COVID Closure Staff Update for Friday, May 29

- News and Announcements

Day 49 — Learning From Home Experience

I want to round out this short week by sharing the results of the survey we encouraged you to participate in earlier this month regarding our response to school building closures due to COVID-19.

We had a great response from our families, students and staff. Also, we have been able to gather valuable insight into how we are all doing — what works, what doesn’t and what else you need from ACPS during these unprecedented times. This data allows us to adjust and refine our approach to better serve each of you. We appreciate that so many of you took the time to answer our questions.

The overall take-away was certainly a positive one and we are ecstatic to hear that we are meeting the mark in many ways. For example, 83% of parents, 88% of students and 84% of staff reported a high level of satisfaction with instructional and academic support during our distance learning experience. 

This is great news for all of those who have worked so hard within ACPS to establish and execute a virtual curriculum during these unprecedented times.

Also, there are valid concerns from teachers about levels of student engagement that we must address as well. According to our data, 53% of teachers said that less than half of their students engaged in learning the week before the survey. We will dig deeper into this data over the coming weeks and pinpoint, where we can, patterns that may provide us with insight on how we can improve this data. If students aren’t engaged with asynchronous and/or synchronous learning, then we need to determine why and do our best to reach those individuals as we begin our summer learning through engagement and enrichment with our Continuity of Learning Plan 3.0.

Furthermore, I wanted to let you know that our youngest learners can expect to receive their last learning packets of the academic year in the mail next week. Our curriculum experts have been working diligently and creatively to provide engaging and challenging content. In this packet, we have an exciting STEM activity called the Rain Jacket Project which we think will delight our youngsters in grades preK-2. We know they will love this activity and look forward to seeing some of the learning packet arrival postings on social media! 

Stay safe, stay healthy and stay informed! Enjoy your weekend. 

Sincerely,

Dr. Gregory C. Hutchings, Jr.
Superintendent of Schools

The Results of Our Survey Are In … See How We Are Doing

Earlier this month, ACPS conducted a pulse survey so that students, staff and parents could give us feedback about our response to the COVID-19 pandemic crisis which closed our school buildings in March.

ACPS received more than 11,000 responses. More than 5,500 students, 3,400 parents/guardians and 2,000 staff responded to the survey. More than 700 parent responses — or just over 20% — were in a language other than English.

The results of this survey will help us in multiple ways as we go forward. An analysis of the valuable data shows us what worked, what didn’t and where refinements are necessary. Driving the survey was the desire to provide equitable access and engagement to ongoing academic, social and emotional support for every student and staff member.

Review the participation details.

Summary of Survey Results

Areas of strength: 

  • Parents (83%), students (88%) and staff (84%) reported a high level of satisfaction with instructional and academic support. 
  • The majority of parents (81%), students (78%), and staff (82%) were also satisfied with social and emotional support. 
  • High percentages of parents (86%) and staff (82%) feel well-informed about decisions made by ACPS.

Areas of continued focus:

  • Teachers reported concerns with student engagement in learning with 53% of teachers saying that less than half of their students engaged in learning within the last week. 
  • With these concerns over engagement, just over half of teachers agreed that students are making academic progress, compared with 84% of students and 78% of parents. 

Staff Evaluations During COVID-19

ACPS is still required to complete annual performance evaluations for all employees during the school closure period. However, due to the current situation — and understanding that the work of some staff is difficult to assess while we are telecommuting or working with different expectations and/or hours — our process will look a little different this year. In light of this, all ACPS employees will receive a single, standard summary assessment of “meets expectations” during this COVID-19 school closure period. 

This will ensure that all employees are acknowledged for their efforts and support during this period, whether one serves as instructional staff providing remote teaching or support staff providing operational services. 

Moreover, it ensures that no employee is penalized for the lack of opportunity to improve performance in the normal workplace. This mandated standard entry of the evaluation form will ensure that the annual performance assessment reflects the change in work conditions and provides a reasonable, fair and equitable evaluation for all employees.

View the Board Brief from May 1, 2020 (PDF).

Your Questions Answered

In the last video Q&A, Superintendent Dr. Gregory C. Hutchings, Jr. answered questions on the Continuity of Learning 3.0 plan for the summer.

  • What are the goals of the Continuity of Learning Plan 3.0?
  • Have you already hired summer learning staff?
  • Will teachers be required to teach during summer as a part of their 2020-21 contract? 
  • Will teachers be using Zoom meetings or recorded videos to teach during the summer session?
  • Will summer school be graded differently than the fourth quarter?

Watch the Q&A video or see answers to these questions in the updated FAQ.

We welcome you to send us your questions.

New Learning Packets On the Way

New learning packets, compiled by our curriculum experts, are being mailed out to the homes of our youngest students next week.

This packet includes Choice Board Activities in the same format as the earlier packets, as well as a new two-week extended STEM learning activity called the Rain Jacket Project. 

In this 10-day extended learning project, students work their way through a scientific and engineering design process to create a jacket that can be worn in the rain. Students figure out which materials they can use to make a rain jacket and design, test and improve their design before creating the jacket. This project is divided into ten 15-20 minute individual parts so that all learners can tackle each small task, but families should feel free to work through it at their own pace. More specific directions are included at the beginning of the project. Please ask your families to share their student’s work with us at news@acps.k12.va.us.

This will be the last packet sent out this academic year, although resources will continue to be developed and sent home throughout the summer as part of the Continuity of Learning Plan 3.0.

Open Enrollment Ends May 31

If you want to change your health care insurance provider, you have until Sunday to do so.

To make changes in your health insurance plans or to participate in the Healthcare and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts, you must enroll online via Employee Self Service (ESS) no later than May 31.

Find details about the health plans available to ACPS employees on the Benefits webpage or log into ESS. 

Please contact HRBenefits@acps.k12.va.us with any questions.

Temperature Screening at ACPS Buildings

Anyone requiring access to an ACPS facility or school will be required to undergo a temperature check to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus. Testing stations will be established at seven locations, at or close to ACPS meal distribution sites and locations where major summer construction will take place. Screening will take no more than three minutes to complete and will involve the use of a clinical forehead thermometer.

All those with a temperature of 100.0 degrees Fahrenheit or lower (per Alexandria Health Department guidelines) will be given a dated wristband and be cleared to work as long as they are in possession of appropriate personal protection equipment consisting of masks and gloves.

Should an individual record an elevated temperature, that person will be informed that they are unable to report to work at an ACPS site and will be advised to call his or her supervisor.

Find out more about this measure in this Board Brief.

WANT TO HELP?

Please consider donating through ACT For Alexandria and the COVID-19 Response Fund if you are able. 

Community members who would like to volunteer should reach out to www.volunteeralexandria.org or 703-836-2176 to register for any additional potential volunteer opportunities.

MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT

Continuity of School Support and Academic Advisement

School Student Support Team staff, including school counselors, school nurses, school psychologists, and school social workers will be available during school hours throughout the closure. Monday — Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. staff will be connecting with students and their families. The Department of Student Services, Alternative Programs and Equity staff members are also available during this time and can be contacted by voicemail and at student_services@acps.k12.va.us.

Emergency Supports

If there is a crisis or emergency during the time of the closure, students and families can access the supports below:

We know that this is a challenging time. ACPS will continue to share information through the ACPS website, social media, and email. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to your student’s school counselor or school social worker with any questions.

HEALTH REMINDERS

Don’t Feel Well?
Contact your primary health care physician.

Have questions, concerns or feedback? Contact us or contact your direct supervisor.

HR Questions? Contact hr@acps.k12.va.us.

Stay Healthy!
Wash your hands regularly. Regular soap is OK.