Secondary Students Return to Hybrid Learning

Dear Richfield Families,

Thank you for everything you have been doing to help slow the spread of COVID-19 in our community. Because of the efforts of Richfield residents, the local case rate for COVID-19 infections is currently 26.1 in Richfield and 23.9 in Hennepin County. According to state guidelines, when the case rate falls between 20-30 per 10,000 residents, we can bring secondary students back to the hybrid program!

Here are the changes we will be implementing this month. 

• Secondary students who were previously enrolled in the hybrid program this fall can return to buildings the week of February 22. The secondary hybrid program is a one-day per week advisory program.
• Students are not required to return. If your child was in the hybrid program in the fall, but you would prefer they remain in distance learning, please contact your school office.
• If your child was previously in the distance learning program, but you would like them enrolled in the hybrid program, please contact your school office to determine availability. 
• If your child received school bus transportation this fall, look for additional communication in the next week with bus stop information.
• Specific class schedules and details will be sent to families from your child’s school and/or teacher in the next week. 

Please note that all safety protocols from this fall remain in place. Face coverings are required on school buses and in buildings at all times, social distancing will be enforced, etc. In addition, before sending your child to school, we ask that you take your child’s temperature and confirm that they do not have any of the more common symptoms of COVID-19. You can learn more on our COVID-19 web page.

We are excited to be sharing this news, as this year has been one of the hardest years in recent history on our young people. Having students in schools, around peers and other adults, is essential to their social-emotional health—as well as their academics. While we all understand the precautionary steps that were necessary during the pandemic, it will be a great relief when the day finally arrives when all of our students and staff can safely return to school full time. 

Until then, we encourage all of you to continue to be safe and to take care of yourself and those around you. While we are close to “returning to normal,” we are not there yet. Until a vaccine is widely available to the public and the case rates are at or near zero, there is still a chance that infection rates could increase again and we would have to look at returning to distance learning. Please continue to follow all recommended CDC safety recommendations.