{"id":8896,"date":"2020-03-27T17:56:46","date_gmt":"2020-03-27T21:56:46","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.acpsk12.org\/staff\/?p=8896"},"modified":"2020-03-29T21:11:39","modified_gmt":"2020-03-30T01:11:39","slug":"covid-closure-daily-staff-update-for-thursday-march-27","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.acpsk12.org\/staff\/covid-closure-daily-staff-update-for-thursday-march-27\/","title":{"rendered":"COVID Closure Staff Update for Thursday, March 27"},"content":{"rendered":"

Day 10 – Learning from Home Experience\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

We made it though our second week of our new learning from home. This has been a new learning experience for all of us, and we are learning to be flexible and adapt fast as situations change. Heading into this past week, we assumed we would be back in our school buildings on April 13. Now we know we will be finishing out the end of the school year without returning to our classrooms.<\/p>\n

This week, we saw 30,000+ new hits on the ACPS-at-Home website, our website for updates and resources for staff and parents during this period of school closures. This week, we added a Chromebook Help and Online Learning Hub. We have also added an ACPS Story Hour page under learning resources, which we will share more information about on Monday.<\/p>\n

We served 15,325 meals through T.C. Williams High School and our four new school-based meal distribution centers, and 2,019 meals through three new pop-up distribution centers. There were also 677 calls to the Spanish, Arabic and Amharic hotline over four days.<\/p>\n

I want to thank you for tuning in 15,000+ times to get updates via my daily Q&A videos. And I want to acknowledge our teachers who have become overnight YouTube stars. George Mason band teacher Heather Rosner\u2019s home-made carrot clarinet video has been watched more than 6,700 times on Facebook.<\/p>\n

Today, we are asking you to share your own learning tips with us in our new section on the website and social media: Learning Together: At- Home Learning Tips from One ACPS Family to Another.<\/a> We will be posting your videos of your suggestions and ideas on our ACPS Facebook page and on the ACPS-at-Home website. We know you have incredible ideas and we want to be able to share these ideas with our entire community. We have created a VOICES<\/a> audio where one family with three boys shares details about the new schedule they have set up – and what it has taken to make learning work from home. You can share your ideas with us on the ACPS Facebook page<\/a> or upload them to our form<\/a>.<\/p>\n

This week has required initiative and creativity from everyone in our community. We want to see how you have adapted to these unprecedented circumstances.<\/p>\n

Next week, we will be sharing our plans with you to ensure continuity of learning after Spring Break. Rest assured, our staff is working hard to finalize these plans and we will be answering your questions on them all next week. In the meantime, take a break over the weekend and we will see you on Monday.<\/p>\n

Stay healthy, stay safe, and stay informed!<\/p>\n

Sincerely,
\nDr. Gregory C. Hutchings, Jr.
\nSuperintendent of Schools<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED<\/h2>\n

In yesterday\u2019s video Q&A, Superintendent Dr. Gregory C. Hutchings, Jr. answered questions about Chromebooks and technology access and support.<\/p>\n

You can find the answers to Chromebook, technology and online learning questions on the Chromebook help Hub<\/a> on the ACPS-at-Home website.
\nWatch the daily Q&A video, available at 2 p.m.<\/a> or see answers to these questions in the updated staff FAQ<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

We welcome you to send us your questions<\/a>.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

TIME TO ADJUST YOUR AUTOMATED EMAIL REPLY<\/h2>\n

Think About the Message Your Automated Email Response Sends<\/strong><\/p>\n

Although school facilities may be closed for the rest of the school year, we know how hard you are all still working. If you use an automated email message, this message should reflect that.<\/p>\n

Instead of your response referencing the \u201dclosure of all schools,\u201d please change your message to \u201cclosure of all school buildings.\u201d<\/p>\n

In addition, include wording that reassures that you are continuing to work to serve the needs of ACPS staff and families.<\/p>\n

DECISION ON SPRING SPORTS SEASON DEFERRED UNTIL MAY<\/h2>\n

The Virginia High School League yesterday announced it would delay any decision to provide options on spring sports season until the end of May.<\/p>\n

This leaves open the possibility for an extension of our spring season, depending on the course of the coronavirus crisis.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhile we recognize the importance sports has on our students and communities, the COVID-19 threat is real and people need to follow all the regulations and recommendations from the CDC, Virginia Department of Health, and the Governor,\u201d said VHSL Executive Director Dr. John W. \u201cBilly\u201d Haun who held an emergency meeting on Wednesday morning.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Crisis Management team overwhelmingly felt a decision on an extension to the spring sports season should be put on hold until May. Any options for the spring sports season will require that COVID-19 is no longer a threat and poses no health risks to our student-athletes or the public.\u201d Read more (PDF)<\/a>.<\/p>\n

SCHOOL BOARD VIRTUAL MEETING ON FRIDAY<\/h2>\n

During the ACPS school closure, the School Board will hold online Special Called Board Meetings each Friday at 12:00 p.m. In accordance with Va. Code \u00a7 2.2-3708.2(A)(3).<\/a>
\nVirtual meetings are limited to:<\/p>\n