North Penn Adjusting To Online Classes As 2020 School Year Begins

LANSDALE, PA — One of the more bizarre school years in North Penn School District history is underway, with students and teachers alike navigating the strange new world of virtual learning.

The fully virtual school year has presented its share of unique challenges, but the district struck an optimistic note on Thursday.

"Our "Return to Learn" as we are calling it because we will have an official “Back to School” hopefully in the near future, has had its ups and downs, but overall our first six days of school are going as well as could be expected," Superintendent Curtis Dietrich told Patch.

North Penn had originally presented a three-option plan, which would've allowed families to choose from a fully virtual, fully in-person, or hybrid education model. But the ongoing uncertainty surrounding the coronavirus pandemic, including delays (at the time) in test results and fluctuating numbers of cases around Montgomery County, led the school board to unanimously vote for an online-only start back in late July.

>>North Penn To Begin School Year Fully Online

The district will consider a shift to a hybrid model come the end of the marking period on Nov. 6. In the meantime, families are working to cope. In a Patch survey asking parents in the school district to share their experiences, they offered mixed reactions.

"'Zoom' is not distance learning," a district parent said. "I could understand back in March that this was the only short-term option, but with 5 months of planning, they're back doing the same thing."

Parents of younger children faced additional difficulties.

"5th grader is doing okay, but would rather be in school," one parent shared. "1st grader needs more help than I can give because I am working full time, and cannot supervise him and work remotely at the same time."

"It’s seems to be going well but my 4th and 6th graders does not like it at all," concurred another parent. "They said they prefer been in school with Teachers and Friends with more Activity and Excitements."

Dietrich acknowledged there would be an adjustment period.

"We know that we will need to continue to monitor and adjust as online learning continues, " he said. "But I know one thing for sure. Everyone is working really hard, from our teachers, support staff and administrators to our students to our parents, and I am so grateful. Our goal, as it has always been, is to return to in school learning as soon as we are able."

Students are following a normal school day schedule, five days a week, using the Canvas e-learning platform.

You can view all of the responses related to our inquiry on the start of the North Penn school year here.