Pascack Hills High School

A letter from Superintendent Gundersen regarding the schedule for the first three days of school.

August 26, 2020

Dear Parents and Students,

As we approach the beginning of the school year, I am sending this message in an effort to address how the first three days of school will look for both in-person and remote learners, as well as how the rotation will work for the days that follow.  

Please note that individual student schedules will be available through the Genesis Parent/Student Access portal in the coming days for all who have completed required forms.  Your school principal will send an email when they are available along with further information.

First Day of School - Wednesday, Sept. 2: Freshmen In-Person 

• Minimum Day: 8:15-12:15

• Grade 9 Students will report to the building

  • Day will be divided into 2 parts

    • Cohort A will go through an abbreviated class schedule, spending ten minutes in each room

    • Cohort B will participate in meetings (socially distant and separated into groups for safety) to review health and safety requirements, protocols, and other building procedures

  • While one cohort is walking through their schedule, the other cohort will participate in the various meetings.  Midway through the morning, the cohorts will switch

• Grade 10-12 Students will be remote

  • Students will login through Canvas to receive information from teachers, review expectations, and receive assignments

Second Day of School - Thursday, Sept. 3: Grades 10, 11, and 12 - Cohort A In-Person

• Minimum Day: 8:15-12:15

• Grades 10, 11, and 12 students in cohort A will report to the building

  • Students will walk through their schedule and meet teachers

  • At 12:15, students will go home to end the day

• Grades 10, 11, and 12 students in cohort B will work independently and remotely

  • Will continue to work through Canvas for instruction and assignments

• All grade 9 students will work independently and remotely

  • Teachers will have set expectations for remote days on Wednesday

  • Students will work independently and remotely with instructions on Canvas

Third Day of School - Friday, Sept. 4: Grades 10, 11, and 12 - Cohort B In-Person

• Minimum Day: 8:15-12:15

• Grades 10, 11, and 12 students in cohort B will report to the building

  • Students will walk through their schedule and meet teachers

  • At 12:15, students will go home to end the day

• Grades 10, 11, and 12 students in cohort A will work independently remotely

  • Will continue to work through Canvas for instruction and assignments

• All grade 9 students will work independently and remotely

  • Teachers will have set expectations for remote days on Wednesday

  • Students will work independently remotely with instructions on Canvas

What will students do when they are remote the first three days of school?

Teachers will have tasks for students to complete independently while other students are having orientation and teachers are having professional development during the first few days of school.  They may include summer reading, writing, pre-assessments, and other activities.

What will fully remote learners, those who will not come to school, do the first three days of school?

Students in the remote plan should log onto Canvas to review the teacher’s class page.  Each teacher will have created a video that is the same message they are sharing with classes the first days of in-person classes.  Remote learners should view that video during the teacher’s class period.  As noted above, teachers will have tasks for students to complete independently while other students are having orientation and teachers are having professional development during the first few days of school.  They may include summer reading, writing, pre-assessments, and other activities.

What does “normal” school look like after the first three days of school?

Monday, September 7 is Labor Day and schools are closed.  Starting on Tuesday, September 8, we will begin our new hybrid schedule.  Cohort A will report to the high school on Tuesday the 8th, Cohort B will report on Wednesday the 9th, and we will alternate cohorts each day.  Students on the remote plan will still be assigned a cohort and follow that cohort schedule; they will just not physically come to school.

Below is a schedule that shows the first month of school:

• A1 - Cohort A is in-person, Cohort B is remote.  Periods 1-4 meet in the morning, and all students (both cohorts) in periods 5 and 6 meet virtually in the afternoon.

• B1 - Cohort B is in-person, Cohort A is remote.  Periods 1-4 meet in the morning, and all students (both cohorts) in periods 7 and 8 meet virtually in the afternoon.

• A5 - Cohort A is in-person, Cohort B is remote.  Periods 5-8 meet in the morning, and all students (both cohorts) in periods 1 and 2 meet virtually in the afternoon.

• B5 - Cohort B is in-person, Cohort A is remote.  Periods 5-8 meet in the morning, and all students (both cohorts) in periods 3 and 4 meet virtually in the afternoon.

To see a sample schedule, visit the Reopening Plan page on our website and click on “Operations and Schedule.”

We understand this looks very different from a traditional schedule.  This has been implemented, similar to many districts in the area and in the State, to promote health and safety through proper distancing of students while working to achieve as much instructional time as possible for all students.  This is new for everyone, and we will work to assist all families as we  navigate this new schedule.

As mentioned before, school principals will be releasing individual student schedules later this week.  In addition, we will be communicating protocols for parents with regards to daily screening forms, an option for parents to report daily absences through Genesis, and class attendance check-in process for students when remote.

Thank you for your continued support of our efforts, and we look forward to seeing our students starting on September 2.