December 2, 2020

I hope that this correspondence finds you and your family safe and healthy as we head into the holiday season!  First of all, I want to thank our families, as they have allowed us time this week to assess the positivity rates within our county, provide everyone time to "quarantine" at home after the Thanksgiving holiday, and ensure we have staff onsite to allow for our transition into in-person learning.  

With that being said, this week also allowed our district time to upgrade our internet circuit, as the current network is saturated daily with live streaming and in-person learning.  GPS is at our maximum internet usage without an upgrade, and we have been limping along knowing that this upgrade was set to occur this week.  GPS received word yesterday afternoon that our internet upgrade will be delayed until next Wednesday, December 9th.  

With this setback, I am going to need to delay our return to in-person learning for ONLY our MS and HS students in grades 6-12 who are NOT taking the ISTEP retest until Wednesday, December 9th.  Our students in grades K-5 will return on Monday, December 7th as originally planned.  

Why this change of plans?  Due to ISTEP retesting, GPS needs to ensure that we are able to not interrupt internet performance to allow our retesters a successful and uninterrupted testing environment.  As we have shared in board meetings, ISTEP is a graduation requirement.  Some of our students NEED to take this test to graduate.  

I have been assured by Mrs. Dragomer that without students in grades 6-12 in attendance on Monday and Tuesday, December 7th and 8th, except for our HS ISTEP retesters and K-5 students, our current circuit should be able to handle this amount of in-person learners and ISTEP retesters until our upgrade.

Thank you for your continued understanding and support as we strive to improve internet performance for our students and staff on a daily basis!  This was not the news I wanted to share with all of you today; however, it is a reality at this point in time.  

Students who have been contacted for ISTEP restest appointments are expected to be on campus and on time.  The ISTEP window closes December 11th, and this is your final opportunity to meet graduation requirements for this winter session.  It is vital you are present at your ISTEP retest appointment!  If questions regarding your ISTEP retest appointment, please email your school counselor.   

Have a terrific evening Panthers!

Mrs. Michele Riise

Beiriger Elementary School 924-4030

Wadsworth Elementary School 923-4488

Griffith Middle/High School 924-4281