LMS Eagle News
July 31
Information on Virtual Education
LMS will share early in the week responses to your questions about virtual education. Please be looking for this information.
Registration
Families will register online for the 2020-21 school year, including selecting the in-person or the Virtual option. It is critical that parents complete online registration by Aug. 5 to provide the district time to make important staffing and operations decisions to be ready for schools to open. Families select in-person or virtual for the entire semester.
How it works
Our courses are based on Kansas state standards and Blue Valley curriculum. Online courses were developed by Blue Valley teachers trained in online learning and virtual design tools. Courses are taught by Blue Valley teachers who provide age-appropriate instruction and 1:1 support. During live or synchronous sessions, students will engage with their teacher and their classmates on a regular basis, learning from one another and building relationships.
The courses will consist of:
- Computer based live sessions, collaborating with classmates, reading, playing games, listening to audio clips, watching videos, taking quizzes/tests, writing.
- Offline work including homework, projects, experiments, independent practice, reading.
- Live/Synchronous direct instruction from a teacher, small group work, class discussions, class culture building activities.
Weekly commitment of time by the student
3-5 hours per week per course
There will be weekly live synchronous sessions
Middle School students will take 4 core classes plus 3 electives
Families of all students are required to monitor their student daily, ensure students are making weekly progress in the course and help their student navigate the course.
Please see our district website for more in depth information on virtual education.
including how to register with the link below.
Review of Information for In-Person Learning
1. Learning options
- Families must determine if they want in-person learning or an all-virtual experience.
- All families need to register and pay fees.
- When you pay fees the default option is in-person learning.
- Eagle Camp will be done virtually. LMS will send families virtual information in mid to late August.
- 6th Grade Orientation will still occur as a transition event for 6th graders and is scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 8. Tentative time is 7:41-9:50 a.m.
- The first full day of school for grades 6-8 is Wednesday, Sept. 9.
- Locker Picture Day has also been postponed for all grades. We will try to do yearbook pictures later in the year.
- We will not start with school clubs as we begin the year. Only Kansas State High School Activities Association (KSHSAA) sanctioned sports and activities will start the year for Blue Valley students but more specific information will still need to be determined for middle schools.
- Back To School Night for parents/guardians will be done virtually, not in person.
3. Safety Measures for in person school. These measures may change based on guidance from health officials.
- Personal daily health assessment prior to entering the school environment.
- Temperature checks for students and staff upon arrival.
- The Blue Valley School District will follow Governor Laura Kelly's Executive Order (No. 20-59) order regarding masks/face coverings. Students and staff will wear masks/face coverings indoors at all times and during all classes including PE classes, weight lifting, etc. Students may be provided outdoor fresh air breaks to accommodate for this new school practice. Staff and students may remove masks when eating or drinking and during other outdoor physical activities when social distancing can be achieved. The guideline set forth for wearing masks in school includes:
- It may be possible that some students or staff who are medically fragile individuals will not be wearing a mask within the school setting. These exclusions will occur on a case-by-case basis.
- The district will have masks available for students. Students may choose to wear masks they have chosen with their parents independently. The masks must be school appropriate and meet school dress code. Masks will be provided if and when a student forgets a covering at home or soils their mask at school making it incapable of safely being worn. We would also encourage students to bring a clean Ziplock bag that they can put their mask in while eating so it stays clean.
- Social distancing will be implemented as much as reasonably possible.
- Frequent hand washing and hand sanitizer at provided stations will be implemented throughout the day.
- Student hall lockers will not be assigned to start the year due to close proximity so students will be allowed to carry backpacks. Only KSHSAA approved sports and activities will use lockers in those areas but they will be socially distant from other lockers.
4. Routines
- Arrival /Dismissal
Buildings will not open until 7:30 a.m. (7:20 a.m. for bus riders). Students and staff will have temperature checks upon arrival and then should go to the 1st hour. The afternoon dismissal will have a staggered dismissal to allow for smaller groups of people. The exact details will be shared prior to the first day of school.
- Small groups or cohorts
- Within each class, students will work in small grouping or cohorts when needed.
5. Other Routines
- To minimize large gatherings, students enrolled in PE will not dress out or change in the locker rooms.
- Bathroom breaks and hand washing will occur in small groups.
- Water fountains will be unavailable except for water bottle filler stations. We have two of these in our building that students can use. Students should bring their own water bottle.
School buses and route vans will be sanitized after morning routes and after the end of day routes. Social distancing will only occur on buses and vans as possible.
Most student transportation routes will not allow for student social distancing. Students should plan to wear masks/face coverings.
Seating charts will be utilized for all students. Students must be registered for transportation and guest riders will not be permitted until further notice. The district will work individually with highly medically fragile students to determine plans for the most appropriate transportation.