UPDATE 7/23/2020
Dear students and families of Waubun-Ogema-White Earth Public Schools,
I hope you are enjoying our great July weather. We are very busy making plans for the three different learning options for the start of school. We believe that the best option is to start the 20-21 school year with in person learning and social distancing with increased cleaning protocols in place. We need a healthy and safe community with approval from MDE and MDH before we would be allowed to do that. In the meantime, we have district staff and a committee representing parents, students, staff, and every department working on plans for all three delivery models. Thank you to all the parents that already filled out the survey. For those of you that have not, please do! We need your help and input to develop the best plan we possibly can for each model. Depending on the directives we are given, we may not have a choice, but to move from one plan to another during the school year. We need to have feedback from your family for adequate planning. We eagerly anticipate Governor Walz’s recommendation on July 27th on how we are going to start the school year and from the Minnesota Department of Education for guidance on requirements. Please fill out the survey here > Survey You should also be getting a survey in the mail, and you can drop it off at the east main enterance in Waubun or at Ogema school in the main entrance in the drop off boxes. You can also mail it back to the school.
UPDATE 5/11/2020
As Distance Learning comes to a close, we want to thank everyone in our learning community for the tremendous efforts they’re making to keep family, safety, and learning a priority. Let’s try to cross the finish line strong. Please focus the last week or two on work completion and getting the best results you can out of a challenging situation. We can do this!
Final Weeks:
SCHEDULE:
May 8 was the final delivery of learning materials.
May 15th will be a pick up/drop off date (no new assignments)
May 21st will be the final pick up date
The week of May 18-21 has been designated as a make-up work week.
Drop off/Pick Up Dates - May 18-21 between 8:00 and 3:00 are drop off/ pick up dates. All chromebooks, library books, class books, and outstanding assignments can be dropped off at the main entrance at respective buildings. You will be able to pick up locker/supplies during this time as well. Band instruments can be returned at the N1 door on the north side of the Waubun School from 8:00-3:30. Just give a knock at the door if it is raining
COVID Grading
In order to diminish inequities in grading during the COVID-19 shut down we are simplifying our grading system to reflect distance learning. There will be a Comments Section that will document individual specific learning challenges and achievements that will help learning continue in the year to come.
In grades EC-3 and 4th grade specials, students are receiving either an S or an N on their report card for 4th quarter based on this rubric:
| S = Satisfactory | N= Needs Improvement |
| Met grade level expectations of work completion or participation and/or went above and beyond | Below grade level expectation of work completion or participation |
| Completed at least 70% of required work | Completed less than 70% of work |
| Made special arrangements to complete work | Made little or no attempt to complete work |
In grades 4-6, students are receiving either an A, B, C, or I on their report card for fourth quarter based on this rubric:
| A | B | C | I |
| Met grade level expectations of work completion or participation and/or went above and beyond | At grade level expectation of work completion or participation | Below grade level expectation of work completion or participation | In Progress |
| Completed at least 90% of required work | Completed 80-89% of work | Completed 70-79% of work | Incomplete69% or less of work completed |
| Made special arrangements to complete work | Made special arrangements to complete work | Made attempts to complete work | Made little or no attempt to complete work |
In grades 7-12, students are receiving either an A, B, C, D or I on their report card for 4th quarter based on this rubric:
| A | B | C | D | I |
| Exceeded grade level expectations of work completion or participation and/or went above and beyond | Met grade level expectations of work completion or participation | At grade level expectation of work completion or participation | Minimal effort of work completion or participation. | In Progress |
| Completed at least 90% of required work | Completed 80-89% of work | Completed 70-79% of work | Completed 60-69% of work | Incomplete59% or less of work completed |
| Made special arrangements to complete work | Made special arrangements to complete work | Made arrangements to complete work | Made little attempt to complete work | Made little or no attempt to complete work |
Graduation
MDE guidance has limited our options drastically on what we can do for a graduation ceremony. Consequently,the students were given the options of holding an alternative graduation ceremony that would follow guidelines or postponing and holding out for a traditional ceremony (knowing that it may not occur). The students have overwhelmingly voted to wait and see if we can do a traditional ceremony later in the summer months. We will be having a fully virtual ceremony while we wait to see if we have a traditional ceremony on July 24th or August 7th as potential dates for a traditional ceremony.
Food Service and Essential Child Care
Foodservice and essential childcare is delivered by school year contracted employees. These services will be discontinued when the school year ends on Thursday, May 21, 2020, the last day of school.
Summer Programming
Due to MDE’s guidance that no person to person services are allowable, we will not be hosting Summer Recreation Services in June or July. This includes all activities. We will wait to see what recommendations there are for August.
For grades 7-12, if you would like to get signed up for credit recovery, please let us know as soon as possible. Credit recovery will be completely online this summer and you will need your own device. Please email dejaha@waubun.k12.mn.us or call (218) 473-6144 to enroll.
Waubun-Ogema-White Earth Weekly School News Update 3-19-20
Greetings!
Greetings to the parents, students and community of WOWE. I hope you are all doing well! It has not even been a week and we already miss our students! But we sure do need the planning time. Trying to develop an effective Distance Learning plan to meet the needs of every learner at every grade level and every subject is a monumental task. I am confident in our staff to develop a great program and plan. Please know we are working hard for you. Superintendent Weber
Education Assistance Program (Internet Service)
Arvig announced they are offering an Education Assistance Program for families with a student in the K-12 system or for college students, to receive free internet service so their education can continue via e-learning methodologies in the event schools remain closed (or close again) as a result of COVID-19. People interested in learning more can contact the Arvig Customer Care team either online at arvig.com via online chat, or by calling 888.992.7844 and asking about the Arvig Education Assistance Program. The Customer Care Representative will walk them through the steps to determine if they qualify and if so, set them up for installation.
https://www.arvig.net/education-assistance-program
Lunch/Breakfast Program
If you are interested in being added to our lunch program please call any school office. We will get you added to the list. You can choose a Grab & Go option at either the Ogema or Waubun sites or choose to have it delivered. (If you choose delivery it may have to wait until the next day for us to make arrangements.) Same day lunch and next day breakfast are being delivered/picked from 11:00am -1:00 pm. This program is under the summer food program. All learners qualify for this lunch program and do not need to pay.
Talking with Children about the Coronavirus
As the news stories and public conversations about Coronavirus increases, so does our anxiety. It is only natural that our children would also worry about themselves, their families, the people they love and care about. Talking about what is happening in an open and honest manner decreases anxiety and fear. Make sure that what you are talking about is factual and not rumors or thoughts that are a result of your own fears and anxiety. Focus on what you can and will do to be safe as a family. Educate them about germs and personal care and hygiene. It is helpful to make sure that information you share is age appropriate. Young children need very different information than a teenager. Knowledgeable children are safer children. Please see the link, “Talking with children about Coronavirus Disease 2019: Messages for parents, school staff, and others working with children”, a resource created by the CDC.
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/schools-childcare/talking-with-children.html
