By Bernadette Sukley

Special to The Press

Northwestern Lehigh School District Superintendent Jennifer Holman provided the following to the community on Feb. 12.

The information is an update on the planned instructional options for students in second- and third-grade beginning Feb. 22.

“As you know, our District Leadership Team has developed a phased plan to increase in-person instruction for elementary students that took into account COVID mitigation measures.

“These measures included 6 feet social distancing, universal face coverings, and several other mitigation strategies which have been implemented since the beginning of the school year.

“We were excited to successfully return our kindergarten and first-grade students safely to a four-day week, in-person instructional model on Jan. 26.

“We are pleased to inform you that effective Feb. 22, we will be offering a four-day per week, in-person instructional model for second- and third-grade students.

“These grade levels represent a continuation of our phased return to full in-person instruction for our elementary students.

“Our goal is to monitor our local, county, and state health data and continue to institute plans for additional elementary grade-levels returning in future weeks.

“We believe this latest research coupled with our increased mitigation efforts, ongoing contact tracing efforts, and installation of needle bipolar ionizers throughout the district, allow for the safe return of our second- and third-grade students.

“We recognize this may not yet be the desired setting for some families, so the district will continue to offer an online instructional model with a Northwestern Lehigh instructor, Digital Academy or home-school program as options for the remainder of the third marking period.”

Instruction for fourth- through 12th-grade students will continue to be offered in a blended or online format.

“We will assume all second- and third-grade students who are currently enrolled in a blended model will participate in the four-day, in-person instructional model unless indicated otherwise on the survey that was sent previously.

“If you would like your second- or third-grade child to participate in a model different from his or her current model, contact your child’s principal.

Holman stated it is important to note that in order to allow for 6 feet social distancing, it may be necessary for some children to move to different classrooms or buildings.

“We remain committed to the health and safety protocols developed by our team and instructional model options for your family.

“We are asking for your continued commitment to follow the daily screening process and to not send your child to school if they are experiencing symptoms or have been in contact with someone who has been diagnosed with COVID-19.

“Please continue to reinforce social distancing, wearing face coverings, and promoting frequent and effective hand washing as a family as outlined on our COVID-19 Resource Page.

“It is through our collective efforts that we are able to continue this phased return of your children to our classrooms.”

Northwestern Elementary

This year’s 2020-21 yearbook will be on sale shortly.

Parents of 100 percent online students may submit pictures by attaching photos to an email and sending it to the appropriate grade level email address:

·Kindergarten: Submit+kinderonline@edophotos.com.

·First grade: Submit+firstonline@edophotos.com.

·Second grade: Submit+secondonline@edophotos.com.

·Third grade: Submit+thirdonline@edophotos.com.

·Fourth grade: Submit+fourthonline@edophotos.com.

·Fifth grade: Submit+fifthonline@edophotos.com.