First, I want to say that I’m heartbroken that we won’t ever be in the same classroom together again. I’m feeling deep grief, missing you all and the class communities we have been building together. You are an absolutely incredible group of people, and I want to say thank you for making this semester such a special one for me. Though I am endlessly grateful that our leaders have valued our safety and the safety of our loved ones by closing schools for the remainder of the school year, I truly feel a poignant sense of loss in missing that face-to-face time with you.
I know by now you’ve probably seen the county’s email regarding grades for this semester. Essentially, yes, students will either keep their grades where they stand as of March 13th, or they may work with teachers to have continued learning opportunities, which may positively impact grades. Either way, you are encouraged to continue to follow class content, to learn and develop skills that will prepare you for next year. Everything we do is of value.
Mrs. Riley and I will be working together to determine what the learning opportunities will look like for Honors World Students. This information regarding grades came out to us at the same time as it was distributed to you, so we’re going to need a little bit of time to process and make sure we’re coming up with a plan that is fair to you and appropriate for this unprecedented situation. I am hoping to be able to communicate these procedures with you by the end of Spring Break, if not sooner, and I promise that getting this information to you will be an absolute priority. I know I’ve been saying this a lot, but thank you for your patience and your flexibility. Thank you for your commitment to this class. Thank you for all of the dedication you’ve shown and for your strength of character during this time. Thank you for showing me who you are, not just as students, but as people.
As for this week’s assignments, we are aware that Schoology has been down much of the week and that this new information regarding school closures and grading may be a bit distracting, so any work (including Sadlier) not yet completed for this week is officially put on hiatus at this time. If you have submitted work, I will continue to provide you with feedback. Please remember that the work you have already completed for this week may be used to bolster your grade and is not a waste of your time.
Thank you for your patience. Feel free to contact me today, tomorrow, and/or over the break if there is anything you need. Please stay safe, and enjoy this time with your family.
Wishing you and your family all of the best,
Ms. Vanbo