“Extended Spring Break” ordered by Ohio Governor Mike DeWine as part of a sweeping plan to help stop the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) in Ohio
BREAKING NEWS: By Chuck Gibson
UPDATE FROM INDIAN HILL SCHOOLS: 5:11 P.M. Thursday, March 12, 2020
Indian Hill School District confirms closure in accord with order of Ohio Governor Mike DeWine: Per the announcement today (Thursday, March 12) by Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, giving guidance that all K-12 schools within Ohio will be closed by the end of the school day on March 16 – the Indian Hill School District is announcing all buildings will be closed effective Friday, March 13 through April 3. We will use Friday, March 13 as the day to practice our online learning system with students as communicated in previous communications. Students will not report to school buildings that day, but will participate in online learning. As a District we wanted to share this information as quickly as possible after receiving closure information from Governor DeWine. We are currently investigating the latest decree, and will communicate soon about future plans regarding online learning opportunities.
Additionally,Indian Hill School district will be suspending all District activities, including all athletic activities, during this time, effective Friday, March 13. Please note: This includes all campus facilities – including all athletic fields.
We will continue to follow the situation, take guidance from Governor DeWine, and provide any updates to you that impact the Indian Hill School District.
UPDATE FROM SYCAMORE SCHOOLS: 4:48 P.M. Thursday, March 12, 2020
Sent by email to Sycamore Families:
Governor Mike DeWine announced an unprecedented order today, all Ohio K-12 schools will be closed from March 16 through April 3 in an effort to slow the spread of COVID-19.
Sycamore Community Schools will be closed from March 16-20 for the planned Spring Break and will remain closed March 23-April 3. Students will return to school on April 6, unless otherwise determined or extended by the state of Ohio. All seven buildings and District Offices will be closed to students and families during this time, including the Registrar Office.
There are currently no confirmed or suspected cases of COVID-19 in Sycamore Community Schools, and five confirmed cases in Ohio.
For the complete update from Sycamore Schools proceed to the end of this published posting.
UPDATE FROM LOVELAND SCHOOLS: 4:02 p.m. March, 12, 2020
The announcement below has just been sent to the parents/guardians and staff of the Loveland City School District:
Governor DeWine orders all schools in the state to close
At a press conference this afternoon, Ohio Governor DeWine ordered all K-12 public schools in the state to close for students for three weeks, beginning on Monday, March 16, in efforts to curb the spread of COVID-19.
Tomorrow, Friday, March 13, schools will be open for a typical school day. If you choose not to send your child to school tomorrow, the absence will be excused. If you choose to keep your child home tomorrow, please make arrangements to get the items your child may need for the extended time off and the potential for remote learning.
Based on announcements from the governor earlier in the week, Loveland City School District administrators met yesterday to work through the details of implementing online learning for K-12th grade students after spring break if necessary. With today’s announcement, this plan will now be reviewed.
We realize that you have many questions, likely more than we are able to answer at this time. We will continue to follow the directives of the Governor and the Ohio Department of Health officials and will communicate any updates and announcements via email to parents and staff. All communications will also be published on www.lovelandschools.org. We are certain to meet some challenges in the weeks ahead, but we know that our Tigers are resilient and that we will get through this together.
Gov. DeWine’s press conferences can be viewed via the Ohio Channel.
Dr. Amy Crouse, Superintendent
LOVELAND, OH – Ohio Governor Mike DeWine announced several orders to help “slow” the spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19) throughout Ohio during an afternoon press conference today.
Among those orders was the order for Ohio schools to close for “an extended spring break” of three weeks beginning Monday, March 16. Loveland Beacon has reached out to area school officials for Loveland City School District, Indian Hill Exempted Village Schools, Milford Schools, and Sycamore Schools for confirmation of their plans in response to DeWine’s order.
When Loveland Beacon knows more, it will be posted here in THE LEAD on Loveland Beacon. Keep watch.
UPDATE FROM MILFORD SCHOOLS: 3:40 P.M. Thursday, March 12, 2020 – Wendy Planicka, Director of Communications & Public Relations, Milford Exempted Village School District – Milford Schools will be closing Monday, March 16 through the end of their Spring Break. Milford Schools students are scheduled to return Tuesday, April 14.
MORE COMING FROM LOVELAND SCHOOLS SOON: 3:47 P.M., Thursday, March 12, 2020
CONTINUED FROM SYCAMORE SCHOOLS UPDATE POST 4:48 P.M. THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2020 – We would like to acknowledge all of the thoughtful questions and concerns that have been shared with us as we continue to build a comprehensive plan. We appreciate your patience as we adjust and adapt to this dynamic and unprecedented situation. This email is just the first of the ongoing communication that you will receive.
There are currently no confirmed or suspected cases of COVID-19 in Sycamore Community Schools, and five confirmed cases in Ohio.
Sycamore Community Schools continues to follow the directives of the Centers for Disease Control, the Ohio Department of Health, and Hamilton County Public Health. District administrators are meeting several times a day for updates from these agencies as well as to modify our responses to this health crisis. In short, we are prepared and ready to respond.
E-Learning:
The Sycamore staff are preparing assignments and lessons that can be delivered electronically. Our teachers have been working this week in preparation for potential closure. These materials will not be accessible until after Spring Break (week of March 23). We appreciate your patience as we work to prepare lessons that help students review what they have learned, extend their knowledge, or reinforce individual student learning goals.
Students in grades 5-12 will take home their Chromebooks and chargers before Spring Break. The district’s Code of Conduct will be enforced, therefore all rules still apply to the appropriate use of the device. Students in K-4 will receive packets of materials to take home on Friday, March 13 but they are not expected to work on those materials until after Spring Break (week of March 23.) All assignments and virtual office hours will be posted and easily identifiable on Blackboard.
We recognize that remote lessons cannot fully replace face-face classroom instruction with a highly qualified teacher. Assignments are developmentally appropriate in length and breadth and include what students would typically be asked to complete in your classroom as a review, reinforcement, or extension of information already instructed in a prior classroom experience.
Students receiving special education services will continue to receive the services
and accommodations in their IEPs to the extent possible during periods of alternative instruction. Families will receive additional information from the Office of Students Services regarding these next steps.
Technology Support:
We understand that not all families have access to wifi at home. All materials on Blackboard can be downloaded for future reference when you are not connected to the internet. Our buildings will not be accessible to students and families. However, you may be permitted to access our wifi from outside our buildings if needed.
Students can use Google Suites to complete work even if you are not connected to the internet. While offline, you can still create, view, and edit files on Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides. Click here for more information on how to use these tools offline.
Impact on Upcoming Events:
As shared previously, all large events prior to Spring Break, are canceled.
All K-12 athletic outdoor and indoor contests and scrimmages are canceled before April 6. Indoor contests, scrimmages, and practices will be canceled until April 6 pending any additional directives from the state or OSHA. Outdoor practices can continue without access to locker rooms and athletic facilities. Non-conference contests and scrimmages will not be made up. Every effort will be made to reschedule in-conference contests and scrimmages.
All K-12 Fine Arts performances and practices are also postponed at this time. We will evaluate and notify you if and when events are rescheduled.
All school events, including all PTO-sponsored events are also canceled. We will evaluate and notify you if and when events are rescheduled.
All events scheduled by outside groups are canceled until April 6.
There have been no decisions made about events beyond April 6, including graduation, prom, and any end-of-year activities. The district will communicate any decisions with families as soon as they are reached.
Child Nutrition Services:
Sycamore Child Nutrition Services is developing plans to provide meals for families starting with the week of March 23. The plan includes establishing several delivery locations in our local neighborhoods. We will provide more information on the exact dates and times of breakfast and lunch drop-offs. Please check your email for more information.
Mental Health Services:
We recognize the importance of consistent and continued care for our students who access our school-based therapy programming. The district is working with Cincinnati Children’s Hospital on how to continue to provide access to mental health services starting with the week of March 23. Any specific questions or concerns should be directed to your student’s therapist. Please look for more information about how those services will be continued.
Medication Services:
Families who have children who take daily medications at school and will be in need of accessing these over the extended closure, please contact your school nurse to schedule a time to check out medications by Friday, March 13.
Spring Break Travel:
By law, the district cannot screen or monitor students or staff who have traveled outside of the local area. However, we strongly recommend staff and families who may be traveling during Spring Break follow all State Department advisories and CDC recommendations. The CDC warns this may include some limitations on movement and activity for up to 14 days. If a student or family member must practice social distancing or quarantine by the time school returns, the district will work with families to ensure that absences are excused and that teaching and learning can continue from home. Your cooperation is integral to the ongoing public health response to try to slow the spread of this virus.
Deep Cleaning Process:
Our custodial staff has been diligent in their cleaning efforts throughout the cold and flu season. An aggressive, proactive approach to disinfecting classrooms and common spaces, including our athletic venues, has been taken since the onset of this situation. The district has secured safe disinfectant germ foggers for every classroom and school bus in the district and will utilize them when students and staff are not present.
Continued Communication:
The district is assessing and revising its plans on a daily basis as this situation rapidly changes.
Please continue to check your email throughout the break for additional information. Any modifications to dates/times of the closure or if other major announcements need to be made will be communicated via our mass notification, which includes phone calls, text messages, email, social media, mobile app notification and or district website.
Additional information for our classified and certified staff will be communicated shortly regarding via email in regards to payroll and workday structure.
The health, safety, and wellness of our students and staff are of the utmost importance to us. We understand the burden and inconvenience that this places on our students, staff, and families. We will work to ensure that learning continues during this difficult time and that our services continue to be provided to the extent possible. Thank you for your continued cooperation and understanding throughout this evolving situation. We will send further information to you as we receive it.
