COVID-19 Updates

Hello Monarch River Families,

I hope you are all doing well, staying healthy and continuing on your educational journeys. Our board has voted to remain closed for the rest of this school year. Here are some updates to help you plan:

• STAR 360 window: April 13th- May 29th
• Monday, May 25th – Memorial Day - No school
• Friday, May 22nd @ 10 am. – Central Region Virtual End of Year Party, RSVP HERE
• Monday, June 8th @ 2 p.m. – Virtual Graduation/Promotion Ceremony
• Thursday, June 11th – Last Day of School
• High School Grades: High School grades for courses will be based upon the grade that the student had at the end of the 3rd quarter, before school closure. They will be able to raise their grade from the 3rd quarter grade, but it will not be lower. Due to the disruption of COVID, the final grade at the end of the semester will be based on a grading scale of:

• 79% - 100% = A
• 69% - 78% = B
• 59% - 68% = C
• 50% - 58% = D
• < 50% = F
• To keep students safe, and in alignment with public health guidance and school closures across 192 countries, the College Board will not be able to administer the SAT or SAT Subject Tests on June 6, 2020. Registered students will be refunded for the cost of the cancelled exams and can reschedule them.
  • If it’s safe from a public health standpoint, the College Board will provide weekend SAT administrations every month through the end of the calendar year, beginning in August. This includes a new administration on September 26 and the previously scheduled tests on August 29, October 3, November 7, and December 5.
  • Students can register for these administrations starting in May. We’ll contact students directly during the week of May 26 to provide an exact date. Eligible students can register with a fee waiver.
  • For each administration, we’re preparing to significantly expand our capacity for students to take the SAT once schools reopen. We’re calling on our member schools and colleges, as well as local communities, to provide additional test center capacity so every student who wants to take the SAT can do so.
  • Students can get early access to register for August, September, and October if they’re:
    • Already registered for June
    • In the high school class of 2021 and don’t have SAT scores
• Summer school is a great way to get ahead, get back on track, or explore new courses so that your student can start the next school year strong! Yosemite Valley Charter and Monarch River Academy are offering some summer school opportunities for high school students. Families can even use their funds from their 2019-2020 school year to take these courses. We have some great options to help you:
  • Get ahead – 8th grade through 11th grade students can take core courses and electives that will help them get ahead for the next school year in courses such as Algebra 1, Biology, English and more.
  • Get back on Track – Students can make up courses in core subject areas such as Math, Science, English or History.
  • Explore Career and Technical Programs – Brighton College offers Career Tech Education in business, health and medical, cybersecurity and more.

We hope you’ll take advantage of these summer months to explore options that will fit your students educational needs. Remember we are here to support you and will get through this challenging time together.

Sincerely,

Dr. Laurie Goodman
Executive Director
Monarch River Academy
laurie.goodman@monarchriveracademy.org

Stephanie Johnson
Co-Director/Principal
steph.johnson@monarchriveracademy.org
(559) 289-7069

Hello Monarch River Academy Community,

As you may already be aware, California's State Superintendent of Public Instruction and the Governor have both announced that the reopening of our schools is highly unlikely as the nation continues to battle the spread of the COVID-19 virus. Thursday night at a special board meeting, the Board passed a resolution extending the closure of schools to May 14th, 2020. This follows the guidelines county school districts received by the Fresno County Department of Public Health to do our part to help flatten the curve and keep our families and employees safe.

The temporary closure of our schools is an effort to slow the spread of the COVID-19 virus. We know the main question many have is how will this affect our students? We are fortunate that it does not change much of our instruction and coursework. Virtual classes will continue, teachers will still be supporting families and students. The expectation is that students are still working, parents still teaching, and teachers still supporting. We don’t want our students to regress during this time. What has changed is some of our compliance requirements. Many parents' work environments have changed and are not able to help students at home and some families find themselves dealing with other stresses that take priority over homeschooling. With this in mind, we want to assure our families that no child will have negative consequences due to circumstances that are beyond their control. Please encourage your child to do what they can. I also encourage you to reach out to your child's teacher when you have questions or concerns.

• We will not be taking attendance until we reopen.
• Work samples are not mandatory but we still advise you to keep in communication with your teacher and provide them what you can to show what your students are doing to continue learning.
• Please take the Star 360, this data is crucial in helping us plan for next year.
• We are also working on a grading system that will show what our students have accomplished, but provide grace for those that need it.
• Community Connections has gone virtual! Please click on the newsletter to see what may interest your students. It will provide them a chance to see their peers and teachers LIVE! And it’s a fun way to add some excitement to their days at home! Community Connections Newsletter

Monarch River Academy is committed to the learning experience of all our students. Even though attendance has stopped, learning has not. Please follow all guidelines to stay healthy: Wash hands frequently, stay home if sick, keep at least 6 feet apart from others. Let's do our part to slow the spread of the virus. We are dealing with a health crisis that challenges us in many ways. But we believe that we will rise to meet this challenge and that by working together, we will get through this.

We will continue to provide you updates as we have them and thank you for your continued support and patience.

Sincerely,

Dr. Laurie Goodman
Executive Director
Monarch River Academy
laurie.goodman@monarchriveracademy.org

Stephanie Johnson
Co-Director/Principal
steph.johnson@monarchriveracademy.org
(559) 289-7069

Dear Families,

Thank you for all of your support and collaboration during this time. The public health crisis created by COVID-19 is not something any of us could reasonably have expected to happen, and we are in uncharted waters as we work to prevent the spread of the illness. We have been following the guidance of state and local public health experts on how we can keep all who are part of our school community - students, staff, family members and visitors - safe in the midst of a growing health crisis. We are also following the Executive Order from our governor and Guidance for K-12 Schools . We are at a point where the balance has shifted and the appropriate path is to close schools. Our board of directors has decided that at this time it is best we close our school to keep our communities safe.

The closure will begin March 18th, 2020 at 3pm and be in effect until our next Board meeting on April 16, 2020.

Closing our school enables students and families to respond to the impacts caused by COVID-19 without consequence. Meaning, if we didn't close and families had emergencies that kept them from completing work, they would be penalized. Since we have closed, the school will not be impacted if the work can’t be completed. Although charter school closure suspends the compliance requirements of public education, our format of Homeschooling and type of instructional support we have developed to a high level is designed to support families as they continue the educational process at home. The Inspire family of schools are ready for this challenge and are going to support our students, families and communities through this uncertain time.

This means the following changes:

• No face-to-face meetings, only virtual (computer, phone) meetings.
• We will not collect work samples, AWR’s or provide grades.
• Field trips are currently put on pause during school closure.
• Enrichment services may be paused during this school closure but products may still be ordered if they are available for purchase.
• Curriculum orders will continue to be processed.

The following supports will be in place:

• Teachers will still be available for virtual support and will check-in weekly.
• EOS orders will still be accepted and placed.
• Student Support Services along with Outstanding Direct Instruction (ODI) will still be available for our students.
• A special website of open and free resources is available here.
• HQTs will hold their regular office hours for high school students and families.
• Asynchronous recordings and assignments (for Choice Plus Academy only) will still be available. *Note - Edgenuity will be set on auto progression
• Special Education will be sending a letter detailing their legal requirements. Resources can be found at this Padlet site.

These supports are designed to help support families and student achievement during this closure. The Inspire family of schools has spent the last six years perfecting the format, supports, and resources needed for parents and students who are learning from home. Our teachers are experts and they are ready and able to help. Please feel free to share any of these online resources with your family and friends who are not in our charter.

Our main office will be closed to the public. Remember, a virus, or any destabilizing event, is in part only as strong as we allow it to fray our social bonds. We are always stronger together, and we have the privilege and unique opportunity to continue to serve in ways that ensure our connection to our students and families remains intact and achievement remains in place.

As promised, we will provide you with regular updates which will be shared through your teacher connecting with you as well as updates will be posted on our main website. If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to your Home School Teacher. You can also email or call the Director/Principal, Dr. Laurie Goodman or the Assistant Director/ Vice Principal, Stephanie Johnson. We are at your service.

Sincerely,

Dr. Laurie Goodman
Executive Director
Monarch River Academy
laurie.goodman@monarchriveracademy.org

Stephanie Johnson
Co-Director/Principal
steph.johnson@monarchriveracademy.org
(559) 289-7069

Dear Families and Staff:

In recent news, you may have heard how other districts in the area are taking action in response to the COVID-19. Our administration and staff recognize the questions and concerns that have arisen due to the fluid COVID-19 situation and how this could affect our schools, students, staff and families. Fortunately, our students have the ability to participate in their education remotely while being fully engaged and can remain free of large gathering places, if they so choose.

As an administrative team, we have made the following decisions regarding our school activities:

• All meetings between teacher and families will be virtual through Spring Break.
• We are not directing families and/or vendors to cease classes and activities; we will leave that decision up to the discretion of the vendor and family.
• We are working to determine which Community Connections events can continue as planned.
• Mobile Library activities will be paused through Spring Break.
• Field trips: We are working to determine which field trips will continue as planned. We will provide regular updates as soon as they become available. Please wait to be contacted by the Field Trip Coordinator/Home School Teacher on the status of specific field trips.
• Starting March 13th, the PFT - Group Physical Fitness Testing (5th, 7th, and 9th grade only) will be paused until further notice. We will be sending out instructions on how to proceed.
• We will continue to monitor state testing requirements and communicate the most up-to-date information as we receive it.

We are in communication with our authorizers and public health officials in order to monitor the situation closely and will follow all guidance from public health officials as it relates to protecting the health and safety of our students, our employees, and our community. Of course, the situation is fluid, and our administration will respond immediately, should the recommendations of public health officials change.

Our team will also continue to communicate the practical measures advised by county and state health officials in helping to combat the spread of this virus.

These include:

• Frequent handwashing for students and staff
• Frequent and deep sanitizing of surfaces touched at school events such as testing, field trips, and Community Connections events
• Advising anyone who is ill to stay home and not return until they have been fever-free--without medication--for at least 24 hours.

If new guidance is issued by state and federal officials, our Central family of schools will communicate the information to you and act on it immediately. We will keep you notified of any changes to planned events or activities as quickly as possible. The focus is to keep our students, families, and staff updated on our response and action to this challenge. Emails will be sent and school websites will be updated.

Please rest assured that the well-being, health, and safety of our students, families, and staff remains our top priority.

If you have questions, please feel free to email us directly.

Sincerely,

Dr. Laurie Goodman
Executive Director
Monarch River Academy
laurie.goodman@monarchriveracademy.org

Stephanie Johnson
Co-Director/Principal
steph.johnson@monarchriveracademy.org

(559) 289-7069g