Superintendent Update # 5 Regarding Coronavirus – March 15, 2020
March 15, 2020
Dear Members of the Warwick Valley CSD Community,
As our school district buildings remain in a state of closure through April 13, 2020, and because of this unprecedented and evolving situation, we would like to provide you with more information as we continue to implement our plans.
The following updates include information on several items, including the continuation of meal services at our schools, the pick up of personal belongings, facilities usage, and supporting student learning at home. We will continue to provide more information as it becomes available and encourage you to refer to our webpage for the latest news.
Continuing Meal Service
Effective Tuesday, March 17, 2020, WVCSD will distribute Grab-n-Go breakfast and lunch meals at Park Avenue Elementary School between 9:00 am and 11:00 am on weekdays. We are in the process of reaching out to families who participate in this program. We will deliver meals upon request. If you can volunteer to assist us with the delivery of food, please visit our webpage and complete the online form. Additionally, Backpack Snack Attack, a community outreach program, will provide meals for the weekend.
Pick Up of Personal Belongings
As a reminder, although Warwick Valley CSD is closed, school buildings will be available for short visits tomorrow, March 16, or Tuesday, March 17, between 8:00 am and 6:00 pm. The buildings are open to accommodate requests from families, students, and staff members to retrieve medicines, district laptops if needed, and other personal belongings. Since buildings are not officially open, visitors must check-in at main offices upon arrival and plan to spend as little time as possible on campus while retrieving essential belongings.
Supporting Student Learning at Home
In anticipation of a potential school closure, our teachers have been planning at-home learning opportunities for students. As a general rule, these activities do not represent the same level of instruction that occurs in our schools. However, they will help to keep our students intellectually active while they are at home.
If they have not yet done so, your child’s teachers will share more information on how to access these at-home learning opportunities in the coming days. Please contact your child’s teacher via email with any questions.
At the forefront of this planning is the awareness of the wide variation in student learning styles, home support, and internet access. With these factors in mind, the faculty will review content previously taught and demonstrate flexibility and responsiveness to student needs. Our teachers will aim to make at-home learning opportunities meaningful. And they will not assign tests or mandated, graded work used to calculate student report card grades during this recess period. Any new assignments will be used to monitor student progress and evaluate the effectiveness of instructional activities.
We are waiting for guidance on Students Enrolled in Dual-Enrolled College Classes and AP courses.
Some internet providers are offering free internet access during these challenging times. To learn more, please visit our webpage.
Facilities Usage
During this shutdown period, all Warwick Valley CSD facilities will remain closed to the public. This closure includes all school-based after-school daycare programs, recreation programs in school gyms, athletic practices, and use of fields scheduled by outside user groups.
Please know that we realize the hardship that closing schools causes for many families. We appreciate the understanding many people have expressed. During this time, most faculty and staff will be working remotely. If you wish to contact us, an email will provide for the quickest response.
We are working to provide as much information as we can, as quickly as we can, and will continue to update you as more details are available.
Sincerely,
Dr. David Leach