First,
let
me
begin
this
evening
by
congratulating
the
more
than
6,200
high
school
seniors
who
have
already
met
their
graduation
requirements!
You
should
be
very
proud
of
your
dedicated
work
and
efforts
to
become
a
2020
graduate
of
Prince
William
County
Public
Schools.
As
a
reminder,
students
may
continue
to
work
with
their
teachers
to
improve
your
grades
from
where
they
were
on
March
13,
2020,
if
they
desire,
until
the
end
of
the
academic
year
which
is
June
12.
With
the
global
pandemic,
this
has
been
a
very
tough
school
year
for
all
of
us.
I
recognize
how
this
unprecedented
situation
has
negatively
impacted
our
seniors,
and
I
sincerely
regret
that
you
have
not
been
able
to
participate
in
the
many
traditions
reserved
for
our
seniors.
I
personally
have
been
inspired
by
so
many.
I
enjoyed
getting
to
know
you
from
my
school
visits,
attending
plays,
concerts,
and
sporting
events,
and
seeing
your
academic
work.
I
know
I
speak
for
our
teachers,
administrators,
counselors,
and
other
staff
members
who
wish
you
good
luck
and
much
success.
I
know
you'll
make
us
proud!
As
I
told
the
Board
last
meeting,
we
are
working
on
details
for
in-person
graduations
the
first
week
in
August
and
an
exact
schedule
will
be
published
soon.
High
school
principals
are
also
developing
alternative
celebrations
should
the
in-person
dates
in
August
not
work
out
due
to
health
restrictions.
Additionally,
high
school
principals
are
exploring
alternate
means
for
students
to
participate
in
virtual
proms
or
an
in-person
prom
in
the
future.
Due
to
the
uncertainty
and
ongoing
health
concerns
of
COVID-19,
we
have
developed
a
Virtual
Summer
School
Plan
that
includes
"Operation
Graduation"
with
a
Virtual
K-8
Summer
School
Program.
This
will
include
virtual
summer
school
for
English
Learners.
Technology
will
be
provided
to
students
who
need
it.
For
Grades
9-12,
normal
tuition-based
summer
learning
options
will
be
offered
such
as
Virtual
Prince
William,
Virtual
Virginia,
and
summer
programs
provided
by
Virginia
Council
for
Private
Education.
Seniors
needing
support
through
our
"Operation
Graduation"
will
be
admitted
at
no
cost.
For
students
in
Grades
K-8,
the
School
Division
will
offer
30-minute
daily
lessons
alternating
between
language
arts
and
mathematics.
Collaborative
Learning
Teams
will
develop
curriculum
based
on
student
needs
for
each
site
and
grade
level.
It
will
be
provided
free
to
all
students
who
meet
the
criteria.
A
three-part
plan
has
been
developed
to
both
collect
items
-
such
as
textbooks,
JROTC
and
sports
uniforms,
instrument
-
and
for
staff
and
students
to
collect
items
in
buildings.
The
first
part
of
the
plan
will
be
the
collection
of
materials.
Schools
will
be
provided
instructions
for
the
proper
collection
of
items
(such
as
an
outside
drive-by
collection)
and
they
will
be
communicated
with
their
families
the
specific
times
and
process.
Second,
once
the
Governor
approves
Prince
William
County
to
enter
Phase
1
of
the
"safer-at-home"
plan
(currently
May
29),
teachers
will
be
allowed
into
buildings
to
collect
materials
following
social
distancing
requirements.
Principals
will
communicate
details
with
their
staff.
Third,
staff
will
work
to
bag
items
inside
of
schools
for
students
(such
as
lockers
or
desks).
Schools
will
then
coordinate
drive-by
pick-up
dates
and
times
for
students
and
families
to
collect
their
belongings.
VDOE
and
the
state
superintendent
are
expected
to
provide
guidance
within
a
month
to
schools
regarding
guidelines
and
requirements
for
safe
opening
of
schools
this
fall.
At
this
time,
we
expect
to
open
for
in-person
learning,
as
regularly
scheduled
on
August
25.
However,
PWCS
is
developing
an
extensive
plan
for
the
potential
for
required
virtual
learning,
as
well
as
various
operational
scenarios,
and
the
associated
health
and
safety
considerations
for
staff
and
students.
With
the
input
of
representative
teachers,
school
leaders,
and
central
office
staff,
the
Division
has
developed
a
Return
to
New
Learning
Plan
with
two
main
road
maps:
Late
Spring
and
Summer
Preparation
for
the
Return
to
New
Learning
and
multiple
contingencies
for
the
actual
Return
to
New
Learning
2020-21.
The
spring
and
summer
2020
preparation
road
map
is
focused
on
developing
our
new
Virtual
Schoolhouse
using
Canvas,
which
as
you
are
aware,
is
a
first-in-class
learning
management
system,
or
better
known
as
an
LMS,
that
will
unify
our
online
learning
and
curriculum
delivery
using
a
series
of
integrated
tools
to
enhance
student
distance
learning.
Spring
and
summer
2020
preparations
include
the
development
of
the
K-12
online
learning
units
for
Canvas,
a
staff
and
community
communication
plan,
as
well
as
a
robust
plan
for
staff
and
family
virtual
training
for
the
use
of
our
new
online
learning
and
communication
system.
To
support
all
elements
of
the
instructional
cycle,
an
integrated
Division-wide
assessment
system
for
monitoring
student
learning
and
achievement
will
be
deployed
within
the
LMS
solution.
MasteryConnect
is
a
digital,
online,
and
integrated
assessment
system
with
Standards
of
Learning
aligned
items
banks
featuring
robust
reporting
capabilities.
It
can
be
utilized
for
performance-based,
formative,
summative,
and
benchmark
assessments
in
all
courses
at
all
levels.
The
development
and
use
of
collaborative,
cross-department
action
work
groups,
including
teachers
and
administrators,
will
be
assigned
to
specific
aspects
of
the
plan
to
gain
further
stakeholder
input
on
the
implementation
for
students,
staff,
and
families.
Representative
parents
will
be
brought
together
later
this
spring
to
virtually
review,
discuss,
and
provide
focused
input
regarding
the
reopening
of
schools
and
our
Return
to
New
Learning
plan.
The
plan
includes
contingencies
for
in-person,
a
combination
of
in-person
and
distance
learning
for
students
who
do
not
or
cannot
return
in
person,
and
an
option
for
all
distance
learning
if
schools
are
unable
to
reopen
for
in-person
learning.
The
learning
plan
has
logistical
and
health/safety
considerations
needed
to
address
the
prevention
of
the
spread
of
COVID-19,
as
well
as
responses
to
support
any
further
closures
occurring
as
a
result
of
possible
future
outbreaks
or
other
emergencies.
It
is
important
to
note
that
our
2020-21
Return
to
New
Learning
Plan
will
continue
to
be
adjusted
as
we
get
further
decisions
and
guidance
from
the
Governor
and
VDOE
over
the
course
of
this
spring
and
summer.
In
anticipation
of
the
need
to
do
required
virtual
learning
this
fall,
PWCS
is
working
to
conduct
another
procurement
of
laptops
at
the
start
of
the
fiscal
year
which
is
a
part
of
our
approved
budget.
This
purchase,
combined
with
the
previously
announced
procurement,
will
allow
us
to
complete
the
digital
equity
plan
implementation
of
having
a
consistent
device
for
every
high
school
student
by
November.
We
also
believe
that
we
will
be
able
to
provide
a
device
every
high
school
student
who
needs
one
for
at-home
learning,
using
both
new
devices
and
existing
devices,
at
the
start
of
the
fall
2020-21
academic
year.
I
want
to
conclude
this
evening,
by
thanking
our
incredible
employees
who
continue
to
serve
our
students,
learn
new
skills,
and
innovate
during
a
global
pandemic.