Guidance For CHS Students & Families About COVID-19

Letter From The Director

UPDATED: March 30, 2020

Dear Compass High School Families,

Today, Governor Doug Ducey and Superintendent of Public Instruction Kathy Hoffman announced the extension of Arizona school closures through the end of the school year. The extension follows updated guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and an announcement from the White House extending physical distancing guidelines until April 30, 2020.

Governor Ducey and Superintendent Hoffman released the following joint statement:

“In alignment with yesterday’s updated federal guidance, today we are announcing the extension of school closures through the remainder of the school year. Today’s announcement is intended to give parents and educators as much certainty as possible so they can plan and make decisions. While this isn’t the outcome any of us wanted, we are grateful for the partnership of schools around the state, who have stepped up to offer virtual and take-home learning opportunities for our students. These efforts are crucial, and we recognize that schools are making every effort possible to continue providing instruction during closures. We also thank our legislative partners for passing legislation ensuring all educators and staff see no disruption in pay. Our number one priority will continue to be health and safety, and we will continue to work closely with public health officials to make the best decisions for kids, families, and our school communities.”

Today’s announcement applies to Arizona public schools, both district and charter.

Our first priority as a school is to provide a safe and healthy environment for all students to learn. As you know, we are facing a worldwide pandemic with Coronavirus (COVID-19), and we believe it is important the school takes preventive action. With this in mind, and with direction from the Governor and area health experts, WE ARE CLOSING COMPASS HIGH SCHOOL’S CAMPUS THE REST OF THE 2019-20 SCHOOL YEAR. However, students will be expected to continue to participate in online classes. We will also have summer classes available to students too. Read more below.

CONTINUING YOUR EDUCATION FROM HOME

In order for students to graduate on time without additional days being added to the school calendar, Compass High School has created a plan to host all classes online. CHS already has the capability to deliver this content, along with creating assignments and interacting with students virtually so that students may continue to receive their grades and credits. ALL STUDENTS SHOULD REVIEW THEIR CLASSES ON CANVAS ON A DAILY BASIS. All teachers will be posting important messages on Canvas about how each of their classes will continue online while campus is closed. Students are responsible for this content and any lessons assigned by their teachers during this closure. Examples of how content will be delivered include:

Online materials. Teacher-created content, digital copies of textbooks, reference materials, assignments, and/or audiovisual learning will be made available on Canvas. – ✓ CHS is currently prepared to provide this service.
Teacher check-ins and tutorials. A variety of technologies (e.g., telephone, e-mail, and/or web conferencing) may be used to facilitate one-on-one interactions between students and teachers, advisors, tutors, and other appointed adults during closure. – ✓ CHS is currently prepared to provide this service.
Recorded class meetings. Using audio or video technology, teachers may record class meetings, link websites, and/or stream videos and host this content on Canvas. – ✓ CHS is currently prepared to provide this service.
Live class meetings. Teachers may use available tools such as conference calling, webinars, or online courses that allow for interaction between and among the teacher and students. – ✓ CHS is currently prepared to provide this service.
Hard copy packets. Packets may include portions from textbooks, photocopies of reference materials, curricula, and/or assignments and can be prepared and mailed to students if needed. – ✓ CHS is currently prepared to provide this service.

If you have questions or concerns about your child being able to participate in online courses, please contact us at 520-296-4070. School office hours will continue to be 8am to 5pm M-F.

Learn Online With Compass High School Canvas

GATOR BOXES

CHS will be creating a care package for all our students for each month that our students are not on campus. We believe, especially now, it is important for us to keep connected to our students so the items in these boxes will allow for all students/teachers to collaborate and interact with items in the Gator Box. This month’s Gator Box is our “Survival Box” and it will include: modeling clay, colored pencils, construction paper, tape measure, Gator ruler, loose leaf paper, Gator stress ball or Gator sunglasses, jiffy peat pots (x3), tomato seeds, cilantro seeds, hot pepper seeds, bar of soap, cookies or crackers, microwave popcorn, beans, rice, a brain teaser, hacky sack, duck tape and dice. Lessons and instructions for these items will come from teachers on canvas and in the Gator Box itself.

NEW ENROLLMENTS

Compass High School understands that our school is one of the few schools in Pima County who has the full capabilities to deliver online content to our students. With this in mind we are allowing new enrollments through the rest of the year and throughout summer school. We also know that many schools have graduating seniors who may need a school to support their learning today so they can graduate this year. If you or anyone you know fits this category, please contact the front office at 520-296-4070 to discuss your options including how to enroll today and graduate on time.

SUMMER SCHOOL

Compass High School students (including new enrollments) will have summer school available to them online. We know this is a very difficult time for many families so Compass wants all our students to know that CHS will allow them to finish up their online work for the 2019-20 school year through this year’s summer school.

ENROLL NOW

2020 GRADUATES & GRADUATION

Many parents and 2020 graduates have been asking questions about this year’s graduation. Currently we are working with Pima County Department of Health and the Arizona Department of Education on what possibilities we have for a Compass 2020 Graduation. We understand this is a very important culminating event for our students, so we want to make sure we are doing everything in our power to have this event, even it has to be drastically modified. Understand this pandemic and this campus closure is unprecedented. If you would like to send in some ideas on how we might hold an event under the current CDC guidelines, we welcome your feedback at info@compasshighschool.com.

STATE TESTING, EOY ASSESSMENTS & CIVICS EXAM

Current information about state testing is that state testing will be canceled until further notice. Students should be available to take STAR assessments (math & ELA) at home at the end of the year. The information about how to do this will be announced in May. Only graduating seniors need to take and pass the civics exam in order to graduate. Information about how this exam will be proctored will come in the next few weeks.

FIELD TRIPS, SPRING SHOW CASE & OPEN HOUSE

All field trips, spring show cases and the spring open house is now cancelled for the 2019-20 School Year.

STAY HEALTHY & CHS COMMUNICATION

Compass High School will provide additional guidance to CHS families as more information becomes available. We will continue to remain in close contact with state and public health officials to provide you with the most up-to-date information and to ensure that Compass High School is doing everything we can to keep every member of our community healthy and safe.

Websites to stay informed about COVID-19:

Compass High School has developed a list of frequently asked questions, please review them here. Supplemental learning material for students is available here. Our Emergency Response Plan can be reviewed here.

All Compass High School families should rest assure that our staff will be doing additional cleaning and sanitizing of all school buildings and facilities prior to students returning to campus. To see what parents and students can do, please click here.

We appreciate you entrusting your child with CHS and look forward to welcoming our students back to campus as soon as it safe to do so.

Sincerely,
Kerk Ferguson
Director of Compass High School

AZ Department of Education Guidance to Schools on COVID-19

This page contains guidance and resources for Arizona’s public district and charter schools as they navigate COVID-19 response. The situation around COVID-19 is rapidly changing, so please continue to check this page for updates and guidance.

As of 4:00 PM on Sunday, March 15, 2020, Governor Doug Ducey and State Superintendent Kathy Hoffman jointly announced the closure of all Arizona schools.

They will continue to work together and assess this situation on a 24/7 basis. During this time, the Arizona Department of Education will continue to develop and share guidance to schools regarding instructional time, statewide testing, provision of special education services, school meals, and more.

Please view the AZ Department of Education Pandemic Preparedness Guidance to Schools for more information regarding:

Emergency Operations Plans
Authority and Decision for School Closure
Prevention and Mitigation Strategies
Continuity of Operations (COOP) Planning
Continuity of Education Instruction
Special Education Considerations
Funding Considerations & Make-Up Days
Continuity of Social Services
Continuity of Nutrition Services
School Reopening
Use of Facilities and Staff by Public Health Authorities

COVID-19

Helpful Links