Ads by Google Ads by Google

Drill to implement Am Samoa’s remote learning plan takes place today

COVID CODES
Public school students will stay home — teachers will be in the classroom
reporters@samoanews.com

 All public school students will have the day off today Oct. 27th while school personnel are required to report to their schools, as the local Education Department (ASDOE) will “conduct a drill to implement the Remote Leaning Plan” for all public schools.

Meanwhile, ASDOE released accreditation letters recently for Manu’a High School and Faga’itua High School - both accredited through 2024.

PUBLIC SCHOOL DRILL

ASDOE said in a news release that the drill would be in accordance with bell schedules for ECE, elementary and secondary schools.

“All public school students will remain at home” while all ASDOE staff and personnel report to their respective school site,” the statement says, and explained that the drill is an effort in collaboration to meet “standards set by... Gov. Lemanu Peleti Mauga in preparation for a school closure” if or when that becomes necessary.

The “drill is to identify issues and challenges to improve the [AS]DOE Remote Learning Plan if and when Code Yellow or Red is declared.”

Code Yellow, under the government’s threat-level tier, means a locally transmitted COVID-19 case and Code Red, means a widespread outbreak.  American Samoa remains under Code Blue with no locally transmitted COVID-19 cases, although there are four imported positive COVID-19 cases of local residents who returned from the US.

ACCREDIDATIONS

Accreditations for Manu’a and Faga’itua high schools were outlined in two separate letters — both dated July 15th — from Commission president, Barry R. Groves to the principals of each school.

The letters — publicly released recently by ASDOE on its website and Facebook page — are identical in wording, stating that based on the Accrediting Commission for Schools, Western Association of Schools and Colleges (ACS-WASC) mid-cycle review, it has been determined that each high school meets the ACS WASC criteria for accreditation.

“This accreditation status is based on all of the information provided by the school, including the school's progress report, and the satisfactory completion of the mid-cycle accreditation visit,” Groves wrote.

Furthermore each school’s accreditation is now “reaffirmed through the end of the current accreditation cycle ending on June 30, 2024.”

Accreditation status for each school is conditioned on continued adherence with the ASC-WASC policies, procedures, and criteria for accreditation, the letters said. And this includes a requirement that an accredited school annually contribute members to participate on visiting committees.

“Failure to maintain compliance with said policies, procedures and standards is grounds for modification and/or withdrawal of accreditation,” Groves wrote, noting that the Commission looks forward to each school’s anticipated success and continuing improvement in keeping with ASC WASC’s pursuit of excellence in elementary, secondary and adult education.

ASDOE posted congratulatory messages for both high schools on achieving their accreditations.