As we know, winter weather can cause disruptions to our District’s academic calendar and student learning. In the past, we have made up those inclement weather days during the school year, often adding them on at the end of the second semester. The state of Missouri now allows school districts to conduct remote learning from home; thus we now have a different option if in-school days are missed due to inclement weather.
PCR-3 will implement traditional inclement weather days (no school and no virtual learning), until we reach a threshold that would push the school year past Memorial Day. We will make those days up per our academic calendar, but if we go past the planned make up days for inclement weather, we will implement our Inclement Weather Virtual Learning Days or AMI (Alternative Methods of Instruction). See the questions and answers below for more information and details on this plan.
Why has Platte County School District decided to develop an Inclement Weather Virtual Learning Day plan?
With an abundant amount of days lost to inclement weather in recent years, and because PCR-3 is a one-to-one district (where all of our students have devices), it was determined in Spring 2020, to explore this option. An AMI application was submitted by District leaders and approved by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. Any Inclement Weather Virtual Learning Day would not need to be made up at the end of the school year. Feedback received in recent years from our families shows that they would prefer to have the regular school year not go into June. The inclement weather make-up plan helps us toward that preference.
Will all days in which school is canceled due to inclement weather not be made up?
PCR-3 will implement traditional inclement weather days (no school and no virtual learning), until we reach a threshold that would push the school year past Memorial Day. We will make those days up per our academic calendar. There will be no make up days necessary when the PCR-3 Inclement Weather Virtual Learning Day Plan (AMI) is implemented. We are allowed up to five AMI days.
What if school is canceled for an extended period of time?
In the event that the PCR-3 is closed for an extended period of time (6 consecutive school days), we will put Inclement Weather Virtual Learning Days Extended or AMI X into effect. This is a long-range plan to allow for your student’s continuous learning.
How will families be notified?
Families would receive an alert from the Director of Communications, via text and phone call as we have done in the past, and information would be posted on our District website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, the District Hotline (816-858-2752), and local media.
We will do our best to anticipate these inclement weather days in order to give advance notice to our families. In the event that the school closing notice is provided with little notice, we would like to make sure your student has the necessary technology tools available to engage in the learning.
How would an Inclement Weather Virtual Learning Day look for my child?
Teachers will conduct learning on that day via Google Classrooms or Canvas and will generally follow the same schedule as a regular in-person day. All students will receive their assignments through their teachers’ Google Classrooms and/or Canvas.
Students will be held accountable for joining Google Meets for instruction and completing assigned work. Teachers will check for understanding in a variety of ways including collecting the lessons and activities the next day of attendance, having students submit work electronically, or checking the log of electronic/web-based/app activities for completion.
Below is the
learning schedule for students on a virtual learning day.
What if my child does not have access to the internet at home?
If your child does not have internet access at home, you are encouraged to contact your child’s school so that accommodations can be made to have internet access available.
Does PCR-3 expect the Inclement Weather Virtual Learning Day plan to continue in future years?
The answer to this question is “To Be Determined.” After implementing this plan to some degree in the 2020-21 school year, we have made some adjustments. With annual alterations to calendars, etc. handed down from the state level, this could also impact future plans.
Who should I contact if I have questions about the Inclement Weather Virtual Learning Day assignments?
Students/families are encouraged to contact their classroom teacher or building principal with additional questions.