Preparation for Reopening
- The county is diligently working on getting supplies for reopening. Schools have been cleaned over the summer.
- As of today, 82,628 students have enrolled in the Virtual Academy. This is a little more than 1/2 student population. In general, approximately 1/2 of every school's population chose VA. In the Northwestern corner of the county, this average was a little higher. All families should receive confirmation this week. If you do not receive confirmation, contact your school principal.
- The county is working on Social Emotional Learning support for Employees. Staff resources, a self guided course, and PD will be available for all staff.
Preparing for Our Students
- We want to transition to in person instruction as soon as possible. Hopefully by the end of the 1st quarter.
- Teachers are working extra hours before school even begins. Wake County is providing Teacher Work Day exchange leave so staff members who are working now can take a day off on a Teacher Work Day when leave is allowed.
- Child care for staff will start in schools on August 17. Until that time, child care is available for staff at the Y. The county is also working with the Y, Town of Cary, Town of Raleigh, Marbles about child care for children. More information to be released soon.
- These first two weeks will be mainly orientation for all students.
- During this time, school will set the expectations for online learning. Students are expected to take learning seriously. Attendance will be taken both in Plan B transition and Virtual Academy.
- There is no specific time when instructional learning will begin. At the latest, instruction will begin in Week 3. There will be 2-3 hours of live, online instruction. Live instruction cannot be recorded (legally). If a student is not in attendance during the live instruction, they will need to work with the teacher during office hours.
- All students whether in Plan B transition or Virtual Academy will receive the same types of orientation activities and information as before the pandemic.
- Wake County has selected two learning management systems:
- Google Classroom -- PreK - 2nd grade. SeeSaw can be embedded in Google Classroom.
- Canvas -- 3rd - 12 th grades
- The idea is to move to a single platform for 2021-22 school year.
- Right now, teachers have massive amount of assets in various platforms and will take time to move everything to single platform.
- Wake County has technology guides available to help parents and students with technology issues. See https://www.wcpss.net/techguides
- Device distribution will occur starting Monday, Aug 17. There will be 5 distribution sites. Families will be assigned a day and time to pick up their device. Families can pick up their device at that time or after that date. Pick up times are Monday, Tuesday, Friday 9-4; Wednesday, Thursday 8-8; Saturday 9-1. Pick up sites are Leesville High, Knightdale High, S Garner High, Apex High, and Enloe.
The county is looking to join a COVID Scientific Advisory Board. This board will include experts in the community to help guide when students and staff can return to in person instruction.
The cohorts for Plan B are still being discussed. Currently, the county is still looking at 3 cohorts. This cohort information is needed to assign classes and class sizes that are mandated by state law.