ARCHIVED FAQ
Student: How will this impact the med careers program especially on days that we have online learning?
Med Careers will occur from 7-9am daily. All (12) students will be assigned in the am session at Crozier Chester Medical Hospital. Our new HS schedule will not impact these students. On their scheduled brick and mortar days students will return from Crozier Chester Medical Hospital, enter the HS and attend their scheduled classes. On their online learning days, the students will be returned to the HS by GV transportation and students will return home for their online learning.
Parent: How is this plan different from the plan we followed in the spring?
In the spring, students’ work was mainly asynchronous, meaning they completed their work on their own to meet a weekly deadline. They were often not attending class synchronously with live instruction but were watching recorded videos created and curated by teachers.
The current hybrid model is different; your child will be receiving synchronous instruction and following the same routine and schedule they normally would if they were attending school in person. Teachers will be providing “live” instruction and will be available throughout the school day for ”live” student support. Grade reporting will occur.
Parent: What if my child is sick and is not able to attend remotely?
If your child is ill and not feeling well enough to participate in learning, please contact her/his school in order to report an absence. You may also use our Safe Arrival app to report an absence. Students will make up work the same way they would if absent in a normal school environment.
Support Staff: How are learning gaps from last spring going to be addressed?
Each school has a plan to administer assessments designed to determine learning gaps and needs. Teachers will address the identified gaps and needs through differentiated instruction in the classroom.
Parent: What do I do if I’m working, and my child has to go to daycare?
Your child can access her/his classroom from your childcare center, if possible. We are working as closely as possible with local childcare providers to make this option work. All of us, school employees, parents, and childcare providers, are part of this community and have a role to play in supporting our children. As a district, we will do all we can to make hybrid and online learning work until we can return to “normal.”
Parent: Will my child have to take tests online?
Student assessment is important to the evaluation of student progress. Teachers may assess students in many ways including, test, projects, and other learning activities. Students may be required to take assessments online.
Teacher: Is grade reporting occurring this year?
Yes, grades will occur as in a normal school year. For example, secondary students will earn grades and have report cards; elementary students will receive progress reports. This will continue even if the district is forced to shut down and move to online learning.
Parent: When will my child be able to use the restroom?
When direct instruction is occurring with the teacher, it is recommended that your child be available and active in the classroom. When the teacher is giving independent work, in between classes, during lunch / recess are all possible times for your child to use the restroom, stand up and move around for a brain break, get a snack to eat, or step outside for fresh air. The teacher will clearly communicate these times to your child.
Parent: Will the DCIU technical schools open in the fall?
Yes. DCTS staff members are working on the continued development of distance learning programs to address individual student situations where safety/health concerns exist.
Due to the nature of the technical learning environment, they believe that they need to have our students back in our technical programs for the start of the 2020-2021 school year. It is difficult to teach welding and auto mechanics without welding booths and cars. All of our technical programs have similar lab/learning environments which require some in-person instruction.
Administrators have reviewed each of their classrooms/technical program learning spaces. Based on our review, DCTS administrators believe that it is feasible to maintain a distance of 6 feet apart or create barriers to separate students when this distance is not feasible. DCIU-DCTS Health and Safety Plan
Parent: What is my role in supporting my child during school hours?
Parents should help students understand the schedules and support the appropriate use of technology. At the elementary level, parents may need to help their child log into the virtual classroom at the beginning of the day and after lunch or recess. Please know that teachers will be working with students at the start of school to help them become more independent in their use of technology.
Parents are not expected to teach any of the material for the classes, as the teacher will be present in synchronous learning. Parents may support their child with homework or projects as they typically would under normal circumstances.
Parent: What is my child doing when s/he is joining class remotely?
When attending remotely, students will be participating in the same learning experiences that students are experiencing in person. Click HERE to watch a 2 minute video explaining in more detail what the hybrid model will look like for “at home” students.
Parent: Will my child be in front of the screen the whole time?
Your child will not be in front of the screen the entire school day. Students will be expected to be online and synchronous as per teacher directions. Teachers will be mindful of screen time requirements when developing learning experiences. During lunch, students can log off and eat lunch wherever they choose. During classes, there may be times when they are doing independent work not on the computer. Their screen is expected to be on, but the child can step away from the computer to complete the work at their home desk, kitchen table, outside, etc. The teacher will manage and communicate the expectation for live screen engagement.
Parent: What if I don’t want my child using the camera?
Please contact your building administrator to discuss your concerns. In general, students who are working from home will be expected to have their cameras on as directed by the teacher. Having students be present with their camera on is needed for our teachers to provide quality instruction and support students. It is expected that students are dressed appropriately and in a proper environment when attending live synchronous learning.
Parent: When my child is attending remotely online, will s/he be doing different work than the students in the classroom?
For the most part, your child will be participating in the same learning experiences that the students physically in school will be doing. In some situations, the activities may differ slightly in order to maximize available technology. However, the content, skills, and rigor will be the same.
Parent: How do I enroll my child in the District's eSchool program?
If your family is interested in the district's eSchool asynchronous format for the 2020-21 Academic Year and would like to learn more, please CLICK HERE. In this format, students will access their learning via online tools and prerecorded lessons throughout the school day. Students will work at their own pace meeting predetermined due dates. Students' daily schedules are set by families and students can access all class materials 24/7 through Schoology.
Parent: What is the status of sports and extracurricular activities?
Garnet Valley Middle School and High School are members of the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (P.I.A.A) which is one of the governing bodies of high school and middle school interscholastic athletics for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The P.I.A.A. is moving forward with the normal start to the fall sports season unless otherwise directed by the commonwealth. Information on registering for fall sports and start dates are available on the Garnet Valley Athletics Website.
Extracurricular activities have been operating under a board approved health and safety plan for organized voluntary summer activities. As we transition into the fall, extracurricular programing can occur if the administration determines the activity can be executed in traditional or virtual formats and can operate within the framework of the Garnet Valley School District Health and Safety Plan approved by the Garnet Valley School Board and the Pennsylvania Department of Education.
Volunteer FAQs
Will I be able to volunteer at this time?
At the current time we will not allow volunteers in the buildings. However, should there be an opportunity to volunteer for something virtually, such as reading to your child’s class, that can be arranged with their teacher.
How will I know when my volunteer clearances expire?
You will receive an email from the Human Resources Department advising you of the dates that your clearances will expire. That email will contain links to use to obtain your new clearances.
Where can I find the information on obtaining volunteer clearances?
Information on obtaining volunteer clearances can be found on the Garnet Valley School District website at https://www.garnetvalleyschools.com/district_offices/human_resources/volunteer_clearances
HEALTH & SAFETY
Parent: Would it be possible to set up a weekly appointment with a guidance counselor to process this difficult change?
School counselors will be available to students and families as they always are during the school year. Please visit your child’s school website and search under the “Our School” tab to find contact information.
HIGH RISK FAMILIES
SPECIAL EDUCATION
Assessments
I feel that my child has regressed during the school shutdown? What is the district’s plan to help my child recoup their learning?
Once students return to face to face instruction, teachers will begin to gather baseline data, plan and implement recoupment instruction, and monitor students’ progress. Individual IEP teams will review the data collected to determine if a child is making adequate progress within his or her programming and toward his or her goals.
Timeline for determining regression/recoupment
PDE has established that the first 90 days after schools reopen for face to face instruction will serve as the timeline for data collection, recoupment instruction, and progress monitoring to determine if students are where they were when schools shut down on March 13, 2020.
Will the students be tested on their knowledge?
Students will be assessed through progress monitoring and data collection to determine where they are related to their goals and objectives within their IEPs.
Evaluations/Reevaluations
My student is due for a re-evaluation, when will my child be evaluated?
Testing protocols for norm-referenced assessments require in-person testing to ensure the validity of the results. The district has ordered additional PPE to allow for these in-person evaluations to take place in spaces that allow for social distancing and ventilation to occur. The district will establish an order of addressing requests/needs for evaluation.
Parent: If my child was supposed to be evaluated for the Gifted Program and started the evaluation right before Covid happened in the spring, what will the rest of the process look like for them when school starts in September and will they be able to meet virtually?
The school psychologists and special education administrators will determine a schedule for evaluating children who were in the process of being evaluated, who missed evaluations or who have re-evaluations that are coming due in the near future. The priority in returning to school will be acclimating and reconnecting students either in a hybrid setting or a virtual classroom and not pulling out of the classroom for testing. Once the school psychologist determines her schedule, the parent or guardian will receive permission to evaluate or reevaluate and the 60 timeline will begin once that form is received by the special education office.
LRE/Inclusion
What will inclusion in the general education classroom look like?
Students will be included in the general education classroom on their cohort’s assigned days. When students are learning remotely from home, they will be included in the general education classroom via video conferencing.
How will my child’s Least Restrictive Environment (LRE) Time change?
It would need to be an IEP team decision if a child’s LRE time needed to be changed.
Medical Considerations
My child has sensory and/or medical needs that preclude them from wearing a mask. Do they need to wear one in order to be in school?
All children above the age of 2 must wear masks when in public unless there are medical conditions or disabilities that make this a challenge. We will follow the guidelines that we are given regarding the use of masking.
Direct Services/Instruction/Related Services
What is going to happen with my child who has an IEP?
Every child who has an IEP will have access to the supports and services they need in order to have access to their educational program. Most students with IEPs will attend in-person school/online learning as part of their “A/B cohort” (i.e. sorted by last name).
Students with significant cognitive disabilities, extensive related service needs, and students who receive services in certain programs (CLM/Autistic Support, Multiple Disabilities Support, Life Skills Support, Community Living & Learning Apartment) will be offered an individualized schedule which may include more than the proposed A/B schedule. Families who this applies to will be contacted directly by the special education department by Friday, July 31st so that they can plan appropriately; this communication cannot occur until after the School Board approves the Health and Safety plan on 7/28/20. If school buildings must be closed, though, then ALL students will need to return to virtual learning five days a week.
If a family is selecting the eSchool option, the IEP team will need to discuss the child’s IEP, and make revisions to how support is provided within the eSchool program.
What if my child has struggled with accessing online learning independently?
The IEP team will address specific concerns regarding a student’s ability to access online learning.
How will my child receive related services (speech, OT, PT, etc)?
The related services providers will collaborate with teams to establish appropriate schedules for each student. This may include in- person sessions on days the child is in school, virtual sessions on days they are learning virtually, or a combination of the two.
Will sanitizing occur before/after OT and PT sessions?
Yes. Sanitization will occur frequently throughout the school day in all environments, especially when students are changing settings such as speech, OT, PT, small group, etc. Equipment and materials sharing will be minimal. When equipment or materials MUST be shared, it will be cleaned and sanitized between student use.
How will my child receive small group instruction?
Students with IEPs will continue to receive the same services that are defined in their IEP. Some of those services will be provided face to face (on assigned days), while others will be provided virtually (on synchronous online assigned days). The delivery model of services may look different than they did prior to schools closing on March 13, 2020.
Will IEP kids have access to a dedicated Academic Methods teacher and other specialists (reading) to be fully serviced in their special needs?
The same courses that would be offered during any other school year will continue to be offered during the 20/21 school year.
How will transportation be different for students?
Currently, guidelines indicate that two children can sit in each bus seat. When possible, siblings can/should sit together to reduce exposure. All children above the age of 2 must wear masks when in public unless there are medical conditions or disabilities that make this a challenge.
IEP Meetings
How will my child’s IEP meeting be held given that school buildings are significantly limiting visitors to the school?
IEP and other parent meetings will continue to be held via Zoom. All IEP team members will participate virtually, on their own computers, from a location where they can maintain the confidentiality of your child and their needs.
Will a Notice of Recommended Educational Placement (NOREP) be issued at IEP meetings?
Yes, NOREPs will be issued at all yearly IEP meetings, or anytime that a change in placement is being proposed. Additionally, a NOREP will be issued if a virtual meeting was held during the spring shut down. Electronic signatures, when possible, will be the preferred method of receiving parental response to reduce the back and forth of paperwork.
How will special education paperwork look different than it did during the Spring extended closure of school buildings?
In the spring, there was a great deal of uncertainty about the length of the closure and paperwork procedures were modified. For the Fall, paperwork will return to the pre-closure practices, with a few exceptions. When parents participate in a meeting via Zoom, their participation will be documented as “participated via zoom” without requiring a parent signature on the signature page. IEPs will be shared electronically once they have been finalized unless a hard copy is specifically requested.
Community Living and Learning Programming
Will the district be providing job coaching in the community?
Most of our community partners are working remotely and are therefore not able to provide on-site job coaching. Our teachers and support staff will be working to develop alternative opportunities for students to receive appropriate transition activities and job-related skills.
My child attends the Community and Living and Learning Apartment program. What will this look like?
Students who attend this program will continue to receive services in cohorts between the apartment, the PAES Lab, and the HS where they will work on similar skills, activities, and job-related skills throughout the week. Their schedule will be individualized and parents will be contacted to discuss their child’s schedule.
General
Parent: Is there any possibility that the students who originally were offered 4 days a week (who receive extensive support at school) will be able to attend in person due to difficulty in being able to provide services or instruction virtually?
The district’s goal continues to be to offer face to face instruction for all students, but in particular, for our students with the most complex needs. The plan for a 4-day per week structure was based on all students being in a hybrid model. Now that the recommendation to move to a fully virtual model is before the Board, we will need to adjust this plan. We will continue to follow the guidance put forth by the PA Department of Education and the PA Health Department in order to make the most appropriate decision.
CONCORD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
When is the first day of school?
The first day of school for students is Tuesday, September 1, 2020.
Parent: Can we withdraw an incoming kindergartner and then re enroll them mid year when the school opens?
Yes, but once you are enrolled it starts to count towards state reporting.
Parent: If we decide to keep an incoming kindergartener with DCIU will Garnet Valley still provide transportation if schools are closed?
Yes.
Teacher: What does the Kindergarten program look like virtually?
This is answered in the sample Kindergarten schedule. Click here to access the sample schedule infographic.
Parent: Throughout this process Kindergarten has not had a plan put into place, will that also be 100% virtual?
Yes, the Kindergarten program will be the same as the other grades. Hybrid or virtual.
Parent: When will the Kindergarten plan be addressed? It has been commented that its known virtual won’t be a good learning solution for the kindergarten age group. Can you provide what the plan is not only to start but beyond the first month - Will Kindergarten be all in person once counts stabilize?
We are currently investigating ways to bring our Kindergarten students in as much as possible. With that said, we have to follow the health and safety protocols. As of now if students came back in a hybrid format kindergarten students would also participate in a hybrid format.
Teacher: Are elementary specials going to be live? How’s that going to work for PE with so much movement? Will the entire grade have specials at the same time?
Yes, PE and other specials will be live. All specials will not necessarily happen at the same time.
Parent: Will reading specialists be working individually or in small groups with elementary students that do not have IEPs? Will reading levels be assessed when the school year starts?
Yes, reading specialists will be working individually or in small groups with elementary students, and reading levels will be assessed.
Parent: What will be done to assist elementary children who are behind grade level in reading and math due to the changes experienced during the quarantine? Will any assessments be conducted when the school year begins?
Yes, assessments will take place to get benchmark data. Just as in the brick and mortar setting we will identify students who need support and provide interventions.
BETHEL SPRINGS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
When is the first day of school?
The first day of school for students is Tuesday, September 1, 2020.
Teacher: Are elementary specials going to be live? How’s that going to work for PE with so much movement? Will the entire grade have specials at the same time?
Yes, PE and other specials will be live. All specials will not necessarily happen at the same time.
GARNET VALLEY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
When is the first day of school?
The first day of school for students is Tuesday, September 1, 2020.
Teacher: Are elementary specials going to be live? How’s that going to work for PE with so much movement? Will the entire grade have specials at the same time?
Yes, PE and other specials will be live. All specials will not necessarily happen at the same time.
GARNET VALLEY MIDDLE SCHOOL
When is the first day of school?
The first day of school for students is Tuesday, September 1, 2020.
GARNET VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL
Parent: Will students be required to stay through lunch and study hall to attend or will they be permitted to leave and return for sports practices?
Students are not required to stay through Lunch and/or Learn/Study Hall. The purpose of ending classes before lunch is to allow students the opportunity to eat lunch at home given the challenges of social distancing in a large cafeteria environment. Students will be permitted to return for sports practices and contests when sports are in session.
Parent: What will the hours be for the high school?
The student day at GVHS will remain the same: 7:30 am - 2:37 pm. Classes end at 12:48 pm each day. In a virtual model, teachers will be available for Learn every afternoon from 1:30 pm - 2:37 pm via Zoom. If students do not need to see a teacher during this time they may use the time as a study hall to focus on their academics. In a hybrid model, teachers will also be available in the afternoon via Zoom, but they will also be available in person for students who remain in the building.
Parent: How will it work for high school students who are scheduled to attend afternoon technical school sessions?
Students who attend DCTS in the afternoon will be scheduled for classes only during the morning courses (1-4) in the GVHS schedule. They will then be transported to the Technical School for the afternoon.
Student: How is the hybrid format going to work with the modified block schedule at the high school level?
The letter days will repeat so that every student will see each of their teachers. Cohort A will attend school on Monday (E day) and Wednesday (F day) and Cohort B will attend school on Tuesday (E day) and Thursday (F day). On the days students are home, they will attend class remotely via Zoom, so they will receive instruction on two consecutive E days followed by two consecutive F days. In the hybrid model, Fridays are virtual for all students and all eight classes will meet via Zoom.
Parent: Where May I find information for the Vocational Technical program plans for 2020-21?
The DCTHS is still working with our staff to finalize their plans and communications. As with every school year, Mr. Dunleavy will send our Vo-Tech students and families a communication with the various details once confirmed. The DCTHS will also communicate with their registered students.
Parent: VoTech is planning on having classes in person. What is the transportation to get him there and back Monday through Friday?
GVSD Transportation is currently working to coordinate transportation for our students to the DCTHS.
Parent: My senior is looking to split time between Delco Vocational and Technical school and GVHS. Will his GVHS classes be available either during the morning and or afternoon depending on the schedule he has at the vocational school?
The GVHS schedule is designed to accommodate students in the vocational programs. If a student is in the a.m. vocational program, s/he will complete their GVHS courses in our p.m. rotation (Courses 5-8). If a student is in the p.m. vocational program, s/he will complete their GVHS courses in our a.m. rotation (Courses 1-4).
Parent: Since every grade matters when going to high school, how can we guarantee nobody cheats? How can we guarantee everything is equal to everyone?
As always, teachers will monitor student work for academic integrity, even using software programs to filter for plagiarism. Per our Discipline Manual, academic dishonesty is a violation and is subject to disciplinary action. Finally, as GVHS eliminated class rank a couple of years ago, students are no longer compared via a ranking system that is reported to colleges and universities.
Parent: High school students: Can we start in class lessons as early as possible?
GVHS has adopted a synchronous framework for its virtual learning model, thus teachers will conduct direct instruction (i.e. lectures, mini-lessons, etc.) from the start. As for students returning to the physical classroom, the determination will be dictated in accordance with health and safety recommendations and guidelines provided by local and state authorities.
Parent: Will seniors have an opportunity to have the important milestones introduced back into their school year, should we need to continue with a virtual model?
GVHS will work diligently to preserve as many milestones and traditions as possible. This will include possibly modifying and/or delaying some of these memorable events and activities. As always, the health and safety of our students, staff, and community will take precedence and remain our main priority.
When is the first day of school?
The first day of school for students is Tuesday, September 1, 2020. Please note that vocational programming will not begin until Tuesday, September 8, 2020 as per the DCTHS instructional calendar.
LEARNING MODELS
Parent: How will testing be performed?
Depending on skills and content being assessed, testing will be done virtually or completed work will be submitted electronically, with feedback provided. For example, students may be asked to type a written response in Schoology for one class, while in another, they may take a picture of work and upload the photo to Schoology. In addition, some teachers may administer electronic versions of tests or utilize technology tools for students to respond to prompts and questions.
Parent: If schools are forced to close, will everyone switch over to at-home-learning? Is it correct that e-school students would be forced to convert?
If schools are forced to close all students attending in the hybrid or fully virtual environment will switch over to fully virtual learning. Students in eSchool will remain in eSchool.
Do I still have to notify the district if I want to keep my child at home in a hybrid model?
No. Given the ever-changing nature of this pandemic, parents have the flexibility to either send their child in person on their scheduled day or to keep them at home attending online synchronously.
Teacher: Are elementary specials going to be live? How’s that going to work for PE with so much movement? Will the entire grade have specials at the same time?
Yes, PE and other specials will be live. All specials will not necessarily happen at the same time.
Parent: Are the grades going to count while the children are home?
Yes. We will be moving forward with learning and assessing student progress. A variety of techniques will be used to gauge student learning and assign grades for students who would normally receive them.
Parent: When will we find out who our Child's teacher is? And will there be a Virtual Back to School/Meet the Teacher Night this year since we cannot come into the school and meet the teacher/see the classroom?
School principals will be sharing information about plans for these events. Parents are encouraged to keep a close eye on email throughout the summer and school year so that those notifications aren’t missed.
Parent: How many students will be able to attend zoom sessions at one time?
All teachers will have a Pro version of Zoom, and we will have plenty of space in each session for all students in a class to attend at the same time.
Student: For any student who cannot attend the live classroom session, all classroom lessons will be recorded and students can complete their work asynchronously, however, Garnet Valley School District attendance policies will still be enforced." What does this mean? If the child cannot attend the live session then how will attendance be recorded if they watch the sessions and complete asynchronously?
When attending class from home, regardless of whether we are in a fully online or hybrid model, students are expected to attend unless they meet the criteria for a legal, excused absence. Lesson recordings and materials will be available for makeup and review.
Parent: Will the virtual learning be taught by GV teachers or will there be third party instructors?
It will be taught by Garnet Valley teachers using the Garnet Valley curriculum.
ESCHOOL@GARNETVALLEY
Parent: If schools are forced to close, will everyone switch over to at-home-learning? Is it correct that e-school students would be forced to convert?
If schools are forced to close all students attending in the hybrid or fully virtual environment will switch over to fully virtual learning. Students in eSchool will remain in eSchool.
Parent, Teacher: Why isn't there an option for Zoom interaction with e-School teachers?
eSchool is taught and managed by Garnet Valley teachers who are also teaching a regular schedule during the regular school day. While those teachers may sometimes offer opportunities for “on camera” interaction outside of the regular school day, those opportunities are not the norm for eSchool. Instead, teachers provide pre-recorded instruction and provide feedback, answer questions, and engage with students using asynchronous, online methods.
GARNET VALLEY STAFF
Teacher: What does the Kindergarten program look like virtually?
This is answered in the sample Kindergarten schedule. Click here to access the sample schedule infographic.