Please note that we are using Google Translate to translate these documents. They are not official or verified translations. It is recommended to always verify translations.
Dear North Penn Families,
9/29/21
Dear North Penn Families,
Our staff and students are off to a great start to the 2021-2022 school year and I look forward to celebrating many successes in the months ahead of us! Unfortunately, however, in our district and county-wide, the rate of COVID-19 transmission continues to increase. As of today, Wednesday, September 29th, we have been in a state of high transmission (>100 cases per 100,000 or >10% positivity) for two consecutive weeks.
Per the approved NPSD Health and Safety Plan, during a level of high transmission, concerned students may choose to learn from home by streaming the instruction happening in their classroom. While this option is similar to the online learning option offered in the 20-21 school year, we did struggle last year with the inconsistency of students being in school one day and choosing to remain home the next. Therefore, this year if a family is no longer comfortable with their child coming into our schools due to the community moving to high transmission rates, we are asking that you commit to attending classes online until the transmission levels drop below the high level.
Please note, families who are comfortable sending their students to school should continue to send their children to school for in-person instruction. Our schools are open.
We appreciate the flexibility that our staff and families showed last year during the hybrid model but we believe consistency of instruction is important as we move forward. Families who would like their student to stay home and stream instruction are asked to contact their principal via email prior to Friday, October 1st. Students choosing to learn online must begin doing so by Monday, October 4th. Students will be expected to have their camera turned on and actively participate for the duration of the school day. Failing to follow these expectations will result in the student being marked absent.
Please note, NPSD will communicate when the transmission levels have dropped and students who elected to stay home during high transmission will transition back to in-person instruction.
This communication is surely not what we wanted to send to our families a month into the school year. Our hopes have always been a school year that looked much more like 2019. Thus, it is extremely important that we continue to be vigilant in our efforts to stop the spread of COVID-19, keep our staff, students and community safe, and keep our students in school.
Thank you for your attention to this important matter.
Sincerely,
Curtis R. Dietrich, Ed. D.
Superintendent
North Penn School District