Shenandoah County Public Schools has announced schools will be closed on Monday, March 16th. Staff will report but students will not as they make preparations for the Corona Virus. During that time, teachers will prepare materials in the event of extended school closures and support staff will have an opportunity to stockpile supplies and assure that all of their preventative protocols are remaining current with the latest advice and information. More info. on this here.
From Superintendent Mark Johnston:
A Parent/Guardian Guide to Coronavirus (COVID-19)
The health and safety of our students and staff is of paramount importance. We continue to monitor the situation and are coordinating our efforts with local and state officials as appropriate to ensure we are doing everything possible to continue to meet the needs of our students. We will send periodic communications such as this to keep lines of communication open with the students and families we serve. We appreciate your efforts in working with us.
Shenandoah County Public Schools pledges to continue:
- Communicate regularly with students, families, staff, and the larger school community.
- Practice routine cleaning and disinfecting procedures of commonly touched surfaces in schools and on buses.
- Maintain an open line of communication with the Virginia Department of Health and the Virginia Department of Education.
- Actively engage in contingency planning for the possibility of extended school closures.
Student Attendance
Parents and guardians should follow the established attendance policy for Shenandoah County Public Schools. Any student absence must be verified through existing procedures as outlined in the SCPS Parent Student Handbook. Parents who notify the school that they are self quarantining their children should also arrange for pickup of assignments.
School Closures
Shenandoah County Public Schools will work in conjunction with the Virginia Department of Health to determine the potential need and length of school closures as a result of COVID-19. All announcements regarding school closures will be communicated through the local media, SCPS website and the SchoolMessenger system.
Student Learning Opportunities
Students’ ability to access curriculum materials, technology and the internet is a critical consideration for SCPS in providing appropriate instruction to all students. During a school closure due to COVID-19, students will be asked to extend their learning by exploring an area of particular interest, reviewing material for upcoming SOL testing and engaging in family activities. Specific details will be provided in the event of a school closure.
Make-up Days for School Closures
If schools close in response to the COVID-19 virus, every effort will be made to make up any necessary missed days by following the Code of Virginia for instructional time requirements. As with all school closures, we are committed to maintaining our current school calendar, including graduation timelines. If changes are necessary to the instructional calendar, all announcements will be communicated through the local media, SCPS website and the SchoolMessenger system.
SOL Testing
Should the need arise, SCPS will work with the Virginia Department of Education to make scheduling adjustments related to the required state SOL assessments.
Field Trips
At this time, all out-of-state field trips that have not previously been approved, are cancelled. This includes field trips within the District of Columbia. All air travel that has not yet been previously approved, is cancelled. We will continue to monitor in-state field trips. The school division will post updated information regarding any restriction to field trips on the “COVID-19 Information and Resource Center” tab on the school division website. Announcements about summer travel will be made by May 1.
Additional Information
The best place to find accurate, up-to-date information is the Virginia Department of Health website. The Department of Health has also established a call center to address questions from the public about COVID-19. If you have questions about what is happening in Virginia, how the virus is spread, and what to do if you have symptoms, please call the local Shenandoah County Health Department at 540-459-3733.
In addition, parents and guardians may access information about COVID-19 on the SCPS website under the “COVID-19 Information and Resource Center” tab on the school division website. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) and the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) are closely monitoring the coronavirus also known as COVID-19.