Top 5 Things You Need to Know about Reopening in ASD
Greetings ASD Community!

As we continue to finalize plans to return to in-person teaching and learning in ASD, here are the top 5 things you need to know about reopening. Each week, we will provide further updates to share information and expectations with our staff, families, and the entire community as we get closer to potentially returning to ASD buildings.
Q4 Planning Survey - Final Reminder
ASD continues to finalize plans to reopen this spring, but cannot do so without input from our parents and families.

To reduce the number of students in the buildings at any given time, ASD plans to operate on a hybrid model, where students attend school some days and learn remotely on other days.

Students will be placed in Cohorts A & B directly based on the results of the Q4 planning survey.

Any family who has not yet filled out this survey should do so ASAP. Students who do not fill out the survey may remain virtual through the remainder of the year.

Additional information on Q4 will be available to staff and families after the March 11 board meeting.
Professional Development Continues
March 12 is a professional development day for ASD staff!

Ed Elements will provide PD to all staff on safety and technology relative to hybrid instruction. The Safety and Tech Set-Up module from Ed Elements is an overview of the new classroom technology and provides instruction on how to navigate the new laptop, monitor, and camera for optimizing hybrid instruction. This module is meant to be a support for teachers as they prepare for hybrid instruction. Shout out to staff at Mosser, Trexler and Dieruff who helped create the videos for our asynchronous learning modules!

Staff will also engage in Professional Development sessions on non-COVID-related topics such as Restorative Practices and Mindfulness.
Family Engagement in the Reopening Process
As the Allentown School District prepares to safely return to school buildings during 2021, engaging parents and guardians in this process is more important than ever. 

We are looking for parents to provide the administration with real feedback but also help share district information with other families.

This group meets virtually, on the third Tuesday of each month and the next meeting will be Tuesday, March 16 at 3:30 PM.
Technology Pilot Program Launches with Success
Starting last week, six ASD teachers at various elementary, middle, and high schools started to pilot new technology setups in their classrooms.

Laptops, cameras, and additional monitors are being configured and installed by ASD's IT and will allow teachers to teach students in the classroom and online simultaneously.

The district expects most classrooms to be fully outfitted with the new technology by March 12.
COVID-19 Vaccinations for ASD Staff
Last week, Governor Tom Wolf announced that all Pennsylvania school employees and contractors will now be eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.

ASD staff who will be vaccinated in Phase 1 should have received a scheduling email this week and will begin to receive their vaccinations starting this Friday!

The district will continue to share information about the benefits of the COVID-19 vaccination so our community will be ready when a vaccine is recommended for specific groups.
31 S. Penn Street
Allentown, PA 18102
484-765-4000
March 11, 2021