Valentine Community Schools will not return to Normal School Operations for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year. This was a difficult decision to make, but please understand this decision was made with direction and recommendation from the Nebraska Department of Education and the North Central District Health Department. This means that at least for now, we do not plan to bring students back for the remainder of the year.
We will continue to provide enrichment and learning opportunities for all students and our teaching staff will be working to develop and implement a Continuity of Learning plan as required by the Nebraska Department of Education in this time of school closure. This means enrichment and education will continue for all students and teachers will be supporting that learning through the planned school calendar. We appreciate all that students and families are doing to work in a new alternate learning environment.
We will also continue to seek the recommendations of NDE and the North Central District Health Department in consideration of how and when it might be appropriate to bring students together in a more traditional setting. For now, guidance suggests that may be some time before that is possible. Teachers are reaching out to students in new ways through phone, Zoom, and electronic learning formats. For the senior class of 2020, we are considering options related to graduation ceremonies and will make decisions about how that might look as we get closer to that time. This is a fluid situation and things will continue to change, often quite rapidly. We are working hard to provide opportunities and support for students and their families as we continue to find our way in this new and unusual time and appreciate your support in that effort.
Finally, of utmost importance, we ask for your assistance in supporting and encouraging strict social distancing during this time of closure. This would include encouraging students to stay home, and limit time with people from outside of their household. Keeping interactions to a bare minimum will help in disrupting the exposure period and periods of contagiousness.