Dear Parents and Guardians,

I hope this communication finds you and your family safe, secure and enjoying your time together.  As we move into these uncharted paths in educational programming, I would like to thank you in advance for your patience, understanding and commitment to providing the best learning experience under our current conditions.  While our teachers are not physically at The Bay, they are working diligently in the digital learning environment preparing for the next two weeks and will be available to both you and your child.  Enclosed you will find our Parent Welcome Letter and Parent/Student Communication Guide  that both students and parents can use as we conduct instruction digitally beginning March 30^th through April 14^th.  

Please review the information below:
Parent/Student Communication Guide– Attached to this email is the Communication Guide that will help parents navigate where to go and who to reach if there are any questions. 
Instructional Schedule- Teachers will communicate our daily schedule inside your child’s Schoology account this Friday.  Assignments, live sessions, PAWS and open access times will be available throughout the week.
Digital Instruction – Will start SLOW and there will be no formal grades issued the first week as we are ALL learning how to adjust to this process.  ALL learning will be conducted through Schoology as your child’s main hub for teacher and material access.  Materials, videos and communication links will be available 24/7 so households that have challenges getting multiple kiddos online at once can stagger computer time.  The attached schedule will accent multiple times throughout the week where both you and your child can have access to the teachers.  Core subjects will issue 2 – 3 assignments per week, electives will issue 1 – 2.
Laptops/Hot Spots – Parents must complete the final on-line survey located on the district web page to secure one laptop, one hot-spot or both items.  Once the available resources are at PBMS a delivery plan will be communicated to each household participating, please be prepared for a delay in materials.  If you have notified PBMS that you need these resources, the last step needed is to complete the online survey. 
Schoology on Smartphones– Ensure that students are logging into their Schoology account through the web browser on their phone (Safari, Chrome, etc…) when using the Conferencing feature.  The Schoology app does not support conferencing, only viewing content.
School Access for Materials – All learning will be digital until further notice, no physical textbooks are required or will be used.   In the event that an important item is in a child’s locker, PBMS will be open this Friday, March 27^th from 8:00 am to 10:00 am.  Students can come into the school to get items from their locker.  Only 10 students will be allowed to enter the building at a time and social distancing will be enforced.  Parents are to park in the Student Drop-Off parking lot, students only will enter the building through the Bus Entrance doors and exit through the Student Drop-off doors.  The facility will close at 10:00 am. sharp so we may sanitize the facility.
Band Instruments – Mr. Sellers will be at PBMS this Friday, March 27^th from 8:00 am to 10:00 am.  Students will not be allowed to enter the band room and all instruments will be delivered to the Student Drop-Off line.  Please be on the lookout for Mr. Sellers email.
Aladdin Jr – Our spring musical will be moved to the end of the school year in May.  All dates will be announced after April 15^th.
Library Books – Our Media Center is closed, late fee notifications have been disabled.  Digital resources are available through our media center website.
Medicine/Clinic – Nurse Klein will be on campus Friday, March 27^th from 8:00 am to 10:00 am.  If you cannot come to PBMS this Friday, please call 904-547-8763 or emails. Pam Henry at [email protected] if medication is needed.
PBMS Hours – The Bay is OPEN…both digitally and physically (with restrictions).  Administrative staff will be present at PBMS during normal school business hours 7:00 am to 3:00 pm through email or phone only to assist with any questions or needs.  At no time is any student or parent permitted to come into the building outside the posted visitation hours above.  All requested meetings will be held digitally through your child’s Schoology account.  Please refer to the enclosed Digital Learning Schedule for teacher and support access.

As always, we appreciate your flexibility and support during this challenging time…but I am confident that our Wildcat Nation is up to the task.  As you have witnessed, things can change, please know that we will provide you with the most up-to-date information as soon as it is available. 

Thank you again for all of your support!
GO WILDCATS!

Sincerely,
Jay Willets