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Date: 11/4/2020
WESTHAMPTON – The Hampshire Regional School Committee approved a half-day hybrid learning model for grades 7-12.
The transition from the school’s current model to the half-day hybrid model will happen after the HVAC mechanical conversion project is complete, which is scheduled for Dec. 3.
Under the half-day hybrid model, students will be separated into three different cohorts:
The red cohort will consist of students with last names that begin in A through L. Those students will go to school for a half-day of in-person learning on Monday and Tuesday and will learn remotely on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday.
The blue cohort will consist of students with last names that begin in M through Z. Those students will learn remotely on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday and go to school for a half-day of in-person learning on Thursday and Friday.
The green cohort will consist of all the students who opt for a fully remote learning model.
When a student is scheduled for in-person learning, they will go into the school from 7:40 a.m. until 11:15 a.m. When the student gets home from school, they will have independent work to complete for each of their classes from 11:40 a.m. till 2:35 p.m. Students do not log into Zoom classes after in-person time.
During the remote days and students who are in the green cohort will have work to complete independently for each of their classes from 7:40 a.m. till 11:15 a.m., and then those students will log into Zoom for their remote classes from 11:40 a.m. till 2:35 p.m.
On Wednesdays, all students will learn remotely. Students will log into Zoom for each of their classes throughout the day from 7:45 a.m. till 1:50 p.m. with a 25-minute lunch break.
On Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday students in the green cohort will log into synchronous Zoom classes from 11:40 a.m. till 2:35 p.m.
On Wednesdays, the green cohort will go into zoom for each of their classes with all other students.
With the half-day hybrid model, if a student is not feeling well, they can still participate in class, even if they are missing their in-person learning.
If Gov. Charlie Baker requires the school to be closed for an extended period, HRHS will go fully remote for students in grades 7 through 12.
Under the fully remote plan, on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday all students will have synchronous learning over Zoom for all eight class periods from 7:45 a.m. till 11:15 a.m., have lunch until 11:40 a.m. and then have independent work until 2:15 p.m.
On Wednesdays students will have synchronous learning over Zoom for all eight class periods from 7:45 a.m. until 1:50 p.m. with a lunch break from 11:25 till 11:50 p.m.
With the academic school year approaching half-days due to professional development or holiday release and inclement weather on its way, the committee had to create two more schedules.
When there is a scheduled half-day, all in-person learning will be canceled for the day and follow the following schedule:
•Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, or Friday, classes will begin at 7:45 a.m. and until 10:55 p.m.,
•Half-day schedules for Wednesdays will be all eight periods from 7:45 a.m. till 11 a.m.
According to the HRHS quick reference guide for HRHS Quarter Two, on the scheduled half-day, students in the school Life Skills program and students who do not have reliable internet access will be invited to log on to their synchronous remote classes from the building.
This academic year, snow days won’t be traditional snow days for the district. The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) is allowing schools to use remote days instead of canceling school for a snow day. In the event where roads are not safe to travel, all in-person learning will be canceled for the day. All students will follow an academic snow day schedule.
Classes will begin at 9:30 a.m. and go until 2:25 p.m., giving teachers the beginning of the school day to prepare for alternative lessons.
The HRHS quick reference guide says students will limited internet access can plan to participate from home without video requirements and if that is not possible, the parent or guardian should contact the school to be granted an excused absence.
Interim Superintendent Micheal Sullivan mentioned that some principals said the kids should have a couple of normal snow days and get the day off to enjoy the snow. Sullivan said he is sympathetic to that idea to keep some traditions this winter.
For more information on their half-day hybrid plan, visit the high school website.