Wayzata High School to Start Under ‘Modified Hybrid Plan’
Students at Minnesota’s largest high school will start the school year under a “modified hybrid learning plan,” which means that in-person, in-class instruction at Wayzata High School will be limited.
Wayzata High School Principal Scott Gengler sent out an email Friday to parents, guardians and students explaining the decision. According to the email, some courses will be predominantly hybrid, others will have occasional in-person experiences, while the remaining courses will be in a full distance learning model.
The district had initially proposed a hybrid learning model for all students to start the year. Under that scenario, students would be placed into an “A” or “B” group and attend classes in-person every other day. For example, students in group A would meet in-person Mondays and Wednesdays, and students in group B would meet in-person Tuesdays and Thursdays. Classes on all other days would take place via distance learning.
But at Wayzata High School, which has more than 3,700 students, Gengler admitted that a hybrid learning model presented “many challenges.”
“Over the course of our planning, it became evident that a 50% alternating day model was not our best starting point,” Gengler said in the email. “Instead, a more methodical approach to increasing our in-person attendance made the most sense.”
He added, “Moving in this direction will allow us to create the safest, most equitable and meaningful academic experience for our students. Additionally, as changes in the number of COVID-19 cases continue to evolve, we will be able to seamlessly transition between in-person, hybrid and distance learning models minimizing the overall impact on learning. This would not have been possible under the previous proposal.”
The Modified Hybrid Model will consist of the following modes of instruction:
- The majority of WHS classes will follow a synchronous, distance learning model. These classes will meet every day via video teleconference (Zoom) during their regularly scheduled block. Instruction will be delivered remotely and attendance is required.
- Courses that rely primarily on hands-on or experiential learning will follow a hybrid schedule. These classes will generally meet twice a week using the A and B groupings. These courses will be indicated on a student’s schedule as “Hybrid.”
- Some courses will operate from a distance learning model, but will occasionally meet in-person. When these courses meet in-person, they will follow the A and B groupings.. Teachers will communicate when a student should attend in-person.
The high school will make accommodations for students who wish to remain remote.
Wayzata High School
