To the Valley View School Community,

I hope this correspondence finds you and yours safe and healthy! First and foremost, I thank everyone for their patience and understanding during this unprecedented situation. Parents especially have been put in a difficult situation with little notice and great uncertainty. On behalf of the District, we thank and commend our parents for all they are doing. We’d also like to thank the countless helpers who have stepped up over the past many weeks to help their community. While there are too many to name, we would specifically like to thank the following: our cafeteria workers and volunteers who have helped feed our students, our maintenance staff who have disinfected our schools so that they are safe for the essential employees that are still working, including those who are distributing food, the organizations and individuals who are advocating for increased support for public schools during this crises, and the organizations and individuals who have generously donated to the school to provide increased technology that can be lent to our families. Of course, we also appreciate all of the doctors, nurses, hospital staff, first responders, police officers, grocery and restaurant workers, and anyone else performing life-sustaining work locally and around the nation. You are heroes! The outpouring of generosity, kindness, and togetherness (while apart physically) has been inspiring and is what makes Valley View a special place.

As you know, in concert with the NIEU 19 schools VVSD rolled out a Continuity of Education Plan about two weeks ago that features voluntary enrichment and review. As the school closure in Pennsylvania continues, some schools have begun revising their plans. VVSD has been and will continue to vet all options. Certainly, we want to do all that we can for our students. Our students’ welfare and academic progress are our priorities and why we do what we do. Please know that our decisions are informed by Federal and State guidelines with regard to access and equity issues. Any delays in our decision-making are the result of efforts to ensure, to the degree that we can, access to learning for ALL students. This is complex and challenging during normal circumstances and is truly uncharted territory at this time. Public schools have a legal and ethical responsibility to ensure universal access to education. VVSD takes that responsibility very seriously. Our goal is to roll out a Continuity of Education Phase 2 Plan within the next few days. The plan will increase educational opportunities during the closure, be accessible to all, and be reflective of Federal and State guidelines as well as legal advice as to protect the taxpayers. 

Updates regarding End-of-the-Year Events:

In order to adhere to the Governor’s order regarding social distancing, all of our events scheduled for April are cancelled. These events include: Kindergarten Registration (4/15, 4/16, 4/17), National Honor Society Induction Ceremony (4/23), High School Prom (4/24), and Pre-School Graduation at the High School (4/29). Should the Governor’s social distancing guidance change and we are able to return to school, we will make every effort to reschedule these events.

As for all graduation events, including Senior Awards Ceremony, Memories, and Graduation itself, please be assured that we are working diligently on solutions daily to address these very important milestones. While we are awaiting further information and instructions with regard to social distancing practices, we are considering many creative options that can be utilized if necessary. We will continue to update you as we learn more and as decisions are made. We will make every effort to recognize and celebrate our graduating class of 2020.

Finally, while none of us could have predicted this, we are in it together and will make the best of it. The Valley View community is a great place that I am proud to be a part of. I’m confident that we’ll emerge from this closer and stronger!

All the best and stay safe!

Sincerely,

Dr. Michael J. Boccella, Superintendent

#VVSDTogetherAtHome

First and foremost, on behalf of the entire VVSD, thank you for your continued patience and understanding during this difficult time. This unprecedented situation has hit parents the hardest and we thank you for the tremendous balancing act you are all doing right now. As a school community, we are in this together and want to help any way we can!

In response to the Governor’s extension of PA school closures, VVSD has developed its Continuity of Education Plan to provide our students with voluntary opportunities to stay engaged in learning. In concert with the Northeast Educational Unit member schools, our plan provides “enrichment and review” opportunities exclusively.  While encouraged, these opportunities are completely optional. No instruction or new material will be provided and nothing will be graded or counted in any way. Further, teachers will not be actively monitoring students. These voluntary enrichment and review opportunities are designed to help students maintain or extend current academic skills. We believe this approach is the most appropriate and reasonable way to keep our students engaged at this time. Please note that our plan is subject to change as we receive further guidance from State and Federal leadership. 

Beginning on Monday, March 30^th, enrichment and review opportunities will be provided on a weekly basis. 

For K-5, opportunities can be accessed by going to the school’s homepage and then to the specific grade-level. Anyone without computer and/or Internet access should call (570) 876-4110. We will get in touch with you and coordinate a safe and convenient way to provide you with the opportunities. 

For 6-12, opportunities can be accessed through Google Classroom, teachers’ webpages, and/or email.  Anyone without computer and/or Internet access should call (570) 876-4110. We will get in touch with you and coordinate a safe and convenient way to provide you with the opportunities. 

Questions can be emailed to help@valleyviewsd.org or you can call (570) 876-4110.

Please click on the following links for more information on the specific topics:

                Special Education Continuity of Education Plan

                Gifted Education Continuity of Education Plan

                Section 504 Continuity of Education Plan

                ESL Continuity of Education Plan

                Information for CTC Students 

Access to Technology
To assist families in need of technology, the VVSD will offer the use of a School District owned Chromebook.  To better serve our VVSD community we kindly ask that you only request the use of a Chromebook if you do not have a computer or a device such as a laptop, iPad, etc. for your family.  Please be advised that the use of a Chromebook does require WiFi internet access at home.  To request the use of a Chromebook please fill out the Technology Request Form located on our district website. 

Lunches
VVSD is committed to continuing to serve lunches for all students during this closure. In order to align to recent guidance with regard to social distancing, we have decided to serve on Mondays, Wednesday, and Fridays only at the same time (11-12:30) and in the same locations (HS and ES), curbside pickup.  Breakfasts and lunches for the following day(s) will be provided. For example, a student who comes Monday will leave with breakfast and lunch for Monday, breakfast and lunch for Tuesday, and breakfast for Wednesday. This adjustment in our schedule does not reduce the amount of meals we are providing and helps keep our students, families, and staff safer.

March 13, 2019 Update

Today, Governor Tom Wolf announced that all K-12 Pennsylvania schools will be closed for 10 business days effective Monday, March 16. The administration has been working with school districts as well as state and local officials to gather input on this decision. The Wolf Administration will continue to monitor Covid-19 in the commonwealth, and at the end of 10 days will reevaluate and decide whether continued closure is needed.

Governor Wolf made the following statement:

We understand that these are trying times and recognize the impact of the coronavirus on our students and communities.

First and foremost, my top priority as governor – and that of our education leaders – must be to ensure the health and safety of our students and school communities.

As such, I am ordering that all schools in the commonwealth close for the next two weeks.

Be aware that no school district will be penalized if it fails to meet the 180 day or school hours requirements.

The Department of Education will work with intermediate units and other stakeholders to support school districts with any continuity of learning plans they may be pursuing.

Also, the Pennsylvania Department of Education announced today that it received a waiver from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to allow eligible schools to serve meals to low income students in a non-congregate setting, such as a drive-through or grab and go, during this closure. We will also work with schools to assist them with those plans.

We appreciate your collaboration as we work together to deal with this difficult issue.

School Closure  March 13, 2019

To the Valley View School Community,

All Northeast Intermediate Unit school districts, including the Valley View School District (VVSD), will be closed during the week of March 16, 2020. The rapidly changing circumstances surrounding the spread of Coronavirus require this response. The decision is made out of concern for all staff and students in our schools, especially those who are most vulnerable. We will monitor developments closely and consult with the Pennsylvania Department of Health, the Pennsylvania Department of Education, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention and other agencies. All NEIU districts, including VVSD, recognize the impact school cancellations can have on families and communities. Timely and transparent updates will be provided to our school community.  

Additional information about our school closure:

While we are closed, we will provide 'grab and go' style lunches in the commons area of our High School (near the gym and auditorium) for all students from 11AM to 12:30PM. To be clear, any VVSD student is able to come to our HS while we are closed and get a lunch to take with them.  Students do NOT need to qualify for free/reduced lunch to participate.  

All school activities, including extracurricular activities, trips, events, our Guys and Dolls Musical production, etc., are cancelled while we are closed. Will will attempt to reschedule the events that we are able to to the extent that we can. Additionally, we will make every effort possible to refund students and parents with regard to monies spent on trips or events that cannot be postponed. 

While we have encouraged our students to bring their books and related materials home with them, students are not required to complete any work while they are home. We are treating this week similar to being closed for a number of days due to weather.  Our stance on this topic has changed due to expert legal and educational advice.

We plan to make a decision for beyond next week by Thursday, 3/19, if not sooner.

On behalf of the Valley View School District, I sincerely appreciate your understanding and cooperation during this challenging time.  We will continue to provide you with updates as we navigate this unprecedented situation.  Stay safe!

Sincerely,

Dr. Michael J. Boccella

Superintendent

The PA Department of Health recommends the following good health habits to protect yourself from the flu and may assist you in the prevention of COVID-19: