Hybrid Model

Description

This option provides a blend of in-person and livestreamed instruction. Students will be broken into cohorts of either H1 or H2 to allow for smaller class size and appropriate social distancing of 6 feet within the classroom.

Hybrid options are as follows:

  • H1 - Mondays, Wednesdays and alternating Fridays
  • H2 - Tuesdays, Thursdays and alternating Fridays

 

Classes on Fridays will be dismissed two hours early for all students in order for teachers to have additional preparation time, beginning November 6. October 30 will be a regular dismissal day.

 

When students are not receiving in-person instruction, they will be at home and lessons will be livestreamed from the classroom to their Chromebook (secondary students through Google Meet; Canvas will be utilized for content delivery both in-person and at home.) When receiving lessons livestreamed, students will have the opportunity to participate in the lessons. At times throughout the day, students will participate in asynchronous/independent work similar to being in the actual classroom. 

Sample Hybrid Schedule

   Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday
 Week 1 H1 H2 H1 H2 H1*
 Week 2 H1 H2 H1 H2 H2*
 Week 3 H1 H2 H1 H2 H1*
 Week 4 H1 H2 H1 H2 H2*

*Classes on Fridays will be dismissed two hours early for all students in order for teachers to have additional preparation time, beginning November 6. October 30 will be a regular dismissal day.

 

Activities

Clubs or other activities outside of the school day will be phased in as deemed necessary by each school. Each activity will follow the appropriate protocols and guidelines.

Attendance

Students are expected to attend daily whether in-person or at home receiving live streamed instruction. Teachers will take attendance each morning in homeroom for both in person and at home learning at the elementary level and at the start of each class for secondary students. Parents are required to follow our standard protocols for reporting a student absent by calling/emailing the main office attendance secretary (secondary families should not email the main office), homeroom teacher, or using the SafeArrival app to schedule an absence.  Please refer to our elementary attendance guidelines in the Elementary Handbook and our secondary attendance guidelines in the Middle School and High School handbooks.

The students, whether in-person or at home, will follow a typical schedule. Principals will assign students to either the A group or B group and will ensure families attend on the same days. 

Objectives

  • Social distancing and isolation with a smaller group of students for the entirety of the school day 
  • Some live interaction with their classmates
  • Continuity with their assigned teachers (homeroom teacher for secondary)
  • Flexibility in the process if/when COVID-19 spread spikes; seamless transition in/out

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

Elementary bagged breakfasts will be eaten in classrooms; lunch will be eaten in either the cafeteria or gym. Students will have assigned seats with their cohort of students; they will be seated 6ft apart to maintain social distancing. Secondary bagged breakfasts will be eaten in classrooms; lunch will be eaten in some large space areas and some classrooms.  

Movement in the Building

Students at the elementary level will remain in their homeroom for the entire day to receive instruction/lessons. Special area teachers will travel to the classrooms to provide lessons or, where feasible, conduct lessons outside. For the departmentalized grades, teachers will rotate classrooms to provide instruction in their content area. This will allow for less travel of students in the halls and stairwells. The master schedule will be designed to reduce the intermixing of staff and students and provide for greater social distancing. Throughout the day, students will be given mask breaks and movement breaks. Secondary students will follow a tradition bell schedule and will move about the building between classes. 

Social Distancing

All students’ desks will be 6ft apart in the classroom.  Each student will have his/her own desk in the classroom and their own assigned seating in the cafeteria. All desks in the classroom will face the teacher; all students seated in the cafeteria will face the same direction. Other non-essential furniture has been removed from the classroom to provide additional space. Students and staff will maintain 6ft distancing in the classroom, cafeteria, and halls.

Special Education

The district will work with families of students with Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) to determine the type of instruction that best meets the unique needs of students.  

Students with significant disabilities who are eligible for alternate assessment encompasses the 1-2% of students with disabilities who have the most significant needs. In recognition of the varied and complex needs of these students, those meeting this criteria have several options: 

  • Students may attend school for in-person instruction and related services five days per week during school hours.
  • Students previously receiving in-home special education assistant support during virtual learning may elect to continue these supports while attending school virtually.  This option is available only for families already accessing this service.
  • Families who are not comfortable sending their children to school or having special education assistant support in the home may elect for virtual assistant support.

Students with disabilities who are not eligible for alternate assessment will attend school on a hybrid basis (2-3 days per week in person with the remaining days virtually). Specially designed instruction and supports will continue to be delivered for students to make progress towards their IEP goals.  If a family believes that a student is in need of additional days in school beyond what is available through hybrid, they may make a written request for consideration through the educational selection survey sent to all families.  Requests will be reviewed and honored wherever possible while keeping in mind the needs of the student as well as the public health guidelines of 6 feet of social distancing.

Technology

NPSD approved the use of grant money to purchase more than $500,000 in video conferencing equipment to make this hybrid model robust and engaging. It will involve teachers interacting with online students via a large screen TV with camera, a microphone so students at home and in school can hear each other, and a wireless microphone for teachers to speak with online students directly. Watch this video to better explain how the technology will work. NPSD will continue to utilize Canvas as its learning management tool and other programs specific to individual teachers and courses. Students will be expected to bring their Chromebooks fully charged each day and take them home to charge each night.  Tech support will be available to assist with any technical issues during the day.