September 3, 2020

Good Afternoon, Parents/Guardians:

I hope that the first days of the 2020-21 school year have been a positive experience for your student. I know this start is unlike any other since the 1918-19 school year when the United States was in the midst of the Spanish flu. That influenza epidemic caused schools to close, activities and events to be cancelled and had people wearing masks, just like today. Below is a picture of a high school yearbook club from the Cannon City High School circa 1918.
Like these students from 100 years ago, I know our students will make it through these times and they will all come out on the other side stronger and ready to face whatever else life throws at them.  

Today, September 4, 2020, Governor DeWine stated that Cuyahoga County has remained in Level 2 (orange). This is now two weeks of being at this level since it was first announced on August 20, 2020. If Cuyahoga County remains at Level 2 (orange) based on the September 10 and September 17, 2020 news conferences at 2 p.m., we will begin to phase-in the return of our students to school in the Blended Learning Phase beginning on Tuesday, September 22, 2020. (Monday, September 21 is a remote learning day as are all Mondays when we are in the Blended Learning Phase.)  

For students who will be returning to school, the following is the phase-in process we will follow:

Monday, September 21
Will be a remote learning day for the District, as will every Monday as long as we are in the Blended or Remote Learning Phase.

Tuesday, September 22
The following grades of students with the last names A- K will report to school:
  • Kindergarten, 1st, 5th, 6th, 9th, 10th grade
  • The remaining students will have a remote learning day.

Wednesday, September 23
The following grades of students with the last names L - Z will report to school:
  • Kindergarten, 1st, 5th, 6th, 9th, 10th grade
  • The remaining students will have a remote learning day.

Thursday, September 24
The following grades of students with the last names A- K will report to school:
  • 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 7th, 8th, 11th, 12th grade
  • The remaining students will have a remote learning day.

Friday, September 25
The following grades of students with the last names L - Z will report to school:
  • 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 7th, 8th, 11th, 12th grade
  • The remaining students will have a remote learning day.

Monday, September 28
Will be a remote learning day of the entire District.

Tuesday, September 29 and Thursday, October 1
All students with the last names A - K report to school.

Wednesday, September 30 and Friday, October 2
All students with the last names L-Z report to school.

For those who will return to face-to-face learning, please remember that students with the last name A-K will attend on Tuesday and Thursday and those with the last names of L-Z will attend on Wednesday and Friday. The only exception to this is for those parents who returned a change request form and it was approved. Due to social distancing requirements and class sizes, only approved changes can be honored. No other changes are permitted. To access and print out the change request form CLICK HERE.

Additional resources and information can also be found at https://www.northroyaltonsd.org/Coronavirus2019COVID-19Updates.aspx.

For those students who are remaining in fully remote learning for the first semester, there is nothing additional you need to do at this time.

It is our hope that we all continue to help slow the spread of COVID-19 by wearing our masks, practicing good hand washing and respiratory hygiene, continuing social distancing, and avoiding large gatherings. This will allow us to have and keep our students engaged in face-to-face learning.

Once again, I want to thank you for your patience and understanding as we work together for the benefit of our students. I will be communicating additional information and confirmation as to whether we will continue in the Remote Learning Phase or transition to the Blended Learning Phase based on the level of the county on September 10 and September 17.

As always, thank you for your support of our students, staff and programs.

Greg Gurka
Superintendent
North Royalton City Schools