August 21, 2020
Dear Parents and Guardians:
On Thursday afternoon, Governor DeWine announced that Cuyahoga County moved down to Level 2 (Orange) in the Ohio Public Health Advisory System. While this positive and encouraging news is a step in the right direction, the Rocky River City School District will still open the 2020-2021 school year in the Closed (Red) Instructional Model per the recommendation of the Cuyahoga County Board of Health (CCBH).
In an August 5 letter, the CCBH listed four considerations it will use to modify its recommendation for schools, including, but not limited to:
Positivity Rates - A sustained decline in COVID-19 testing positivity rates below 5%.
New Case Reports - A sustained decline in new cases over a one-month period.
State Public Health Advisory System - A rating of Orange (Level 2) or below over multiple weeks, which must clearly indicate sustained improvement in the metrics as they relate specifically to our health jurisdiction.
COVID-19 testing capacity for children - There is currently little to no testing available for those under the age of 18, which dramatically complicates the CCBH outbreak response in the school setting. The lack of testing limits their response to a symptom-based investigation response.
We will continue to work with the CCBH and review all available local data when making decisions regarding the reopening of schools to ensure the health, safety and well-being of students, staff and the community.
Thank you for your cooperation and understanding during this unprecedented time.
This week’s updates are listed below.
Class Schedules and Room Assignments
Your child’s schedule and room assignments for the 2020-2021 school year are now available and can be viewed by logging into Progress Book Parent Viewer.
If you have any questions, please contact your building principal.
School Calendar
The first day of school for students will be August 31.
Teachers and staff will report from August 25-28 to engage in professional development and planning for the start of the year.
The remainder of the 2020-2021 school calendar will remain the same and can be viewed here.
Lunch Offering During Remote Learning
The RRCSD Nutrition Services Department will offer lunch for all students in K-12 during remote learning via online ordering.
More information regarding this option will be communicated early next week.
As a reminder, parents/guardians may fill out an application for free or reduced lunch (RRHS/RRMS/KIS/GPS) at any time. For immediate processing, please use the secure lunchapp.com web site. If you have any questions about this, please email Nutrition Services Supervisor Tina Wasserbauer ([email protected]).
Materials Pick-Up
Each building has scheduled dates and times for students and parents/guardians to pick-up materials that will be needed while the RRCSD in the Closed (Red) Model.
To view the materials pick-up schedule, please click here.
Face Masks
On August 4, Governor DeWine, in collaboration with the Ohio Children's Hospital Association and American Academy of Pediatrics, issued a mandate that requires K-12 students returning to school to wear masks or face coverings.
If your child is unable to wear a face mask, we kindly request your medical documentation be submitted to Jennifer Norman ([email protected]) so appropriate accommodations can be made.
Chromebook Requests and Pick-Up
The RRCSD is prepared to loan Chromebooks to students who do not have access to a reliable computer or device at home during online remote learning.
To request a Chromebook, please click here and fill out the form by Monday, August 24, at 5:00pm.
Chromebook pick-up will take place on Friday, August 28 at Rocky River Middle School at the following times:
8:00am-11:30am: Students whose last names begin with A, B, D, F, I, K, N, O, Q, S, U, V, W, Y
1:00pm-4:00pm: Students whose last names begin with C, E, G, H, J, L, M, P, R, T, Z
Technology Trouble Ticket
The RRCSD technology department has an online Trouble Ticket that is available every day.
If you are having tech issues during remote learning, please click here to fill out the Trouble Ticket and our tech team will do its best to respond as soon as possible.
Virtual Coffee Chats
The Rocky River City School District and McKeon Education Group (MEG) are partnering to offer parents and guardians an opportunity to sit, relax, and network with others.
Professionals from MEG’s Mental Health Division will facilitate general discussions about parenting and offer resources to help parents navigate today’s challenges.
The sessions will take place on the following dates:
September 9: 7:00pm-8:30pm (Grades K-2)
September 16: 7:00pm-8:30pm (Grades 3-5)
September 23: 7:00pm-8:30pm (Grades 6-8
September 30: 7:00pm-8:30pm (Grades 9-12)
For more information about the Virtual Coffee Chats, please click here.
To register for a Virtual Coffee Chat, please click here.
Thank you for your continued support of the Rocky River City School District.
Sincerely,
Dr. Michael G. Shoaf
Superintendent