• What are families’ options for the start of the 2020-2021 school year?

  • Families will have two options to start the school year.
     

  • IN-PERSON CLASSROOM LEARNING means that students will return to school five days a week.
     

  • DISTANCE ONLINE LEARNING means that students will learn remotely, using district-provided devices to attend regularly scheduled classes.

• What metrics will be used by the district to decide when to move between the three models: in-person, hybrid, all online? 

  • The Valders Area School District will work closely with the Manitowoc County Health Department to help determine the best models to operate within. Some of the metrics will include the number of COVID-19 related illnesses and other illnesses within the district and Manitowoc County. At the beginning of the school year parents will have the choice of having their child(ren) attend school in person or online. If the COVID-19 or other illnesses numbers increase to unmanageable numbers the District may need to move into the hybrid model, or all online instruction. 

• Will school supply lists be released and where can we find them?

  • School supply lists are available here on the school website.

• Will there be an Early Childhood program offered for the 2020-2021 School year?

  • Yes. Early Childhood is a special education program, which will continue throughout the 2020-2021 school year.

• Will families be allowed to switch between in classroom and distance online if family situations change during the school year?

  • Families will be able to change their decision regarding whether they want their child(ren) to attend classes in person or online at the end of each mid-quarter(4½ weeks before the end of the quarter) and/or quarter. Parents should contact the building principal to discuss switching.  

• What will distance online learning look like? Will students receive pre-recorded lessons or will they be participating in live classroom sessions?

  • Online learning will be a big change for our staff, as well as our students. The planning committee is working hard to find and acquire the equipment necessary to make a live classroom experience possible. More information will be released about the specifics of distance learning in the near future.

• What will the mask requirement be in a physical education classroom?

  • The Valders Area School District must follow the Governor’s face covering mandate. Students in gym class must wear a face mask unless the students are outside and are able to safely social distance.

• Will there be recess?
   
  • Updated 08/11/2020: Yes, the elementary and middle school students will still have normally scheduled recess. The equipment used during recess will be sanitized regularly. Face masks will need to be worn during recess.

• What will happen if a student is suspected of having COVID-19?

  • The student will immediately be isolated in the designated isolation room.
     

  • The student’s parent or guardian will be contacted to pick up  his/her child. It will always be recommended that the child be tested for COVID-19.
     

  • The parent will notify the school nurse and/or principal if the child has been tested for COVID-19.
     

  • The child will need to remain at home attending online classes until a negative test result has been received.
     

  • If the child is not tested for COVID-19 the child will need to remain at home, attending online classes, for a minimum of two weeks, as well as be symptom free before returning to in person classes.

• What happens if a student tests positive for COVID-19? 

  • Manitowoc County Department of Health Services will contact the school the child attends.
     

  • School personnel will review the student’s schedule including transportation and co-curricular activities to determine which students and staff would be considered a close contact. This is defined as any person who is within 6’ of an infected person for more than 15 minutes regardless of the use of a face covering. That information will be shared with Manitowoc County Department of Health Services. 
     

  • A nurse from the Manitowoc County Health Department will contact parents if their child has been identified as a close contact. The County nurse will provide further information and directions.

• Will my child be required to wear a mask?    

  • Due to the Governor’s face covering mandate, and the VASD School Board’s directive, children aged 5 and older are required to wear a face covering. “Face covering” means a piece of cloth or other material that is worn to cover the nose and mouth completely. A “face covering” includes but is not limited to a bandana, a cloth face mask, a disposable or paper mask, a neck gaiter, or a religious face covering. A “face covering” does not include face shields, mesh masks, masks with holes or openings, or masks with vents. 
     

  • Children aged 3 and 4 may wear a face shield or face mask.

• Do parents need to provide masks for their student(s)? 

  • Each student will receive one face mask from the School District. Parents must provide additional masks as needed.

• Why did the district choose not to complete temperature checks as students arrive in the building? 

  • The individual schools have over 325 students in each building. To take all of the children’s temperature prior to each student entering the building would take too much time. There is further concern of students properly distancing while waiting to have their temperature checked. Additionally, there are a number of different symptoms of COVID-19 other than a fever. 

• What will class sizes look like? Is there anything being done to lessen that number and have smaller group sizes to help with social distancing in the classroom? Or will the numbers stay about the same? 

  • Some families will choose to have their child(ren) attend classes through online instruction. Some classrooms will have fewer students due to those decisions. 
     

  • Each classroom will ensure the American Academy of Pediatrics recommendation of arranging desks to allow for social distancing of 3 to 6 feet. 
     

  • Class numbers will be balanced and reduced as much as possible for classrooms.
     

  • Some teachers have had plexi-glass installed to help separate students.

Please check back for updates!

Please check back for updates!

• What is the district doing to help families who do not have access to the Internet? 

  • Some ideas to help you connect to the Internet include:

    • Create a hotspot with your cell phone.  Some companies will charge extra fees to do this. Check with your provider. 

    • Use the Google Offline feature to have your student complete homework. More details will be available to families at the beginning of the school year.

    • Go to the public library for Internet access.  

    • If you have a smartphone, download Google Drive and other apps and use your phone. If you have access to a printer, you can print documents and complete them. 

    • Contact your local Internet provider to determine if they can offer free or reduced price access.

• Please check back for PARENT TRAINING updates!

Please check back for updates!

• Where will students go before school begins each morning?

  • Updated 08/11/2020: Students are not to arrive at school before 7:35 a.m. At the elementary school students will meet in the gym if they arrive before 7:45. After 7:45 students will go to their classroom. Students may eat breakfast in the cafeteria between 7:35 to 7:55.

  • Updated 08/11/2020: At the middle school and high school students may prepare for their first hour class in the hallways between 7:45 a.m. to 7:55. Students may eat breakfast in the Cafetorium between 7:35 and 7:55.

• Will students be allowed to carry a backpack or will students be using their lockers? 

  • Students will have access to an assigned locker at the middle and high school. 

• My students do not attend Valders for classes, but do receive speech services from the district. Will they still be able to receive those services? 

  • Yes. If your child qualifies and has been receiving speech services then he/she will continue to receive those services. 

• Will you be offering lunches to children who are attending school virtually?

  • More information regarding this option will be provided soon.

• Will Chatterbox be open for use? 

  • Updated 08/11/2020: Yes. The location and the times of Chatterbox will remain the same as last school year.

• Will parents be allowed into the building for Chatterbox drop-offs and pick-ups? 

  • Updated 08/04/2020: Yes. The same procedures that have been in place will not change. Parents may enter the building to drop off and pick up their children.