At the March 22 virtual Whitehall-Coplay School Board committee meetings on education/student activities, operations/transportation and finance/personnel, Whitehall-Coplay School District Director of Curriculum and Instruction Dr. Barbara Chomik and Supervisor of Curriculum and Instruction Dr. Sandy Rex gave a PowerPoint presentation on addressing the learning loss that has occurred from instruction changes resulting from the pandemic.

According to Chomik, the Pennsylvania Department of Education developed high-level focus standards in the fall of 2020 to help teachers devote class time to essential prerequisite skills that must be reviewed or taught before students progress to the next grade level.

Last June, WCSD conducted a gap analysis, so teachers could see how their curriculum would need to be adjusted for the 2020-21 school year.

“They determined what had been taught, what the students mastered, what needed to be retaught and then they shared that information with the receiving teachers,” Chomik said.

Another analysis will occur at the end of the academic year, so teachers will know what instruction needs to occur in the 2021-22 school year.

A summer learning program will be offered to students who are either struggling or failing. Building principals or counselors will reach out to families of students who qualify for the program, though it is not mandatory they attend.

The kindergarten through fifth-grade summer learning program will be offered June 21 through July 8 and is four days a week, three hours a day, for three weeks. The focus during the program will be foundational skills in reading and math.

The program for sixth through eighth grades is June 21 through July 15 and is four days a week, three hours a day, for four weeks. Subjects covered include ELA, math and science.

There is no cost for students in grades K-8. Bussing will be provided, and nurses will be on site.

At Whitehall High School, an opportunity for students to recover credits, as well as office hours and tutoring by district teachers, will be provided. There is no bussing for WHS students.

Annual PSSA testing for all students in grades 3 through 8 is scheduled for April 19-May 28, though testing should be finished by May 26. Most buildings will have testing on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, with ELA encompassing three days of testing and two days dedicated to math. Only fourth and eighth grades will be taking science PSSAs.

Normally, the only reason students can opt out of testing is for religious beliefs; however, Pennsylvania is aware there are many students who are learning from home due to COVID-19 and will allow that as a reason to opt out of testing.

According to a recent WCSD survey, 48 percent of students in the virtual or learn-at-home programs will come in for testing, though these numbers are not final. Bussing will be provided for those students.

Also at the meeting, Hackett stated May 10 will no longer be a professional development day for teachers, and students will have school. The professional development day has been moved to the end of the school year, after the students’ last day. The year will end with June 10, 11 and 14 as half days, with June 14 being the final day.

In other news, WHS Principal Nathan Davidson discussed end-of-year plans for seniors. At the present time, the district is planning to hold an in-person graduation ceremony June 7, either inside at PPL Center or outside on the WCSD campus. If held at the PPL Center, there would be a limit of 2,250 students, staff and family members.

Davidson is still looking into how many people could attend an outdoor event but cautioned weather can present a problem in that situation, even with a rain date. A final decision will be made by May 1. In either situation, graduation will be streamed for those who cannot attend.

Davidson is also exploring the possibility of an outdoor senior event with music and snacks. No decision has been reached as to where the event would be, but it would be held June 4. At this point, only WHS seniors would be permitted to attend in order to allow for proper social distancing.

“It might not replicate what proms have been in the past but would give them the opportunity to have an event that would be in some ways similar to what they might have had if this were a normal year,” Davidson said.

Awards week will be held during the first week of June, though whether it will be in-person or virtual has not been decided. Athletic awards will be held June 1, and academic awards will be held June 3.

Davidson also discussed the spring musical and said they are still deciding between two off-site venues. “Shrek the Musical” will be filmed May 9 and 10 and will be streamed May 28 and 29. Davidson is hoping family can attend in person on one of the filming days, but he is unsure if that will be possible.