Katy Virtual Academy

Email: KVA@katyisd.org

Phone: 281-234-2060.

*NEW*

The next opportunity to opt-in to in-person instruction or Katy Virtual Academy (KVA) instruction for the second grading period will be from August 31-September 11 (secondary) and September 21-October 2 (elementary).

The opt-in commitment link will be available on your student’s campus home page. All opt-in changes are in effect at the beginning of the second six week (secondary) and nine week (elementary) grading period. We appreciate your support, as campuses are working extremely hard to schedule and balance in–person and virtual learning classes for each 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.

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.

• Character Strong – A District character trait program has been adopted to support social and emotional learning

• Trained personnel are available to provide resources and strategies to support students’ social and emotional well-being

• Trained personnel are available to provide trauma informed practices and to support students and are well versed in how to report potential behavioral threats

• Counselors and LSSP’s are also available to support students and families in the virtual environment

DEALING WITH STRESS AND ANXIETY DURING A PANDEMIC:

https://www.rethinked.com/pages/MediaStory?ID=1236

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.

*New* Parent Tech FAQs

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

*New* 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)

COVID Notifications

The District has a COVID-19 Reporting System in place to allow staff, students and parents to self-report if they have received a COVID-19 positive test result. The self-reporting system enables the District’s Emergency Management team to conduct contact tracing, as well as call and notify individuals in Katy ISD buildings who may have been directly exposed to the infected person. A general email notification is also sent to campus staff and families whenever the district is informed of a potential “indirect” COVID-19 exposure in their building. Receipt of the general notification alone indicates that the recipient was not in close contact to the COVID-19 positive case reported for their building.

Many school personnel have begun returning to campuses for various trainings. Should there be a potential COVID-19 exposure on any campus, a general notification will be sent to staff at the work site impacted, by 5:00 p.m. on the day in which the self-report was submitted. Staff who may have been directly exposed because of failed COVID-19 safety protocol will be notified directly by a member of the Risk Management Department.

Parents will only begin to receive applicable campus-based general notifications when students return to schools for the in-person instructional option. Parents of students who may be involved in fine arts or athletic activities on campuses right now, may receive a general notification through Rank One (athletics) or Charms (fine arts), ahead of the September 8 reopening, if the District is informed of a potential exposure at their campus.

Students and staff may report positive COVID-19 results using the COVID-19 Self Reporting app on MyKaty Cloud.

Katy ISD Athletic Department High School Athletics Start-Up Updated

Click here for more information about high school athletics updates.

Katy ISD Athletic Department Junior High School Athletics Start-Up Updates

Click here for more information about junior high athletics updates.

Fine Arts Updates & Before/After School Practices

• Marching band, color guard, cheer and dance may continue practicing before and after school ensuring students condition and acclimatize to the heat in preparation for the fall season. Students opting for the Katy Virtual Academy learning option participate in scheduled practices and events before the start or at the end of the instructional school day. Campus fine arts directors will communicate their specific program’s practice schedule.
• All groups will perform at football games. Marching band will participate in the Katy Marching Festival, Regional UIL evaluation and will be supported by the District to advance to area and state contests as applicable. The dates for these events will be announced through campus program communication.
• High School cheer squads will have the opportunity to participate in the Spirit State UIL Championships in January.
• Dance team contests will be announced and scheduled by their campus program directors.

CTE Updates – Courses, Before/After School Activities

Due to the Campus Phase 1 Safety Protocols through the end of the first six-week grading period, visitors to the campus during the instructional day are restricted. Therefore, KVA students enrolled in CTE course labs may attend before or after school scheduled labs if offered. The safety protocols will be reviewed in preparation for the second grading period and any changes will be communicated prior to the start of the second grading period.

FFA Updates:

• FFA Meetings - There will be no in-person meetings the month of August. Information will be posted to the FFA Chapters’ Canvas page.
• Katy ISD Livestock Show Online Entries - Students interested in showing an animal (pig, goat, lamb, chickens, or rabbits) at the 2020-2021 Katy ISD Livestock Show will have the chance to enter/purchase their animal from Aug. 31 - Sept. 3 online. More information on entering will be communicated through the FFA advisors at their home campus.
• Leadership Development Events (LDE): Practices are starting before/ after school at each HS campus; please reference your FFA Chapters’ Canvas page for detailed times.
• Ag Barns COVID Safety Protocols- All students must sign IN and OUT using the QR codes at the ag barns when you are going to feed your animals. All students/ parents must wear a mask at all times, remain socially distanced, and wash hands frequently.

Meal Accounts & Negative Balances

All cafeteria balances (positive and negative) are carried forward year to year. If your student(s) had a negative balance at the end of last school year, parents are requested to pay that balance in full, prior to the start of the 2020-2021 school year. If negative balances are not paid, your student(s) may be denied a meal according to District charge policy. To deposit funds online, please visit Pay N’ Go. Free and Reduced meal benefits are available to those who qualify. Applications are online at SchoolCafe.com. A new application must be submitted each school year.

Beginning August 19, and through September 4, “Grab and Go” Meal Service will begin for the 2020-2021 school year. This meal service is available to all students during the first three weeks of school at 23 food distribution sites established across the District. Families who wish to apply for Free/Reduced cost meals may complete an application by signing into their SchoolCafe account here.

Touchless meal payment will be used at the “Grab and Go” meals distribution sites to promote healthy and safe food distribution practices. Families are encouraged to use the Pay N’ Go mobile app to provide student meal money, in place of cash. Parents can pick up meals without their student(s) present. However, parents and/or students must show a student ID, which is scanned for meal payment. ID badges will be distributed to elementary students at their home campus on August 17 and 18 in a “Grab and Go” Families will receive an email on Friday, August 14 with instructions on how to access and use the Student ID App.

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.