Monday, March 16, 2020
\r\nHello Van Vleck ISD Families,
\r\nUnderstandably, this is a challenging and unprecedented time for our Van Vleck ISD community of staff, students, and parents as we adjust our lives to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. We are communicating with all Van Vleck ISD staff our important role, and that role is to facilitate learning and serve our Van Vleck ISD students and families. Like you and your family, our district leadership team has been navigating circumstances that change hour-by-hour. On behalf of Van Vleck ISD educators, I know I speak for all of us when I say that we are committed to your child’s learning.
\r\nCampus-Based Learning Transition to Online/Distance Campus Learning
\r\nDuring this time away from campus, we began planning for additional services and the potential of online/distance campus learning for an extended period of time. At this moment, we are not sure how long our schools will be closed. This school closure is to honor the request of state officials to do our part in mitigating the spread of COVID-19 while state officials determine requirements for Instructional Delivery at a Distance (Online Campus Learning). During a superintendent’s conference call this morning, the Texas Education Agency articulated expectations for Online/Distance Campus Learning as a condition for granting attendance waivers. Online/Distance Campus Learning may include audio conferencing, email/teaching chats, presentation slides, videos/video conferencing, virtual whiteboards, web-based resources, mail outs and online learning systems. Although our current school year calendar includes extra minutes of instructional time and an Inclement Weather Day on Monday, April 13th, by Wednesday, March 18th, we will transition from an Extended Spring Break to Van Vleck ISD Online/Distance Campus Learning for students and staff in alignment with Texas Education Agency’s attendance waiver guidelines. Please know we are doing everything we can to ease the transition from classroom instruction to online/distance campus learning. We have set-up a web page for students and parents to use with links for online/distance learning opportunities. This web page link is below. Please note that we will be adding information to this page daily.\r\n
\r\nhttp://www.vvisd.org/o/district/page/vvisd-covid-19-online-distance-learning-information
\r\n\r\n \r\n Online/Distance Campus Learning - What does this mean for parents/guardians?
\r\nOur Curriculum & Instruction team members are organizing Van Vleck ISD’s Online/Distance Campus Learning activities for students to complete while at home, which will be made available beginning in the coming days. Parents will also be asked to complete an online Google survey about the type of technology access families have at home to help the district understand which technology tools are available for each child. We will transition from an orientation of our online campus learning tools and platform to focus on specific content students need for each grade level and course. Please click the link below and complete the VVISD COVID-19 Information Family Survey.\r\n
\r\nhttps://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdH5EPF73ZpjLGCdDUZD5zhkPdBUQhhE7_cxUACMZIW-y02Lg/viewform\r\n
\r\n\r\n Student Meal Program\r\n Taking care of our students is our greatest responsibility. We know that some of our students depend on us for their basic necessities like meals. Starting Wednesday, March 18th until further notice (Monday-Friday), from 11 a.m.-1 p.m., we are opening one location for free Grab’N’Go lunches at O. H. Herman Middle School, behind the cafeteria. VVISD students of any age can pick up a free lunch during that time. To help limit social gatherings, we ask that parents/guardians and children please remain in your vehicle while we deliver meals curbside. Please note that student(s) must be present in vehicle.
\r\nWhy Wash Your Hands?
\r\nOur Civic Responsibility
\r\nNational, state, and local leaders emphasize the need for everyone to do their part to help flatten the curve for the spread of COVID-19. As a school family, we must model smart social distancing recommendations. Please do your part to also model the important behavior of social distancing in the days to come.
\r\nWhen it comes to student learning, we greatly appreciate your support for our students, each other, and our great community. Thank you for being open to online campus learning instruction; thank you for being flexible as changes continue to occur; and thank you for being a member of the LeopardNation.
\r\nSincerely,
\r\nJohn R. O’Brien
\r\nSuperintendent of Schools
\r\nVan Vleck ISD\r\n