Return to Learn Update

In this update, you will find information about:

• Student health and wellness protocols

• Communicating with families about a positive COVID-19 case

• Code V days during inclement weather

• School bus routes

• Community meal site changes

Washington County Public Schools (WCPS) is committed to preventing the spread of COVID-19 in our greater community. Therefore, it is crucial that all students, staff, and families follow and respect the established health and safety guidelines. Both students and staff are expected to follow the same protocols in schools.

WCPS is open and transparent with our learning community about COVID-19 in our schools. If there is a confirmed case of COVID-19 in your child’s school or on their school bus, each family will receive a recorded phone call message and an email that is sent through the WCPS Connect mass notification system.

Families who receive only the recorded phone call and email message do not need to take any action. You may continue sending your child to school.

If your child is considered a close contact to the individual who tests positive for COVID-19, you will receive a personal phone call from a member of the WCPS COVID-19 Response Team. This person will give you very clear direction about precautions your family will need to take.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention identifies a close contact as someone who is within six feet for a cumulative period of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period to the individual with COVID-19. The WCPS COVID-19 Response Team works closely with school administrators and staff to ensure a thorough contact tracing process. Please note WCPS has extensive processes in place to prevent students and staff from being within six feet of one another for the cumulative 15 minutes of time.

Families should ensure their contact information, including their phone number, cell phone number, and email address, is updated with their child’s school to receive these notifications. You can check your personal information in ParentVUE under the “My Account” tab to confirm these details are correct. If you need to change any of this information, please contact your child’s school.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, WCPS will continue holding school through distance learning in the event of inclement weather. We do not anticipate that school will be canceled, delayed, or dismissed early.

During a winter weather event, students will continue a normal school day by participating in live, online classes on the current school day schedule. You will see this referred to as a Code V (Virtual) day in community announcements.

Students are encouraged to bring their device and charging cord home with them each school day, and they will be reminded by their teachers about how to connect to their virtual classrooms.

On a Code V day, classes for all students will stay consistent with the daily schedule at the time. Beginning February 16, 2021, the school day will transition to the Stage 4 school day schedule and will remain the same for Code V days until further notice.

In addition, WCPS will not change the A-day/B-day schedule as a result of Code V days. For example, if a Code V day were to happen on a Monday (A-day), when in-person classes resume on Tuesday, WCPS will operate on the standard B-day.

Students who remain on distance learning each school day will not be affected by Code V days. Again, classes for all students will continue to run on the Stage 4 school day schedule beginning February 16, 2021.

Athletics and extracurricular activities on Code V days

All extracurricular activities will move to virtual practices with actual competitions being postponed on an announced Code V day.

Should inclement weather occur on the weekend, WCPS will follow the traditional protocols for extracurricular activities by monitoring the Snow Emergency Plan and working through the Supervisor of Athletics and school principal. If the Snow Emergency Plan is in place for Washington County, then all practices, games, and activities will be postponed.

Families can look up their child’s bus route information online. Simply click the link below, and enter your child’s grade and your home address. The system will provide information about pick-up and drop-off times and locations.

Only students who have been confirmed to return in Stage 4 with their school should use this tool. This system will provide bus information for any address, even if the student is remaining virtual.

Unfortunately, bus capacity is significantly reduced due to physical distancing restrictions. This limits transportation options for some of our students. WCPS Transportation staff is working with schools and families to make appropriate arrangements when possible. If parents are able to drop-off and pick-up their children at school, you may create an opportunity for another student without transportation to return to in-person learning.

If you have questions about your child’s transportation arrangements, please contact your child’s school.

Our school cafeterias are gearing up to serve students during in-person learning. WCPS remains committed to offering free meals to children in our community, and we will be changing our community meal site locations beginning February 16, 2021.

Meal sites will continue to operate Monday through Friday at the times listed below. These locations are closed on days that school is not in session.

Students attending school in person can receive one free breakfast and lunch at their school each day. Additional items (ala carte) can be purchased at most schools. Students must have money on their account or cash to purchase ala carte items.

Website: www.wcpsmd.com
Location: 10435 Downsville Pike, Hagerstown, MD, USA
Phone: 301-766-2800
Facebook: facebook.com/wcpsmd
Twitter: @wcpsmd