For the last few weeks, the entire Alton R-IV community and nation as a whole have been working through the many changes and adjustments brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic. Snow days, floods, and even Christmas and Spring Breaks have an endpoint where normal routines return. However, there was no “playbook” for schools to plan for an indefinite closure whether for a pandemic or any other event. In many ways, the fact this COVID-19 situation is indefinite has been one of the greatest challenges for all of us!
It is sometimes hard to believe that in a little over three weeks, we have gone from being excited about the upcoming Spring Break to a complete shift in the way we live, work, teach, and learn. It is safe to say we have not seen circumstances like these in our lifetimes.
This has caused us at Alton R-IV to reconsider our original thoughts on the type and amount of schoolwork being provided as this COVID-19 situation has become an indefinite and on-going way of life now. As we have reflected on our Alternate Methods of Instruction (AMI) to date, it has become rather clear to us that we have provided more work than was appropriate in some cases for the week to week time frame we have been utilizing. With that said, no new AMI packets will be provided for PK-6 on Sunday, April 12, 2020. Also, no additional digital and on-line AMI material will be provided for our 7-12 grade students on Sunday, April 12, 2020.
Please continue to work on the AMI material you have already been provided moving toward the Sunday, April 19, 2020 date. We will not be accepting packets back on Sunday, April 12, 2020 for PK-12. However, any 7-12 grade students who have been submitting work on-line may continue to submit their work on-line as it is completed. A blue drop box is now located on the porch at the Superintendent’s Office and may be utilized to return any student packets as needed.
We are wholly committed to doing everything we can to safeguard the health and safety of our students and staff, as well as our Alton R-IV community, and we are equally committed to providing the best and most practical educational opportunities possible. While our faculty and staff do take great pride in the educational opportunities we offer our students, PK-12, it was never the intent of Alton R-IV to add additional stress or frustration to the daily routines of our families during the unprecedented nation-wide COVID-19 pandemic.
I have also had, and will continue to have, videoconferences with fellow superintendents and district leaders throughout Missouri to share best practices and discuss our next steps as we move forward. More information and details on the AMI format for the Week of April 20-24, 2020 will be provided at a future date.
Our student meal pick-up will continue on Sunday, April 12, 2020 from 2:00-4:00pm.
Stay safe, take care of yourself and each other, because as proud COMETS we will all get through this together!
5th - 12th grade students: I have a google classroom for each grade. You have been sent an invitation to join via your school email. Please check your email for the invitation. If you did not receive it or need more information about how to join the classroom, please email me at pamgilliland@alton.k12.mo.us. I will be using these classrooms to facilitate scheduling for the 2020-2021 school year. So far, most high school students have joined (but not all). And, only two sixth graders and 10 fifth graders have joined! Parents, I can only add you as a guardian to receive updates from my classroom after your child has joined. Mrs. Gilliland
10th Grade Students (11th graders who did not attend SCCC this year): Applications to attend South Central Career Center are in your assignments in Mrs. Gilliland's google classroom.
SENIORS: Three Scholarships due on Thursday, April 9. Email, fax, doc, take a picture and email it - get it to me however you can. Preferably no drop-offs, but email me if you can't get them to me any other way and we'll figure out something! Mrs. Gilliland
SENIORS: Ozarka College Opportunity Scholarship has been posted in your classroom. Check it Out!
SENIORS: If you are emailing, faxing, dropping off any applications for scholarships, I need them before 2:00. Mrs. Gilliland
Alton R-IV Student Meal and Academic Packet Pickup Instructions for Sunday April 5, 2020 from 2:00-3:30 pm
We will follow the same general format and process as last week for those that participated concerning where and how vehicles drive through campus. Note the change in times to 2:00-3:30pm. Please do not arrive early and wait, as our staff will not be prepared to begin before 2:00pm.
Meal & Academic Packet pickup participants will circle the HS Building and receive food at the entrance to the Elementary Building. Requirements mandating the child be in the vehicle to receive the student meals have now been waived at the State of Missouri level. However, we do ask for integrity and ethical conduct from adults when obtaining the meals for children. Academic Packets from the week of March 30 – April 3 can be returned and exchanged for the Academic Packet for the week of April 6 – 10 as you exit campus going up the hill.
Academic Packet pickup and exchange only (no Student Meal pickup) will again occur on the east side of the Superintendent’s Office at the corner of Hodge and Owens streets and run from 2:00-3:30pm. Academic Packet pickup will again be for all students, grades PK-6 as well as select 7-12 students.
SENIORS: I am in my office from now until about 2:00 today. Please make sure you turn in all scholarships that are due today or tomorrow (Thurs. or Fri., April 2 or 3) by 2:00 today, Thurs. Make sure you have all documents with them. I am mailing them out today when I leave!
SENIORS: 6 scholarships are due today (Wednesday, April 1st) and 3 tomorrow. I am here until 1:30 or so today. Don't miss out! Mrs. Gilliland
5th and 6th Graders and Parents: Mrs. Gilliland, the high school counselor, is creating google classrooms for 5th and 6th grade. Your child should be receiving a message via their school email about joining the classroom. Please allow them to do so.
Mrs. Allen's 5th Grade English classes, I miss your smiles, laughter and wonderful conversations that we have throughout the day. Please check your school email and Google Classroom so that we can still have class discussions and just catch up on what everyone is doing during this long break.
I want my students to know that if they need anything to please reach out. We can talk (via phone or email or google classroom). If you are in need of anything else, I will do my best to get whatever I can for you. Mrs. Gilliland - High School Counselor
8th - 12th graders who are working on online courses such as Launch, Acellus, or MSU-Dual Enrollment, please keep working on these. If you have an issue with internet access, you need to be emailing Mrs. Gilliland. This includes SCCC and ALC students on Acellus.
9th - 11th Grade Students: MSU-Dual Enrollment forms are due today (Wed., April 1st). If you need a copy, email me or call and I will get you a form. pamgilliland@alton.k12.mo.us 417-778-7215 ext 224
SENIORS: Get your scholarship applications that are due this week turned in. Several are due today and any that are due Thursday or Friday will need to be turned in on Thursday. Email or Google Classroom is preferred, but I will take drop-offs. Call into my office and I will come get them. 778-7215 ext 224.
Mrs. Gilliland is in her office today from 8:30 until 1:30 or so. You may call her at 417-778-7215 ext 224 if you need to or email her with questions and such!
Congratulations to senior, Cordell Hufstedler on earning "Honorable Mention" for the 2020 Missouri Scholars 100, a statewide program that honors 100 of Missouri's top academic students in the 2020 graduating class!
SENIORS: Howell-Oregon Electric Cooperative has extended their scholarship deadline to May 15th. If you haven't turned that one in, you might want to do so!
SENIORS: Some of you are rocking the many ways you are getting your scholarship applications to me! Keep up the good work - emails and google docs and drive-by drop-offs are doing the trick! Mrs. Gilliland
Alton R-4 will be extending our closure through April 24, 2020.
While nothing would make us happier as educators than to return to normal in-person operations immediately, that simply is not prudent or practical at this time. With that said, it also is not in anyone’s best interest to be left guessing on a daily and weekly timeline as to the operational plans of the Alton R-4 School District.
This closure extension through April 24, 2020 will include the formal position that no co-curricular or extra-curricular practices/competitions or events/trips will occur as well as the continued protocol of no public use of campus facilities by members of the community.
Please continue to check our website and Facebook page for ongoing updates and notices relevant to COVID-19 situation.