Issue #1 – April 2021 – The Virtual Direction

Contact Brian Seymour at VLA@plsd.us – NOTE: VLA enrollment is currently at capacity and we are placing newly enrolled students on a waitlist.

YES, every student that wants to be enrolled in the VLA for the 21-22 school needs to go through the registration process.

There is nothing you need to do if you want your student(s) to return back to the “traditional” school environment.  All students that do not sign up for the VLA option will be placed back in their home buildings for the 2021-2022 school year.

The first step is to enroll your student(s) into Pickerington Schools.  Please contact the PLSD Welcome Center to start the enrollment process and let the Welcome Center know that you would like your student(s) to be enrolled into the Virtual Learning Academy.

• All students and families will have access to high-quality, research-based educational materials and to the supports needed to successfully access those materials.
• Students will have access to meaningful/high-quality educational materials that align with Ohio’s standards.
• The structure of the Virtual Learning Academy will consist of both synchronous and asynchronous learning.
• Students and teachers will maintain a personal connection that supports necessary, rigorous academic work in a manner that is respectful of students’ contexts (their mindset, feelings, responsibilities, home considerations, etc.).
• Simplicity is best during this time—the simplicity of the framework, communication structures, and expectations.
• Support the whole child—their mental health, nutritional needs, and safety needs.
• Parents and other caregivers need access to clear information and ample resources.
• Teachers may need support, encouragement, and compassion to ensure their success and resilience.
• Virtual Learning Academy will utilize curriculum and teachers from Edmentum (grades 1-5) and APEX (grades 6-12) with PLSD Teachers serving as the teacher of record and available to support the VLA students.

Pickerington School Virtual Learning Educators will commit to:

• Provide both synchronous and asynchronous instructional opportunities for students
• Provide a range of meaningful learning opportunities and resources that engage and meet the needs of all learners.
• Be available to students and families via phone (3CX on phones or Chrome app), text (through Talking Points), email, Google Meet, LMS
  • Electronic communication platforms will be used in accordance with District guidelines.
• Provide feedback to students in a timely manner.
• Collaborate with colleagues (Teachers, Instructional Coaches, Counselors, Social Workers, Psychologists, Librarians, etc) to address needs that arise along the way.
• Communicate with the PLSD Virtual Learning Academy Principal.
• Connect families with educational resources that support English Language Learners (including necessary language supports) and students with IEPs/504s.
• Complete all required tasks, including verifying attendance, providing instruction via the learning management system for the VLA and through instructional videos and/or live instruction/office hours on Google Meet, checking on students’ emotional wellbeing, and offering feedback on student learning.

As students and families are enrolling in the PLSD Virtual Learning Academy, are agreeing to the following commitments:

• One year enrollment into the PLSD Virtual Learning Academy
• Having students establish and follow regular daily routines to the greatest extent possible.
• Ensuring students get enough sleep.
• Designating a specific space to work on virtual learning academy activities.
• Follow the syllabus and monitor the progress of your child.
• Setting sensible time limits for students’ technology use.
• Reviewing communication from the District and buildings as frequently as possible, but at least weekly.
• Completing assigned activities to the greatest extent possible.
• Discussing remote learning experiences and needs and communicating these with our staff. 
• Provide transportation (for high school students) for their elective courses to their home high school.
• Bring students into the physical building for assessment purposes (local, state and national testing) when there is not a virtual option.

This agreement is to inform families of the expectations associated with the Virtual Learning Academy (VLA).

Student Agreement

I will follow the expectations outlined in the Pickerington School Virtual Learning Academy Plan, including:

• One year commitment into the PLSD Virtual Learning Academy
• Record attendance each day or period, as appropriate.
• Participate in structured learning activities – including asynchronous activities as well as whole group, small group, and individualized synchronous virtual sessions.
• Attend all required Google Meets, including large group, whole class, small group, and targeted intervention and enrichment
• Be accountable for completing and submitting lessons, activities, assessments in a timely fashion in alignment with the classroom syllabus
• Attend all synchronous class meetings and instructional activities.
• Communicate with teachers via shared communication methods, including office hours to seek help or support.
• Participate in district and state assessments; schedule in-person appointments as appropriate.
• I understand that I must follow the expectations of the PLSD Acceptable Use Policy (AUP).
• Maintain a working Chromebook or request that it be repaired through the PLSD Technology Department.
• Maintain working WIFI or request a hotspot through the PLSD Technology Department

Parent/Guardian Agreement

I will follow the expectations outlined in the Pickerington School Virtual Learning Academy Plan, including:

• One year commitment into the PLSD Virtual Learning Academy
• Support my child to record attendance each day or period, as appropriate.
• Support my child to participate in structured learning activities – including asynchronous activities as well as whole group, small group, and individualized synchronous virtual sessions.
• Support my child to communicate with the teacher via shared communication methods to seek help or support as needed.
• Support my child to establish and follow regular daily routines to the greatest extent possible.
• Designate a specific space to work on virtual learning academy activities.
• Follow the syllabus and monitor the progress of your child.
• I understand the 100% remote learning environment may impact service options available through an IEP or 504 as well as services for EL and gifted students, among others.
• Review communication from the District and buildings as frequently as possible, but at least weekly.
• Discuss remote learning experiences and needs and communicating these with PLSD staff. 
• Provide transportation (for high school students) for their elective courses to their home high school.
• I acknowledge that my student and I are to follow the expectations in the PLSD Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) and that a violation of these guidelines could result in the student facing disciplinary action.

NOTES:

*For enrollment into Advanced, Honors, and Gifted courses students must qualify for the specific course and have the required prerequisites to take the course

** Band and Orchestra will be available to VLA students, but only in a face-to-face environment.  Students that wish to take band will have band scheduled during first period. Students that wish to take orchestra will have orchestra scheduled the last period of the day. Parents/guardians will need to provide transportation for the student for band and orchestra. Student’s schedules will be reduced by one elective as that time will serve as travel time.

There are no honors or advance placement (AP) courses available in the VLA for the 2021-2022 school year.

NOTE ABOUT ELECTIVES:

High School VLA Becomes Daily Hybrid Model to offer Numerous electives to VLA students

The High School version of the PLSD Virtual Learning Academy will look a bit different than the K-8 VLA model. PLSD wants to make sure that all VLA students have the same elective opportunities as our traditional students. To provide those electives, the High School VLA will be modified into a daily hybrid model. High School students will take their core course virtually in the morning and then come into the buildings in the afternoons for electives.

High School students would choose from the below core courses to be taken in periods 1-4 in the morning virtually.

• English – English, 9, 10, 11 or 12
• Math – Algebra 1, Geometry, Algebra 2, or Statistics
• Science – Integrated Science, Biology, Chemistry, Physics
• Social Studies – World History, American History, Principles of Democracy, Economics or Psychology

Period 6 would then be a lunch/travel period to the high school.

• Students/families would need to provide this transportation.

Periods 7-9 would be electives for all VLA students.

** Online CCP courses are taught directly through the college provider and not by a PLSD staff member.

This is being updated for the new instructional model for VLA.

IEP and 504 services will be offered and provided to students in VLA. The services and accommodations will be provided as indicated on their IEPs or 504s.  Team meetings will continue to  be conducted to determine needed services. 

Some IEPs and 504s may need to be amended and other options considered due to the environmental change.  Accommodations will be delivered in a variety of ways. Because all elementary VLA students will be assigned an electronic device,  technology accommodations will be used more at the elementary levels than in the past. 

Each student’s individual needs will be considered and the team should make adjustments to the IEP or 504 when necessary.

The EL Department will provide asynchronous and synchronous lessons once a week and virtual assignments based on the needs and proficiency levels of the students in each domain, as determined by the EL Service plans. 

Meetings will include google meet lessons with small groups and weekly virtual assignments focusing on the four language domains. The EL teacher will also provide inclusion services by joining different google meets to work in break-out rooms with EL students. The EL teacher will also work with the classroom teacher(s) to modify lessons and will be available for instructional consultation.

At this time, student fees for VLA will be substantially the same as those in-person. However, the district is examining fees associated with specific courses that may need adjustments. Fees may also be repurposed to provide for digital tools and resources needed in an entirely remote learning environment.

No, there will not be a VLA separate school supplies list.  The VLA is using the same district curriculum and resources, so it is likely that supplies will be needed.  Should adjustments be needed based on an entirely remote learning environment, students will be informed by their individual teachers.

PLSD will be offering the standard courses for students in grades K-6. There are some changes to course offerings in grades 7-12 between the VLA and traditional buildings.  The VLA will not be able to offer courses that are heavily project-based or heavily lab-based courses. Please see the list above that shows which junior high school and which high school courses are offered in the VLA. Additionally, offering a course is always contingent on enrollment and available staffing.

The district plans to release traditional and VLA students’ schedules through Infinite Campus prior to school in August through Infinite Campus.

We know that parents are curious to see their child’s daily schedule.  Individual teachers and teacher teams will share specific schedules with students upon the start of school.  Families should expect for the instructional day to be similar to that of a “regular” day, but there is likely variability among grade levels and subject areas – in part because of the unique staffing and enrollment adjustments. 

VLA teachers are working their regular contractual day.  Therefore, the VLA school schedule will parallel the “regular” schedule.  Although our intention is to allow for fluidity and flexibility to complete learning tasks and course assignments, students should still plan to follow a typical school schedule – which will include synchronous whole group, small group, and one-on-one virtual conferences.  The exact schedule will be provided by the classroom teacher or teacher team.  Classroom teachers in grades K-8 (with the exception of grades 7 / 8 electives) are working in the VLA 100%.  At the high school level, the core teachers are working in the VLA 100%, with high school elective teachers picking up VLA periods during the school day, so students will be able to determine exactly when they will receive teacher guidance and support.

Teacher Contractual Day

High School: 7:00 AM – 3:00 PM

Junior High: 7:00 AM – 3:00 PM

Middle School:  7:40 AM – 3:40 PM

Elementary: 8:15 AM – 4:15 PM

Yes.  Additionally, where assessments cannot be administered virtually, families will need to make an appointment to come into the building to complete the test.

Yes

There is nothing you need to do if you want your student(s) to return back to the “traditional” school environment.  All students that do not sign up for the VLA option will be placed back in their home buildings for the 2021-2022 school year.

The first step is to enroll your student(s) into Pickerington Schools.  Please contact the PLSD Welcome Center to start the enrollment process and let the Welcome Center know that you would like your student(s) to be enrolled into the Virtual Learning Academy.