Dear Editor:
I am a concerned Vail USD parent and send this letter in response to the letter below for the principal at Cienega High School. I really do not find the following statement to be acceptable from Cienega High School:
“If you choose Brick to Click for quarter four:
Teachers will be teaching larger numbers of Hybrid students so teacher response time to Brick to Click questions may be delayed.”
Some of my children have complex medical needs and should not be penalized for attending online school from home. What’s the message they’re sending here? The Vail School District is basically stating that B2C students will be an afterthought to teachers. How is the district then presenting a true choice here? Either come back in person and jeopardize your health (and that of your family) or miss out on learning because B2C students are not our priority.
It is exhausting to fight the Vail district about this at every turn. I am a nurse and a contact tracer, so I am keenly aware of the COVID state of affairs here in AZ. If you cannot teach equally to all students by having some in person and others remote, then you should teach equally to every student remotely.
I know this is a challenging time for everyone, but Vail has rushed to in-person learning at every turn–even when the metrics clearly indicated that in-person learning should NOT be taking place.
One of my sons is a junior and a Bobcat scholar. He is keenly aware that he is missing a substantial amount of learning during this all important junior year. Two of my other sons are advanced 8th graders, and they, too, know that they are missing out on some of their learning this year. Our teachers can only do their best, and it’s extremely difficult for them, too, to manage to teach to all students, regardless of location.
Is there truly no other way to proceed for the benefit of every student and teacher?
Heidi Martell
Letter from Kim Middleton, Principal of Cienega High School:
Bobcat Nation Families,
We are planning for a fuller return of students to campus beginning quarter four. We are planning for all of our Hybrid Cats to attend classes in-person on campus Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday of each week. Our school day each of those days will follow our traditional 0 – 6 bell schedule. This means we will no longer divide our hybrid Cats into Copper and Navy groups. All of our hybrid Cats will be in their classrooms together each class day.
In order to better prepare for this transition, I am asking parents to let me know if they are planning on staying in Hybrid, moving to Brick to Click or staying in Brick to Click for the fourth quarter.
Please indicate the option you are MOST LIKELY to choose. THIS IS NOT A COMMITMENT FORM. We will ask for a commitment from your family in the future, but the purpose of this survey is to gather information.
If you choose Hybrid for quarter four:
Your Cat will attend their classes on campus Monday thru Thursday of each week.
Class sizes will increase and may be near 35 depending on the number of BTC students in the assigned class.
If you choose Hybrid, students may move to Brick to Click during the quarter but must remain in Brick to Click for the remainder of the quarter. Transition back to Hybrid may be possible if space is available.
If you choose Brick to Click for quarter four:
Teachers will be teaching larger numbers of Hybrid students so teacher response time to Brick to Click questions may be delayed.
If you choose Brick to Click, students must remain in Brick to Click for the quarter. Transition to Hybrid may be possible if space is available.
I need your feedback in order to best prepare for this upcoming transition. I appreciate your help and your partnership a tremendous amount.
Sincerely,
Kim Middleton
Proud Principal of Bobcat Nation
