Katy Virtual Academy
KVA Update: Sunday, September 13, 2020
REMAINING A KVA STUDENT
Secondary & Elementary Window to Opt-in to or Opt-out of KVA for Next Grading Period
Parents may elect for their child to opt-in to KVA or opt-out of KVA for the next grading period by submitting the 2nd Grading Period Change Form (see below).
Secondary – submission window will be open August 31-September 18. The change in instruction will begin on Sept. 28th (the first day of the second grading period). Here is the Commitment Form link for secondary requests: KVA and In-Person 2nd Grading Period Change Form for Junior High School or High School.
Elementary – submission window will be open September 21-October 2. The change in instruction will begin on Oct. 19th (the first day of the second grading period). The Commitment Form link for elementary requests will be available closer to that date.
The opt-in commitment link will also available on your student’s campus home page. Remember, all opt-in changes are in effect at the beginning of the second six-week (secondary) and nine-week (elementary) grading period. If you have any questions regarding the next opportunity to change your child’s learning option for the second grading period, please email KVA@katyisd.org.
If there is a need for a change in your child’s learning option due to a medical hardship, please email your concern to medicalhardship@katyisd.org. Pending the decision of the review committee, students will remain in their current learning option that was elected prior to the start of the school year on August 19.
COVID - 19 Dashboard
With safety being the number one priority for Katy ISD, the District has launched our new ‘COVID-19 Case Dashboard.’ As a District, we want to ensure that you have access to the information and tools you need in order to make timely decisions about your child’s schooling, health and well-being as we continue to navigate the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Dashboard provides daily updates on the number of overall self-reported COVID-19 positive cases throughout the district, and by campus. Families and staff can review the Dashboard at any time by visiting the Katy ISD website homepage and clicking on the COVID-19 Case Dashboard icon.
The Dashboard is populated by data that is submitted by students and staff who have self-reported a positive COVID-19 test result through Katy ISD’s COVID-19 Self- Reporting App in the MyKaty Cloud.
For more information on Katy ISD’s COVID-19 Case Dashboard, or the COVID-19 Self- Reporting App, please visit the District’s Smart Restart webpage.
Gifted and Talented Updates
For Parents of Kindergarten Students:
Information for parents wishing to have their child screened for the KISD gifted and talented is provided on the links below. The links below will provide access to the letter to parents, information on how to refer your child, and typical characteristics of a gifted learner.
Online parent checklists are available from your child’s KVA teacher and are due by October 2nd, 2020. Please contact your child’s KVA teacher or your child’s campus Challenge teacher by September 21st to get the link to the checklist.
Click on the language link (English Spanish) to access the information listed above.
5th Grade GT Referral Information Update:
Reminder: The deadline for submitting the parent checklist for referring your child for GT services is Wednesday, September 23rd. An online checklist is now available for your convenience. Please contact your child’s KVA teacher or your campus Challenge teacher for the link specific to your child’s campus.
Curbside Pick Up
Students enrolled in Katy Virtual Academy (KVA) will be able to pick up breakfast and lunch meals, curbside from 4:00 – 6:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, beginning Monday, September 7. Pick up is available at these four sites: Morton Ranch HS, Mayde Creek HS, Cinco Ranch HS, or Seven Lakes HS. Meals are packaged to be heated and eaten at home. Meals are to be picked up a day prior to the intended use. A breakfast and lunch picked up on Tuesday evening, for example, would be consumed Wednesday morning/ afternoon. Meals will be charged based on the student's eligibility (free, reduced, or full pay).
- Breakfast: $1.25 ($.30 reduced) Elementary Lunch: $2.25 ($.40) Secondary Lunch: $2.75 ($.40 reduced)
- Parents/students may pick up meals at any of the four sites. Student ID or current proof of enrollment is needed for meal service.
- Meals may also be pre-ordered through SchoolCafe.com. Parents/students who pre-order will need to pick up their meals at the site they select during the online pre-ordering process.
- Menus and nutritional information are available on SchoolCafe.com.
- Cashless payment is encouraged using Pay N' Go.
Free and Reduced Lunch Form
The Katy ISD Nutrition and Food Services Department would like to remind parents/guardians that the District offers free or reduced-price meals to families that qualify. It is important for eligible families to apply, as eligibility information impacts school funding. More information, including the application can be found on SchoolCafe.
- A new meal benefits application must be submitted each school year for families that may qualify for receiving free or reduced-price meals.
- One meal benefit application is needed per family.
- To expedite the approval process, we highly recommend that families submit an online application at SchoolCafe.com.
- Parents/guardians are responsible for all meal account charges prior to being approved.
As a friendly reminder, Katy ISD offers Pay N' Go, which allows convenient ways to make payments for cafeteria meals, set low balance email notifications, schedule auto-pay, pay activity fees, and various other campus and district related services.
If you have any question please visit our website, email us at NutritionFoodServices@KatyISD.org or call us at 281-396-6240.
Katy ISD Nutrition and Food Service Department
Click here to read the USDA Nondiscrimination statement.
National Alliance on Mental Health Resources and Information
To Access more of NAMI's information and resources related to suicide, please click the link below:
https://www.nami.org/About-Mental-Illness/Common-with-Mental-Illness/Risk-of-Suicide
Warning Signs
Here are a few other warning signs of suicide:
- Increased alcohol and drug use
- Aggressive behavior
- Withdrawal from friends, family and community
- Dramatic mood swings
- Impulsive or reckless behavior
Suicidal behaviors are a psychiatric emergency. If you or a loved one starts to take any of these steps, seek immediate help from a health care provider or call 911:
- Collecting and saving pills or buying a weapon
- Giving away possessions
- Tying up loose ends, like organizing personal papers or paying off debts
- Saying goodbye to friends and family
CTE Updates – Courses, Before/After School Activities
Many Career and Technical Education (CTE) courses require in-person instruction in order to receive practice on skills, and access to specialized equipment and technology in order to successfully complete the course.
Beginning September 28 through December 11, 2020 KVA CTE labs will be opening before and/or after school for lab instruction. All CTE KVA students enrolled in a CTE course that requires in-person instruction may be required to attend the before and/or after school labs. CTE teachers will work collaboratively with students in meeting required TEKS and in preparing for industry-based certifications. Additionally, CTE teachers will be communicating the in-person schedule to parents and students. In-person labs may be assessed and calculated as major grades. If a student fails to attend the required labs his/her semester grade will be negatively impacted and may result in a failing semester grade. Transportation to campus will not be provided.
Should you decide to change to in-person instruction, the window to opt in occurs August 31 through September 18 11, 2020. If you do not feel comfortable with your student receiving instruction on campus, you should switch from the current CTE course and select another elective course that does not require direct supervision of essential hands-on activities and/or access to specialized equipment and technology.
Secondary Students - Advanced Placement Exams
Katy ISD Announces Advanced Placement (AP) Exams Available to Students
KATY [September 6, 2020] – Registration for Advanced Placement (AP) exams is now taking place for all Katy Independent School District high school students. September 28, 2020 through October 25, 2020 enrolled students and homeschooled students can receive details and register at their designated campus. Late registration takes place on November 15, with a $40 late fee per exam.
“Students who participate in AP courses experience college-level instruction, as well as the opportunity to possibly earn college credit,” said Joan Otten, Katy ISD Director of Gifted, Talented and Advanced Academics Studies. “Katy ISD students are encouraged to participate in AP exams, even though they are not required and have no bearing on the high school course grade,” added Otten.
Financial hardships should not be a barrier to take the exam. Fee waivers are available for students with economic needs. Contact the campus AP Administrator for full details. A partial refund of $54 per exam is available for seniors, who have been admitted to a college and have documentation, that the college will not accept AP exam scores for credit. These refunds must be requested in writing to the student’s campus counseling office by May 4, with documentation from the university’s AP exam policy.
AP exams are scheduled for the week of May 3-7 and May 10-14, 2020. Students who need special accommodations must adhere to the College Board timelines. To determine the exact date of a particular exam, visit www.collegeboard.com.
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College and Career Night
A short video demonstrating how to access and navigate the virtual College and Career Night can be found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FaOXWLzjviA&feature=youtu.be.
Students will be able to register for Katy ISD’s College and Career Night through GoToCollegeFairs.com beginning Tuesday, September 29, 2020.
Virtual Learning Readiness!
Be virtual learning ready!
- Know your Katy ISD username and password. If you do not know this information, click here for help
- Go to the Home Access Center (HAC) and view your schedule
- PreK-4th grade students will need their parent/guardian to login to the HAC
- 5th –12th grade students can login to the HAC using their student credentials
- Launch the Google Chrome browser on your device
If using a personal device, make sure it is up to date, click here for help.
- Go to MyKaty Cloud: https://mykaty.katyisd.org
- Ensure you have Webpass enabled, click here for help
- Find Canvas (under the Elementary or Secondary tab on MyKaty Cloud):
- Click on the course that contains the name of your first class (refer to schedule in HAC).
- Be on time to each course throughout the day, as attendance will be taken. Your teacher will have instructions for you about content and an online meeting link.
Temporary Student IDs
How to Access Them
Elementary and secondary students can access a temporary ID badge via the Student ID App available on the MyKaty Cloud. Families received an email on Friday, August 14 with instructions on how to access and use the Student ID App.
Secondary campuses will soon communicate additional information about specific dates and times when secondary students will receive their permanent student ID.
Technology & Digital Support Information
Parent Tech FAQs
http://www.katyisd.org/dept/technology/PTH/Pages/Parent-Tech-FAQs.aspx
Parent and Student Knowledge Base
http://www.katyisd.org/dept/technology/PTH/Pages/Knowledge-Base-for-Students-and-Parents.aspx
Technology Help Desk Contacts for Parents/Students Support Inquiries
- Online: Katy ISD Tech Help
- Or, click “Help” in Canvas
- Or, call: 281.396.7400 (6:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m.)
- Or, e-mail: parenttechsupport@katyisd.org
“How to Guide” for Parents on the Home Access Center (HAC)
Need to know how to view a report card, student grades, or other information?
Check out our “how to guides” on the Home Access Center, or click below.