Katy Virtual Academy
KVA Update: Sunday, August 9, 2020
Annual Student Update
Annual Student Update via PowerSchool
Parents and guardians who have an email address on file with the District are currently being emailed a unique SnapCode for each of their enrolled students. Once you have a SnapCode, visit the Katy ISD online registration page and select the “Annual Student Update” link. The SnapCode allows parents and guardians to securely update their student’s information for the upcoming school year.
Parents and guardians who have not provided an email address will receive their SnapCode by US postal mail. If you have not received your SnapCode, or you are having issues with PowerSchool, please contact your student’s campus or submit a Help Desk ticket and a Technology staff member will contact you within 24 business hours.
Technology & Digital Support Information
*NEW* Technology Device Request Form - Now 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.
Katy ISD is offering meetings for parents at the start of the 2020-2021 school year. These meetings will be held virtually via Zoom and will cover how parents and students can access and utilize many of the digital resources available at Katy ISD. More information, as well as the list of virtual meeting dates and times can be accessed via the link below:
http://www.katyisd.org/dept/technology/PTH/Pages/default.aspx
COVID-19 Reporting & Notifications
*NEW* Katy ISD COVID-19 Self-Reporting and Notification System
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 directly exposed 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.
The TEA offers parents easy to understand tips as you prepare to embrace virtual learning:
School Lunches
*New* Katy ISD Food Service Survey
On Wednesday, August 19 all Katy ISD students will begin school virtually, either through Katy Virtual Academy (KVA) or through Intermittent School to Home Virtual Instruction. Aside from providing a quality education, it is the District’s commitment to continue providing nutritious meals through the Katy ISD Curbside “Grab and Go” Meal Distribution Program.
During the first three weeks of school, the program will look a little different from the summer program. In order for this process to be a success, Katy ISD is requesting feedback from our parents. On Saturday, August 8, parents will begin receiving a survey through K12 Insight requesting pertinent information that will allow the District to manage personnel resources as well as meals for 23 food distribution sites established across the District. It is important that parents take a few minutes to participate in this survey, to better equip our service locations for the first three weeks of school.
On September 8, students choosing to return to schools for in-person will receive their meals at their designated campus. KVA students will continue to be able to access meals in a “Grab and Go” format. Information about the updated sites for KVA participants beginning on September 8, will be released prior to that date.
*UPDATED* Curbside “Grab and Go” Meals from August 19 - September 4
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.
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” format. Student ID’s, from the 2019-20 school year, 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. 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.
School Supplies
http://www.katyisd.org/returntoschool/Documents/KVA_Elementary_School_Supply_List.pdf
Junior High:
• 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 7th grade KAP math, 8th grade math, or 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.
High School:
• 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, Algebraic Reasoning, PreCalculus, Statistics, 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.
Back to School Reminders:
Katy ISD 2020-2021 Calendar:
http://www.katyisd.org/Documents/Calendars/Instructional_Calendar_2020-2021.pdf
Monday, July 20-Wednesday, August 5:
* KVA Committment Form Submission Window
Monday, August 3:
* Annual Student Update opens.
* KVA students may request a dedicated device when updating student information.
* Please look for the email with your unique SNAP code that will allow you to update student information.
Friday, August 7:
* Deadline to revoke KVA committment form to return to school on 8/19 in person.
Monday, August 17:
* Student schedules available via the Home Access Center (HAC)
https://homeaccess.katyisd.org/HomeAccess/Account/LogOnReturnUrl=%2fHomeAccess%2f
Monday, August 17 or Tuesday, August 18:
* Campus Grab N Go to pick up beginning of the year information including requested technology device.
Wednesday, August 19:
* First Day of School!
Tuesday, September 8:
* Students who elected in-person instruction to begin on the first day of school (8/19) will return to campus.
Monday, September 28:
* First day Secondary KVA students may return to in-person instruction.
Monday, October 19:
* First day Elementary KVA students may return to in-person instruction