Academics
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Welcome to the “FAQ” pages for Thompson School Distict’s 2020-2021 Back-To-School planning process. Additional questions and answers will be posted on these pages as we move forward in welcoming students back this Fall. Thank you as always for your continued support.
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What will the grading practices be for remote learning?
Grading will look similar to the traditional grading system. Students will participate in class and receive assignments that will be graded just as though they were at school 5 days a week.
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For students who open enroll, will they get to keep their spot if they select the online option?
Yes. Students will be able to retain their spot.
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Are students still enrolled in their school if they opt for the online option this semester/year?
Yes they are still enrolled at their neighborhood or open enrolled school if they select the online option.
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Will high school students be able to take the classes they registered for in February?
Yes. The high schools are taking all the course requests and putting them into a master schedule. They will be doing their very best to honor the classes students signed up for in February. After you receive your schedule, please work with your school counselor to make any necessary changes
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For students who select a 100% on-line educational model, will there be some form of a review done after classes are registered to ensure they will meet the requirements for graduation?
TSD will be using the courses that the student pre-registered for in February as the starting point for registering students into the on-line program. Counselors will be reviewing the schedules to ensure students are taking courses to meet graduation requirements.
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There is a volunteer hour requirement for TSD students to graduate. How will that be handled given the current environment and potential lack of opportunities in the community?
We are exploring options for students to volunteer in ways that do not put them or the community at risk.
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How will the new requirements to demonstrate readiness to graduate that were expected to be in place this year (SAT benchmarks, etc.) be handled in both the in-person and online models?
At the July 8 state Board of Education meeting, the Board approved a measure allowing districts to use local assessments or grades to confirm students' readiness for graduation in the 2020-2021 school year. At this time, we are reviewing that guidance and are working with high school administrators and counselors to determine what that will look like for graduates from Thompson School District. Regardless of which instructional model is chosen by students, each will have the same opportunities to demonstrate readiness.
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If my HS student chooses in-person, would he be able to switch to online for the spring term, or would he be locked in to in-person all year?
High school students who start the year in person and wish to switch to online at the semester MAY do so however, this may impact the number of credits earned in the second semester
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What if I filled out a survey before the August 9th deadline but have now changed my mind on which educational option I would like to choose?
If you have already submitted a survey for your child and have now changed your mind on which educational option you want, please fill out the survey once again in its entirety and re-submit it. Surveys are time-stamped and district staff will be able to track your latest choice.
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Is there a possibility that Kindergarten will be offered half days?
No, we will not be offering a half-day kindergarten option.
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If I choose in-person learning and the class/school gets closed down so that in-person is not an option, then what? Can my children join the online teaching program or will it be the in-person staff doing online learning?
When in-person learning is selected and the class/school is closed for a period of time, students will remain with their in-person class in a remote learning environment. Staff will be receiving training this fall to deliver their content in this way and there will be expectations for students to participate and provide evidence of learning that will be graded.
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Will the platforms for in-person and online be the same? If someone gets sick, will they be able to work from home without missing content?
The online platform used by students during their in-person instruction will be consistent. A different platform will be used to deliver the fully online instructional option. Depending on the level of learning that is done remotely while in-person instruction is in place, students may be able to work from home. This will be teacher and content specific. For the classrooms that do not use the District online platform as part of their in-person instruction, students will be able to access missed lessons and assignments as they have in the past by requesting them from the teacher.
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Do all of the students in a household have to select the same option (online vs. in-person)?
No. Families may choose a different option for each child if they wish.
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Will there be any opportunity for the children doing the online choice to have socialization with other kids or participate in extracurricular activities?
Yes, students in the fully online option will be allowed to participate in extracurricular activities offered at their neighborhood school.
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When my family chooses to return to in-person instruction or a full on-line model, does that decision last for the entire school year? Or can it be changed?
Once registered, students in grades K-8 will stay in online learning for at least a semester. Due to the high school in-person schedule that will be in place, students in grades 9-12 will remain in online learning for the full year to ensure attainment of credits towards graduation requirements. Survey information is due by August 2, 2020.
