May 27, 2020
Dear parent: 
The July session of Explore will offer multiple options so that you can tailor your child's learning experience to what works best for your family. Elementary and middle school students may choose from a fully virtual experience, seated classes or a blend of online and seated classes. All courses for high school students will continue to be offered fully online during July. 
Here is important information about the July session of Explore, which is July 6-31:
Registration
If you have already enrolled in seated programming for your student for the July session, you will need to re-register and choose the option your child will participate in: virtual, seated or blended. If you are already enrolled in a virtual course, you do not need to re-register. All high school students have been moved to virtual programming and do not need to take additional steps. Registration for the July session will begin Wednesday, May 27, at sps.org/Explore . In order to guarantee bus transportation for the first day of the session, you must complete your Explore registration by the end of the day June 5. Eligible students who enroll later will be routed for transportation as soon as possible. 
Classes
"Olympic Tour" will be the July theme for elementary school students. Courses are designed to allow students to investigate the intellectual aspects of athleticism as they examine Olympic history, learn about the event's wide world of cultures and study both individual and team Olympic sports.The course's entertaining, engaging content is designed to allow students to work their way through targeted, grade-level science, social studies, math and reading instruction as well as fine arts and physical education activities. Middle school students will be able to choose from the same courses offered during the June session. High school students will have more than 80 online classes from which to choose.
Virtual Option
Elementary and middle school students who choose the fully virtual option will have the flexibility to learn at their own pace from home with online classes.  
Seated Option
To ensure the health and well being of students and staff, SPS will follow practices in accordance with recommendations from the Greene County Health Department and the Centers for Disease Control. Examples of precautionary measures that will be followed for seated courses include:
  • Class sizes will be limited to 14 students and social distancing will be practiced to ensure adequate physical separation is maintained.
  • Visitors to the school and to the classroom will not be permitted. Schools will be closed to visitors aside from drop off and pick up, which can only occur via the carline.
  • Handwashing and infection prevention instruction will be required and taught to students.
  • Student face coverings are recommended but not required.
  • Assemblies will not be permitted. 
 Seated courses will be offered at 23 elementary schools and four middle schools. View the complete list of Explore sites.
Blended Option
Students who choose the blended option will go to Phelps Center for Gifted Education, 934 S. Kimbrough Ave., for the seated portion of their classes. Small class sizes will also be maintained for the seated portion of the blended option. Bus transportation for students who choose the blended option will not be available to and from Phelps.
Students will be divided into two groups:
  • Group1 will meet at Phelps Mondays and Tuesdays with virtual instruction on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays.
  • Group 2 will meet at Phelps on Wednesdays and Thursdays with virtual instruction on Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays.
Meals
Students who are attending seated courses will be served breakfast and lunch each day they are at school. Grab and go meals will be available at these 15 locations on days they are not in school and for any other SPS students under the age of 18.

We look forward to seeing your child at Explore in July. Visit sps.org/Explore for more information.

Register at sps.org/Explore