March 31

March 30

March 28

March 24

March 23

For Immediate Release: March 23, 2020

Contacts: Office of the Governor: Alena Yarmosky, Alena.Yarmosky@governor.virginia.gov

K-12 Schools

All schools will remain closed through the end of this academic year. The Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) will issue guidance to help divisions execute plans to continue instruction, while ensuring students are served equitably, regardless of income level, access to technology, English learner status, or special needs. This includes options for additional instruction through summer programming, integrating instruction into coursework next year, and allowing students to make up content. VDOE will submit a waiver to the federal government to lift end-of-year testing requirements and is exploring options to waive state mandated tests.

PTA Update

Dear Seldens families,

We hope you and your families are staying healthy during this unprecendented time. We’ve been forced to make some hard decisions due to the difficulty of our current situation. We all agree, after today’s heartbreaking announcement from the Governor to close schools for the remainder of the year, that things will not be business as usual for quite some time.

In light of this news, we are obviously having to regroup on a number of PTA fronts for the year.

Here’s where items stand at the moment:

• Volunteer Appreciation Lunch: cancelled
• Spring ASAP session is cancelled and we will be working hard to quickly issue refunds for all spring classes ASAP - pun intended 😁 - and expect to have them done within a week. Refunds will be processed through PayPal, which will in turn refund to your credit card or other method of payment. You do not need to take any action at this time but if you do not see a refund by April 10th, please let us know. *Note that the refunds will be for the cost of the ASAP class only. The 2.5% fee charged at the time of transaction is unfortunately kept by PayPal*
• Next Steps: We will be meeting virtually as an Executive Board soon to discuss 2020-21 officer elections, financials plans, summer camp, how we can continue to play a role to bring together our community in this new normal and the feasibility of a virtual Teacher Appreciation celebration.

There are still many unknowns at this point and we’ll be working hard, relying on the guidance of Virginia PTA, National PTA and our colleagues in surrounding schools. We will continue to communicate primarily via Facebook and will send periodic emails with critical information.

If you have any questions, suggestions, or if we can be of support to you or your family during this time, please do not hesitate to contact us at seldenspta@gmail.com.

March 22

Hello Seldens Families:

We are providing the most up-to-date FAQs regarding the continuity of learning for your children. LCPS is receiving guidance from the Virginia Department of Education about our virtual learning options. The guidance from VODE is evolving but we wanted to make sure you had the most recent updates.

Please reach out if you have any questions.

Thank you,

Garett Brazina, Principal

1. How will LCPS provide continuity of education for students?

LCPS is providing continuity of education through the development of optional learning experiences that are consistent with the curriculum. Through March 27, the emphasis in these learning experiences is on reinforcing skills and knowledge that have been previously taught. The learning experiences developed and provided will also give students and teachers opportunities to go deeper into concepts, ideas, and skills with which they are already familiar. These optional learning experiences will not be graded. Learning experiences may begin including new skills and knowledge that have not been previously taught after this date. Further information will be provided. These optional resources are available for parents at www.lcps.org/continuityofeducation. (Added March 16, 2020.)

2. If LCPS must close schools for an extended time due to the Coronavirus, is LCPS prepared to have teachers put their materials and assignments online so that student can keep up with their studies?

LCPS staff is developing contingency plans that would involve distance learning experiences (digital and non-digital) in the case of an emergency situation that would require LCPS to close schools for an extended time period. This would involve students completing assignments through Google Classroom and parents continuing to have access through ParentVue, as all LCPS students and staff have a Google account and have access to Phoenix.

Wednesday, March 18, was a work day for teachers to prepare for the possibility of distance learning and to provide educational experiences in the event of extended school closures.

To support the possibility that schools must close for an extended time period, the School Board authorized the transfer of $5 million to potentially accelerate the completion of our 1:1 rollout of Chromebooks in grades 3 through 12.

The Virginia Department of Education has not given guidance about distance learning experiences (digital and non-digital) as a substitute for required school attendance. This could change, and LCPS is in regular contact with VDOE to ensure we have the latest information.

Regardless of whether learning at home can be used to fulfill state requirements, LCPS is working to be prepared to provide opportunities to support students’ continued learning during an extended school closure. (Updated March 20, 2020.)

3. Educational Assignments

LCPS is developing plans for potential distance learning experiences (digital and non-digital) for the purposes of continuity of education. School administration has advised teachers to refrain from making mandatory assignments with deadlines to students. Please see item 1 above for additional, important information. (Updated March 16, 2020)

4. What type of learning resources are available for parents and students prior to March 30?

LCPS is providing optional resources (LCPS Continuity of Learning) that parents may use to engage students in learning activities, if desired. These optional learning experiences are consistent with the curriculum. Currently, the emphasis in these learning experiences is on reinforcing skills and knowledge that have been previously taught. The learning experiences developed and provided will also give students and teachers opportunities to go deeper into concepts, ideas, and skills with which they are already familiar. Additionally, packets of offline resources are available to families at the “meal stops” by request.

The work our teachers do in the classrooms with our students each day cannot be replaced. We realize that learning will look and feel differently compared to when teachers are working directly with students in the classroom environment. These activities are meant to help our students practice, review, and maintain their existing skills and knowledge. (Added March 20, 2020)

5. By what date will my child’s teacher(s) start providing learning opportunities specifically for my child and my child’s classmates?

Teachers will begin providing online learning experiences specifically for their students covering previously covered skills and knowledge beginning on March 30. (Added March 20, 2020)

6. Starting March 30, how will my child’s teacher(s) provide learning opportunities? Will the opportunities be digital or non-digital?

Teachers are designing learning opportunities for students and will engage students in learning experiences using Google Classroom. Teachers of some K-2 students have used a different platform this school year and so to increase consistency for our youngest learners, their teachers may choose to continue to use the platform with which their students are accustomed. Learning experiences provided by the teacher will be both digital and non-digital. Packets of offline or non-digital resources will be available to families at the “meal stops” beginning on Monday, March 23. At this time and until further notice, all learning experiences presented by teachers will provide reinforcement of previously taught content. This could change in the future. (Added March 20, 2020)

7. What is the focus of the learning opportunities that my child’s teacher(s) will start providing March 30?

Learning opportunities will be provided covering previously covered skills and knowledge aligned to the curriculum of the grade level or course. This could change in the future. (Added March 20, 2020)

8. How and how often will teachers communicate with my child and me starting March 30?

Some teachers have already communicated with their students. As of March 30, teachers are expected to connect with students and families regularly during the closure. Here are examples of best practices for that regular communication:

• Communication with parents via email;
• Communicate with students via Google Classroom on a regular basis during the closure;
• Maintaining consistent times at which they are readily available via Google and/or regularly checking email to answer questions;
• Acknowledging or responding to emails within 24 hours.

The school administration at each school is available to answer specific questions related to your student’s learning experience.

These practices may evolve and we will keep the community informed of any changes. (Added March 20, 2020)

9. Approximately how much time should I expect my child to spend on the learning opportunities provided by my child(s) teachers starting March 30?

The following student work time guidelines are currently being provided to teachers for planning:

• K-2 - Up to 60 Minutes daily
• 3-5 - Up to 90 Minutes daily
• 6-8 - Up to 30 minutes per class
• 9-12 - Up to 30 minutes per class
• AP/Dual Enrollment - Aligned to course expectations

Art, Music, Physical Education, and Library learning opportunities will also be provided at the elementary level and these opportunities are not considered to be part of the student work time guidelines listed above. In addition to the guidelines listed above, students are encouraged to read and write daily, engage in creative pursuits, and stay physically active.

The student work time guidelines may evolve and we will keep the community informed of any changes. (Added March 20, 2020)

10. Will teachers provide grades or other feedback regarding student work? Why or Why not?

At this time, teachers will not be assigning grades to student work. Teachers will be providing formative feedback (ungraded and to promote student learning) regarding student work through Google Classroom.

VDOE provided the following statement in their COVID-19 FAQs:

Schools should thoughtfully evaluate their approach, understand their legal obligations, and maintain the standards for delivery of instruction and student supports. Services, programs and activities online must be accessible to persons, including individuals with disabilities unless equally effective alternative access is provided in another manner (U. S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights, 2020) . . . we do not recommend grading work completed during the closures since schools are closed

The Departments of Instruction and Pupil Services continue to explore options for ensuring equitable access to all students and will provide updates as they are available. Until that time teachers may not require students to complete make-up work, teach new content, or assign grades.

High School Advanced Placement (AP) and dual enrollment (DE) courses are the only exception to this rule. LCPS works with external organizations for both AP and DE enrollment courses that impact specific guidance for these courses. Specific guidance will be shared with principals from the Department of Instruction.

We will keep the community informed of any changes in terms of grading and feedback on student work. (Added March 20, 2020)

March 22

Dear LCPS Families,

The community response to the feeding program for students that rely on Loudoun County Public Schools for meal support has been tremendous. LCPS is proud to be a part of this effort, remains committed to the program and to improving the service and efficiency under which we are operating. Participation data collected during the past several days has provided insight to areas where the service can be improved by expanding or consolidating sites and bus stops. As a result, beginning Monday, March 23, we will be adjusting the number of schools that are open for meals and expanding meal stops for the school bus fleet to target the areas of greatest need and best community access. Please see the list below of schools where meals will be served on campus and visit the interactive map for bus stop locations. Please note that the map is currently being updated and will be available by Sunday, March 22. Pick-up meal service from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. remains open at: • Briar Woods High School • Broad Run High School • John Champe High School • Dominion High School • Frederick Douglass Elementary • Freedom High School • Guilford Elementary • Harper Park Middle School • Heritage High School • Hutchison Farm Elementary • Independence High School • Leesburg Elementary • Loudoun County High School • Loudoun Valley High School • Lovettsville Elementary • Park View High School • Potomac Falls High School • Riverside High School • Rock Ridge High School • Rolling Ridge Elementary • Round Hill Elementary • Sterling Elementary • Sterling Middle School • Stone Bridge High School • Sugarland Elementary • Sully Elementary • Tuscarora High School • Woodgrove High School

March 18

Hello Seldens Families,

I hope that your family is remaining healthy and safe and practicing your social distancing and handwashing protocols. Please know that we miss your children and are looking forward to school reopening.

As you are home with your children, we wanted to provide some resources that you can use during the school closure (www.lcps.org/continuityofeducation). Additionally, I wanted to share that our staff received training today focused on the next steps in support of continuity of learning.

We all participated virtually today in the continuity of learning professional development sessions, and I shared with the staff that we will get through this period together as a community. My message is the same for all our families-we will get through this by supporting one another.

Thank you,

Garett Brazina, Principal

March 16

Dear Seldens Families:

We hope our families are doing well during our extended school closure. We are regularly receiving updates from our central office staff. The information is continuously developing; please monitor your email for the most up-to-date information. Since Thursday, we have been working to assure the following resources are in place during the closure:

• Meal Service at Seldens Landing from 8 AM - 1 PM Monday through Friday.
• A thorough disinfecting of Seldens Landing Elementary. Our dedicated custodial team are deep cleaning the school building. Some of the additional cleaning efforts and safeguards implemented by LCPS are:
  • Disinfecting of all student desks, tables, and chairs
  • Cleaning of classroom walls, doors, floors, and light fixtures
  • Extensive cleaning of all classroom, community, and adult restrooms
  • Cleaning of cafeteria, clinic, front office, library, music room, and gymnasium
  • Building access limited to essential employees only
• Working with staff to prepare for off-site learning experiences for our students. More information is forthcoming.

We are also including a helpful website below that may assist you when talking with your children. The most important tip is for adults to demonstrate calm behavior as our students will look to us on how to react. Additionally, model good hygiene practices for your children. Below are a few of the top recommendations to keep in mind, some specific talking points, and more can be found at link to National Association of School Psychologists:

• Make yourself available
• Monitor TV viewing and social media
• Keep a normal routine as much as possible
• Be honest and accurate
• Communicate with school about illnesses

As a reminder, Loudoun County School Nutrition Services (SNS) is expanding and extending free meal service in our school communities from March 16 to March 20 and March 23 to March 27 at schools and other designated locations. Please note, there will be no weekend service and school-based meal service will be provided from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Meals will be available at each school and students will be allowed to receive two meals daily (a breakfast and a lunch) and can choose to take both meals simultaneously. Students can receive the meals at the school of their choice, not just at the school they attend. Meals are served through our cafeteria doors located in our morning kiss and ride line. Look for the sign located by the doors, honk your horn, and we will bring the food to you. The breakfast and lunch is available for all students and their siblings at no cost. Participation is open to all students.

Maps indicating the locations and scheduled times of “meal stops” are now posted on the LCPS.org website. Please arrive at the meal stops early to ensure buses can remain on schedule. If you need any assistance, please reach out to our parent liaison, Julie Logan at julie.logan@lcps.org.

5 Meal stop locations within our school boundary zone (buses are bringing food to the neighborhoods)

STOP TIME-8:00-8:10 AM

LOCATION-RIVERSIDE HIGH SCHOOL

____________________________________________

STOP TIME-8:08-8:18 AM

LOCATION-43825 HEATHERSTONE TERRACE

____________________________________________

STOP TIME-8:07-8:17 AM

LOCATION-HARRIS TEETER ON PROMENADE DR

____________________________________________

STOP TIME-8:26-8:36 AM

LOCATION-PARKERS RIDGE DR & UPPER MEADOW DR

_____________________________________________

STOP TIME-8:42-8:52 AM

LOCATION-KINGSPORT DR & ROCKY CREEK DR

_____________________________________________

Thank you to our families that contribute to our Seldens Care Network-we are appreciative of your contributions.

Families, please let us know if you have any additional questions during our extended closure. We look forward to seeing all of our Seldens Landing Cardinals once school resumes.

Stay healthy,

Mr. Brazina, Principal

Contact Us Email Link and Hotline: 571-252-6499

Community members with questions are encouraged to review the responses to Frequently Asked Questions on the FAQ page. If the responses to Frequently Asked Questions don’t provide the information community members seek, they are welcome to submit questions via the Contact Us function on the FAQ page, as well.

LCPS will launch a COVID-19 telephone “hotline” at 1 p.m. Monday, March 16 to provide another option for information. The hotline number is 571-252-6499. Community members should feel free to call with any questions about the status of school operations, current schedules, and the latest information on other topics. Calls will be answered until 5 p.m. on Monday. Beginning Tuesday, March 17, the hotline will operate between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

March 9

From the United States Census 2020

Every 10 years everyone in the United States is counted, and the next Census begins in March.

Your count means more funding for schools, healthcare, housing, and even roads. Over 40,000 Loudoun residents rely on Census counts for everyday needs, so your count helps more families thrive. Make sure everyone in your family is counted online, by phone, or by mail in the spring - learn more at www.loudoun.gov/2020Census. Did you know the Census helps Loudoun Schools and Families? Your Census Response Helps Families Receive School Meals, Special Education Services, Teacher Training, Better Roads and Access to Affordable Housing. Any resident can respond. You will not be asked about your immigration status and your government benefits will not be impacted.

Who Counts? • For every person not counted in Loudoun, we lose out on $2,000 a person a year to help our community. From 1 day to over 100 years old, Everyone Counts on your Census form that lives in your home most of the time. Everyone in your home counts on your Census form – parents, your grandmother that lives with you, a college grad that moved home, even newborns!

If your child lives on campus, they are counted by the school. If your student lives off-campus, they should respond where they live for college and count everyone that lives with them. If your student lives at home, count them at home!

More information is also available on the LCPS Census 2020 webpage.