GDPST Family,
Week two of Re-Entry is on the books and we are pleased with the response our learning community has had to transitioning back into the building. Green Dot Public Schools TN is aware of the concern some community stakeholders have regarding students returning to In - Person learning. We are also acutely aware that we have students and parents who are traversing a difficult landscape, having lost jobs, housing and even loved ones. We do not take lightly the opportunity to provide a sense of normalcy for these families by opening our school doors with stringent protocols in place to ensure a safe and healthy academic setting. Returning to classrooms, with teachers providing live instruction, means our students will have a real chance to recover some of the learning losses experienced through distance learning.
Because everything we do is ALL ABOUT THE STUDENTS, we wanted you to hear from actual students about why they returned to school rather than continue with distance learning. It would be great to say their responses were shocking but they were not. From 6th grade to 12th grade, students believed that being in person, having the support and motivation of teachers, and being with their school family would make a difference in academic attainment and their social emotional well being. Our schools are valuable in the lives of the students and parents we serve each day. We will continue to be an academic pillar in the Hickory Hill, Parkway Village and Whitehaven communities to ensure ALL are served and ALL are prepared for college, leadership and life.
As always, we want to reiterate our beliefs regarding students returning to the school buildings:
First, if each of us enacts safety measures with fidelity, schools will be safe for students and staff. With over 94% of districts in Tennessee offering In-Person Learning options, health department records indicate that there is little virus transmission inside schools. At GDPST, safety precautions have been carefully planned: school supervision plans have been reviewed and rehearsed; rooms are configured to ensure proper distancing; protective equipment is on site and ready for distribution; and, teams are receiving training and practice needed to execute daily expectations
Second, this is an equity issue for our students. We have always contended that students learn best in-person. Now that science deems it safe enough to provide that option, we must act to ensure our students get the best learning environment possible.
Please feel free to reach out to your school administrators if you have any questions.
