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Academic Reopening Plan
Traditional
2020-2021

Guntersville Cherokee
Elementary School Elementary School

Guntersville Guntersville
Middle School High School

 

Traditional Option with Phases 
In-Person or Temporary Remote 
 
Traditional: In-Person Instruction

School Bell Schedules

Students and teachers will meet all day on a 
regular school schedule in a face-to-face 
setting at each school. We are planning for 
traditional instruction all year. ​Traditional 
Instruction​ will be led by each student’s 
classroom teacher.  
 
Due to COVID-19, traditional instruction 
may be temporarily interrupted. 
Traditional students would then transition 
to T
​ emporary Remote​. Temporary Remote 
instruction will be implemented if there is a 
class quarantine, school closure, or 
possibly if a student has an extended 
illness.   
 
In a Temporary Remote protocol, students 
and teachers work from home using 
Chromebooks and ​SchoolsPLP​ digital 
content which will be housed in S
​ choology​, 
a learning management system. Students’ 
 
classroom teachers will facilitate the 
Temporary Remote learning environment 
through these digital tools. 

 
Guntersville Elementary School 
(Coming Soon) 
 
 
Cherokee Elementary School 
(Coming Soon) 
 
 
Guntersville Middle School 
(Coming Soon) 
 
 
Guntersville High School 
(Coming Soon) 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
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 Academic Plan 
Traditional Learning Environment 
 
Important Considerations for the Traditional Learning Environment: 
 
●

●

Students who are enrolled in the Traditional Learning Environment will attend school in a 
face-to-face manner five (5) days per week with the exception being illness, quarantine, or 
school closure. In case of illness, quarantine, or school closure, students will transition to 
the Temporary Remote protocol. The Temporary Remote protocol will provide students a 
virtual learning platform with online lessons as needed to establish a continuation of 
education due to any unintended interruptions regarding face-to-face attendance. 
 
Students will remain in the Traditional Learning Environment for a minimum of nine (9) 
weeks which is the equivalent of a grading period. Only under extreme, extenuating 
circumstances will be this be reconsidered for a student and will be handled on a 
case-by-case basis. 

 

Teaching and Learning 
 
Instruction 

● Teachers:​ Utilize Essential Standards, Unit Planning, and 
Learning Progression charts in the shared Bold School Google 
Drive. Utilize common formative assessments as applicable to 
inform instructional decisions. Provide continuous feedback to 
students regarding learning progression. 
 
● Students and Parents:​ Utilize The Schools of Guntersville Pacing 
Guides for the ‘20-21 school year which are in development and 
will be published on the system’s website. 
 
● Teachers:​ Participate in weekly collaborative team meetings for 
planning, pacing, and assessment conversations. 
 
● Teachers:​ Maintain regular use of SchoolsPLP and make periodic 
assignments in this platform in order to be prepared to enact the 
Temporary Remote protocols in case of school closure or student 
illness. 
 
● Teachers / Instructional Staff: ​ Provide immediate interventions as 
part of the Response to Intervention process to address learning 
gaps from spring 2020. 
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● Teachers: ​ Modify hands-on activities and laboratory experiences 
with alternate activities or online experiences where proper 
social distancing cannot be maintained. 
Learning 
Resources 

● Technology Staff: ​ Ensure all students in grades 3-12 will be 
assigned a Chromebook package as an instructional support. 
Ensure all key digital learning resources are accessible at school 
and from home where family owned devices are available. 
 
● All:​ ​ PreK -12th grade students and teachers will utilize 
SchoolsPLP ​digital curriculum and S
​ choology​ Learning 
Management System in case the T
​ emporary Remote​ protocol is 
enacted for a student, a classroom, a school, or the entire 
system. SchoolsPLP digital curriculum aligns to the Alabama 
Courses of Study. 
 
● Teachers / Instructional Staff / Technology Staff: ​ E
​ nsure all 
students, teachers, and instructional staff are supplied with 
appropriate login credentials to Schoology, SchoolsPLP, and 
Clever. 
 
● Parents / Students:​ Review Family Supports for SchoolsPLP and 
Clever which are in development and will be distributed to each 
student. 
 
● Teachers / Instructional Staff with students:​ If necessary, prepare 
“Take Home Learning Materials” for students to keep at home 
in case the Temporary Remote protocol is enacted. These 
materials may include but are not limited to: paper, pencils, 
math manipulatives, journals, books, and instructional charts. 

Professional 
Learning 

● Teachers / Instructional Staff:​ Opportunities during summer 2020 
to engage in content specific and system initiative professional 
learning as detailed in the ​Summer 2020 Professional Learning 
Brochure​ and ​AMSTI Summer Learning​. Up to three Flex Days 
can be earned for this work including November 23, 2020, 
November 24, 2020, and May 28, 2021.  
  
● Teachers / Instructional Staff:​ Opportunities to complete Essential 
Standards, Unit Planning, and Learning Progression charts for 
the 2020-2021 school year through the use of the shared Bold 
School Google Drive. Up to two additional Flex Days can be 
earned for this work including September 8, 2020, and January 
19, 2021. 
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● Teachers / Instructional Staff:​ The 2020-2021 school calendar has 
been adjusted to include additional professional learning days to 
support all staff with Schoology and SchoolsPLP in order to 
effectively continue teaching and learning in the event the 
Temporary Remote protocol is enacted. 
  
Social 
Emotional 
Learning 
(SEL) 

● Conduct Professional Learning through the District Leadership 
Team for SEL supports. Focus on student and staff mental 
health and wellness using trauma informed models. 
 
● Provide resources for staff self-care including ​Resiliency 
Strategies 
 
● Expectations for all staff to offer support to students and each 
other that display concern, empathy, and respect. All staff 
should display concern and curiosity about students’ 
social-emotional needs and overall learning. 

Virtual 
Learning 
Times for 
Temporary 
Remote 

 

Testing 
 
Grading 

● Beginning with grade-level standards and learning targets, 
teachers will ensure students have a clear understanding of what 
should be learned. 
 
● Grades will be taken in both the traditional and virtual learning 
environments.   
 
● Grades will be a display of mastery in regards to learning targets 
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 and standards. 
 
● The official grade record will remain in INOW for traditional and 
virtual learning environments. Professional Learning will be 
provided to teachers regarding the virtual learning environment 
and how grades will be transferred to INOW in the event of a 
school closure. 
Assessments 

● K-3:​ Administer Early Reading and Math Assessment to screen 
all K-3 students: AlaKids (kindergarten only), Amplify mClass 
DIBELS 8th edition, STAR Reading, STAR Math 
 
● 4-8:​ STAR Reading, STAR Math 
 
● 9-12:​ Global Scholar Performance Series (as applicable) and ACT 
benchmark assessments

Additional Considerations 
 
Attendance 

Board Policy:​ A
​ bsences and Excuses​ – Students are not permitted to be 
absent from school without a valid excuse. Absences will be 
designated as excused or unexcused. Excused absences will be 
permitted for the following reasons: 
Personal illness 
Hospitalization 
Emergency 
Death in immediate family 
Court subpoena 
Religious holidays 
Absences approved by the principal 
Documentation supporting an excused absence must be​ ​submitted in a 
timely manner or the absence will be deemed to be unexcused. Excessive 
unexcused absences may result in a loss of academic credit or referral of 
the matter to juvenile or other appropriate legal authorities for 
investigation. 
 
• It is the responsibility of the student to bring a written excuse from a 
doctor or home, within three (3) days, for each absence and present it 
to the appropriate office personnel.  
 
• Each student is allowed six (6) parent/guardian written 
verifications/notes per year. One home note can count for up to two 
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 consecutive days absent. 
 
****COVID related absences will be coded as per established protocols 
which can be found using the following link ​Confirmed Positive 
COVID-19 or Risk of Exposure Protocol All Students 
Fine Arts 

● Materials and equipment needed to deliver virtual instruction if 
needed 
 
● Instruments, materials, and equipment will follow a sanitation 
schedule and ​sanitation guidance​. 
 
● Music and Art specialists at GES & CES will visit classrooms on a 
schedule with virtual instruction when needed 
 
● Class sizes in Music and Art classes at GMS & GHS will be 
monitored to ensure social distancing 

 
Arts Education Resources - Return to School Supports 
Physical 
Education 

● As practical, social distancing will be observed in shared spaces 
such as gymnasiums and playgrounds for all PE classes. These 
classes will be limited to non-contact games, sports, and 
activities. 
 
● PE and playground equipment and spaces will be disinfected 
properly and frequently. 

Recess / 
Break 

● Increased recess and break opportunities will be provided at all 
schools for students and staff in order to provide fresh air, 
movement, and hydration. Specific schedules will be maintained 
at the school level. 
 
● Teachers will monitor students to ensure appropriate social 
distancing is practiced 
 
● Limitations will be placed on the number of students using 
playground equipment simultaneously 

 
Media 
Centers 

● Individual school procedures will address Media Center 
procedures and book circulation. 

Technology 

● Collaborate with schools on device assignment. Dates during 
summer 2020 and August 2020 TBD. 
 
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 ● Families should provide earbuds or headphones compatible with 
Chromebooks to avoid sharing  
Counseling 

● Lessons may be provided face-to-face or virtually in order to 
support social distancing. 
 
● School Counselor will serve as Leader of Social Emotional 
Learning supports for students  
 
● Continue individual guidance sessions for academic and social / 
emotional needs (face-to-face and virtually as needed) 
 
● Serve as school-based Homeless Liaison  
 
● Serve as Building Test Coordinator for all state assessments 
Counseling Resources 

English 
Learners 

● Teachers will consider wearing face shields to support students’ 
needs to receive instruction that supports language acquisition. 
 
● Teachers:​ ​Remote Learning for English Learners  

 
*Instructional delivery phase will be determined in conjunction with Alabama State Department of Education,
Alabama Department of Public Health, Marshall County Health Department, local physicians, and Schools of
Guntersville administrators. An increase in COVID-19 rates in our area may modify our plans. We are committed
to delivering high-quality instruction so all students may learn at high levels. We will revisit our reopening plans
frequently and communicate with all stakeholders as changes occur. Thank you for your patience and flexibility
as we make decisions to support our students in this challenging environment.

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