Monthly Archives: July 2020

Child Care Update for Teachers & Essential Classified Staff

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Bernard Hairston

Dear Colleagues:

As Dr. Haas noted in his message to you earlier this month, our school division is looking into the possibility of providing child care for our teachers and essential classified staff when schools reopen on September 8. This one-time program would operate only as long as the primary form of instruction provided to students is virtual. At their meeting yesterday, the School Board approved this method of instruction for the first nine weeks of the new school year. Continue reading →

School Board Decides: Most Students Will Begin the New School Year With Virtual Instruction

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Superintendent Matthew Haas

Dear Colleagues:

Just a short while ago, our School Board approved a return to school plan for September 8 that will have most of our students beginning the new year with virtual instruction. There will be provisions for students who do not have internet access or whose internet access is not adequate for virtual learning. These students, along with some who have special needs and some who are English Learners, will be able to come into schools to work with learning coaches in accessing virtual instruction assignments. Continue reading →

Special Information Session on July 29: A Discussion With Area Physicians on COVID-19 and Children

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Child and Adult Wear Masks and Use Hand Sanitizer

Wednesday, July 29, 2020 | 5 p.m. | Zoom Meeting Link

In an effort to help provide up-to-date information as our school division and community prepare for the start of school, please join us for a panel discussion about COVID-19 and children via Zoom on Wednesday, July 29, at 5 p.m. The panel will feature two physicians who are faculty members in UVa’s Department of Pediatric Medicine and Eileen Gomez, School Health Coordinator for ACPS. They will provide current information and be available for questions. Continue reading →

2020 ACPS Equity Conference Will Be Held Virtually on August 28

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2020 ACPS Equity Conference

Friday, August 28, 2020 | 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. | Registration

The ACPS 2020 Virtual Equity Conference, previously scheduled for August 7, will now take place on Friday, August 28, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The ACPS Equity Specialists and Conference Committee are pleased to offer this exciting virtual learning opportunity. Join us as we hear from educators who are engaged in our collective work to eliminate practices that produce inequitable outcomes for students, and discover what it means to be an ACPS Culturally Responsive Educator. Continue reading →

Summer Professional Development Sessions Are Ready!

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ACPS PD

This summer, our required professional development (PD) sessions are asynchronous and online. Sessions are housed in Schoology and can be accessed starting Wednesday, July 15. You can click here to sign in to Schoology or click on the Schoology icon on the ACPS Info for Staff page. You will use your ACPS username and password to sign in. (Note: If you have trouble accessing an item in Schoology, consider trying a different browser.)

You will receive 6 recertification points for completing the modules. Documentation of your participation will be done through Schoology and the completion of exit tickets within the sessions. Modules are open for completion from July 15 to August 31. Continue reading →

Return to School Update: Virtual Reopening Under Consideration

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Superintendent Matthew Haas

Dear Colleagues:

The early results from our employee survey are making it understandably clear that there is a great deal of concern and even fear among many of you regarding a physical return to school in September.

I got a personal view of how you feel this past Friday at one of our schools. I was visiting with employees and sharing some of their job responsibilities to give me more insight into their working conditions. It caused me to think about the risk any one of these employees could face in September, especially those with underlying health conditions or with connections to someone at risk. Continue reading →

Update: Annual Leave Overages

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Man Working and Daydreaming of Vacation

The school division recognizes that due to the disruptions to personal and work schedules related to the COVID-19 pandemic, many employees are not able to take time off. We previously announced that the conversion of annual leave at or above 320 hours that normally occurs at the end of an employee’s birth month has been temporarily disabled. In recognition that employees may not be able to take time off for the immediate foreseeable future, the suspension will be extended until February 28, 2021. Continue reading →

Return to School Update & Employee Survey

Posted on by
Superintendent Matthew Haas

Dear Colleagues:

You are very much on my mind these days.

One truth that our community relearned since the COVID-19 shutdown on March 13 is that you can close buildings and bus routes, even such special events as graduation, but student learning growth and development still goes on. That’s because of what each of you have contributed to our students and families and to our mission. That hasn’t closed down.

I continue to admire your dedication and professionalism and I want you to know how important it is to me that our division take every possible action to protect your health and safety this school year. We will not open buildings without that assurance. Continue reading →