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Learning Model Update

Updated March 8, 2021

Orono Schools has shifted students to the in-person learning model while continuing to support families that have elected full-time distance learning. The transition plan was approved by the Orono School Board, Incident Command Team, Regional Support Team, and the Minnesota Department of Health.

We are excited to bring our students back to campus with continued focus on health and safety for our entire learning community!

ORONO SCHUMANN ELEMENTARY

Schumann Elementary students returned to school in a 5-day per week in-person learning model on Tuesday, January 19, 2021.

Upcoming days off:

  • March 22-26 – No School K-12: Spring Break

ORONO INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL

Orono Intermediate School students returned to school in a 5-day per week in-person learning model on February 1, 2021.

Upcoming days off:

  • March 22-26 – No School K-12: Spring Break

ORONO MIDDLE SCHOOL

Orono Middle School Grades 6-8 returned to the in-person learning model on March 8, 2021. The A/B Schedule is no longer in effect.

OMS Wednesday schedule will continue. To support dedicated teacher planning time required by the governor, Wednesday mornings will run on a 2 1/2 hour late start schedule, beginning at 10:30 a.m. 

Upcoming days off:

  • March 22-26 – No School K-12: Spring Break

ORONO HIGH SCHOOL

Orono High School students returned to the in-person learning model on March 1 (seniors) and March 8 (grades 9-11). The A/B Schedule is no longer in effect.

OHS Wednesday schedule will continue. To support dedicated teacher planning time required by the governor, Wednesday mornings will run on a 2 1/2 hour late start schedule. You can view the detailed OHS Wednesday class schedule on the OHS Student Life webpage.

Upcoming days off:

  • March 22-26 – No School K-12: Spring Break

Transportation

Due to COVID-19 distancing guidelines on school buses, many families opted out of bus transportation at the beginning of the school year. The same transportation commitments will continue as we return to in-person and hybrid learning. 

If your child at OMS or OHS is opted-in to school bus transportation, please note that the Wednesday pick-up schedule will be 2 1/2 hours later than normal.

To inquire if there is space available on your bus route, please email transportation@orono.k12.mn.us

Childcare

Please contact Katie Gram at Spartan Kids regarding childcare for students age 12 and younger and special accommodations for families with Tier 1 workers. 

Child Nutrition Services

Visit the Orono Child Nutrition webpage for the latest updates. You can also follow Nutrition Services on Instagram.

Meals are currently FREE to all students 18 years old and younger. That includes all toddlers and students that do not currently attend Orono Schools. Participation in this program helps support Orono Child Nutrition. 

Distance Learning Meals

The current meal pick-up hours are Monday and Wednesday from 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at the Orono High School north parking lot. Sign-ups are only required for special dietary needs.

Meals for Secondary Hybrid Learning (Grades 6-12)

Meal kits will be available for pick up at the end of the school day on Tuesdays for “B Schedules” and Thursdays for “A Schedules.” (Visit the Calendar page for the revised A/B Schedule.) Students will be able to pick up their meal kits in the cafeteria. Additional “Every Meal” kits will be made available for FREE to all students at this time. All orders must be placed by 9:00 AM on Tuesdays. Meal kits will include breakfast and lunch for 5 days. 

Order form for Orono Middle School Hybrid Learning

Order form for Orono High School Hybrid Learning

When secondary students are on campus, breakfast and lunch options will be available daily. 

Technology Support

COVID-19 Health and Safety Resources

As your first stop, please visit the Orono Schools Health & Safety guidelines for COVID-19 which is updated regularly by the district’s COVID coordinators, Janet Franzen and Dr. Kristine Flesher. 

Helpful resources for mitigating the spread of COVID-19 in our community

Mental Health Support

Please be sure to access mental health support resources through your child’s school counselor and other personnel. They are your one-stop shop when seeking educational/mental health support for your children.

You can also contact Julie Jurek, Social Worker at julianne.jurek@orono.k12.mn.us or telephone 952-449-8332 or Jane Leeper, Social Worker at jane.leeper@orono.k12.mn.us or telephone 952-449-8466.

Mental health resources:

Travel Guidance 

As with many aspects of this pandemic, travel guidance is ever-changing.

Travel Guidelines

The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) is guiding schools to continue to direct families to the MDH or CDC travel websites for the most up-to-date information and guidance. See the current MDH travel guidance:

Travel to or from Minnesota

If you are sick or have tested positive for COVID-19, do not travel.

Out-of-state travel is highly discouraged.

  • People visiting or returning from travel out of state are asked to stay away from others (quarantine) for 14 days after they arrive in Minnesota
  • During those 14 days, it is important that you stay home and watch for symptoms. If you must go out, wear a mask, stay 6 feet from other people, and wash your hands often.

Visit CDC: Travel for more information about traveling during the COVID-19 pandemic.

International Travel: For international travel, follow federal guidelines.

Visit U.S. Department of State: Travel and CDC: COVID-19 Travel Recommendations by Destination for more information. If you are a non-U.S. resident looking to travel to Minnesota, contact your country’s embassy in the United States for additional guidance.

COVID-19 Dashboard

The Orono Schools COVID-19 Dashboard provides county, region and school case data. It is updated every Friday. Middle school and high school students’ learning model is still dependent, in part, on the case rate in Hennepin County and the western Hennepin county region. 

Minnesota Learning Model Matrix

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