Letter to Students and Parents – March 31, 2020

GREATER NEW BEDFORD REGIONAL VOCATIONAL TECHNICAL HIGH SCHOOL        

1121 Ashley Boulevard • New Bedford, MA • 02745-2496
Tel. 508-998-3321 •   Fax 508-995-7268 •  www.gnbvt.edu

Preparation • Passion • Perseverance

March 31, 2020

Good Morning GNBVT families,

We appreciate your assistance in the education of your children during this truly unprecedented time in our lives. The information included below highlights the specific steps GNBVT will take beginning next Monday, April 6, 2020, to further your child’s education. As a reminder, we are also preparing to issue Trimester 2 Report Cards later next week.

First and foremost, the safety and well-being of our students, their families, and staff is of the utmost importance to all of us. In addition to offering services to support the social emotional well-being of all, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education has charged all districts with developing a remote learning plan that will allow the school year to continue. The attached letter from Commissioner Riley and the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education was sent late last week to all K-12 public schools. School will be closed until at least May 4, 2020.

Moving Forward during the School Closure – Beginning Monday, April 6th

Beginning April 6th, next Monday, students will be assigned coursework and will receive credit towards course completion that will become part of their Trimester 3 grade. While education will continue, we are extremely cognizant that this may not be the highest priority for many people at this unprecedented time in all of our lives.  To that extent, in an attempt to continue educational access and progress through Trimester 3, teachers are asked to construct one assignment per week beginning Monday, April 6th. This assignment should be no longer than 1 hour in length and will focus on going “deeper” into a previously taught topic – not introducing a new learning topic. For example, this opportunity will make sure that students have mastered topics already previously taught to them rather than expecting them to “teach” themselves something new. This will help to ensure that students are retaining previously taught skills and preparing them for an eventual return to school. The only exception to this will be in new courses that students were intended to begin as Trimester 3 started. These teachers will focus on introductory lessons for all students as we begin this process.

To ensure structure that will allow all students to earn full credit for each assignment, beginning Monday, April 6th, students will adhere to the following schedule to complete their daily assignments. These assignments will be scored under a scoring framework that will be released later this week for credit/no credit.

Remote Learning School Schedule – Beginning Monday, April 6th

All assignments will be posted every Monday. However, we know that students need structure to their learning in order to succeed. In compliance with the Commissioner’s recommended approach, students are expected to engage in meaningful and productive learning for approximately half of a school day. Therefore, students will follow the schedule below to complete the assignments given by their teachers. Teachers will be flexible to assist students both during the assigned day for their courses and also in the days following to allow students to successfully complete each assignment and earn full credit. The schedule below, by grade, informs students which classes they should be working on for each school day.

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Students can work on assignments posted for any of their classes. Students can improve any of their assignments from the week using feedback provided by teachers. This will give all students a chance to review/complete assignments and provide the opportunity for students to earn full credit.

New assignments will be posted on Monday (April 13th) for the week of April 13th to April 17th at 7:30am.  Best wishes for success to all and please remember to be safe, follow social distancing guidelines and recommendations, and reach out to us with any questions.

Sincerely,
Michael P. Watson, Academic Principal
Robert J. Watt, CVTE Principal

Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational Technical High School is committed to ensuring equal opportunities for all students. The school does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, homelessness, immigration status or veteran status in its education programs and activities, including admission to or employment in such programs or activities.

James L. O’Brien, Superintendent-Director

Michael P. Watson, Academic Principal • Robert J. Watt, Vocational Technical Principal

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