• Recent Family Communication

    11/17/2023
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    ~ View the full 2023-24 District Calendar here ~


    November 17, 2023

    Greetings, West Sylvan families!

    Throughout the week, we have all watched and waited to hear some better news about a return to school for our entire school community. This process is growing exponentially more difficult for all involved as time has gone on in this strike. I am sad and disappointed that we are still not at a point where there is a clear timeline for a return to school. Please be sure that your email address(es) are correct and updated in ParentVue so that you are receiving communications. Here are the updates that I have at this point, and the majority of these were shared through larger communications from the District:

    • Fall conferences are not occurring on November 20th/21st and will have to be reconsidered for another time, pending calendar agreements made through this bargaining process with PAT and PPS.

    • Even if an agreement is reached, voted on, and accepted by PAT over the weekend, there will be no added make-up school days for students on November 20th/21st in lieu of the postponed conferences.

    • First, the two groups still have to reach tentative agreements or MOUs on the numerous articles that they are bargaining.

    • Next, PAT would need to vote to accept a full contract proposal prior to the strike ending. If the contract proposal is not ratified through voting, the mediation process continues.

    • Folded into these decisions, the two groups need to agree to any changes in the District calendar, including adding back missed school days, adding back missed conferences and any changes in the grading calendar.

    This has been a major disruption to a month of instruction when there were already reduced days of school. We know that our students will need a variety of Social-Emotional supports and that instructional curriculum pacing and teaching will have to be adjusted to make up for lost learning time once we return to school. This has been a detrimental disruption to the lives of our students, and I continue to expect that the adults at the bargaining table will work toward a resolution. Given all of this added stress, I wish you all some peace and joy with family over the week ahead!

    View strike information and family resources:

    Please click here to read our full weekly Family Communication, which was sent out via email on Friday, November 17th.

     

    Go Wolfpack!

    Jill Hunt, Principal
    Ben Keller, Assistant Principal