Closures, Delays and Remote Instructional Days
When there is a weather or other emergency, the decision to physically open schools to students (either on time or delayed), physically close schools ("snow days" or early dismissals), or provide virtual instruction through "Remote Instructional Days" will be made by the Superintendent, in consultation with the Transportation Department and other administrators and staff, and will be communicated to staff and families as quickly as possible in response to the emergency via the channels below.
Remote/Flexible Instructional Days
- About Flexible Instructional Days (FID)
- Remote/Flexible Instructional Days and Resources for Families
- Communicating a Change in the School Schedule
About Flexible Instructional Days (FID)
RTSD will use "Flexible Instructional Days" to deliver instruction to students remotely if circumstances warrant during the 2022-23 school year after a plan was approved by the School Board on May 31 to be submitted to the PA Department of Education.
The option of utilizing FIDs applies to various circumstance, including "hazardous weather conditions," "law enforcement emergencies," "damage to school buildings" and "the inoperability of school buses."
Traditional snow days will still be an option during the 2022-23 school year if circumstances warrant.
The district's FID program has been designed based on responses from families and teachers to previously held Remote Instructional Days. The program would be conducted online and alternatives provided for households needing accommodations.
BACKGROUND ON FLEXIBLE INSTRUCTIONAL DAYS:
With the passage of Act 64 of 2016 (Act 64) Section 1506 of the Public School Code allows public school entities to develop an Flexible Instructional Day (FID) program. The FID program available to public school entities to be used as an alternative approach to delivering instruction if a circumstance arises that prevents instruction in the customary manner. Flexible Instructional Days would not exceed five (5) days during a school year.
Remote/Flexible Instructional Days and Resources for Families
To avoid an extension of the school year, to have fleixibilty regarding the delivery of instruction as needed, and to enable the opportunity to shorten the school year if school building closures are unnecessary, the district will utilize "Remote/Flexible Instructional Days."
Elementary Teaching and Learning Expectations
- Elementary remote instructional school day: 9:25 a.m.-3:25 p.m.
- All classroom teachers will facilitate a morning meeting and take attendance
- Classroom teachers will follow building-established schedule and provide a minimum of 50% of synchronous instruction over the course of the day; assign and support asynchronous work
- Specialists will follow their general schedule and provide a minimum of 50% instruction during the 50-min special; support asynchronous assignments as appropriate to the special class
- Teachers will facilitate a closing circle to end at 3:25 p.m.
Secondary Teaching and Learning Expectations
- For remote instructional days at the secondary level, teachers open a Zoom room for homeroom (RHS)/advisory (RMS) and each of their classes.
- Students follow their schedule for the day and Zoom into each class for the first 10 minutes so teachers may take role, explain what asynchronous work students need to complete, and conduct any necessary housekeeping with their class.
- After teachers have taken attendance and explained what students need to complete, students may remain on Zoom to complete their work, or may log off to complete their work independently.
- Teachers may retain students that owe outstanding work or those who need assistance with coursework.
- The teacher remains on Zoom for the duration of the period to answer student questions that may arise or provide assistance as necessary.
- Teachers also may elect to teach synchronously for the entire period if they wish.
Getting Ready at Home
- Connecting RTSD Devices to Home WiFi
- Student Schoology Access
- Student Login Information
- Zoom and Schoology Basics
- How To Ensure Your Student's Full Name is Visible in Zoom
- Where to Go for Tech Support
Connecting RTSD Devices to Home WiFi
iPad
-
From the home screen of your device, please go to ‘Settings’ icon of your device.
-
Near the top of your screen you should see a ‘WiFi’ option. Please click on that.
-
You will see a list of available WiFi networks as long as the option is on (if it’s on, it will be green)
-
Select your WiFi network or Mobile Hotspot and enter the password.
-
You have now successfully connected to your WiFi network on your iPad.
-
Chromebook
-
At the bottom right of your home screen, you should see the time.
-
Click on the time/clock
-
-
Select ‘Not Connected’, though keep in mind if you have previously had this device at home and on the WiFi, it may be already connected.
-
Turn on WiFi (if not enabled already)
-
Your Chromebook should now be looking for available Networks, please Select your Home WiFi network or Mobile Hotspot and enter the password.
-
You have now successfully connected to your WiFi network on your Chromebook
Student Schoology Access
Schoology Web Address: rtsd.schoology.com
Students can access Schoology by clicking "Log in with Microsoft (Radnor ID)" or using a Clever Badge (K-2). The Schoology Login process changed at the beginning of the year.
Student Login Information
Student Logins for Grades 3-12
If students in grades 3-12 are prompted to login, they log in using this format:
flast56@stu.rtsd.org (grades 3-12)
(first initial + lastname + last two of student ID @stu.rtsd.org)
(passwords will remain the same)
Student Logins for Grades K-2
*Logins for students in grades K-2 remain the same for our youngest learners. (Username: studentID@rtsd.org; Password: initials+studentID)
Clever also keeps this elementary friendly:
Clever integration with Schoology logins also brings Clever Badges – a quick way to scan a QR code to log in rather than typing usernames and passwords. Scanning a Clever badge on the iPad takes the student to Schoology within the browser; it does not use the iPad app. Students can tap the Schoology button or the Clever shortcut (and then Schoology).
Zoom and Schoology Basics
Zoom and Schoology Basics
How To Ensure Your Student's Full Name is Visible in Zoom
Where to Go for Tech Support
Classroom-Specific Software & Course Questions:
- Contact your child's teacher.
Hardware & Device Issues:
- Call : 610-386-6333
- Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.- 3 p.m.
- For after hours support, submit this form.
Schoology:
Schoology user guides and other resources:
Communicating a Change in the School Schedule
RTSD employees, parents, students and other community members are encouraged to check several of the below sources for information on schedule changes due to weather conditions or other emergencies. While every effort is made to communicate using all of these sources, factors beyond our control may prevent sharing of information through a particular source.
- By Phone, Email and Text Message
- All Radnor Township School District employees and families will receive a automated telephone message, email, and text message alert via the district's SchoolMessenger emergency notification system when weather conditions force the closing, delayed opening, early dismissal, or remote instruction of school.
- Employees: You will be contacted on the "Home" (primary) and "Work" (secondary) phone numbers and every email address listed in your account in the Employee Web Portal.
- Families: You will be contacted on the primary and secondary phone numbers and every email address listed in your account in Home Access Center.
- All Radnor Township School District employees and families will receive a automated telephone message, email, and text message alert via the district's SchoolMessenger emergency notification system when weather conditions force the closing, delayed opening, early dismissal, or remote instruction of school.
- Through the Media
- WPVI 6 TV or www.6abc.com
- FOX29 TV or www.fox29.com
- NBC10 TV or www.nbc10.com
- CBS 3 TV or philadelphia.cbslocal.com/
- Via the RTSD website
- Via RTSD's official Twitter (@RadnorTSD) and/or Instagram (@RadnorTSD) accounts
- Via an emergency message accessible by calling the district's main phone number, 610-688-8100, and pressing "1"