under Elementary Lunch.
Child Development Days 2020-2021
Greendale Schools will conduct a modified, individualized version of Child Development Days, which has recently been offered four times annually at a district location, because of the current COVID-19 public health emergency. This service is offered to all Greendale resident children turning 3 or 4 years of age during the 2020-2021 school year. The individualized approach to child development screening will ensure the highest level of safety for children, families, and staff. Visit the district Pupil Services webpage for more information.
