Welcome back to school!
"Back to school" has a different meaning this year, since we are starting the 2020-2021 school year via distance learning, but - thanks to Pivot's distance learning expertise - the way we operate as a school community is essentially unchanged. We have perfected online and distance learning the last 10 years and are thrilled your student will be benefiting from our years of experience.
Our dedicated staff and Educational Coordinators have been working hard to make some exciting new resources and tools available, particularly with onsite instruction currently on hold. All Pivot students are starting the school year with access to an expanded Pivotwide online workshop schedule. Through the workshops, students will be able to get assistance in their courses from credentialed teachers in the subject matter, receiving the support they need to be successful while also meeting teachers and students from different Pivot Charter Schools. Pivot students also now have access to more teachers' office hours, including the teachers who grade their coursework. Teachers will be conducting twice-a-week meetings with students, and once-a-month meetings with parents or guardians, via video conferencing.
These new programs emphasize something that is so important to remember as we embark on the 2020-2021 school year - our Pivotwide community. While we may be geographically separated, in terms of each distance-learning student in their own unique location as school starts and in terms of our four resource center locations, we are one Pivot family. Now more than ever, I see how powerful our community is in our ability to virtually connect with and support one another. I hope as the school year begins, we continue to grow, strengthen and maintain connections among Pivot students, teachers, families and staff. If you have ideas or suggestions for how we can continue to connect as a Pivotwide community, I would love to hear from you.
Moving forward, Pivot is going to continue to monitor state requirements related to COVID-19, and we are going to make decisions at four-week intervals regarding potentially reopening the resource centers. As we've announced previously, all Pivot resource centers are currently closed through September 30. We are going to give families enough time to make arrangements, while avoiding lots of bouncing back and forth between being open and closed. We can't wait to see each of you in-person, whenever that day may come!
In closing, I want to remind each of you that Pivot Charter School's program is designed to ensure student success through distance learning. This is a different kind of school year, but as a Pivot community we are uniquely equipped to succeed and excel in 2020-2021. Together we will stay focused on the 3 Rs of 2020:
Resilience
Relationships
Routines
