COVID Information

Hybrid In-Person Instruction

Blue/Gold Cohorts
Children who participate in Hybrid In-Person Instruction will be assigned to a blue or gold cohort.  
Blue Cohort - Children in the blue cohort will attend school on Mondays, Tuesdays and every other Wednesday.  
Gold Cohort - Children will attend school on Thursdays, Fridays and every other Wednesday. 

5 Days In-Person Instruction
In a 10 day period, children who participate in the hybrid model will be in school for 5 days.  When children are in school, their day will parallel a typical school day in terms of the schedule.  VIS students can expect to follow a school schedule similar to previous years, with access to all content areas and specials.    

Specials
Art and music teachers will push into the children’s classroom to provide those experiences and we will continue to evaluate best practices to provide students with art/music instruction while also ensuring safety.  Children will travel to the gym for Physical Education. To begin the year, children will not need to change into gym clothes at VIS.

Breakfast and Lunch
Children who partake in the breakfast program will stop by the cafeteria to pick up their meal and will eat it in the classroom.

Lunch will be eaten in the classroom.  Students purchasing a lunch will pick up a “grab and go” meal from a designated location in the cafeteria and then return to their homeroom. A teacher aide will supervise the class while they eat lunch in the classroom and social distancing will be maintained.

5 Days At Home Instruction - Virtual Learning Sets
In a 10 day period children will be learning from home for 5 days. During these 5 days, children will be provided with Virtual Learning Sets.

Purpose of Virtual Learning Sets
For each 2 week period there will be 5 Virtual Learning Sets.  The sets will be posted in your child’s Google Classroom and will be labeled A,B.C,D,E.  Ideally, learning sets should be completed in order for VIS students as this will assist both the learning as well as assessment.

The purpose of Virtual Learning Sets is to provide learning experiences that complement the primary instruction (math, reading, writing, science, social studies, enrichment, and library-media) children have engaged in during in-person instruction that will provide additional practice of skills.       

Virtual Learning Sets Content Focus 
Virtual Learning Sets will provide children with independent learning experiences daily with priority focus upon Reading, Writing and Math skills.  In addition, social studies, science, and enrichment activities will also be available as we believe each of these content areas are important aspects of the VIS learning experience for students.  Experiences in art, music, and PE will also be made available for VIS students.  Virtual learning sets will be consistent from grade level to grade level assuring that all VIS students engage in similar experiences. We recognize that many VIS students participate in unique special education programs, such as 12:1:3, 8:1:1, and 12:1:1 classrooms.  Given the specific needs/goals of these students, variations of taped lessons will be provided along exposure to appropriate resource/programs that support these specialized needs. 

100% Virtual Instruction

Children participating in 100% Virtual Instruction will be provided with five days of taped lessons and five days of virtual learning sets. They will also be provided with synchronous (li learning opportunities. A description of each opportunity is outlined below.

5 Days Taped Lessons
In a 10 day period, children who participate in 100% Virtual Instruction will receive instructional videos for 5 days. VIS students can expect 5 taped
math and ela lessons over the course of a 10 day period and these lessons will mirror those taught to hybrid students who are attending in-person
school. Focus of these lessons will be upon math and ela standards of highest priority. Taped lessons will vary in length, however they should take no longer than a typical math/ela block. During these lessons, students will be responsible for completing activities that mirror those of in-
person learners. The duration of these lessons will vary (it will often be dependent on process time for individual students). Upon viewing, students will be expected to engage, through their teacher’s google classroom, in the same type of activities and assignments expected of our in-person learners.

Taped math and ela lessons will be provided by a consistent teacher, however, it will not be your child’s classroom teacher. Online students however will remain connected to their teaching team and are expected to access resources, assignments, and assessments from their math and ELA teachers in google classroom. Any teacher who would typically support your child in school (general education teacher, special education teacher, or AIS teacher) will make themselves available to support online learners at designated times during the week. 

Synchronous (Live) Opportunities for VIS 100% Online Students During each 10 day period, children who participate in 100% Virtual Instruction will be provided synchronous (live instruction) opportunities. These opportunities may include but are not limited to: 

• Read alouds and related Community Read activities beginning 9/14.
• Morning meeting connections to support social/emotional learning and interaction with HR teacher and peers on team.
• Content aligned experiences provided by assigned staff.
• Enrichment and extension opportunities for all students.
• An opportunity every 2 weeks for online learners to connect via Zoom with their grade level counselor. Meeting focus will be on gauging well-being of our students and providing similar instruction/support that we provide in person students in regard to social/emotional learning. Sessions will begin the week of 9/21.
• Weekly opportunities through modalities such as Flip Grid, Google Classroom, or Zoom to interact with homeroom peers for instructional purposes.
• A weekly designated time to where students can access their teachers to ask questions or receive support regarding instructional concepts.

Both our 100% online students, as well as our hybrid students, will need to demonstrate high levels of responsibility and self-efficacy while learning from home. If you believe your child could benefit from some skill-building in these areas, grade level counselors can assist families in this area.

Opportunities for Feedback
Children engaging in 100% virtual learning experiences will have opportunities for feedback on their work from their classroom teacher. The specific details regarding this process will be shared out once they are finalized.
 

VIS Arrival and Dismissal Information
Arrival: Drop of for students will take place between 8:50-9:10 on the West
side of the building. Please follow all signs and directions from parking
staff. Students can report directly to homerooms once in the building.
Pick Up: Pick up will take place utilizing all three doors of our cafeteria.
Parents should park in the JH/SH bus loop will pick up students at their
designated doorway (last name alphabetical).
Walkers: VIS will follow the same procedures as previous years.

VIS Arrival and Dismissal Information

Arrival: Drop of for students will take place between 8:50-9:10 on the West side of the building.  Please follow all signs and directions from parking staff.  Students can report directly to homerooms once in the building.

Pick Up: Pick up will take place at 3:15pm utilizing all three doors of our cafeteria.  Parents should park in the JH/SH bus loop will pick up students at their designated doorway (last name alphabetical).  

Walkers: VIS walkers will follow similar procedures from previous years, however, they will dismiss from the VIS auditorium and exit via the front doors of the building.
 

Supply Lists and Supply Drop-Off

Supply Drop-Off
Given the fact visitors are currently not permitted in VCS buildings, VIS will not hold a supply drop off for families.  Parents, please know that it is perfectly acceptable for students to bring in supplies at any time over the first weeks of school.  We do encourage students to bring either their personal or district issued chrome books, laptops, or tablets the first week of school as we familiarize them with important technology skills.
You will be receiving an invitation from your child’s HR teacher for a virtual meet and greet opportunity in early September and in addition you will receive a welcome letter from your child’s teacher.  Parent of incoming 4th graders, know that we will have staff on hand to support your children as they enter the building on the first day of school.

First Day of School 
Thursday, September 10th for BLUE GROUP
Friday, September 11th for GOLD GROUP

Supply Lists
Grade 4
Grade 5
Grade 6
Multi-Age

Mask Wearing Protocols

When will children have mask breaks?
We recognize that mask breaks must be developmentally appropriate based on the age and needs of our students. At the 4-6 level, we recognize that students will need periodic mask breaks during the day. Students will have mask breaks when they are stationary and appropriately socially distanced within the classroom. For example, during whole group instruction when the teacher is doing a mini lesson, read aloud and when children are reading independently. Children will also be mask free during lunch.  

What if my child (who is not medically excused) refuses to put on a mask while in school? 
As with any behavior, we treat these situations as teachable moments and will take a supportive approach to helping children implement this routine. As Dr. Terranova has shared, if this develops into a pattern of behavior, children will be placed on 100% virtual learning in order to maintain a safe classroom environment. 

Breakfast and Lunch

Children who partake in the breakfast program will stop by the cafeteria to pick up their meal and will eat it in the classroom.

Lunch will be eaten in the classroom.  Students purchasing a lunch will pick up a “grab and go” meal from a designated location in the cafeteria and then return to their homeroom. A teacher aide will supervise the class while they eat lunch in the classroom and social distancing will be maintained.
 

Questions

Virtual Learning Set Questions & Technology Questions
You may reach out directly to your child’s general education teacher, special education teacher, AIS teacher, or special area teacher based on the nature of your question. Students are strongly encouraged to bring either their own personal devices such as chrome books, laptops, or tablets or district issued devices over the first few weeks of school. This will help as we familiarize students with virtual learning platforms. Teachers will then communicate with students as to whether or not devices will need to be present on a given day or a given week. Cell phones, as they have in the past, should remain off and in student backpacks if they are present during the school day.

Questions for your Child’s Classroom Teacher
Please email your child’s teacher with questions that can be addressed via this venue and you can expect a response as soon as possible.  As previously noted, general education teachers, special education teachers, and AIS teachers will be available at minimum one morning a week from 8:00-8:40 if you have a more in-depth topic that requires a conversation.  
                                             
 

ABCD Calendar (September thru December)
ABCD Calendar (January thru May)

First Day of School 
Thursday, September 10th for BLUE GROUP
Friday, September 11th for GOLD GROUP