#Suptchat Recap: Return to School 2021-2022
Yet another back-to-school unlike the last. How are district leaders approaching it? The first #suptchat of the school year happened last night, and the Paper team is here to highlight some of our favorite tweets! Hosts Michael Lubelfeld and Nick Polyak asked district leaders across the nation to share what's top of mind for them.
Q1: What did you miss last year that you are looking forward to this year?
Try as we might to stay connected through the internet, there’s no way to replace the hustle and bustle that is the school community and all who partake in it.
A1: I missed and am now looking forward to seeing our students excel in the things they love to do: sports, performances, clubs, etc. And especially Friday night lights! Go @Rocketnation1! #TraditionofExcellence🚀 #suptchat pic.twitter.com/I47RfEJTeA
— Dan_Cox (@Dan_Cox) August 5, 2021
#suptchat A1: One thing I missed last year was seeing groups..... students working together, packed pep rallies, and groups of parent volunteers/visitors to #BHill8 We miss you, and can't wait to have you back! pic.twitter.com/9xj9i3aoio
— Todd Dugan (@tdugan75) August 5, 2021
A1-Missed seeing the students transitioning in the hallways and the buzz, the giggles and laughs, and I even missed the teachers fussing, "let's get to class." . #suptchat
— Nilma Osiecki (@NilmaOsiecki) August 5, 2021
A1: I missed hosting in person family nights or bring your parent to school days and truly making connections with our school community! I have always loved having conversations with families or seeing them interact together with our staff. #suptchat pic.twitter.com/MeVZ2VRoCL
— Mariana Nicasio (@mariana_nicasio) August 5, 2021
Q2: How is your school district planning to address new guidance from the CDC or your local/state leadership this Fall?
If there’s one thing we’ve learned from this experience, it’s that we know how quickly things can change. Whatever the regulations are now, we need to adapt to put safety first no matter how things progress.
A2: Masks on inside. Masks off outside…for now… No social distancing…for now…No temp checks…for now…#suptchat pic.twitter.com/uGtlbAwEsB
— Dr. Renae Bryant (@DrRenaeBryant) August 5, 2021
A2: With the Delta variant things are changing rapidly. And as someone who is fully vaccinated and still contracted Covid last month, this is no joke. We need to keep masking—as much as we hate it. Safety will be top of mind for all. #Suptchat
— Susan Enfield (@SuptEnfield) August 5, 2021
Today the IL Governor ordered a mask mandate for all schools P-12 in the state of IL -- public and private - indoors for all personnel, students, & visitors. #suptchat A2 We're reviewing all COVID protocols to best support full in person learning in @NSSD112
— Michael Lubelfeld (@mikelubelfeld) August 5, 2021
Q3: What social-emotional supports are you putting in place to help kids and staff transition back to school this year?
A3: We also used ESSER dollars to ensure that every school, regardless of enrollment, has at least one full-time school counselor. #Suptchat
— Susan Enfield (@SuptEnfield) August 5, 2021
A3: We need to remember that students have lost loved ones. They have anxiety about returning. They have concerns about masks. They have concerns about no masks. When the kids come back - we are going to get it all and we need to be ready for it all. #suptchat
— Nick Polyak (@npolyak) August 5, 2021
A3: This year our whole goal is to build relationships with students to ensure they are safe and comfortable in order to learn. We have built in a 30 minute advisory period Across our master schedule. We also purchased second step for our staff! #suptchat
— Kelly (@PrincipalMarotz) August 5, 2021
A3 we are using federal funds to add counselor and psychologist #suptchat
— Randy Squier (@randysquier) August 5, 2021
Q4: What academic supports are you putting in place to help kids transition back to school this year?
The time to accelerate learning is coming to a close. Soon, students will be expected to be back on track, but what are we doing to make that a realistic expectation?
A4: Our focus will be to pick up where we left off last year & continue to provide students with what they need to have access to grade level learning with necessary scaffolding! This will include continuous formative assessments & feedback to help our students grow! #suptchat pic.twitter.com/su9TwvFpeT
— Mariana Nicasio (@mariana_nicasio) August 5, 2021
A4: @AnaheimUHSD @AUHSD_ELMS put Sat Lang Academy 4 EL/ML Ss 2 increase multilingualism, credit & grade recovery. Focus on recovery & resiliency not learning loss. Focus on Career Prepared Sys Framework. Use EL SWD task forces; EL/ML Success Monitoring use @TeachFX. #Suptchat pic.twitter.com/OvEZujmuBS
— Dr. Renae Bryant (@DrRenaeBryant) August 5, 2021
A4: We have been partnering with @TNTP on acceleration strategies that will focus on engaging students in grade-level content, with additional support as needed. The research is clear: remediation does not catch students up. It holds them back. Not in @HighlineSchools!#Suptchat https://t.co/Wp6ystoakN
— Susan Enfield (@SuptEnfield) August 5, 2021
[ALSO: How Columbus City Schools is Providing Free 24/7 Tutoring This Fall]
Q5: What did you learn during the pandemic that you will maintain this Fall?
Once you’re able to, looking back at a time of crisis will enable you to learn and grow from the experience.
A5: That every student needs, deserves and benefits from a 1:1 adult connection in their school. And that every student needs a team consisting of their family and teacher/school staff communicating and partnering to ensure their success. #TeamKid #Suptchat https://t.co/U4BleAF7CD
— Susan Enfield (@SuptEnfield) August 5, 2021
A5: That honest communication and transparency are keys to leadership. #suptchat pic.twitter.com/9OezdWOCTv
— Bonnie Jordan (@BonnieJordan3) August 5, 2021
A5: Last year, our departments created Extended Learning Opportunities for students who did not successfully complete courses. We have seen great success in helping kids show mastery and move forward. That will definitely stay! #suptchat
— Nick Polyak (@npolyak) August 5, 2021
A5: Never just think it can't happen - the pandemic taught us so much about crushing perceived boxes - I really want to help staff continue the mindset of try it first and then regroup if it doesn't work rather than the "this is how we've always done it" approach #suptchat
— Kristen Bordonaro 🌟 (@Kmbordonaro) August 5, 2021
Q6: After a year of Zooming, what place does video in meetings have moving forward?
The jerseys of the video chat services we relied on throughout the past school years will hang in the rafters, but they still have their place in the months to come. Maybe even permanently.
A6-#suptchat It is like a swift kick in the you know what! It has a purpose and a place but nothing changes actual personal human interaction! I'm a body language person, I want to see and feel what you are saying! pic.twitter.com/QMVjDwKga5
— jgreenmc (@JGreenmc) August 5, 2021
A6: I feel we learned that the zoom meeting is an incredibly valuable tool especially for parent engagement. Our community was more willing to engage with us when they didn't have to "attend" another meeting after work. #suptchat
— Jasper (@Jasper43144816) August 5, 2021
A6: Great tool to help facilitate parent engagement (e.g., town halls, parent/teacher conferences). #suptchat
— Dale Chu (@Dale_Chu) August 5, 2021
A6 - Zoom is part of our regular planning. Our admin team continues to think about how virtual participation has supported many in our community to be able to be more involved and engaged. Currently, we are working on back to school integration of this tech support. #suptchat
— Dr. Lisa Leali (she, her, hers) (@LisaLeali) August 5, 2021
Q7: To mask or not to mask - how is your district handling mask-wearing to start this year?
A7: Even before the CDC's change of position, we had announced masks for all, regardless of vaccination status. Our local vaccination rates are low and we are trying to prioritize keeping kids in front of their teachers this year. (Ask me again in a month) #suptchat
— Nick Polyak (@npolyak) August 5, 2021
A7: We hear & understand the strong positions & feelings on all sides of this issue. Our 1st priority is to protect the education of our children. In doing so wearing masks give us the best chance to maximize in-person instruction & continued particpation in activities. #suptchat
— Dan_Cox (@Dan_Cox) August 5, 2021
A7: My district announced that masks are encouraged, but not required. We have parents that love and hate that answer #suptchat
— Mia Robinson (@korma1551) August 5, 2021
Q8: What is one thing about the pandemic that you hope to never see again in our schools?
A8: I never want to see empty classrooms, halls, auditoriums, gyms, fields and silent kids in our schools again. #suptchat
— Dan_Cox (@Dan_Cox) August 5, 2021
A8: The sense of frustration, defeat, disconnection, discouragement and disengagement that we saw with some students and families. So many important things were either changed or lost. Reconnection and engagement are key this year as well as thicker skin/softer heart #suptchat
— 𝓓𝓻. 𝓛𝓲𝓷𝓭𝓼𝓮𝔂 𝓗𝓪𝓵𝓵 (@MS_Supt) August 5, 2021
A8 - Our communities have been shaken by all the events of the last 18 months. I am hopeful that we can heal and move forward together, committed to doing great things for all of our students. Also, sick of the locks on the water fountains, hope those go away for good. #suptchat
— Dr. Lisa Leali (she, her, hers) (@LisaLeali) August 5, 2021
