The Sauquoit Valley School District is now providing students with lesson packets and online materials to learn from. Parents or students can continue with packet pickups on Thursday March 18 between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m.
Sauquoit Superintendent Ron Wheelock is advising parents to treat the distant learning much like a typical school day.
"Do not approach this closure as we are on summer break, and that’s going to be something that’s hard for parents to mitigate I think as they’re going forward, and certainly kids…mom I don’t need to get up. You probably don’t need to get up as early, but at some point when we do come back to school, you’re going to have to get back into that mode, so it’s not a snow day, it’s not a summer vacation, so they should attempt to do some work throughout the day," he said.
Some parents like Chadwicks resident, Kayla Lopesz, are happy to finally get their hands on the learning materials, and get their kids back into a routine.
"I know if my son sat home and did nothing he would be way behind when we went back. He needs that. He needs to keep his brain active or he just forgets everything," she said.
Sauquoit Resident Carrie Tinker believes keeping to a strict routine during non-conventional times may not work for everyone.
"There is some craziness going on right now and I think dealing and coping with that kind of needs to allow for some…you now like a little bit lapse in the structure of things too. Being a little bit more flexible with things," she said.
Much of the material being sent home is review work, but Ron Wheelock says students should be ready to hit the ground running when they return to school, and take advantage of any resources to keep from falling behind.
"Kids that may have anxiety about falling behind in school, we understand that. The work is designed to hopefully build on the skills that they already have. If they do have questions or concerns, they are asked to reach out to their teachers. They have access to them through e-mail., or certainly call the main office of the building," said Wheelock.
Parents with additional questions can access the New Hartford School district webpage: COVID@nhart.org, or Sauquoit Valley School District webpage: www.svcsd.org.
