Sheldon, Iowa — Schools across the state of Iowa have been scrambling to find ways for the learning process to continue, even when students aren’t in school.
Sheldon Community Schools Superintendent Cory Myer says that even though students aren’t in the classroom, Sheldon High School classes are, technically, in session.
(As above) “We actually still have class for high school and so were required for the high school where they’re learning is still continuing our teachers are providing information out to students on a daily basis we’re communicating with our kids on a regular basis so we are technically in session, albeit an online session at the high school.”
He says things are being done a little differently at the middle school and elementary school levels.
(As above) “At the middle school and elementary it looks a little bit different because we are doing the voluntary learning there, and so our teachers are putting out the information for those students at the middle school level it’s once again in an online learning format because they have their devices, their computers at home with them. At the elementary it’s the packet learning once again, and we did just last week send home another four to six weeks worth of work for students to be working on there.”
Myer says teachers are touching base with students on a regular basis.
(As above) “We are also working on communicating with students at the elementary level we have to involve the parents a little bit more, as you can imagine, from a communication standpoint, but we’re we’re trying to touch base with our students at least on a weekly basis, and for the older kids it’s you know multiple times per week.”
Myer says he’s been getting a lot of questions about Prom 2020.
(As above) “I get a lot of questions on that one. That’s kind of a hot topic a lot of kids a lot of young ladies already got dresses, and they certainly want to get that opportunity get out and get dressed up and prom is something that the kids really look forward to. So at this point time we will not be able to have prom at the date that was previously scheduled, we’ll be in the the school closure at that time, but we are gonna make every effort to reschedule that to a later date.”
On the topic of Graduation, Myer says that’s a conversation that will need to be held later.
(As above) “You know the estimated return date is May 1, although I anticipate at some point this week, my guess is Thursday, but Governor Reynolds will come out and extend that school closure, but that’s just my thought process on what will happen there there’s nothing known for certain. But graduation will be that next item that we’ll have to have some conversation about, will that occur at the regular scheduled time, or will we have to look at an alternate date for that as well.”
This has definitely been an interesting spring, and since we don’t know how long the COVID-19 virus will interrupt normal life, Myer says they have to kind of play it by ear.
