SafeSchools AlertAt its meeting last night, the Goochland County School Board unanimously approved our reopening plan to welcome our kindergarten through fifth grade students back to school on October 19 five days a week as well as a return for sixth grade and ninth grade students on November 2. Other middle school and high school students will return on November 9. Please know that, even as students return to school in person, families may still choose to continue with their current distance learning plan (either synchronous OR asynchronous) if that is what you feel is best for your child and your family.
Approved Instructional Plan
Summaries of the approved elementary, middle school, and high school instructional plans are linked. For our elementary plan, our team has made adjustments to staffing based on parent interest in both in person and distance learning. As a result, some of our currently certified classroom teachers will be providing distance learning. Many students will keep their current teacher; however, some students may be assigned a new classroom teacher. Most students whose families have chosen distance learning will also be assigned a new teacher. All teachers are endorsed in their new assigned responsibility and are employees of GCPS. Principals will communicate teacher assignments to students and families. There will be no change to the assigned teachers or classes for our middle school and high school students.
Health Plan
It is critical that we all work together to adhere to our school division’s approved health plan. This summary includes the highlights of our Phase III health plan, including the steps that we all must take to provide the healthiest work and learning environment for our employees and staff.
Food Service
Through a Federal school nutrition program, ALL children can receive breakfast and lunch at no cost through December 31st. Students can still choose to pack their lunch if they would like. Parents can put funds on their student’s account using www.mypaymentsplus.com, the mypaymentsplus phone app or by calling 1-877-237-0946/ option 8. No currency will be exchanged in our school cafeterias.
Parents of our distance learners will still be able to pick up meals at their school sites during designated meal distribution times as they have throughout the Fall.
Transportation Plan
With this approval, arrival and dismissal at all schools has been changed beginning Monday October 19.
Current elementary learning lab students may remain in the building IF families continue to have a need. Afternoon transportation will be available. The Goochland Family YMCA and Goochland County Parks and Recreation are offering programming for students after school. Please contact these organizations for more information about their current offerings.
If you have not already done so, please complete this request to let us know your transportation needs. Due to limited capacity on our buses, we are asking for assistance from families to consider transporting their own child both to and from school IF they are able to.
We are excited about welcoming more students back to school in person! Our collective patience, grace, and understanding as we begin the next leg of this year’s journey together will promote the experience we want for everyone, especially our students. We look forward to working in partnership with our students, our staff, and our families to make this transition as successful as possible!