NORTHFIELD — After developing a district-wide education plan, the Pioneer Valley Regional School District kicked off its official distance learning practices Tuesday.

In a letter sent to district families, Superintendent Jonathan Scagel said the Pioneer school district’s administrative team — in collaboration with the Pioneer Valley Regional Education Association and Pioneer Valley Association of Support Professionals — developed learning guidelines in consideration of Gov. Charlie Baker’s recent decision to extend school closures until May 4 during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s Remote Learning Recommendations.

“The Pioneer Valley Regional School District and the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education understand that nothing can replace the in-person schooling experience, and we should not expect that remote learning can replicate the traditional school day,” Scagel wrote.

At the same time, with school closures now extended, districts, schools and communities have an obligation to engage students in meaningful and productive learning opportunities, he said. Teachers developed learning plans, and the guidelines for the district took effect Tuesday.

Instructions for logging in to Google Classroom, as well as answers to frequently asked questions and remote learning resources, can be found on the Pioneer Valley Regional School District website at pvrsdk12.org. These documents are being updated regularly.

Pioneer Valley Regional School Principal Kevin Burke said that while it felt like the school was “recreating the wheel” in some ways, he was pleased with the lesson plans teachers had developed for remote learning.

“It’s going really well so far,” Burke said. “The teachers are doing some really incredible stuff.”

According to Burke, teachers at Pioneer have been creating interdisciplinary lesson plans to incorporate multiple subjects for hands-on learning. Some lessons even encourage students to spend time outside.

For example, Burke said a ninth grade STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics) project for the first week has students study an area of land and assess the “anthropogenic,” meaning human-caused, effects of climate change. They will then investigate ways to combat this climate change.

Class assignments will be assessed for credit or no credit, Burke said. Students will need to meet the assignment criteria set by teachers. The school is developing a plan for, at most, 15 hours of work per week.

“We’re developing assignments families can fit into their day,” Burke said.

Students who do not have computer access may receive a Chromebook laptop through the school. However, Burke said there is a list of students who would still not have internet access and who will receive hard-copy packets with their assignments by mail.

The school has been holding weekly meetings with staff to create a plan for each grade level. Burke said parents will soon have an opportunity for video conferencing to ask questions related to the remote learning guidelines.

In addition to homework, Pioneer Valley Regional School has been holding remote school competitions for fun, Burke said. For one, students designed their own “social distancing posters,” and teachers voted on a winning design for each grade.

Zack DeLuca can be reached at zdeluca@recorder.com or 413-930-4579.