Frequently Asked Questions
The FAQ's listed below reflect the most common questions/themes submitted by community members. Many of these questions were also answered at our Facebook Live Town Hall meetings that were held on Wednesday, August 19 at 11:00 am and 6:30 pm. If you were unable to watch these Town Halls “live” they have been recorded and are available on our Website, YouTube Channel, and also our Facebook page for viewing anytime.
- Health and Safety/Cleaning
- Academics/Schedules
- Counseling
- Nutrition
- Technology
- Transportation
- Extra Curricular/Clubs/Sports
- Miscellaneous
Health and Safety/Cleaning
- What expectations does VCS have around health and safety guidelines for students, staff and families this fall?
- Will parents and visitors be allowed to come to their child’s building?
- I’m concerned about classroom ventilation. How will classrooms be ventilated?
- How will you keep kids and staff safe?
- What if a student in my child’s class is suspected of having COVID-19?
- What are the District’s guidelines around masks?
- What will be the process for screening and identifying students and staff with illness?
- How will my child’s classroom/building be cleaned on a daily basis?
- How will buses be cleaned and social distancing met while riding on them?
What expectations does VCS have around health and safety guidelines for students, staff and families this fall?
The VCS Re-opening Plan will be driven by four key health and safety pillars that we expect ALL students and staff to follow:
- STAY HOME IF YOUR’RE SICK! Don’t come to school if you feel sick (fever, sore throat, headache, body aches, chills, loss of smell, cough, etc. ) We simply cannot afford to take any chances when it comes to our health.
- MASKS ON! Students must wear a mask at all times, with two exceptions, removing them for mask breaks (to be determined by your child’s teacher/principal (more will be given to younger students) and when eating and/or drinking. VCS is still finalizing mask usage with regards to outside Physical Education classes. If students are taking PE on outdoor fields with 12’ markings, masks may not be required.
- KEEP YOUR DISTANCE! Students and staff should practice social distancing as much as possible. This will be more than doable in typical classrooms with 11 to 14 kids. In classrooms with more than 14 students, larger spaces that support 6’ distancing will be utilized. In unique settings that can’t be socially distanced, we will utilize special polycarbonate dividers per New York State Education Department and Department of Health guidelines. Please note, this doesn’t mean that kids won’t be closer than 6’ at ALL times. Students may closer, on a limited basis and for short durations of time, while wearing masks.
- WASH YOUR HANDS! Students and staff will be required to wash their hands frequently and well! To incorporate vigorous hand hygiene we will be providing students with not only in-class lessons, but special videos on the importance of hand washing.
The bottom line is If we do these four things – stay home if we’re sick, wear masks, socially distance and practice good hand hygiene we will have a much better chance of staying healthy and keeping our schools open!
Will parents and visitors be allowed to come to their child’s building?
Parents and visitors will not be allowed to come to their child’s building, especially at the very start of the school year. Parents will only be allowed into buildings in the event that they need to pick up a sick child. Limiting visitors will help us achieve the most successful social distancing measures and maintain the safest, healthiest environments for students, staff, and ultimately our entire community
I’m concerned about classroom ventilation. How will classrooms be ventilated?
Our goal is to increase fresh air into classrooms as much as possible.
- Three of our buildings (Primary, Junior High and Senior High) have 100% of their air circulated from the outside. In addition, the vents are separated to minimize any intake of air that was just used.
- While our Early Childhood and Intermediate Schools do not have 100% ventilation, they do have a significant amount and we have added 20% outside air into those buildings via air dampers. We are also installing high capacity MERV filters in these buildings to minimize the opportunity for the virus to enter.
- In addition to filtration systems, we will also rely on “fresh air” to circulate through classrooms through windows. In other words, teachers will be allowed and encouraged to safety open/crack windows. According to the Department of Health, open windows (even minimally) are beneficial in creating healthier environments. Please note: fans will not be utilized as they are known to move air and potentially spread droplets.
How will you keep kids and staff safe?
This is our top priority and will require a variety of initiatives. We will maintain social distancing as much as possible, have stringent mask wearing policies, and we will reinforce and teach hand washing and cleanliness practices on a daily basis. In addition, we have hired the equivalent of eight new cleaners who will not only sanitize and clean our buildings, but implement new pandemic protocols for significant cleaning of high touch surfaces and bathrooms. We are also instituting very specific guidelines for when students and staff feel ill and/or are sent home for illness. For more information, go to the Health & Safety section of the VCS Reopening plan.
What if a student in my child’s class is suspected of having COVID-19?
Any staff member or student who shows signs of illness will be instructed to report to the School Nurse for assess- ment. The School Nurse will then make a recommendation, if needed, for the student to be sent home/picked up by parent/guardian and directed to follow up with their Primary Care Physician. In the event a student or staff member has been identified as testing positive for COVID-19, the District will work directly with the Ontario County De- partment of Health to support contact tracing and council parent/guardian or staff on the need for quarantine.
What are the District’s guidelines around masks?
Masks must be worn almost all times by students and staff. (There may be time when teachers need to remove masks for instruction purposes. In these cases, 6’ must be maintained.)
The following are specific questions regarding Masks.
- What is a Mask Break?
- Will mask breaks look the same for everyone?
- Do ALL children have to wear masks?
- What if a student doesn’t have a medical condition and just refuses to wear a mask?
- What type of mask can be worn at school?
- Will kids with asthma get more mask breaks?
What is a Mask Break?
A mask break incorporates three key principles:
- Distance: After you take your mask off, you must be at least 6’ apart from others
- Location: In order to remove your mask you must be sitting in one spot (not moving around)
- Time: All mask breaks will be timed in increments of 3-5 minutes, to be determined by individual teachers and/or administrators
Will mask breaks look the same for everyone?
Do ALL children have to wear masks?
Yes, however, we do realize there may be a small number of students with medical reasons that prohibit them from wearing a mask. In such a case, parents would need to fill out a special medical excuse form and submit that along with a doctor’s note to their child’s nurse’s office for approval.
Note: In the event a student cannot wear a mask for medical reasons, special social distancing protocols would be implement to further protect the child, without ostracizing him/her from other students.
What if a student doesn’t have a medical condition and just refuses to wear a mask?
Refusing to wear a mask will not be acceptable. Teachers will use these potential occurrences as “teachable moments” to educate students on the importance of wearing a mask to protect themselves and others. If a student continues to break the mask rule, parents will be contacted. If this behavior continues the child would be shifted to the 100% remote learning model.
What type of mask can be worn at school?
According to the Centers for Disease Control cloth masks are acceptable. Gators, bandannas, and one way valve masks are NOT an acceptable form of masking as they do not provide the same level of protection a cloth mask provides.
Please note: VCS will provide ALL children with cloth masks if they do not have one.
Will kids with asthma get more mask breaks?
What will be the process for screening and identifying students and staff with illness?
The VCS health and wellness strategy encompasses multiple steps that will require commitments from students, staff and parents. Visual Flow Chart Explaining Daily Process
- The VCS health and wellness strategy will begin with a daily screening process. Parents will be expected to fill out this health screening form online or via a phone app each morning before school. (Instructions to come). The daily screening from will take approximately 20 seconds to complete and will ask basic health questions, such as, ‘Do you have a fever?’ ‘Have you been in contact with someone with Covid?” etc. We are depending on parents to be honest about their child’s health when answering the daily screening form. We do not want your child coming to school if they are feeling ill.
- Forms will be checked by school nurses on a daily basis. Parents who do not complete the daily form will be contacted. Forms with “yes” answers will be forwarded to the nurse for immediate follow up.
- If a child begins to feel ill after coming to school, he/she will be sent to their building’s health office for further evaluation by a school nurse. The nurse will make a determination on whether the child needs to simply rest a bit or be sent home. There are two rooms in every building’s health office – one for those with Covid-like symptoms and another for students/staff with non-Covid ailments.
- If a nurse suspects your child has Covid-like symptoms, you will be asked to pick up your child immediately and schedule an appointment with your pediatrician.
- If your doctor determines your child is fine, you must get medical clearance before you send your child back to school.
- If your doctor feels your child’s symptoms are potentially Covid and recommends a Covid test, you can work with your child’s pediatrician and the school to find recommend testing locations.
- After a Covid test your child must stay home until results the results are in.
- If your child does not go to doctor or get tested per your physician– they will not allowed back to school and will have to wait at least 10 days to come back (per CDC guidelines)
- If your child tests positive, The Ontario County Health Department will contact VCS. The Ontario County Health Department will then take over the process of quarantine development.
- The Health Department will decide: -
- When your child comes back to school
- Who gets quarantined from buildings (The County will ask specific questions/ follow contact tracing questions)
- Please note, that if your child is socially distancing in class and wearing a mask, it may make the difference between quarantining or not –VCS does NOT make these decisions. The Health Department is in charge.
- Due to FERPA/HIPPA laws – while the District will know if one of its students has Covid-19, not everyone will be informed, only those who may have been in close proximity of the Covid-positive patient.
How will my child’s classroom/building be cleaned on a daily basis?
VCS is implementing a rigorous cleaning, sanitizing and disinfecting process that will ensure all areas of our buildings meet the highest health and safety standards:
- Buildings will be cleaned, sanitized and disinfected every night, after students and staff depart for the day. Each morning will be a brand day with a brand new building in terms of cleanliness.
- During the regular day, while students and staff are in our buildings, newly hired cleaners (approximately 12 to 16 new cleaners) will be responsible for cleaning high touch areas all during day – 2-3 times a day. Examples of high touch areas include bathrooms, door knobs, light switches, etc.
- Teachers and staff will also be utilizing special cleaning agents in their classrooms that kills bacteria and viruses. These cleanings will be done in between classes on desks and other high touch areas.
- If a health emergency occurs in a classroom, students will be removed from that space until cleaning, sanitizing and disinfecting can be completed.
- Since the vast major of elementary students will eat in classrooms, special cleaning practices will also be implemented before and after lunch. Larger trash bins will be implemented into lunch spaces.
How will buses be cleaned and social distancing met while riding on them?
- Buses will be sanitized every evening and in between every bus run
- Passengers will be required to wear a mask at ALL times. There will be one child per seat and no more than 25 students on a bus at any time. Siblings will not be able to sit together as that would put them closer to the student (non-relative) in the seat next to them.
- Buses have recently been given the approval to carry typical hand sanitizer. This hand sanitizer will be important for continued cleanliness on the bus.
- Wearing a mask is mandatory. Any student who is not medically excused and refuses to wear a mask will not be allowed on the bus. Extra masks will be available to students who do not have one.
Academics/Schedules
- When is the first day of school?
- Why are orientations virtual?
- How will my child keep up with work on days he/she is not in school?
- What if I want to change my child’s daily schedule?
- Will special classes be part of the fall curriculum?
- How will my child be assessed academically?
- Where can I find information on my child’s schedule, supply list and picture days?
- How are you preparing for the possibility that ALL VCS students may end up in a 100% virtual instruction model?
- Will children share teacher manipulatives?
- If I send my child to the hybrid program and have to pull them for a medical reason, will this possible?
- Why do younger students have an extra day in-school every other week while older students only have two days per week?
- Will VCS be offering music instruction?
When is the first day of school?
The first day of school has been shifted from Tuesday, 9/8 to Thursday, 9/10 to give teachers two extra days to practice and prepare for new schedules and safety protocols. This change was not made to delay our school reopening but to create a safer, smoother re-opening. Note: This later re-opening will eliminate the two Superintendent’s Days previously scheduled for October and March so that teaching days are not lost.
September 10th is Blue
September 11th is Gold
Why are orientations virtual?
How will my child keep up with work on days he/she is not in school?
Our teachers are working very hard on highlighting and streamlining critical content so that on the days students are not in school, they can successfully learn independently. Teachers are working to focus on the most essential content standards. Teachers will utilize a model that engages students with higher level concepts and skill work in the presence of the teacher. Students can then both practice these concepts and potentially learn new content on days they are not in person. Students will also have the ability to communicate with their teacher/s during this time. We believe the smaller classes will also give teachers a greater opportunity to communicate and give feedback to students while they are in front of them.
What if I want to change my child’s daily schedule?
We understand the difficulty of having students attend school partially during the week, however, it may be difficult to adjust schedules because of the constraints on class size due to social distancing. If you have children with conflicting schedules please email your child’s principal/s to see what we can do to accommodate your family’s needs. We have tried to schedule siblings in school on the same days.
Will special classes be part of the fall curriculum?
How will my child be assessed academically?
Where can I find information on my child’s schedule, supply list and picture days?
How are you preparing for the possibility that ALL VCS students may end up in a 100% virtual instruction model?
Will children share teacher manipulatives?
If I send my child to the hybrid program and have to pull them for a medical reason, will this possible?
Why do younger students have an extra day in-school every other week while older students only have two days per week?
We tried to maximize the time we are able to safely have our elementary students in front of our teachers and staff because of the challenges of on-line learning for this age group. We believe although five out of 10 days is not ideal, the extra day of in-person instruction equates to over 20 hours of additional time per month. At the secondary level, teachers will have a full day without in-person instruction every week to support their on-line students and develop additional distance learning content necessary to fulfill NYS graduation requirements and content standards.
Will VCS be offering music instruction?
The District is pleased to be offering music instruction to students. We will be adhering to health and safety guidelines.
K-6
General Music
Pushed into general education classrooms on a schedule.
- no student singing due to 6 feet spacing
- everyone should be wearing masks
- teachers can sing with a mask and/or face shield if 12 feet away from students
Instrumental:
- Grades 2-3 Suzuki Strings lessons will occur in person.
- Grades 4-6 Band and Orchestra lessons will occur in person.
- Wind instruments should have the instrumental face mask and bell covers.
- No wind instrument playing until the masks are here.
- Band, Chorus, and Orchestra will be meeting virtually. This should occur during normal ensemble rehearsal times and be the equivalent of the time spent when meeting in person.
- Only 100% remote learners will have virtual lessons at the 2-6 level.
- Teachers can sing with a mask and/or face shield if 12 feet away from students.
7-12
- All lessons will be taught virtually
- All ensembles will be able to meet in person and play and sing as long as CDC parameters are in place
- Wind instruments should have the instrumental face mask and bell covers.
- No wind instrument playing until the masks are here.
- Band students will be 12 feet apart.
- SIngers will be 12 feet apart and wear a mask.
- If a building administrator gives permission to take a class outside all of the above guidelines must be followed. (face masks, bell covers)
Students who are 100% online learners will participate in virtual lessons.
Counseling
Will my child have access to school counselors and social-emotional support?
Definitely! Our counselors and student support services staff will work diligently to communicate with you and your children, whether it is via Zoom or in-person. We are always willing to have a face-to-face meeting with parents (with social distancing requirements) regarding the well-being of your children. Our counseling staff will also be proactively teaching social-emotional skills throughout the school year.
Nutrition
Will lunch be served? How? Where?
- VCS Food Services Department will be offering both hot and cold entrees this fall to both hybrid and remote learners. Items will be pre-wrapped and packaged.
- Students will order their lunches a week in advance utilizing a new via a new on-line ordering system. (Details to come.)
- Elementary and SHS students will eat their meals in their classrooms, while JHS students will also eat in classrooms but have approximately 50 students eat in the cafeteria. The social distance in the cafeteria will be greater than 6 feet based on this number.
- There will be significant protocols in place for handwashing before and after meals and specific traffic patterns will be followed when students pick up their meals from the cafeteria.
- Cleaning, sanitizing and disinfecting will take place after all meals in both cafeterias and classrooms.
- VCS Food Services will offer curbside meal pickups for remote learners at the Senior High School concession stand (near the turf field) between 3:30 and 5:30 pm on Wednesdays and Fridays. Wednesday pick ups are for Thursday and Friday meals. Friday pick ups are for Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday meals.
Technology
- Will my child need a Chromebook or tablet this fall?
- What if families do not have access to a laptop, tablet, Chromebook, or computer?
Will my child need a Chromebook or tablet this fall?
Yes, unlike the spring, students will need daily access to technology that they can bring to and from school, whether it is their own Chromebook, laptop or tablet or one that is borrowed from VCS.
There are no more left to distribute at this time, however you can sign up to be on the waiting list.
Specific guidelines detailing whether your child will need to bring a device to and from school can be found at the individual building websites. For example, our youngest learners at the ECS may not need to bring devices to school. However, students in the VIS will. Please refer to your individual building directions and guidelines.
This year, VCS has over 1000 Chromebooks, however we cannot honor every request. We encourage those with their own devices to bring them to school for instructional purposes. This will minimize sharing and spreading potential germs.
In addition to limited Chromebooks, VCS has a limited supply of “hot spots” to distribute to those families who do not have internet access at home.
What if families do not have access to a laptop, tablet, Chromebook, or computer?
There are no more left to distribute at this time, however you can sign up to be on the waiting list.
If you have requested a chromebook back in August, and failed to pick it up, you can email techhelp@victorschools.org to set up a time, or starting on Thursday 9/9, the chromebooks that were requested in August will be available in each of the schools. There is still a small number that need to be picked up.
If your child's chromebook stops working or breaks at home, they need to email techhelp@victorschools.org. If your child's chromebook stops working or breaks while they are in school, they can visit the school library to get a replacement chromebook. The librarian will then issue the child a spare chromebook and put in a help ticket for the broken chromebook.
There will be limited chromebooks available in the building. Carts will not be available to sign out like how they were last year. Students in grades 2-12 are expected to either bring their own device to school with them, or bring their school issued chromebook with them to school.
Transportation
How will buses be cleaned and social distancing met while riding on them?
- Buses will be sanitized every evening and in between every bus run
- Passengers will be required to wear a mask at ALL times. There will be one child per seat and no more than 25 students on a bus at any time. Siblings will not be able to sit together as that would put them closer to the student (non-relative) in the seat next to them.
- Buses have recently been given the approval to carry typical hand sanitizer. This hand sanitizer will be important for continued cleanliness on the bus.
- Wearing a mask is mandatory. Any student who is not medically excused and refuses to wear a mask will not be allowed on the bus. Extra masks will be available to students who do not have one.
Extra Curricular/Clubs/Sports
Will there be clubs and other extracurricular activities this fall?
In an attempt to settle in and establish the best social distancing and health and safety practices, VCS will not start clubs and other extracurricular activities at the beginning of the year.
As long as the Health Department approves, we hope to transition them back into our schools at the end of September. Unfortunately, due to social distancing, we will not offer an activity bus run right away.
Miscellaneous
- Does VCS have any day care options available before and after school?
- Will there be recess?
- What will student drop offs and pick-ups look?
- Are outdoor fields going to be opened soon?
Does VCS have any day care options available before and after school?
Community Childcare Options
Community daycare centers have worked together to organize daycare solutions at current market prices. If your family is in the hybrid model and in need of daycare please see the options listed below.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/11LvQKp6jfzbouP5UQrDGGgkqqG8SJl_0DuHPhQj7q-4/edit?usp=sharing
Will there be recess?
There will be recess at the elementary level - with masks, however space is a premium. Certain buildings, such as the Intermediate, may not be able to use their playgrounds due to social distancing and sanitizing constraints as well as completing the development of a new playground. The Primary School, however, may have the ability to use its playground. The bottom line is there will be recess. More information will be on the individual building websites.
What will student drop offs and pick-ups look?
School times won’t be changing, however with increased numbers of student drop offs and pick-ups by parents, traffic flows will look significantly different. We appreciate your patience as we implement these new traffic patterns. Please note, building administrators will be extending drop off times until we all get used to the new traffic patterns. More specific information on pick up and drop off information can be found on the building websites.
Are outdoor fields going to be opened soon?
VCS tennis courts, outdoor track, and turf field will be open for informal public use starting Tuesday, September 1st.
People must observe social distancing rules on all school facilities and wear protective masks if not able to social distance. Individuals not following these protocols will be asked to leave and will jeopardize the continued use by others.
Use by individual organizations for team sports and activities is not allowed at this time.