oyster river cooperative school district

MESSAGE FROM SUPERINTENDENT MORSE

Hello Everyone The health and safety of our students and our staff are driving the work preparing for the opening of school This is my 45th year in

education and no issue I have dealt with has been harder than planning on how Oyster River opens school this fall with the COVID-19

pandemic on-going throughout the country

As the country struggles to contain the virus numerous medical reports have been published sometimes in conflict with each other Many

directives have been issued often in conflict with one another and politicians have issued statements that support their opinions which often

are not scientifically based and confuse the issue

I have heard from parents and guardians directly stating ldquoOpen schoolrdquo ldquoDo not open schoolrdquo ldquoBring the children back to schoolrdquo ldquoStay remote until therersquos a vaccinerdquo The atmosphere is charged with intensity and inherent conflict Opening school in these politically charged times is fraught with frustration and fear We began the re-opening dialogue with a survey of parents guardians faculty staff member and students in grades 5-12 The surveys were

well received with more responses than I have ever seen in my career They provided invaluable information the summary is included as a

hot button in the PowerPoint to follow ldquoLessons Learned from the Spring 2020 Remote Learning Based on Survey Datardquo

July 2020 Volume 2 Issue 1

Oyster River Cooperative School District Dr James C Morse Sr

Summer is singing with joy and the beaches are inviting you with dancing waves mdashDebasish Mridha

We formed a District Governance Committee and four building sub-committees to look at re-opening from the district level and the building

level with over fifty staff members participating We asked ourselves hundreds of questions that guided us moving forward

We partnered with the Portsmouth School District and with 2 Revolutions right after school was out They helped us frame the conversation

and it was so helpful working with our neighbors Each system brought unique perspectives to the table

We have read dozens of reports including those from the CDC the American Academy of Pediatrics the Return to School Roadmap the

Harvard School of Public Health and others all available as hot buttons in the PowerPoint

We have been in constant contact with other school systems within the South East region We have

shared our thoughts our work and our direction Each school system is dealing with unique issues As an example Oyster River is dealing

with a middle school that needs replacement and that educates 660 students a building that is so inadequate to the task that voters approved

its replacement We know our district is grappling with many of the same issues as other districts and we are considering all

recommendations to make the best decision for our community

We presented the attached PowerPoint to the School Board on July 8 2020 The purpose of the presentation was not to give specific

recommendations but to build a common foundation with the Board for the decisions yet to come On Tuesday July 14 the Board will dig

more deeply into the presentation and continue to discuss the possibilities for a return to school in the fall On July 30 the Board will be

discussing specific options and on August 5 the Board will be making decisions so parents and guardians can plan for the fall

Oyster River will always keep the health and safety of the students and staff members at the center of all proposed solutions Nothing is more

important to me as your superintendent We miss you all especially the children we serve and look forward to seeing them in our schools

again whatever variation that may take

June 2020 Volume 2 Issue 1 page 2


ORCSD Task Force District

bull Dr James Morse ndash Superintendent of Schools bull Todd Allen ndash Assistant Superintendent of Schools bull Susan Caswell ndash Business Administrator bull Catherine Plourde ndash Director of Student Services bull Doris Demers ndash Child Nutrition Director bull Lisa Huppe ndash Transportation Director bull Jim Rozycki ndash Facilities Director bull Joshua Olstad ndash IT Director


Mast Way Elementary

bull Misty Lowe - Principal bull Brian Ryan ndash Assistant Director Student

Services bull Felicia Sperry - Psychologist bull Katherine Moore - Nurse bull Susan Leifer ndash Technology Integrator bull Amy Leone ndash Speech amp Language

Pathologist bull Whitney Burke ndash Kindergarten Teacher bull Heather Drew ndash Third Grade Teacher

Oyster River High School

bull Suzanne Filippone - Principal bull Mark Milliken ndash Assistant Principal bull Mike McCann ndash Assistant Principal bull Kim Felch ndash Counseling Director bull Melissa Jean ndash Assistant Director Student

Services bull Andy Lathrop ndash Athletic Director bull Kim Wolph - Nurse bull Celeste Best ndash Technology

IntegratorScience Teacher bull Anna Goscinski ndash Special Education Teacher bull Don Maynard ndash PE Teacher bull Lisa Hallbach ndash Math Teacher bull Jon Bromley ndash Science Teacher bull Mike Blouin ndash Biology Teacher bull Shawn Kelly ndash English Teacher

Moharimet Elementary

bull David Goldsmith - Principal bull Brian Ryan ndash Assistant Director bull Student Services bull Brittany Morley - Psychologist bull Carina Dolcino - Counselor bull Shelia Koutelis - Nurse bull Sarah Curtin ndash Technology Integrator bull Liz Schmitt ndash Third Grade Teacher bull Melissa Gianino ndash Special Education Teacher bull Renee Torr ndash First Grade Teacher

Oyster River Middle School

bull Jay Richard - Principal bull Bill Sullivan ndash Assistant Principal bull Andrea Biniszkiewicz ndash Assistant bull Director Student Services bull Rheanna Cote - Counselor bull Erin Pasay - Nurse bull Janet Martel ndash Technology Integrator bull Alida Carter ndash PE Teacher bull Andrea Lawrence ndash Science Teacher bull Clay Cahoon ndash Math Teacher bull Holly Pirtle ndash Health Teacher bull Jason Demers ndash Science Teacher bull Jason Duff ndash Special Education Teacher bull Kim Donovan ndash Language Arts Teacher bull Val Wolfson ndash Social Studies Teacher


Confidence in Our Community

Oyster Riverrsquos mission and purpose remain stronger than ever during these challenging times When we left our campus on March 13th we shifted to a remote learning plan in the context of a global emergency We are no longer in response mode for a crisis The ORCSD is consulting with experts updating training for staff and preparing our campus for a post-COVID world

We are developing and continue to refine re-entry plans to provide both safety and learning continuity for all our students

Phase I Communication Projected to Release July 8

Phase II Communication Product of Board Workshop on July 14

Phase III Communication Implementation and on-going review process TBA

AAP COVID PLANNING httpsservicesaaporgenpages2019-novel-coronavirus-covid-19-infectionsclinical-guidancecovid-19-planning-considerations-return-to-in-person-education-in-schoolsfbclid=IwAR2ub2nFspHHVG-4xx2V9LlQ3ZCADdH4n-3OmEN4jI_j4uZI6LGuwooZmFk

CDC SCHOOL GUIDANCE httpswwwcdcgovcoronavirus2019-ncovcommunityschools-childcareschoolshtml

RETURN TO SCHOOL ROADMAP httpsreturntoschoolroadmaporg

NH DHHS httpswwwnhgovcovid19

NH DOE STRRT

httpswwweducationnhgovwho-we-arecommissionerschool-transition-reopening-redesign-taskforce

HARVARD SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH httpsschoolsforhealthorgwp-contentuploadssites19202006Harvard-Healthy-Buildings-Program-Schools-For-Health-Reopening-Covid19-June2020pdf

School Starts for Staff 824 Students 831 - Tentative



Based on community feedback and with the benefit of time to plan we are in the process of making many adjustments to improve the learning experience for all as we prepare for the new school year

Lessons learned from Spring 2020 Remote Learning based on Survey data

httpsnam02safelinksprotectionoutlookcomapw-59584e83url=httpssau5-mysharepointcomwgpersonaljolstad_orcsd_orgEXs3h1vnvY9KlzmIGkknu9ABg6r1rxQRWBWejPr3x87lugampdata=02|01|jolstadorcsdorg|c38ecf57ab6d429a1b6008d81df84e8b|2087409ac73a494cab15e0531d2bcd27|0|0|637292299613048833ampsdata=0HefdkSZ1uoxsKLM0iM0rntHhb4YtbKrTJ8XYtWtjVk3Dampreserved=0

Greater age-appropriate structure is needed across the system More synchronized learning particularly at the K-8 level Students and teachers need more social connection with each other Parents need access to Schoology to support their childs learning More consistency is needed throughout the system


In March the ORCSD along with school systems across the country were pushed

into an emergency remote learning plan due to the COVID pandemic This

sudden and traumatic change required students families and the school system

to adjust on very short notice Thank you to the Oyster River Community for

your support during this difficult time



Schools are tentatively scheduled to re-open on August 31

2020 per ORCSD School Board approval unless authorities

declare schools remain closed Administration recognizes

everchanging conditions require that we be prepared for

multiple scenarios for the start of school The ORCSD is

prepared to provide instruction in both online and in person

formats


Planning for the Fall

Our work in planning for the fall is guided by the Return to School Roadmap stakeholder district surveys and 2Revolutions coaching Models of re-entry plans from throughout the country have also influenced our work All guidance from these resources has been customized to fit ORCSD

Guidance on Essential Actions



The district may require health screenings for students

faculty and staff

Nursing personnel will be on campus

Lunch will be provided in a modified structure

Families will be responsible for keeping a contact tracing log

when necessary

May use a staggered schedule for drop-off and pick-up

The use of masks as mandated by health authoritiesschool district

Each student or staff member when asked may be required to quarantine for two weeks

following illness or exposure

Athletic offerings will be guided by NHIAA recommendations

Enhanced sanitizing and cleaning processes and regular handwashing

Building use will be limited and follow strict protocols in

adherence to state and local policies for outside groups

Parents and visitors will be permitted by appointment

only in the building

Outdoor space will be utilized to its full potential for instructional

and social purposes


Life on Campus Updated as Recommendations Evolve


An educational cohort is a group of students working through curriculum and learning experiences together Cohorts are designed to meet educational needs of students Traditionally in the ORCSD we think of cohorts in

terms of class or team groupings In the post-COVID World cohorts can also serve an important health and safety purpose by providing schools a consistent structure to minimize the exposure students and teachers have to a

larger number of people


Introducing CohortsFixed Groups

Dissecting the Cohort

bull Cohort sizes will be based on AAPNH DHHS guidance bull Cohorts will be housed in a single classroom or limited set of

classrooms bull Rather than students transitioning from class to class

wherever possible teachers will transition from cohort to cohort

bull Students not able to join cohorts in person may participate virtually


The ORCSD Re-entry Learning Plan for the fall of 2020 differs from the Emergency Remote Learning Plan implemented in March 2020 The Emergency Remote Learning Plan only provided a platform to share classroom content The fall re-entry plan is designed to make on-campus and off-campus learning flow more efficiently All class content will be created and made available through Schoology for student and parent access This allows for flexibility in the fall regardless of whether we are in person or remote


Elements of the Day


PowerSchool will continue to be ORCSDrsquos main student information system

Schoology was introduced in 19-20 as our learning management system We were starting to roll it out when COVID-19 forced the closure of school and moved up our timeline Each class will have a space in Schoology for teachers to post assignments and collect work digitally Teachers can also communicate with students and parents For the start of 20-21 we will be adding parent access

Microsoft Teams will continue to be the tool for face to face meetings between staff and students as well as staff and parents Microsoft has shared that they will be working on Teams features over the summer to better meet the needs of the educational community

Across the district other school and grade level applications will be in use For example Freckle is used for Math in elementary Learning A-Z for ELA in the elementary ALEKS for Math at ORMS etc


Digital Platforms


On-Campus Learning

BlendedHybrid Learning

Remote Learning

Comfort in Flexibility

Oyster River is responding to these uncertain times with an

emphasis on academics social emotional learning and wellness

with flexibility while prioritizing our vision and mission We are

creating system options for our students to ensure they feel safe

and engaged

Oyster River is creating options for

the system to adjust based on

healthcare considerations state

guidelines and local priorities

-------------

-



Oyster River will be following the recommendations from our re-entry plan NH School Transition Reopening and Redesign Task Force (STRRT) AAP and CDC recommendations We are preparing for waves of interruption to on-campus learning In the event our local community experiences a spike in COVID-19 cases and an interruption of physical operations occurs a shift to blendedremote learning will happen immediately

There may be unforeseen and unique costs to open school

Students will be equipped for remote learning in the event

on-campus learning transitions to the blended model Technology and supplies will be made available in the event an interruption occurs

We recognize the needs of young children include the requirement of supervision and care in

addition to their learning In the event campus closes we will prioritize the

on-campus experience for our youngest students


Preparing for Interruptions


If you have any questions please contact the individuals listed below

Superintendent ~ Dr Jim Morse at jmorseorcsdorg

Assistant Superintendent ~ Todd Allen at tallenorcsdorg

Business Administrator ~ Susan Caswell at scaswellorcsdorg

Director of Student Services ~ Catherine Plourde at cplourdeorcsdorg

SAU 5 Administration



We formed a District Governance Committee and four building sub-committees to look at re-opening from the district level and the building

level with over fifty staff members participating We asked ourselves hundreds of questions that guided us moving forward

We partnered with the Portsmouth School District and with 2 Revolutions right after school was out They helped us frame the conversation

and it was so helpful working with our neighbors Each system brought unique perspectives to the table

We have read dozens of reports including those from the CDC the American Academy of Pediatrics the Return to School Roadmap the

Harvard School of Public Health and others all available as hot buttons in the PowerPoint

We have been in constant contact with other school systems within the South East region We have

shared our thoughts our work and our direction Each school system is dealing with unique issues As an example Oyster River is dealing

with a middle school that needs replacement and that educates 660 students a building that is so inadequate to the task that voters approved

its replacement We know our district is grappling with many of the same issues as other districts and we are considering all

recommendations to make the best decision for our community

We presented the attached PowerPoint to the School Board on July 8 2020 The purpose of the presentation was not to give specific

recommendations but to build a common foundation with the Board for the decisions yet to come On Tuesday July 14 the Board will dig

more deeply into the presentation and continue to discuss the possibilities for a return to school in the fall On July 30 the Board will be

discussing specific options and on August 5 the Board will be making decisions so parents and guardians can plan for the fall

Oyster River will always keep the health and safety of the students and staff members at the center of all proposed solutions Nothing is more

important to me as your superintendent We miss you all especially the children we serve and look forward to seeing them in our schools

again whatever variation that may take






Mast Way Elementary























NH DOE STRRT
























formats








faculty and staff




when necessary












and social purposes

















Elements of the Day







Digital Platforms


On-Campus Learning


Remote Learning






and engaged





-------------

-
























Mast Way Elementary























NH DOE STRRT
























formats








faculty and staff




when necessary












and social purposes

















Elements of the Day







Digital Platforms


On-Campus Learning


Remote Learning






and engaged





-------------

-































NH DOE STRRT
























formats








faculty and staff




when necessary












and social purposes

















Elements of the Day







Digital Platforms


On-Campus Learning


Remote Learning






and engaged





-------------

-







































formats








faculty and staff




when necessary












and social purposes

















Elements of the Day







Digital Platforms


On-Campus Learning


Remote Learning






and engaged





-------------

-



























faculty and staff




when necessary












and social purposes

















Elements of the Day







Digital Platforms


On-Campus Learning


Remote Learning






and engaged





-------------

-


































Elements of the Day







Digital Platforms


On-Campus Learning


Remote Learning






and engaged





-------------

-


























Digital Platforms


On-Campus Learning


Remote Learning






and engaged





-------------

-





















On-Campus Learning


Remote Learning






and engaged





-------------

-




















oyster river cooperative school district

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