COVID-19 Updates & Return to School Policy

Information reviewed following this schedule:

SIGNATURE SCHOOL OPENING PLAN 2021-2022

ESSER III

More information about COVID-19 updates and Signature School's Return to School Policy can be found here: COVID-19 Updates. 

August 5, 2020

Dear Signature School Parent/Guardian,

Thank you for your part in a great opening week.  I am writing to share with you the attached CDC information on COVID protocol.  Please review the front page on screening and the back page chart on procedures for determining when one must quarantine and when one may return to school.  This information will be posted on our website, as well.

As always, I appreciate your time and consideration.

Sincerely,

Jean Hitchcock

August 4, 2020

COVID-19 Return to School Policy

August 4, 2020

Fall 2020 Pandemic Online Learning

Prior to your first day of online learning, make sure you have all of the following:

• Internet sufficient for streaming video.
• A laptop or desktop device that is connected to the internet and is solely yours to use during the online learning period.
• Microphone and speakers connected to or installed in your laptop or desktop device (a headset would be great, but is not required).
• A webcam connected to or installed in your laptop or desktop device.
• Active Schoology credentials (these have been emailed to you).

If you need assistance with any of the above, please contact Ms. Cates at [email protected] prior to beginning online learning.

Prior to your first day of online learning, please sign on to Schoology (www.schoology.com) and access the video conference information for each class you will be attending online. If you do not see the video conference info, or you have questions about the video conference or what your teacher expects, please reach out to your teachers with those questions. Teacher emails are available here: https://signature.edu/directory

Here is the procedure for each day of school:

• Prior to 8:30 AM:
  • Sign on to Schoology
  • Access your 1st (A Day) or 5th (B day) class
  • Sign on to the video conference posted there
  • Make sure you complete the video conference sign on prior to the class start time, or your teacher will mark you tardy for class
• 9:57 AM:
  • Sign out of video conference for previous class
  • Access your 2^nd (A Day) or 6^th (B day) class
  • Sign on to the video conference posted there
  • Make sure you complete the video conference sign on prior to the class start time, or your teacher will mark you tardy for class
• 11:30 AM:
  • Sign out of video conference for previous class
  • Begin your lunch break
• Prior to 12:15 PM
  • Sign on to Schoology
  • Access your 3rd (A Day) or 7th (B day) class
  • Sign on to the video conference posted there
  • Make sure you complete the video conference sign on prior to the class start time, or your teacher will mark you tardy for class
• 1:42 PM:
  • Sign out of video conference for previous class
  • Access your 4th (A Day) or 8th (B day) class
  • Sign on to the video conference posted there
  • Make sure you complete the video conference sign on prior to the class start time, or your teacher will mark you tardy for class

On special assembly days or half-days, you will need to adjust the above times to fit the timing of the special schedule.

July 17, 2020

Fall Re-Entry Plan

July, 17, 2020

Dear Member of the Class of the Signature School Class of 2020 and Senior Parent/Guardian,

We are delighted that Signature School’s graduation will take place this Saturday, July 18, 2020, at 6:30 PM.  Immediate family members may attend the event live at the Victory Theatre provided that our numbers remain within the confines of the state mandate.   The ceremony will be live streamed, as well, and can be accessed using the information at the bottom of this email. We recommend that live stream attendees practice signing in to the live stream today. If you have any questions, please contact Jami Cates today at [email protected].  Ms. Cates will not be able to assist tomorrow.

This year’s ceremony will be longer than in past years and likely will run a full two hours. Please review the following ceremony information as soon as possible:

• If someone has a temperature of 100 degrees or higher, she/he may not come to the event.
• Anyone exhibiting any symptoms of COVID-19 (including fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, and/or diarrhea) should not come to the event.
• Anyone who has recently had contact with someone who has tested positive with COVID-19 should not come to the event without an authorization from a doctor.
• Masks will be required at all times.
• Those attending are asked to use the same set of doors when entering and exiting.
• Seating will be every other row.  Signs are posted to advise which rows will not be in use.
• Those attending must be six feet apart by household units.  This means you must have two seats vacant from one family unit to the next.  Individuals from the same household do not have to have a seat in-between one another.
• No guests may be added to the number each family has submitted.  In order to ensure a seat for everyone and adequate seating to social distance, families should be limited to immediate family members.
• Students should report to the Koch Center at 5:45 in full regalia.  Entrance will be limited to students and staff.  Students will leave personal belongings at the Koch Center during the ceremony.
• Victory doors will open at 5:45 PM.
• Immediately following the ceremony, students will return to the Koch Center to return cords and pick up belongings. 
• We are unable to have a reception due to health guidelines.  Families should wait for their children outside and are reminded to please not congregate at close distance.
• Signature’s ceremony is formal and students must dress accordingly.  They will not be able to walk if proper attire is not observed.
• Gentlemen should wear a light-colored dress shirt/tie, dress pants or khakis.  No polo-type shirts, no jeans, no shorts.  Ladies should wear a skirt, dress, or dress pants.  No jeans or shorts.  
• Students should wear “regular” shoes – no flat sandals, no flip-flops, no Nike/Reebok types of shoes.  Ladies may wear dressy sandals with heels.
• Nothing on hats.  Again, this is a formal ceremony and we want all to dress accordingly.
• Disposable gloves will be available for students who would like to wear them.  During rehearsal, students were advised that at the moment they walk across the stage and receive the diploma, they may opt to shake hands, “elbow bump,” or nod.  This is a personal decision.

This Class of 2020 has made history in many ways, and tomorrow night is no exception.  We look forward to seeing everyone.

Sincerely,

Jean Hitchcock

Executive Director

July 13, 2020

Dear Member of the Signature School Class of 2020 and Senior Parent/Guardian,

Signature School’s graduation is scheduled for Saturday, July 18, 2020, at 6:30 PM at the Victory Theatre.  Commencement practice takes place Thursday, July 16, at 1:00 PM at the Victory.  All seniors walking on Saturday are expected to attend rehearsal Thursday unless advance arrangements already have been approved by the school.

This Saturday’s ceremony as planned is contingent on Governor Holcomb’s allowance of gatherings of more than 250 people.  The ceremony will be live streamed, and students who opt not to walk Saturday but who wish to be represented will have a slide with a photo and the child’s name displayed.  Please note that if the Governor limits the maximum size of the crowd to 250, Signature School will proceed with the ceremony with only students allowed to enter the Victory.  Parents/Guardians and families will have the opportunity to watch the ceremony through the live stream in this case.  I sincerely hope that we will be able to have Signature families and students gather together at the Victory on Saturday, but we will work within the confines of the Governor’s directive while making sure our students receive the recognition they deserve.  Please note that in accordance with Mayor Winnecke’s recent order, all those in attendance at the Victory will be required to wear masks. 

Signature’s Commencement ceremony is formal, and we expect all students who choose to walk to dress and comport themselves accordingly.  Please note the following guidelines to help you plan:

• Students walking in the ceremony should report to the Koch Center at 5:45 PM on the 18^th.  Students will be assigned to various classrooms (see room assignments below) where they will be able to spruce up attire, leave personal belongings during the ceremony, and to which they will return immediately following the ceremony to drop off cords and pick up actual diplomas.  Only students and some faculty will be permitted in the Koch Center.
• Students should come fully dressed in cap and gown to the Koch Center on the 18^th.  In order to social distance, we will walk from the Koch Center and we want to allow enough time to do so.
• Gentlemen should wear a light-colored dress shirt/tie, dress pants or khakis.  No polo-type shirts, no jeans, no shorts.  Ladies should wear a skirt, dress, or dress pants.  No jeans or shorts. 
• Students should wear “regular” shoes – no flat sandals, no flip-flops, no Nike/Reebok types of shoes.  Ladies may wear dressy sandals with heels.
• Nothing on hats.  Again, this is a formal ceremony and we want all to dress accordingly.
• Disposable gloves will be available for students who would like to wear them.
• We anticipate sending the live stream link and password through email this Thursday.  Please contact Jami Cates at [email protected] if you have any questions.

Our Class of 2020 graduates have distinguished itself in many ways, and we look forward to recognizing this huge milestone they have achieved.  Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions.

Sincerely,

Jean Hitchcock

Executive Director

Room Assignments:

Last Names                                       Room

Ad-El                                                KC 208

Er-Ja                                                 KC 202

Jo-Mile                                               KC 205

Mill-Ra                                               KC 203

Ru-Za                                                KC 201

June 18, 2020

Dear Signature School Parent/Guardian,

I am writing to let you know that the Signature School Board met yesterday and voted to authorize in-classroom instruction with students beginning, as scheduled, on August 5, 2020.  In-class instruction was favored by 80% of our families who responded to our recent survey. This plan is contingent on Governor Holcomb moving Indiana into Stage 5 of its safe reopening plan and on the state of health conditions in the local area.

We are working now on detailed plans to establish best practices for a safe return, using guidance from health experts.  Parents will play a key role in ensuring a healthy environment, as they are the front line in ensuring that children stay home if sick and in underscoring the need to follow safe health measures.

Last spring demonstrated our ability to be flexible while adhering to our standards of excellence and maintaining our sense of community. We will face new challenges this fall, but I am confident we will meet those challenges with that same commitment to excellence and with the strength of our community.  Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions. 

Sincerely,

Jean Hitchcock

Executive Director

May 14, 2020

Dear Signature School Senior and Parent/Guardian,

Although the unexpected turns of the last few months have altered the path of our traditional school year, we remain committed to celebrating the members of our Class of 2020.  After weighing survey results from parents, students, and faculty, and following much discussion and deliberation, I am pleased to announce that Signature School will host a live graduation ceremony for the Class of 2020 at 6:30 PM on Friday, July 17, 2020 in the Victory Theatre.  Commencement rehearsal will take place on July 16. Those who prefer not to take part in person will be honored through a slide representation projected on the stage at that time.  The ceremony will be made available through livestreaming and will be recorded. This timetable and format are in keeping with the Governor’s Back on Track Indiana plan of reopening the state, and we will follow all guidelines noted in Stage 5 of this action plan.  Plans may change should the current guidelines be updated.

Families of seniors are welcome to attend this July 17 ceremony.  We respectfully request that families help keep the number of attendees as low as possible, and we ask that those attending practice the social distancing guidelines recommended by the Governor’s office.  We anticipate every other row in the theater to be blocked in order to ensure proper seating, and family groups will need to leave sufficient space between other groups to that end.  We will measure the stage to see whether it will safely accommodate our seniors and make format decisions based on best health practices.  While our ceremony has been delayed and will take a slightly different form this year, we want to ensure that the traditional elements of this milestone are represented.  Signature department and school-based recognitions will take place that evening during the ceremony.

Commencement may be arriving later than originally planned, but we want our seniors to know how much we miss and are thinking of them now, particularly as we look ahead to next week.  Please take a glance below at some of the ways we will be honoring the Class of 2020 Monday through Thursday of next week, and please note that social distancing guidelines should be followed at applicable events:

• Sharing Signature congrats and shout outs using GIPHY stickers at Sig2020 and Snapchatting with a new Sig filter available in front of the school. Both stickers and filter available Monday morning.
• Some Zoom-ing fun, informal visits Monday evening and Tuesday with different faculty and staff; details to follow.
• Arranging a memorable photo op in person in front of the Ford Center.  We have been working with Downtown Evansville, the Ford Center, the City of Evansville, and Wilde Horticulture as they arrange to have a giant heart and a “Congratulations, Graduates” sign, perfect for a picture pose, in front of the Ford Center and angled so that students can get a picture of themselves with Signature School in the background.  This should be available Tuesday at dusk and should be there through June 1.
• Enjoying the final edition of our newspaper, The Signal, available on our website on Wednesday.
• Attending our special senior book drop-off day (with hoopla!) on Thursday; check out the windows at our Koch Center while there.  Keep an eye out for an email with more details!

We anticipate yearbooks being available after June 1 and will be back in touch with information as we have it. Thank you for all you are doing to make this challenging situation as easy and meaningful as possible.  Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions or concerns.

Best wishes,

Jean Hitchcock

Executive Director, Signature School                                                                                                        

May 8, 2020

Dear Signature School Parent/Guardian and Student,

I know how difficult these weeks have been for all of our Signature School community, and I could not be prouder of how our students, faculty, staff, and parents have risen to the occasion of meeting this challenge.  During the next two weeks, May 11-15 and May 18-22, the College Board will administer at-home Advanced Placement (AP) exams. Our teachers continue to be laser-focused on helping ensure Signature students are well prepared for these assessments, and I am confident our students will continue to rise to the occasion and give each exam their best. 

I would like to share information released by the College Board to help as you prepare for these exams that will be taken in your homes.  Please take a few minutes to review, and please contact our AP Coordinator, Theresa Doyle, with any questions. 

AP Students/AP Teachers:

• AP YouTube Channel: Live Review Lessons: AP Prep Week Schedule
  • 
  • https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLoGgviqq4844oyQviUHOOddAaMOdDAqpk
     
• AP 2020 Exams: 5 Steps to Get Ready: The steps the College Board recommends that you take now to get ready for your first exam: https://apcoronavirusupdates.collegeboard.org/students/taking-ap-exams/getting-ready-for-exam-day
   
• 2020 AP Exam Day Checklist: Checklist items for students to complete before, during, and after AP Exams:https://apcentral.collegeboard.org/pdf/ap-student-exam-day-checklist.pdf
   
• AP 2020 Exams: Exam Walkthrough Video: This is a good video to help students with at-home testing, including which devices that can be used to take the exam, how to sign in on exam day, and the different ways to submit responses: https://apcoronavirusupdates.collegeboard.org/students/taking-ap-exams/exam-day-experience
   
• AP 2020 Exams: Demo Site: This interactive demo of the online exam will give students an opportunity to know exactly what to expect on exam day. The demo replicates a two-question exam (some of this year’s AP Exams have one question, and some have two). Students can practice as many times as they like; this experience can help students decide which way to submit work on exam day: https://ap2020examdemo.collegeboard.org/
   
• AP 2020 Exams: Resources Needed on Exam Day:
  • ​What Students Need for each AP Exam:  Comprehensive guide to tools, reference sheets, and other resources that are required, recommend, or permitted for each exam (i.e. calculators): https://apcoronavirusupdates.collegeboard.org/educators/taking-the-exams/what-students-need-on-exam-day
  • References and Guides: Formula sheets and Answer Sheets: https://apcoronavirusupdates.collegeboard.org/students/taking-ap-exams/getting-ready-for-exam-day/references-and-guides

As always, thank you for your support and consideration.  Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions or concerns.

Sincerely,

April 17, 2020
 

Dear Signature School Parent/Guardian and Student,
 

I hope this note finds everyone doing well. Per my previous letter, the College Board provided a webinar last Thursday night for parents to help their children prepare for the upcoming AP exams that will be taken at home using phones and computers.  If you missed this webinar, the link below will take you to the recorded session.  I am writing today with information and a checklist to make sure all of our Signature School students are ready to take these tests.  Please read and take necessary action on the items below. If you have any further questions, please contact our AP Coordinator, Theresa Doyle at [email protected] as soon as possible:

(1) Sign into your College Board (CB) account as soon as possible and make sure your AP profile is updated.

     -- Verify your email address and other pertinent information

     -- Make sure the CB news and updates boxes are checked to ensure you are receiving all communications from the College Board

     -- Sign up for your free AP Score Send to the college of your choice (seniors are encouraged to enter college codes as soon as they declare universities)

      -- If you do not remember your College Board username and password, contact the College Board at 888-225-5427.  Representatives are available until 8 PM Monday through Friday.

(2)  Check to see if you received your Personalized AP Exam Schedule sent out on April 13.  If not, then contact the College Board at 888-225-5427.

(3)  Students access the exam and submit their responses using any available device: smartphones, tablets, Chromebooks, or computers. If any students need devices or internet for the tests, the College Board wants to help. Students should contact the College Board directly by April 24 via this form: https://collegeboard.tfaforms.net/74. Students submitting the form should send an email to Ms. Doyle, as well, so the school is aware of the situation.

(4)   If you missed the College Board webinar on Thursday, April 16, 2020 for parents and students, you can still view it at:  https://globalmeet.webcasts.com/viewer/event.jsp?ei=1302024&tp_key=73070ccd21

(5)  Continue to take advantage of live AP lessons on the College Board website. More information on exam administration will come in the live lessons as the CB releases that information.

(6) In late April, the College Board will provide AP students with information on how to access the testing system on test day. This information will include video demonstrations so that students can familiarize themselves with the system.

(7) This year’s AP Exams will be open book/open note. However, students may not consult with any other individuals during the testing period. Please see the following link regard AP exam security: https://apcoronavirusupdates.collegeboard.org/students/taking-ap-exams/security

(8)  All students should be prepared to take their AP exams during the primary exam window of May 11 – 22.  Students need to sign in 30 minutes prior to AP exam time for important information regarding that day’s exam.

Thank you for your support and consideration.  Please do not hesitate to contact me with any concerns.

Best wishes,
 

Jean Hitchcock
Executive Director
Signature School

April 11, 2020

Dear Signature School Parent/Guardian and Student,

I hope this letter finds all of you doing well.  These difficult times have served to make everyone all the more aware of how fortunate we are to be part of our terrific Signature School community.  I am grateful for the intrepid spirit and the continued commitment to one another that I witness in our students, parents, and faculty.

In order meet the new demands of e-instruction and the revamped AP assessments, we are revising our calendar.  Please click here to find information on what the remaining days look like.  April 17^th and 24^th and May 1^st and 8^th will be used as waiver days in order to give faculty time to prepare classes and students time to prepare for their AP exams.  Beginning May 4^th, only classes with May 2020 AP exams will meet.  We have structured the calendar in a manner similar to what would take place during a normal school year, allowing focus to be on classes with external assessments.  We will not have a formal final exam week for classes without external assessments, and individual teachers will inform students of plans for final course requirements.

As you know, students will take their AP exams at home using phones and computers. The College Board has committed itself to ensuring that all AP students have the necessary equipment and internet accessibility. You may register here for a College Board webinar designed specifically for parents to help their children prepare for the exam date: https://globalmeet.webcasts.com/starthere.jsp?ei=1302024&tp_key=73070ccd21. The webinar will take place this Thursday evening, April 16, starting at 6:00. We will forward any essential information shared in the webinar as well as a link to the recorded proceedings for those who cannot attend. Please let me, Ms. Doyle, or Ms. Cates know if you have any concerns or questions about these online exams.

I know there are many questions regarding graduation, and we continue to work toward plans to recognize our exceptional Class of 2020.  Seniors and their parents should look for a survey I am sending out to help us shape these plans. I will get back in touch with everyone as soon as possible.

As always, thank you for all you are doing.  I know this is not an easy situation for anyone, and I appreciate everyone’s efforts to get through this in Signature style.  Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions or concerns.  I welcome the communications.

Sincerely,

Jean Hitchcock

Executive Director

April 2, 2020

Dear Signature School Parent/Guardian and Student,

Today Governor Holcomb announced that all Indiana schools shall provide instruction via remote learning for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year. I am writing to let you know that we are working to determine the impact on our Signature School calendar and that I will be back in touch as soon as possible with details. We are all disappointed by this news, but we will forge ahead to ensure the best learning experience possible as we finish out the year.

Also, Signature students should now be able to access Schoology. All online instruction will take place through this learning management system effective Friday, April 3, 2020. We are very excited about this opportunity. 

Thank you for your support.

Sincerely,

April 1, 2020

Dear Students,

You should receive your Schoology logon credentials (username and password) in an email from Schoology ([email protected]) tomorrow afternoon (Thursday, April 2).

If you don’t receive your Schoology logon email, please email Ms. Cates at [email protected].

Schoology is our new Learning Management System and is intended to be your one-stop shop for eLearning this spring.

You should begin using Schoology for your coursework this Friday morning (9 AM on April 3), but please feel free to sign in as soon as you receive your credentials.

To access Signature’s Schoology site, go to signature.schoology.com.

Sign in with the username and password you receive in your email.

Your current courses will be displayed on your dashboard, including a Knowledge Base course to help you with frequently asked questions.

Click any course to begin.

Two getting started notes:

• The Chrome browser is recommended for the best experience with Schoology.
  • Instructions for installing Chrome: https://support.google.com/chrome/answer/95346?hl=en&co=GENIE.Platform%3DDesktop&oco=1
  • Getting started resources for Chrome: https://support.google.com/chrome#topic=9796470

• Schoology getting started information & support resources are here: https://support.schoology.com/hc/en-us/articles/201001313-Student-Guide

Please email Ms. Cates if you have questions or need assistance ([email protected]).

Thank you!

March 28, 2020

Dear Signature School Parent/Guardian/Student,

I hope everyone has been able to enjoy spring break and to spend some time outside in this great weather.  This week has given the faculty and me the opportunity to examine how we can best approach the weeks of online learning beginning Monday, March 30, 2020 and scheduled to continue through at least May 1, 2020.   I have been reaching out to students for feedback on how we can improve their online learning experience, and the faculty and I have incorporated their suggestions into a plan that I am confident will make Signature distance learning as strong as possible.  I am writing today to share details with you.

First, we are in the process of transitioning to Schoology, a learning management system (LMS) add-on to our existing PowerSchool program.  Schoology will provide faculty and students a single means of primary communication, making it easier to organize and track assignments, happenings, and assessments. Faculty and staff members already have begun training, and all will have completed training by Monday, the 30^th.  I will be back in touch with more information about the getting started resources we will be sending to the students, although we believe our students will be able to navigate this system and its app with relative ease. We anticipate putting Schoology formally in place by April 3^rd.  Meanwhile, faculty members will continue to communicate with students as they have all year, using email, websites, ManageBac, and Google Classroom. I appreciate your patience and understanding as we make the quick transition to Schoology.

Second, beginning Monday, March 30, 2020, we will operate with a more defined daily schedule.  We will continue to follow our A/B calendar, and classes will operate as follows:

Faculty members will determine and inform their students of how they will use class periods.  Some may instruct live classes, some may direct students to watch recorded instruction in a flipped classroom arrangement, and some may have other assignments to be done during that time. Faculty members will provide students a weekly plan by Monday morning of each week in which they make clear expectations, due dates, and other course requirements.   Please note that the time designated “Flexible meeting time” may be used in varying ways, and students will have sufficient advance warning if this time pertains to them.  Individual faculty members may conduct office hours during that time, for example, or teams of teachers may need to meet with one another.  Please note that freshmen and seniors do not need to check in with their resource teachers during 6^th period. Sophomores and juniors, on the other hand, do need to check in with teachers during that time.

Finally, the officials at AP have advised us that by April 3^rd, they will provide possible testing date options.  Once we have the dates, we will look at our calendar to determine any impact.  In the meantime, I remind you that AP’s supplementary lessons currently are available to our students, and I would encourage all to take advantage of this opportunity.

At this point, I know there are many questions regarding if and when we will return to the school classroom, graduation, and other events that normally would take place this time of year.  We are all waiting to see what the coming weeks bring, and I will update you as we know more.  I am very aware of the importance of celebrating milestones and hope that we will be able to honor our seniors in the way they deserve.  We are working towards that end, but I know you recognize that my hands are tied at the moment.

As always, I greatly appreciate your support and consideration.  I wish you and your family good health and safety.

Sincerely,

Jean Hitchcock
Executive Director
Signature School

March 23, 2020

Dear Signature School Parent/Guardian/Student,

As many of you have already heard, the IB May exams have been canceled. IB subject scores depend on more than just the exams, however. The IB has decided that this year, scores will depend on submitted work as follows:

1. IB English scores will be based on the Written Assignment current seniors submitted at the end of their junior year and the IB oral seniors completed just before winter break.
2. IB language scores will be based on the language oral students took in late February.
3. IB History, IB Psychology, science, computer science and math scores will all be based on internally assessed investigations, most of which have been submitted.
4. IB Art scores will be based on the Exhibition (internally assessed by Mr. Darnell), the Process Portfolio, and the Comparative Study.
5. IB HL Music scores will be based on the Musical Links Investigation and performance and composition pieces; SL scores will be based on the Musical Links Investigation and composition pieces only.
6. IB Dance scores will be based on the Dance Investigation, performance pieces, and Composition and Analysis.
7. CAS, TOK, and EE requirements have already been met by most of our students. Ms. Ahmed and Ms. Razor are working with students to finish up their CAS portfolios.

Much of this work has already been done. In cases where work remains to be submitted, your child’s teacher will be in touch with your family to provide more details and support.

Here is a copy of the letter provided by IB to send home to families in which the organization explains its decision. Here is a link to the IB website updating schools on its Covid-19 response: https://www.ibo.org/news/news-about-the-ib/covid-19-coronavirus-updates/. Some scrolling will take you to a helpful list of FAQs that will be updated on March 27.

As always, we appreciate your support and consideration during this challenging time. Feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns. Wishing you all good health.

Sincerely,

Jean Hitchcock
Executive Director

March 20, 2020

Dear Signature School Parent/Guardian,

Yesterday, March 19, 2020, Governor Holcomb, announced that all Indiana schools will remain closed until at least May 1 as a result of COVID-19 concerns.  I am writing to bring you as up to date as possible on how we are proceeding at Signature School. 

As always, our greatest concern is the safety and well-being of our students and faculty.  Every decision made is based on counsel from health experts.  We appreciate all you are doing to support your child during this time, and we appreciate the manner in which everyone is rising to the occasion to make our way through these uncharted waters.  One of the greatest aspects of Signature School is the faculty/student relationship, and we know we all are tested in new ways to ensure that communication is strong, that meaningful learning continues, and that spirits remain high.  Thank you for your support.

At this point, we plan on Signature continuing online learning following spring break.  Online work will take place from Monday, March 30, 2020 through at least Friday, May 1, 2020.  This morning we received word from College Board that the Advanced Placement (AP) exam format, dates, and means of testing are being changed in light of the circumstances.  This is good news, as AP is reducing the amount of material covered on individual exams, a move that lightens the load for students and faculty.  We are in the process of working through all the information that AP has provided.  Additionally, we have been in close touch with individuals at the International Baccalaureate (IB) Programme and have been advised that they are working on how to best assist schools at this time.  We should know more from them in the next week or so. Once we have more information in place, we will examine what this means for our students and how we can best complete the year.

Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions or concerns.  I know I speak for all of our dedicated faculty and staff in saying that we want to do all we can to mitigate the stress we know everyone is experiencing, and we realize that regular communication is key.  I wish all of you good health in these stressful times.

Sincerely,

Jean Hitchcock

Executive Director