Letter from the Director

August 3, 2020

Dear Parents/Guardians and Students:

We are excited to inform you that our Health and Safety Plan was board approved July 29, 2020 so that we can reopen school using a “hybrid” school model. DCTS administration has been working very hard to develop a hybrid schedule to bring our students back to campus with the utmost attention to health and safety. Following are new expectations for the coming school year:

First Day of School for Students – August 31, 2020

Parent Survey Results – Earlier this summer almost 600 families responded to a DCTS survey seeking your feedback regarding our school reopening plan. Over 88% of respondents indicated they wanted either a full or a partial school reopening. Combined with guidance from the Pennsylvania Department of Education, the Pennsylvania Department of Health, and the Centers for Disease Control, the hybrid plan approved by our board was developed as a way to provide the quality education our students have come to expect with the safety they deserve.

Health and Safety Plan

  • As part of our health and safety plan, DCTS administration, staff, and students will comply with the mask/face covering mandate from the Pennsylvania Department of Health and the Pennsylvania Department of Education.
  • All students will be issued a face mask and a face shield at the start of the school year and will be expected to wear either or both face covering(s) throughout the day in classrooms, hallways, and common areas. Students will be allowed to remove their face covering while eating in the cafeteria with social distancing. You can view the entire DCTS Health and Safety Plan on our DCTS website.
  • Students are permitted to provide their own face masks or shields as well. However, such masks advertising/displaying alcohol, drugs, weapons, sexual connotations, or hate speech are not permitted.

Hybrid Learning Model (In Person and Online Learning)

DCTS will follow a hybrid learning model at the start of the school year:

  • 9th and 10th graders will be on campus for two (2) days each week and 11th and 12th graders will be on campus for two (2) days each week (schedule attached). Visit our DCTS website for more information.
  • When in the building, students will have one full day of instruction in their career and technical program and one full day of instruction in their academic classes.
  • This model will limit movement in the building with a concerted effort to implement social distancing.

  • The two grade levels will be taught in separate areas of the building (i.e. first floor and second floor).
  • Each grade level will have separate lunches.
  • Upon arrival to school, students will report to one of three areas with social distancing in place: auditorium, cafeteria, or gym.
  • During online learning at home, students will work independently on Schoology. Assignments will be graded using the regular grading scale. All work will be submitted through Schoology.
  • Daily attendance is required when in the building and during online learning days.

Resource Room Online – Your student can access a certified teacher every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday from 7:55am-2:50pm via Zoom for learning support if needed. The Resource Room Zoom address will be published on the website and will be sent to students via email closer to the start of school.

Resource Room in the Building – A resource room will be available in the building every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 7:55am-2:50pm for additional learning support.

  • Students can access the Resource Room while they are in the building for their classes or they can sign up to use the Resource Room in the building when they are scheduled to be working independently online at home.
  • Students will need to sign up for a spot, state the purpose of using the Resource Room, bring their laptop and plan to work on assignments during the duration they are in the Resource Room.
  • Students may sign up for any part of the day and may leave when they have accomplished their purpose for utilizing the Resource Room support.
  • Students using the Resource Room in the building may utilize district-provided transportation at the start and end of the school day, but are responsible for their own transportation if they are arriving or leaving outside of their normal in-school hours.

IT Support – For 10, 11, and 12 grade students – the Director of IT, Mr. Adam Dawson, will be contacting soon to let you know when the “Help Desk” is open so your student can come to the school and to make sure their laptop is ready to work August 31, if needed.

  • 9th grade students will pick up their DCTS-issued laptop following a schedule that will provided in the near future. Students unable to pick up their laptop prior to the start of school will have it issued on the first day of school, August 31.

We will continue to notify you with important updates and place school procedures on our dcts.org website. On behalf of the administration and staff, we look forward to your child returning to school August 31 for in-person and on-line instruction.

Respectfully,

Karen Pflugh, Ed.D.

Administrative Director