{"id":9462,"date":"2021-02-12T13:22:18","date_gmt":"2021-02-12T18:22:18","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.acpsk12.org\/staff\/?p=9462"},"modified":"2021-02-12T13:22:18","modified_gmt":"2021-02-12T18:22:18","slug":"your-questions-answered-about-reopening","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.acpsk12.org\/staff\/your-questions-answered-about-reopening\/","title":{"rendered":"Your Questions Answered About Reopening"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><b>This Week\u2019s Headlines:<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"#presidentsday\">No school on Monday, Feb. 15; Food distribution on Tuesday instead<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#reopening\">Reminder: Hybrid Students to Return to Classrooms in March<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#faq\">Staff FAQ: Answering Your Questions About Reopening<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#talk\">Let&#8217;s Talk: Join a Staff Conversation with Dr. Hutchings<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#childcare\">Child Care Resources for Staff Outside Alexandria<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#safe\">Take a Sneak Peek Inside Our Schools and Learn How We Plan to Keep Everyone Safe<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#executime\">Welcoming Non-Exempt Employees to Begin Using ExecuTime on Feb. 16<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#athletic\">Now Accepting Nominations for the ACPS Athletic Hall of Fame for 2021<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#identity\">The Identity Project: Help Choose the Final Names for Maury and T.C. Williams<\/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;\">As our community health metrics continue to swing further in our favor for a healthy and safe reopening of our school buildings, I am excited to share that our final planning is going as efficiently and smoothly as possible during these unprecedented times. All of us here at ACPS are eager to soon be able to see those students that indicated they would return in person, back in our classrooms.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This week, we heard from all of you on your ability to return. We will be sharing this information with you all in next week\u2019s ACPS Insider. We are grateful to all those who are able to return and bring our schools back to operating with in-person instruction.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If families who chose the hybrid option in the Family Choice survey back in December 2020 wish to switch to virtual, please direct them to contact their school front office for assistance. Unfortunately, at this time, we are unable to accommodate requests to change from virtual to hybrid. It is critical that we prioritize our current families who selected the hybrid instructional option so we are able to effectively and safely manage our reopening plan for school buildings. The logistics involved in this transition process are complex and the foundation of our success is dependent on the current hybrid student data. Once we have transitioned all of our students who have currently selected the hybrid option, we will explore the potential opportunities to transition additional students. We will keep you posted on these updates as the weeks progress. We have created an <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.acps.k12.va.us\/Page\/3491\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">updated FAQ for families<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and an <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.acps.k12.va.us\/staff-faqs-20210212\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">updated FAQ for staff<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> about all things related to the reopening which I hope you will find helpful.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hear more about our reopening plans in my weekly staff video update:<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=ZwKlkxKGaJg\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-9463\" src=\"http:\/\/www.acpsk12.org\/staff\/wp-content\/uploads\/Screen-Shot-2021-02-12-at-9.20.32-AM.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2184\" height=\"1224\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.acpsk12.org\/staff\/wp-content\/uploads\/Screen-Shot-2021-02-12-at-9.20.32-AM.jpg 2184w, http:\/\/www.acpsk12.org\/staff\/wp-content\/uploads\/Screen-Shot-2021-02-12-at-9.20.32-AM-260x146.jpg 260w, http:\/\/www.acpsk12.org\/staff\/wp-content\/uploads\/Screen-Shot-2021-02-12-at-9.20.32-AM-800x448.jpg 800w, http:\/\/www.acpsk12.org\/staff\/wp-content\/uploads\/Screen-Shot-2021-02-12-at-9.20.32-AM-178x100.jpg 178w, http:\/\/www.acpsk12.org\/staff\/wp-content\/uploads\/Screen-Shot-2021-02-12-at-9.20.32-AM-768x430.jpg 768w, http:\/\/www.acpsk12.org\/staff\/wp-content\/uploads\/Screen-Shot-2021-02-12-at-9.20.32-AM-1536x861.jpg 1536w, http:\/\/www.acpsk12.org\/staff\/wp-content\/uploads\/Screen-Shot-2021-02-12-at-9.20.32-AM-2048x1148.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2184px) 100vw, 2184px\" \/><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A reminder that the second polls for the shortlist of new names for T.C. Williams High School and Matthew Maury Elementary School are now open. Please help us by selecting your favorites before polls close on Feb. 19.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Finally, a friendly reminder that Monday, Feb. 15 is Presidents\u2019 Day and ACPS will be closed. Please enjoy the long weekend while staying 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=\"presidentsday\" name=\"presidentsday\"><\/a>No school on Monday, Feb. 15; Food distribution on Tuesday instead<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><b>There will be no school on Monday, Feb. 15<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in observance of Presidents Day. No asynchronous work is required for students. All ACPS schools and offices will be closed.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Food distribution will be closed on Monday<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and will reopen the following day on Tuesday, Feb. 16. The remainder of the week will operate as normal with distribution points open on Wednesday and Friday.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b><a id=\"reopening\" name=\"reopening\"><\/a>Reminder: Hybrid Students to Return to Classrooms in March<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Please check out the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.acps.k12.va.us\/Page\/3552\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">revised transition timeline<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> for families that chose hybrid learning. Our hybrid schedule allows for students to return to the classroom<\/span><b> two<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> days a week.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Tuesday, March 2:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Reentry of hybrid students in grades K-5 receiving special education services in citywide self-contained full-day class programs, students in K-5 receiving special education reading and math services in a self-contained setting, Early Childhood Special Education students, and students in grades K-5 receiving English Learner services.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Tuesday, March 9:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Reentry of hybrid students in grades 6-12 receiving special education citywide and self-contained reading and math services, and Newcomer English Learner students in grades 6-12.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Tuesday, March 16:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Reentry of <\/span><b>ALL<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> remaining hybrid students in grades preK-12.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Our staff is diligently working toward these dates, remaining cautiously optimistic that our community health metrics will continue to improve.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Alexandria\u2019s latest community health metrics as of Feb. 11, 2021:<\/b><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/coronavirus\/key-measures\/pandemic-metrics\/school-metrics\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-17203\" src=\"http:\/\/www.acpsk12.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/CDC-School-Metrics-20210211.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"799\" height=\"664\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<h2><b><a id=\"faq\" name=\"faq\"><\/a>Staff FAQ: Answering Your Questions About Reopening<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-17204\" src=\"http:\/\/www.acpsk12.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/Phased-Reentry.FAQ_.Banner.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"950\" height=\"300\" \/>Be sure to take a look at our updated <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.acps.k12.va.us\/staff-faqs-20210212\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Staff Frequently Asked Questions<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> which we hope will answer your questions about the reopening of our school buildings.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Get answers to questions such as:<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">How and when will technology be distributed?<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">What documentation is needed to document child care issues?<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Can teachers delay their return until they get the second vaccine dose?<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Are teachers responsible for wiping down student supplies or will they have support?<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">&#8230;and more.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b><a id=\"talk\"><\/a>Let&#8217;s Talk: Join a Staff Conversation with Dr. Hutchings<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Next Tuesday, Feb. 16 from 3:45-4:45 p.m., Dr. Hutchings will host a chat with staff featuring 3-4 representatives from both Education Association of Alexandria (EAA) and TAC. This chat is designed to engage a representative group of staff to have an open conversation with Dr. Hutchings and respond to questions that are most important to staff as they prepare to return to our buildings.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">All ACPS staff are welcome to attend.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><b>Let&#8217;s Talk: Join a Conversation with Dr. Hutchings<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Feb. 16, 2021, 3:45-4:45 p.m.<br \/>\n<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/us02web.zoom.us\/j\/89797192846?pwd=VERXMzloVDhqUHcvdzRjYUYyUm1Vdz09\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Join us on Zoom<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b><a id=\"childcare\"><\/a>Child Care Resources for Staff Outside Alexandria<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For our staff who do not live in Alexandria, we have compiled a list of child care providers and resources if a current lack of child care will be a barrier to your returning to work in person.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">See the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/docs.google.com\/spreadsheets\/d\/e\/2PACX-1vSVNmeKl6nmu7AkbxitABq-YwwS-Z9lEubZAuxnOzTDDa0ifP95InJX6LDVWbxXI_SJeTqDXjnwltXD\/pubhtml#\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">ACPS Staff Child Care Resource Information<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For those who live in Alexandria, please refer t<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">o <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">our ACPS <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.acps.k12.va.us\/Page\/3363\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Virtual PLUS+ Child Care<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> site. <\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b><a id=\"safe\" name=\"safe\"><\/a>Take a Sneak Peek Inside Our Schools and Learn How We Plan to Keep Everyone Safe<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Our Facilities and Operations team has been working hard to get all our school buildings ready for a safe return to classrooms for our students and staff!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Watch as Charles Barrett Elementary School Custodian Lavonne Ford takes us on a tour to see how schools are set up so we can all stay safe:<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/vimeo.com\/509030128\/a005237936\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-17205\" src=\"http:\/\/www.acpsk12.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/Screen-Shot-2021-02-11-at-10.19.45-AM.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1630\" height=\"768\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<h2><b><a id=\"executime\"><\/a>Welcoming Non-Exempt Employees to Begin Using ExecuTime on Feb. 16<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><b>On <\/b><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><b>Tuesday, Feb. 16<\/b><\/span><b>, <\/b><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><b>non-exempt<\/b><\/span><b><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"> staff<\/span> should begin using ExecuTime to <\/b><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><b>clock in AND clock out<\/b><\/span><b> each work day, and to request leave.<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">TimeClock Plus will no longer be used in ACPS as of Feb. 16.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Non-exempt staff will receive an email on Tuesday, Feb. 16 at 5 a.m. with further instructions on how to clock in and clock out.<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For training videos on how to use ExecuTime, see the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/k12.us3.list-manage.com\/track\/click?u=c264d43033e4f4ca3b673bfc6&amp;id=25c8080d08&amp;e=27452035e8\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">ExecuTime page on Canvas<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Have questions? Contact <\/span><a href=\"mailto:ExecuTime@acps.k12.va.us\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">ExecuTime@acps.k12.va.us<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b><a id=\"athletic\" name=\"athletic\"><\/a>Now Accepting Nominations for the ACPS Athletic Hall of Fame for 2021<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Since 2014, ACPS has inducted more than 50 athletes, coaches, teams and non-athlete contributors into the ACPS Athletic Hall of Fame (AHOF). The AHOF Advisory Committee is currently accepting community nominations for induction into the Athletic Hall of Fame in the Fall of 2021. Former athletes, sports teams, coaches and non-athlete contributors may be nominated from any current or former ACPS high school including Alexandria High School, George Mason High School, Parker-Gray High School, Francis C. Hammond High School, George Washington High School, or T.C. Williams High School. Nominations will be accepted through March 31, 2021 for consideration for this fall.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To be eligible, athletes and teams must be five years past their graduation year, and coaches must have served a minimum of five years as coach. Nominees are selected based on their athletic accomplishments in high school, college and beyond, as well as their impact or contribution to the community at large.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Complete the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/acpsweb.wufoo.com\/forms\/znm5d3k1en3oqq\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">ACPS Athletic Hall of Fame nomination form<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> online or download and print the nomination form from the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.acps.k12.va.us\/Page\/1133\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Athletic Hall of Fame Advisory Committee webpage<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. For more information, contact the School Board Office at <\/span><a href=\"mailto:boardclerk@acps.k12.va.us\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">boardclerk@acps.k12.va.us<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b><a id=\"identity\" name=\"identity\"><\/a>The Identity Project: Help Choose the Final Names for Maury and T.C. Williams<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-17145\" src=\"http:\/\/www.acpsk12.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/Identity.Project.poll_.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1185\" height=\"300\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Through a robust community engagement process and vetted by the school board clerk and superintendent, the semifinalist names for each school have been announced. With thousands of entries from students, families, staff, and community members, we have revealed the top names from the polls that met the School Board policies (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.acps.k12.va.us\/cms\/lib\/VA01918616\/Centricity\/Shared\/documents\/school-board-policies\/ff.pdf\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Policy FF [PDF]<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.acps.k12.va.us\/cms\/lib\/VA01918616\/Centricity\/Shared\/documents\/school-board-policies\/ff-r.pdf\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Regulation FF-R [PDF]<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) and were deemed suitable for naming a school.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Now is the time for all community members to give their voice to the name they want to see as the final selection in this process. The second set of community polls close at 11:59 p.m. on Feb. 19.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.acps.k12.va.us\/tcpoll\"><b>Take the T.C. Williams Renaming Poll #2<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.acps.k12.va.us\/maurypoll\"><b>Take the Maury Elementary Renaming Poll #2<\/b><\/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>No school on Monday, Feb. 15 \u2022 Reminder: Hybrid Students to Return to Classrooms in March \u2022 Staff FAQ: Answering Your Questions About Reopening \u2022 Let&#8217;s Talk: Join a Staff Conversation with Dr. Hutchings \u2022 Child Care Resources for Staff Outside Alexandria \u2022 Take a Sneak Peek Inside Our Schools and Learn How We Plan to Keep Everyone Safe \u2022 Welcoming Non-Exempt Employees to Begin Using ExecuTime on Feb. 16 \u2022 Now Accepting Nominations for the ACPS Athletic Hall of Fame for 2021 \u2022 The Identity Project: Help Choose the Final Names for Maury and T.C. Williams<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":9464,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-9462","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news-and-announcements"],"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-05-09 23:06:16","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\/9462","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=9462"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"http:\/\/www.acpsk12.org\/staff\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9462\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9467,"href":"http:\/\/www.acpsk12.org\/staff\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9462\/revisions\/9467"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.acpsk12.org\/staff\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/9464"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.acpsk12.org\/staff\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9462"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.acpsk12.org\/staff\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9462"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.acpsk12.org\/staff\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9462"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}