When was the first day of school?

The first day for kindergarten students was Monday, Sept. 14. Kindergarten teachers spent September 9-11 engaging in the Washington Kindergarten Inventory of Developing Skills (WaKIDS) with kindergarten families. This is a transition process that helps ensure a successful start to the K-12 experience and establish a solid parent-teacher partnership.

The first day for grades 1-12 was Wednesday, Sept. 9. The first few days of school were spent creating and establishing connections between families, students, and teachers.

As of now, the 2020-21 school year calendar will stay the same.

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Links to School Schedules:

• Chain Lake Elementary
  • Distance Learning
  • Kindergarten
  • Hybrid 
• Fryelands Elementary
  • Distance Learning
  • Kindergarten
  • Hybrid 
• Frank Wagner Elementary
  • Distance Learning
  • Kindergarten
  • Hybrid 
• Hidden River Middle School
• Leaders in Learning
• Maltby Elementary
  • Distance Learning
  • Kindergarten
  • Hybrid 
• Monroe High School
• Park Place Middle School
• Salem Woods Elementary
  • Distance Learning
  • Kindergarten
  • Hybrid 
• Sky Valley Education Center

Are you taking daily attendance?

Yes, the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) requires that school districts take daily attendance for each student enrolled on any day when there are planned instructional activities. This includes days with in-person, remote, or hybrid instruction. The intent of daily attendance is to measure when a student is missing instructional time. Marking a student absent is not intended to be punitive and it will not be used as such.

Learn more about OSPI's attendance requirements here.

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How and when is attendance taken each day?

Elementary teachers take attendance first thing in the morning through a student-submitted online check-in form.  However, if a student is unable to fill out the online check-in form in the morning, daily attendance may also include:

• Daily login to the student’s Canvas account; 
• Daily student interaction with teacher(s) to acknowledge attendance (including messages, emails, phone calls, or video chats); or 
• Evidence of student participation in a task or assignment.

Middle School and High School teachers take attendance at the end of each school day for the corresponding classes held that day.  Attendance is based on student participation in at least one of the following activities: 

• Daily login to student’s Canvas account; 
• Daily student interaction with teacher(s) to acknowledge attendance (including messages, emails, phone calls, or video chats); or 

• Evidence of student participation in a task or assignment.

How and when will you decide if the district will make the switch to hybrid learning (some days of in-person learning and some days of online learning)?

We continue to collaborate with Snohomish County Health District and Washington State Department of Health to help guide our next steps and decisions. 

What is the Monroe Virtual Learning Academy?

The Monroe Virtual Learning Academy (MVLA) is a fully online educational program for the entire 2020-21 school year. This program is overseen, assessed, and managed by Monroe teachers.  It is delivered through Canvas (the MSD online learning management system), where students are able to access content for the 2020-21 school year. While the curriculum and learning materials for this program are from a third-party online curriculum provider (Florida Virtual Learning School), they are fully aligned with Washington State learning standards. 

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How does MVLA differ from MSD distance learning?

Students in MVLA use online curriculum and materials from the Florida Virtual School, but they are overseen and taught by Monroe School District teachers. MVLA students are placed with teachers and students from throughout the district, but not necessarily those from their home school. To ensure program continuity, it is our hope that students who enroll in MVLA will stay in the program for the entire school year.

MSD distance learning refers to a phased approach where students begin the year learning remotely from home and then transition back into building classrooms when it is deemed safe to do so. Students in this model are assigned to teachers from their home school and placed in classes with other students from their home school. In this model, teachers use standard Monroe School District curriculum.

See our “At-a-glance” sheet for more information.

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Why did you choose an online school in Florida and not something local with Monroe teachers? 

We are using only the curriculum and materials from FVLS; our own Monroe School District teachers are teaching the content. FLVS is an OSPI-approved online course provider.  We believe it was the best fit for our district because it integrates with all of our systems and has the robust curriculum we need for K-12. In addition, FLVS allows us to differentiate for students of varying ability levels. The instruction for this model is a combination of live online learning with a teacher and peers as well as independent learning that can be completed when it fits a student’s daily schedule.

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Does MVLA run on the same holiday/break schedule as the rest of the district?

Yes. The MVLA is a part of the Monroe School District and has the same calendar.

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Can we move from the MVLA to Monroe's hybrid model at any time?

While we will do everything possible to accommodate students’ needs, we cannot promise that we will be able to move students from MVLA to MSD’s hybrid model. It all depends on our ability to accommodate students and teachers moving from online to hybrid/hybrid to online and how many students in which grades/subjects want to move. (We cannot overload teachers and classes.) It also needs to be done at set times; it would be too disruptive to have students constantly moving back and forth. We've identified school year quarters and semesters as natural opportunities to make these changes. Again, we want to do everything we can to help students and families as they decide what works best for them.  We simply need to do it in a way that does not impact the overall learning experience of all our students.

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Why is it a 1-year commitment? Why can't we switch back to in-person if/when that becomes available?

We want to be able to accommodate all of our families' needs. We also staff our schools in September with the number of teachers needed for the number of students in each model. If enough students in the right grade bands decide to move to the hybrid model and then back to an in-person school setting, we could potentially have the appropriate number of teachers transition with them. Unfortunately, this is not something we can promise but will work very hard to accommodate. Please see the response to the question above.

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Do students in the virtual learning academy have daily Zoom meetings with their assigned teachers (similar to the students in the distance learning program)? 

This depends on the grade level and the subject. We prioritize daily Zoom meetings with our early learners who may struggle with independent learning. For our more experienced students, there will be teacher check-ins and support, but they may not be daily. 

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If a special education student chooses the fully virtual learning academy, will accommodations be made in the virtual academy classes?  Will the familiar special education staff from MSD be the ones supporting them? 

Yes! The Monroe Virtual Learning Academy is part of the Monroe School District, and as such all students have the same rights as students engaged in our hybrid model and fully in-class model. This includes students with IEPs, our ELL students, and our students in the Highly Capable program. Depending on the number of students with IEPs who are enrolled in Monroe Virtual Academy, students' IEP services will either be served by their usual service provider or a different special education teacher who has all virtual academy students.

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Can we see what courses are offered before we commit to the MVLA?

We still have to determine if we will be uploading the whole catalogue or a few specific classes. We are committed to offering core classes (reading, writing, math, science, and world languages) for our students. We may add more classes later depending on demand. 
https://www.flvsglobal.net/students-families/courses/
https://www.flvsglobal.net/elementary/

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Does the Florida online school curriculum have anything to do with the State of Florida’s education system? Florida ranks in the bottom half of the U.S.

There are a number of online schools across the country and the world that serve students beyond the location of their central office. FLVS is an OSPI-approved online course provider that aligns with the Common Core State Standards. While FLVS offers districts the option to use their teachers, we are choosing to use our amazing MSD staff to deliver the curriculum.

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What is the cost per student for the MVLA?

The cost (to the district) for using the FLVS content within Canvas with our Monroe teachers is approximately $173/student/year. There is an additional cost for each course that we upload to Canvas ($500/course with discounts for bulk uploads).

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Do MVLA students have access to extracurricular activities at their school?

While we will do what we can to include MVLA students in extracurricular activities, they will have less access to school-based activities that take place during the school day.  This is because MVLA and distance learning follow different daily schedules.

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Approximately how many students per teacher at Monroe in this model?

Teachers have approximately the same student count as they would normally have.

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What if I want more than 4 credit-bearing courses each semester in high school (for example, if I need to catch up on credits or want to accelerate? 

High school students enrolled in MVLA have the option to co-enroll at Leaders in Learning High School in order to take additional coursework. To apply, begin by completing the application here.

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If my child is signed up for the MVLA, will they be matched/placed with students from their school? 

Students enrolled in the MSD Virtual Learning Academy are placed in classes with other students from throughout the district, not necessarily with those from their home school.

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If seniors attend their final year via the Monroe Virtual Learning Academy, will they still receive a diploma from Monroe High School?

Yes. Students in the Monroe Virtual Learning Academy are still technically enrolled in Monroe High School and will receive an MHS diploma.

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Who can we talk to if we have more specific questions about the virtual learning program?

For more information about MVLA, please contact Kim Whitworth, our Chief Academic Officer, at whitworthk@monroe.wednet.edu. You may also reach out to one of the two principals overseeing the program: Blake Baird, grades 6-12 (bairdb@monroe.wednet.edu), and Jennifer Murphy, grades K-5 (murphyj@monroe.wednet.edu).

What if we choose the Monroe Virtual Learning Academy and it doesn't work out, can we return to "school-provided distance learning?" And vice-versa?

While we will do everything to accommodate students’ needs, we cannot promise that we will be able to move students from MVLA to MSD’s hybrid model. This will depend on our ability to accommodate students and teachers moving from online to hybrid/hybrid to online and how many students and in which grades/subject want to move (we cannot overload teachers and classes). It will also have to be done at set times; it would be too disruptive to have students moving around at all times. We identified the quarters and semesters as natural opportunities to make these changes. Again, we want to do everything we can to help students and families as they decide what will work best for them and we need to do it in a way that does not impact the overall learning experience for all our students.

All IEPs SHOULD be changed because the setting has changed. How are you addressing this?

OSPI’s expectation is that all students on IEPs will receive services in all identified areas whether they are in a remote learning environment or participating in in-person learning.  Special education is a service, not a place, so as long as all areas continue to be served, an IEP amendment is not necessary.  If an area of service is not being addressed, an IEP amendment must be completed.

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For those students on IEPs or 504 plans that require in-person learning, that is with their actual teacher, correct? 

Yes, a student’s current provider is the same individual serving the student.

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We had my student’s IEP without current assessments. I would like to see where he is at and modify if needed. Is this possible?

If a student’s evaluation was postponed last spring, the evaluation will be completed within thirty school days from the first day of school.  Even if an evaluation is not required, the student’s providers will gather data to determine the growth they are making toward their goals. This information should be shared with you.

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What does the Community-Based Program (18-21 yrs.) look like? Are students able to get out in the community for job opportunities?

Community job opportunities will occur when the placements are confirmed and when the Health Department says it is safe to do so.

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If an IEP student is struggling with the online general education simply due to attention issues, how is that managed if it is not a specific part of his/her IEP?

The district has a full time Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) that can consult with special education and general education teachers to develop strategies to help children access online learning more successfully.

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What about IEPs that require one-on-one support from a staff member? Can the same staff member from last year continue with the student this year in order to keep a good continuity going?

While services continue to be available for your child, a particular staff member cannot be guaranteed.

Are the 70 minute periods at MHS always live instruction?

No … while there are some days when students are live with their classmates for the full 70 minutes, most often the class time is devoted to some live instruction and some non-live learning activities.  This depends on the subject area and the day.  Our teachers work hard to provide a quality distance learning experience that includes both live and non-live learning opportunities.  So they can plan accordingly, students and families are told each Wednesday about live sessions for the following week.

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How much of periods 1-4 are the teachers actually instructing the class?

This varies between classes and days of the week, just like when students are in school buildings.  So, depending on what students are studying, one day may be more devoted to live instruction from the teacher while the next day may be devoted to students working in groups or perhaps independently on a project or task.  We worked with teachers over the summer to better understand the best practices for distance learning.  You will see a different approach than what your students likely experienced last spring. 

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For the high school, Advanced Placement (AP) tests are in May. Was this taken into consideration when schedules were created? It would be difficult to have an AP class first semester and then take the test in May.

Some AP classes run 1st semester and others run 2nd semester, and our AP teachers know that it will be more challenging to prepare students for the AP exam with this schedule. While we still need to work through solutions to the problems this presents, we’ve discussed running before/after school AP prep sessions for students or using the time built into the weekly schedule to give AP students the added support they need to learn the material/prepare for the AP exam.

Most of our classes also have a College in the High School component, so students can earn college credit that way as well.  

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Since MHS schedules have 4 courses instead of 8 per semester, does that mean that core courses like English, math, and foreign languages are only taken half of the year and not the entire year? 

This is also one of the bigger challenges we are facing. Some students already have an extra support class built into their schedule for math specifically, so they will have math all year as a result.  For those that don’t have a support class, we are approaching this like the AP question above … offering before/after school options for students as well as using the time built in the weekly schedule for students that need it.  We also know that heading into the 2021-2022 school year, we will need to take a couple of weeks to review and fill in any learning gaps so that students are ready for their next course. Our teachers are committed to that.

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Are (previous) semester-long classes only a quarter-long in this new schedule?  So students take the same amount of classes they signed up for but the time scales down equally?

Yes. Students take the same number of classes this year, just not all of them at the same time. Semester classes that used to meet every other day are now quarter classes meeting every day.  The required number of credits that students earn has not changed. 

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If seniors attend their final year via the Virtual Academy, will they still receive an MHS diploma?

Yes. Students in the Monroe Virtual Learning Academy are still technically enrolled in Monroe High School and will receive an MHS diploma.

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How do MHS band classes operate?  

Like other classes, band classes are now offered either 1st or 2nd semester. Our band teacher, Ms. Ray, is also running a morning “0” period type club so students that want to stay connected to band throughout the year can do so.  Ms. Ray hopes to maintain consistency and a strong band program at MHS.

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Is any MHS instruction recorded and posted so parents who work during the day can possibly watch and help students at a later time?

Entire live class sessions are not being recorded, but many teachers and departments are recording specific lessons so that students can watch them in preparation for the next live class.  These recordings are accessible through Canvas, and students may access them whenever their time allows. 

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How are Seniors being made to feel special during this time?  If the class of 2021 parents can help at all, PLEASE keep us in the loop.  We would LOVE to help!

Thank you for this!  We want our Seniors to have an amazing year, and we are working with various stakeholder groups to ensure we plan activities and opportunities for them.  We would love to have parents partner with us, so please feel free to reach out! 

Do you have the daily schedule for middle school?

Yes, the Hidden River Middle School schedule can be found here and the Park Place Middle School schedule can be found here.

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Why are the Hidden River and Park Place schedules so different?

More than ever before, Hidden River and Park Place Middle Schools are working to align their instructional program and strategies. Each school, however, is still a unique learning community focused on meeting the needs of their specific students and families. The uniqueness stems from the culture developed at each school, which is an ever-changing experience due to the changing students and staff members. 

In short, the differences in each school's schedule represent a way of organizing many of the same priorities. "Puma Time" at Park Place offers the same connection, community building, and celebration opportunities as the "Connections Groups" and "Weekly Webcast" offered at Hidden River. Park Place's plan to connect with every class at the end of the week offers each teacher and student another opportunity to discuss specific learning targets; this allows Park Place teachers to respond to the learning needs of their students. In the same way, Hidden River's teachers use Friday "Hawk Time" to respond to specific learning needs that surface throughout the week. The goal for any two schools at the same level is alignment on the essential, critical learning processes but having the flexibility to uniquely serve the context of that specific school.

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Do you offer middle school electives this year?

Yes, middle school electives are offered through our typical 1-6 class period schedule.

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How are you addressing band class during distance learning?

Band continues to be one of our electives. During typical years, our middle school band teachers collaborate to discuss the best strategies for providing an excellent music education experience for our students.  It is no different this year. Teachers are still trading resources and sharing ideas in order to create the best possible distance learning music experience for our middle school students. 

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Is the REACCH Program still active for those kids currently enrolled in that program at Park Place Middle School?

Because of the Distance Learning Schedule, the REACCH program will not be implemented until students return to in-school learning.

Is the Maltby Montessori schedule the same as the rest of elementary?

Yes, we are following the same daily schedule as all of our elementary schools. We understand that families’ needs are different, but creating a routine is recommended. When not in meetings or a learning experience outside the home, children should be practicing follow-up work from lessons, choosing work from a set-aside space at home, taking breaks as needed, and then returning to work. (These are similar expectations as in the classroom, so will be excellent skill-building practice for when we can return to in-person learning).

Are meals available for students during the school week?

Yes!  View the options here.