Our Path Forward - Phase in to 5 Days

*UPDATE 9/21/20

We would like to give you an update regarding our “Phase into Five Days” Reopening Plan. Beginning Monday, September 28th, elementary and middle school students will shift to five-days of face-to-face instruction. Although we will transition to a regular schedule, District Six will continue to follow our Covid-19 safety protocols, including enhanced cleaning procedures, temperature checks, and masks during all transition periods and when social distancing is not possible. We look forward to our students returning to a five-day schedule next week. This scheduled transition applies only to students who currently attend face-to-face. District Six will continue to follow the guidance of health professionals and make any needed adjustments should they become necessary. As always, thank you for your continued support.

Our Path Forward

Dear District Six Parents, 

As we enter the third week of the school year, I would like to thank our entire school community for quickly adjusting to the new safety measures District Six has in place. We have had a wonderful start to the school year, and we are so grateful for the opportunity to have students in our classrooms again. 

Over the past few weeks, we have received invaluable input from our parents and staff members. The surveys revealed mixed results from our District Six family, some indicating that they feel safe returning to a normal schedule, while others indicated they were more hesitant due to safety concerns.  Despite the varied comments and opinions, I believe our commonalities lie in our ultimate goal to bring students back face-to-face, five days a week, as soon as possible. 

After considering the DHEC tracking of Covid-19 cases in our community, recommendations from our staff/parent surveys, and receiving guidance from our public health officials, we have decided to move forward with a gradual transition toward a five-day face-to-face model for students. Our transition plan, at the elementary and middle school levels, allows all students to attend school three days a week.  PreK-8th grade students will continue to come to school on their hybrid days, in addition to attending every Friday. This plan to have all elementary/middle school students in the building once a week will allow our staff an opportunity to evaluate procedures and make any necessary adjustments. This also allows our transportation department to make any needed adjustments for our students who ride buses. This transition only applies to students currently enrolled in our face-to-face model. 

Elementary and Middle School Schedule Transition Plan:

Tuesday-Thursday (September 8-10) hybrid schedule and Friday, September 11th, ALL students

Monday - Thursday (September 14-17) hybrid schedule and Friday, September 18th, ALL students

Monday-Thursday (September 21-24) hybrid schedule and Friday, September 25th, ALL students

If we are able to fully transition back to five days a week, face-to-face instruction, for all elementary and middle school students, we will begin that schedule on Monday, September 28th.

High School Schedule Transition Plan: 

The first Friday for all students at Dorman and the Freshman Campus will be September 25th. We want to make all necessary adjustments with our elementary and middle school students before transitioning at the high schools. The high schools would remain on the hybrid schedule the next week September 28-October 1, and all DFC and DHS students would attend school on Friday, October 2nd. We will continue to evaluate the high school schedule and safety protocols and make updated schedule decisions based on conditions. 

Tuesday-Thursday (September 8-10) Hybrid schedule 

Monday - Thursday (September 14-17) Hybrid schedule 

Monday-Thursday (September 21-24) Hybrid schedule and Friday, September 25th, ALL students

Monday-Thursday (September 28-Oct 1) Hybrid schedule and Friday, October 2nd, ALL students

If we are able to fully transition back to five days a week face-to-face instruction for all high school students, we will begin that schedule on Monday, October 5^th. We will monitor safety conditions in our school community and make any needed adjustments moving forward. Your child’s principal will continue to update you in the days ahead. Thank you again for your continued support as we work to create and maintain a safe environment for all students and staff. 

Sincerely,

Darryl Owings

Superintendent