Dummerston School Updates

August 7, 2020

Dear Dummerston School Families,

As Superintendent Andy Skarzynki has indicated in previous communications, the school district will begin the school year by offering two choices of instructional formats for families: a fully remote at-home option or a hybrid model in which students attend school in person for two days a week and transition to a remote learning environment at home for the remaining three days.

Attached to this email you will find a document that provides detail about both of these models. Although many families indicated their preference on an initial survey several weeks ago, we are asking you to carefully review this information so that you are able to make a final, informed commitment regarding your preferred format. Also please know Superintendent Andy Skarsynski has indicated that the hybrid model will be reevaluated at the end of September allowing for the possibility that more days of in-person instruction could be added at that time.

We will use this data to populate and staff both our hybrid and fully remote cohorts and therefore ask that you complete the following survey by Monday, August 10^th.

Survey link: Dummerston School Student Learning Option Selection: Fall 2020

We are also collecting information about what transportation you intend to use. Please complete the survey linked below if you have not already done so.

Survey link: Transportation to school

• Please note that all students who will need the bus MUST REGISTER for the bus. Bus routes will be designed based on need.

• We ask all families to take the Transportation Survey, regardless of whether they will use the bus.

• Within the survey, you can also REGISTER for the bus.

• It is unlikely that new bus stops will be created. Existing bus stop locations will be used, though several bus stop locations will be eliminated if they are not needed.

If you cannot access the survey links above, please contact Dummerston School Administrative Assistant Melanie Keiser at 802-254-2733.

The last months have been extraordinarily challenging for everyone, and I remain grateful to work with such a collaborative, thoughtful, and supportive school community. As a parent, I understand acutely how the pandemic has put us in the position of making difficult and complex decisions at nearly every turn. Please reach out to me if you would like to talk further about these learning options. I am available by phone at school and would also be happy to meet outdoors on campus.

Thank you so much for your attention, and I wish you a restful weekend.

Sincerely yours,

Julianne

Dummerston School Student Learning Options - Google Docs.pdf

Please visit our garden!

The Summer Garden Program is offering free art activities alongside guided gardening time each week this summer. Dummerston School garden hours are Wednesdays from 9:30-11:30. This week, the River Gallery School will be leading art activities for families and children. Pre-registration is encouraged. Go to foodconnects.org to sign-up and see the health guidelines and activities schedule.