Katy Virtual Academy
KVA Update: Sunday, November 29, 2020
Now Open - KVA and Face to Face Elementary 3rd Nine Weeks & Secondary 4th Six Weeks Grading Period Option Window
The elementary and secondary instructional option form opened November 18 and will remain opened until December 4. The form is available on your student’s home campus web page. You are only required to submit a form if you wish to make a change to your child's instructional setting for the second semester marking period which begins Tuesday, January 5, 2021.
If you wish to change your child from Katy Virtual Academy instruction to Face to Face Instruction for the next grading period, please complete the form. Face to face instruction will begin on January 5 and will be at your child's campus
If you wish to change your child from Face to Face instruction to Katy Virtual Academy instruction, please complete the form. KVA will begin on January 5 and instruction will be virtual.
If you elect to change your child's instructional setting, please be aware that his/her schedule and/or teacher assignments are subject to change for the new grading period.
If you DO NOT wish to make a change to your child's current instructional delivery setting for the next grading period, you DO NOT need to take any action. Please DO NOT complete the form.
Reminder – Katy ISD will be closed for the winter holiday beginning December 21 and will re-open January 4.
UPDATED: CTE COURSE INFORMATION
Several of the CTE lab courses originally thought to be achievable via KVA are not conducive or feasible in an online platform. These identified CTE courses require specialized hardware and software that are not compatible with most devices that students are utilizing in KVA. After receiving input from parents, students and administrators, the District is now allowing students with a medical hardship and who have access to the required hardware and software to remain in KVA and continue in their CTE course. You may apply for a medical hardship by submitting a request to medicalhardship@katyisd.org. Qualifying students who do not have access to the required technology will be handled on a case-by-case basis. If a parent, of a student enrolled in one of the courses below, elects to have their student remain in KVA without a medical hardship, the student’s counselor will work to schedule the student in a different course for the spring semester.
Return to In Person Learning
The remaining TEKS and CTE contact hours associated with these second semester courses require the use of specific equipment and are not conducive to (or feasible in) the KVA platform.
Reminder:
KVA secondary students who are enrolled in one of the CTE courses listed in the charts above who have NOT fulfilled the in-person instruction/lab components of their respective courses and are earning a failing semester grade will be removed from the course. Students will be placed in an alternative elective course for the spring semester. Students may have the opportunity to re-enroll in the CTE course for the next school year, if eligible
Katy ISD Student COVID-19 Testing Site
To help expedite free student COVID-19 testing, while practicing social distancing at the testing site, Katy ISD has established a Student COVID-19 Testing Sign-Up Form that allows families to secure an appointment time for their student(s). A direct link can be found on the Katy ISD homepage.
Hours:
Location: 5801 Katy Hockley Cut Off Road, Katy, TX 77493
Phone: 281-396-7808
Eligibility: Katy ISD students must present a valid student identification.
Follow up questions can be directed to RediMD at 866-989-2873.
2020 DECEMBER STAAR TESTING FOR EOC SUBJECTS
Katy ISD will continue to administer the STAAR test in December to support students who have not passed at least one EOC assessment and/or who will be completing coursework in an EOC subject by the end of the first semester.
All December EOC testing will be held on the home campus. All students, including KVA students, who need to test will report to their home campus on the days listed on the chart below. All testing students should arrive at the home campus by the start of the school day. All students must abide by safety measures outlined on the Katy ISD website.
Students who do not test in December will have an answer document submitted indicating testing did not occur in December. For graduation requirements, students must meet standard on all 5 EOC subjects - English I, English II, Biology, Algebra I, and U.S. History to be eligible to graduate. Please contact your child’s campus testing facilitator for additional testing information.
- KVA students may ride district transportation to and from their campus on their scheduled STAAR testing date.
- KVA parents may pick up their KVA students to transport home prior to the end of the school day.
- KVA students may opt to stay at the home campus and ride the bus home after school hours; however, students will be placed in a large room setting.
Fall Sports Updates
We have made several changes to the Varsity Football schedule this week. The schedule was updated October 30, but is subject to change. The most current schedule can be found here. Refer to the Katy ISD Athletics website to view our weekly schedules for all sports.
During basketball season, our facilities will operate under a reduced spectator capacity. As with football and volleyball, we will ensure parents are able to attend games their student is playing in. Details will be provided by the coaching staff at your campus.
KVA School Lunch Updates!
Breakfast and lunch meals are free to all students whether on campus or enrolled in KVA and using the grab n go pick up. Breakfast and lunch meals served at the curbside sites are also available to all Katy area children 18 and under.
Beginning November 3, two curbside Grab and Go meals sites will be added: Tompkins High School and Katy High School. Also beginning November 3, all curbside Grab and Go meal sites will operate on Tuesdays and Thursdays only. Patrons will pick up breakfast and lunch for Wednesday and Thursday on Tuesdays, and meals for Friday, Monday, and Tuesday on Thursdays. Meals are ready to heat and eat at home.
Curbside Grab and Go is available at: Morton Ranch High School, Mayde Creek, Cinco Ranch, Tompkins and Katy high schools from 4 – 6 p.m., Tuesdays and Thursdays. Meals are available at no cost to all children 18 and under. If parents are picking up meals for their children and the children are not present, identification for each child such as an ID, report card, or birth certificate must be presented prior to receiving the meals.
Students enrolled in in-person learning at their home campus are not eligible to receive curbside Grab and Go meals. Receiving the same meal at multiple campuses on the same day is not permitted.
Breakfast and lunch meals are free, but a la carte options are not. A la carte options are available for an additional cost on campus(extra entrée, chips, ice cream, water etc). A la carte options not available at curbside pick-up. To deposit funds onto your student account, please visit Pay N’ Go.
Even though meals are currently free, it is still encouraged for you to apply for free or reduced-meal benefits through SchoolCafe.com as it impacts school funding and future eligibility for your child.
REMINDER: Attendance Expectations and Procedures
An absence occurs anytime a student does not attend their regularly scheduled class, whether in KVA or in-person instruction. All students must provide either written documentation (note/email) or a phone call from a parent/guardian for all absences. Please refer to the Katy ISD Student Handbook for detailed information for reporting an absence and guidelines for making up assignments.
KVA Resource Guide - Behavior Expectations
Athletics Update: Katy ISD Athletic Department Spectator Expectations
As we continue into our fall seasons, it is critical that we remain diligent in following our Covid-19 Risk Mitigation guidelines. Fans at all competitions are still required to social distance and follow Governor Abbott’s Executive Order GA-29 related to face coverings. We have developed a plan to allow up to 50% capacity at all of our athletic venues. It is critical to maintain social distancing at all times. Each family group may sit together, but must maintain appropriate social distancing from all other groups.
At Rhodes and Legacy Stadiums, it is important to sit in the section where your ticket is assigned. Once in those assigned sections, the responsibility falls on the spectators to spread out and maintain proper distance from one another. If a section appears too full, we will close the section and verify the tickets of those patrons currently seated in the section.
At campus events where sections are not marked, the responsibility falls on the spectators to spread out and maintain proper distance from one another. Observing games the past few weeks, we have noticed more and more spectators gathering in the middle of the seating areas.
While we do not want to reduce capacity at any of our venues, we will take this precaution with any campuses and/or stadiums struggling to adhere to the safety protocols we have in place. Maintaining social distance and wearing a face covering are two of the most critical components to stopping the spread of COVID-19.
Per the University Interscholastic League (UIL), schools not following these guidelines are subject to sanctions, including suspension of contests or discontinuation of public access to games by the local UIL District Executive Committee and/or the UIL State Executive Committee.
Fine Arts Updates
Visit the Fine Arts Calendar http://www.katyisd.org/dept/finearts/Pages/Calendar.aspx regarding up to date information of all the fine arts performances throughout the district.
These performances may be virtual or in person with the updated modifications to the district safety protocol.
Pregame and halftime performances are continuing for cheer, choir, drill teams, and bands at varsity football games. Parents of these performing fine art students will receive a link to purchase tickets for these events from their campus directors. These tickets will become available on Monday morning at 9 a.m. the week of the game. Due to the limited seating capacity, it is highly recommended to reserve your tickets as soon as possible.
To review the Katy ISD district football schedule visit http://www.katyisd.org/dept/athletics/Pages/default.aspx for details.
Students that have opted out of school provided transportation, please refer to the Fall 2020 UIL & Extra-Curricular Transportation Opt-Out Waiver section above and click on the link Alternative Transportation Acknowledgement and Waiver electronic form to register your student.
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- Complete Your Journey: $40,000 Complete five of the six steps (Build, Practice, Strengthen, Complete and Apply) to be eligible for a $40,000 scholarship. Learn More
COVID-19 Self Reporting 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 in close contact to the COVID-19 positive case reported for their building.
Many school personnel and other staff are teaching and working on Katy ISD campuses and facilities. Should there be a potential COVID-19 exposure on any campus or facility, a general notification is sent to staff at the work site impacted, by the end of 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 receive applicable campus-based general notifications during the regular school year, when in-person instruction is taking place.
Students and staff may report positive COVID-19 results using the COVID-19 Self Reporting app on the District website homepage and MyKaty Cloud.
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.
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 (Monday - Friday 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.