With the first significant winter storm in the forecast this week, we want to make our families and staff aware of the potential for our schools to shift to remote teaching and learning for all students pending weather conditions.
With our district’s capacity to provide classes remotely, Watervliet schools are prepared to shift to remote teaching and learning in the event of inclement weather. This means, when possible, we do not plan to close school for snow during the 2020-21 school year. While this does not mean the end of snow days, technology offers us greater flexibility when making the decision about whether to cancel school.
In September, the NYS Education Department announced that districts would have the option to participate in a snow day pilot program this year that permits schools to pivot to remote instruction instead of closing because of weather conditions.
It is important to remember that neighboring districts have unique needs and challenges and may make different decisions regarding school closings, delays, and remote learning days. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact your child(ren)’s building principal.
How We Communicate this Information to Families
Any changes to a school day and/or how students will receive instruction will be communicated through the district’s One Call Now notification system. If your child is registered in the school district, you will receive a phone call and email to the contact information in our database. The message will also be posted to the school district’s website and shared via local media outlets.
We will do our best to notify you of these changes with as much advance notice as possible. Please make sure to inform the main office of your child’s school of any updates to your contact information so that you continue to receive these important messages.
School Meals
During remote learning days related to weather, school meals will be available for all UPK-grade 12 students to pick-up at the following locations:
- Watervliet Elementary School, Main Entrance, 10 a.m.-12 p.m.
- Watervliet Housing Authority/Joslin Apartments, 11:30 a.m.-12 p.m.
24th St. and Whitehall - Watervliet Civic Center, 11:45 a.m.-12:15 p.m.
14th Street & 1st Avenue - Port Schuyler Gazebo, 12-12:30 p.m.
Corner of 3rd Avenue & 6th Street
If weather prohibits the food service staff from reporting to the building or the district closes completely due to weather conditions, meals will not be available that day. This information will be communicated in the message shared with families and posted to the district website.
Technology
On remote teaching and learning days, students should log in to their Chromebooks or laptops to access their Google classroom for virtual class meetings or class schedules and work on posted activities.
If your student needs a device at home on these days please contact your child(ren)’s school.
Capital Region BOCES Career & Technical School (CTE) and Capital Region P-TECH
In the case of inclement weather, BOCES Career and Technical programs will be canceled for in-person and remote learning.
P-TECH students will be required to attend college classes remotely. Students also will have access to their P-TECH teachers during scheduled office hours on these days.
Check Local Media for School Closings
We remind families that in addition to the district website and our One Call Now notification system, information about a shift to a remote day or a school closing due to inclement weather will be available on local media, including: CBS 6 – WRGB; News 10 – WTEN; NewsChannel 13 – WNYT; Spectrum News 9; and WVLT.
It is best to rely on more than one source of information when it comes to weather-related announcements. This is particularly true in situations that involve power outages, which can affect the district’s ability to send electronic notifications.