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COVID-19 Updates
Link: Remote Learning Plan
Link: Technology Help 
 Link: Food Services 
 Link: Contacts
 
2020-2021
Click here for the 2020-2021 Back to School webpage - this page will continue to be updated with information related to the start of the school year. 
 
 
Spring 2020 
 June 9, 2020
A new webpage has been  created to keep families informed about the beginning of the school year. Click here to find information about the start of the 2020-2021 school year. 
 
 
 
April 20, 2020
3:45 p.m. Email to parents: 
Today, Governor DeWine announced that Ohio schools will be closed for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year due to the ongoing public health concerns related to COVID-19. In accordance with this order, our schools will remain closed and our remote learning program will continue through the last day of school, Thursday, May 28. 
 
We understand the closure has a significant impact on our families and while we have been planning for the possibility of not returning to school this year, we do not yet have all of the answers to questions that you may have. We will communicate as we make decisions and information to share.
 
Building/Grounds Access
At this time the buildings remain closed. We recognize that many people have personal items in the buildings that they may want to retrieve. When it is safe and the timing and plans are in place, we will communicate a plan for possibly picking up items.
 
As the weather gets nicer and families want to spend more time outdoors to get fresh air, please remember that our athletic facilities, fields, and playgrounds continue to be closed.
 
Graduation
We know there are many year-end traditions in our schools, but our focus now is to recognize and celebrate the Class of 2020. With this order in place, we are not able to hold graduation on the originally scheduled date. Our high schools have communicated to families the contingency date for graduation, July 19, 2020 at the Huntington Center. Our high school administrators are working to find ways to celebrate the accomplishments of our seniors throughout the fourth quarter. The high schools will continue to communicate with seniors and their families about graduation.
 
In honor of the class of 2020, Sylvania Schools will be joining other area districts tonight by "lighting up" our high school athletic fields at 8:20 p.m. (20:20) for 20 minutes. Our grounds will remain closed during this time of recognition. Join us for #BeTheLight by turning on your porch light at 8:20 p.m. on Monday evening.
 
Meal Pickup
Our food service team will continue to provide meals on Wednesdays and Fridays. Regular communication will continue with the order form and pickup information.
 
Sylvania Area Family Services continues to provide meals for Sylvania Schools families in need. Please contact them for more information and days/hours for meal distribution.
 
Continued time away from school
We are here for you. Visit our COVID-19 page on our website to connect with resources for remote learning, food service, technology, and more. Please continue to reach out to teachers and our staff if you have any questions.
 
Thank you for your continued patience and understanding as the learning environment has moved out of the classroom into your home. Please take care of yourself and your family, and thank you for joining together to support each other and our students.
 
Jane Spurgeon
Superintendent
 
 
March 30, 2020
4:45 p.m. Email to parents:

Welcome back to all of our students and families from Spring Break. It was certainly not a traditional break as we find ourselves living under the Stay At Home Order, but I hope you were able to enjoy time together with a break from the school routine before we continue the fourth quarter over the next 9 weeks. Our teachers and staff miss seeing students in person, but they are working on ways to connect with students to keep learning at home an engaging and productive experience.


This afternoon, the school closure order from the governor was extended through May 1st. At this time, our buildings continue to be closed and educators are working from home. Teachers, counselors, and administrators are working hard to help students stay connected.  If you need to reach out, email is the best way to contact teachers and administrators. Here is a link to our online staff directory.  


The Sylvania Schools food order form for this week is available. Click here for information and to order meals. All meal pickups now include breakfast and lunch. The order form allows you to indicate if you are picking up multiple days of meals at one time. Help us plan food preparation by ordering as soon as possible. Thank you to our partner Sylvania Area Family Services for providing meals to families in our district.


Tuesday, March 31

Sylvania Area Family Services is providing meals for Sylvania families, 9am-3pm.


Wednesday, April 1st and Friday, April 3rd

Central Trail Elementary , 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Hill View Elementary, 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Northview High School, 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.


I am grateful for the individuals who are continuing to provide meals for our students.


This is an unusual time for our students and our community. During this fluid situation, the goal is to recognize the class of 2020. The accomplishments of these students deserve to be celebrated. I will continue to keep you informed as details become available.


Thank you for your support during this time of remote learning.  I realize this affects all of us differently. Please remember to do something each day that makes you smile.


Jane Spurgeon

Superintendent

March 27, 2020

4:45 p.m Email to parents:

On Monday, March 30, remote learning is back in session. We understand that moving the learning environment from the classroom to your home is an adjustment for students and families. Our Teaching & Learning Department has compiled helpful information and resources online at the Sylvania Remote Learning website.  

During this time that children are spending their days at home, it is wonderful to get outside and enjoy the fresh air. However, please do not visit our playgrounds and fields. For the health of our community, our grounds are closed until further notice. 

The current order from Governor DeWine is that schools are closed through Friday, April 3. The closure has not been extended at this time. The governor signed a bill that makes the following changes related to testing and graduation for this school year:
  • Waives state and federal testing
  • Waives the third-grade reading guarantee retention requirement
  • Permits schools to grant high school diplomas to students on track to graduate and for whom the principal determines that the student has successfully completed the curriculum
Food Service Page (link) - “Grab and Go” meals (breakfast + lunch) will be available on Wednesdays and Fridays. Click the link for details and the order form. Please order as soon as possible to help us plan food preparation. The food service page also has a link to the free and reduced-price meals application. 
 
March 22, 2020
4:30 p.m. Email/text to parents & social media post:
Reminder - All Sylvania Schools grounds (including playgrounds, fields, and athletic facilities) are closed at this time.
 
March 19, 2020

5:00 p.m Email to parents:

It is hard to believe that it was just one week ago that we received the news about the school closures in Ohio. Over the past week, we’ve transitioned to remote learning at all grade levels. 

  

Since our meal pickup program began yesterday, we’ve provided 1,328 meals (651 breakfasts, 677 lunches) for students. Food service continues tomorrow at our three locations: 

  

Central Trail Elementary 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Hill View Elementary 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Northview High School 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

  

Friday, March 20 - last day before spring break. Please call your child’s school if you need to retrieve any items. The buildings will be closed during spring break. Circumstances have been changing rapidly. We cannot guarantee at this time that parents will have access to the buildings after spring break. The administration building will be open from 8 am - 12 pm.

  

March 23-27 Spring Break - Our buildings will be closed. Enjoy the time with your family.

  

Sylvania Area Family Services (SAFS) is providing food for families during this time. Contact SAFS for details.

 

March 30 -Remote learning resumes as well as food service pick up.

 

The current order from Governor DeWine is that schools remain closed through April 3. Our staff is preparing for the possibility that schools will be closed beyond that date given the governor’s statement and Tweet on March 15 “Schools: Three weeks likely won't be enough time to be closed. It is likely we will have to extend this order.” 

  

There are many unanswered questions about events scheduled through the end of the school year. The fourth quarter is generally full of concerts, programs, and end-of-year traditions. We know that families are wondering how the rest of the year will look. At this time, it is too early to know. We are prioritizing and making decisions as circumstances change and we have more information. We will communicate often to keep you informed.

 

Continue to help each other and stay positive.

 
March 15, 2020
5:15 p.m Email to parents:
This is a reminder that students will not be in school beginning tomorrow, Monday, March 16.  

Governor DeWine tweeted this afternoon, “Schools: Three weeks likely won't be enough time to be closed. It is likely we will have to extend this order.” Whether the closure is three weeks or longer, we understand this is a major disruption to children and families. Our district is working diligently to determine the best way to keep students engaged in learning during this time. 

Sylvania Schools is committed to feeding students who rely on breakfast and lunch at school. A communication will be sent tomorrow detailing the food services available through the district during the closure. Our community partner Sylvania Area Family Services will serve as a meal site tomorrow, Monday, March 16, 11:30 a.m - 3:00 p.m. and Tuesday, March 17,  9:00 a.m - 5:00 p.m. 

This is an unprecedented situation that is evolving quickly. Thank you for your support and understanding as we work through the details of the many aspects of the school day that have shifted due to the closure. 

Our thoughts go out to all students, parents, staff and community stakeholders who are affected by this change in our typical way of life.  We will continue to work together daily to navigate this challenging landscape.

March 13, 2020
3:30 p.m. Social Media share/retweet 
Governor DeWine's announcement from yesterday was clarified today. After using his words "extended spring break" in our initial message, we are also clarifying that the week before and the week after spring break are intended for at-home learning.
Facebook - shared Ohio Channel live stream post of Governor DeWine's 3/13 2:00 p.m. press conference (referring to 20:49 on Ohio Channel's Facebook Live, 07:30 on the Ohio Channel website)
Twitter - retweeted @GovMikeDeWine's Tweet regarding K-12 School Closure
 
1:15 p.m. Email and text to parents:
Reminder to families - Due to the 3-week statewide school closure, today (Fri., March 13) is the last day for Sylvania Schools students.
 
March 12, 2020 
8:45 p.m. Email to parents:

Parents,

As the coronavirus continues to spread globally, we had anticipated that our district may face a closure at some point. Today’s announcement by Governor DeWine declaring that all Ohio Schools close for three weeks is an unprecedented, but necessary, step in slowing the progress of this virus. We sent a brief message earlier letting you know the timeframe that Sylvania Schools would be closed. 

 

Friday, March 13th

Classes are in session. Teachers will explain materials that can be completed at home. This is the last day for students until further notice. Students should take home all materials to be utilized over the next three weeks.  

 

Monday, March 16th

Employees report to work. This day will be utilized by educators and support staff in several ways. Communication will go directly to employees regarding this structure of this day.

 

As you are aware our scheduled spring break is March 23rd through March 27th.  This update further explains how we will utilize the two weeks off that are in addition to our spring break.

 

March 16th - 20th and March 30th- April 3rd

Student work should be completed at home. Preschool parents will receive an email with information about at-home activities. Elementary students will receive packets at school tomorrow (3/13). Junior High and High School students will use online resources via Chromebooks.  The buildings and buses will continue to be cleaned during the closure.

 

We know there are many unanswered questions at this time. We will continue to communicate as we learn more from the Ohio Department of Education and make decisions that impact students and families. 

 

This sudden disruption and discussions about the virus may be unsettling to children. The CDC has compiled a resource page that you may find helpful as you talk about this crisis with your children: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/schools-childcare/talking-with-children.html

 

The safety of our students, staff, and community is always a priority. Many thanks to the members of our community who are working diligently to keep us safe and to slow the spread of the virus.  We wish our families good health during this time.

 

 

Jane Spurgeon

Superintendent

 

Additional links

Governor Dewine’s announcement - https://governor.ohio.gov/wps/portal/gov/governor/media/news-and-media/announces-school-closures

Ohio Department of Health’s coronavirus website - 

Coronavirus.ohio.gov 


 
 
4:20 p.m. Email to parents:
In light of Governor DeWine’s announcement of an extended 3-week spring break for Ohio schools, our district will be in session through tomorrow, March 13, 2020. For students, the 3-week break begins on Monday, March 16 (no classes on Monday). Teachers and all classified staff will report on Monday. 

As a district, we were informed of this decision along with viewers of the governor's press conference. We will communicate as we have more information to share.

 
March 11, 2020 
6:00 p.m. Email to parents:
Please see the attached message from Governor DeWine. (PDF) (RTF)
 
3:15 p.m Email to parents: 
Parents,
Sylvania Schools continues to monitor the coronavirus outbreak (COVID-19). The safety of our students, staff, and our community is a priority. We understand that the spread of this virus across the country has caused many questions for families. As information from the CDC, government, and health agencies is available, our administrators are meeting to create a comprehensive and flexible strategy to address both safety and learning. 
 
In keeping with the advice and recommendations regarding COVID-19 from Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, Ohio Department of Health, and Lucas County Department of Health, the following procedures will be implemented:  
 
Events & Trips
*Effective March 11, 2020 - Following the guidance by Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, our district is postponing district-sponsored indoor events or trips that involve 100 or more people that are scheduled through March 30. Information about specifics for each building will be communicated by the principals. 
 
Booster and Parent Club-sponsored events may be affected by this guidance as well. The district is working closely with the boosters and parent clubs to review scheduled events. Communication will be sent as decisions are made regarding these events.
 
Outside events are continuing as scheduled. It is recommended that spectators and those in any crowds maintain a 6-foot radius for social distancing.
 
Visitors & Volunteers
Visitors and volunteers may come into our buildings. We ask that anyone who is ill or exhibiting symptoms not come to the schools.
 
Cleaning 
We continue to focus on preventive measures as outlined by the CDC. As we stated in our communication last week, our buildings are cleaned daily with a CDC-approved disinfectant. “High touch” areas are a priority and cleaned and disinfected more frequently. We are working closely with local health agencies and following CDC guidelines. 

 
As a proactive measure, we are planning for the possibility of closing our schools; however, at this time, our district remains in session. We want you to be aware of the plans we have in place:
 
Plans for Alternate Learning
At the elementary level (K-5), printed materials will be made available for students to do at home. Packets that include one week of grade-level work will be sent home on March 13 and 20.  
Please keep this work in a safe and secure place at home and only complete in the event of a closure.  
 
Online digital resources via Chromebooks will be the primary way that junior high and high school students (6-12) would receive class materials. Hard copies of these materials will be available to students who do not have home internet access.  Please remind your child to bring home their Chromebooks and chargers every day.  
 

For our preschoolers, because we are a play-based program, teachers will provide interactive activity ideas instead of worksheets. A list of resources such as familiar songs, stories, fingerplays and nursery rhymes will be sent home for you to do with your child at home. Please watch your email for this list in the event we close.

 

Further communication on alternate learning will be provided in the event of a closure.  
 
3rd Quarter Report Card
To allow our teachers time to prepare alternative learning materials, the date for 3rd quarter report cards to go home will be delayed. Instead of March 20, official grades will be available on PowerSchool (grades 6-8) and report cards will go home (K-5) on April 3.
 
We will be continuing our partnerships with public health experts and updating you when new information is available. Thank you for your cooperation in keeping our schools and community healthy. We appreciate your support during this time. 
 
Jane Spurgeon
Superintendent
 
Resource Links:
Coronavirus (COVID-19) information for Ohio’s schools and districts:
http://education.ohio.gov/Topics/Student-Supports/Coronavirus
CDC Coronavirus Disease website: 
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html
 
March 3, 2020
Letter to parents:
Sylvania Schools following preventive guidelines for coronavirus (PDF) (RTF)