1st day of 1st Grade

Dear Bolinas-Stinson Families,

I am pleased to share that the BSUSD Board of Trustees unanimously approved the following Steering Committee recommendations at last night’s regularly scheduled board meeting: 

  1. Staggered Schedule for In-person Learning on the Bolinas Campus 

  2. Extend In-person Learning on the Stinson Campus from Three Days a Week to Four Days a Week

  3. Parent Commitment to In-person Learning or Distance Learning for the 2nd Trimester

Please read the details below regarding these important changes for our school.

Staggered Schedule for In-person Learning on the Bolinas Campus 

The BSUSD Steering Committee, composed of representatives from all stakeholder groups, has been working diligently to bring our students back on campus in a safe and responsible manner. One key factor in reopening the Bolinas Campus, is completing all items on the checklist with both of our bargaining units. This collaborative process has resulted in making sure our health and safety protocols on both campuses meet the most rigorous requirements. We have a final checklist meeting tomorrow to determine if we are ready to open the Bolinas Campus.

We recognize that distance learning has been difficult for our students and families and especially for our youngest students. For that reason, the first group of students to return to in person learning on the Bolinas Campus are our 2nd and 3rd graders. We know that many students and families are eager to return to in-person learning and have created two possible schedules based on the completion of our checklist items tomorrow:

  • If we complete all items on the Bolinas Campus checklist, we will reopen the Bolinas campus using the following  staggered schedule:

    • Monday, December 14, 2020 ~ 2nd & 3rd grade: Return to in-person learning 3 days a week

    • Monday, January 11, 2021 ~ 4th/5th & 6th grade: Return to in-person learning 3 days a week

    • Tuesday, January 19, 2021  ~  (No school on Monday, 1.18.21 due to MLK Day) 7th & 8th grade: Return to in-person learning 3 days a week

    • Monday, January 25th, 2021  ~ 2nd-8th grade: Extend in-person learning to 4 days a week

  • If we are unable to complete the items on our checklist, we will reopen the Bolinas Campus using the following  staggered schedule:

    • Monday, January 11, 2021  ~ 2nd & 3rd grade: Return to in-person learning 3 days a week

    • Tuesday, January 19, 2021 ~  (No school on Monday, 1.18.21 due to MLK Day) 4th/5th & 6th grade: Return to in-person learning 3 days a week

    • Monday, January 25th, 2021 ~ 7th & 8th grade: Return to in-person learning 3 days a week

    • Monday, February 1st, 2021 ~ 2nd-8th grade: Extend in-person learning to 4 days a week

We felt it was important to give parents as much notice as possible, but want to be realistic in our expectations. I will share an update tomorrow based on the results of our checklist meeting.

Extend In-person Learning on the Stinson Campus

The Board voted to extend in-person learning on the Stinson Campus from three days a week to four days a week, Monday-Thursday, from 9:00 AM-12:00 PM, for Grades Kindergarten-1st, starting immediately. The Stinson Campus Learning Hub will be open on Fridays from 9:00-11:00 AM for participating Kindergarten and 1st grade students. Victoria Maier, our Pre-K Director, will continue to share updates on the Pre-K schedule and return to in-person learning for our Pre-K students.

Use this link to view more details:  Stinson Campus In-Person Learning Draft Schedules 2020-21

Parent Commitment:  In-person Learning or Distance Learning for the 2nd Trimester

As we gradually move back to in-person learning, we recognize that some families may choose to continue with distance learning. For this reason, our teachers have been preparing plans to accommodate both in-person and distance learning. This is a complex process to address the diverse learning needs of all our students. 

In order to provide consistency of instruction, we will be asking families to commit to either in-person learning (when it becomes available) or distance learning for the second trimester. Parents who choose to continue with distance learning will be notified if they are at risk of losing their spot for in-person learning due to increased enrollment in their child’s cohort. They will be given the opportunity to return to in-person learning to secure their spot before it is offered to a new student in the cohort. We will continue to address individual family needs with great care and compassion.

Families that choose the distance learning option for the second trimester will be given another chance to revisit this decision for the third trimester, on March 1st, 2021 (as space in individual cohorts permits). For families that choose to commit to in-person learning for the third trimester, students will return to campus on Monday March 15th.  

Thank you everyone for your patience as we carefully make our way back to in-person learning. Much appreciation to all our staff members, parents, Board members, and community members who have helped pave the way with their hard work and perseverance. Please let me know if you have any questions, suggestions, or comments.

Warmly,

Michelle Stephens

mstephens@bolinas-stinson.org