August 7, 2020
Dear Parents and Guardians:
The situation surrounding COVID-19 and the safe reopening of schools remains a daily struggle. There is no perfect plan to reopen schools and every approach will leave some families and staff unsatisfied and concerned. I share in your frustration and the uncertainty that we face going forward. Administrators and teachers would like nothing more than to fully open schools, but the health and safety of our students, families, staff and community will remain our top priority when making decisions.
My hope is that we can continue working together and provide students with not only a high-quality education, but the social and emotional support they need during these difficult times. This is an important time for our community and we need to unify together as we prepare to begin the 2020-2021 school year.
There is a lot of important information in this week’s update, including current drafts of building reopening plans. Please read the following notes thoroughly to ensure you are up to date with the most recent information.
Instructional Models
? The RRCSD has developed three instructional models for the 2020-2021 school year; Open (Green), Hybrid (Yellow) and Closed (Red).
? Information regarding each model can be found here.
? As of today, the RRCSD is planning to open in the Closed (red) model, per the recommendation from the Cuyahoga County Board of Health (CCBH).
? As conditions change in Cuyahoga County and if the CCBH modifies its recommendation, we will adjust our plans accordingly and give proper notice before changing instructional models, unless we are ordered to close.
? Preparations for the possibility of remote online learning have been ongoing for months and we are confident that our teachers will provide a high-quality online educational experience for all students with the plans that have been designed.
? The first day of school for students remains August 31.
? Teachers and staff will still report from August 25-28 to engage in professional development and planning.
Online Remote Learning Registration
? The RRCSD has established a remote online learning option for families who choose not to send their children back to school for health or safety reasons when the district is in the Hybrid (Yellow) or Open (Green) model.
? Registration for remote online learning registration has been extended to Tuesday, August 11, 2020.
? For more detailed information about the remote online learning Option B, please click here.
? To register your child(ren) for the remote online learning Option B please click here.
? If you are planning to have your child(ren) utilize the online learning Option B if/when the district transitions to a Hybrid (Yellow) or Open (Green) model, please make sure to fill out the registration form by August 11.
Athletics & Activities
? After carefully reviewing all guidelines and recommendations from the Ohio Department of Health, the OHSAA, the CCBH, and discussion at Wednesday’s Board of Education Meeting, athletics and activities will resume on Monday, August 10.
? The RRCSD has been successful with operating athletics and activities throughout the summer of 2020 with coaches/advisors supervising small group sessions and ensuring proper safety protocols are followed.
? Athletics and activities will restart in the early phases that were implemented this summer. All non-contact sports and activities will restart in Phase III, while all contact sports will restart in Phase II.
Building Plans
? Building administrators have been working with their committees on reopening plan documents. The latest drafts of each document can be found at the links below:
? Rocky River City School District
? Rocky River High School
? Rocky River Middle School
? Kensington Intermediate School
? Goldwood Primary School
? Beach Preschool
? Activities & Athletics
? Operations
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.
Chromebook Distribution for Remote Learning
? 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.
OneView Parent Portal, EZ Pay and Progress Book
? The RRCSD is once again using OneView Parent Portal, an online service where parents can verify directory information on file for their child(ren), make any necessary changes, and submit beginning-of-the-year forms electronically.
? All back-to-school forms must be completed in the OneView Parent Portal and all fees must be paid via EZ Pay by the start of the school year, including those for students who choose Option B.
? Due to the COVID-19 challenges that all schools are facing, we are unable to release schedules via OneView.
? To view your child’s schedule and room assignments for the 2020-2021 school year, please log into Progress Book Parent Viewer after 4:00pm on Wednesday, August 19.
? You can log into each system at the following links
? OneView Parent Portal
? EZ Pay
? Progress Book Parent Viewer
? If you have questions regarding schedules, please contact the school office at:
? Goldwood Primary School: 356-6000 (x6720)
? Kensington Intermediate School: 356-6000 (x6770)
? Rocky River Middle School: 356-6000 (x6870)
? Rocky River High School: 356-6000 (x6800)
School Messenger
? The Rocky River City School District will be using a new service this year called School Messenger to alert you if your child(ren) is not present in class. This service will allow the district to further meet attendance requirements from Ohio House Bill 410.
? If your child is not present and has not been called in, parents/guardians will receive a robocall from School Messenger to alert you of the absence.
? The message you will receive is as follows:
? “Hello, this is a message from the attendance office at [School Building Name], calling to inform you that your student was marked absent on [date or period of absence]. Please contact the attendance office of your student's school at, (phone number), to clear the absence. If you have already contacted the school office you can disregard this message. If you would like to replay this message, please press the star key. Thank you.”
? If you have any questions regarding your child’s absence, please contact your child’s school after receiving the message.
? As a reminder, students who will be absent need to be called in when the district is in Open (Green), Hybrid (Yellow), or Online (Red).
? The attendance number are as follows:
? Beach Preschool: 440-356-5200
? Goldwood Primary School: 440-356-6730
? Kensington Intermediate School: 440-356-6040
? Rocky River Middle School: 440-356-6873
? Rocky River High School: 440-356-6020
Rr 20/20 Vision Website
? This communication and all future information regarding the return to school will be posted on the Rr 20/20 Vision website that can be viewed here.
Thank you for your continued support of the Rocky River City School District.
Sincerely,
Dr. Michael G. Shoaf
Superintendent