4/1/2020
Dear Porter Schools family:
Our administrators, teachers and instructional support staff are working hard to develop a continuous learning plan that will help our students finish the school year strong. As you can imagine, this planning has presented its own set of trials, as most of it has occurred digitally or at a distance so we can protect ourselves just as you are at home. We will meet the challenge, however, because that’s what we do as Pirates. Our students deserve a learning plan that will help them grow academically this spring, and that is what we are determined to give them.
The last few weeks have made me even more proud to be the superintendent of Porter. From child nutrition workers working hard daily to produce and distribute meals to our students and custodial/maintenance employee continuing to ensure clean and safe buildings to staff members searching all their resources to provide a distance learning plan that will work for Porter, this community has worked to provide children with basic needs, as well as lift their spirits. All of this has occurred while Porter residents and Porter employees have also taken the necessary precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19. There’s nothing we can’t accomplish when we work together as a team.
We know you and your child have many questions about what the remainder of the school year will be like. The purpose of this letter is to share what we know and to ask you for your help as we prepare for this significant transition. While this is not how we expected to end the school year, we believe our continuous learning plan will allow us to keep students on track, while also protecting what is most important – their health and well-being.
A change of this magnitude will not occur without bumps in the road; however, with your help, I am confident we can offer the best services possible for our students. There are several ways that you can help us at this time:
Thanks to the hard work and dedication of our teachers and staff, we will resume services to students on April 6, 2020 using our continuous learning plan. We understand this ongoing instruction cannot be delivered through a one-size-fits-all approach. We hope as you read the information below you can see how we are working to help meet the needs of all students:
Porter Consolidated Distance Learning Plan
PreK/Kindergarten:
Students will complete distance learning through learning packets established by their teachers. These packets will be distributed by the teacher to parents via online resources or via physical packets if that manner is requested by parents. Completed activities will be sent back online or via phone.
Teachers will have daily hours in which they will be available for parents/students (via email, ZOOM, phone conference, etc.). Teachers will communicate those times in their initial student contact beginning April 6. Teachers will also ensure weekly contact with every student and will document contact, as well as notify the school administration of any issues or inability to make weekly contact with a parent/student.
Suggested Academic Schedule
45 minutes per day
30 minutes reading/literacy skills
15 minutes math activities
Extended learning suggestions
30-60 minutes outdoor play
10-20 minutes reading with family
90+ minutes imaginative play
1st-2nd Grade:
Students will complete distance learning through learning packets established by their teachers. These packets will be distributed by the teacher to parents via online resources or via physical packets if that manner is requested by parents. Completed activities will be sent back online or via phone.
Teachers will have daily hours in which they will be available for students/parents (via email, ZOOM, phone conference, etc.). Teachers will communicate those times in their initial student contact beginning April 6. Teachers will also ensure weekly contact with every student and will document contact, as well as notify the school administration of any issues or inability to make weekly contact with a student/parent.
Suggested Academic Schedule
1 hour and 10 minutes per day
30 minutes of read aloud or independent reading
20 minutes of math activities
20 minutes of science/social studies
3rd-5th Grade:
Students will complete distance learning through learning packets established by their teachers. Teachers will be distributing these packets to parents/students. Edmentum online resources will be utilized as all 3-5 grade students have established accounts that can be accessed. These packets will be distributed by teachers to parents via online resources or via physical packets if that manner is requested by parents. Completed activities will be sent back online or via phone.
Teachers will have daily hours in which they will be available for parents/students (via email, ZOOM, phone conferences, etc.). Teachers will communicate those times in their initial student contact beginning April 6. Teachers will also ensure weekly contact with every student and will document contact, as well as notify the school administration of any issues or inability to make weekly contact with a parent/student.
Suggested Academic Schedule
1 hour and 20 minutes per day
20 minutes of read aloud or independent reading
20 minutes of reading or writing lessons
20 minutes of math activities
20 minutes of science/social studies
6th to 8th Grade:
Students in 6th to 8th grade will complete distance learning through their already established Google Classrooms in each subject. Teachers who have not established Google Classroom will either establish a classroom prior to April 6th or will place all assignments and instruction on their teacher page on the district website. If a student does not have access via device or internet, he/she will notify the school (rmoore@porter.k12.ok.us or jguinn@porter.k12ok.us) by Monday, April 6th and they will be provided packets of work. Instructions for returning completed assignments will be included with the teacher's instructions within the assignment packets. Work will be assigned weekly on Monday at 8 a.m. and will be due the following Monday at 8 a.m. during this distance learning period. Students should expect to spend approximately 3 hours daily on their schoolwork. Students will receive feedback on their work completed and will receive a minimum of two grades per week per core content area and a minimum of one per week in elective content areas. Middle School students will adhere to the following timelines for weekly instruction, however, times are approximate and some students may need additional time.
English Language Arts -40 to 60 minutes / 4 times per week
Math - 40 to 60 minutes / 4 times per week
Science - 40 to 60 minutes / 2 times per week
Social Studies - 40 to 60 minutes / 2 times per week
Electives - 40 to 60 minutes / 1 time per week
Teachers will have daily hours in which they will be available for students (via email, ZOOM, phone conference, etc.). Teachers will communicate those times in their initial student contact beginning April 6th. Teachers will also ensure weekly contact with every student and will document contact, as well as notify the school administration of any issues or inability to make weekly contact with a student.
9th to 12th Grade:
Students in 9th to 12th grade will complete distance learning through their already established Google Classrooms in each subject. Teachers who have not established Google Classroom will either establish a classroom prior to April 6th or will place all assignments and instruction on their teacher page on the district website. If a student does not have access via device or internet, he/she will notify the school (rmoore@porter.k12.ok.us or jguinn@porter.k12ok.us) by Monday, April 6th and they will be provided packets of work. Instructions for returning completed assignments will be included with the teacher's instructions within the assignment packets. Work will be assigned weekly on Monday at 8 a.m. and will be due the following Monday at 8 a.m. during this distance learning period. Students should expect to spend approximately 3 to 4 hours daily on their schoolwork. Students will receive feedback on their work completed and will receive a minimum of two grades per week per core content area and a minimum of one per week in elective content areas. High School students will adhere to the following timelines for weekly instruction, however, times are approximate and some students may need additional time.
English Language Arts -40 to 60 minutes / 4 times per week
Math - 40 to 60 minutes / 4 times per week
Science - 40 to 60 minutes / 2 times per week
Social Studies - 40 to 60 minutes / 2 times per week
Electives - 40 to 60 minutes / 1 time per week
Teachers will have daily hours in which they will be available for students (via email, ZOOM, phone conference, etc.). Teachers will communicate those times in their initial student contact beginning April 6th. Teachers will also ensure weekly contact with every student and will document contact, as well as notify the school administration of any issues or inability to make weekly contact with a student.
Schools are at their best when the community works together, and now is the perfect time for us to shine. You were and continue to be your child’s first and most important teacher. While our faculty and staff will be leading the way, we know you will be encouraging, supporting and teaching your child side-by-side with us.
We miss our students terribly, but we are trying to make the best of the situation for everyone. Thank you for helping us rise to this challenge. We could not do it without you.
Sincerely,
Charles McMahan
Superintendent
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