Katy Virtual Academy
KVA Update: Sunday, August 16, 2020
Getting Ready for the First Day of School!
*NEW* Virtual Learning & Day 1 Readiness
Students: Getting Started on Day 1 of virtual learning:
- 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
*NEW* 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.
Annual Student Update
Katy ISD is Powering Up for Back to School with PowerSchool Enrollment.
By now, parents of returning students should have received a unique SnapCode via email for each of their enrolled students. Parents and guardians who have not provided an email address to the District should have received their SnapCode by US postal mail. A returning student is defined as any student that was actively enrolled by July 15 for the upcoming school year on any Katy ISD campus.
If you have not received a SnapCode or you are having trouble with PowerSchool Enrollment, please contact your child’s campus or submit a Help Desk ticket and a Katy ISD staff member will contact you within 24 business hours.
All returning students are required to submit an Annual Student Update for the 2020-21 school year via PowerSchool Enrollment. The deadline to complete the Annual Student Update is Tuesday, August 18.
Technology & Digital Support Information
Virtual Parent Help Meetings for Technology, Digital Resources & Device Support
The District is offering virtual technology help meetings for parents August 10-20. The meetings are one hour long, held virtually via Zoom and cover how parents and students can access and utilize technology and digital resources through Katy ISD. A schedule of meeting dates and times, as well as recorded session, can be found here.
*NEW* 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
*NEW* “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.
Device Request & "Grab and Go" Pick Up
Technology Device Request Form- Available!
All students may use their personally-owned laptops, computers and/or smart devices for intermittent and KVA virtual learning. Parents with a child(ren) in need of a device, may request a device through the Student Device Request Form.
Curbside “Grab and Go” campus distribution of devices will take place on Monday, August 17 and Tuesday, August 18. Students’ campuses will communicate their “Grab and Go” schedules. Campus “Grab and Go” check-outs will include distribution of all devices requested via the Online New Student Enrollment & Registration, the Katy Virtual Academy commitment form, the Annual Student Update in PowerSchool and/or the Device Request Form.
“Grab and Go” Campus Distributions & Student ID Badges
Parents and/or students will be required to show a Katy ISD student ID when checking out devices. Student ID badges will be distributed for elementary students at their home campus on August 17 and 18 in a “Grab and Go” format. Students’ 2019-20 ID badges can be used for device checkout if available. Otherwise, elementary and secondary students will be able to access a temporary ID badge via the Student ID App available on the MyKaty cloud. The badge will include the student’s photo, ID number and bar code Families will receive 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.
COVID-19 Self-Reporting APP
UPDATED* COVID Notifications
The District has a COVID-19 Reporting System in place to allow staff, students and parents to self-report if they have received a COVID-19 positive test result. The self-reporting system enables the District’s Emergency Management team to conduct contact tracing, as well as call and notify individuals in Katy ISD buildings who may have been directly exposed to the infected person. A general email notification is also sent to campus staff and families whenever the district is informed of a potential “indirect” COVID-19 exposure in their building. Receipt of the general notification alone indicates that the recipient was not in close contact to the COVID-19 positive case reported for their building.
Many school personnel have begun returning to campuses for various trainings. Should there be a potential COVID-19 exposure on any campus, a general notification will be sent to staff at the work site impacted, by 5:00 p.m. on the day in which the self-report was submitted. Staff who may have been directly exposed because of failed COVID-19 safety protocol will be notified directly by a member of the Risk Management Department.
Parents will only begin to receive applicable campus-based general notifications when students return to schools for the in-person instructional option. Parents of students who may be involved in fine arts or athletic activities on campuses right now, may receive a general notification through Rank One (athletics) or Charms (fine arts), ahead of the September 8 reopening, if the District is informed of a potential exposure at their campus.
Students and staff may report positive COVID-19 results using the COVID-19 Self Reporting app on MyKaty Cloud.
ATHLETICS, FINE ARTS AND CTE UPDATES!
*NEW* Katy ISD Athletic Department High School Athletics Start-Up Updated
Click here for more information about high school athletics updates.
*NEW* Katy ISD Athletic Department Junior High School Athletics Start-Up Updates
Click here for more information about junior high athletics updates.
*NEW* Fine Arts Updates & Before/After School Practices
- Marching band, color guard, cheer and dance may continue practicing before and after school ensuring students condition and acclimatize to the heat in preparation for the fall season. Students opting for the Katy Virtual Academy learning option participate in scheduled practices and events before the start or at the end of the instructional school day. Campus fine arts directors will communicate their specific program’s practice schedule.
- All groups will perform at football games. Marching band will participate in the Katy Marching Festival, Regional UIL evaluation and will be supported by the District to advance to area and state contests as applicable. The dates for these events will be announced through campus program communication.
- High School cheer squads will have the opportunity to participate in the Spirit State UIL Championships in January.
- Dance team contests will be announced and scheduled by their campus program directors.
*NEW* CTE Updates – Courses, Before/After School Activities
Due to the Campus Phase 1 Safety Protocols through the end of the first six-week grading period, visitors to the campus during the instructional day are restricted. Therefore, KVA students enrolled in CTE course labs may attend before or after school scheduled labs if offered. The safety protocols will be reviewed in preparation for the second grading period and any changes will be communicated prior to the start of the second grading period.
FFA Updates:
- FFA Meetings - There will be no in-person meetings the month of August. Information will be posted to the FFA Chapters’ Canvas page.
- Katy ISD Livestock Show Online Entries - Students interested in showing an animal (pig, goat, lamb, chickens, or rabbits) at the 2020-2021 Katy ISD Livestock Show will have the chance to enter/purchase their animal from Aug. 31 - Sept. 3 online. More information on entering will be communicated through the FFA advisors at their home campus.
- Leadership Development Events (LDE): Practices are starting before/ after school at each HS campus; please reference your FFA Chapters’ Canvas page for detailed times.
- Ag Barns COVID Safety Protocols- All students must sign IN and OUT using the QR codes at the ag barns when you are going to feed your animals. All students/ parents must wear a mask at all times, remain socially distanced, and wash hands frequently.
School Lunches: Curbside “Grab and Go” Meals from August 19- September 4
*UPDATED*
Free summer curbside meal service ended July 30. Beginning August 19, and through September 4, “Grab and Go” Meal Service will begin for the 2020-2021 school year. This meal service is available to all students during the first three weeks of school at 23 food distribution sites established across the District. Families who wish to apply for Free/Reduced cost meals may complete an application by signing into their SchoolCafe account here.
Touchless meal payment will be used at the “Grab and Go” meals distribution sites to promote healthy and safe food distribution practices. Families are encouraged to use the Pay N’ Go mobile app to provide student meal money, in place of cash. Parents can pick up meals without their student(s) present. However, parents and/or students must show a student ID, which is scanned for meal payment. ID badges will be distributed to elementary students at their home campus on August 17 and 18 in a “Grab and Go” Families will receive 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. format. 2019-20 Student ID’s can be used for meal payments if available. Otherwise, elementary and secondary students will be able to access a temporary ID badge via the Student ID App available on the MyKaty Cloud.
School Supplies
http://www.katyisd.org/returntoschool/Documents/KVA_Elementary_School_Supply_List.pdf
Junior High Supply List *REMINDER*:
• PC/Laptop with a camera is preferred (personal or Katy ISD owned)
• 1 spiral notebook for each class in order to set up a place for notes and/or interactive notebooks
• *Calculator
• Graph paper
• Access to pencils, highlighters, black ink pen, blue ink pen, and red ink pen
*Students in Algebra I will need a TI Nspire CX or TI Nspire CXII calculator. Math teachers will provide further information during the first week of school. All secondary math students will have access to digital calculators. Students in Algebra I will be able to check out physical calculators from campuses after September 14th.
High School Supply List *REMINDER*:
• PC/Laptop with a camera is preferred (Chromebooks are also acceptable)
• 1 spiral notebook for each class in order to set up a place for notes and/or interactive notebooks
• Graph paper
• *Calculator
• Access to pencils, highlighters, black ink pen, blue ink pen, and red ink pen
*Students in Algebra I, AP Statistics, and AP Calculus AB & BC will need a TI Nspire CX or TI Nspire CXII calculator. All other math courses will need access to an online or physical calculator with basic functions. Math teachers will provide further information during the first week of school regarding calculator use and options for online calculators such as Desmos. All secondary math students will have access to digital calculators. Students in Algebra I, AP Statistics, and AP Calculus AB/BC will be able to check out physical calculators from campuses after September 14th.