VPHS Update
December 2020
A Note From Dr. Luhning
VPHS Family,
Welcome back from winter break. We return to school tomorrow January 5th and will finish the 1st semester on Friday January 15th. 1st semester final exams will be implemented beginning Monday January 11th and will end Thursday January 14th. All work and exams need to be completed by January 15th, if there is a special circumstance that inhibits your child from completing their work or exams please contact your teacher(s).
Edgenuity students must complete their work by 11:59 PM Friday January 15th. Edgenuity students will receive their "relative grade" on their VPHS report card. If you have questions please contact Mr. Lancaster at wlancaster@vp.k12.mo.us .
We were able to complete our ninth week of 4 day a week in person learning before we left for winter break. Our students and staff have been exceptional at following our health and safety guidelines during in person learning. As we return to Monday-Thursday in person learning and Friday half day virtual learning at least through the third quarter, I ask that each of you review the safety presentation that was shared on October 26, 2020. https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1f8XvPOeKhilh7UrV4aiUeF5Q9cHQUOJ9m8e6e-0jqrU/edit?usp=sharing Teachers will review the presentation with their advisory classes this week. We expect the same diligence and commitment to safety that I observed throughout the prior to winter break in person learning. Please continue to practice proper health and safety measures away from school so we can continue with in person learning without interruption throughout the 3rd quarter.
The district continues to monitor the spread of the COVID-19 virus in the St. Louis area, Valley Park Community, and in the Valley Park School District. The district plans to offer in person learning 4 days a week with 1 day virtual or the full time virtual option for Edgenuity. If you are concerned about the health and safety of your child at school or would like to discuss the full time Edgenuity virtual option...please contact myself or our counselor Dr. Goldberg.
If you are a parent of a senior that is near graduation and would like to discuss the Edgenuity option for your child in the second semester to meet graduation requirements please contact me before before January 14th. In a normal school year we would not consider a student moving to our online platform to finish the credits they need to graduate, but because of the current reality we are living in I would be glad to discuss options to have your senior finish their credits virtually.
We are Valley Park Strong!
Dr. Luhning
Our mission is to provide a supportive, personalized environment in which students will grow strong intellectually, emotionally, physically, and socially today in preparation for tomorrow.
Edgenuity Virtual Learning Pathway Selection for 2nd Semester
Dr. Savage Announces Retirement
Final Exam Week Schedule
Use the link below to access the 1st Semester final exam schedule. Please note January 12th-14th dismissal times are 11:15 AM.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1O6Ucxw_tW8o_xAMt9WvHuHet2HzJg9Z8UDdvRY00iVM/edit?usp=sharing
Final Exam Expectations
The VPHS staff will only count a student's final exam score if it positively impacts a student's grade. This decision was not made lightly and was made due to the non-traditional ways students have had to learn this year. The goal of this decision is to make this semester's final exam week less stressful for our students and is only for this semester.
Students must follow the guidelines below:
Students must complete the final exam or alternative assessment in each class (unless unable to attend school due to sickness, quarantine, or any other unforeseen circumstance)
Students must attend their final exam class time (unless unable to attend school due to sickness, quarantine, or any other unforeseen circumstance)
Students should receive feedback and know how they performed on the exam or alternative assessment
Students that are unable to complete or attend their final exam or alternative assessment will be reviewed on an individual basis by the classroom teacher, counselor, and principal
Teachers can replace the final exam with a normal unit test. The unit test would need to be a typical unit test that covers a few weeks of material and does not weigh anymore than a typical unit test during the semester. A unit test can negatively impact a student's overall grade.
Counseling
Counseling / Community Scholarships (vp.k12.mo.us)
-Registration for 2021-2022 courses will begin in early February. More information will be shared with you and your student as we get closer.
-If you have questions please contact Dr. Goldberg at egoldberg@vp.k12.mo.us
Athletics and Activity Update
Many of our activities have began to meet again. Outside of the school day activities follow the same health and safety guidelines as our in person students.
If you have questions about athletics or activities please contact Mr. Hamilton at ahamilton@vp.k12.mo.us
Reporting Absences
REPORTING ABSENCES
The Valley Park School District is following the Washington UniversitySchool-based guidance for student absences.
- If a student has one low-risk symptom and no known exposures to a person with COVID-19, they must stay home until they are symptom-free for 24 hours. Low-risk symptoms include congestion/runny nose, nausea/vomiting/diarrhea, sore throat, headache, body aches, and fever (greater than 100.4)
- If a student has two or more low-risk symptoms, OR one or more high-risk symptoms, and has not had any known COVID-19 exposure, they should stay home (or will be sent home from school) and must-see their doctor or receive documentation from St. Louis County that they are COVID negative before returning. High-risk symptoms include cough, difficulty breathing, and loss of taste or smell. If the student or staff member tests negative for COVID-19 OR the physician determines symptoms are non-COVID related, then they may return to school 24 hours after symptoms improve.
Upcoming Events
1/11-Normal In Person Classes w/ 7th period final exam
1/12-Half Day Final Exam Schedule 1st and 2nd period final exams
1/13-Half Day Final Exam Schedule 3rd and 4th period final exams
1/14-Half Day Final Exam Schedule 6th and 7th period final exams
1/15-Virtual Half Day Schedule
1/18-No School Martin Luther King Jr. holiday
1/19-2nd Semester begins
2/1-2/5-National School Counselor's week
2/8-2/19-VPHS Student Course Registration for 2021-2022 school year
2/15-No School President's Day holiday
For more information please visit VPSD website:
Daily Schedule through the 3rd Quarter
Monday-Thursday VPHS Bell Schedule
1st Hour 7:40 – 8:28 AM
2nd Hour 8:32 – 9:20 AM
3rd Hour 9:24 – 10:12 AM
4th Hour 10:16 – 11:06 AM
5th Hour 11:10 – 11:58 AM
Lunch 1 12:02 – 12:27 PM 9th and 10th
Advisory 1 12:02 – 12:27 PM 11th and 12th
Lunch 2 12:31-12:56 PM 11th and 12th
Advisory 2 12:31 – 12:56 PM 9th and 10th
6th Hour 1:00 – 1:48 PM
7th Hour 1:52 – 2:40 PM
Friday Virtual Schedule
1st Hour 7:40-8:10 AM
2nd Hour 8:15-8:45 AM
3rd Hour 8:50-9:20 AM
4th Hour 9:25-9:55 AM
5th Hour 10:00-10:30 AM
6th Hour 10:35-11:05 AM
7th Hour 11:10-11:40 AM
12:30-2:50 PM
Independent Work Time and Staff Office Hours for individual student support, small group study sessions, and Edgenuity support.
Dr. Luhning
Email: rluhning@vp.k12.mo.us
Website: https://www.vp.k12.mo.us/vphs
Location: One Main Street Valley Park, MO 63088
Phone: 636-923-3616
Twitter: @DrLuhningVPHS