Superintendent Gregory Martineau followed up yesterday, as promised, on the planned shift to mandatory learning. Sunday night’s message specified that “NSBORO-CONNECT 2.0” will begin next Monday, April 6th.
The schools will continue to offer optional learning opportunities online through this Thursday.
More details on the rollout for remote, mandatory learning will be provided this Wednesday.
Martineau explained:
The decision when to launch NSBORO-CONNECT 2.0 was not a simple decision; however, after hearing from many families it was decided that families need time to prepare and organize their schedules
Here is the full message:
As we look ahead to the next five school days, I want to provide families with a timeline to when the District is shifting from optional remote learning (NSBORO-CONNECT 1.0) to required remote learning (NSBORO-CONNECT 2.0). The District Leadership Team and I have worked on fine-tuning NSBORO-CONNECT 2.0, which will launch on Monday, April 6, 2020. NSBORO-CONNECT 1.0 will remain in effect through this Thursday, April 2, 2020.
The decision when to launch NSBORO-CONNECT 2.0 was not a simple decision; however, after hearing from many families it was decided that families need time to prepare and organize their schedules and that launching NSBORO-CONNECT 2.0 on Monday, April 6, 2020, was most realistic for educators, students, and families.
NSBORO-CONNECT 2.0 is based on the following guiding principles and goals:
Guiding Principles:
- During this school closure, the safety and well-being of our students, their families, and our staff is our highest priority. We are focused not only on physical health, safety, and nutrition but also on social-emotional and mental health needs, which could intensify during this time. Providing academic routines is a part of the equation, but not the entire equation.
- Maintaining connections between faculty, staff, students, and families is paramount. These connections will provide natural conduits to guide districts and schools in addressing students’ specific needs.
- We recognize that our families, students, and faculty are functioning under unprecedented circumstances. The priorities of each family may be different based on their current situation. As such, we want to provide a flexible learning environment that can accommodate each family’s needs. We will work closely with families who need modifications to NSBORO-CONNECT 2.0.
- As we navigate these uncharted waters, we recognize that a level of sensitivity and patience is needed. Our greatest strength is our strong community and the way in which we connect and support one another.
Goals:
- Engage students in meaningful learning activities that prioritize the development of key concepts and skills.
- Provide connections between students, families, and staff members that will support social-emotional health and well-being.
This Wednesday, April 1, 2020, I will communicate to families the details and logistics of NSBORO-CONNECT 2.0. In the meantime, If you have questions or are in need of support please feel free to reach out to your child’s teacher, building principal, or me.
If you still don’t have a computer for your child, the district’s FAQs last this week instructed to reach out to the school principal. For those families still lacking home internet access, the schools had shared information on how some households can get free internet for 60 days. Click here. (FYI – I believe that ComCast still doesn’t provide service in most areas of Southborough, but Charter covers the entire town.)
