SiobhanKent From the PTO News Desk

Schools Closed For the Rest of the School Year

Governor Ralph Northam announced that all public and private schools in Virginia will remain closed at least through the end of this academic school year.

Guidance from the Virginia Department of Education will be forthcoming on how school divisions are to meet the instructional needs of every student over the next three months and into next year.

Teachers, counselors and administrators have begun contacting every student and will continue to do so on a weekly basis to determine how to best support not only their learning (including internet access), but also their health.

ACPS will be sharing details this week on how they are expanding access to the student meal service program to ensure that no families are left out.

SiobhanKent From the PTO News Desk

Laptops for 3rd, 4th, and 5th Graders

Dear Third, Fourth and Fifth Grade Parents:

During the current school closure, we are continuing to develop plans on how best to support the learning needs of our students at home. As part of these plans, the school division has created a web page that has links to learning resources that can be helpful to your child while at home: Albemarle County Public Schools At-Home Learning Resources for Students and Parents

Realizing that our third, fourth and fifth graders do not take their school-issued laptops home, we are making those laptops available to students who do not have access to a computing device. Families are invited to visit their child’s school either tomorrow, Thursday or Friday to pick up the student’s laptop.

Pick up for Agnor Hurt will be on Friday, March 20th from 8:00-10:00AM.

If you are unable to visit the school during this time, a limited number of laptops also can be checked out at our ACPS Center I location from 4 to 6 p.m. on Friday, March 20. Directions to Center I, located in Suite 225 at Seminole Place »

To further support your child’s learning needs, all school division Internet Wi-Fi access has been extended to school parking lots. The areas closest to a school’s main entrance or classroom windows should have the strongest signal strength. Personal devices can connect to the “ACPS-Public” network and school-issued laptops will be able to connect to the “ACPS” network.

Some private companies also are offering internet access for various locations with reduced pricing options:

We hope you will find this service and support information to be helpful for your child.

Sincerely,

Christine Diggs
Chief Technology Officer

SiobhanKent From the PTO News Desk

School Closed March 16th-April 10th

Note from March 17th:

Dear Members of Our School Communities:

Superintendent Dr. Matthew Haas is announcing today that all Albemarle County public schools will remain closed at least through Friday, April 10.

This action is being taken now in light of the latest information and guidance from federal and state public health officials that indicate current restrictions on public meetings are not likely to be lifted in the near future.

It is our hope that by sharing this decision with you now, it will help you to make any necessary child care arrangements through April 10. We will continue to monitor information and guidance from our public health officials to determine whether our schools will be able to open the week of April 13 or if they will remain closed for an additional period of time.

To support your child’s learning at home, we urge you to take advantage of this website:
Albemarle County Public Schools At-Home Learning Resources for Students and Parents

To further support your child’s learning needs during this closure, all school division Internet Wi-Fi access has been extended to school parking lots. The areas closest to a school’s main entrance or classroom windows should have the strongest signal strength. Personal devices can connect to the “ACPS-Public” network and school-issued laptops will be able to connect to the “ACPS” network.

Some private companies also are offering internet access for various locations with reduced pricing options:

Today was the beginning of our breakfast and lunch service program for all students and their siblings 18 years of age or younger. You can visit the parking lots of Albemarle, Monticello, and Western Albemarle high schools; Sutherland and Walton middle schools; and Woodbrook Elementary School between 11 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. any week day to participate. If you qualify for free and reduced lunch and cannot get to any of these sites, please call Child Nutrition at 434-295-0566. We are gathering information and exploring alternative delivery options, including additional sites based on demand.

We also want to remind you that beginning tomorrow, all school facilities and offices will be closed to visitors. All phone calls automatically will forward to the school division’s central phone number, 434-296-5820, which will be manned to assist you with high-priority needs.

Please stay safe.

Sincerely,

Rosalyn Schmitt
Chief Operating Officer

Note from March 12th:

A message from ALBEMARLE COUNTY SCHOOL DIST

Dear ACPS Families:

Governor Ralph Northam ordered all K-12 schools in Virginia to close for a minimum of two weeks, March 16-27, due to the spread of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19).

“We are taking this action to keep Virginians as safe and healthy as possible, and to minimize exposure to COVID-19,” Governor Northam said. “I recognize this will pose a hardship on many families, but closing our schools for two weeks will not only give our staff time to clean and disinfect school facilities, it will help slow the spread of this virus.”

Pursuant to this order, Albemarle County Public Schools (ACPS) will close their school buildings beginning tomorrow, March 14, with the following exception:

School buildings will be accessible to staff and families who need to pick up personal belongings or medications during normal school hours on Monday and Tuesday, March 16 and 17. After that point, school buildings will not be accessible.

All department (non-school) offices will remain open and accessible for the duration of the school closure.

From March 14-27, all weekend, evening, and after-school activities are canceled, as is all community use of ACPS facilities. Our EDEP holiday program will not operate.

ACPS will use this time to perform a deep clean of our facilities and for ongoing planning. We are working closely with the Virginia Department of Education to determine the best way to minimize disruption to learning and also to ensure that students in need have access to meals over the closure. We will share more details as those plans evolve.

Please note: Kindergarten Registration will not be held on March 18. We will reschedule at a later date.

Sincerely,

Rosalyn Schmitt
Chief Operating Officer

SiobhanKent From the PTO News Desk

Election Day Bake Sale

We are holding a Bake Sale on Election Day – Tuesday, November 5th from 7am-2pm.  We’re looking for volunteers to set up, to work at the table, and to supply the baked goods. Please sign up using this link.

Please stop by our table while voting on Tuesday – bring a little cash with you so that you don’t miss out on our yummy choices!

SiobhanKent From the PTO News Desk

International Night


International Night will be held TOMORROW, October 18th starting at 6:30pm!  We hope see everyone participate in sharing their cultural background and celebrating the diversity of our school community.

We encourage everyone to bring a food for others to sample that represents your culture.  Feel free to wear traditional clothing and/or bringing artifacts to share with others as we celebrate.

SiobhanKent From the PTO News Desk

Builders Needed!

We need help from our community of builders, carpenters, deck creators!!! We would like to build a small deck area in the back of our beautiful school. This would serve as a small outdoor classroom space and would be surrounded by our Peace Garden (which is also currently in the works). Who can help us design, measure, select correct supplies, and build it?! Please email us at agnorhurtpto@gmail.com
We can make our backyard space amazing!
SiobhanKent From the PTO News Desk

Back to School Night

Mark your calendars for our AHES Back to School Night on Tuesday, September 17 from 6:30-8 p.m.

The PTO will have some important information for you to pick up at our PTO table and we’ll be brewing some of that delicious Grit Side Hustle Medium Roast Blend for you to try out before you order our “Good Morning Gator” special.  Swing by for a sample!