Jeffco Schools in Challenging Times

By Bruce Loftis

Photo from healthychildren.org.

This will indeed be a challenging year for schools in Southern Gables, Lakewood, Jefferson County, Colorado, USA, Planet Earth. Southern Gables neighbors with kids in school are aware of plans for school. Other neighbors without kids may also be interested.

The main Jeffco Schools website is jeffcopublicschools.org. The plan for this sensitive topic is identified as “Restart Jeffco.” The direct link is jeffcopublicschools.org/restart_jeffco,

Classes for the first two weeks are remote. After September 4, 2020, Remote learning will continue to be available to all students who choose it.

The Heart of the Neighborhood

Green Gables and other elementary schools will provide in-person learning. Cohorts of students will be kept together during the day and will not interact with others.

Middle and high schools will have hybrid schedules with alternating in-person and remote learning.

Substantial and spectacular planning has been done by the district and school staff members. Things are now falling into place. There are many many details. A set of Frequently Asked Questions on the website provides answers and important information. Click here: Restart Jeffco FAQ. There are related sections for student-oriented questions and Special Education.

Photo from unicef.cn

The Green Gables school administration has been in contact with families about navigating this difficult time, and two-way communication is always valuable. Information about Green Gables Elementary School is at greengables.jeffcopublicschools.org. 

Some of the planning considerations and techniques that are available to families for negotiating their children’s feelings are described in resources such as this one, published by UNICEF: Supporting your child’s mental health as they return to school during COVID-19. Parents and teachers all over the country — and indeed the world — are working to conquer this challenge.

We can do this. We have to and we will. The Restart Jeffco plan provides quality in-person and remote/online learning options while taking important steps to protect the health of students, staff, and the entire community.

Bruce Loftis has engineering degrees from University of Texas and Colorado State University. His career has been supporting scientific computing at universities. Parents moved to Southern Gables in 1968. Bruce and Spouse-Linda and Canine-Cody recently retired and moved back to Colorado and into the family house. Retirement has not been successful. Many volunteer opportunities seem to find Bruce.