We’ve sent the following school year update to families in Worthington Schools:
This week marks the end of the first quarter at our secondary level and our fifth week in Hybrid instruction. We knew that educating our students this year during a pandemic would be very difficult for both teachers and families and that’s proving to be true daily. Thank you for being patient with us as we work to navigate our school year together. We’re seeking to make sure you have all of the available information regarding COVID and our modes of schooling.
We have signed up for the COVID-19 Analytics and Targeted Surveillance (CATS) program with Ohio State University which gives us better data for our attendance zone. Our Worthington Schools Attendance Area COVID data is in good shape relative to surrounding school districts. Our COVID cases in Worthington Schools are updated on the district website everyday during business hours. The public can view the dashboard for updates to our cases.
Our school health professionals continue to monitor symptoms using this guide. We also continue to track staff and student close contacts and positive case counts through our COVID hotline and online reporting form. These tools initiate automatic notification to our school nurse team, HR team and Assistant Superintendent Randy Banks. This allows us to work with both families and employees prior to completing the Columbus Public Health (CPH) report. Our technology department has created a tool for principals to communicate to entire classrooms of students/families following a positive case. CPH then follows up with our staff to ensure that masks and distancing requirements were met and to take the lead on contact tracing.
Worthington Schools has monitored data during the hybrid attendance period:
- Infection rates
- Quarantine rates
- Area district comparisons
- Clinic visits
- Students sent home ill
- Student attendance
- Teacher attendance
- Substitute fill rates
Additionally, we’re meeting regularly with CPH and Franklin County Public Health and keeping abreast of the latest research. This article in Science Magazine represents the “state of the science” at this point. Research seems to be showing that students may not spread the virus to the level once thought, however complacency would be unwise. Shut-downs fall disproportionately on children but mitigation strategies when students are in school such as masks, distancing and cohorts are still important but not yet conclusive on what is the most effective practice. Please refer to these COVID Q&A’s for more clarification on reporting, notification and quarantine practices.
With all of that in mind the board of education has adopted a Worthington Schools decision making guide for future modes of instruction. Our plan at this time is to continue with hybrid instruction for the foreseeable future. Like everything with the pandemic, those plans could be subject to change at any time as new information becomes available.
We will begin enrollment for the second semester of the Worthington Virtual Academy in early November. Roughly 800 students are learning via this mode in the first semester. We plan to offer this option for families again in the second semester. Winter sports will proceed with COVID protocols in place for both athletes and spectators. We had success this fall with sports and look forward to similar success this winter.
Perry Middle School Principal Position
As you drive around Worthington you can see that our middle schools are all being transformed. Construction is on schedule at all four sites! Next school year we will open a 6-8th grade Perry Middle School along with 6-8th grade Worthingway, McCord and Kilbourne. Phoenix will remain a 7-8th grade school. As we begin this transition we have posted the Perry Principal position. We’re looking for a dynamic educational leader to help create our new Perry Middle School. Our plan is to have that person named before the end of this calendar year. These are exciting times in Worthington!
Election Day
November 3rd is Election Day. This year, our approved 2020-21 calendar designates this day as a Professional Learning Day for our Worthington Schools Certified Staff. Teachers will be in our buildings learning collaboratively, and there will be no classes for students on Tuesday, November 3, 2020.
We would encourage families to engage their children, in a developmentally appropriate manner and in accordance with their values and priorities, around election processes in our country.
There are many resources available, including:
TED-Ed (videos with a Watch, Think, Dig Deeper, and Discuss format)
PBS Election Central (resources around topics including the party system, voting rights, how voting works (including the electoral college), and media literacy)
On the election: one thing we always remind our athletes is that if we win, we win with grace, and if we lose, we lose with grace. Regardless of whether the candidate we back wins or loses, may we respond with grace.
Absolute Excellence 