Unusual school year to end this week

By Donnie A. Lucas

The end of what is probably the most unusual school year in decades is winding down this week, with students required to turn in all work for grading by Friday.

Various turn-in schedules have been established depending on grade level, with seniors starting Thursday (today) at 9:00 a.m. at the high school. All secondary students received an email that includes specific times in five-minute increments to turn in school computers, textbooks, calculators, library books, and athletic uniforms and equipment.

Elementary Returns

The elementary campus will have all students coming to their campus on Friday, May 15 between 10:00 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. for returning work and school-owned items.

Students in K-4 will return work using the front drive as usual, while fifth and sixth graders need to use the bus parking lane at the north end of the building in order to return their laptops and any other school materials.

Each grade school student will be given a reading list designed to encourage reading throughout the summer.

Plans are still being finalized for summer school, which is expected to be set for the end of July and the first week of August at the grade school.

Secondary Returns

Seniors will start the process of handing in school property on Thursday, followed next week with grades 7-11. Designated times are staggered five minutes apart for seniors, as well as the rest of students at the campus next Monday through Wednesday.

“We scheduled students at specific times to maintain social distancing and keep students and staff as safe as possible,” principal Edward Morales said. “It’s really important that students and parents look at the email sent out and open the attachment that shows when they are scheduled. If someone can’t come at the designated time, they should contact the office as soon as possible to set up a new time.”

Students at the secondary campus need to be prepared to clean out their lockers and remove any personal items from the school.

High school students will also be given awards they have earned, including plaques that normally would have been handed out during the sports and academic banquets.

In addition, seniors will also pick up their caps and gowns to wear at Baccalaureate this weekend and graduation on May 23. Each student will also be given their tickets for guests to the graduation ceremony at Robert Nail Stadium.

 Seniors are scheduled from 9:00 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. on Thursday (today), followed by juniors and sophomores on Monday, freshmen and eighth graders on Tuesday, and seventh graders on Wednesday.

Incomplete Assignments

Principals on both campuses said that late work will be accepted if not completed by the due date.

“We are hoping everything will be turned in for elementary by Friday,” principal John Gallagher said. “If we have students not finished, we will allow work to be turned in on Monday and Tuesday if needed.”

While grades at the secondary campus are also due on Friday, students not complete with credit recovery or course work, especially seniors, have a little extra time next week to finish as well.

“Hopefully, everyone will finish strong and get credit for the courses they are taking,” Morales said. “Work for the seniors was due last Friday, May 8, and we have been in almost daily contact for those students to make sure they graduate. It is also important for the underclassmen to finish their work too. Otherwise we will be contacting them about doing credit recovery during summer school.”

He said that the number of seniors who haven’t completed their work has decreased this week, but there are still two or three in jeopardy of not being able to participate in graduation.

Summer School

The secondary campus will hold summer classes online using the Edgenuity Credit-Recovery Program starting June 6 and continuing through June 26.

“We are having our summer school in June because students don’t have to come to the building for instruction,” Morales said. “We will check out a computer and give students the necessary information to log in to the online courses they haven’t finished or received credit for.”

The elementary campus has not stated exactly when or how they will conduct summer classes for students who need extra help.

“We are meeting later this week with the team planning summer school to determine the specifics,” Gallagher said.