FAQsSection3

Susquehanna Valley

SV School Reopening Frequently Asked Questions

SECTION 3: REGARDING ALL STUDENTS

When is the first day of school and will there be orientation sessions prior?

The first day of school for students in grades 1 through 12 will be Monday, September 14. Students in BK and Kindergarten will be scheduled for orientation sessions on September 14 and begin school on September 15. Students in Pre-Kindergarten will be scheduled for orientation sessions on September 15 and begin school on September 16.

Will a student on a remote day who is sick be required to call in the absence to the school nurse?

Yes, we ask that you continue to communicate with the nurse anytime your child is absent from in-person or remote learning.

Will busing be available for all students?

All students who are typically eligible for busing will continue to be eligible. This includes those students who are in grades 4 and 5 who would otherwise walk to the Middle School if in grade 6.

How will the bus schedule for RTS students (grades 4-6) compare to last year's MS/HS schedule?

It will be similar to last year’s bus schedule, but is not finalized due to the change in grade locations in the district. Information will be mailed to parents as soon as possible.

Will we need all the school supplies from the list that was sent home?

Updated school supply lists will be made available around August 21.

Were parent reps included on the reopening planning committee?

The district utilized multiple surveys to influence decision making regarding its opening plan. To only include a few parents would not allow for all parents to have a voice in the process. As always, we encourage parents to reach out to their child’s principal or to the District Office with concerns.

How will the district respond to parent questions?

These Q&A pages will be updated as additional questions are received and information is available to respond to them.

How did moving 4th and 5th graders to the middle school help with social distancing?

The students in Pre-Kindergarten through grade 3 have been separated into a greater number of class sections to reduce class sizes in order to comply with social distancing requirements. The required a greater number of classrooms to accommodate the increased number of sections, and necessitated moving the fourth and fifth grade students to the middle school where social distancing could be achieved for them to attend in person each day as well.

Could students be dropped off earlier in the day to reduce the number of students on buses?

The administrative team is continuing to explore these procedures in a manner that will alleviate traffic congestion and still comply with social distancing and cohorting requirements.

Why isn’t school opening on September 10th as originally planned?

The district has chosen to use all of its available Superintendent’s Conference Days during the week of September 8-11, therefore eliminating the March conference day. This was done to allow teachers time to ensure that their technology needs are attended to so as to eliminate problems during the first days of instruction.

How many students will be in a class?

This differs depending on the physical size of the classroom. The average class has approximately 11 students.

Will 4th graders be riding the same bus with high school students?

Yes, students in grades 4-12 will ride the same bus, and sit with family members from the same household.

What are the thoughts on snow days?

The district is working through this right now, but imagines that remote instruction could take place as an alternative to a snow day.

What is happening with students that are in BOCES Programs?

BOCES has released the following information regarding its programs:

In General:

In most cases, students are welcome to come to BOCES programs on the days that they go to their home school and days when they would be remote in their home district, they will do remote instruction for their BOCES classes
Learning will be synchronous
Zoom will be platform used, but zoom sessions will not be recorded

New Visions:

Students will go every day

PALS/Crossroads/Oak Tree/ADT:

Students will go every day

Area Center/ ELC/ WLC/ Evertech/ PTech

Students will go every other day
For ELC/ WLC/ Evertech, students will be assigned a cohort and sent to BOCES

CTE:

Only students choosing the hybrid learning option for their CTE work will be eligible for CTE enrollment

Will there be any before school or after school options for parents working 7:00am - 5:00pm

Please contact the Tania Barnes at the YMCA at 607-772-0560 ext 236 or email at [email protected]

How will parent drop off or students driving to school work?

The administrative team is continuing to explore these procedures in a manner that will alleviate traffic congestion and still comply with social distancing and cohorting requirements.

For students switching buildings, can you post a video orientation to assist them?

Yes, there will be an orientation video for students in grades 4-8 respective to their assigned learning location.

Will the kids eat in the cafeteria?

Yes, students will eat at individual desks in the cafeteria and other designated lunch room areas such as the middle school foyer and high school small gym.

What will the gym protocol be? Will masks be required during that time?

Students learning remotely will keep a physical activity log that will be monitored by one teacher. Students who are taking PE in person will be engaged with activities that allow them to maintain social distancing protocols for physical activity. They will not be required to wear a mask while exercising.

Will elementary kids be required to carry iPads back and forth on the bus?

Yes, all students will be required to carry iPads or Chromebooks home and to school each day. They will be responsible for charging them at night, and having them at home in case of a return to remote learning or snow day.

Will the kids be changing classrooms each period?

Only students in grades 9-12 will be changing classrooms. This is due to the varied academic pathways that occur at the high school level. Students in Pre-Kindergarten through grade 8 will only leave their classrooms for physical education and lunch (and to use the restroom when not located inside the classroom).

Will 7th graders possibly be eating with seniors or kids outside their grade?

No, grade levels will be eating in their own cohorts.

What is the difference between remote learning and homeschooling?

Students who are learning remotely will still be enrolled as Susquehanna Valley students and will have full access to curriculum, instruction and assessment through the district as well as continual teacher contact and communication. Students who are homeschooled are no longer enrolled as students at Susquehanna Valley and parents/guardians must follow these procedures, which can be found at Home Instruction. Parents of, or persons in parental relation to, compulsory school age children have the legal right to instruct their children at home. If a child is being educated at home, the local school district must be assured that the child is receiving instruction in certain required courses/subjects. Parents who wish to home school their children must provide written notice of intent to the school district superintendent. The school district must then respond to the family and provide a copy of the home instruction regulations as well as an individualized home instruction plan (IHIP) form to complete. Parents are responsible for identifying the curriculum materials that they will use to instruct their children in the required subject areas.