Return to School 2020-2021

Updated Return to School Plan - August 20, 2021

Mountain Song Enrollment Options for 2020-21

Mountain Song has firmed up its enrollment options for 2020-21 in light of the extraordinary measures we are all having to implement due to the pandemic. Here are the enrollment options.

- Full-time Learning (K-8) — this is our normal full-time program that will look different this year in our phased learning environments, depending on the public health conditions.
  - Phase 1 — Remote Learning.
  - Phase 2 — Hybrid Model with half remote and half in-person
  - Phase 3 — All Class In-Person
- Homeschool Programs (K-8) — there are 2 options (more details are in the article below)
- - - Village Homeschool Enrichment Program (1-8) — our traditional program available for grades 1-8 only (no K) in which children attend class at Mountain Song one day per week. Due to COVID-19, this year the Village program will mirror the rest of the school beginning with remote learning and returning to school in a phased model as safety allows.
  - Frontier Homeschool Enrichment Program (K-8) — involves complete remote learning using a combination of online and project based learning at home all year.
  FAQ Can I enroll my child in Homeschool and still keep my full-time learning spot? Unfortunately, you can only use one enrollment spot per child, so if you are currently enrolled in a full-time learning class and choose to enroll in the homeschool program, you will give up your full-time spot. That said, our homeschool students receive priority placement in our full-time classes if you want to return to the class next year. Returning to the class will be dependent on space available in the class.
  
  What if I want to enroll in the full-time learning, but I am an essential worker and cannot stay home with my child? Will you have an option so I can bring my child in? We are still working on the logistics of such a possibility. We definitely understand the need, and are doing the best we can to provide an option. More details will be provided soon. We also encourage families to develop learning pods with one or two other families if possible.
  
  What will the full-time learning look like in Phase 1 Remote Learning? The Return to School Committee is finalizing a grades 1-8 schedule that will include live stream Main Lesson instruction with class teachers, live stream engagement with subject teachers, and many activities to do off-line. Kindergarten teachers are finalizing plans that will involve minimal live streaming and lots of hands-on activities. This year, we are accountable for full engagement of students, unlike last spring when we shut down quickly.
  
  I don’t have enough devices for my children. Will there be any available to borrow? Yes, we have been able to purchase additional Chromebooks, and are setting up a lending system. We should have updates soon. I hear Mountain Song is partnering with Prenda. Can I enroll with Prenda and still keep my spot in my full-time class? Unfortunately, each child can only be enrolled in one program at a time. Prenda is a separate program from our Mountain Song Waldorf-inspired school. If you are currently enrolled full-time at Mountain Song, and choose to enroll your child in Prenda, you will give up your full-time enrollment spot in the Mountain Song class.

Update on Mountain Song Community School's Return to School Plan - August 13, 2020

On August 4, 2020, the MSCS Board of Directors approved the framework in the Return to School Proposal released on July 31. Based on their suggestion to revisit our K-1 plan and the Safety Committee’s recommendation in light of new safety information, all grades K-8 will start in Phase 1 Remote Learning until October 2.

The Return to School Plan has been updated and can be found here.

The Plan will continue to be updated. You can expect more details next week, and as the public health conditions change, and guidance issued from local, state, and federal agencies change, we will continue to update the plan and inform you.

Update on Mountain Song Community School's Return to School Plan - August 6, 2020

Dear Mountain Song Families,

I am writing to provide an update on Mountain Song Community School’s Return to School plan. On Tuesday, August 4, the MSCS Board of Directors unanimously approved the framework of the Return to School Proposal presented to them.

What this means for families is that at minimum, grades 2-8 will start with Remote Learning on September 2, 2020, and will remain in Remote Learning until at least October 2. Early next week, the school’s Safety Committee will provide an updated recommendation for Grades K-1 to the Executive Leadership Team (ELT). You can expect an update from the ELT regarding K-1 by Wednesday, August 12.

To be clear, some of the details within the proposal are necessarily in flux due to changing public health conditions. The Board approved the framework and delegated decision-making authority within the framework to the ELT.

The Return to School Framework includes three phases of learning environment:

Phase 1 Remote Learning
Phase 2 Hybrid Model
Phase 3 All Class In-Person

The Framework also groups similar grade levels into clusters (K-1, 2-4, 5-8). At times, all the clusters will be in the same learning phase. At other times, we expect different grade clusters will be in different learning environment phases. Decisions about which phase grade clusters are in will be made in light of public health conditions. Our goal is to have students return to school when it is safe to do so.

Grades 2-8 will start in Phase 1 Remote Learning. We are revisiting the recommendation for K-1 in light of new information, and will update you by Wednesday, August 12. We are also working on details regarding differentiated situations for students and families with exceptional needs and services.

We are doing our best to make a plan that provides the consistency you need to make decisions, but that also provides the responsiveness necessary to changing public health conditions. We recognize the anxiety and stress that uncertainty causes, and we deeply appreciate your patience and understanding as we fill in the details.

Our deepest concern is for the children of Mountain Song. We know that they are learning from us how to navigate challenges with resilience. Since we know that most grades will start in Remote Learning, one thing families can start doing is to set up a learning environment at home or other remote setting. This fall, Remote Learning will be more structured with greater accountability than we experienced this past spring. We appreciate your support in helping to formalize that structure.

We will provide ongoing updates. Thank you for everything you do to help keep our Mountain Song Community strong and resilient.

Warm appreciation,

Dr. Teresa Woods, Principal

July 31, 2020

Dear Mountain Song Families,

The Return to School Committee has worked incredibly hard and is submitting a proposal to the MSCS Board of Directors for the Fall 2020-21 school year at Mountain Song in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. We would like to extend our deep appreciation to the Committee for their tireless work in this endeavor. Thank you also to all the families who responded to the Parent Survey we sent out earlier this summer, and for your subsequent feedback and input.

This proposal is linked in the PDF file at the right.

Please note that this proposal is subject to MSCS Board Approval. The Board will be discussing and considering it at the next board meeting, Tuesday, August 4, at 6:00 p.m. If you would like to provide input prior to the board meeting, I encourage you to email them at board@mountainsongschool.com.

We know that among our families there are a multitude of different situations layered on top of the changing public health landscape. We are doing our very best to respond appropriately to this challenging situation. Please know that we value all of our Mountain Song families and the beautiful and caring community you create.

Warm wishes,

The Executive Leadership Team

Mountain Song Community School Return to School Proposal for 2020-21

Click Here

July 23, 2020 - Message from the Principal

Read the Return to School Report Here

Click Here

A MEMBER OF

Information

Quick Links

Having trouble accessing your student’s Continuous Learning materials? Click the button below for technical support.

Mountain Song Community School cannot be responsible for the content of any site external to its own. By linking to other sites, MSCS is not endorsing any particular product, practice, service, provider or institution, nor does it necessarily endorse views expressed or facts presented on these sites.

© 2019 Mountain Song Community School Public Charter School. Mountain Song Community School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, religion, disability, or age in its programs and activities.