Letter from Plymouth Public Schools -- Tips and Tricks for Families

"As we continue to navigate various modalities of learning in the Plymouth Public Schools, we realize that families are continually navigating stressful situations.  Parents and guardians have taken on an increased amount of responsibility and this can often lead to worry, tension, and feeling overwhelmed."  

Please review the letter from Stacey A. Rogers, Assistant Superintendent, and Cheryl DeLorey, Social Emotional Learning Coach, for a list of tips and tricks to help support you as we continue through the school year.

For questions on how to log in to Clever or to your Google account please refer to our .  You will also find information on google Classroom, Seesaw, Google Meet, Chromebook Support, and more.

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Updated: August 14, 2020

• All students, K-12, will alternate between in-person and remote learning.

• Remote Learning will take place on Mondays for all students. Students will engage in a synchronous schedule with staff that will include 4.5 hours of direct learning with teacher interaction as defined in remote learning expectations.

• Group A: Last name beginning with A-K; will attend in-person Tuesdays and Thursdays.

• Group B: Last name beginning with L-Z; will attend in-person Wednesdays and Fridays.

• At-home Learning: Students will engage in independent work, given by their teacher through a variety of modes such as online activities, projects, writing assignments, or specific assignments to complete.

• Families will be assigned to the SAME group and will be attending school on the same day regardless of last name.

• High needs students have the option to attend in-person Monday through Friday. Families will be contacted directly by a central office administrator if their child has been identified as a high needs cohort member based upon DESE guidance.

GRADES K-6: For students in grades K-6, the district will have an in-house remote learning opportunity based on our full remote schedule that will be administered by our district teachers. This remote option will mirror the following schedules we have in place if the district should go to a full remote model.

GRADES 7-12: For students in grades 7-12, the full remote learning option will be through TEC Connections Academy Commonwealth Virtual School (TECCA). Our district will be purchasing individual courses and/or a bundle of grade level courses through a variety of platforms including but not limited to TEC Connections Academy (TECCA) and Commonwealth of Massachusetts Virtual School (CMVS). These options allow our students to remain enrolled in their Plymouth school.

Due to our extensive course of study at the high school level, the full remote option may not entirely mirror the hybrid education. However, all course credits will be included on your child's transcript as a Plymouth student and will not negatively impact their progress as a student in the Plymouth Public Schools.

The full remote learning platform for grades 7-12 provides a Massachusetts certified teacher, the learning management system/curriculum platform, the courses, synchronous and/or asynchronous content, and technical support. Plymouth will also be assigning educators and counselors to work with students and families on registration, monitoring student progress, and providing additional support throughout the student’s time as a remote learner.

TECCA's School Profile can be viewed .

TECCA Virtual K-12 Remote Learning Program

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• Families have access to Tech Support 24/7 at 1-800-382-6010

For all this information right at your fingertips, download our Mobile App which is available for iOS and Android devices.

• Or, you can search for "Plymouth Public Schools" and make sure you pick the app with our logo from the selections.  Title: Plymouth Public Schools, MA
• More information on our Mobile App is available at http://lacicteam.com/Page/4105.

The easiest way is to STAY CONNECTED with our Google Calendars, through our Social Media pages, and with the use of our Mobile App.

Social Media:  You can Follow Us by clicking the links which are listed at the bottom of every page of our website (scroll down to the bottom).  For individual school Facebook and Twitter accounts, scroll down on the School's Home Page.  Look for the "Stay Connected" heading.

Download our Mobile App 

• Or, you can search for "Plymouth Public Schools" and make sure you pick the app with our logo from the selections.  Title: Plymouth Public Schools, MA
• More information on our Mobile App is available at http://lacicteam.com/Page/4105.

For Summer Happenings information, visit our "Summer Happenings" page listing information on Summer Reading, AP Work, and Math Summer Work.

I would like my kids to be able to wash their hands between each and every class with warm water and soap. Will this be made available to them?

All students will be provided the opportunity to use soap and water to wash their hands or to use hand sanitizer at any time during the school day. Families who wish to opt out of the hand sanitizer option for their child (children) will be able to do so.

What happens when students come down with the cold? 

All families will be asked to monitor their children each day for specific symptoms: fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, sore throat, sudden loss of taste or smell, congestion and/or runny nose. We are asking staff to do the same and requesting that if symptoms of illness are present, that the individual not come to school that day and to contact their Primary Care Physician (PCP).

What happens when a teacher tests positive? 

If a teacher tests positive for the Coronavirus, we first ask that they share that with us so that the school is able to perform contact tracing/determine close contacts. He/she would need to isolate at home as directed by the PCP and could potentially return in approximately 10 days, having had resolution of symptoms for at least 3 days before return to school.

At what point does the school decide that it is unsafe and close the schools?

There will be daily data surveillance and collaboration with the local board of health and public health department in Plymouth - as well as with our School Physician Consultant - around positive case findings. If we determine that there has been a cluster of cases in any one classroom or in any one school over time we will contact/consult with both the MA Department of Education (DESE) as well as the MA Department of Public Health (MDPH) re any potential need to close.

Can you please elaborate on one school closing but not the rest. Wouldn’t we have concerns with siblings in different schools?

There will be comprehensive contact tracing done should a positive case be confirmed (student or staff) - and this includes close contacts both in the school setting as well as in the home as it pertains to parents and or siblings in other district school buildings.

If someone is questionable and tested would we find out? Or only if positive?

We need to maintain both staff and student privacy/confidentiality at all times around medical information. Notification of a positive COVID case will be shared with staff/families only when appropriate (close contacts).

Some students might not be able to wear a mask due to health concerns or a disability. What will the district do in these cases to assure that these individuals are not discriminated against but yet others will not be put into harm's way?

We ask that all families consult with the PCP regarding this concern, one that we will address on an individual case by case basis should the need arise. As of this time we have not been made aware of any evidence-based articles or research that have raised medical concerns regarding the safety of cloth mask use in school age children. We will build in mask breaks during the day. The CDC has good recommendations for mask use in children. Additional resources for parents and caregivers:  and .

Will screening be done for the teachers and for the students?

It will be an expectation for all staff and families to do daily symptom monitoring before coming to school each day - and to stay home if ill or symptomatic. 

How many kids or adults have to get sick before we are notified?

If there is one positive Covid case in a student/staff cohort there will be notification made for anyone in the school community that we have deemed a close contact.

How will allergies be addressed if kids are eating lunches in their classrooms? Typically the classrooms were nut free, will that still be the case?

Our policy around Life Threatening Allergy Management is unchanged. 

Why are temperature checks not going to be mandatory before entering buildings?

Daily temperature checks are not an evidence-based strategy to minimize risk.

What will you do for families who don’t take precautions? 

We will rely on our entire school community to be transparent around symptom monitoring each day.

There will be families who will not excuse their child from school if they have symptoms. How will you mitigate those risks and if a child exposes others?

If a student has been assessed and it has been determined that he/she needs to be dismissed we will follow our protocol to assure a safe and timely dismissal.

How will children keep the masks on without fidgeting with them or touching them all day? 

We have a plan to work with our students to educate them on all aspects of mask wearing and why this is important for their health and safety at this time. There will be many strategies used based on the emotional/social/ developmental level of the child/classroom.

Please define what an unsafe event would be resulting in a school being shut down resulting in a migration to remote learning.

A single event would not necessitate a school closing - our contact tracing initiative and community collaborations will be a deciding factor to close a classroom or school if necessary to maintain the public health and safety of our school community.

Who will be monitoring unmasked students eating? Who is responsible for cleaning afterwards? How can this be done without major exposure to COVID-19? 

Students who are having lunch will be consistently monitored - cleaning after lunch will be a cooperative effort.

How can school nurses perform their day to day work and also screen the entire school and staff for coronavirus?

School nurses will be performing individual assessments on any student coming to the health office - as they always have regardless of the nature of the visit, whether planned or unplanned. Students who display symptoms of illness will be screened in an identified isolation area until it is determined if they need to be dismissed or return to class.

How will masks be handled in the classroom in order for students to hear the teacher and each other? 

This question would need to be answered on an individual case by case basis; we will have masks - if necessary - that are clear so being able to see the face is possible. We will be troubleshooting any issues or concerns that arise on this topic daily.

How will mask breaks be handled? How frequently are they permitted and where will they take place? How will masks be stored during those breaks to prevent them from being contaminated?

This will vary from classroom to classroom and will be shared by individual teaching staff at the start of the school year.

Please provide more information on the Pediatrician that the district hired.

The School Physician Consultant is a stipend position. A School Physician is routinely consulted during the school year for any health-related issue that may arise where expert guidance is needed in the specialty practice of Pediatrics; we follow guidance around this role from the MDPH. 

If a student/teacher/staff member/bus driver exhibits COVID symptoms are they required to be tested? If so, do they need proof of a negative test in order to return to school/the bus? 

For anyone in the school community who is symptomatic, we ask that they see their PCP and be tested. In addition, we ask that they be transparent and communicate the results to us; we cannot require documentation from a physician. In addition, we request that they follow protocol and remain home until the results are received.

How will the A and B Cohorts be grouped?

Group A: Last name beginning with A-K; will attend in-person Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Group B: Last name beginning with L-Z; will attend in-person Wednesdays and Fridays.

Are we able to request what days they attend?

Requests will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis by school building and based on numbers and spacing. Please contact your school building administration for more details.

Why was the current model of alternating children on each day established? Is there flexibility at this point to modify the current hybrid model?

The remote day in the hybrid model was selected specifically due to the number of Monday holidays that transpire over the course of the year. In addition, it was suggested that it would be best to spread the two days of face-to-face instruction over the course of the week so that teachers will see students at various points of the week and not go a long stretch of time without physically seeing them. 

Will parents be able to move their children from remote to hybrid or vice versa as the year progresses?

In order to maintain continuity and consistency for students and staff as well as maintain a stable educational environment, we are asking parents who would like to change their status from hybrid to remote or vice versa that they discuss options with their school administrators as there may be limitations. 

Why can't a phased model be put in place, beginning remotely? 

Given the guidance that we have perceived from the Department of Education as well as the CDC, we feel that phasing in our return to school in a hybrid fashion is the best starting place. We will continue to watch the data on a daily basis and shift if things change. It is our hope that the situation within our community and the Commonwealth improves overtime and so that we may eventually return to face-to-face instruction on a daily basis for our students. However, we will only do so if the local health data suggest it is safe. We will continue to watch the data regularly and make a decision to change direction if necessary.

Will there be “extra help” opportunity for my student outside of school hours and on remote days if we need help?

Our goal is to provide as much support to students as possible during this transition back to school. We will be working in the coming weeks to identify opportunities for students to receive extra support with their academic learning.

Would it be safer to have shorter in-building school days, perhaps 3.5 to 4 hours? My greatest concern is that air quality breaks down over time, even with masks on.

The school department has invested considerably in enhanced filtrations for the schools' HVAC units as well as ionization machines that will purify the air in our older buildings. In addition, we will be giving students periodic mask breaks throughout the day.

Are outside learning tents being considered in the fall months at each school? Would this be possible to further “stretch” and take advantage of the outside while weather permits for art, music, gym etc?

Our secondary schools have larger sections of chorus, band and physical education classes than the elementary schools. We are in the process of obtaining large tents for our 4 secondary schools so that they may provide outdoor instruction as much as possible under the DESE guidelines. 

If a specialist is teaching outside, what will happen if there is inclement weather? If a student isn’t properly dressed?

Courses such as band, chorus and physical education will take advantage of the outside and outdoor weather as much as possible. In addition, many classrooms will be taking their students out if the weather permits as well. Having said that, we will continue to monitor the weather and have made contingency plans for those courses that must be taken outside under certain circumstances. Such courses will be provided indoor spaces where they could work on non-performance related activities. For example, rather than singing outside, if required to stay indoors due to weather, students will work on more music theory and application using technology.

Are specialists required during synchronous learning, or will parents and students have the option to explore alternate activities that support the specialist? i.e. playing outside in place of gym, creating their own artwork, participating in personal choice music lessons, etc.

All teachers and specialist will be following the same schedule. When students are in a remote setting, those specialists will also be instructing synchronously online.

Will specialist work be required as assigned to students during their at-home learning day, or will they also have alternate options? If required, who will provide those supplies? Last spring our family was repeatedly asked to utilize materials that we did not have at home, or that I felt was wasteful and not easy to replace during a pandemic. I found these expectations to be disruptive and costly.

Our principals, coordinators and directors have been working throughout the summer to evaluate the materials that would be needed for both face-to-face instruction as well as remote learning days. In most cases, students will be provided individual supplies for both learning environments.

Who is creating the content for what the students are doing at home if the teachers are at work? Who is providing the assignments and when will we have the time to do this? Who is providing the feedback for these resources? 

Teachers will be planning the lessons and activities for students on both learning at home days, face-to-face learning days and remote Mondays and will be providing ongoing feedback on student work as they would be required to do under ordinary circumstances.

The pass/fail grading in the spring was not sufficient. What will be done differently? 

Teachers will be evaluating assignments and providing ongoing feedback as if school was in session every day. Your child can expect to receive regular feedback on all assignments that are completed and passed in to the teacher. Grades will be provided as they have in the past.

Will teachers be receiving PD on how to teach hybrid and remotely, in the event the district needs to transition to full-remote overnight? 

Teachers will receive Professional Development to prepare for the start of the school year. Part of that training will require PD on both instruction and technology for both hybrid and remote instruction.

What are the remote options for students in grades K-6?

For students in grades K-6, the district will have an in-house remote learning opportunity based on our district remote learning schedule that will be administered by our district teachers.

What are the remote options for students in grades 7-12?

For students in grades 7-12, the full remote learning option will be through TEC Connections Academy Commonwealth Virtual School (TECCA). Our district will be purchasing individual courses and/or a bundle of grade level courses through a variety of platforms including but not limited to TEC Connections Academy (TECCA) and Commonwealth of Massachusetts Virtual School (CMVS). These options allow our students to remain enrolled in their Plymouth school. 

Due to our extensive course of study at the high school level, the full remote option may not entirely mirror the hybrid education. However, all course credits will be included on your child's transcript as a Plymouth student and will not negatively impact their progress as a student in the Plymouth Public Schools.

The full remote learning platform for grades 7-12 provides a Massachusetts certified teacher, the learning management system/curriculum platform, the courses, synchronous and/or asynchronous content, and technical support. Plymouth will also be assigning educators and counselors to work with students and families on registration, monitoring student progress, and providing additional support throughout the student’s time as a remote learner.

Will parents be able to move their children from remote to hybrid or vice versa as the year progresses?

In order to maintain continuity and consistency for students and staff as well as maintain a stable educational environment, we are asking parents who would like to change their status from hybrid to remote or vice versa that they discuss options with their school administrators as there may be limitations. 

Will students be assigned to a Plymouth teacher as a point of contact?

Yes. When students are enrolled in a learning management system or virtual education opportunity, the Plymouth Public Schools will assign teachers to support the students and connect with their remote teachers on a regular basis.

Will those who do the online option end up being behind those who go to school?

Our priority is to ensure that all of our students continue to receive the education they deserve, no matter which option they ultimately choose. 

Does the LMS offer biomed, AP classes, etc. 

Our remote options for high school students will provide AP opportunities. Specific programs such as Biomedical and CCTE courses cannot be replicated in the remote setting as our teachers will be responsible for instructing in the hybrid setting on a daily basis.

How will the remote learning option provide high school students with an equal and appropriate education that won't hold them back from graduating on time?

The Plymouth Public Schools will be offering a bundle of academic courses to its students remotely that will align with their course expectations in their school. Students that choose to be educated remotely will not be negatively impacted in terms of their ability to graduate on time.

Will remote learning option be synchronous or asynchronous? 

The remote learning courses will provide both synchronous and asynchronous instruction.

Does the remote learning option meet the standards for a student to earn sufficient credits to move to the next grade level within the Plymouth Public Schools and/or to graduate from the Plymouth Public Schools with a high school diploma? 

Students that elect to engage in remote instruction will continue to be registered as Plymouth Public Schools students. Students will not be withdrawn as students. Rather, our schools will work directly with students and families that participate in the remote learning option. Students will be provided the courses they need in order to meet high school requirements. 

Will online learning be available for all grades? How will hands on classes be handled? Ie. CAD, biomedical, graphic design etc?

Students grades K-12 will be provided the option to participate in online learning. Programs such as our Biomedical program and CCTE programs will not be offered remotely unless the district closes and reverts back to remote instruction. These courses and programs cannot be replicated by any virtual system we contract with as they are specific to our District.

How will schools determine which students meet this criteria to attend school more than 2 days per week?

Students whose IEP are 75% or higher outside of the general education setting.

When will parents be notified whether students meet the criteria?

Letters will be going out the week of August 17, 2020 to those who qualify.

If students do not meet this criteria, but have an IEP, how will staff provide services that they are entitled to?

Services will be provided in-person, remote or a combination of both.

When will the annual IEP meeting take place? Will this meeting take place in person, or via Zoom/Google Meet?

Annual IEP meetings will take place as scheduled. We will use a variety of platforms to facilitate team meetings.

When can I expect my child's IEP evaluation to be completed, and will we meet to discuss the results and make the appropriate modifications (if any)?

We are working to schedule meetings from the spring as soon as possible.  Otherwise your child's meeting should happen on time.

What current accommodations/services will be provided for my child beginning on 9/16/2020 if these meetings and evaluations remain incomplete at that time?

Students currently on IEPs whose IEP expired will continue to receive those services under the "stay put" provision until the team is able to meet.

What are the safety measures for the special education program? 

The Plymouth Public Schools has purchased a large amount of PPE with additional PPE for staff that work with our severe populations.

How will IEPs go into effect for the remote learning? 

As per the July 9 guidance from the Department of Education, all students will receive all of their services as outlined in their IEP.  If we are closed due to unsafe circumstances those services will be delivered remotely.  

How will we accommodate our DHH students if teachers must wear masks?

We have ordered a variety of masks/shields to accommodate our DHH students. Teachers who have DHH students in their classrooms will wear clear shields or masks.  

How will we support students who may struggle with wearing masks?

We will be encouraging all students to wear masks and our teachers are prepared to work with students to increase student's compliance with mask-wearing.

Students currently on IEPs, will they continue to work alongside the MSN teachers as well as the classroom teachers?

Yes, while maintaining social distancing.

How will bathrooms be used/monitored throughout the day? Some of the special needs students have issues with using the common bathrooms. They may not follow protocol in the hallway bathrooms. The majority of my students are male and I can’t go into the restroom. 

We may need to utilize male staff in bathrooms if needed.  We are all learning new protocols together and we had a lot of success during our summer program.  We all need to approach this with a positive attitude and high expectations for our students.

Will lockers be used? Our lockers are obviously very close together. If students don’t use lockers, where will they keep personal belongings? How will we be sure not to contaminate their belongings?

Yes, we cannot share lockers but we can assign lockers based on cohorts so that students can access their locker while being socially distant.

When working with high needs students, teachers generally move in close to prompt or provide individual support. This won’t be possible given the guidelines. Will there be a space available to provide individual instruction outside of the classroom?

Teachers will be working closely with our high needs populations as some of our students require hand over hand instruction.  Staff will be properly outfitted with PPE.  We will be utilizing all of the space available to us in order to be socially distant.

High needs students are generally functioning well below grade level. Who will modify and provide online instruction for these students?

Once we know how many of our special education population will be fully remote we will be assigning special education teachers and staff to provide remote instruction.

At this time, there is no plan to provide planning/prep time or even lunch for special education teachers on the virtual day. Usually the special education teachers take their prep time when their students attend an inclusion class. However, there will be no inclusion on the virtual day. How will this discrepancy be addressed?

Teachers would be allowed to log off for prep and lunch.

Who will be responsible for the cleaning of classroom materials? Many of our students require augmented communication devices, special seating, assistance with eating and personal care. 

We will all have a responsibility for cleaning.  Students will each have their own supply boxes and will not be sharing.  We should have plenty of PPE and cleaning supplies.

Will there be additional resources available for families who need a chromebook, etc to be able to have all of their children online and in zoom meetings all day on Mondays?

The District will be communicating to families in the coming days about the availability of technology for its students. More info coming very soon! 

On Mondays, will students be required to be on camera while synchronous learning is occuring? If yes, how is the network secured, and what guidelines are in place to prevent unauthorized recording and/or distribution of a child's image?

Yes, students will follow the schedule of their courses on remote Mondays. While the classes will be conducted synchronously, students may be asked to do work "offline" from time to time during the class, particularly in the elementary grades. Students will be logging into our secure network for all assignments and activities. Specific rules / acceptable use policies will be in place for all online activities.

What supplies and technical access will be required of students and families? I just had to print 70+ pages of summer work pages for my kids. Will students be required to routinely print and scan documents?

Students may need to periodically be asked to print an assignment, however, in most cases, paper-based assignments will be provided by the teacher. Printing expectations will be kept to an absolute minimum.

How will transportation to and from school work?

Families will receive bus routes for their cohort prior to the start of the school year.  This will be similar to prior years.

If a parent starts the school year driving their child, can they transition back to the bus mid-year?

Yes, absolutely. 

How would the children fit on the vans?

We are working with our transportation providers in order to provide students with transportation; 1 student per seat.

For information on bus fees and refunds please call your child's school. Front office administration at each building will be able to assist you.