• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer
Subscribe
Program Guide
Watch Live

CCX Media

Skip NavigationMenu
  • News
    • Close
        • CCX News
          • CCX News Home
          • News Stories
            • CCX Daily Newscast
          • CCX Media Schools
        • Feature Segments

          • Business Matters
          • School Spotlight
          • Standout Student
          • Weekend Showcase
          • Newsmakers
        • News Tip

          Send us a story idea or news tip!
          Facebook Instagram Twitter
          Watch Live
          CCX1 | CCX2 | CCX3
        • Apple News
    • Close
  • Sports
    • Close
        • CCX Sports
          • CCX Sports Home
          • Sports Tips
          • Hall of Fame
          • Upcoming Event Coverage
          • Play of the Week
        • Sports Coverage

          Adapted SportsAdditional SportsBaseballBasketballFootball
          GymnasticsHockeyLacrosseSoccerSoftball
          Swimming & DivingTennisTrack & FieldVolleyballWrestling
        • Social Media

          Facebook Twitter Instagram
          Watch Live
          CCX1 | CCX2 | CCX3
          Shop/Order
    • Close
  • Cities
    • Close
        • CCX Cities
          • CCX Cities Home
          • Cities Stories
          • In The Community
          • Our Town’s Story
          • Community Resources
          • CCX Media Schools
          • City Meetings
        • Your City

          Brooklyn Center Local News and Events
          Brooklyn Park MN Local News and Events
          Crystal
          Golden Valley
          Maple Grove
          New Hope
          Osseo
          Plymouth
          Robbinsdale
        • Social Media

          Facebook Twitter
          Watch Live
          CCX1 | CCX2 | CCX3
    • Close
  • Create
    • Close
        • CCX Create
          • CCX Create Home
          • Channels
          • Resources
          • Meet The Create Team
          • CCX Create Virtual Tour
        • Get Creative

          • Launch Your Creative Vision with CCX Create
          • Free Classes
          • Contact Us
          • Polka Spotlight
          • Diversity Minute
        • RueShare

          • Member Login
          • Member Guide
        • Social Media

          Facebook Twitter Instagram
          Watch Live
          CCX1 | CCX2 | CCX3
    • Close
  • Subscribe
  • Program guide
  • Watch Live

Back to School 2020 a Year Like None Other

3:57 PM | Tuesday, September 8, 2020

On the first day of school in 2019, staff members from Minnesota Excellence in Learning Academy (MELA) in Maple Grove literally rolled out the red carpet to welcome students back to the classroom.

“Last year we had rolled out a red carpet, had this playlist with balloons, high-fiving, cheering on kids as they’re walking into school,” said Danielle Fields, the executive director of MELA.

minnesota excellence in learning academy

Last year staff members rolled out the red carpet for students in the Minnesota Excellence in Learning Academy.

But that was last year.

With the COVID-19 pandemic still looming, classes kicked off this year with considerably less fanfare .

“Our start of the school year, really spent a lot of time trying to work with and inform families what school looks like this year and the safety precautions that we’re taking so everyone can be safe and healthy,” Fields said.

Different Learning Models

MELA is a charter school that serves students in preschool through grade six. Fields says that of the 220 children enrolled at MELA, roughly half chose to go with a distance learning model.

The remaining students are in a hybrid model, which has them in the building two days a week, depending on which group they’re assigned to. Students in Group A are in the building Monday and Tuesday, while students in Group B are in the building Thursday and Friday. Wednesday is reserved for cleaning and disinfecting of the building.  

“When students come in in the morning, our buses come in, in the front entry, and we have a person from each grade level, social distancing apart, ready to meet with students and ask them, ‘how are they feeling for the day,’ your typical COVID question,” Fields said.

Students and staff members also get temperature checks, and everyone is required to wear a mask. Access to the building is also limited, which means that even news reporters can’t enter.

It’s a format that will continue for the foreseeable future.

Monitoring State Guidance

“We really are following the guidance from the Minnesota Department of Education and the Minnesota Department of Health,” Fields said. “That means I’m looking at county and case numbers every single week.”

Whether the guidelines change remains to be seen. But for the time being, staff members will do their best to provide a quality education through distance learning and limited in-person instruction.

“I absolutely think that quality education can still exist in a distance learning or a hybrid learning model,” Fields said. “Does it require us to rethink things? Does it require us to work really hard and adapt? Absolutely, but it certainly is possible.”

And maybe, just maybe, they’ll be able to roll out the red carpet again when this school year wraps up.

“Wouldn’t that be great? We would love that,” Fields said.

 

Sponsored
Delane Cleveland, reporting

Maple Grove

Related Stories

Maple Grove Family Gets Supreme Court Nod in Disability Lawsuit:  A Maple Grove family scored a… Read More
Funds for Maple Grove Community Center Included in Bonding Bill:  As Minnesota's legislative session… Read More
Maple Grove Arts Center Searching for New Home:  A special meeting place for artists in Maple Grove is… Read More
Expert on Minnesota Special Session: ‘Public Is Going To Be Surprised’:  The most divided… Read More
Chalkfest Set To Transform Maple Grove’s Main Street:  This weekend in Maple Grove, several blocks… Read More
Metro Transit Seeks Input for Bus Stop Signs:  Do the signs at bus stops meet the needs of riders?… Read More

Footer

NAVIGATE

  • CCX Media
  • NEWS
  • SPORTS
  • CITIES
  • CREATE
  • Job Opportunities
  • Meet the CCX Media Team
  • ABOUT CCX MEDIA
  • Annual Programming Reports
  • CABLE COMMISSION

SUBSCRIBE

Get email updates for daily story previews. “Week in Review” video links, and programming previews.

Subscribe Today

CONNECT

HAVE A NEWS TIP? CALL OUR TIPLINE AT:  763-533-1710
Send us story ideas and comments!
Get in touch with us
  CCX MEDIA     SPORTS
 NEWS                SPORTS
SPORTS.           SHOP/ORDER

LOCATION

CCX Media
6900 Winnetka Avenue North
Brooklyn Park, MN 55428

Main Phone:  763-533-8196

CCX Media serves the northwest suburbs of Minneapolis, Minnesota, including Brooklyn Center, Brooklyn Park, Crystal, Golden Valley, Maple Grove, New Hope, Osseo, Plymouth and Robbinsdale.
Copyright © 2025 CCXMedia | All Rights Reserved. | Privacy Policy | Accessibility Statement
Web Design and Development by CEL Marketing PR Design and BizzyWeb | Log in