Allegany County Public Schools
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- Allegany County Public Schools
- COVID - 19 Updates & Important Messages
Parent Resources
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COVID - 19 Updates & Important Messages
- Tutoring Opportunities
- Schoology
- Virtual Student Schedules 2020-2021
- Middle School FAQs
- High School FAQs
- Strategies for Supporting Learning at Home
- ACPS 2020-2021 Reopening Q&A for Families
- 2020-2021 Phase-In Learning Approach
- Tips to Help Your Student Wear a Mask
- COVID-19 Decision Aid
- COVID-19 Parent Letter
- Symptom Screening for Students
- MSDE/MDH Guidelines for Face Coverings in School
- Grades 2-5 Sample Weekly Hybrid Schedule
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Back to School Forms 2020-2021
- Attendance Guidelines during Virtual/Hybrid Learning
- Request to Work Asynchronously during Virtual Learning
- Request to Complete Traditional Learning due to No Internet
- Request to Opt Out of Appearing in Recorded Live Sessions
- Enrollment and Registration Form (PMF-1)
- Family Living with Others
- Student Information Form
- Do Not Distribute Instruction Form
- Emergency Care Card
- Parents Rights Under FERPA
- Food and Nutrition Application and Instructions
- Peachjar E-Flyer Communication
- Blackboard Connect Mass Notifications
- Follow Us on Social Media
- Information Technology Responsible Use Policy
- Information Technology Responsible Use Regulation
- Credit Recovery
- SAT/PSAT
- PARCC Updates
- Maryland College & Career Ready Standards (MDCCRS)
- Breakfast and Lunch Menus
- Blackboard Connect
- Out-of-District Requests
- Peachjar eFlyers
- After-School Programs
- Immunization Information
- Child Abuse & Neglect
- Character and Multicultural Education
- HPV
- Transgender and Gender Non-Conforming Youth
- Resource Documents and Websites
- ASPEN UPDATES
- Opioid Awareness and Prevention
- Maryland Report Card User Guide
- School Attendance Matters
COVID-19 Updates & Important Messages
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INCLEMENT WEATHER UPDATE
IMPORTANT WEATHER UPDATE: Since the Allegany County Public School System now has the ability to offer remote learning in a synchronous format, there will not be any announcements this winter season, while students are in a fully-virtual format, regarding school delays or closings due to inclement weather. Students will still be required to participate in virtual learning via Schoology during the morning hours, just as they do on a typical day. If the weather does not permit ACPS to serve meals, an announcement will be made via our Blackboard notification system and posted on the ACPS website and social media pages on a particular morning.
Published 12/14/20
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Virtual Learning Update
VIRTUAL LEARNING FORMAT UPDATE: The school board voted at their December 8th meeting to have all ACPS students remain in a fully-virtual learning format through the end of this year and into the beginning of January 2021. The school board will further discuss return to school plans, the availability of adequate staffing, and county health metrics at their January 12th meeting and will provide further guidance at that time.
Published 12/8/20
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All Students to Return to 100% Virtual Learning the Week of November 9th
The Allegany County Public School System has worked diligently with the collaboration of the Allegany County Health Department to maintain in-person education in ACPS. However, with the shortage of staff available to provide in-person instruction, and the rising COVID-19 metrics in Allegany County, ACPS finds it necessary to return all students to a 100% virtual model at this time.
Students should log into their Schoology accounts and follow their virtual schedule for Monday, November 9, 2020. All Allegany County Public School buildings will be CLOSED to students and the public during this time. Employees will receive additional direction from the Human Resources department by email. ACPS will continue to review employee data, as well as county metrics, and will make a decision on Thursday, November 12, 2020, as to whether in-person education can resume on Monday, November 16th.
As of today, November 7th, ACPS reports an additional four individuals who have tested positive for COVID-19 within an Allegany County Public School. During the week of November 2nd, ACPS had 101 staff members who were unable to report to work due to a COVID-19 related issue. As of today, ACPS has 110 staff members in this situation. These staff members include individuals who tested positive for COVID-19 and individuals who are quarantined due to close contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19. Many of these individuals are quarantining for a period of 14 days.
Published 11/7/20
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November 6th Update
BOE SPECIAL SESSION AND COVID-19 UPDATE:
The Board of Education of Allegany County met in a Special Session today, Friday, November 6, 2020, where Interim Superintendent of Schools, Mr. Jeff Blank, provided an update on COVID-19 and the impact it is having on staffing. The school board voted to give Mr. Blank the authority to return to virtual learning, if necessary, based on future staffing concerns.
In addition, Mrs. Debbie Metheny, ACPS Supervisor of Student Services and Special Education, provided the school board with the school system's weekly COVID-19 update, which is as follows:
For the week of November 2-6, 2020, ACPS reports 16 individuals who have tested positive for COVID-19 who were within an Allegany County Public School. These individuals will complete the required isolation period before returning to their school buildings. Contact tracing in six (6) of these cases indicated no close contacts and no need to quarantine staff or students. In the remaining ten (10) cases, close contacts were identified, and those individuals will complete a 14-day quarantine period. Parents were notified through the ACPS Blackboard notification system if there was a positive case in their child’s school building. Although there is no evidence of in-school transmission of the virus at this time, ACPS and the ACHD are closely monitoring this situation.
Published 11/6/20
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Secondary Transition Information
Central office staff are currently working on logistical details for phasing in students at the middle school level. The phased-in approach will begin with Grade 6 students only. The tentative start date for Grade 6 students will be Monday, November 16, 2020.
Students in Grade 6 will report to school Monday through Thursday on an A-B-A-B schedule. Middle schools will be dismissed daily at 12:30 p.m.
A student’s last name will determine which days he/she will attend. Students with last names that begin A-L will attend school on Mondays and Wednesdays, and students with last names that begin M-Z will attend school on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Friday will be a virtual day.
Parents of Grade 6 students will be provided with a parent letter, COVID symptom checklist, and mask requirements and guidelines, and the public information officer will release an official announcement of the start date once all logistical details are finalized.
Principals at both the middle and high school levels are in the process of providing opt-out information to parents. The opt-out letters provide an overview of the daily instructional day.
A sample hybrid middle school student schedule and a sample hybrid high school student schedule are provided for reference. Please note that final schedules will be modified for each school’s bus arrival and bus dismissal time. Determining how many students will be opting out of in-person learning is critical to determining staffing needs for the hybrid schedule at the middle and high school levels.
Please note that we are only in the initial stages of planning the secondary transition. It will be a careful and deliberate process as we phase in the middle school grades, beginning with Grade 6. Please keep in mind that hybrid learning structures are subject to change based on health metrics and guidance provided by the Allegany County Health Department. Any changes will be communicated to parents through the ACPS website and Blackboard notification system. Your patience is greatly appreciated as we work out all of the details for the middle schools.
An update on the secondary hybrid plan will be discussed at the November school board meeting.
Published 10/29/20
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Grade 5 Students to Return to Hybrid Learning Model Beginning November 2nd
On Monday, November 2, 2020, Allegany County Public Schools (ACPS) will begin the implementation of the hybrid learning model for fifth grade students. Fifth graders will report to their bus stop for their normal pick-up time. Schools will be dismissed daily at 1:30 p.m. Students in Grade 5 will report to school Monday through Thursday on an A-B-A-B schedule. A student’s last name will determine which days he/she will attend. Students with last names that begin A-L will attend school on Mondays and Wednesdays, and students with last names that begin M-Z will attend school on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Friday will be a virtual day, and the current virtual day schedule will be followed. If a parent has elementary children with two different last names that would cause them to attend on different days, the parent should call the principal to arrange whether the siblings will attend on an A Day or B Day.
Please note that there is NO SCHOOL on TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2020, in observance of Election Day. Students who are to be in-person on Tuesdays and Thursdays (last names M-Z) will not start in-person learning until Thursday, November 5, 2020. The elementary hybrid schedule this first week will be A-OFF-A-B-Virtual.
Parents will be provided with their child’s in-person learning schedule for his or her grade level as well as with a parent letter, COVID symptom checklist, and mask requirements and guidelines. Parents were also informed that they had the right to “opt-out" of the in-person/hybrid learning model and have their child remain in a virtual learning environment. The deadline for completing the opt-out form was September 28, 2020. As Grade 5 enters school for in-person learning next week, these children will participate in a “Virtual School” facilitated by a certified teacher. A parent who has opted out of in-person/hybrid learning can select to “opt-in” at the end of nine-week marking period, with a start date activation for the next marking period.
Central office staff are currently working on logistical details for phasing in students at the middle school level. The phased-in approach will begin with Grade 6 students. The tentative start date for Grade 6 students will be Monday, November 16, 2020. Students in Grade 6 will report to school Monday through Thursday on an A-B-A-B schedule. Middle schools will be dismissed daily at 12:30 p.m. A student’s last name will determine which days he/she will attend. Students with last names that begin A-L will attend school on Mondays and Wednesdays, and students with last names that begin M-Z will attend school on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Friday will be a virtual day.
Principals at the middle and high school levels are in the process of providing opt-out information to parents over the next few days. The opt-out letters provide an overview of the daily instructional day. Students at both the middle school and high school levels will have all of their classes through a shortened class period. Friday will be a virtual day, and students will follow their hybrid schedule for the virtual day. Determining how many students will be opting out of in-person learning is critical to determining staffing needs for the hybrid schedule at the middle and high school levels. Please note that we are only in the initial stages of planning the secondary transition. Your patience is greatly appreciated as we work out all of the logistical details.
Additional information will be forthcoming for middle and high schools in the near future as the hybrid schedules, staffing, and phase-in dates are finalized. Updates on the secondary hybrid plan will be discussed at the November school board meeting.
Please keep in mind that hybrid learning structures are subject to change based on health metrics and guidance provided by the Allegany County Health Department. Any changes will be communicated to parents through the ACPS website and Blackboard notification system.
Published 10/28/20
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Third and Fourth Graders to Return to Hybrid Learning Model October 26th
On Monday, October 26, 2020, Allegany County Public Schools will begin the implementation of the hybrid learning model for third and fourth grade students. Third and fourth graders will report to their bus stop for their normal pick-up time. Schools will be dismissed daily at 1:30 p.m.
Students in Grades 3 and 4 will report to school Monday through Thursday on an A-B-A-B schedule. A student’s last name will determine which days he/she will attend. Students with last names that begin A-L will attend school on Mondays and Wednesdays, and students with last names that begin M-Z will attend school on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Friday will be a virtual day, and the current virtual day schedule will be followed. If a parent has elementary children with two different last names that would cause them to attend on different days, the parent should call the principal to arrange whether the siblings will attend on an A Day or B Day.
Parents will be provided with their child’s in-person learning schedule for his or her grade level and will also be provided with a parent letter, COVID symptom checklist, and mask requirements and guidelines. Parents have been informed that they had the right to “opt out “of the in-person/hybrid learning model and have their child remain in a virtual learning environment. The deadline for completing the opt-out form was September 28, 2020.
As Grades 3 and 4 enter school for in-person learning next week, these children will participate in a “Virtual School” facilitated by a certified teacher. A parent who has opted out of in-person/hybrid learning can select to “opt-in” at the end of the nine-week marking period, with a start date activation for the next marking period.
Central office staff are currently working on logistical details for phasing in Grade 5 students in the near future. Additional information will be forthcoming once staffing and schedules have been finalized.
Please keep in mind that hybrid learning structures are subject to change based on health metrics and guidance provided by the Allegany County Health Department. Any changes will be communicated to parents through the ACPS website and messaging system.
Published 10/21/20
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Second Grade Students Return to Hybrid Learning Model October 19th
On Monday, October 19, 2020, Allegany County Public Schools will begin the implementation of the hybrid learning model for second grade students. Second graders will report to their bus stop for their normal pick-up time, and schools will be dismissed daily at 1:30 p.m.
Students in grade 2 will report to school Monday through Thursday on an A B A B schedule. A student’s last name will determine which days he/she will attend. Students with last names that begin A-L will attend school on Mondays and Wednesdays, and students with last names that begin M-Z will attend school on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Friday will be a virtual day, and the current virtual day schedule will be followed. If a parent has elementary children with two different last names that would cause them to attend on different days, they should call the principal to arrange whether the siblings will attend on an A or B day.
Parents of second graders will be provided with their child’s in-person learning schedule for their grade level as well as with a parent letter, COVID-19 symptom checklist, and mask requirements and guidelines. Parents have also been informed that they had the right to “opt-out" of the in-person/hybrid learning model and have their child remain in a virtual learning environment. The deadline for completing the opt-out form was September 28, 2020.
As second grade students enter schools for in-person learning next week, these children will participate in a “Virtual School” facilitated by a certified teacher. A parent who has opted out of in-person/hybrid learning can select to “opt-in” at the end of nine-week marking period, with a start date activation for the next marking period.
Central office staff are currently working on logistical details for phasing in grades 3 and 4 students in the near future. Additional information will be forthcoming once staffing and schedules have been finalized.
Please keep in mind that hybrid learning structures are subject to change based on health metrics and guidance provided by the Allegany County Health Department. Any changes will be communicated to parents through the ACPS website and Blackboard notification system.
Published 10/14/20
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First Graders Return to Classrooms October 12th
On Monday, October 12, 2020, Allegany County Public Schools will begin the implementation of the in-person/hybrid learning model for Grade 1 students. First grade students will report to their bus stop for their normal pick-up time. First grade students will report to school Monday-Thursday, and Friday will be a virtual learning day.
Parents will be provided with their child’s in-person learning schedule, including start and finish times for their grade leve, and will also be provided with a parent letter, a COVID symptom checklist, and mask requirements and guidelines. Parents have also been informed that they had the right to “opt-out “of the in-person/hybrid learning model and have their child remain in a virtual learning environment. The deadline for completing the opt-out form was September 28th.
As the first grade enters school for in-person learning next week, these children will participate in a “Virtual School” facilitated by a certified teacher. A parent who has opted out of in-person/hybrid learning can select to “opt-in” at the end of nine-week marking period, with a start date activation for the next marking period.
Central office staff are currently working on logistical details for phasing in Grade 2 students in the near future. Additional information will be forthcoming once staffing and schedules have been finalized.
Please keep in mind that hybrid learning structures are subject to change based on health metrics and guidance provided by the Allegany County Health Department. Any changes will be communicated to parents on the ACPS website and Blackboard notification system.
Published 10/7/20
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ACPS Welcomes Youngest Learners Back into Buildings October 5th
Pre-K, Kindergarten Students Return with Implementation of In-Person/Hybrid Model
On Monday, October 5, 2020, Allegany County Public Schools will begin the implementation of the in-person/hybrid learning model for Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten students. Students will attend school in-person Monday through Thursday, with Friday being a virtual day.
Elementary School principals are coordinating orientation meetings for parents on October 1st and 2nd. At that time, parents will be provided with transportation information since specific start and end times vary for students due to the transportation schedules. Parents will also be provided with their child’s in-person learning schedule for their specific grade level as well as with a parent letter, a COVID-19 symptom checklist, and mask requirements and guidelines.
Parents have been informed that they have the right to “opt out “of the in-person/hybrid learning model and have their child remain in a virtual learning environment. As Pre-K and kindergarten students enter school for in-person learning next week, these children who opt out will participate in a “Virtual School” facilitated by a certified teacher. Any parent who has opted out of in-person/hybrid learning can select to “opt-in” at the end of the nine-week marking period, with start date activation for the next marking period.
Central office staff is currently working on logistical details for phasing in Grade 1 students in the near future. Additional information will be forthcoming once staffing and schedules have been finalized.
On September 28, 2020, students without Internet connectivity began reporting to schools where they are engaging in synchronous learning via the Schoology Learning Management System. Juniors from the Career Center (CCTE) also returned to in-person learning in their respective skill areas.
Please note that hybrid learning structures are subject to change based on health metrics and guidance provided by the Allegany County Health Department. Any changes will be communicated to parents through the ACPS website and Blackboard Notification System.
Published 9/30/20
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Phase 2 of Learn in School Phased in Plan
PHASE 2 OF THE LEARN IN SCHOOL PHASED-IN PLAN (Further information and clarification will be forthcoming)
On Monday, September 21, 2020, ACPS will begin Phase 2 of the Learn in School Phased-In Plan. The senior students at the Career Center will report to their skill areas. The transportation department is finalizing bus routes. The CCTE students will attend their skill areas five half-days per week, every other week. On the week of September 28th, the junior students will report to their skill areas. Students at the Career Center will still continue to take their academic week classes virtually through Schoology. Students will eat breakfast and lunch at the school, and dismissal time will be close to noon. CCTE students will be required to wear masks and socially distance appropriately. The skill area class sizes at the Career Center are small enough, and the class spaces have been determined large enough to accommodate appropriate social distancing.
Students with special needs who have been identified for an early return to school will report to their classrooms on Wednesday, September 23, 2020. At the elementary level, in order to maintain the social distancing requirements, classes will be split in half, with one group attending on Monday and Wednesday and the other group attending school on Tuesday and Thursday. The in-person portion of the elementary day will end at 1:30 p.m. ACPS would like to clarify that the special education students who will begin school on September 23rd are ONLY those students who attend specialized programs at Cash Valley, Washington, Fort Hill, Mountain Ridge, and Allegany College of Maryland. Families of those students have been contacted.
Middle school students and students at Allegany College of Maryland with special needs who have been identified for an early return to school will attend school in two groups for the purposes of social distancing on either Monday and Wednesday or Tuesday and Thursday. They will be dismissed at 12:30 p.m. High school students with special needs who have been identified for an early return to school will attend school in two groups for the purposes of social distancing on either Monday and Tuesday or Wednesday and Thursday, and will be dismissed at 12:15 p.m. The transportation department is finalizing bus routes for all of these students, and parents will be contacted within the next few days with this information.
These students will eat breakfast and lunch at the school during in-person learning, and they will take a ‘to go’ breakfast bag with them when they are dismissed. Lunches will continue to be available for pickup on the virtual days at any of the ACPS schools.Part of the decision making process for the phased-in plan involves the Maryland Department of Health and Allegany County Health Department criteria that must be met by public schools. Students need to wear masks and maintain six feet distance in classrooms and on the school bus.
If the health metrics remain stable, then ACPS will begin to bring in students in Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten. The anticipated target date for Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten to begin in-school learning is the week of October 5th.
A COVID-19 symptom checklist will be provided to every parent. It will be the responsibility of parents and guardians to review this checklist daily to determine if their child has any of the symptoms listed. Parents and guardians should also take their child’s temperature each morning. Under no circumstances should a child who is exhibiting any of the symptoms as outlined on the checklist attend school on that day. Click HERE to view a Parent Letter.
If a student becomes ill while at school, the student must be picked up from school within 30 minutes unless there are extenuating circumstances. Parents and guardians should proactively develop a plan for pick-up in the event their child is symptomatic for the COVID-19 virus while at school.
In the event that there is a potential exposure to COVID-19 at school, the health nurse and school administrators will determine who has been in close contact with the individual following state guidelines. Parents and guardians will be notified in writing if their child is a close contact of someone either positive for COVID-19 or symptomatic of COVID-19. The Allegany County Health Department will determine the quarantine length and return date for each person with COVID-19, symptomatic of COVID-19, or exposed to someone who is positive or symptomatic. The quarantine length will be adhered to without exception. Students who are quarantined will participate in remote learning for the length of their quarantine period.
Our main concern, in addition to providing appropriate services for students, is the health and safety of our students and staff. Thank you for your continued optimism, patience, and support. Please be assured and confident that we are working diligently to ensure that your child will have a robust education as well as the social and emotional support needed to help them thrive. During this unprecedented time, we hope that our ACPS parents and guardians know that our students are our top priority.
If you have a particular question or concern, please email it to comments@acpsmd.org and it will be addressed as soon as possible.
Published 9/17/20
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Back to School Forms
At the beginning of each school year, ACPS is required to send a variety of forms home for parents to complete with important information regarding their student(s). All of the necessary Back to School forms can be found HERE. Some of these forms are simply informational and do not need to be returned to the school, and they are labeled as such. For the others, we ask that parents/guardians please complete the required forms and return them to the school via postal mail or in a sealed envelope marked with your student's name and grade to the school office during regular business hours. If you are unable to download and print any of these forms, please contact your child's school for assistance. As always, when visiting any of our school buildings, ACPS encourages and highly recommends that parents/students wear masks/cloth face coverings to help stop the spread of COVID-19.
Please note that ACPS is working to make these required forms fillable in the near future.
Published 9//2/20
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ACPS Wifi Information
If you reside in close proximity to an Allegany County Public School, your wifi may automatically sync with the local school's wifi upon turning on your computer.For example, if you reside near BelAir Elementary School, your wifi may automatically sync to ACPS-ENT, or if you reside near South Penn Elementary School, your wifi may automatically sync to ACPS-ENT. The same is true if you reside within the general proximity of any Allegany County Public School.While you can access the Internet in this manner, it is not the most efficient way if you have Internet access within your home. Additionally, it most likely provides less speed than your wifi access.To correct the issue, do the following: Upon turning on your computer, go to the "wifi" icon, typically located in the lower right corner on your computer screen.Click on the "radar" image just below the arrow. Then, find your wifi, which will likely be identified by a name someone in your household gave it. This will provide you with access to the Internet provided by your service provider. It should also increase the overall efficiency and Internet speed.Published 9/8/20UPDATE: Allegany County Public Schools Will Now Serve FREE Meals
Beginning on Tuesday, September 8, 2020, Allegany County Public Schools will once again provide FREE meals to all children age 18 and younger through December 31, 2020, pending the availability of funding. This is a change to the earlier update provided by ACPS to families last week and comes as the result of an announcement just released by the federal government (USDA).
ACPS Food and Nutrition Services will provide “to-go” breakfast and lunch at all school locations on Monday-Friday from 12:00-1:30 p.m. Any ACPS student (or their parent/guardian) can pick up the student meals for the day at any location throughout the county. As always, ACPS encourages and highly recommends that parents and students wear masks/cloth face coverings during meal pickups to help fight the spread of the new coronavirus.
Meals will be available at the following 21 schools: Allegany High, Beall Elementary, Bel Air Elementary, Braddock Middle, Career Center, Cash Valley Elementary, Cresaptown Elementary, Flintstone Elementary, Fort Hill High, Frost Elementary, George’s Creek Elementary, John Humbird Elementary, Mount Savage, Mountain Ridge High, Northeast Elementary, Parkside Elementary, South Penn Elementary, Washington Middle, Westmar Middle, Westside Elementary, and Westernport Elementary.
Published 9/3/20
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UPDATE: Allegany County Public Schools Will Now Serve FREE Meals
Beginning on Tuesday, September 8, 2020, Allegany County Public Schools will once again provide FREE meals to all children age 18 and younger through December 31, 2020, pending the availability of funding. This is a change to the earlier update provided by ACPS to families last week and comes as the result of an announcement just released by the federal government (USDA).
ACPS Food and Nutrition Services will provide “to-go” breakfast and lunch at all school locations on Monday-Friday from 12:00-1:30 p.m. Any ACPS student (or their parent/guardian) can pick up the student meals for the day at any location throughout the county. As always, ACPS encourages and highly recommends that parents and students wear masks/cloth face coverings during meal pickups to help fight the spread of the new coronavirus.
Meals will be available at the following 21 schools: Allegany High, Beall Elementary, Bel Air Elementary, Braddock Middle, Career Center, Cash Valley Elementary, Cresaptown Elementary, Flintstone Elementary, Fort Hill High, Frost Elementary, George’s Creek Elementary, John Humbird Elementary, Mount Savage, Mountain Ridge High, Northeast Elementary, Parkside Elementary, South Penn Elementary, Washington Middle, Westmar Middle, Westside Elementary, and Westernport Elementary.
Published 9/3/20
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ACPS will Still Open Fully Virtual on September 8th as Preparations Continue for Small Cohorts, Groups for In-Person Instruction
ACPS will Still Open Fully Virtual on September 8th as Preparations Continue for Small Cohorts, Groups for In-Person Instruction
On August 4, 2020, the Interim Superintendent, Mr. Jeff Blank, recommended a fully virtual learning model to begin the 2020-2021 school year, which the Board of Education unanimously approved. ACPS knows that returning to school with in-person options is important for the development and well-being of the students, but also recognizes our obligation to pursue reopening in a manner that is safe for students, teachers, and staff.
On August 27, 2020, the state of Maryland issued a new document entitled “COVID-19 Guidance for Maryland Schools”. It is noted in this document that the guidance is provided to assist schools to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. The guidance states:
School systems and nonpublic schools are encouraged to open for in-person learning where it is safe to do so. These schools are expected to follow applicable guidelines from the Maryland Department of Health, local health department, and the CDC for safe reopening of in-person instruction. Each local school system and nonpublic school, in consultation with the local health department, should review the school reopening metrics to make reopening decisions and to adjust in-person educational offerings, as necessary, when the metrics indicate an increased level of risk.
Dr. Karen Salmon, State Superintendent of Schools, stated during yesterday’s press conference, “Today, in light of those improving numbers (COVID numbers within the state) and with these specific metrics provided by the Department of Health, I am strongly encouraging local school systems to re-evaluate their mode of instruction by the end of the first quarter of the upcoming school year, especially if they have indicated that they are maintaining a virtual delivery system until January of 2021.”
ACPS has always shared a commitment to providing a hybrid or traditional schooling model when it is deemed a safe and feasible option for our school communities. With the new guidelines provided August 27, 2020, ACPS will still open fully virtual on September 8, 2020, for student learning while continuing preparations in accordance with our submitted plan that allows for small cohorts/groups of students to receive some in-school learning. These small groups could include students with disabilities, early childhood and elementary school students, at-risk students who need additional support through Tiered instruction, and CCTE students who need hands-on instruction within their CTE skill/technical area. Utilizing a gradual, phased-in approach, which may not include all groups at the same time, rather than returning students through the hybrid model, will allow the school system to monitor and mitigate challenges directly and in the future.
The ACPS Recovery Plan, which addresses thirteen areas required by the MSDE, is posted HERE and will be revised and updated as needed going forward.
Published 8/28/20
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COVID-19 NOTIFICATION UPDATES:
In the event of a positive Covid-19 case within the Allegany County Public Schools, ACPS in collaboration with the Allegany County Health Department, will directly notify the parents/guardians of those students who have had close contact with the ill person while at school. Close contact is defined as being fewer than 6 feet apart for longer than 15 minutes, with or without a face covering.
The school will also notify parents/guardians if the Covid-19 positive case was within their child’s school, even if their child was not a close contact. This notification will be done through the ACPS Blackboard Notification System.
Every Friday, ACPS will release to the public the total number of positive cases within the county school buildings. For the week of October 12 - October 16, ACPS reports two individuals who have tested positive for Covid-19 who were within an Allegany County Public School(s). These two individuals are currently out of the school building(s) and will continue to isolate. In both cases it was determined that there were no close contacts within the school(s), and no students or staff were quarantined as a result of these positive cases. Parents who have children attending these schools were notified through the ACPS Blackboard Notification System.
Published 10/16/20
PARENT CONFERENCE REMINDER:The afternoons of Thursday, October 1, 2020, and Friday, October 2, 2020, have been set aside for virtual parent conferences. Due to the shortened timeframe, each phone/virtual conference is limited in the amount of time that can be provided. Please note that since in-person learning has started for some students, all teachers will not be available from 12:30-3 p.m.There could be a high call volume those days, and some schools have modified their starting and ending times due to their individual schedules. It may not be feasible for a teacher to provide a call back on October 1st or 2nd, and it may be necessary for a teacher to contact a parent at a later date/time. Please keep in mind that ACPS teachers will do everything within reason to contact parents or return phone calls or emails during their work hours. Please do not have the expectation that teachers will return phone calls or emails after their work day has concluded.
Some teachers may not be available for parent conferences due to the hybrid schedules that have started at several schools. If you do not reach a teacher, you may call them during his/her office hours, or you may call the main office to leave a message for the teacher.
ELEMENTARY SCHEDULE:
Elementary Lunch and Planning- 12-1 p.m. (No conferences available)
Elementary Virtual Conferences- 1-3 p.m.
SECONDARY SCHEDULE:
Secondary Lunch- 12-12:30 p.m. (No conferences available)
Secondary Virtual Conferences- 12:30-2:30 p.m.
Planning- 2:30-3 p.m. (No conferences available)
Published 9/29/20
At this time, all laptops and Chromebooks have been delivered to schools for distribution. Principals have communicated with parents/guardians regarding distribution procedures. Some of the distributions are occurring this week. If you need a device for a school-age student in the ACPS and you were not able to pick up the device during the scheduled distribution timeframe, please call the school and schedule a date/time to pick up the device and complete the required loaner forms. If you have an extenuating circumstance with regards to transportation, please call and discuss that concern with the school staff. When you pick up the device, the staff will provide you with the credentials and login information that you will need for Schoology.Login to Schoology
The instructions for how a parent and student can log in to the Schoology Learning Management System (LMS) are available HERE. If you have not viewed any of the introductory videos about Schoology that have been posted on the website, you are encouraged to watch an overview of the LMS first. The overview will provide you with the basics about how Schoology works from a parent or student’s perspective. Student login information is just lastname.firstname@acpsmd.org and their 4-digit code from Aspen. Please ignore the information about the parent access code at this time. You will get a parent access code when school starts which will allow you to view your child's progress.
Once students log in to their Schoology account, they will see their course dashboard. To make sure the student is in his/her account, the first and last name should be in the upper right-hand corner of the screen. The course dashboard shows icons for each class the student is enrolled. The student can select each course to enter into the online classroom. Please know and understand that you may not find any information on a course at this time. It is not the expectation that teachers will have their courses completed with lessons, activities, comments, or updates at this time. Teachers will be adding course information when they return to work next week. That does not mean that some teachers have not already worked during their off hours on their courses. What it does mean is that teachers are not required to have things completed at this time. Therefore, the intended goal of providing the directions and a resource video is so that parents and students can log in to Schoology and become familiar with the features.
The following are the intended outcomes for parents and students for August 26-August 31:
View an introductory video about Schoology
Review the directions on how to log in to Schoology
View the video on how to log in to Schoology
Log in to Schoology; if your child is capable of logging in to Schoology, allow them to log in as well
If a parent or student attempt to log in to Schoology is unsuccessful, please call the ACPS IT Help Desk at 301-876-9819. The IT Help Desk staff will answer questions and concerns related to technical issues such as computer problems and accessing Schoology. The Help Desk staff will not answer instructional or classroom specific questions or concerns. The Help Desk is live from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. If you need assistance outside of these hours, please email ITHelpdesk@acpsmd.org. If you are on a broadband-connected Windows 10 computer, we may ask for remote access to your computer via Microsoft Quick Access.
Please Note the following:
Students must be logged into Google Chrome with their ACPS credentials to have the best Schoology experience.
ACPS credentials and login information for Schoology are provided by your child’s school (s).
Please note that some schools are planning to offer additional training on Schoology for parents/students. If your child’s school is offering a training, the principal will send out the information through the School Robocall system.
Teachers understand that they will need to provide resources to students and parents on how to engage in the learning management system, as well as expectations for learning in a virtual environment. Teachers have been provided with a guidance document on areas that will need to be addressed with students and parents in the opening days of school.
Attendance Update
In addition, we have been asked about attendance requirements. The ACPS will provide synchronous “live or real time” and asynchronous learning through archived videos and the online activities for students if there are extenuating family circumstances. While our district goal is that every student participates in synchronous or “real time” instruction, we realize that many parents have to work during the virtual learning hours and that elementary students, in particular, may not be able to navigate the LMS without parental assistance. More information will be provided in the next days. The MSDE is scheduled to update to school systems on district attendance requirements this week.
Thank you for your continued optimism, patience, and support. There is a proverb that says “If you want to go quickly, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” No one succeeds alone. Success for your child involves a collective effort among all of us. Please work with us in a spirit of cooperation, grace, and kindness. Please be assured and confident that we are working diligently to ensure that your child will have a robust education as well as the social and emotional support needed to help your child thrive. During this unprecedented period in our history, we hope that our ACPS parents know that our students are our top priority. We will do everything possible to deepen our connection with you and support you and your family. Please continue to monitor the website for updates. Stay safe and be well. Dr. Kim Kalbaugh
Published 8/26/20
On August 4, 2020, the Interim Superintendent, Mr. Jeff Blank, recommended a fully virtual learning model to begin the school year, which the Board of Education unanimously approved. In the ACPS, we know that returning to school is important for the development and well-being of the students, but we also recognize our obligation to pursue reopening in a manner that is safe for students, teachers, and staff. We recognize that many of you are in agreement that it’s better to open schools virtually to minimize the risk of coronavirus transmission and maintain the health and safety of students, teachers and staff; others want schools open for in-person learning so that parents can work and students won’t miss out on traditional methods of learning.
We share a commitment to providing a hybrid or traditional schooling model when it is deemed a safe and feasible option for our school communities. We will monitor the system’s ability to adjust our plans, taking into consideration guidelines from the Maryland Department of Health, the Center for Disease Control, and the Allegany County Health Department. Please note that the ACPS Recovery Plan which addresses thirteen areas required by the MSDE is posted on the ACPS website. Please know that the plan will be revised and updated as needed. The MSDE will be reviewing each district’s plan and providing feedback.
There is no doubt that parents are facing a unique set of challenges as they attempt to balance the demands of home, work, finances, and health—along with the educational needs of your children. With the new school year beginning after Labor Day, we realize that parents are concerned about their child (ren) falling behind academically, emotionally, and socially, as well as fearful that you will not be able to give your child (ren) enough attention during distance learning because of work commitments. We realize many of you are worrying about access to technology and the availability and the quality of your internet services. We also realize that coronavirus-related stress and school-related worries and concerns may be impacting the quality of mental health and wellbeing.
We have also heard that some of our parents are considering withdrawing their child from the ACPS and enrolling their child in home schooling or a private school. For parents who are considering that, we hope that you will reconsider and wait. Give the distance learning model a chance. Give the ACPS teachers a chance to show you what teaching and learning can be like in an enhanced distance learning model. Give Schoology, the new Learning Management System, a chance before a decision is made to withdraw your child from the school system. Schoology is a very accessible system, with a user-friendly interface. Schoology will make it easier for parents to stay involved in their child’s education. Teachers can access Schoology conferences via the BigBlueButton, a built-in conference application. Through this application, your child will participate in live audio and video conferences for real-time learning. Schoology offers 24 hour/7 days of week support for teachers, students, and parents. Furthermore, as previously mentioned, we are working on plans to return small groups of students to in-school learning as soon as possible. We are also coordinating arrangements to provide support during the evening hours. So, please wait and re-evaluate this consideration until you have more concrete information and hands-on experience with the distance learning model.
To alleviate some of your concerns, I would also like to direct parents to review the Frequently Asked Questions document on the website. This document provides answers to instruction, scheduling, and technology questions. For example, a question was asked about whether or not technology will be provided to students who need a device for the distance learning. A device will be provided to any ACPS student who needs a device. Distribution of technology is being coordinated by the principals, and parents will be informed of the date and time to pick up a loaner device. If a parent doesn’t need a device, however, it is not a requirement to use an ACPS device. Please note that a cell phone will not provide the capabilities needed to access the distance learning. In addition, if you have poor internet connectivity, a mobile hotspot may be just what you need. The ACPS will provide mobile hotspots. Please contact your principal to request one. For those without any connectivity, a number of access points have been installed throughout the county. Please refer to the website for additional information on local access points.
Other types of questions similar to these are provided on the FAQ. The FAQ will be updated as additional questions are received by the Public Information Officer, Mrs. Mia Cross.
The following timeline provides parents with the approximate time frame for releasing information regarding modified student schedules for distance learning, distribution of technology, Schoology training, and resources related to Schoology:
August 17-21:
- Teachers and staff will be participating in meetings and professional learning in anticipation of the start of school for students on September 8.
- A daily schedule will be released on the website for elementary, middle, and high school levels. As previously indicated, students will have a modified schedule for learning in the distance learning environment. A lunch break will take place on Monday-Friday from 12:00-1:30 p.m.
- Resources about Schoology will be released for your review.
August 24-September 4:
- Principals will be contacting parents regarding the distribution of laptops or Chromebooks to students who need a loaner device. The principal will provide the distribution information for his/her school through the School Messenger system. Please be patient if another school has its distribution prior to your child’s school. Please do not go to the school until the principal has provided information on the date and time to pick up a device. It is important to understand that technology devices were ordered months ago, but there have been challenges in receiving orders in a timely manner because of the impact of COVID-19 on the availability of the devices.
- Parents are asked to contact the school office where your child (ren) attends if you do not have internet connectivity at your home. If the internet connectivity is weak, please request a mobile hotspot.
- Additional Schoology resources will be released. Individual schools may also be planning training events. That information will be communicated to parents by the school principal.
During the first week of virtual learning, our goals will be to connect with your child, to build or re-establish relationships with your child, to set expectations for attendance, to discuss grading, to promote engagement in the learning, and to provide information that you and your child will need to know about the instructional day and how to navigate the distance learning model.
In closing, you are not alone in this new challenge. The pandemic has negatively impacted all of us and changed the way we are currently able to conduct business or provide education. Please remember that we are living in an unprecedented time. Please display empathy toward yourself, your child (ren), and the teachers. We all need grace (compassion and acting positively), kindness, and patience during this time. Please know that we don’t have all the answers. Who does? The transition is not going to be perfect. What is? This is not an ideal situation for anyone, anywhere, so please extend grace and do your best to remain calm and flexible as the ACPS re-opens the schools through a fully virtual learning model. Please continue to monitor the ACPS website and check your phone messages in the coming days for more information. Please know that your child’s health, education, and well-being are foremost in our minds.
ACPS to Utilize New Online Learning Platform to Allow for High-Quality Engaging InstructionThe Allegany County Board of Education voted to start the 2020-2021 school year virtually, utilizing a new learning management platform that will offer learning opportunities that can very closely mirror face-to-face instruction. Students will begin their virtual learning on September 8, 2020, and educators will return August 19-21, 2020, and September 2-3, 2020, in preparation for the start of the school year.
Schoology is a learning management system (LMS) that has all the tools necessary for educators to create engaging content, design lessons, and assess student understanding. With Schoology, teachers can quickly and easily create media-rich lessons, reuse past courses, and even embed content from Google Drive, Microsoft Office, YouTube, and more. Additionally, teachers will have the ability to pace and track students individually, connect them in collaborative groups, and differentiate and blend instruction.
ACPS will begin the year online with shortened class periods and schedules that will allow for time in the afternoons for teachers to be available to answer questions and address potential concerns. Parents should also be on the lookout in the near future for information about attending small group sessions to learn more about the use of Schoology.
ACPS educators have been participating in virtual sessions with representatives from Schoology in order to learn the platform’s basic features, including how to create virtual live classrooms, how to create assignments and assessments, and how to provide “offline” opportunities for students without reliable access to the Internet at home. One requirement included in MSDE’s Recovery Plan is that all school systems ensure that Maryland College and Career Ready Standards from Pre-K through grade twelve are taught in all content areas and that state frameworks are followed. For this reason, ACPS content area supervisors are working collaboratively with teachers to create courses that meet this requirement.
According to ACPS Coordinator of Professional Learning, Dr. George Brown, “The really good thing about Schoology is that teachers will have the autonomy to ultimately create and deliver lessons, which wasn’t possible this spring due to limitations with Google Classroom.” Dr. Brown went on to say, “I am confident that if each teacher is prepared to provide high-quality instruction via Schoology, he/she will be prepared to provide high-quality instruction, regardless of the instructional situation. Will there be a learning curve for all involved? Absolutely! But we will provide support to educators, students, and parents/guardians as we, together, learn to navigate Schoology.”
The school board’s decision to open the school year virtually will also postpone all athletic and extra curricular activities effective as of the time of this release (8/4/20 at 2 p.m). Central office leadership and school system administrators will continue to work in collaboration with the local Health Department to monitor COVID-19 to provide updates to the ACPS Recovery Plan, including athletics and extra curricular activities.
NOTE: An updated Post-Labor Day calendar will be posted/shared as soon as it is available.
Published 8/4/20
The following press release was issued by the Maryland Public Secondary Schools Athletic Association. The impact of this decision on ACPS extracurricular activities will be forthcoming in the near future.
MPSSAA Fall and Winter Competition Seasons PostponedThe Maryland Public Secondary Schools Athletic Association (MPSSAA) in consultation with the Maryland State Superintendent of Schools, the Maryland Department of Health (MDH), and the Public School Superintendent Association of Maryland (PSSAM) has decided to postpone the 2020 high school fall and winter competition season during the first semester. This decision comes in light of the recent announcements of local school systems to begin education virtually and provides each school system with options for the gradual increase of student engagement for the physical and social-emotional health of students.
With this announcement, local school systems will be able to use MPSSAA waiver regulations as approved by the Maryland State Board of Education on June 23, 2020 for student engagement during the first semester. The MPSSAA, the MDH, and the PSSAM will continue to collaborate on finalizing a hybrid two-semester plan focused on student engagement options in the first semester and modified competition seasons for all sports during the second semester. Details of the hybrid two-semester plan will be available in the coming weeks prior to the start of the 2020-2021 academic year.
The health and safety of student participants, coaches, and officials is a primary concern for the return of interscholastic athletics and activities. The MPSSAA, the PSSAM, and the Maryland State Department of Education collectively share a commitment for the return of these highly beneficial educational programs when it is deemed safe for all school communities.
Published 8/3/20
ACPS RECOVERY PLAN UPDATE:The Allegany County Public School system recognizes that schools are a vital and irreplaceable component of a community. Schools not only provide academic services for students but other services such as social and emotional learning, counseling services, and food and nutrition.
The school closures on March 13, 2020 in response to the unprecedented COVID-19 health crisis were heartbreaking for our students, staff, and community. How and when schools in Allegany County reopen impacts more than just students and teachers – it impacts the entire community.
The Allegany County Public Schools staff are faced with a tremendous challenge in preparing for the 2020-2021 school year. We are truly vested in doing what is best and what is right for our students and staff’s well-being. We are using the “Maryland Together: Maryland’s Recovery Plan for Education” and Guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
As the Allegany County Public School System continues to work towards recovery, we would like to provide parents, students, and staff with the status of our Recovery Plan.
ACPS is currently reviewing recovery options for the three stages within Maryland’s Roadmap to Recovery in preparation for the opening of schools for the 2020-2021 school year, which is currently scheduled for August 26, 2020, for students. An ACPS staff sub-committee has been formulating our plan with various community members, staff from the Allegany County Health Department and staff from multiple ACPS departments including facilities, food service, health/wellness, instruction, operations, safety/security, technology, and transportation in order to ensure the feasibility of all recovery options. The feedback gathered to date is being carefully considered and appropriate revisions to our recovery plan are being incorporated.
Within the next two weeks details of the draft ACPS recovery plan will be provided to parents, students, and staff for their review and comment. There will also be a survey sent to all families with student(s) currently enrolled requesting input by the end of July 2020. The school system's final recovery plan will be presented to the Board of Education at the August 11, 2020, regularly scheduled monthly meeting. The approved recovery plan will then be submitted to the Maryland State Department of Education by August 14, 2020, for review and final approval.
Please note that during Stage 2 within the Maryland’s Roadmap to Recovery, all ACPS families will have the option of fully remote learning for health and/or family reasons.
Published 7/17/20
ACPS COMMUNITY HOTSPOTS: Allegany County Public Schools is providing community hotspots in community partner locations such as fire departments and churches. Use the network called “ACPS-Hotspot” to connect. The password is the ACPS Community Helpdesk number 3018769819. A captive portal requests your compliance with the Telecommunications Acceptable Use Policy and then provides you access to the Internet. As a community hotspot is ready with WiFi access, it will appear in the list to the right with a map showing exact access points.
These community hotspots enable you to access the Internet easily. This WiFi is intended for use by ACPS staff, students, and parents for instructional purposes. All ACPS WiFi traffic is logged and filtered for CIPA compliance.
The public should remain in their vehicles at all times adhering to social distancing mandates as set forth by Governor Hogan.
Published 5/21/20
ACPS WIFI ACCESS IN PARKING LOTS: Allegany County Public Schools is providing an Internet connection that is accessible from your vehicle in parking lots at our schools. Starting Friday, May 8, 2020, ACPS will provide external WiFi access in several locations. Please monitor the ACPS crisis management website periodically for these school locations.Please use the network called “ACPS-ENT” to connect. USER ID is “hotspot” and the PASSWORD is “acps”.The parking lot WiFi capability enables you to access the Internet easily. This WiFi is intended for use by ACPS staff, students, and parents for instructional purposes. All ACPS WiFi traffic is logged and filtered for CIPA compliance. Additionally, all exterior areas of the school campus are subject to video recording.
The public should remain in their vehicles at all times adhering to social distancing mandates as set forth by Governor Hogan.
Published 5/8/20
ATTENTION PARENTS AND GUARDIANS:ACPS encourages and highly recommends that parents wear masks/cloth face coverings during meal and/or packet pickups to help fight the spread of the new coronavirus. In a recommendation released by the Center for Disease Control (CDC), the virus can spread between people interacting in close proximity, and they would recommend wearing a mask or cloth face coverings in public settings where social distancing measures are difficult to maintain.
The recommendation is less about preventing the wearer from contracting the coronavirus themselves than it is about limiting asymptomatic people from unknowingly spreading the disease. Wearing cloth masks, the CDC said, could “help people who may have the virus and do not know it from transmitting it to others.”
Published 4/17/20
ACPS IT Community Help Desk: 301-876-9819ACPS has established an Instructional Technology Help Desk number to offer assistance for computer problems and accessing online instructional resources. The helpdesk is live from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. If you need assistance outside of these hours, please email ITHelpdesk@acpsmd.org. If you are on a broadband connected Windows 10 computer, we may ask for remote access to your computer via Microsoft Quick Access.
Published 4/1/20
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