Water Valley School District

The Water Valley School District is planning to return to school on August 2, 2021. Please understand that during these uncertain times things change daily.

We will follow the school calendar that was approved earlier this year and is posted on the district website (wvsdonline.com). If the district has to adjust the calendar to meet certain regulations, then it will be published when approved by the school board.

Parents will choose one of the two learning options per semester for the 2021-2022 school year.

Academics/Instruction

•   Virtual/Distance Learning will not be available for the 2021-2022 school year.

•   Students in PreK-2 will remain with their teachers for the duration of the day except for activities.

•   Students will leave the rooms as a class for lunch, physical education, activities, and recess.

•   Classes will be social distanced from other classes when they are out of their homerooms.

•   Students 3-12 will resume normal instruction with social distancing being practiced as much as possible.

•   For those medically fragile students who have a weakened or compromised immune system, an online option will

  be provided. This option will only be considered for those students with an extreme medical condition with a medical doctor’s recommendation. Students can also be considered with a medical doctor’s recommendation if there is an extreme medical condition in the student’s documented residence and the affected family members are not provided efficient support through adult vaccinations. The district will release the application for this option June 22, 2021. Applications will be due July 19, 2021. No late applications will be accepted. All applications must be approved by the principal, superintendent and school board. Virtual/Distance learners will be required to complete work that meets the same requirements as in person learners. That requirement is 330 minutes per day and 180 days per school year.

•   Students who don’t have access to a computer will be issued a Chromebook. Parents will have to sign a contract with guidelines for checking out a computer.

•   Students who don’t have access to the Internet will get a USB flash drive with teacher recorded lessons and instructional materials on it or packets. These lessons will be done weekly and returned to the school for teachers to grade. When students return the lessons, they will be given the next week’s lessons. Parents will be responsible for picking up and returning work weekly. Students will be required to do the same work as in person learners, that requirement is 330 minutes per day and 180 days per school year.

•   Students who do have Internet will do their work through on-line programs and Google Classroom. It is highly recommended that students who do not have access to the Internet return to traditional learning. Students will be required to do the same work as in person learners to meet the 330 minutes per day and 180 days per school year.

•   Students who choose to do distance learning may not participate in extra-curricular activities.

  Quarantined Students

•   Students who don’t have access to a computer will be issued a Chromebook. Parents will have to sign a contract with guidelines for checking out a computer.

•   Students who don’t have access to the Internet will get instructional packets (asynchronous learning) that is equivalent to in-person learning. These lessons will be done weekly and returned to the school for teachers to grade. When students return the lessons, they will be given the next week’s lessons. Parents will be responsible for picking up and returning work weekly.

•   Students who do have Internet will do their work through on-line programs and Google Classroom (synchronous learning).

•   Quarantined students will be required to complete work that meets the same requirements as in person learners. That requirement is 330 minutes per day and 180 days per school year.

•   Students who are quarantined may not participate in extra-curricular activities.

  The safety and wellbeing of our students, employees, and families are very important to the Water Valley School District. Please take a look at these guidelines and precautions for school this year.

  Face Mask:

•   Masks will be optional in WVSD for the 2021-2022 school year. The board has given the superintendent the authority to require masks if needed.

•   Students may wear their own masks, but it must be solid in color. Mask may be monogramed with student’s initials, name or Water Valley logo.

  Bus transportation:

•   All buses will be sanitized in the morning and afternoon when all students exit the buses.

•   Students will have to use the hand sanitizer machines on the buses before they enter the bus.

•   Windows will be open when weather permits.

•   All buses will be electrostatic sprayed.

•   We highly recommend that parents transport their children to and from school.

  Car Riders:

•   Students will sanitize hands upon entering the building.

•   We highly recommend parents transport students to and from school.

  Visitors:

  •   All visitors must sanitize their hands upon entering the building.

  •   Visitors will only be allowed in the office area or the conference room.

  •   Visitors must have a mask on while they are in any school building.

    Classrooms:

•   Cleaned daily when students leave for the day.

•   Electrostatic sprayed every Monday after school.

•   Electric hand sanitizers in every classroom.

•   Open windows as much as possible to let fresh air in the room.

•   Students will be social distanced as much as possible.

•   No outside food may be brought into the classroom for parties or to share with other students.

  Cafeteria:

•   Hand sanitizers on the walls in the cafeteria and serving line.

•   Students will social distance while in line to get food and take food back to their classroom (Grades 2-

  12). Pre-K -1 will eat in cafeteria social distanced by class if more than one class is in the cafeteria.

•   Workers will wear masks, gloves, and sometimes face shields.

•   No outside food will be allowed to be delivered. Students may bring their own lunch.

•   Workers will serve students their food.

•   Bottle fill water fountains will be available for students to fill water bottles. Students should bring a

refillable bottle from home.

Technology:

•   Sanitized when students leave the room.

•   When we go one-to-one, elementary students will use the same Chromebook throughout the day, and it

  will be sanitized at the end of the day.

  Restrooms:

•   Wash or sanitize your hands before you leave restroom

•   Touchless water faucets

•   Touchless sanitizer and paper towel dispensers

•   Clean 2 times a day or more if needed

•   Electrostatic fogged every Monday after school Testing positive for COVID-19

  While students or employees are waiting on results from COVID-19 test they must quarantine until they receive the results. If they are positive, then they must quarantine for 10 days from date of test. If they are negative, then they may return to school.

  Parents are required to report to the school if their child tests positive for COVID-19. The parent/guardian of the students and all employees who were in close contact (less than 6 feet for 15 minutes) without a mask will be notified that they came into contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19. Those students and employees will begin distance learning/distance teaching for 14 days or CDC guidelines. All areas that a person that has tested positive for COVID-19 will be electrostatic sprayed.

  Outbreak of students testing positive for COVID-19:

  If we have a high number of cases of COVID-19 at one time, then we may choose to quarantine the class or close school for 14 days or CDC guidelines. If this happens we will transfer to distance learning for the time school is closed, and all extra-curricular activities will be suspended until we return to school.

  Students who have fever after arriving at school:

  Students with a 100 plus temperature will be isolated from the general population, and it will be mandatory that they wear a mask that the school will provide. Parents will be contacted to come pick the child up from school. It is at the parent’s discretion that the child be tested for COVID-19. Students will not be allowed back to school until after the fever is gone for 24 hours. Students will be required to wear the mask until they leave the building.

  Students, employees, and visitors who have one or more of these symptoms should not enter any school buildings:

•   A fever

•   A cough that cannot be attributed to another health condition

•   A sore throat that cannot be attributed to another health condition

•   Nasal congestion or runny nose that cannot be attributed to another health condition

•   Body aches

•   Loss of taste and/or smell

•   Diarrhea

•   Nausea

•   Vomiting

•   Sweats/Chills

•   He or she provides care for or lives with someone who has COVID-19 symptoms (fever and symptoms listed above) or who has tested positive for COVID-19 in the last 14 days.

•   He or she has been exposed to someone with a positive COVID-19 test in the last 14 days.

  Parents should monitor their children and if they have any of the symptoms listed above should keep them at home and contact the school. Parents can contact the school after hours at des@wvsd.k12.ms.us or wvhs@wvsd.k12.ms.us

  Communication

  Employees

•   Information will be shared with internal stakeholders first. All communication with the public will be

  transmitted from the district level.

•   Emails from building-level administrators will be sent to all employees for regular weekly

  communication and COVID-19 updates as needed. Group text messages will be used to communicate

  quickly and directly to employees as needed.

•   Communication with parents will be done in a timely manner: employees should check and respond to

  emails within 24 hours. If employees do not know the answer to a question, they should consult with their building administrator for more information.

  Parents/Guardians/Students

•   WVSD teachers will communicate with parents/guardians the daily procedures that will be taking place

  in all schools.

•   Local news outlets will receive press releases as needed.

•   The FAQ document will be updated as needed on the district website.

•   A pandemic-specific email address is available for each school to communicate positive cases and

  concerns.

•   Teachers have trained students on our learning management system (Google Classroom).

•   The district will stay in constant contact with school and community health officials, with guidance by

  the Mississippi Department of Health on how to remain safe and healthy during any pandemic or crisis. All information will remain current, and actions steps will state how the district will respond to arising situations. The district will ensure everyone has the necessary information to help students cope with all crises. The district has hired a social emotional counselor for each school in the district. The district will post communications and social media posts for when spread levels are confirmed and action is needed. WVSD will not release information identifying individuals. WVSD will work continuously with local and state agencies to confirm and dispel information regarding COVID-19 and all pandemic illnesses in a timely manner.