‘Gradual start’ to school kicks off next week

By Jalen Maki

Tomahawk Leader Editor

TOMAHAWK – The School District of Tomahawk will hold two virtual school reopening presentations this week that will provide families with information about start of school protocols amid the COVID-19 pandemic.  The presentations will take place online via Zoom.

The presentation for families with students in grades 6 through 12 will be held tomorrow (Wednesday, Aug. 26) from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.

The PK through 5th grade presentation is slated for Thursday, Aug. 27 from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Links to both meetings can be found on the district’s website at www.tomahawk.k12.wi.us/district/announcements-news.cfm.

‘Gradual start’ to school beings Sept. 1

In a letter from Aug. 7, District Administrator Terry Reynolds provided an update on the district’s plans to kick off the school year.

PK through 5th grade students attending in-person classes will begin the school year in a traditional learning model with five days per week in-person instruction/attendance, and students in grades 6 through 12 attending in-person classes will begin the year in a hybrid learning model, attending school with their assigned cohort, according to the letter.

Building Principals sent out assigned cohorts to parents. Cohorts were assigned so students in the same household will attend classes on the same days.

All students and staff will be required to wear face coverings on campus and on buses at the start of the school year. Face covering requirements will be reevaluated at the end of each quarter.

“If a medical provider has indicated your student should not wear a facecovering, please contact our School nurse Trina Armstrong,” the letter stated. “Face-coverings must be appropriate and meet school dress code requirements. Face coverings will follow all state mandates, and will be evaluated each quarter.”

The letter said the district will “implement a gradual start to school to allow for staff preparations and training, student transition time to new building areas, and additional opportunities to provide social and emotional support.”

New Teacher Training was held from Aug. 17 to Aug. 19. Staff COVID-19 Safety and Procedure Training, Staff Professional Development, and Virtual Program Student Orientation (Only for students signed up for total Virtual Program), started on Aug. 24 and is slated to end Aug. 27, the letter sent to families stated.

Instruction for full time for 6-12 Tomahawk Virtual Learning program students begins on Sept. 1.

The first day of school for students in grades 4K through 5 attending in-person classes is Sept. 8. All students in grades 6 and 9 will attend in-person school orientation (Web and Link Crew) on that day. There will be no classes for Cohort A and B students in grades 7, 8, 10, 11 and 12, and instruction for full time for K-5 Tomahawk Virtual Learning program students will also begin Sept. 8.

On Sept. 9, 4K-5 students and 6-12 Cohort A will attend in-person classes. 6-12 Cohort B will have no classes.

4K-5 and 6-12 Cohort B students will attend in-person classes on Sept. 10. 6-12 Cohort A will attend remotely.

4K-5 students will attend in-person classes on Sept. 11, while 6-12 Cohorts A and B will both attend virtually.

The full letter, which also provides information on Individual Education Plans and 504 Accommodation Plans, transportation, and health and safety protocols, can be found online at www.tomahawk.k12.wi.us/covid19/ParentLetter8-7-2020.pdf.