Sara Sandstrom-Kobi, Nederland. Boulder Valley School District (BVSD) teachers have started intense training for the upgoing school year. The teachers and administrators are learning techniques and technology that they have never learned before. BVSD is currently in Phase 1 learning. That means that all learning will be virtual and at home. 

Not every school in BVSD is the same. It is not a cookie cutter system. Each school needs to figure out what is going to work for their students and staff within the district guidelines. 

This could not be more true than for Nederland Middle Senior High School. NMSHS is the only combined middle-high school in BVSD. That means the same teachers are often teaching in both schools. Principal Rick Elertson asks that parents really pay attention to the information from himself and NMSHS. They are in a unique situation and the district understands the situation. 

Mondays in BVSD are going to be known as a launch day. This is a day when teachers prep for the week, send communications to families and may have professional development time. Tuesdays through Fridays will be the days students have schedules with their teachers.

NMSHS will be on a four block schedule. This means they will have a maximum of four classes each day. Each block will be 90 minutes. Teachers are allowed a total of 60 minutes of live teaching and there will be no homework beyond the 90 minute block. 

Principal Caleb Melamed at Nederland Elementary School (NES) wants it to be clear that kids are NOT expected to be constantly online from 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. At the same time this is school. It looks different than before, but this is school. Teachers are focusing on smaller group instruction. Teacher teams are working hard to tightly align across each grade level. Mr. Melamed says, “We are striving for balance and flexibility with the guidelines we have. We know that families have different needs.”

Class lists at the elementary level will be available from BVSD on August 21. There will be one specials class (art, music, physical education) every day for students. NES will be sending out schedules soon. 

NMSHS is asking that all families look in their houses for any textbooks that they may have from last year. The school needs these books returned.

Remember to read emails carefully from the schools. They are full of reliable information. All BVSD schools will be starting on August 26, 2020. A year we will all certainly remember. 

(Originally published in the August 20, 2020, print edition of The Mountain-Ear.)