Katy Virtual Academy
KVA Update: Sunday, August 2, 2020
Opt Out of KVA Deadline: Friday, August 7
Students electing to opt out of KVA and into in-person instruction beginning on Wednesday, August 19 will participate in the Intermittent School to Home Learning Plan. The Intermittent School to Home Learning Plan will begin on Wednesday, August 19 through Friday, September 4. Students will return to in-person instruction on Tuesday, September 8 and resume classes with the same teachers that provided the temporary virtual learning.
Students electing to begin the school year on Wednesday, August 19 through the KVA virtual learning option will not return to in-person instruction on Tuesday, September 8. Students will remain in the KVA virtual learning option through the end of the six week (secondary) and nine week (elementary) grading period. Students interested in opting into in-person instruction in preparation for the second grading period may confirm their change in learning assignment beginning on Wednesday, September 9 through Wednesday, September 23.
PSAT/NMSQT® Testing for 10th and 11th graders
Katy ISD will continue to administer the PSAT/NMSQT®, which helps students prepare for future SAT testing and provides entry into the National Merit® Scholarship Program for students who meet the criteria. The district will offer two testing days to accommodate face-to-face and KVA instruction platforms. Due to ordering deadlines outlined by the College Board, students will automatically be registered for testing, based upon their first grading cycle choice of instruction (face-to-face or KVA). Due to PSAT/NMSQT® required testing procedures, all testing must occur face-to-face at the home campus.
Students who opted for in-person instruction during the first grading cycle, will be administered the PSAT/NMSQT® on Wednesday, October 14, 2020 at their home campus.
Students who opted for KVA instruction the first grading cycle, will be administered the PSAT/NMSQT® on Thursday, October 29, 2020 at their home campus.
Please keep in mind that any plans are subject to change, given the course of this pandemic and executive orders issued by the state or counties. Additional information regarding the administration of the PSA/NMSQT on Thursday, October 29 will be provided via your weekly KVA Smore newsletter and the Friday Smart ReStart communication to all families.
School Lunches
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. The meal service schedule including times and locations will be provided with the Smart ReStart communication on Friday, August 7.
Touchless meal payment will be used to promote healthy and safe food distribution practices. In lieu of cash, families are encouraged to use the Pay N’ Go mobile app to provide student meal money. Parents can pick up meals without their student(s) present. However, parents and/or students must show a student ID, which are scanned for meal payment.
Student ID's will be distributed to all students at their home campus on August 17 and 18 in a “Grab and Go” format. Campuses will soon communicate additional information about their Grab and Go distribution times and locations.
FREE & REDUCED LUNCH Application:
The 2020-2021 Free and Reduced Lunch Application will be available the week of August 3, visit the Nutrition and Food Services webpage for more information.
School Supplies
http://www.katyisd.org/returntoschool/Documents/KVA_Elementary_School_Supply_List.pdf
Junior High:
• PC/Laptop with a camera is preferred (personal or Katy ISD owned)
• 1 spiral notebook for each class in order to set up a place for notes and/or interactive notebooks
• *Calculator
• Graph paper
• Access to pencils, highlighters, black ink pen, blue ink pen, and red ink pen
*Students in 7th grade KAP math, 8th grade math, or Algebra I will need a TI Nspire CX or TI Nspire CXII calculator. Math teachers will provide further information during the first week of school.
High School:
• PC/Laptop with a camera is preferred (Chromebooks are also acceptable)
• 1 spiral notebook for each class in order to set up a place for notes and/or interactive notebooks
• Graph paper
• *Calculator
• Access to pencils, highlighters, black ink pen, blue ink pen, and red ink pen
*Students in Algebra I, Algebraic Reasoning, PreCalculus, Statistics, AP Statistics, and AP Calculus AB & BC will need a TI Nspire CX or TI Nspire CXII calculator. All other math courses will need access to an online or physical calculator with basic functions. Math teachers will provide further information during the first week of school regarding calculator use and options for online calculators such as Desmos.
School Related Activities Updates
Your student's athletic Coach, Sponsor, Director and Teachers will be in communication related to campus specific information.
http://www.katyisd.org/returntoschool/Documents/2020_Athletics_Fall_Update.pdf
Fine Arts Fall Update
http://www.katyisd.org/returntoschool/Documents/2020_Fine_Arts_Fall_Update.pdf
Student Support Services
My child will be a KVA student, how can I help create structure at home?
Routine is a healthy habit to cultivate and can help people feel organized and in control during times of change. It is important to work with your child to create a routine that allows time for academics as well as breaks. Some students thrive with a highly structured daily schedule that outlines work in specific blocks of time. Other students do well with a list of things they need to complete that day. Click below for more information!
http://www.katyisd.org/returntoschool/Pages/FAQs-Student-Support-Services.aspx
Technology Reminders
All students may use their personally-owned laptops, computers and/or smart devices when participating in the Intermittent School to Home Learning Plan (temporary virtual learning for in-person students) or Katy Virtual Academy.
Parents who have not requested a device for their child(ren) via the Online New Student Enrollment & Registration, via the KVA Commitment Form or via the Annual Student Update (opens on 8/3), may request a device through the Student Device Request Form which is available on the Smart ReStart site beginning on Thursday, August 6.
http://www.katyisd.org/returntoschool/Pages/default.aspx
Curbside campus “Grab and Go” distribution of devices and student ID's will take place on Monday, August 17 and Tuesday, August 18. Students’ campuses will communicate their “Grab and Go” schedules.
Technology & Digital Support Information
Katy ISD is offering meetings for parents at the start of the 2020-2021 school year. These meetings will be held virtually via Zoom and will cover how parents and students can access and utilize many of the digital resources available at Katy ISD. More information, as well as the list of virtual meeting dates and times can be accessed via the link below:
http://www.katyisd.org/dept/technology/PTH/Pages/default.aspx
Back to School Reminders:
Katy ISD 2020-2021 Calendar:
http://www.katyisd.org/Documents/Calendars/Instructional_Calendar_2020-2021.pdf
Monday, July 20-Wednesday, August 5:
* KVA Committment Form Submission Window
Monday, August 3:
* Annual Student Update opens.
* KVA students may request a dedicated device when updating student information.
* Please look for the email with your unique SNAP code that will allow you to update student information.
Friday, August 7:
* Deadline to revoke KVA committment form to return to school on 8/19 in person.
Monday, August 17:
* Student schedules available via the Home Access Center (HAC)
https://homeaccess.katyisd.org/HomeAccess/Account/LogOnReturnUrl=%2fHomeAccess%2f
Monday, August 17 or Tuesday, August 18:
* Campus Grab N Go to pick up beginning of the year information including requested technology device.
Wednesday, August 19:
* First Day of School!
Tuesday, September 8:
* Students who elected in-person instruction to begin on the first day of school (8/19) will return to campus.
Monday, September 28:
* First day Secondary KVA students may return to in-person instruction.
Monday, October 19:
* First day Elementary KVA students may return to in-person instruction