When the school year was disrupted in March, one of our significant challenges was having our five high schools on five different, unique daily schedules and school-year calendars (semesters and trimesters). Recently, the district announced a virtual launch to the 2020-21 school year. Yet, our planning for the 2020-21 school year had already considered the likelihood of disruptions to in-person instruction due to the COVID-19 crisis. Thus, we made a decision to place all five high schools on the same daily schedule and school-year calendar (semesters) for the upcoming school year.

• First, the district announced a virtual launch to the 2020-21 school year.
• All five high schools will be on the same daily schedule and school-year calendar (semesters) for the upcoming school year.

While in a virtual format, the high school start time will be 8:30 AM.

The fidelity of our curriculum amid the COVID-19 crisis, consistency in assessment and grading, and professional development for design and delivery of virtual instruction were key factors in our planning for the 2020-21 school year. While our school communities are unique, we always want to ensure that our students are receiving the full depth and breadth of our curriculum. Unlike the end of last school year where assessment and grading were suspended, we are returning to a robust assessment and grading model for the 2020-21 school year; students will earn grades. Transitioning between in-person and virtual learning spaces is challenging, and we are heavily invested in providing our teachers with quality professional development for the design and delivery of instruction. Thus, the need to achieve all of this to scale - across five schools - precipitated the decision to create a common daily schedule and school-year calendar. 

• We always want to ensure that our students are receiving the full depth and breadth of our curriculum.
• We are returning to a robust assessment and grading model for the 2020-21 school year; students will earn grades.
• We are heavily invested in providing our teachers with quality professional development for the design and delivery of instruction. 
• To achieve all of this to scale, we have created a common daily schedule and school-year calendar.

All high school students have a 6-period schedule. These 6 courses will meet in a “block” schedule format (see below). Each block will be 105 minutes and meet every other day. During a typical five-day school week, Blocks 1, 3, and 5 will meet on Mondays and Thursdays, and Blocks 2, 4, and 6 will meet on Tuesdays and Fridays While the district is in a virtual or hybrid format, Wednesdays will be virtual, asynchronous days. Students will be assigned coursework and work independently. There is an advisory period built into each of the Block days, as well.

• High school students have a 6-period schedule.
• These 6 courses will meet in a “block” schedule format.
• Blocks 1, 3, and 5 will meet on Mondays and Thursdays.
• Blocks 2, 4, and 6 will meet on Tuesdays and Fridays

Our high schools have operated on semester or trimester schedules. Again, this was a challenge when school was disrupted in March. Community, Huron, and Pioneer were several weeks into the second semester, yet Pathways and Skyline were just starting the third trimester. When the block schedule was adopted, we recognized the challenges of delivering the full depth and breadth of our curriculum in an every-other-day format. This would have been even more challenging on a trimester schedule where many courses are only two trimesters in length. Semesters are about 90 school days, whereas trimesters are about 60 school days.

• When the block schedule was adopted, we recognized the challenges of delivering the full depth and breadth of our curriculum in an every-other-day format. 
• Semesters are about 90 school days, whereas trimesters are about 60 school days.

Another important factor in our planning and decision making for the 2020-21 school year was providing elective choice for our students. We recognized that a 6-period schedule over semesters has some limitations when it comes to choice, and we are creating 7th period courses (similar to the model already in place at Pioneer) that will expand elective choice for students. 7th period will meet four days per week (see below). Any student can choose a 7th period. To the extent possible, after school activities will be scheduled to accommodate students who choose a 7th period option. As always, counselors will work with students to build schedules to match their academic pathways.

• An important factor in our planning was providing elective choice for our students.
• A 6-period schedule over semesters has some limitations when it comes to choice.
• We are creating 7th period courses.
• Counselors will work with students to build schedules to match their academic pathways.

The health and safety of our student athletes and coaches is our top priority. We recognize that participation in physical activity is important to the physical and social emotional well-being of our high school students. 

Balancing the concerns related to the pandemic with the benefits of physical activity, we have conducted outdoor athletic summer training and band practices, and have opened the 2020-21 fall sports season for high schools. We will operate under the guidance provided by the MHSAA. However, for high-risk and moderate-risk sports, AAPS is adding guidance that emphasizes and supersedes that of the MHSAA. For complete details about a high school sport, please contact the school’s athletic director.

Regarding middle school sports, all athletic teams are suspended for the first fall season. More information will be sent soon about participation opportunities through AAPS Rec & Ed.

The MHSAA has yet to set a date for the start of the football season. We anticipate a decision before August 20. Thus, the decision of the band directors is to delay the start of marching band practice until the MHSAA makes a decision about football. Directors will share more info with students and parents soon.