Dear Parents and Guardians,
We would like to take this opportunity to welcome you and your child to the 2020-2021 school year at Watervliet Jr. Sr. High School. As we embark on this new and unprecedented journey together, we promise to do our best to provide every student with engaging and meaningful instruction, while building positive relationships in the safest way possible. We thank you for your continued support of our school. We value your involvement and support in your child’s education and look forward to a productive year. I know many of us faced a difficult decision when completing the learning waiver, but we promise you there is no wrong decision and you must choose what is right for you and your family during this time.
MANDATORY HEALTH SCREENING
One of biggest changes to this school year is our new daily attestation that must be completed each morning. To reduce the potential risk of exposure in our school, we are conducting a simple online screening. Your participation is mandatory to help us take precautionary measures to protect your child and everyone in this facility. You must complete this screening every day prior to your child entering the facility. The online form is located at https://entry.neric.org/watervliet. We suggest bookmarking and/or adding this site to your phone for easy access.
Grades 6-12 Schedules
Another challenge was developing grade level schedules, see table below, that balance the academic needs of our students and prioritizing the health and safety of both students and staff.
More information about class schedules and the Parent Portal and Student Portal
Our students will be grouped in pods, which are stationary, and teachers will rotate into classrooms throughout the day. As a result, we are asking that minimal supplies/personal items be brought to school. Lockers are not an option this year, so everything will be stored in our classrooms. Coats and small book bags will be hung on the back of chairs and students will have a small desk drawer or cubby to store their supplies. (View Grade 6 supply list, View Grades 7-8 supply list)
| Grade 6 | Grade 7-8 | Grade 9 | Grade 10 | Grade 11-12 |
| In-Person Monday-Friday 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. |
In-Person Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Remote Learning on Wednesday |
In-Person |
In-Person Thursday and Friday 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Remote Learning on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday |
In-Person Wednesday 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Remote Learning on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday |
Mrs. Kussler, Mrs. Broadhead, Mrs. Barkamian and Ms. Moore’s students are in-person Monday-Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
We will be working tirelessly to support learning, both in-person and virtually. Our virtual students will have access to our teachers and our classes during the regular school day, just like our in-person learners and our teachers will work tirelessly to give the same experiences to all our students. We will send home packets of supplies throughout the year so anyone learning at home will have access to the same activities, books and materials as our in-person learners.
Our in-person students will be treated with care and consideration during these unprecedented times. Our movement throughout the building will be managed to cut down on crowds and strictly scheduled. Students arriving to the building will be checked to ensure they have completed the attestation before entering the building and will be sent directly to their pod’s classroom where breakfast will be waiting for them. At dismissal, one pod will dismiss at a time, again to keep the congestion in the hallways down.
Students ordering food will complete Google Forms to choose their meals a week at a time. These Google Forms will be emailed to students each week, so don’t forget to reference the menu on our website to make your choices!
All the students and staff in our building will be required to wear face masks at all times and follow social distancing guidelines. We will have hand sanitizing stations throughout the building as well as signs and directions for one way hallways and stairways as well as entrances and exits. Our building will be designed to minimize crowding and mingling of students to best keep everyone healthy.
Our first month of school will be slow and deliberate as we teach our students how to be successful in our school this year. Our communication will be organized and forthcoming and our staff will always be here to support you. In the spirit of inspiring, educating and challenging every student, every day, welcome to the new school year!
Sincerely,
Mr. Ryan Groat
Jr. Sr. High School Principal