Special Notice Regarding Face Mask Requirements at ACPS
At the end of last week, after a staff member tested positive for Covid 19, the school board decided that it would be safer for all school staff and students to wear masks. We realize that this is short notice, but it is all the time we had. The CDC recommends that everyone in public settings wear face coverings. Because they also say elementary students may have difficulties, we decided that masks would only be required for middle and high school students, If students refuse to wear a mask, they will be provided a space for virtual learning.
Team Amelia Families: Please read the following statement from the ACPS School Board:
This message is provided in response to community discussions regarding the school board’s decision to require face masks by all at the middle school and high school. This decision was made by the school board based on feedback from teachers and parents. The only change was to add classrooms as an area for requiring masks. Masks were already required in all other areas of the schools. The change was made at the last minute after a staff member at the schools contracted the COVID 19 virus, which led to concerns expressed to the board by teachers who feared contracting the virus by students not wearing masks in the classroom as well as various parents and citizens who expressed concerns with students bringing the virus home. After much consideration and discussion with Dr. Harper, the school board made the decision to require face masks at all times in the buildings. This decision is based on concern for the overall health and safety of our children, our teachers, our staff, and the public. Unfortunately this was a last minute decision, but it was made based on changing circumstances. The school board will continuously monitor this situation and make other changes as the situation warrants. In other words, this is a dynamic situation that requires changes in decisions or new decisions to be made as a response. We ask that the community support the school board and the administration during these uncertain times. At the end of the day, the school board’s number one concern is the safety and well being of our children, teachers, staff and the public.
The site link above contains the latest information for parents regarding the reopening of our schools for the 2020-2021 academic year. We will make every effort to keep you informed and post updates to this site as new information becomes available.
ACPS Meal Pickups
ACPS will be offering free meals to all Amelia County Public Schools enrolled students during the 2020-2021 school you. Meal pick-up will be offered for all virtual only students on Monday's and Wednesday's during the regular school year between the hours of 12-2pm. Meal pick-up will be located at the school board office through the RGA doors. Please make sure that meals picked up on Monday are ordered by Thursday at 5 pm and meals picked up on Wednesday are ordered by Monday at 5 pm.
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ACPS Meal Pickup Form
*This form will need to be filled out for each day meal pick-up is desired.
*More days will be added to this form as the school year progresses.
Important Update: COVID-19 Instructional Plan 2020-2021
This evening, July 22, 2020 the Amelia County School Board approved the COVID-19 Instructional Plan 2020-2021, which details how the school division will reopen. The Objective of our Instructional Plan is to provide new instruction to every student during the 2020-2021 school year, regardless of the reopening phase of the Commonwealth of Virginia or Amelia County. All students will receive instruction through either a hybrid or a fully virtual/remote instructional model in which assignments are graded and families and staff members work collaboratively as education partners. While we would love nothing more than to welcome every student back in person on August 17th, we believe that this Instructional Plan is the best alternative we can offer our students and our community at this time.
- ACPS Instructional Plan 2020-2021
The Instructional Plan is divided into 3 parts- Phase 3 Guidelines, Phase 2 Guidelines and Phase 1 Guidelines. Each phase is color-coded for easy reference. The Phase 3 Plan begins on p. 5; the Phase 2 Plan begins on p. 23 and the Phase 3 Plan begins on p. 41.
The Instructional Plan encompasses four major components for each of the 3 Phases:
1. Operational Infrastructure to Support Learning- which includes a plan for school schedules, transportation, technology, processes, systems and communications.
2. New Instruction for All Students- which includes a plan for providing new instruction to all students including the learning needs of all students equitably, with attention to vulnerable and special populations.
3. Identification of Instructional Gaps and Student Needs- which includes a plan for identification of learning needs through formative assessment, supports for student success and well-being, revisions to curriculum, pacing and instructional delivery.
4. Remote Learning- which includes a contingency plan for ensuring continuity of new instruction continues should further closures be necessary.
Our Amelia County students will return to school on August 17th with a schedule that is different from years past.
Instructional Schedule:
The Task Force recommends the following instructional schedule for Amelia County Public Schools students while in Phase 3. Details can be found on p. 6 of the plan.
1. High School and Middle School students would report to school in-person (2) days per week. Group A would report in-person on Monday and Tuesday. Group B would report in-person on Thursday and Friday. Wednesday would be reserved for remote/virtual learning for all students. Wednesday would also be a day for extensive deep cleaning and sanitization in addition to teacher planning for remote/virtual instruction.
2. Elementary students will report to school in-person four (4) days per week; Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. Again, Wednesday is reserved for remote/virtual learning for all students, deep cleaning of the building, and teacher planning.
3. All Students will have the option of receiving instruction via a remote/online learning environment at home.
Amelia County High School and Amelia County Elementary School receive the Virginia Department of Education 2020 Board of Education Continuous Improvement Award
RICHMOND, Va. — The state Board of Education today recognized 447 schools and six school divisions for high student achievement, continuous improvement or innovative practices under the board’s exemplar performance school recognition program. The awards are based on performance and practice during 2018-2019 and prior years.
The recognized schools include 71 schools that earned the Board of Education Highest Achievement Award, 375 schools that earned the Board of Education Continuous Improvement Award and one school that earned the Board of Education Innovative Practice Award. The board also recognized six school divisions for innovative practices. In 2019, the first year of the exemplar performance program, 235 schools earned awards.
“The criteria for the exemplar performance awards are designed to incentivize schools to make the changes in instruction, policy, support services and practice required to make progress toward meeting the Board of Education’s objective of achieving equity in opportunities and outcomes for all students,” Board of Education President Daniel A. Gecker said. “The increase in the number of awards earned this year is evidence of the progress our schools were making toward this objective before the pandemic forced the closure of schools in March.”
“I congratulate the principals, teachers, support professionals and students of all of these schools and divisions for the achievement, innovations and hard work recognized by these awards,” Superintendent of Public Instruction James Lane said. “I believe the success of these schools and school divisions will inspire learning communities across the commonwealth as they plan for the reopening of school and prepare to meet the instructional and social-emotional needs of students — especially students most impacted by the closure this spring.”
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Schools recognized for continuous improvement were rated “Accredited” or “Accredited with Conditions” for 2019-2020 and met at least one of the following four criteria based on performance during 2018-2019:
- A 10-point increase in the combined rate in reading and math, and in the pass rate in science;
- A 10-point increase in the combined rate in reading and math for two or more student groups across three years;
- A decrease in the chronic absenteeism rate for three years; or
- For schools with a graduating class, an increase in the Graduation and Completion Index and a decrease in the dropout rate for three years.
The Board of Education approved the criteria for the exemplar performance awards in April 2018. The recognition program is aligned with the board’s accreditation standards and replaced the Virginia Index of Performance recognition program.
ACPS Google Online Training for Teachers
https://sites.google.com/ameliaschools.com/onlinetraining/home
Superintendent's Message to the Community
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Dear Parents, Students, and Amelia Community;
Welcome to the 2020-2021 school year! This year will certainly be a year unlike any other. Although it will be the first year we are unable to greet all of our students at our doors on the first day of school, we are excited to be reopening after five months. We know that our schools and practices will look different, but our Amelia County Public Schools (ACPS) staff continue to be the best in Virginia. Together we are Team Amelia!
Navigating the new school year will provide opportunities for Amelia families and staff to demonstrate the cohesiveness that is Amelia County. Regardless of the educational path of engagement for each child, every student is a valued member of ACPS. Our ACPS staff are dedicated to providing equitable instructional programming for each student. I encourage parents to connect weekly with teachers to meet individual student goals. Teamwork is essential.
During the week of August 10, 2020, ACPS will be distributing Chromebooks for all students. On August 10, 2020, from 2:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. we welcome families to our first virtual Open House. Each school will share information about this special event.
We welcome students back to ACPS and we look forward to partnering with you during the upcoming school year.
Sincerely,
Lori Harper, Ed.D.
Superintendent
Amelia County Public Schools
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2020-2021 Instructional Calendar
ACPS 2020-2021 School Calendar - Revised July 13, 2020
ACPS 2020-2021 Work Day Schedules