{"id":9392,"date":"2020-12-02T13:30:20","date_gmt":"2020-12-02T18:30:20","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.acpsk12.org\/staff\/?p=9392"},"modified":"2020-12-02T13:18:04","modified_gmt":"2020-12-02T18:18:04","slug":"results-of-the-staff-intent-to-return-form","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.acpsk12.org\/staff\/results-of-the-staff-intent-to-return-form\/","title":{"rendered":"Results of the Staff Intent to Return Form"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><b>This Week\u2019s Headlines:<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"#meetings\">Watch Our Staff Meetings on School Reopening<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#staffreturn\">Staff Intent-to-Return Results<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#sol\">SOL Flexibility for Elementary and Middle School Announced<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#findingfit\">Don\u2019t Miss December\u2019s ACPS Finding Fit Newsletter<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#andras\">Lyles-Crouch Student Andras is Out of This World<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#read\">In ACPS, We Read! We Read! We Read!<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#rosner\">Listen to George Mason\u2019s Heather Rosner on the Alexandria Times Podcast<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr \/>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Dear ACPS Staff,<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Yesterday, I had the pleasure of hosting the first of two days of community and staff meetings alongside Dr. Stephen Haering from the Alexandria Health Department, Dr. Alicia Hart, ACPS acting executive director of Facilities &amp; Operations, Dr. Terri Mozingo, chief of teaching, learning and leadership, and Dr. Stephen Wilkins, ACPS chief of staff. The meetings are intended to provide all in our community \u2014 staff, families and students of all ages \u2014 an opportunity to hear about the most current information on COVID-19 in the city of Alexandria, ACPS building and staff capacity, hybrid learning models, and our work around planning for the safe reopening of schools. We are still tirelessly working toward the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.acps.k12.va.us\/Page\/3552\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">timeline that the School Board approved<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (updated to align with the need to defer reentry due to health metrics) to see all students who wish to return to our school buildings by the end of February. While this timeline may need to be adjusted further in the future (as it is difficult to assess how the pandemic will play out) we want to assure you that the work has not stopped and we will be prepared to pivot as needed.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I have said all along that the reopening of school buildings will be a collaborative, community endeavor and I was heartened to see so many of you on yesterday\u2019s first staff webinar. This afternoon, we will host our final meeting for staff. See below for more information and access to the recorded videos.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In addition, today, we are issuing our <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.acps.k12.va.us\/Page\/3553\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Family Choice Form<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to all our families. We cannot overstress the importance of families completing this form. Without this information and the information we have already received from staff, it will be a challenge for us to implement effective transition plans. We were able to receive responses from 100% of our staff and you can see the data below. We hope for the same response rate from our families.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If any of your students or their families reach out to you with questions about the Family Choice Form, please direct them to the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.acps.k12.va.us\/Page\/3554\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Frequently Asked Questions<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and to call the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.acps.k12.va.us\/virtualplushelpline\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">ACPS Virtual PLUS+ Helpline<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> for additional assistance.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Thank you for your grace and patience during these unprecedented times. Please stay safe, healthy and engaged!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Dr. Gregory C. Hutchings, Jr.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Superintendent<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b><a id=\"meetings\"><\/a>Watch Our Staff Meetings on School Reopening<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Yesterday we held our first of two staff meetings to give updates about the most current information on COVID-19 in the city of Alexandria, ACPS building and staff capacity, and our next steps for planning a return to school buildings.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Our panelists answered your questions and provided the latest information. Panelists included Superintendent Dr. Gregory C. Hutchings, Jr., Dr. Stephen Haering (Alexandria Health Department), Dr. Alicia Hart (ACPS Facilities &amp; Operations), Dr. Terri Mozingo (ACPS Chief of Teaching, Learning and Leadership), and Dr. Stephen Wilkins (ACPS Chief of Staff).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>If you missed yesterday\u2019s meeting, <\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/bit.ly\/33yYeO4\"><b>tune in to today\u2019s staff meeting at 4 p.m. on Zoom<\/b><\/a><b>.<\/b><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.acps.k12.va.us\/Page\/3525\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Recordings of both meetings will be posted on the ACPS website<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b><a id=\"staffreturn\"><\/a>Staff Intent-to-Return Results<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One hundred percent of our current ACPS staff members completed a Staff Intent-to Return Form that was distributed last month. <\/span><b>Approximately 55% (1,418) of our staff reported being able to return to work in person.<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Of our 1,290 classroom teachers, 690 or approximately 55% said they would be able to return. Those who felt unable to return listed factors including being over 65 years old, having an underlying health condition, caring for someone with an underlying health condition, child care difficulties, and being fearful of returning to the workplace.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/esbpublic.acps.k12.va.us\/attachments\/fa144740-a0b0-4cf8-906a-0bd708aeb423.pdf#page=7\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">See the full results on slides 7,8 and 9 (PDF)<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> of the presentation given to the School Board on Nov. 23.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b><a id=\"sol\"><\/a>SOL Flexibility for Elementary and Middle School Announced<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Elementary and middle school students will be able to take ACPS\u2019 own assessments instead of Standards of Learning (SOL) tests in history and social science and English writing this spring. The flexibility announced late last month by the Virginia Department of Education is to allow for the challenges of in-person testing as schools across the state contend with the coronavirus pandemic. Students will still be assessed, but waivers and emergency guidance will simplify the logistics and ensure no child is penalized unfairly because of the current learning circumstances.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/content.govdelivery.com\/accounts\/VADOE\/bulletins\/2ad6125\"><b>Read the full Virginia Department of Education announcement<\/b><\/a><b>.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><b><a id=\"findingfit\"><\/a>Don\u2019t Miss December\u2019s ACPS Finding Fit Newsletter<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-9393\" src=\"http:\/\/www.acpsk12.org\/staff\/wp-content\/uploads\/santa-apple.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"730\" height=\"512\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.acpsk12.org\/staff\/wp-content\/uploads\/santa-apple.jpg 730w, http:\/\/www.acpsk12.org\/staff\/wp-content\/uploads\/santa-apple-260x182.jpg 260w, http:\/\/www.acpsk12.org\/staff\/wp-content\/uploads\/santa-apple-143x100.jpg 143w, http:\/\/www.acpsk12.org\/staff\/wp-content\/uploads\/santa-apple-115x80.jpg 115w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 730px) 100vw, 730px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Stay safe, stay healthy, stay informed! December&#8217;s monthly ACPS Finding Fit newsletter is now posted on the ACPS <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.acps.k12.va.us\/Page\/3504\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Finding Fit<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> webpage.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In this issue you will find:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Tips on staying healthy in mind and body through the holiday season<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">31 recipes to try out throughout the month<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A gratitude quiz to keep your spirits high<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b><a id=\"andras\"><\/a>Lyles-Crouch Student Andras is Out of This World<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-17085\" src=\"http:\/\/www.acpsk12.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/andras.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"458\" height=\"640\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For all those who hold a fascination with outer space, the chance to ask a question to an astronaut on the International Space Station is beyond their wildest dreams.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Not for Lyles-Crouch Traditional Academy (LCTA) second grader Andras Jacobson, who is one of just a handful of children from across the United States about to get the chance to quiz their heroes.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Tomorrow, Dec. 3, during <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/nasalive\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">a live NASA streaming event<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, the question he submitted as part of a nationwide competition is expected to be answered by astronaut Victor Glover, broadcasting from the space station, 240 miles above Earth.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">According to Andras\u2019 mother, Judit Csonka, her son\u2019s question relates to the muscular system in space. Last week, the astronauts were conducting a human research study observing their muscular system in space.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Andras said he is thinking about becoming an astronaut, but \u201cis not sure yet.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cI am very interested in space and specifically if there is life anywhere else in space.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When he got the news his question had been selected, he said he felt, \u201cexcited and very happy. I could not believe that I was chosen from thousands of people.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cHere on Earth I know how our muscles act, but in space it may act differently. I am also interested in the human body.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You can tune in to NASA\u2019s programming at 12:30 p.m. beginning with a preshow before the livestream from space, so students can learn more about Glover and his collaboration with the Smithsonian.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The entire show will be broadcast on the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/facebook.com\/STEMin30\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">STEM in 30 \u2014 Air and Space Museum Facebook<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> page and the livestream from space can also be viewed on the NASA website.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Proud Lyles-Crouch Principal Dr. Patricia Zissios said, &#8220;As educators, we use platitudes with children to &#8216;reach for the stars&#8217; and &#8216;the sky&#8217;s the limit,&#8217; never knowing what impact those phrases may actually have on our students. Well, at Lyles-Crouch Traditional Academy, second grader Andras took his natural inquisitiveness about the impact of weightlessness on the muscle strength of a human body to the real experts: NASA astronauts in space.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cAndras exemplifies critical thinking and scientific inquiry through the use of primary sources at its best. I am so proud of our own LCTA Lion.&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b><a id=\"read\"><\/a>In ACPS, We Read! We Read! We Read!<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-17086\" src=\"http:\/\/www.acpsk12.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/books.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1600\" height=\"779\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Thanks to Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act funding, our elementary schools will be distributing beginning readers books for all kindergarten and first grade students.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Volunteers worked together before the Thanksgiving break to bundle and bag &#8220;Keep Books&#8221; for ACPS&#8217; youngest readers who will receive their bag of eight books at their schools&#8217; next distribution events in the coming weeks. We are excited to be getting some print books in the hands of our beginning readers!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b><a id=\"rosner\"><\/a>Listen to George Mason\u2019s Heather Rosner on the Alexandria Times Podcast<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-17087\" src=\"http:\/\/www.acpsk12.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/Heather-Rosner-GM.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1911\" height=\"2328\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">George Mason Elementary School band teacher Heather Rosner was the monthly guest on the latest episode of \u2018Speak Easy,\u2019 the Alexandria Times podcast. She spoke about teaching music during the coronavirus pandemic and the importance of music education for young students.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/alextimes.com\/2020\/11\/speak-easy-heather-rosner\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Listen to the podcast<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>Temperature Screening at ACPS Buildings<\/h2>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<p>Find out more about this measure in this <a href=\"https:\/\/esbpublic.acps.k12.va.us\/public_itemview.aspx?ItemId=13345&amp;mtgId=1584\">Board Brief<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2>HEALTH REMINDERS<\/h2>\n<p><strong>Don\u2019t Feel Well?<\/strong><br \/>\nContact your primary health care physician.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Have questions, concerns or feedback?<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.acps.k12.va.us\/Page\/345\" data-cke-saved-href=\"https:\/\/www.acps.k12.va.us\/Page\/345\">Contact us<\/a> or contact your direct supervisor.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>HR Questions?<\/strong> Contact <a href=\"mailto:hr@acps.k12.va.us\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-cke-saved-href=\"mailto:hr@acps.k12.va.us\">hr@acps.k12.va.us<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Watch Our Staff Meetings on School Reopening \u2022 Staff Intent-to-Return Results \u2022 SOL Flexibility for Elementary and Middle School Announced \u2022 Don\u2019t Miss December\u2019s ACPS Finding Fit Newsletter \u2022 Lyles-Crouch Student Andras is Out of This World \u2022 In ACPS, We Read! We Read! We Read! \u2022 Listen to George Mason\u2019s Heather Rosner on the Alexandria Times Podcast<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":9394,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-9392","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news-and-announcements"],"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-04-16 19:25:33","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"category","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.acpsk12.org\/staff\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9392","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.acpsk12.org\/staff\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.acpsk12.org\/staff\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.acpsk12.org\/staff\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/10"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.acpsk12.org\/staff\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9392"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/www.acpsk12.org\/staff\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9392\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9395,"href":"http:\/\/www.acpsk12.org\/staff\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9392\/revisions\/9395"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.acpsk12.org\/staff\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/9394"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.acpsk12.org\/staff\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9392"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.acpsk12.org\/staff\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9392"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.acpsk12.org\/staff\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9392"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}