August 25, 2020

GDOE DISTANCE LEARNING PARENT MEETINGS

The Guam Department of Education (GDOE) invites parents to participate in a series of distance learning stakeholder meetings with GDOE management via Zoom or Google Meet video conferencing beginning next week. 

The distance learning stakeholder meetings provide an opportunity for GDOE leadership to provide more in-depth information to parents regarding the distance learning models this school year and the impacts to the department due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The forum also provides an opportunity for parents to ask questions, seek clarification, provide feedback and input regarding how the distance learning instructional models can be improved. 

Over the past two weeks, the GDOE implemented distance learning for all students, either through online or hard copy instructional models. Due to the evolving COVID-19 situation in Guam, schools also temporarily closed to the public during the Governor’s stay at home order. As GDOE works to continue teaching and learning in this new environment, it recognizes that communication with stakeholders is key to ensuring a shared understanding of distance learning strategies and areas of improvement. This critical feedback will help the department to improve and strengthen its approach to distance learning this school year. 

A total of seven distance learning meetings will be held for elementary and secondary families in the northern, central and southern regions. Elementary parent meetings will cater to parents of students in pre-kindergarten through 5th grade. Secondary parent meetings will cater to families of students in 6th through 12th grade. 

The meetings will be held at the following dates and times: 

• Elem. Southern: August 31
  • Start: 5:30pm
  • Zoom: https://gdoe.zoom.us/j/95331154292
  • Passcode: 869824
• Elem. Central: September 1
  • Start: 5:30 pm
  • Zoom: https://gdoe.zoom.us/j/96961612216
  • Passcode: 067048
• Elem. Northern: September 2
  • Start: 5:30 pm
  • Zoom: https://gdoe.zoom.us/j/98505373351
  • Passcode: 786436
• Secondary Northern: September 3
  • Start: 5:30 pm
  • Zoom: https://gdoe.zoom.us/j/99305557269
  • Passcode: 402561
• Secondary Central: September 8
  • Start: 5:30 pm
  • Zoom: https://gdoe.zoom.us/j/91673837020
  • Passcode: 500737
• Secondary Southern: September 9
  • Start: 5:30 pm
  • Zoom: https://gdoe.zoom.us/j/94955236699
  • Passcode: 057946
• Special Education: September 10
  • Start: 5:30 pm
  • *Google Meet: https://meet.google.com/tky-ozry-zdz
  • *This Google Meet meeting will have closed captioning but may not be streamed.

“Working together with our families is critical to ensuring a successful school year for our students and teachers,” GDOE Superintendent Jon Fernandez said. “We encourage our parents to attend and to share their feedback and input with us so that we can better understand how to serve their needs and the needs of their children.”

The Zoom meetings have the capacity to accommodate up to 300 participants, while Google Meet has the capacity to accommodate 250 participants. Those who wish to observe the Zoom meetings may also watch the livestream on the GDOE Facebook page. Those participating via videoconferencing are asked to mute their microphones when not speaking so that all participants are able to hear the presentation.