This page will be updated with new questions and answers as they come in.

Submit a question regarding the Extended School Closure and COVID-19

What is Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a respiratory illness that can spread from person to person. The virus that causes COVID-19 is a novel coronavirus that was first identified during an investigation into an outbreak in Wuhan, China.

How can I help stop the spread of Coronavirus?

To help prevent the spread of respiratory viruses, including COVID-19 and flu, follow these important tips:

• Follow the guidelines and recommendations from the Ohio Department of Health and Cuyahoga County Board of Health.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
• Individuals with chronic health issues and/or individuals experiencing severe symptoms should be evaluated by a medical professional 

Who can I contact with questions about Coronavirus (COVID-19)

The Ohio Department of Health number for those with COVID-19 questions is 1-833-427-5634, or you can visit coronavirus.ohio.gov for more information.

How long will the Rocky River City School District be closed?
Per the Stay at Home Order that was introduced on March 22 by Governor DeWine and the Ohio Department of Health, the Rocky River City School District will be closed through April 6, 2020. During this time, there will be no school or school-sponsored athletics, activities, or meetings. Student instruction is continuing online. We will continue sending email communications and posting new updates regarding the extended school closure on the district website and on social media.

Will the extended school closure affect spring break?
The Rocky River City School District will continue to follow the established 2019-2020 school-year calendar with spring break from April 10-17.

What do I do if I am having trouble accessing assignments for my child during the extended school closure?

Please reach out to your child's teacher or school administrator via email and they will be able to help troubleshoot the situation.

What if I am having technology issues during the extended school closure?

The district has set up an online extended school closure trouble ticket that is available every day. If you are having tech issues during the extended school closure, please click here to fill out the Trouble Ticket and our tech team will do its best to respond as soon as possible. 

Will there be lunch available during the extended school closure?

Yes. Please visit this form for more information and to place an order. All orders are placed for an entire week, not single days. If there are multiple children in a family, you will need to fill out the form for each child.

Has there been any update on AP testing for this spring?
Yes. The College Board has released an update on AP testing for this spring. Please review this website for full details and specifics.

Will teachers start to use Zoom to hold classes?

Zoom is one of several resources available for teachers to use during the extended school closure along with Achieve3000, Successmaker, ALEKS, MyOn, Wonder, text resources, Google Classroom, Screencastify, and Studies Weekly to name others. If grades 6-12 teachers plan to meet with their class via Zoom, they are required to do so during their normally scheduled class time.

How will exams be administered?

Governor DeWine's Stay at Home Order is currently in effect from March 16-April 6. The original order ran through April 3. During this time, teachers are posting assignments online for students to complete. If the school closure is extended, we will address this matter.

Regarding application for senior scholarships, will students be able to apply on the date originally posted?

If we are unable to hold our Spring Recognition program in person, we will still award scholarships. A Google Form will be shared with all seniors on April 3rd and the application will close on April 20th.  After the application window closes, RRHS administrators and counselors will meet to determine who the recipients are. 

We received notification that school will be resuming normal operations on April 6th. Does that mean the students will be back in the school buildings then and no longer completing lessons from home?

Governor DeWine’s Stay at Home order that was introduced on March 22 runs through April 6. During this time, there will be no school or school-sponsored athletics, activities, or meetings in the RRCSD. If the closure is extended, we will communicate that via email.

Will school events such as awards ceremonies, prom, and graduation be rescheduled if they can not happen on the scheduled dates?

We are hopeful to reschedule many school events, but we are waiting for further guidance on reopening schools before setting the new dates. RRHS prom has already been rescheduled from May 2, 2020, to May 29, 2020, at The Cleveland Westin. We have and will continue to do everything we can to reschedule events, but as always, the health, safety, and well-being of our students, staff, and community remains our top priority.

Will RR teachers begin teaching new material if the school closure continues beyond April 6?

Yes. Teachers will introduce new material beginning Monday, April 6.

Is there a plan in place to get individualized learning for each class beginning April 6? 

Students who are on Individualized Education Plans are receiving instruction specific to their identified needs. Case managers have been in contact with families with a plan for what that looks like for their child.  If you have not heard from your case manager, please contact Jennifer Norman ([email protected]).

When will assignments and grades for the fourth quarter be visible in ProgressBook?

Assignments and grades for quarter 4 are posted in ProgressBook.  Click grades on the left side of the screen- then on the right side of the screen click Q4 for quarter 4 grades.

How will state testing and assessments be handled?

State testing has been waived for the 2019-2020 school year. The Ohio Senate and House passed House Bill 197 (HB 197) on March 25, and Governor Mike DeWine signed the bill which included waiving of state testing and state report cards for this year. To view the contents of HB 197, please click here.

If the schools are closed further into May will the district look into using calamity days and end the school year early?
The RRCSD will continue to follow the Governor’s directives regarding closing and opening of school until the end of our school calendar. 

I thought I read somewhere that the assignments from 3/16 to 4/5 would not be posted to the 4th quarter; however, my middle school and high school student's grades for the last two weeks have been posted to the 4th quarter for several classes.
Assignments from March 16-April 3, as well as new instruction starting April 6 will be used to determine the 4th quarter grade. To view assignments and grades for quarter 4 in ProgressBook, please click grades on the left side of the screen, then on the right side of the screen click Q4 for quarter 4 grades.

At what point will the decision be made about whether or not there will be final exams for classes taken for high school credit? If there are no final exams, how will Q3 and Q4 be weighted to determine a student's second semester grade? Will it be 50/50, 60/40, 70/30 or something else?
There will be no final exams for high school courses, including those taught at RRMS. Grades for the 4th quarter will include work given from March 16-April 3 and new instruction which began on April 6. The semester 2 final grade for high school credit courses will be an average of quarter 3 and quarter 4. 

Is there an update on the 8th grade Washington DC trip?
The district has made the difficult decision to cancel the 8th grade trip to Washington, DC scheduled for June 2-4, to ensure the health and safety of our students and staff in this uncertain time. By canceling at this time, it will also allow families to receive the maximum refund possible. The district and Nowak Tours will be in communication with families regarding refunds.

Ohio Department of Education - Graduation and other end-of-year recognition ceremonies
Earlier this week, the Ohio Department of Education released this statement regarding in-person graduation and other year end recognition ceremonies. We will continue to follow the recommendations of the Governor, the Ohio Department of Health, and the Ohio Department of Education regarding in-person gatherings and the rescheduling of end-of-year events to ensure the health, safety, and well-being of our students, staff, and the community.

Can you please tell me if there is a plan for senior commencement?
Plans are underway to host an online virtual graduation on Friday, June 5 at 7:00pm, to include elements of a traditional RRHS graduation ceremony.

My child needs a transcript sent for a possible scholarship, is there a staff member at the school who could send it?
To receive an unofficial transcript for your child, please contact their counselor at RRHS.

• Jeff Petrulis - [email protected] (last name A-G)
• Erin Pontikos - [email protected] (last name H-O)
• Candace McMahon - [email protected] (last name P-Z)

Will online learning continue through June 4 since that's the official last day of school? With the elimination of field trips, ceremonies, DC trip, etc. I was curious if the remaining lessons would be consolidated into fewer days, thereby shortening the official school year. Will the district opt to use some of their calamity days to shorten the year and reduce the burden on parents to act as tech support and assistant educators for online learning?
The RRCSD will continue providing online instruction through the end of the school year calendar on June 4, 2020.

When/how will my children be able to pick up the remainder of their belongings from their respective school buildings?
The RRCSD is working on plans for students to pick-up the remainder of their belongings from school buildings, as well as return all school materials. We want to ensure this can be done in a safe manner with proper social distancing. Plans will be shared when finalized.

Some classes have supply fees and the kids are not using those supplies because they are working from home. Will the supply fee be applied to next year’s school fees?
Student fees for the 2020-2021 are currently being discussed. Information will be shared in a future communication.

Will all day kindergarten be offered for the 2020-2021 school year?
At this time, we are planning to offer all day kindergarten. However, if schools do not open as planned in August of 2020, we will re-evaluate all day kindergarten.

Is the virtual commencement the only event planned for graduating seniors?
On June 5, 2020, the Rocky River Police Department will lead a senior parade beginning at 7:00 p.m. in order to allow all parents who are working to attend. The parade route will be published in the near future. Virtual commencement will be streamed on the district and RRHS website at 5:00 p.m. and will be archived on the website. More details regarding the senior parade and virtual commencement will be released in the future. The following in-person events will only take place if the current restrictions regarding large group gatherings and social distancing are removed by Governor DeWine’s office and the Ohio Department of Health.

• Senior Prom: July 22, 2020 - 7:00 p.m. - location TBD
• Senior Picnic: July 23, 2020 - 11:00 a.m. - RRHS Stadium
• Commencement: July 24, 2020 - 7:00 p.m. - RRHS Stadium

Are recordings of Zoom available for students who have trouble getting into a session?
Please email your teacher if you are having difficulty accessing their zoom meeting or if you need information shared in a zoom meeting you missed.

Since the curriculum for half day and all day kindergarten are the same, I am inquiring as to the process to receive a pro-rated refund for all day kindergarten tuition.

At the May 21 Board of Education Meeting, the Board approved a resolution to reimburse $400.00 to families who paid full tuition for All Day Kindergarten. The Treasurer’s Office will begin processing these payments as soon as possible and plan to have checks mailed, or a credit issued to debit or credit cards, to families who paid full tuition of an All Day Kindergarten student by Friday, May 29.