Katy Virtual Academy

Email: KVA@katyisd.org

Phone: 281-234-2060.

There will be no classes Monday, September 7th in observance of the Labor Day Holiday.

Katy ISD looks forward to the return of students who opted for in-person instruction scheduled to begin on Tuesday, September 8. Students who opted for the Katy Virtual Academy (KVA) learning option will continue with their KVA schedule through the end of the current six-week (secondary) and nine-week (elementary) grading period.

Campuses have worked extremely hard the past weeks to balance in-person and virtual classes as well as implement all campus phase 1 safety protocols. Families are encouraged to visit the Home Access Center (HAC) to confirm their child’s current schedule.

Regretfully, we are unable to process any requests to change a selected learning option prior to the end of the six-week (secondary) or nine-week (elementary) grading period. The next opportunity to opt-in to in-person instruction or Katy Virtual Academy (KVA) instruction for the second grading period is as follows:

Secondary – submission window will be open August 31-September 18. The change in instruction will begin on Sept. 28th (the first day of the second grading period). Here is the Commitment Form link for secondary requests: KVA and In-Person 2nd Grading Period Change Form for Junior High School or High School.

Elementary – submission window will be open September 21-October 2. The change in instruction will begin on Oct. 19th (the first day of the second grading period). The Commitment Form link for elementary requests will be available closer to that date.

The opt-in commitment link will also available on your student’s campus home page. Remember, all opt-in changes are in effect at the beginning of the second six-week (secondary) and nine-week (elementary) grading period. If you have any questions regarding the next opportunity to change your child’s learning option for the second grading period, please email KVA@katyisd.org.

If there is a need for a change in your child’s learning option due to a medical hardship, please email your concern to medicalhardship@katyisd.org. Pending the decision of the review committee, students will remain in their current learning option that was elected prior to the start of the school year on August 19.

To remain a KVA student, there is NO action needed on the part of the parent/guardian. Your child will remain in this learning environment until you opt him/her out. Again, if your intent is to have your child be a KVA student for the 2nd grading period, there is no further action to take!

With safety being the number one priority for Katy ISD, today we have launched our new ‘COVID-19 Case Dashboard.’ As a District, we want to ensure that you have access to the information and tools you need in order to make timely decisions about your child’s schooling, health and well-being as we continue to navigate the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Dashboard provides daily updates on the number of overall self-reported COVID-19 positive cases throughout the district, and by campus. Families and staff can review the Dashboard at any time by visiting the Katy ISD website homepage and clicking on the COVID-19 Case Dashboard icon.

The Dashboard is populated by data that is submitted by students and staff who have self-reported a positive COVID-19 test result through Katy ISD’s COVID-19 Self- Reporting App in the MyKaty Cloud.

For more information on Katy ISD’s COVID-19 Case Dashboard, or the COVID-19 Self- Reporting App, please visit the District’s Smart Restart webpage.

*NEW* Students enrolled in Katy Virtual Academy (KVA) will be able to pick up breakfast and lunch meals, curbside from 4:00 – 6:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, beginning Monday, September 7. Pick up is available at these four sites: Morton Ranch HS, Mayde Creek HS, Cinco Ranch HS, or Seven Lakes HS. Meals are packaged to be heated and eaten at home. Meals are to be picked up a day prior to the intended use. A breakfast and lunch picked up on Tuesday evening, for example, would be consumed Wednesday morning/ afternoon. Meals are charged based on the student’s eligibility (free, reduced, or full pay).

• Breakfast: $1.25 ($.30 reduced) Elementary Lunch: $2.25 ($.40) Secondary Lunch: $2.75 ($.40 reduced)

• Parents/students may pick up meals at any of the four sites. Student ID or current proof of enrollment is needed for meal service.

• Meals may also be pre-ordered through SchoolCafe.com. Parents/students who pre-order will need to pick up their meals at the site they select during the online pre-ordering process.

• Menus and nutritional information are available on SchoolCafe.com.

• Cashless payment is encouraged using Pay N’ Go.

The Katy ISD Nutrition and Food Services Department would like to remind parents/guardians that the District offers free or reduced-price meals to families that qualify. It is important for eligible families to apply, as eligibility information impacts school funding. More information, including the application can be found on SchoolCafe.

• A new meal benefits application must be submitted each school year for families that may qualify for receiving free or reduced-price meals.
• One meal benefit application is needed per family.
• To expedite the approval process, we highly recommend that families submit an online application at SchoolCafe.com.
• Parents/guardians are responsible for all meal account charges prior to being approved.

As a friendly reminder, Katy ISD offers Pay N' Go, which allows convenient ways to make payments for cafeteria meals, set low balance email notifications, schedule auto-pay, pay activity fees, and various other campus and district related services.

If you have any question please visit our website, email us at NutritionFoodServices@KatyISD.org or call us at 281-396-6240.

Katy ISD Nutrition and Food Service Department

Click here to read the USDA Nondiscrimination statement.

Take a look and try some 10 minute mindful yoga activities to reduce stress and re-focus for learning!

https://www.yogafoster.org/mindful-remote-learning

Many Career and Technical Education (CTE) courses require in-person instruction in order to receive practice on skills, and access to specialized equipment and technology in order to successfully complete the course.

Beginning September 28 through December 11, 2020 KVA CTE labs will be opening before and/or after school for lab instruction. All CTE KVA students enrolled in a CTE course that requires in-person instruction may be required to attend the before and/or after school labs. CTE teachers will work collaboratively with students in meeting required TEKS and in preparing for industry-based certifications. Additionally, CTE teachers will be communicating the in-person schedule to parents and students. In-person labs may be assessed and calculated as major grades. If a student fails to attend the required labs his/her semester grade will be negatively impacted and may result in a failing semester grade. Transportation to campus will not be provided.

Should you decide to change to in-person instruction, the window to opt in occurs August 31 through September 18 11, 2020. If you do not feel comfortable with your student receiving instruction on campus, you should switch from the current CTE course and select another elective course that does not require direct supervision of essential hands-on activities and/or access to specialized equipment and technology.

Katy ISD Announces Secondary

Gifted and Talented Screening

KATY [September 2, 2020] – Gifted and talented (GT) screenings for incoming secondary students are now taking place at Katy Independent School District. Katy ISD encourages all parents who have a child who is gifted and talented and headed to junior high school to sign up for a secondary GT screening. Students currently in fifth grade who are not identified as part of the elementary Challenge Program have the opportunity to be screened for GT program services, which would begin in the fall of the student’s sixth-grade year.

If parents would like to refer their child for secondary GT screening they must complete a Secondary Parent Checklist in English or Spanish and return it to their child’s elementary campus by September 23, 2020.

“Gifted and talented education programs provide a variety of academic and social options for students who are advanced learners,” said Katy ISD Director of Gifted, Talented and Advanced Academic Studies Joan Otten.

Secondary gifted program options are available in English, reading, mathematics, science and social studies. Students may be screened at their current campus in October and November in any or all of these content areas. Parents will be notified of the placement decision by U.S. mail in January 2021. Students who qualify for the GT program will begin the program in the fall of their sixth-grade year.

Contact the Challenge teacher at your child’s elementary school if you have additional questions.

Katy ISD Kindergarten Gifted and Talented Screening Deadline

KATY [September 09, 2020] – Now through October 2, parents of kindergarten students in Katy Independent School District who would like their child to be part of the Challenge (Gifted and Talented, GT) program may refer them for screening. This week, kindergarten parents will receive information detailing how to refer a student. Referral information can also be found in the Katy ISD GT and Advanced Academics website and is due on October 2, 2020.

“The State of Texas defines a gifted and talented student as a child or youth who performs or shows the potential for performing at a remarkably high level of accomplishment when compared to others of the same age, experience or environment,” said Katy ISD Director of Gifted, Talented and Advanced Academic Studies Joan Otten. “The Katy ISD Kindergarten Program emphasizes the development of critical and creative thinking skills,” added Otten.

Kindergarten services will begin by March 1, 2021 and will include students attending a Challenge classroom for 60 minutes a week. Students identified in kindergarten move into the elementary pullout program in first grade. Parents with questions can contact the counselor at their child’s campus or the campus Challenge teacher.

Parents of students who are referred and screened will receive placement notification during the last week of February 2021. Kindergarten GT Parent Information presentation will be available on our website by September 29, 2020.

Katy ISD Announces Advanced Placement (AP) Exams Available to Students

KATY [September 6, 2020] – Registration for Advanced Placement (AP) exams is now taking place for all Katy Independent School District high school students. September 28, 2020 through October 25, 2020 enrolled students and homeschooled students can receive details and register at their designated campus. Late registration takes place on November 15, with a $40 late fee per exam.

“Students who participate in AP courses experience college-level instruction, as well as the opportunity to possibly earn college credit,” said Joan Otten, Katy ISD Director of Gifted, Talented and Advanced Academics Studies. “Katy ISD students are encouraged to participate in AP exams, even though they are not required and have no bearing on the high school course grade,” added Otten.

Financial hardships should not be a barrier to take the exam. Fee waivers are available for students with economic needs. Contact the campus AP Administrator for full details. A partial refund of $54 per exam is available for seniors, who have been admitted to a college and have documentation, that the college will not accept AP exam scores for credit. These refunds must be requested in writing to the student’s campus counseling office by May 4, with documentation from the university’s AP exam policy.

AP exams are scheduled for the week of May 3-7 and May 10-14, 2020. Students who need special accommodations must adhere to the College Board timelines. To determine the exact date of a particular exam, visit www.collegeboard.com.

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*NEW* Katy ISD’s annual College and Career Night will be held Wednesday, October 14, 2020, from 6:00PM-8:00PM. This date was confirmed by the Texas Association of College Registrars and Admissions Counselors (TACRAO). Per TACRAO’s recommendation due to COVID-19, this year’s event will be virtual.

A short video demonstrating how to access and navigate the virtual College and Career Night can be found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FaOXWLzjviA&feature=youtu.be.

Students will be able to register for Katy ISD’s College and Career Night through GoToCollegeFairs.com beginning Tuesday, September 29, 2020.

Be virtual learning ready!

• Know your Katy ISD username and password. If you do not know this information, click here for help
• Go to the Home Access Center (HAC) and view your schedule
• PreK-4th grade students will need their parent/guardian to login to the HAC
• 5th –12th grade students can login to the HAC using their student credentials
• Launch the Google Chrome browser on your device

If using a personal device, make sure it is up to date, click here for help.

• Go to MyKaty Cloud: https://mykaty.katyisd.org
• Ensure you have Webpass enabled, click here for help
• Find Canvas (under the Elementary or Secondary tab on MyKaty Cloud):
• Click on the course that contains the name of your first class (refer to schedule in HAC).
• Be on time to each course throughout the day, as attendance will be taken. Your teacher will have instructions for you about content and an online meeting link.

How to Access Them

Elementary and secondary students can access a temporary ID badge via the Student ID App available on the MyKaty Cloud. Families received an email on Friday, August 14 with instructions on how to access and use the Student ID App.

Secondary campuses will soon communicate additional information about specific dates and times when secondary students will receive their permanent student ID.

Parent Tech FAQs

http://www.katyisd.org/dept/technology/PTH/Pages/Parent-Tech-FAQs.aspx

Parent and Student Knowledge Base

http://www.katyisd.org/dept/technology/PTH/Pages/Knowledge-Base-for-Students-and-Parents.aspx

Technology Help Desk Contacts for Parents/Students Support Inquiries

• Online: Katy ISD Tech Help
• Or, click “Help” in Canvas
• Or, call: 281.396.7400 (6:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m.)
• Or, e-mail: parenttechsupport@katyisd.org

“How to Guide” for Parents on the Home Access Center (HAC)

Need to know how to view a report card, student grades, or other information?

Check out our “how to guides” on the Home Access Center, or click below.

• Home Access Center (HAC) User Guide (English)
• Home Access Center (HAC) User Guide (Spanish)

The Resource Guide provides an in depth review of virtual learning from various perspectives, in addition to information regarding instructional delivery, learning tools, resources and technology assistance.