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August 4, 2022
$30 Technology Fee Rescinded for Use of Department-issued Laptops
New technology grant will allow Department to provide devices to students, teachers for permanent use
The Virgin Islands Department of Education has rescinded a $30 technology fee being assessed to students for temporary use of Department-issued laptops and Chromebooks for the 2022-2023 academic school year.
The fee will no longer be collected, and full refunds will be issued to all who have paid, effective immediately.
Education Commissioner Nominee Dr. Dionne Wells-Hedrington explained that the two school districts established the fee this year to offset the high costs of repairs and replacement of computers that were returned damaged or not returned at all following the close of the 2021-2022 school year.
“We have listened to the voices of parents, and it is not our intention to cause undue financial hardship to households during this time,” Wells-Hedrington said. “We want our students to have access to the technology they need, but we also ask parents to help us ensure students are taking care of the devices they have been issued so that we may have use of them for as long as we possibly can.”
Students’ use of laptops not issued by the Department are also allowed on campus.
Wells-Hedrington further explained that the Department has been awarded a grant from E-Rate under the Emergency Connectivity Fund, which would provide each student and teacher a laptop for permanent use.
“This is a one-time opportunity, and we are pleased to be able to provide this service to students and teachers across the Territory,” she said. “Until this program officially rolls out, we are asking students to take care of the devices they have been temporarily issued.”
All other school fees remain in place.
August 2, 2022
New High School Schedule Aimed At Addressing Students’ Academic/Social-Emotional Needs, Teacher Shortages, and Expand Program Offerings
For the first time in Virgin Islands Department of Education history, the territory’s four public high schools and St. Croix Career & Technical Education Center (CTEC) have established a standardized start time of 7:40 a.m. and an identical daily schedule, as part of the Department’s transformational efforts to better address students’ academic and social-emotional needs, supplement teacher shortages, and expand program offerings to students.
The changes will take effect at high schools territory-wide on Aug. 8.
Last spring, the school principals, along with state and district Curriculum & Instruction leaders, began re-evaluating teaching and learning practices at the high-school level. This involved five months of intensive planning and cross-district visits to assess needs and find solutions to common problems being experienced at the schools.
According to district leaders, Dr. Stefan Jurgen, St. Thomas-St. John Insular Superintendent, and Ericilda X. Ottley-Herman, St. Croix Acting Insular Superintendent, a primary benefit of the new schedule establishes a 45-minute Flex Block that will create time for programs and experiences that cater to students’ academic and social-emotional needs, such as:
- Intervention/enhancement by subject
- Live tutorials
- Program implementation information (AVID, JAG, SAT Prep, Achieve3000, Exact Path, iReady, Advisory Council, etc.)
- Hands-on application (Science Lab, CTE Lab, AP Lab, Research Lab, Writing Lab, etc.)
- Classroom extension activities/performance tasks
“We have taken a deep dive into our data, and it became clear that we needed to do somethings differently in order to have different and better outcomes for our students,” said Acting Commissioner Victor Somme III. “The change in scheduling allows us to build into the school day many more supports to ensure students’ overall success.”
Another significant benefit of aligning the high school schedules is to provide students with access to classes offered at schools other than their own. District leaders explained that the opportunity will now exist for students at Charlotte Amalie High School and Ivanna Eudora Kean High School to enroll in classes at St. Croix Career & Technical Education Center, Central High School, and St. Croix Educational Complex High School, and vice versa. In August, the initial rollout will see high school students in the St. Thomas-St. John District enrolling in the Aviation Academy at the St. Croix Career & Technical Education Center.
“We find this to be a creative way to address our critical teacher shortages by providing cross-district and inter-district access to classes, which is now possible through the Department’s technology infrastructure that has been built out over the last two years,” explained Somme. “We can have students from one district in the same virtual classroom with their peers in the other district if there isn’t a teacher available to teach a particular class in the student’s home school.”
A third part of the high school transformation, which will rollout in Jan. 2023, will establish six territorial career pathways that are aligned to the Virgin Islands Board of Education’s new graduation requirements for students in grades 9-12:
- College Prep
- Military Sciences
- Career & Technical Education
- Fine Arts
- STEM/STEAM
- Early Admissions/Dual Enrollment
This means that if students were to transfer between any of the territory’s public high schools, they would have the opportunity to enroll in either of the pathways.
The high school transformation plan has been presented to all instructional staff at the affected schools, the Virgin Islands Board of Education, teacher unions, Senate Committee on Education & Workforce Development, and the Office of the Governor. Similar overhauls to the schedules of elementary, junior high, and K-8 schools are in the planning phase.
The following is the daily schedule for Charlotte Amalie High School, Ivanna Eudora Kean High School, St. Croix Central High School, St. Croix Educational Complex High School, and St. Croix Career & Technical Education Center.
St. Croix District Start & End Times
Grade |
School |
Start Time |
End Time |
9-12 |
St. Croix Central High School, St. Croix Educational Complex, St. Croix Career & Technical Education Center |
7:40 am |
2:30 pm |
7-8 |
John H. Woodson Jr. High School |
8:00 am |
3:00 pm |
PK-8 |
Eulalie Rivera, Juanita Gardine, Pearl B. Larsen |
8:15 am |
3:15 pm |
PK-6 |
Ricardo Richards, Lew Muckle, Alfredo Andrews, Claude O. Markoe |
8:30 am |
3:30 pm |
|
St. Thomas-St. John District Start & End Times
Grade |
School |
Start Time |
End Time |
K-4 |
Jane E. Tuitt Elementary School |
8:15 am |
3:00 pm |
K-5 |
Joseph A. Gomez Elementary School |
8:15 am |
3:00 pm |
PK-6 |
Joseph Sibilly Elementary School |
8:15 am |
3:00 pm |
PK-8 |
Julius E. Sprauve Elementary School |
8:15 am |
3:00 pm |
K-3 |
Lockhart Elementary School |
8:15 am |
3:00 pm |
K-6 |
Ulla F. Muller Elementary School |
8:15 am |
3:00 pm |
PK-5 |
Yvonne Milliner Bowsky Elementary School |
8:15 am |
3:00 pm |
6-8 |
Bertha C. Boshulte Middle School |
7:25 am |
2:25 pm |
4-8 |
Addelita Cancryn Intermediate & Junior High School |
7:45 am |
2:45 pm |
9-12 |
Charlotte Amalie High School |
7:40 am |
2:30 pm |
9-12 |
Ivanna Eudora Kean High School |
7:40 am |
2:30 pm |
|
July 26, 2022
New COVID-19 Guidance for Schools, Orientation Schedules Announced
The Virgin Islands Department of Education wishes to inform students, parents, and the general public of new COVID-19 guidance for schools issued by the Virgin Islands Department of Health and orientation schedules planned for the Aug. 8 reopening of school.
New COVID-19 Guidance for USVI Schools Issued By the V.I. Department of Health
- Masks are no longer required to be worn in schools; however, personal choice should be respected and encouraged for those who choose to wear a mask
- Mass testing of students and staff will no longer be required before returning to school after extended breaks; testing is recommended for anyone that is symptomatic
- Please social distance as best as possible on school campuses
- Contact tracing will be conducted by DOH for every positive case; in the event there is an outbreak in a specific school, there is the potential to test that entire school
The main strategies for preventing COVID-19 in schools are:
- Staying up to date on vaccinations
- Staying home when sick
- Optimal ventilation systems to improve indoor air quality to reduce risk of germs
- Good hand hygiene and covering coughs and sneezes
- Cleaning and disinfection at least once a day to reduce risk of germs
Detailed guidance is also available at the following CDC site: Schools, Child Care, and Colleges | COVID-19 | CDC
2022-2023 Orientation Schedule – Virgin Islands Virtual Academy (VIVA)
A virtual orientation for all VIVA students will be announced shortly.
2022-2023 Orientation Schedules – St. Thomas/St. John District
Ivanna Eudora Kean High School
Location: Gymnasium (arrive early; late admissions will not be allowed)
August 2, 2022, orientation will be held for 12th graders 9:00-10:30am
August 2, 2022, orientation will be held for 11th graders 11:30-1:00pm
August 3, 2022, orientation will be held for 10th graders 9:00-10:30am
August 3, 2022, orientation will be held for 9th graders 11:30-1:00pm
All students must be in full uniform and accompanied by a parent/guardian. Please bring your child’s immunization card/waiver card, parent/guardian insurance card, and be prepared to pay for fees.
Charlotte Amalie High School
Students must attend orientation in their full school uniform and at least one parent or guardian must be present. Classes begin for all C.A.H.S. students on August 10.
Orientation Location: Auditorium
August 8, 2022
8:30 am- 9th Grade
1:00 pm- 10th Grade
August 9, 2022
8:30 am- 11th Grade
1:00 pm- 12th Grade
Ulla F. Muller Elementary School
Location: Cafeteria
Kindergarten 10:00am - July 29, 2022
3rd & 4th Grades 9:00am - August 2, 2022
5th & 6th Grades 11:00am - August 2, 2022
1 & 2nd Grades 9:00am - August 3, 2022
Bertha C. Boschulte Middle School
Location: Auditorium
August 5, 2022
7th & 8th Grades
8:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
6th Grade and all new students
10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Fees:
ID - $15
Insurance – $18
Jane E. Tuitt School
Location: School Campus
August 3, 2022 – 1 pm - 2nd ,3rd & 4th Grades
August 4, 2022 – 1 pm - Kindergarten & 1st Grade
Fees will be collected at orientation.
Fees:
$18 School Accident Insurance
$10 PTSA dues (one payment per family)
$10 tech/$12ea. P.E. shirts/pants (available onsite)
Please provide a copy of the student’s updated immunization card and insurance card (in lieu of insurance fee). Students must be in full uniform and accompanied by an adult for the first day of classes.
Joseph Sibilly Elementary School
Location: School Campus
August 3, 2022
PreK – 2nd Grades 9:00-10:00am
3rd – 5th Grades 11:00am-12:00pm
6th Grade 1:00-2:00pm
Addelita Cancryn Intermediate & Junior High School
Date: August 5, 2022
Location: Cafeteria
All students must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. Students should be dressed in full uniform.
4th & 5th Grades - 8:30am
6th Grade - 9:45am
7th Grade - 11:00am
8th Grade - 1:30pm
Fees will be paid by parents online unless they do not have access to online accounting. Copies of all immunization records will be collected by the school nurse; please walk with a photocopy for the school’s files.
Yvonne E. Milliner-Bowsky Elementary School
Virtual Orientation SY 2022-2023
PreK-2nd Grades
Date: Wednesday, August 3, 2022
Time: 5:30 p.m. Via Zoom
3rd-5th Grades
Date: Thursday, August 4, 2022
Time: 5:30 p.m. Via Zoom
The Zoom link will be sent to parents/guardians email addresses listed in PowerSchool.
If you need to update your email address or any other information beforehand, please feel free to contact the school via telephone (340) 775-3220 (Monday through Friday 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.)
New Student Registration/Orientation
All new students, including PreK and Kindergarten students and parents
Date: Monday, August 8, 2022
Time: 8:00 a.m.
Location: Outside the school’s cafeteria
- Must have admission slip (white paper) provided by Curriculum Center registration office
- Copy of up-to date immunization card
- Copy of insurance card/Medicaid card/letter( if applicable)
- One (1) passport-sized photo for students utilizing the school bus service
Joseph A. Gomez Elementary School
Date: August 3, 2022
Location: School Campus
Kindergarten & 1st Grades - 8:00-9:30am
2nd & 3rd Grades - 10:30am -12:00pm
4th & 5th Grades - 1:00-2:30pm
Lockhart Elementary School
Location: Sprung
August 3, 2022
Kindergarten 9:00am
1st Grade 11:00am
August 5, 2022
3rd Grade 9:00am
2nd Grade 11:00am
For more information, call (340) 774-2133.
Julius E. Sprauve School
August 8, 2022
Location: Cafeteria
- 8:30am – 7th & 8th Grades only
- 10:00am - PreK to 2nd Grades only
- 11:00am – 3rd to 6th Grades only
2022-2023 Orientation Schedules – St. Croix District
Eulalie R. Rivera PreK-8 School
Date: August 4, 2022
Location: School Pavilion
PreK - 9:00-10:30am
K-5th Grades – 9:30-11:00am
6th-8th Grades - 1:00 - 2:30pm
John H. Woodson Jr. High School
Grade 7 Date: August 3, 2022
Time: 9:00am-12:00pm
Location: Auditorium
Grade 8 Date: August 4, 2022
Time: 9:00am-12:00pm
Location: Auditorium
All students must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Please bring the student’s Immunization Card. Parents will be asked to complete a demographic information form and a media release form.
Fees:
School ID: $15
Students are required to come to the orientation wearing a white polo or buttoned-down, collared shirt/blouse to take their ID pictures.
School Insurance: $18 (or provide proof of insurance)
Physical Education T-Shirt: $12
Ricardo R. Richards Elementary School
Date: August 5, 2022
Location: Cafeteria
- Granny PreK: 9:00-9:45am
- Kindergarten, 1st, 2nd & 3rd Grades: 10:00-10:45am
- 4th, 5th & 6th Grades: 11:00-11:45am
Additional Activities
- Sign up for Parent Portal
- Update Demographic Form
- Sign Media Form
- Pay School Fees (School Accident Insurance $18)
- Device Distribution(Parent/Guardian must present valid ID)
Pearl B. Larsen PreK-8 School
August 4, 2022
Class schedules and devices will be distributed after each orientation.
8:30- 9:00am: First-time parents
Location: Library
9:00-9:30am – Orientation (Spanish speakers only)
Location: Library
10:00-10:30am – Orientation (English for returning families)
Location: Auditorium
Lew Muckle Elementary School
Date: August 5, 2022
Location: Cafeteria
PreK - 9:00-9:45am
Kindergarten-3rd Grades - 10:00-10:45am
4th- 6th Grades - 11:00-11:45am
Devices will be available for pick up. Parents must have ID available. School Accident Insurance - $18 (please have exact change). If you are using private insurance, you will be given a waiver to complete (a copy of the insurance card is required). If your child will be playing sports, we strongly recommend that you purchase the school’s insurance. A copy of students’ updated immunization card is required.
Alfredo Andrews Elementary School
Date: August 4, 2022
Time: 1:00pm
Location: Auditorium
Juanita Gardine K-8 School
Date: August 4, 2022
Time: 9:00am
Location: Auditorium
Claude O. Markoe Elementary School
Date: August 4, 2022
Time: 9:00am
Location: Cafeteria
St. Croix Educational Complex High School
August 3, 2022
9th Grade
8:00-11:30am - Students with Last Names beginning with A-L
1:00-3:00pm - Students with Last Names beginning with M-Z
August 4, 2022
10th Grade
8:00-11:30am - Students with Last Names beginning with A-L
1:00-3:00pm - Students with Last Names beginning with M-Z
August 5, 2022
11th & 12th Grades
8:00-11:30am - Students with Last Names beginning with A-L
1:00-3:00pm - Students with Last Names beginning with M-Z
St. Croix Central High School
August 3, 2022
9th Grade
8:00-11:30am - Students with Last Names beginning with A-L
1:00-3:00pm - Students with Last Names beginning with M-Z
August 4, 2022
10th Grade
8:00-11:30am - Students with Last Names beginning with A-L
1:00-3:00pm - Students with Last Names beginning with M-Z
August 5, 2022
11th & 12th Grades
8:00-11:30am - Students with Last Names beginning with A-L
1:00-3:00pm - Students with Last Names beginning with M-Z
St. Croix Career & Technical Education Center
August 15 & 16, 2022
Orientation will be held during class periods
August 24, 2022
Back-to-School Night
Time: 5:30pm
Location: Auditorium
Safe and Healthy Student Programs/Alternative Education Orientation
Date: August 4, 2022
Time: 9:00am-12:00pm
Location: School Campus
Who should attend: students in Grades 9th-12th
Students should be dressed in their respective school's uniform.