HANCOCK — Superintendent Steve Patchin said in an email that Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s executive order that ended face-to-face instruction for the remainder of school year also provided guidance that K-12 schools will provide learning for all students.

The Michigan Association of Intermediate School Administrators, and the Michigan Council of Charter School Authorizers, are currently developing a Continuity of Learning Plan template application for schools to utilize in order to create their localized plan, Whitmer’s office said in a Thursday statement.

District plans will need to detail how districts will provide opportunities for students to learn remotely, the statement said, and how schools will manage and monitor their progress. It will also provide information on how parents and guardians can learn more about the local plan. Each district must have its plan approved by their regional intermediate school district before being implemented. Public school academies must have their plans approved by their authorizer. Districts can also partner with one another to create joint plans.

Patchin said that Hancock Public Schools’ activity packets provided by the district’s teachers are voluntary for students, so grades will not be recorded for them. They can be turned into the teachers and be assessed for their accuracy if they wish.

“These experiences that our teachers and staff will provide are voluntary for students; grades will not be recorded for them,” Patchin said. “They can, however, be turned into our teachers and be assessed for their accuracy, if students wish.”

Patchin said the school district began its activity packet program the first week school was dismissed because of the COVID-19 outbreak. The second packet distribution was Wednesday, as part of the school’s food distribution and book/Chromebook distribution operations. Patchin assures parents and students that the process will continue weekly. Thursday’s executive order, however, will create other changes regarding activities.

“Our teachers are learning each week how to better engage your students in learning, without the incentive of earning a grade, which so many are used to,” said Patchin. “Many of our teachers have/are beginning to add on-line components. We understand many of our students don’t have access to the internet, so teachers are working to ensure those working with only packets can participate in these new types of activities.”

Patchin went on to say that there are many creative ways with which teachers are experimenting to engage students in learning, and said more information will be released.

“What we are learning will accelerate the way we are educating/engaging your students in the future, a positive outcome that can arise from a crisis,” he said. “We ask that you encourage your students to engage in the activities provided by our teachers, providing constructive feedback to us to help us improve our activities to learn and grow.”