Yes, we are celebrating Spring Break! Our kids and teachers need some normalcy, like the traditional Spring Break. Our school budget for the 2019-20 school year is based on 180 student days. If we held school over Spring Break, we would have to consider ending the school year earlier, or consider increasing our student days beyond our budget. As of now, if we are able to return to school in May, we are planning to end on June 12.

As with all work completed in and out of a traditional classroom, teachers may choose to grade certain assignments, projects, activities, but not others. Similarly, online work assigned may be graded. Teachers are expected to communicate expectations for work, as well as whether an activity, project or assignment will count towards a student’s marking period grade. Parents or students who have a question about grading for a particular assignment should reach out to their teacher directly. Should the school closure extend beyond April 10, RTSD is investigating how summative grades for progress/report cards will be determined.

A "Collaboration and Catch Up Day" is to be implemented at all schools each week beginning the week of March 30. This "Collaboration and Catch Up Day" will take place every Wednesday during the closure starting April 1. Note that school's will not be taking attendance on Collaboration and Catch Up Days.

Approved by the School Board on March 24 as recommended by administration and supported by faculty, the day presents an opportunity for students to follow up on previous assignments, reading, or other activities; get help from their teachers; and take a well-deserved breather. The day also provides our teachers the opportunity to further their learning about online instruction and other subjects; grade papers; plan lessons; and most importantly build in dedicated time in the morning and in afternoon to directly assist students.

As part of Collaboration and Catch Up Day, each teacher will provide "office hours" twice over the course of the day to answer student questions: a 45 minute AM session and a 45-minute PM session. Details will follow next week about specific teachers’ schedules and how that information will be shared with students.

Emails to teachers and other staff will be responded to under the same expectations as if "physical" school was in session: all efforts will be made to respond within 24-48 hours.

The district is working to provide supplemental food to students attending Radnor Township School District schools until school resumes. Anyone who is already receiving support through the RTSD Free/Reduced Lunch Program may use this free program. Additional RTSD families who may be struggling with food insecurity, please reach directly to Beth Cooke at beth.cooke@rtsd.org.

After an initial plan of the delivering bagged breakfast and lunch meals for each student in a home during the week of March 16, the plan shifted to a "Grab and Go" program for the week of March 23 forward. The program will be available to those families that have communicated their need directly to Beth Cooke, RTSD elementary food service coordinator. If families would like to be included in the Grab and Go program, they are asked to connect directly with Beth Cooke via email beth.cooke@rtsd.org. Families can learn more about the district's free and reduced lunch program here.

• Meals will be distributed on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays during the closure (including Spring Break) Families in contact with Beth Cooke will be provided instructions on where to pick up the meals.

• Meal recipients are asked to write your students’ last name on a sheet of paper, place on your dashboard, stay in your car. RTSD staff members will bring your meals to you.

• If you are unable to pick up meals, please call Beth Cooke at 610-688-8100 x6048 to make alternate arrangements.

As you are aware, this is a developing situation. RTSD will provide updates on the food distribution plan moving forward. Please continue to visit this webpage for the most up-to-date information.

During the week of March 23, the district deployed Chromebook devices to 5th-8th grade students through a curbside pick-up process at RMS, IES, RES, and WES. We have additional Chromebook devices for 3rd-4th grade students and iPad devices for K-2 students to access Schoology, our Learning Management System, for online instruction. If your family is in need of a device for your child, please reach out to your child's school through the appropriate email shared below. You will receive a confirmation email and information on a time to pick up a device for your child.

IES - Dr. Tronya Boylan at tronya.boylan@rtsd.org
RES - Mrs. Nancy Holshue at nancy.holshue@rtsd.org
WES - Mr. Chuck Ragusa at charles.ragusa@rtsd.org

In an effort to  make online learning easier for our elementary students and families, the district has moved forward with plans to acquire additional technology to ensure all students have access to a device during the closure. Each elementary school student will receive a Chromebook that he/she will be able to bring home and use to complete activities and assignments as prepared and posted by his/her teacher on Schoology.

Devices for students in Grade 5 ONLY will be available for pick-up at each elementary school on Wed., March 25. 5th-Grade families should have received an email from their school's principals with more detailed directions on March 24. Information about the distribution of devices to students in grades K-4 will be shared at a later date. Devices will be distributed outside of the school building and the district has received assurance from Radnor Police Department Superintendent Christopher Flanagan that distributing technology is essential and not a violation of Governor Tom Wolf’s order.

The district has moved forward with plans to acquire additional technology to ensure all RTSD students have access to a device during the closure. The device roll out will start with RMS students the week of March 23. Each student will receive a Chromebook that he/she will be able to bring home and use to complete activities and assignments as prepared and posted by his/her teachers on Schoology.

Below are the distribution dates and times per RMS grade level. Please see a March 23 email from RMS principal Dave Wiedlich regarding the timeframe assigned to each student for device pick-up. Please do not arrive earlier then the time you are assigned.

6th-GRADE: Tuesday, March 24 between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. in the bus loop of RMS (See below for pick-up instructions)

7th-GRADE: Thursday, March 26 between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. in the bus loop of RMS (See below for pick-up instructions)

8th-GRADE: Friday, March 27 between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. in the bus loop of RMS (See below for pick-up instructions)
 
Pick-Up Instructions

1. The RMS Bus Loop is located between the back of the RTSD Administration Building (135 S. Wayne Ave.) and the back of RMS (150 Louella Ave). Enter on South Wayne Ave.

2. Prior to your arrival, we ask that you write legibly in large print on a piece of paper your child's first and last name, academic team, and your child’s school ID number.

3. As you arrive, please stay in your vehicle, and place the piece of paper with the aforementioned information into the passenger side window.

4. A school district employee will notify the distribution team, and your child’s Chromebook will be delivered to a pickup table on the sidewalk.  

5. Once delivered, an employee will either pass the device through your passenger side vehicle window or ask that you please step out of your vehicle and pick up the device.
 
Thank you for your cooperation, patience, and support.

As the district moved into the first full week of online instruction on March 23, schools formalized this effort by beginning to take attendance of students. This is not being done to create another burden on students and families. Rather, it is being done so we can demonstrate to the state that instruction continued online and additional days at the end of year will not be necessary. All students will have until 3 p.m. to complete their attendance for a given day. Note that school's will not be taking attendance on Collaboration and Catch Up Days.
 
Procedure at Radnor High School 
 
Each day, RHS students should access their “Class of…” page on Schoology and sign in using the below directions. 
 
1. Log into Schoology 
2. Click on the “Class of…” page (i.e., Class of 2020, 2021, etc.) 
3. Click on the form link at the top of the page 
4. Mark yourself “present” for the day before 3 p.m. 

A student will be marked absent for a day if not marked “present” by 3 p.m. 
 
Procedure at Radnor Middle School 
 
Each day, RMS students should access their “Class of…” page on Schoology and sign in using the below directions. 
 
1. Log into Schoology  
2. Click on the “Class of…” page (i.e., Class of 2024 (8th grade), 2025 or 2026)  
3. Students will see an assignment/quiz titled “Attendance for...” 
4. Student should click that assignment/quiz and answer the “Attendance Question” and follow the prompts to submit  
5. Mark yourself “present” for the day before 3 p.m.

A student will be marked absent for a day if not marked “present” by 3 p.m. 
 
Procedure at Elementary Schools 
 

A student will be marked absent for a day if not marked “here” by 3 p.m.
 
General Absence Procedures 
 
If a student is ill and unable to participate in school, an absence note/email is required for each day of the absence. Absence notes/emails may be submitted with the following guidelines. 
 
If a parent/guardian is using email, the parent/guardian should use the below email address for their child(ren)’s school and send a message with the following information: student; student grade level; the date(s) of the absence; the reason for the absence; and parent/guardian signature.

• Radnor High School: RHS_absence@rtsd.org 
• Radnor Middle School: RMS_absence@rtsd.org 
• Ithan Elementary School: IES_absence@rtsd.org 
• Radnor Elementary School: RES_absence@rtsd.org 
• Wayne Elementary School: WES_absence@rtsd.org 

If a parent/guardian needs to mail an absence note, the parent/guardian should address a letter to their student’s school(s) that includes the following information: student; student grade level; the date(s) of the absence; the reason for the absence; and parent/guardian signature. 

Each school will address students who accumulate multiple absences following similar procedures as when school is in session.

If you have any questions, please contact schoologyhelp@rtsd.org or your school's principal. We appreciate your patience as we implement this new procedure. Growing pains are expected!

Students and parents experiencing technical issues with a district-issued device can complete this online form here. The form will be routed to the school building's technology personnel, who can offer suggestions on how to fix the issue or consult with the teacher or other tech team member to resolve the issue. The building techs have the ability to provide both phone support and remotely access a district-issued device for support if needed. District technology personnel are not authorized to remotely access or provide support for a student/parent personal device.

Yes. The transition to an all-online instructional delivery program through Schoology began March 19, 2020 and will continue during the closure. 

Teachers have been given time to plan and create online lessons for classes to continue new instruction beginning Thursday, March 19. The district will be in session (online) with students from Thursday, March 19 through the duration of the extended closure. 

All students will have access to a grade level “Extended Closure Instructional Resources” course in Schoology, the district's Learning Management System. Information about how to log on can be found in the below "Using Schoology During the Closure" section. Students can access materials through their own personal accounts or through the parent's account. Parents should plan for children to complete about five days of assignments throughout the week. Please be assured that while the resources are available in Schoology, teachers were careful to provide many activities that can be completed offline for elementary students. The district wants to ensure that students continue to be supported whether in school or at home.

Note: A previous message indicated a plan to provide only review and enrichment materials through the district's online learning management system, Schoology, during the closure as opposed to providing new instruction. This plan was modified after collaboration with teachers and other staff groups, and a revised plan was developed to implement new instruction online during the closure.

It is no surprise that Radnor is a generous and supportive community. The district is extremely grateful for those who have offered to help during this unprecendented moment. If parents/community members are interested in supporting their neighbors during this challenging time, they can do so in the following ways: 
 
1) Keep the local food pantry stocked: Wayne United Methodist Church 
2) Donate to the RTSD K-12 PTO Gift Card Fund here
3) Donate to Radnor Educational Foundation's  "Neighbors Helping Neighbors" here (Please note donations are not able to be designated to a specific school and will be distributed district-wide)

At this time, with the current information available, this question cannot be reliably answered. However, a goal of continuing instruction online is to not have to make-up school days at the end of the school year and maintain the last day of school as approved on the Board’s 2019-20 instructional calendar.

General phone calls that come to our school buildings will be handled as they normally are. Callers will be able to leave a voicemail message that the building secretary will be able to retrieve and share with the appropriate person needing to receive the voice message.