COVID-19 AND SCHOOL CLOSURE

UPDATE 3/18/20

Video from Principal Joshua Snyder

UPDATE 3/18/20

We are transitioning to a remote learning format for classes for all students PK-12 starting Monday, March 23, 2020.  Our teachers have been working diligently to provide effective instruction for our students whom we are going to really miss seeing in person.

Details of our plan include:

Pick Up Time on Thursday: We will have staff on the FHCS campus on Thursday, March 19, between 7:30-9:30 am and 5:00-7:00 pm for parents to pick up student belongings and to also gather essential textbooks and materials that will be used for the remainder of the school year. We will designate another time at the end of the school year to allow families to drop off school textbooks. Date of this is yet to be determined.

Pick Up for Elementary (Grades K-6):  Our teachers have been preparing packets to send home to grades K-6.  We request that elementary families stay in their vehicles and our staff can bring the packets and items out to you.

Pick Up for Secondary (Grades 7-12): To minimize people in our building, we ask for secondary students (not the entire family) to come in and gather their items and textbooks that will be needed for the remainder of the school year.  Items and textbooks will be at each secondary student’s locker.

Virtual Learning: Our school is implementing FACTS Learning Management System (LMS) that will be the hub for virtual learning for all students (PK-12).  This is a place that teachers will start discussions with students, post learning videos, and create an assignment.  We have configured our LMS for every student to be able to have access.  For more information on how to access, please follow the instructions on this page:  https://flinthillschristianschool.com/facts-lms/.  We want to discourage any of our students (especially at the elementary level) from being on the computer for more than three hours per day.  This is why we are also sending packets home and textbooks.  Please also let Mr. Snyder know if your student does not have daily access to a computer and internet.

At the Lower Elementary Level (PK-3): Student will need parent help to log in to the LMS.  I would encourage all elementary families to help their children through the steps for access.  Once you get into the virtual classroom, you will be able to explore.  If a teacher assigns a written page, we are asking students to take a picture and submit into the virtual classroom.

Secondary Students and Online Learning: The first week of instruction, we will ease students into learning remotely.  As our students and teachers get more confident, we hope to begin using tools like Zoom, which will provide video conversation.  We do ask that secondary students be checking their email daily and logging into their virtual classrooms daily as well. Various secondary students have been completing work on paper (requested by the teacher) this week, taking pictures, and sending to the teacher.  We have been getting positive feedback using this method, but please communicate with teachers if students are struggling.

UPDATE 3/17/20

As a result of the Governor of Kansas’s executive order today, the FHCS campus will be closed for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year and our teachers will be transitioning to remote instruction beginning Monday, March 22, 2020. All extracurricular activities are canceled for the rest of the school year. More information will be sent tomorrow regarding remote instruction and what the fourth quarter will look like for students and parents.

Sincerely,

Joshua Snyder, Principal

03/14/20

Flint Hills Christian School Governing Board  has decided to extend spring break to the end of next week to mitigate the risks associated with the coronavirus.  The FHCS campus will be closed all next week (March 16-20). The board will re-evaluate no later than Friday, March 20, 2020, to communicate a decision on what day we will resume our normal schedule. We will also be rescheduling Parent-Teacher Conferences in the weeks to come (we will provide dates in the near future), suspending our Annual Auction that was set for Saturday, March 21st, and canceling our elementary basketball camp (Saturday, March 14 & 21). We do want to engage students in the learning process next week and our faculty will be discussing the possibility of remote learning.

Let’s pray for our community and continue to allow God’s light to shine on those around us.

Sincerely,

Joshua Snyder, Principal