New English curriculum, renovated fitness facilities among changes awaiting Plum students

Plum School District officials plan to provide students with new academic opportunities and the means to become healthier individuals this coming school year.

Families have the option of full-time in person instruction or full-time online learning through the district’s cyber academy. The first day of school is Aug. 19.

“We’re excited to get these kids back in school where they belong,” Superintendent Brendan Hyland said. “We’re looking forward to working with our kids on a daily basis.”

The district’s mask policy will be based on covid cases. They are optional for students and staff while there is a low positive case rate. Officials said they continue to monitor all safety guidelines and plan on making adjustments accordingly.

Curriculum changes

A new English language arts curriculum from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt called Into Reading will be utilized in grades K-6, including an online interactive component, Waggle, for individualized instructions. Teachers will develop engaging lessons using the new resources and will focus on individualized instruction.

Two new learning platforms, Actively Learn ELA and Achieve 3000 ELA, will be used in grades 7-12.

District officials said they provide students with individualized and tiered resources to most effectively meet growth opportunities and expand upon their strengths.

Math teachers have been working hard to make adjustments to the new curriculum that was implemented last school year. They hope to build on the use of SuccessMaker and ALEKS as supplemental learning tools to enrich the lives of students.

Additional support

The district’s special-education department has bolstered its autistic support program with the addition of two new classrooms. Stephanie Zehr will be teaching the K-4 students at Center Elementary School. Madison Smith will be teaching grades 9-12 at the high school.

Officials said both programs will integrate a sensory space as well as research-based practices in applied behavior analysis as a framework for the classroom design.

Facility changes

The high school library has been redesigned to create an atmosphere of collaboration and innovation. The new look is part of the computer science, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics), technology education and library curriculum review process.

The fitness centers at the high school and Oblock Junior High have been renovated. A new cardio room was also created at the high school to help teens become healthier young adults.

Hyland said they hope to have the centers fully operational by the end of the month.

The renovations are among the latest development in a long list of athletic upgrades at the district the past few years which included new playing surfaces at the football stadium, baseball and softball fields.

Another challenge

District officials have also accepted Rachel’s Challenge to inspire others to replace acts of violence, bullying and negativity with acts of respect, kindness and compassion. The challenge is based on the life and writings of Rachel Joy Scott, the first victim of the Columbine High School shootings in April 1999.

Teachers will do some preparatory work before the program kicks off with community nights in November at the high school and Oblock auditoriums. More information will be released later this year.

Hyland said students and staff have overcome a lot throughout the pandemic, and feels positive about providing students with a fruitful education in 2021-22.

“We faced a lot of challenges last year, and we’ve learned that we can overcome any challenges,” Hyland said.

A welcome back letter from Hyland was sent out to Plum families and posted on the district’s website, pbsd.net.

“Each new school year breathes excitement and anticipation of what is possible into a school district,” Hyland wrote. “It is time to look forward with optimism that a new chapter in Plum’s story is about to be written.”

A district events calendar was expected to be mailed to parents earlier this month. It lists various important dates as well as contact information for district officials.

More information about the district’s back-to-school plans is available on the district’s website, including a digital backpack packed with health and safety plans, school calendars, district policies and answers to frequently asked questions among other useful tools.