March 18, 2020 Update

March 18, 2020

Dear CVSD Community,

The district and building leadership teams met for a full day today. The purpose of the day was to develop district-wide expectations for the maintenance of learning. This work was greatly informed by this new guidance issued by the governor:

• Districts may supply parents and students with supplemental enrichment materials to prevent learning loss and to support parents in keeping students engaged.
• Any such materials must be made accessible for students with disabilities
• These enrichment materials should remain optional for parents to use.
• The district should not assess students or input grades based on the optional materials.

We will now use the next two days to work with our faculty and staff to develop plans for that supplemental enrichment. Our first focus is on maintaining relationships and connections with students and their families.

While educators are planning and collaborating around this, please do not expect details about what maintenance of learning will look like until early next week. We realize that many of you are looking for ideas about what to do with your children at home. Please trust that your schools and teachers will be in touch with you with more information.

Student Devices

• Families with students in grades 3-8 may go to their school buildings to pick up their students’ devices starting on Friday. Here’s the process for that:
• Each of your schools will communicate with you about the time frame for coming to schools to pick up devices.
• Student devices will be in carts, organized by classroom/homeroom teacher.
• Staff will be on hand to help distribute each student’s device, along with a charging cable, and a document with information about responsible use and what to do if a device gets damaged.

Food Service

CVSD Foodservice is preparing breakfast and lunch “grab and go” meals for students whose families have indicated on the parent survey that “yes” they need food. For Thursday and Friday, March 19th and 20th, pick up will be at the places and times below. Please remain in your car and someone will come to you. Charlotte families can pick up at any school.

CVU 9:00 - 10:30 AM at the back entrance (bus circle)

Shelburne 9:00 - 10:30 AM at the gym entrance (parking lot)

Hinesburg 9:00 - 10:30 AM at main entrance front of the building

Williston 9:00 - 10:30 AM at the visitor parking (front of building, band room entrance)

In tomorrow (Thursday) afternoon’s communication families will find a link to our new online ordering form for breakfast and lunch for all students who have a school lunch account (with contact information if you are not able to access the form). On Monday, we will also be adding a drop off location at the Red School House in St. George, and opportunities for food delivery for those unable to get to a dropoff location.

We want to remind families that if your financial situation changes you may qualify for free school nutrition service meals. The application form can be found on the CVSD website or ask your local food service director. Also, many of our communities have a local food shelf willing to help. If you need to access food from the CVU food shelf contact cvufoodshelf@cvsdvt.org.

Thank you for your continued support of CVSD educators and support staff who are all working very hard.

The Champlain Valley School District Administration