BLENDED LEARNING

What does this mean?

The CNMI Public School System is taking the next step toward reopening campuses. Starting on Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2021, all Public School System elementary, middle, and high schools will transition into blended learning from remote learning.

Blended learning is the practice of using both in-person and online instruction when teaching students. In a blended-learning course, for example, students will attend a class taught by a teacher in a traditional classroom setting, while also independently completing online or paper-based learning packet components of the course outside of the classroom.

In order to maintain appropriate social distancing in every classroom, schools have organized students into cohorts of up to half of the student population. Each cohort will be scheduled to report to school to attend in-person classes twice a week.

With this learning mode, attendance of in-person classes is compulsory.

Schools will be reaching out to parents to inform them of their child’s school schedule.

Since students will be reporting to school, safety is of utmost importance. Therefore students who report to school must wear a mask on campus at all times. Hand sanitizing and social distancing will be enforced.

Although these are unprecedented times, school attendance is still compulsory under CNMI law and all students must attend in-person classes when instructed to do so. 3 CMC § 1131 states “Every person between the ages of 5 and 17 shall attend a public school or non-public school or until the completion of the 12th grade or upon meeting the high school graduation requirements. Any parent, guardian, or other person having the responsibility for the care of a child, whose attendance at school is obligatory, shall enroll their child in school.” Only students with a medical condition that may impair their ability to attend school in person may apply to the Commissioner of Education for a waiver which will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

If you have any questions, contact your child(ren)’s school.

Elementary schools schedule

– On-campus (in-person) class start and end time (Tuesdays/Wednesdays/Thursdays/Fridays): 7:30am-1:15am.

– Remote Learning (Virtual Live) class start and end time (Mondays): 8:30am – 10:30am.

– Students weekly schedule: students attend classes on campuses twice a week and work on assignments independently on days they are not scheduled on campus. Students will attend classes virtuall (Blackboard Ultra) on Mondays in the same way PSS is implementing remote learning; a maximum of up to 15 students are allowed in each classsroom, depending on classrom size; some schoosl may conduct back-to-back classes within the week (Tue/Wednesday and Thurs/Fri on-campus cohort schedules); the schools will notify parents regarding their child/ren’s schedule before the beginning of the second semester, and after-school remedial or wellness programs may be available depending on the school offerings from Tuesday through Friday and/or Saturdays.

Middle schools schedule

– On-campus (in-person) class start and end time (Tuesdays/Wednesdays/Thursdays/Fridays):

Chacha Oceanview Middle School, Dandan Middle School, Francisco M. Sablan Middle School and Tanapag Middle School are at 8:25am-2:45am.

– Hopwood Middle School is 8:20am-2:45am.

– Tinian Jr. Sr. High School is at 7:40am-3:30am.

– Dr. Rita H. Inos Jr. Sr. High School is at 8am -3am.

– Remote Learning (virtual live) class start and end time (Mondays) is at 8am-to 12am.

– Students weekly schedule: Students attend classes on campus twice a week and work on assignments independently on days they are not scheduled on campus. Hopwood Middle School has four cohorts and therefore each cohort will attend classes on campus once a week; all students will attend classes virtually on Blackboard Ultra on Mondays; a maximum of up to 15 students are allowed in each classroom, depending on classroom size; some schools may conduct back-to-back classes within the week (Tues/Wed and Thurs/Frid on-campus cohort schedules); the schools will notify parents regarding their child/ren’s schedule before the beginning of the second semester, and after-school remedial or wellness programs may be available depending on the school offerings from Tuesday through Friday and/or Saturdays.

High schools schedule

– Remote Learning (virtual live) class start and end time (Mondays): Kagman High School, Marianas High School, and Saipan Southern High School are at 8:30am-10:55am.

– Da’ok Academy is at 8:25am-2:15am.

– On-Campus (in-person) class start and end time (Tuesdays/Wednesdays/Thursdays/Fridays):

-Kagman High School, Marianas High School, and Saipan Southern High School are at 8:30am-2pm.

– Da’ok Academy is at 8:25am-3am.

– Tinian Jr. Sr. High School is at 7:30am-3:25pm.

– Dr. Rita H. Inos Jr. Sr. High School is at 7:30am-3:25am.

– Student Weekly Schedule: students attend classes on campus twice a week and work on assignments independently on days they are not scheduled on campus. All students will attend classes virtually on BBU on Mondays, and the schools will notify parents regarding their child(ren)’s schedule before the beginning of the second semester.

Information for all schools

Time will be afforded to students and parents through scheduled meetings with the teacher on Mondays after the virtual live classes. Parents and students will need to make arrangements to meet with the teacher for those who are in need of guidance with assignments.

Students and parents may reach out to the teachers for inquiries throughout the week.

Meetings may be arranged either virtually, in-person or through phone conferencing.

Student meals for all schools

Note that each public school student is eligible for only one meal set per day.

Breakfast and lunch meals will be served on campus to students scheduled on site.

Students who are not scheduled on campus may pick up meals from the “Grab-n-Go” sites and must have their school ID for meals served.

Parents are not allowed to pick up meals at Grab and Go sites on the same days their children are attending classes.

Bus schedule

Parents must be present at the bus stop for the student pick-up in the event that a student’s temperature is measured at higher than 100℉ or 38℃. Students with an elevated temperature must be taken home.

Students must wear a mask while on the school bus at all times.

Parents should contact their child’s school to inform them that their child must remain home due to elevated temperatures.

Student attendance

Student attendance will be recorded for the in-person and asynchronous (independent learning) days. Asynchronous attendance will be recorded based on the submission of completed tasks/assignments assigned on days students are off-campus. It is imperative that students use their off-campus days to complete assignments given as it will determine their daily attendance.

More information

A more complete and detailed information are available on the PSS Facebook page and website, www.cnmipss.org . This Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2021, the official Students First newsletter will publish complete information, including cohorts schedules on blended learning. (PSS)