Announcements
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Schedule Change April 12-16
April 15 is a professional day for SCPS Staff. There will be no instruction, synchronous or asynchronous, for students. April 16 is an asynchronous day for students and an additional work day for teachers. Students with IEPs who access their education in person at school under plan C and those who access our internet cafes will come into school on their normal schedule on April 16.
In order to ensure Group A and B hybrid students have equitable in-person instruction during this week, group A hybrid students will attend in person on Tuesday, April 13, and B group hybrid students will attend in person on Wednesday, April 14.
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Superintendent Communication
Superintendent's Letter to Families and Staff 3-26-21
Superintendent's Letter to Families and Staff 3-26-21 - Spanish
Visit the Health Services page to read all prior communication.
State Superintendent's Memo 005-21: Interim Guidance for PreK-12 School Reopening (January 14, 2021)
VA State Superintendent’s Memo #230-20 - Statutory and Regulatory Instructional Expectations for the 2020-2021 School Year
Returning to School During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Superintendent’s Amended Recommendation - July 28, 2020
Virginia Department of Education's School Reopening Frequently Asked Questions
Division Childcare Provision for Upcoming School Year 7-28-20
Superintendent's Statement Regarding Racism
Order of the State Health Commissioner - June 8, 2020
Governor's Final Phase Guidance for Virginia Schools - July 7, 2020
State Superintendent Recover, Redesign, Restart 2020
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SCPS 4-Day Hybrid Return Plan from 3-23-21 School Board Meeting
Read the presentation for more information regarding the plan to return hybrid students at all levels to 4-day a week in school instruction.
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MyStop Parent App Updated
Tyler Technologies has released a new version of the MyStop Parent App. The app allows users to track their student’s bus from a computer or mobile device. My Stop displays the school bus’s approximate location on a map, as well as the estimated time of arrival (ETA) to a specific student’s bus stop.
If you are using this app, you must install the latest version available in the Google Playstore and Apple Store. Please see these instructions if you need assistance completing this process.
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VDOE Updates Frequently Asked Questions
Visit this link for a full list of VDOE School Reopening Frequently Asked Question
School Enrollment and Homeschooling
Do parents providing home instruction need to provide evidence of progress for the 2020-2021 school year?
In accordance with § 22.1-254.1 (C) of the Code of Virginia, parents providing home instruction for the 2020-2021 school year must provide evidence of academic progress to their local school division by August 1, 2021. Although this requirement was waived for the 2019-2020 school year due to COVID-19, the evidence of progress requirement has not been waived and is required for the 2020-2021 school year.
The evidence of academic progress requirement for home instruction students is a measure of student growth and proficiency. Similarly, public school students must take the Standards of Learning (SOL) and other end-of-course (EOC) assessments to demonstrate growth and proficiency. The SOL and EOC assessments have not been waived for public school students for the 2020-2021 school year; and parents must also provide evidence of academic progress for their home instruction students.
CDC and VDH Guidance
What are the recommended mitigation strategies for school-based physical education and recess?
Adherence to COVID mitigation measures are critically important in physical education (PE) and recess settings. The CDC School Operational Strategy Document and Virginia’s Revised Interim Guidance for PreK-12 Schools recommend 5 key mitigation measures, and schools should implement them in all school based settings. Below is a summary of current recommendations on these strategies as they apply to physical education and recess:
UNIVERSAL MASKING
- Governor Northam’s Executive Order 72 (EO72) requires every individual age 5 and older to wear a mask in any indoor setting shared with others.
- EO72 requires every individual age 5 and older to wear a mask in outdoor settings when at least 6 feet of distance around others cannot be maintained.
- Under EO72, masks may be removed when exercising. However, VDH strongly encourages individuals to wear masks when playing sports, exercising, etc. during times of high community transmission.
- Please note that removing masks creates increased risk. If students are removing masks while exercising, additional mitigation measures should be implemented - such as additional distance (10 feet is required in private gyms by EO72) or moving activity outside for greater spacing and increased ventilation.
- Proper usage of a mask is critical, it should be well fitting and cover both the mouth and nose.
- Plastic face shields are not a replacement for face masks.
PHYSICAL DISTANCING
- CDC and Virginia’s Revised Interim Guidance recommend maintaining 6 feet of distance, both inside and outside, to the greatest extent possible.
- If students are exercising without masks indoors, it is strongly recommended that distance between individuals is increased to 10 feet. This is consistent with EO72 requirements for private gyms.
- Physical distancing also includes the podding and cohorting of students to the greatest extent possible, so that different groups of students do not mix. Therefore, schools are encouraged to limit the mixing of classes during PE and recess to the extent possible.
In addition, the other mitigation measures (proper hand washing; cleaning and disinfecting; and increased ventilation) are important in a PE or recess environment.
- When possible and safe, schools should conduct PE and recess outside for increased ventilation.
- The CDC recommends saving high intensity exercise for outdoor settings and maintaining distance during such activities.
- Schools should reinforce proper handwashing techniques before/after class and provide hand sanitizer on the way in and out if possible.
- Schools should disinfect and clean shared equipement between classes. See CDC Mitigation Toolkit for recommendations on cleaning products. This includes exercise equipment, mats, recess equipment, etc.
General Resources and Links:
Special Education and Student Services
For children who require suctioning or need breathing treatments during school hours, do schools need to be concerned about aerosolizing the virus that causes COVID-19?
During the COVID-19 pandemic, asthma treatments using inhalers with spacers (with or without a face mask, according to each student’s individualized treatment plan) are preferred over nebulizer treatments whenever possible in the school setting. The use of asthma inhalers (with or without spacers or face masks) is not considered an aerosol-generating procedure.
CDC recommends that nebulizers in school should be reserved for instances where children cannot use inhalers, do not have access to an inhaler or for children who are in significant respiratory distress while awaiting emergency transport.
Suctioning and nebulizer treatments should be performed in a space that limits exposure to others and with minimal staff present, limited to the student and staff member performing the treatment. The staff member should put on proper personal protective equipment (N95 mask, goggles or face shield, gloves and gown). Rooms should be well ventilated or the treatment should be performed outside. After the student receives treatment, the room should undergo routine cleaning and disinfection. Routine cleaning and disinfecting of the room is adequate and the room does not need to be vacated for any period of time. A list of EPA-approved disinfectants can be found on the EPA website.
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Transitioning from CDC’s Indicators for Dynamic School Decision-Making (released September 15, 2020) to CDC’s Operational Strategy for K-12 Schools through Phased Mitigation (released February 12, 2021) to Reduce COVID-19
The Centers for Disease Control released a new Operational Strategy for K-12 Schools on February 12, 2021, to incorporate the best available evidence at this time. The indicators and thresholds in the operational strategy replace the core indicators in the Indicators for Dynamic School Decision-Making.
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SCPS Face Covering Update
Read the Superintendent's updated information regarding proper face coverings when aboard SCPS property. Bandanas, gaiters, and vented masks are not considered proper face coverings.
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State Superintendent's Memo 005-21: Interim Guidance for PreK-12 School Reopening (January 14, 2021)
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January 12, 2021 School Board Presentation - Second Semester Planning for Middle and High School
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January 12, 2021 School Board Presentation - Elementary Focus Group
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Tip Hotline
Our school district needs your help! Everyone is responsible for an orderly and safe school environmenet. Information you provide can help. Call Stafford Crime Solvers at 540-658-2020.
Spotlight
SCPS Coronavirus Dashboard
Coronavirus Data By School - *Indicates less than 5
VDH School Metrics
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The Virginia Department of Health released a school metrics coronavirus dashboard. These metrics will be used when evaluating pandemic conditions. To view Stafford County specific information, scroll to the middle of the page and select STAFFORD from the SELECT LOCALITY dropdown option.
VDH Coronavirus Dashboard
Upcoming Events
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Today
7:00 PM - 10:00 PM School Board Meeting
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Tomorrow
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Thursday
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10:00 AM - 7:00 PM In-Person Kindergarten Registration Event
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5:30 PM - 6:30 PM School Board's Governance Committee
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6:00 PM - 7:00 PM Technology Advisory Committee
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April 27, 2021
5:30 PM - 7:00 PM School Board Budget Work Session
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7:00 PM - 10:00 PM School Board Meeting