According to state officials, reopening a school district is dependent on regional data.

A school district will be permitted to reopen, with appropriate health and safety measures in place, if that district's region is in Phase 4 with a daily infection rate at 5% as of the first week of August (or lower over a 14-day average).

However, should a spike occur between a district announcing its reopening plan and the start of school, New York State will close schools again if the regional infection rate rises above 9% on a seven-day average. Check the current seven-day average numbers here.

The community should expect that school plans may change at any time between now and when school starts. While this website indicates our plan to return on September 8th, the Governor may determine at the last minute that we will be proceeding with remote instruction.

The first day of student attendance, whether it is in-school or distance learning, will be Tuesday, Sept. 8th. Students in the 'A cohort' will attend school in-person on Sept. 8th, with the 'B cohort' of students attending on Wednesday, Sept. 9th.

Exception: Students in grades K - 2 who select in-person instruction rather than the Distance Learning Academy will attend every day.

The plan is now ready, and available for your review on this website by clicking here.

Yes, the District is developing its hybrid plan for reopening schools if state mandates allow. We are simultaneously continuing to develop our distance learning model. The distance learning model is the plan that will be in place in the event of another school closure. It will also be made available for students/families to make this as their primary choice, even if schools open with a hybrid learning model. The state does not mandate that district's offer an in-person-only option if schools are able to open.

Both the hybrid and distance learning plans will be comprehensive, and informed by all of the latest evidence to support the health and safety of our students and staff. As plans are finalized, they will appear on this site and we will be sharing directly with parents through District channels.

Student Enrollment Forms are now available in the parent portal.

Families received a Student Learning Enrollment Form to indicate their preferences for the 2020-2021 school year on July 31. Enrollment forms were due on August 9.

We understand that personal and state-mandated factors continue to change the circumstances of reopening, but once a selection is made, parents are committing to at least one full semester of instruction. For the purpose of this process, the new semester for all school levels will begin on February 1, 2021.

We recognize remote instruction is not ideal, and that this is particularly the case for very young learners, who require more adult support. Additionally, we understand that childcare is a challenge for many families with young students.

By reopening Pine Island Elementary School, we are adding educational space that is designed with elementary students in mind. This addition will also allow us to maximize our other elementary instructional spaces, meaning we can provide the capacity necessary to safely accommodate students at the K-2 stages.

There is also growing evidence that younger children are less likely to spread the virus to peers or adults than older students.

Parents and guardians may have questions or concerns regarding the Distance Learning Academy and the Hybrid Model. Teachers are encouraged to respond in a timely fashion to all parent/ guardian inquiries. Teachers will continue to use their preferred method of parent communication, so there is a record of the date, time, and a summary of the conversation. As always, teachers are encouraged to provide general updates with families about the class/course. Teachers will communicate with a parent/guardian of any student that is often negligent in handing in assignments or responding to a teacher's correspondences. Teachers are to contact students and parents as the first line of communication.

Once parents and guardians of students in any grade level choose the hybrid or Distance Learning Academy model for their children, they must wait until Feb. 1 for the change to take effect. Feb. 1 is the start of the second semester for the secondary level. Changes are limited by semester, even at the elementary level, because of the complexity of scheduling and reserving space that is involved in the hybrid and Distance Learning Academy models.

Great question! Any individual (other than someone designated essential worker) with a recent history of travel to areas of high prevalence of COVID-19 must remain in precautionary quarantine, and cannot present symptoms for the duration of a 14-day post travel quarantine. Please notify the school district if this applies to your family.

Read more about the post-travel quarantine guidelines from the NYS Department of Health by clicking here.

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announce on Aug. 24th that lower-risk, school-sponsored sports in all regions may begin to practice and play beginning September 21st. However, travel for practice or play will be prohibited outside of the school's region or contiguous regions or counties until October 19th. For the fall sports season, lower- and moderate-risk sports include tennis, soccer, cross country, field hockey and swimming.

Higher-risk sports, including those with full physical contact, may begin to practice on September 21st but cannot play until a later date or December 31st. In accordance with the Department of Health's guidance for sports and recreation during the COVID-19 public health emergency, practices for higher-risk sports are limited to individual or group, no- to low-contact training. Higher-risk sports include football, wrestling, rugby, hockey and volleyball.

"The State has done a lot of research on how we can safely have our students participate in school sports and get the exercise they need, and the guidance we developed will allow lower-risk sports to begin practicing and playing next month," Governor Cuomo said. "We are approaching youth sports as we have approached everything else in our phased reopening - teams are not allowed to compete outside a school's region or contiguous region for the time being until we can gauge the effects."

Schools must follow the Department's guidance for the conduct of their school sports. Schools will have to limit capacity of indoor facilities to no more than 50 percent occupancy and limit spectators to no more than two spectators per player, in addition to implementing social distancing and face coverings.

If the Fall sports season is interrupted or impacted by COVID-19 crisis (i.e. state official guidance, school closings, cancelation of high-risk sports, etc.) then a condensed seasons plan will be implemented. This plan takes into consideration the competitive and interactive aspects of each sport and would include the following, with the stipulated dates being tentative.

• Season I (Winter Sports)

  • Dates: Jan. 4-Mar. 13 (Week 27-36) 10 Weeks

  • *Note: tentative dates Sports: basketball (girls & boys), bowling (girls & boys), gymnastics, ice hockey (girls & boys), indoor track & field (girls & boys), skiing (girls & boys), swimming (boys), *wrestling, *competitive cheer. * Because of the high risk nature of wrestling and competitive cheer, sports may have to be moved to Season II or season III.

• Season II (Fall Sports)

  • Dates: Mar. 1-May 8 (Week 35-44) 10 Weeks

  • *Note: tentative dates Sports: football, cross country (girls & boys), field hockey, soccer (girls & boys), swimming (girls), volleyball (girls & boys), Unified bowling. Note: Weather will have an impact upon outdoor sports in some parts of the state in March and potentially early April. Girls Tennis moved to Season III.

• Season III (Spring Sports)

  • Dates: Apr. 5-Jun. 12 (Week 40-49) 10 Weeks

  • *Note: tentative dates Sports: baseball, softball, golf (girls & boys), lacrosse (girls & boys), tennis (girls & boys), outdoor track & field (girls & boys), Unified basketball.

For those activities that make sense to offer virtually or can be offered in-person safely, the District is committed to maintaining the extracurricular activities, existing clubs, and student organizations to promote socio-emotional wellbeing and build community in the upcoming year. Some groups will meet using the preferred method of Google Meet with Advisors overseeing the sites. The District is still assessing the feasibility of offering each group. More information will be forthcoming.

Access to facilities by outside agencies will be restricted until further notice. Additionally, there will be no field trips or assemblies until further notice. Please note that if a decision is made to alter the current extracurricular plan, the District will follow all CDC, New York State Department of Health, and New York State Education Department guidance.

The high school administration will be meeting to develop a pro-rated amount of hours for the graduating seniors. This will be published in the upcoming months.

Space use/density restructuring will be in effect at the start of school.

All students working at desks in shared spaces will be spaced six (6) feet apart, unless safety, care functions, or the core activity necessitate a shorter distance. • Students and employees will avoid congregating in common areas. • Circulation routes through the school, signage, and floor markings to direct foot traffic and ensure safe social distancing will be established by the staff. • Employees should also maintain a six (6) foot distance as much as possible from each other. Any time the distance between persons is less than 6 feet, employees must wear a face covering. • Split classes will become the norm, with students from the same class scheduled in one or two learning spaces in the building so that desks in class can be placed six feet apart. • Large school assemblies will not occur and school functions will be reduced and socially distanced. • Holding classes outdoors or in larger areas like the gym, library, theater or cafeterias will occur, when possible. • Larger special area classes such as physical education and music may be offered differently to students depending upon the class schedule and the instrument.

Staff will complete an electronic health self-check form each morning before work and will stay home and report their absence if symptoms are present.

Parents/Guardians will check their child(ren) for symptoms each morning before sending them to school and will keep them home and report their absence if symptoms are present.

Parents/Guardians will be asked to fill out an electronic health attestation for their child. More information will be forthcoming.

School entrances will be equipped with walk-through temperature screening machines. And hand-held screenings for checking the temperature of staff and students are also available (temperature checks should be conducted by ALL prior to coming to school).

We will remain vigilant of the evolving nature of the pandemic and responsive to its circumstances and any new guidance from the state. Per the Governor's office, schools must immediately close and switch to full distance learning if our regional infection rate climbs above 9%, using a 7-day average, any time after August 1. We will also monitor situations in our own spaces closely, including our ability to maintain safe distancing in our buildings, safe transportation, and the availability of face coverings for students and staff.

If a child or staff member who has been present in school has a confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19, the DOH will be notified immediately.

The Superintendent or designee (such as the school nurse or school physician) will follow specific notification procedures that must be taken, as indicated by the Department of Health, while maintaining confidentiality in accordance with FERPA, privacy expectations (HIPAA), and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

Contact tracing is a function of the DOH to trace all contacts with confirmed cases of COVID-19. The District will support the DOH with accurate attendance records, logs of employees and visitors, and assisting the DOH in tracing all contacts.

In the event a student or staff member is sick or symptomatic, notification to exposed individuals will occur pursuant to the contact tracing protocols designated by the DOH. The District will NOT notify the broader community unless directed to do so by health officials.

Staff or students with signs or symptoms of COVID-19 are recommended to notify their medical practitioner immediately.

If a student or employee tests positive for COVID-19, the District will uphold that person's right to privacy and confidentiality to the greatest extent possible, while also supporting any contact investigation by the Orange County Health Department (OCHD), which will also help us determine the level of closure.

Cohorting practices will dictate whether a classroom, grade level, wing of a school building, or entire school will close. Those in close contact with the individual who tested positive will then receive instructions from the OCHD regarding testing, quarantine, and a timeline for returning to school. Distance learning will allow students who cannot be physically present at school to participate if they feel well enough. If a student is too unwell to participate in distance learning, students receive an excused absence.

The District will be utilizing a mobile/online app for families to confirm that there student/household is not exhibiting any of the known symptoms of COVID-19.

Download information will be shared using all District communications as soon as it is available.

Please keep your child home if they exhibit any of the below:

• Fever (temperature of greater than 100.0° F in the last 14 days)

• Persistent dry cough

• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing

• Chills

• Repeated shaking with chills

• Overall body aches and pains

• Headache

• Sore throat

• New loss of taste or smell

• Gastrointestinal Tract Symptoms (primarily affecting children only)

Individuals should be sent to their primary care or family physician for a full health screening.

If they are not diagnosed with COVID-19 by their physician or they test negative, they can return 24 hours after symptoms subside, including fever.

If they test positive or are otherwise diagnosed with COVID-19, they need to isolate for at least 10 days from the initial onset of symptoms and must be symptom free for at least 3 days.

During a recent briefing, Governor Cuomo repeated statements that schools need to be prepared to do regular testing of students for COVID-19.

For example, in a Saturday conference call with reporters, the Governor said that parents will want to know, “How are you going to test the students? How many are you going to test per day? How long will it take to turn around the tests and where are you going to get that testing capacity?’"

Guidance from the State Health Department and State Education Department does not require schools to conduct regular testing of students for COVID-19.

The Health Department guidance says that school district reopening plans are to include a “process for the provision or referral of diagnostic testing for students, faculty and staff for COVID-19 in consultation with local health department officials, when needed, which should include plans for testing of symptomatic individuals, close contacts of COVID-19 suspected or confirmed individuals and individuals with recent international travel or travel within a state with widespread transmission of COVID-19 as designated through the New York State Travel Advisory before allowing such individuals to return to in person to the school [emphasis added].”

Further, in order for a school district to conduct testing, it would need to apply and be approved as a “limited service laboratory.”

If a student or employee tests positive for COVID-19, the District will uphold that person's right to privacy and confidentiality to the greatest extent possible, while also supporting any contact investigation by the Orange County Health Department (OCHD), which will also help us determine the level of closure.

Cohorting practices will dictate whether a classroom, grade level, wing of a school building, or entire school will close. Those in close contact with the individual who tested positive will then receive instructions from the OCHD regarding testing, quarantine, and a timeline for returning to school. Distance learning will allow students who cannot be physically present at school to participate if they feel well enough. If a student is too unwell to participate in distance learning, students receive an excused absence.

We realize that some of the main symptoms of COVID-19 overlap with common conditions like seasonal allergies, cold and flu. This makes identifying cases of COVID-19 in a timely manner all the more difficult. It is best to practice caution. If your child is exhibiting symptoms that could indicate COVID-19, it is best to keep them home, continue to screen their symptoms, and check with your family physician or a healthcare provider for a test and diagnosis.

If your child does not test positive for COVID-19, there will be no need for quarantine. For those who do test positive for COVID-19 (staff and faculty included), we have a very specific timeline and steps for quarantine and a return to school. These can be found above this question, here in the FAQ section.

Please keep your child home if they exhibit any of the below:

• Fever (temperature of greater than 100.0° F in the last 14 days)

• Persistent dry cough

• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing

• Chills

• Repeated shaking with chills

• Overall body aches and pains

• Headache

• Sore throat

• New loss of taste or smell

• Gastrointestinal Tract Symptoms (primarily affecting children only)

Individuals without close or proximate contact with a person suspected or confirmed to have COVID-19 can return to the area and resume school activities immediately after cleaning and disinfection.

As NYSED guidance suggests, any area where the individual traveled needs to be closed until it can be disinfected. The recommendation is to wait 24 hours, then clean, before reopening. During that time, the Orange County Department of Health will work with the school district and the state contact tracers to ensure that anyone with direct contact is placed into a precautionary quarantine. Once the contact tracing has been completed, the District will be notified, and any individual not placed under precautionary quarantine, or isolation for the positive case, can return to in-person class.

Example: The student is identified as positive on Tuesday at 11:00 a.m. The classroom and any other areas where that student has been are closed immediately; spaces are disinfected beginning 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday. Contact tracing occurs, and the spaces reopen on Thursday.

Our original guidance was that masks will be worn by employees and students at all times, and staff will direct students when to take mask breaks.

Update (August 4th)

The most frequent questions we receive pertain to face mask/covering. The District is required to adhere to the NYS Department of Health guidelines.

The following new content is consistent with the original posts under the Health/Safety section:

All individuals must wear a face mask/covering in school and on school grounds unless directed by the staff member or teacher that it is permissible to remove masks for breaks. Parents/Guardians should plan to purchase masks for their child and send a second face mask labeled with the student’s name in a sealed bag in the event the face mask becomes soiled. There will be disposable masks available for children who forget them or need them. The requirement to wear masks also applies to parents/guardians exiting cars while dropping off or picking up children on school property.

Parents/Guardians of students with special healthcare conditions who cannot wear masks must provide medical and treatment authorizations from their healthcare provider to the school nurse indicating how to provide for their safe and effective care while in school, including the appropriate recommended PPE for the student and others. This action is to ensure the safety of all in the school community. Parents/Guardians of students with special healthcare conditions who can wear masks should consult with their healthcare provider about the type of mask that should be worn and whether it is fitted correctly for your child.

Yes, masks will be provided, although students are expected to bring their own masks. They must be school appropriate and not interfere with the District’s dress code policy. Parents are encouraged to check the fittings on the masks for proper protection with a healthcare professional.

Yes, high school and middle school classrooms will be cleaned between classes as teachers will be responsible for spraying desks, tables, chairs and other surfaces. In addition, schedules have been structured to minimize class transitions to four periods a day. Bathrooms will be sanitized several times each day. The district has added new cleaning and sanitizing equipment and will use effective, safe cleaning solutions that are approved by the EPA as effective against COVID. The district has also hired more than 10 additional custodial staff. The staff will deep clean the buildings each night.

We do not encourage families to send their children to school with cleaning supplies. Our plan was designed to meet and exceed written protocols by the DPH, and CDC guidelines, for cleaning and disinfecting schools. Our director of facilities will ensure that our schools each comply with DPH guidelines at the link below. This also includes providing ample hand washing and sanitizer stations, and sharing with students best practices for regular hand washing throughout the day.

Read more of the details of this part of our Reopening Plan by clicking here.

For DPH guidelines, please click here.

And, here are some further details from the About the Plan page.

Our cleaning protocols are being set up to go above and beyond mandated steps. All facilities, especially high traffic/high touch areas will be cleaned multiple times daily -- this includes buses and playground equipment. Here is a passage from our plan, published online at our website, that shares our latest on the topic:

Classroom●Clean and disinfect high touch surfaces (but not limited to): ●Classroom desks and chairs ●Door handles and push plates ●Bathroom faucets ●Light switches ●Shared telephones ●Shared desktops ●Shared computer keyboards and mice ●All trash receptacles emptied and trash removed from the room ●Floors swept and dust mopped ●Floors spot mopped or full mopped ●Wipe clean: Tables, furniture and counter tops ●Window in the classroom door is cleaned routinely ● Walls are spot cleaned● Carpets are spot cleaned ● Clean/Disinfect classroom sink and toilet area (if applicable) ● Vacuum carpet daily if applicable ● Restock all paper and soap products ● Clean Baseboards - Weekly ● Clean Light Fixtures - Weekly ● Replace Lights (Notify Custodian or Maintenance)

Restrooms & Locker Rooms● Clean and disinfect toilets, sinks and shower areas ● Clean and disinfect high touch surfaces (but not limited to): o Drinking Fountains o Door handles and push plates o Light switches o Handrails ● All trash receptacles emptied and trash removed from the room ● Floors full mopped ● Clean Doors and Partitions in Restrooms and Locker Rooms ● Walls are spot cleaned ● Check that toilets, faucets, and drains are working ● Check Sanitary Napkin Boxes ● Clean Exterior of Dispensers ● Restock all toilet paper and soap products ● Clean Baseboards - Weekly ● Clean Light Fixtures - Weekly ● Replace Lights (Notify Custodian or Maintenance)

Common Areas (Hallways)● Clean and disinfect high touch surfaces (but not limited to): ○ Drinking Fountains ○ Door handles and push plates ○ Bathroom faucets ○ Light switches ○ Handrails ○ Buttons on vending machines ● All trash receptacles emptied and trash removed ● Floors swept and dust mopped ● Floors spot mopped or full mopped ● Walls are spot cleaned, when soiled ● Carpets are spot cleaned ● ●Make sure all unoccupied classrooms are locked

Medical Office● Clean and disinfect health cots regularly (after each student use) ● Discard or launder coverings after each use ● Cover treatment tables and use pillow protectors ● Clean and disinfect high touch surfaces (but not limited to): o Classroom desks and chairs o Door handles and push plates o Bathroom faucets o Light switches o Shared telephones o Shared desktops - Shared computer keyboards and mice ● All trash receptacles emptied and trash removed from the room ● Floors swept and dust mopped ● Floors full mopped ● Wipe clean: Tables, furniture and countertops ● Window in the door is cleaned routinely● Walls are spot cleaned ● Carpets are spot cleaned ● Clean/Disinfect classroom sink and toilet area if applicable ● Vacuum carpet daily if applicable ● Restock all paper and soap products ● Clean Baseboards – Weekly ● Clean Light Fixtures – Weekly ● Replace Lights (Notify Custodian or Maintenance)

Yes, principals and teachers will review guidance/training and post signage provided by the district on proper hand washing techniques for students, including the following:

• Scrub with soap for at least 20 seconds, including areas between the fingers or use hand sanitizer if soap and water are not accessible.

• Staff and students should dry hands thoroughly.

• Wash/sanitize hands when: arriving and leaving home; after playing outside; after having close contact with others; after using shared surfaces or tools; before and after using restroom; after blowing nose, coughing, and sneezing; and before and after eating and preparing foods.

• Proper procedures for putting on, wearing, and taking off masks

• Proper use of PPE

Yes. To meet the parameters for safe physical distancing aboard our buses in the Fall, they will be routed with 30% less capacity.

Siblings or members of the same household may be permitted to share the same seat.

This will affect daily bus scheduling, as well as pick-up and drop-off protocols. We will be providing parents with details as we finalize this portion of the reopening plan.

The district is gathering data from families to properly plan for resuming classes in the fall, including an assessment of the number students expected to attend in-person or remotely, and whether parents or guardians plan to transport their children.

Upon completion of the student learning enrollment forms, we will be able to begin coordinating transportation requests with available buses and drivers to provide district transportation to as many families as our resources allow.

In most typical school years, school bus driver shortages exist throughout New York, and right here in Warwick. As you know, the District strongly encourages families to utilize universal busing. For the start of the 2020-21 school year, based on our initial survey results, the District anticipates many families to opt out of district transportation. If so, this change will assist in maximizing in-person learning, while maintaining physical distancing on the school bus.

A July 17th New York State School Board’s update on the Department of Health’s guidance for transportation indicates, “Students on a school bus must wear face masks and they should social distance to the extent practicable,” said NYSED spokesman J.P. O’Hare. This clarifies a bullet point on page 62 of the guidance.” The District will strive to maintain social distancing to the extent possible.

Parents and guardians who are able to do so, are encouraged to transport their children to and from school.

For students planning on riding District buses, we are mapping routes that will limit the number of students on each bus and provide for the following arrival/dismissal schedule.

• High School & Middle School

  • • Bus pick-up times beginning at 6:40 a.m.

    • Staggered drop-off at school beginning at 7:15 a.m.

• Sanfordville & Park Avenue Elementary Schools

  • • Bus pick-up times beginning at 7:50 a.m.

    • Staggered drop-off at school beginning at 8:40 a.m.

• Pine Island Elementary School

  • • Bus pick-up times beginning at 7:45 a.m.

    • Staggered drop-off at school beginning at 8:40 a.m.

Drop-off and pick-up protocols for students whose families are planning on their own transportation will be posted on this site soon.

• There will be a 15-minute drop off window (8:40-8:55 a.m.) in each elementary building, which should allow children to arrive at school on time even if a parent has one child at Pine Island Elementary School and another child at one of the other elementary schools. There will also a 15-minute window for pickup.

Schedules subject to change based on enrollment and capacity restrictions.

The CDC recommends cleaning buses once a day, but we will be cleaning our fleet more frequently. Our bus drivers will wipe down high-touch areas between each run and buses will be thoroughly cleaned each night.

School buses will NOT be equipped with hand sanitizer due to its combustible composition and potential liability to the carrier or district. School bus drivers, monitors and attendants must not carry personal bottles of hand sanitizer with them on school buses.

At this time, we are making every effort to at least place students from the same families, but different grades, on the same schedules to make this transition (and transportation concerns) as convenient as it can be for everyone.

Because our current transportation protocols for the fall require bused students to maintain appropriate social distancing unless they are members of the same household, we cannot advise the use of carpooling for students from different households.

Our preference is for students to have consistent transport plans; however, we understand that may not always be possible.

All menus can be found on each school's homepage or the Food Service Department homepage on the district website.

Cash will not be accepted at this time.

Meals can be paid by opening an online account with My School Bucks.com or by mailing a check to the WVCSD Food Service Department.

P.O. Box 595
Warwick, NY 10990

A link for each school’s order form will be available on every school’s homepage and the Food Service Department homepage.

A new order form will need to be filled out each week.

There will be no eating in the cafeteria. All students will be eating in designated classrooms/areas. For instance, students in grades 7 - 12 will remain in their second period classroom to eat lunch. Students in grades K-6 with nut allergies will be assigned/cohorted to specific teachers to assist with safety measures. The District will increase the number of meal service access points, and serve meals in classrooms and alternate locations.

Here is a general overview of what a daily schedule will look like in grades 7 - 12.

• Each student will be enrolled in a maximum of eight courses.

• Only 4 courses/periods meet each day, 75-minutes of instruction per period.

• Each course will meet two (2) out of every four (4) days. If you are participating in the hybrid model (rather than Distance Learning Academy) one class session will be in person, the other online.

• Approximately 30 - 40 minutes of the 75-minute class period will consist of direct instruction offered to all students, with the remainder of the class time devoted to in-person support.

• Half the class will be in the classroom, with the remaining students attending remotely. Those attending remotely will likely not attend the entire 75-minute session; rather, they will attend the whole class lesson segment. However, students must attend all classes - whether the class is offered remotely or in-person.

• Student attendance is required and will be kept for all courses, periods.

In grades 5-6, students will attend school on an alternating day basis. When in the school building, students will follow an 8-period day that will begin at 7:40 am and conclude at 1:40 pm. Students will be assigned to a team. A team consists of two teachers, one that teaches ELA and Social Studies with the other teaching Math and Science. When students are not in the school building, they will participate in pre-scheduled meetings with a support teacher. Students will be grouped with other students from their team and will be assigned two or three 20-30 minute blocks of live instruction for ELA and Math. Students will be provided with some flexibility within their distance learning day to schedule their learning blocks. Distance learning blocks will be scheduled between 7:40 am and 1:40 pm.

More detailed schedules are available on the About the Plan page.

Note that building schedules will be different from before, with cohorts developed and classes split into two rooms when reallocated large spaces (theater, library, gym, cafeteria) have already been assigned to other classes.

Class periods will be longer or block scheduled at most grade levels to limit movement as much as possible and our teachers are working hard on adjusting the curriculum and expectations to meet these needs.

At the elementary levels, specials will come to the cohort to limit the transmission of COVID-19.

The district is anticipating releasing schedules and other individual school year information on Friday, Aug. 28th, but is reliant on families completing the student enrollment forms and any further guidance or directives from the governor or state.

Yes. We have made this a priority as part of our planning. Scheduling is a critical concern for many parents, and the circumstances of the pandemic are making daily planning even more difficult. For families that have students in multiple grades, we are making every effort to ensure that their schedules are set so that they are either learning in-person or remotely on the same days.

All students participating in OU BOCES Career and Technical Education program and the CTE courses taught at Warwick Valley High School (Cosmetology, Video Production or Criminal Justice) will be offered on an A/B rotation. This will match up with the BOCES schedule as well and students will be able to stay on track.

The hybrid model calls for students to be in school for in-person instruction every other day. This approach allows students to attend in-person instruction more frequently (some weeks three school days).

For example, assuming two full weeks of school, cohort A would attend M, W, F in week one, and T and TH in week two for five (5) in-person days. The students attend school every other scheduled school day (A or B-day), not a specific weekday. (View a graphic of the schedule for the 2020-21 school year..

We continue to prioritize a safe learning and working environment. Also, the District's approach and families' feedback confirmed, it is essential to maximize instructional time. We intend to open our buildings for in-person instruction daily, with less than half the number of students in attendance, compared to last year, on a given day in grades 3 - 12 to adhere to physical distancing guidelines. The hybrid model, while not ideal, allows for this outcome.

Moreover, this schedule is the same one offered at OU BOCES and OU BOCES Career and Technical Education program. The OU BOCES Career and Technical Education Division operate half-day programs for our high school students. We have many students who participate in OU BOCES programs, and over 100 participate in OU BOCES CTEC High School and Warwick Valley High School.

Some are confusing our model with the schedule offered at many similar-sized school districts. Throughout New York, some school districts are open for (4) days of in-person instruction a week, with the student attending in-person two days a week. Admittedly, this model provides a more predictable student schedule (i.e., the same two days each week). Warwick Valley CSD did NOT select this option. Throughout the typical school year, many weeks amount to less than five school days. In-person instructional time will be considerably less if we close the buildings to students one day a week.

This decision also impacts the many students participating in the Distancing Learning Academy. Our Distance Learning Academy at the secondary level calls for the students to participate in the regular in-session classroom. A disruption to the in-person program would also impact the students receiving only remote instruction.

Yes, on virtual days students will attend a set schedule.

New York State has determined that Labs will be accomplished in two different ways this year. First, some labs will be done in a virtual environment utilizing programs like Gizmos. Second, the teacher may conduct some of the labs in front of the students while students collect observations and results. Distance Learning Academy students will also have the first and second option available to them.

We have elected not to live stream from the traditional classroom at the elementary division. We will assign two Warwick teachers per grade level to provide direct instruction to students remotely. Please join us at the upcoming Virtual Town Hall Meeting devoted to this specific topic.

If a student is quarantined the answer is yes and the student may officially attend through remote classes. If a student is not in attendance for an in-person day for another reason, they may log in but they will be officially recorded as absent.

This answer is coming soon.

New York State is requiring that we take attendance so students will have to follow a schedule and be present during the designated times. If they can’t make a class at a specific time, then it will be treated as an absence and will be given the opportunity to make up work just like any other absence.

School, whether in person or distance learning, will not be in session on a snow day. The schedule will then continue as planned. So if a snow day is on an A day, the following day will be a B day.

The Warwick Valley Central School District will be providing a Chromebook to all students enrolled in the school district for the 2020-21 school year. Please see below for a description of the Chromebook distribution:

Grades K-2 in Person model: Chromebooks will be kept in the classroom- there is no need to sign up to receive a Chromebook.

Grades K-2 Distance Learning: Since the student will be at home, please sign up to receive a Chromebook.

Grades 3-4 Hybrid: Please do sign up to receive a Chromebook, but please leave it at home for the full first semester.

Grades 3-4 Distance Learning: Since the student will be at home, please sign up to receive a Chromebook.

Grades 5-12 Hybrid and Distance Learning: Please do sign up for a Chromebook. The expectation will be that the students in the Hybrid model take the Chromebook back and forth from school to home, and students in the Distance Learning Academy will utilize the devices at home. Students must bring their device with them to the first day
of classes.

Please click here for an appointment during the week of August 24-28th.

Please click here for the sign-off form. The form and the attachment explain the rules of having a District-owned Chromebook. We strongly encourage that each student has a District-owned Chromebook so the District can better support each student since the devices will be the same.

If you received a Chromebook from the District between March and July, you will utilize that Chromebook for the 2020-21 school year. Please do not sign up for another one. However, we ask that you please sign off on the WVCSD Policy Handbook, so you are aware of the policies that govern a District-owned Chromebook

The District has also invested in several MiFi devices. Family needs for internet and wireless access are handled on a case by case basis.

The District has also put outdoor wireless on all its buildings so people can go to the surrounding area and get access.

As long as you have Internet access, that is all you will need.

Visitors will be limited to those whose presence on-site is critical.

This change in practice is necessary to limit the risks for any potential spread of Covid-19. All visitors permitted to enter a school building will be required to fill out a health screening questionnaire.

During a typical year, we enjoy welcoming parents and families to share some quality time in our schools. We ask for everyone's cooperation and understanding during these challenging times.

Yes. Schools must continue to conduct mandatory fire and lock-down drills according to the existing statutory schedule.

When planning drills, consideration will be given to how each building may modify its drill procedures to minimize the risk of spreading infection. Conducting drills is an essential part of keeping students and staff safe in an emergency, however, steps will be taken to minimize the risk of spreading infection while conducting drills.

If it was an actual emergency that required evacuation or lock-down, the most imminent concern is to get to safety. Maintaining physical distancing in a real crisis will not be the priority.

New York State requires all Districts to provide a certain amount of fresh air per student based on the room's square footage with maximum student occupancy. Our ventilators are currently providing more fresh air than is required by the New York State regulation. We have replaced all air filters in our buildings, and we’re planning on replacing them more often than required. Additionally, since the District will have fewer students in each classroom, the amount of fresh air per student will be substantially higher.

Classroom doors and windows will remain open during hours of building occupancy to encourage maximum airflow throughout.

Exterior doorways shall remain locked and closed as per typical safety protocols. Door handles will be locked in the event of an emergency requiring rapid locked-closure of doors.

Faculty and staff may close classroom/office doors if appropriate to maintain student confidentiality or facilitate instruction delivery, but the duration of such instances will be minimized.

Playground equipment and outdoor classroom spaces will be cleaned regularly, in accordance with all current guidance from the CDC and other agencies before use. Regular cleaning/disinfection protocols will be developed based on the latest guidance. Students will wash their hands before and after using playground equipment.

The school district will minimize exposure from playground and fitness equipment use, including but not limited to ensuring only the team cohort uses it at the same time, hand washing before and after use or use of hand sanitizer, and disinfecting fitness equipment or other smaller outside equipment after each group of students’ use.

Schools will stagger recess times for each class/cohort. and plan to increase supervision to monitor physical distancing, as appropriate.

The District will maximize physical distancing between student workstations, achieving 6 feet or more, when determining the classroom layout. Desks will face in the same direction (rather than facing each other), or students should sit on only one side of long tables, spaced apart. The District will also maximize space between the teacher and students due to the risk of increased droplets from teachers during instruction. When teacher removes face covering or mask during instruction, spacing will be increased beyond six feet.

The District will only use disinfecting agents that are approved for use against COVID-19 by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Where disinfectants are used, products should be registered with the EPA and the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC).

Yes, as part of our current planning we will Pine Island Elementary as a satellite school. The additional classroom space will be needed to implement in-person learning for our youngest students. The school will welcome incoming kindergarten students. This step will allow us to offer more in-person instruction at the other elementary schools.

We appreciate your patience as we work to reopen this beautiful school so that primary age children in Warwick will have the option of in-person, every day school.

Check out the following story with information regarding the reopening of the building and what parents and students will see and experience at the school: https://www.warwickvalleyschools.com/warwick-schools-to-use-pine-island-elementary-as-part-of-district-reopening-plan/

We are finalizing our plans, and will announce them very soon -- likely at the Town Hall or sooner. Thank you for your patience. We are looking forward to the start of the year at Pine Island.

The District is still determining how best to conduct the screenings in this environment. If the screenings are conducted, they will occur during the school day.

Here is the 2020-2021 supply list for grade K:

• 1 vinyl, 2-pocket folder (solid color-pockets on the bottom)

• 24 Ticonderoga pencils (sharpened)

• 2 boxes - 24 Crayola crayons

• 12 large Elmer’s glue sticks

• 12-pack of thin Crayola markers

• 4 thin (fine tip) Expo dry erase markers (low odor-multi-colors)

• 1 child’s Fiskar scissors (precision tip)

• 1 8 oz. Elmer’s white glue

• 3 pink pearl erasers (not pencil cap erasers)

• 1 rectangular plastic pencil box (8” x 5”)

• 1 12-pack colored pencils sharpened

• 1 refillable water bottle to be filled at home with fresh water every day

• 1 large backpack (no wheels, please)

• 1 large (old) t-shirt to be used as a smock for Art

Athletics, fine and performing arts, and extracurricular activities will function as permitted by state and local health officials at the time of reopening.

Available guidance recommends limiting gatherings, events, and extracurricular activities to those that can maintain social distancing, support proper hand hygiene, and restrict group size. State guidance indicates a distance of 12 feet in all directions is maintained between individuals while participating in activities that require projecting the voice (e.g., singing), playing a wind instrument, or aerobic activity.

On July 16, the New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) announced that the fall sports start date is delayed until Monday, September 21. Additionally, all fall regional and state championships have been canceled. If the fall sports seasons are interrupted or impacted by Covid-19, condensed schedules may be implemented.

Athletics, fine and performing arts, and extracurricular activities, including clubs, will function as permitted by state and local health officials at the time of reopening. Available guidance recommends limiting gatherings, events, and extracurricular activities to those that can maintain social distancing, support proper hand hygiene, and restrict group size. State guidance indicates a distance of 12 feet in all directions is maintained between individuals while participating in activities that require projecting the voice (e.g., singing), playing a wind instrument, or aerobic activity.

We do not intend to segment clubs to match our cohort model, as that would defeat the purpose of having clubs that bring like-minded students together -- something that delivers an important and beneficial social component. That said, we are still working on the "if, when and hows" of facilitating club meetings in a way that is both meaningful for the group members' shared goals and educational experience, while upholding the District's health and safety policies.

Students who choose the Distance Learning Academy will have access to clubs if/when they begin.

The New York State Public High School Athletic Association announced that the fall sports start date has been delayed until Monday, September 21, and all fall regional and state championships have been canceled.

Students enrolled in the in-school option for grades K through 2 will attend school daily. Their assigned teacher will partner with an instructional aide. The teacher will deliver all new content and instruction to your child. The instructional aide will assist students as they work independently on academic tasks. Your child will interact with both the teacher and the instructional aide daily.

While an exact count relies on our final enrollment numbers, which are being reviewed now, we can say that class sizes are projected to be smaller than usual for elementary students participating in distance learning.

We know that childcare is a major concern for many of our families and are hopeful that the after school programs that take place in our buildings will also be able to reopen in the Fall. Our building leaders will work with the after school program directors to ensure that all of our health and safety protocols are adhered to.

Students will be responsible for completing all assigned work, tests, quizzes and projects by the established deadlines. Teachers will post grades on the Portal bi-weekly. Teachers will establish timelines for make-up assignments/assessments in collaboration with the students.

Grading:

Quarterly averages in all courses/classes will be calculated as follows:

• 50% of quarterly average will consist of classwork/homework, including (but not limited to):

  • In-class assignments

  • Assigned homework

  • Participation in class discussions

• 50 % of quarterly average will consist of Assessments

  • Written Exams

  • Online Assessments

  • Essays

  • Projects

  • Labs

Computation of Final Course Grades

Full Year Courses:

Final Course Grades will be determined using the formula below:

1st Marking Period + 2nd Marking Period + 3rd Marking Period + 4th Marking Period

4

Semester Courses:

1st Marking Period + 2nd Marking Period

2

Students in grades 5-12 will NOT dress for physical education. The locker rooms will be closed off. We recommend that students wear comfortable clothing on the days that they have physical education. When possible students will be outside and social distancing requirements will be maintained during this class as well.

New York State Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance NYS AHPERD has suggested the following activities:

For grades K-2:

· Movement concept
· Locomotor skills
· Non locomotor skills
· Creative dance
· Moving to rhythm in personal space/no groups
· Manipulative skills with a piece of equipment for each student
· Fitness calisthenics
· Simple yoga poses

For grades 3-5

• Creative dance
• Rhythmic dance
· Yoga
• Hiking
• Snowshoeing
· Fitness stations with one student at each station
• Stress management - meditation, mindfulness

For grades 6-8

• Line dance with physical distance
• Yoga
• Geocaching
• Orienteering
• Running track events
• Stress management- meditation, mindfulness

For grades 9-12

• Yoga
• Pilates
• Kickboxing
• Solo dances
• Orienteering
• Geocaching

All individuals must wear a face mask/covering in school and on school grounds unless directed by the staff member or teacher that it is permissible to remove masks for breaks.

If a PE activity is able to be done outdoors and with appropriate physical distancing, this is a time when it may be appropriate for students to remove their masks temporarily. That will be at the discretion of the teacher, whose decision will be based on the latest published guidelines and best practices.

Parents/Guardians of students with special healthcare conditions who cannot wear masks must provide medical and treatment authorizations from their healthcare provider to the school nurse indicating how to provide for their safe and effective care while in school, including the appropriate recommended PPE for the student and others.

Ninth grade orientation will be held remotely. Dates will be announced soon!

Student will NOT be assigned lockers in grades 5-12. Students will be allowed to carry backpacks between classes. Also, there are only 4 classes meeting everyday compared to the usual six. Therefore, the amount of supplies they will need will be much less than in a normal school day.

We plan on offering the majority of our course catalog for both in-person and distance learning.

Yes, particularly in the younger grades, elementary students will still have their one main classroom teacher and a teacher's aide.

Specialists who provide additional supports for some students will also be available to both in-person and remote learners.

The teachers will look to maximize outdoor learning. They will work along with their principal to regularly visit these spaces. The faculty and staff will enforce physical distancing.

The District will plan for experiences that ensure that our schools place adult and student wellness first by establishing a positive, safe, and supportive environment.

Strategies will be identified to engage populations and specific students that have been disengaged. Develop strategies designed to help children and adults in the school community to ​manage emotions, set and achieve positive goals, feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain positive relationships, and make responsible decisions.

The District will continue with its mindfulness initiative at all grade levels and expand the initiative more into classrooms and with parent support as well. The District will also implement opportunities for students to practice and reflect upon social and emotional competencies throughout the day.

All students with disabilities are entitled to a free and appropriate public education (FAPE), whether their services are provided in-person, remotely, or through a hybrid model. In order to ensure that FAPE is maintained for students when the health and safety of students with disabilities and those providing special education and related services are compromised, the team of service providers and parents/caregivers will collaboratively create a local service/pandemic plan that outlines any changes in the provision of FAPE that differ from the services originally outlined in the Individualized Education Plan (IEP).

The services provided should mirror the actual services outlined on the student’s Individual Education Plan (IEP) whenever possible. When services need to be shifted in order to maintain the health and safety of students, the changes will be discussed with families. In addition to the provision of in-person, virtual, or hybrid service delivery, each team will create a thoughtful and proactive contingency plan for the provision of services in the case of intermittent or extended school closure.

Students receiving special education services in placements outside of the district will continue to receive the provision of services consistent with the recommendations on their IEPs to the maximum extent possible, in order to maintain the health and safety of students.

Students with disabilities will continue to have access to the necessary accommodations, modifications, supplementary aids and services, and technology (including assistive technology) to meet the unique disability-related needs of students.

Students in grades K-6 enrolled in the Distance Learning Academy will receive live, daily instruction from a Warwick Valley Central School District teacher in the areas of ELA and mathematics as well as a weekly Encore (art, music, physical education, STEM and SEL lesson. A daily schedule will be provided before the start of the school year. Students will receive about 90 minutes of live instruction daily in addition to independent related tasks.

• Students in grades 7-12 who choose to learn in a full time remote platform will receive virtual synchronous instruction by joining their class remotely each day. All instruction will adhere to the NYS Learning Standards through lessons, planned activities, projects, and all assignments. Each day will allow time for students to conference with their teacher. All classes will be taught by a certified teacher. All families will be provided with a handbook that outlines the distance learning instructional model. Students and their families will have full time access to email, Google Classroom, parent and student grading portals, and help desk for all technology issues.

Students enrolled in the Distance Learning Academy will be eligible to take part in interscholastic sports and other after school activities, assuming that conditions allow those programs to happen. Athletics, fine and performing arts, and extracurricular activities will function as permitted by state and local health officials at the time of reopening.

Available guidance recommends limiting gatherings, events, and extracurricular activities to those that can maintain social distancing, support proper hand hygiene, and restrict group size. State guidance indicates a distance of 12 feet in all directions is maintained between individuals while participating in activities that require projecting the voice (e.g., singing), playing a wind instrument, or aerobic activity.

On July 16, the New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) announced that the fall sports start date is delayed until Monday, September 21. Additionally, all fall regional and state championships have been canceled. If the fall sports seasons are interrupted or impacted by Covid-19, condensed schedules may be implemented.

Distance Learning Academy students will be able to have the same course load and choices as those in the hybrid model so they will be able to choose honors-level courses.

Yes, remote learning will be done by grade, just as it is done in a typical school year. This is to ensure that students at each grade level are following the 2020-2021 curriculum, which has been specially adapted to address possible gaps that may have occurred due to last year's closure due to the pandemic.

NOTE: The 2020-21 curriculum will address the gaps that may have occurred during the extended school closure, by identifying the key standards and skills that students must know and be able to demonstrate understanding in order to be successful with the new learning expected. Pacing and key instructional strategies will be identified within the curriculum. These instructional strategies will be used during in-person learning and distance learning.

This statement and more detail on this aspect of our Reopening Plan can be read by clicking here.

Support of English Language Learners (ELL) will be comprehensive, high-quality, and culturally responsive. We will complete the ELL identification process within 30 school days of the start of the school year for all students who enrolled during COVID-19 school closures in 2019-2020, students who enroll during summer of 2020, and who enroll during the first 20 school days of the 2020-21 school year.

After this 20 day flexibility period, ELL identification will resume for all students within the required 10 school days of initial enrollment, as required by Commissioner’s Regulations Part 154.

We will provide professional development opportunities for our District that support best practices and equitable instruction for ELL and general education students, to help address learning gaps caused by the COVID-19 school closures. The district also has access to the OUBOCES Professional Learning Catalog to support teachers to ensure that English as a New Language (ENL) and world language instruction are research-based and personalized.

FInally, elementary-age ELLs will attend school daily. As the enrollment information comes in and we’re able to get the size of classes and cohorts, we’re trying to extend that to include more grades.

If a PIE/MAC parent chooses the Distance Learning Academy for their student, they will be placed with a regular education teacher. All placements for PIE/MAC will be honored and kept for the following school year (2021-22). The curriculum in PIE/MAC is similar to a regular education curriculum as all classes utilize Readers and Writers Workshop. The curricula do spiral and are thematic at the K-6 level.

The Partners in Education (PIE) program will continue in the upcoming school year. Kindergarten PIE students will attend school daily in smaller size classes every day at Pine Island Elementary School, as will all kindergarten students. Students in grades 1 and 2 will remain in a multi-age cohort in smaller size classes daily at Sanfordville. Grades 3-4 and 5-6 will attend class in school every other day with the cohort remaining multi-age.

Like the other K-2 classrooms, the teachers and instructional aides will work as a team. The student will always have either a teacher or an instructional aide in the classroom. The teacher will teach new content and the instructional aide will provide individual support on independent tasks.