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Weekly district communication to SASD families

April 30, 2021

 

Dear Shaler Area families,

 

As we enter the final stretch of the school year, we hope you and your family continue to remain safe and healthy. In week’s communication, please note the following important information: 

  • Schedule changes for the end of the current school year;

  • Town Hall meeting recording;

  • Virtual instruction interest survey deadline;

  • A summary of COVID-19 cases in SASD for the week of April 26.

 

Schedule Changes

We have made some adjustments to the schedule in the coming weeks in order to best facilitate end-of-the-year testing and returning educational materials.


May 20, 2021 (HIGH SCHOOL ONLY)

  • In-person instruction day (half-day a.m.) for all students scheduled to take a Keystone Exam.

  • Virtual instruction day for all students not scheduled to take a Keystone Exam.

District transportation will be provided for all students scheduled to take the Keystone Exams on May 20, and breakfast and a snack will be available in the cafeteria.

 

June 7-11 (K-12)

  • Monday through Friday, June 7-11, will be in-person instruction days for all students.

  • Wednesday to Friday, June 9-11, will remain early dismissal days, as scheduled.

  • District transportation will be provided.

  • Breakfast will be available to all students K-12 all five days.

  • Lunch will be available to all students K-12 on Monday and Tuesday, June 7-8.

  • Lunch will be available to students K-6 ONLY on Wednesday and Thursday, June 9-10.


Virtual Instruction Town Hall Meeting

Earlier this week, we shared details about Shaler Area’s virtual instruction option for the 2021-2022 school year — Shaler Area Virtual Institute (SAVI) for students K-8 and the Titan Cyber Academy for students 9-12 — during a Town Hall meeting. This meeting was recorded for families that were unable to attend live and can be viewed here: https://youtu.be/IRQi3OjPHR4.

 

If you have specific questions or ones that are personal in nature, please contact either Dr. Shannon Howard at [email protected] or Mrs. Eloise Milligan at [email protected].

 

Virtual Instruction Interest Survey

As a final reminder, all families who may be interested in enrolling their student in the full-time virtual instruction option for the 2021-2022 school year must complete one Interest Survey per student. The deadline to complete the interest survey is tomorrow, May 1, 2021. 

 

Please note: The interest survey is not an enrollment form. An enrollment link for SAVI and the Titan Cyber Academy will be shared at a later date with all families who have expressed interest in this option. If your student intends to attend school in person for the full 2021-2022 school year, no additional action is required.

 

COVID-19 Summary

Finally, below is a summary of the additional positive COVID-19 cases in our district since our communication last Friday: 

  • One employee at Shaler Area Middle School tested positive on April 24.

  • One student at Shaler Area Middle School tested positive on April 24.

  • One employee at Shaler Area High School tested positive on April 24

  • One student at Shaler Area High School tested positive on April 24.

  • One student at Shaler Area Middle School tested positive on April 26.

  • One employee at Shaler Area Elementary School tested positive on April 26.

  • One student at Shaler Area Elementary School tested positive on April 27.

  • One student at Shaler Area Middle School tested positive on April 29.

 

While Shaler Area Middle School temporarily transitioned to the Virtual Instruction Model for three days earlier this week, the school resumed in-person instruction and activities today, April 30. This decision was in accordance with the state Department of Health’s recommendations to close individual school buildings that experience a certain number of positive COVID-19 cases based on the size of the school within a rolling 14-day period. When a positive COVID-19 case occurs in the district, we will continue to send an email to all families and staff members of the affected building and update our district’s COVID-19 dashboard: https://www.sasd.k12.pa.us/COVID-19Dashboard.aspx

 

As always, thank you for your support this school year. 

 

Sincerely, 

 

Sean C. Aiken, Ed.D.

Superintendent of Schools 

 

Bryan E. O’Black, Ed.D. 

Assistant Superintendent