We are hopeful that in the midst of this challenging time, you were able to find moments of rest and rejuvenation during the Easter season. Thank you, parents and guardians, for your support, partnership and flexibility. We also want to thank our students, teachers, counselors and families who continue to meet this health crisis with grace and positivity.
With the certainty that we will be in a distance learning format for the remainder of the semester, we wanted to communicate information that will provide clarity, guidance and support for the remainder of the school year.
The administrative team evaluated student learning data and teacher use of time through the last six weeks of distance learning. As a result of this evaluation, we will be adjusting the schedule beginning Monday, April 27. This schedule will remain in place for the remainder of the semester. Key adjustments are as follows:
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Change class periods from one to two per week to provide additional teacher contact
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Decrease the class time from 80 minutes to 60 minutes to better align to Zoom teaching
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Reconfigure office hours and the activity period to provide more student support
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Create a later start time at 8:30 a.m. and provide closer alignment with tri-school classes to reduce missed class time
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Retain Wednesday as a "flex day" for counselor meetings, office hours, homework and student activities
SEMESTER GRADES
Serra students will be receiving letter grades at the end of the semester. Our faculty are leading their students through the curriculum, the students are learning, and they are completing assessments. We are aware that the transition to distance learning happened abruptly for students, teachers and families. As a result, teachers have been focusing on assessments that reinforce learning and will support the students through this process.
Continuing to advance the curriculum and assess learning will support students in their academic growth, maintain their motivation and support them in preparation for college and beyond.
FINAL WEEK OF SCHOOL - FINAL EXAMS
The final week of school will be changed to both emphasize learning and to lessen the high-stakes nature of final exam testing, as follows:
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Finals Week (May 26-29) will be changed to a regular week of school. The academic year will conclude on Friday, May 29. This change effectively adds instructional time.
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We will not hold final exams that assess the entire semester.
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Teachers are encouraged to assign culminating projects/activities/assessments that mirror the digital learning experience they've given the students during the last few months.
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Final assessments will not count for more than 10 percent of the semester grade. AP classes will not have a final assessment due to their AP Exam.
AP EXAMS
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AP Exams are scheduled from May 11-22
(AP Exam Schedule)
. The College Board changed the AP format this year based on Shelter in Place. Students will take the exams at home and they will be one hour in length. As per Serra's AP policy, students in AP classes are required to take the exams. Students are excused from all classes on the day that they have an AP exam.
SENIORS
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Senior Holiday
- To balance out the new schedule, seniors will have two senior holidays this year, May 21 and 22, 2020.
END-OF-YEAR EVENTS
Please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions.
