VIRTUAL LEARNING FAQ
When does school start?
- The first day of school is September 8th. We will closely follow the RPS calendar. There will be no October break, and the winter and spring breaks will be shorter than our year-round calendar. School Year Calendar can be found here: 2020-2021 School Year Calendar
What are the hours of instruction?
- The hours of instruction will be 9:15am-3:30pm. This is to accommodate the RPS morning meal drop offs, which will take place across the city between 7am and 9am.
What will the daily schedule look like?
- This will look different for each grade level. However, we are closely following the RPS schedule that was provided.
- All grades will hold a Community Circle from 9:15am-9:45am.
- Teachers will be participating in professional development provided on Wednesdays from 12:00pm-3:30pm. On most days, teachers will hold office hours/be available during this time.
- Resource teachers will also be providing one asynchronous video per week for students that miss their live session.
How will attendance be kept?
- We will be following the RPS plan, however, it has not yet been released. We made this decision based on the legal implications that follow attendance (truancy, CPS, possible retentions). We feel that since we have always followed RPS’s attendance policy in the past, we will continue to do so in the virtual space. Students are expected to attend virtual classes daily, just as they do when school is in session non-virtually.
What will be the balance between synchronous and asynchronous learning?
- Teachers will be required to teach 2.5 hours live each day, and record asynchronous videos for later viewing.
- Students will toggle between synchronous and asynchronous throughout the day. Keep in mind that a kindergartener will spend less time doing synchronous learning than a 5th grader. That said, synchronous learning for the core subjects will end at 12:30pm, which is when synchronous Resource lessons will begin (PE, music, etc.)
Will my child receive grades and report cards?
- Yes. Teachers will be informing families of the grading procedures before school starts.
How will the integrated curriculum be addressed in the virtual classroom?
- Teachers will be teaching using the same curriculum(s) we used last year! We will still be integrating subjects, and weaving art throughout our asynchronous lessons.
What will be the expectations for parent support of student learning?
- This depends greatly on your child’s tech knowledge. We assume that the younger students will need more assistance, while older students will need less. It is also important to keep in mind that very little of the learning in the lower grades is independent. Those learning to form letters and hold pencils will absolutely need a person physically able to work with them during the asynchronous learning.
What types of flexibility will there be in the daily schedule?
- We can say, with certainty, that teachers will be available between the hours of 9:15am and 3:30pm, and there will be a mix of live teaching and recorded lessons.
How will technology be distributed and supported?
- PHSSA follows the RPS tech distribution schedules. Every student will receive a Chromebook and parents will be notified when to come to PHSSA to pick up their device.
- As for tech support, SPMT is in the process of creating a Tech Task Force. This will be a collection of people that are experts in Google Classroom, and will be possibly more available than the RPS Help Desk. PHSSA will also be able to use any tech supports provided by RPS. (helpdesk@rvaschools.net)
How will special education services be delivered?
- As IEPs are legally binding documents, we are following the RPS protocols for all things SPED. Those protocols have not yet been released.
When will schedules and teacher assignments be released?
- Teachers will be notifying their families the week of August 24th-28th.
When will learning materials be ready for families to pick up?
- Learning packets will be available for pick up at the school on September 3rd and 4th between 9am-6pm and on September 5th from 10am-4pm. Please wear a face covering and remember to socially distance.
What materials do I need to purchase for my child?
- PHSSA is providing each child with everything they will need to learn at home. In addition, our students will be receiving learning kits provided by RPS and teachers will refresh learning material throughout virtual learning.
Does my child need to wear a uniform for virtual learning?
- Uniforms are not required, however we believe that students will take their learning more seriously if they “dress the part.” We discourage the wearing of pajamas.
What will instruction look like within each grade level?
- Live lessons will look different in each grade level, but will look the same within a grade level.
Will students have any opportunities planned by teachers to meet in person at the park, outdoor classroom or playground?
- No. PHSSA will not include any in-person meetings or instruction during the virtual learning period.
Will families be able to opt out of PHSSA’s virtual learning program and then return to PHSSA when virtual learning has ended?
- No. Families opting to not participate in the virtual learning program must withdraw from the school. Should they wish to return for the 2021-2022 school year, they will need to enter the lottery.
When does school start?
- The first day of school is September 8th. We will closely follow the RPS calendar. There will be no October break, and the winter and spring breaks will be shorter than our year-round calendar. School Year Calendar can be found here: 2020-2021 School Year Calendar
What are the hours of instruction?
- The hours of instruction will be 9:15am-3:30pm. This is to accommodate the RPS morning meal drop offs, which will take place across the city between 7am and 9am.
What will the daily schedule look like?
- This will look different for each grade level. However, we are closely following the RPS schedule that was provided.
- All grades will hold a Community Circle from 9:15am-9:45am.
- Teachers will be participating in professional development provided on Wednesdays from 12:00pm-3:30pm. On most days, teachers will hold office hours/be available during this time.
- Resource teachers will also be providing one asynchronous video per week for students that miss their live session.
How will attendance be kept?
- We will be following the RPS plan, however, it has not yet been released. We made this decision based on the legal implications that follow attendance (truancy, CPS, possible retentions). We feel that since we have always followed RPS’s attendance policy in the past, we will continue to do so in the virtual space. Students are expected to attend virtual classes daily, just as they do when school is in session non-virtually.
What will be the balance between synchronous and asynchronous learning?
- Teachers will be required to teach 2.5 hours live each day, and record asynchronous videos for later viewing.
- Students will toggle between synchronous and asynchronous throughout the day. Keep in mind that a kindergartener will spend less time doing synchronous learning than a 5th grader. That said, synchronous learning for the core subjects will end at 12:30pm, which is when synchronous Resource lessons will begin (PE, music, etc.)
Will my child receive grades and report cards?
- Yes. Teachers will be informing families of the grading procedures before school starts.
How will the integrated curriculum be addressed in the virtual classroom?
- Teachers will be teaching using the same curriculum(s) we used last year! We will still be integrating subjects, and weaving art throughout our asynchronous lessons.
What will be the expectations for parent support of student learning?
- This depends greatly on your child’s tech knowledge. We assume that the younger students will need more assistance, while older students will need less. It is also important to keep in mind that very little of the learning in the lower grades is independent. Those learning to form letters and hold pencils will absolutely need a person physically able to work with them during the asynchronous learning.
What types of flexibility will there be in the daily schedule?
- We can say, with certainty, that teachers will be available between the hours of 9:15am and 3:30pm, and there will be a mix of live teaching and recorded lessons.
How will technology be distributed and supported?
- PHSSA follows the RPS tech distribution schedules. Every student will receive a Chromebook and parents will be notified when to come to PHSSA to pick up their device.
- As for tech support, SPMT is in the process of creating a Tech Task Force. This will be a collection of people that are experts in Google Classroom, and will be possibly more available than the RPS Help Desk. PHSSA will also be able to use any tech supports provided by RPS. (helpdesk@rvaschools.net)
How will special education services be delivered?
- As IEPs are legally binding documents, we are following the RPS protocols for all things SPED. Those protocols have not yet been released.
When will schedules and teacher assignments be released?
- Teachers will be notifying their families the week of August 24th-28th.
When will learning materials be ready for families to pick up?
- Learning packets will be available for pick up at the school on September 3rd and 4th between 9am-6pm and on September 5th from 10am-4pm. Please wear a face covering and remember to socially distance.
What materials do I need to purchase for my child?
- PHSSA is providing each child with everything they will need to learn at home. In addition, our students will be receiving learning kits provided by RPS and teachers will refresh learning material throughout virtual learning.
Does my child need to wear a uniform for virtual learning?
- Uniforms are not required, however we believe that students will take their learning more seriously if they “dress the part.” We discourage the wearing of pajamas.
What will instruction look like within each grade level?
- Live lessons will look different in each grade level, but will look the same within a grade level.
Will students have any opportunities planned by teachers to meet in person at the park, outdoor classroom or playground?
- No. PHSSA will not include any in-person meetings or instruction during the virtual learning period.
Will families be able to opt out of PHSSA’s virtual learning program and then return to PHSSA when virtual learning has ended?
- No. Families opting to not participate in the virtual learning program must withdraw from the school. Should they wish to return for the 2021-2022 school year, they will need to enter the lottery.