The Virgin Islands Department of Health has released the general guidelines for the safe reopening of schools throughout the territory this fall. The guidelines follow a three-phased reopening to include 100 percent face-to-face instruction, a combination of virtual and face-to-face, or 100 percent virtual instruction.
The guidelines will apply to all public, private and parochial schools and can be viewed here.
ST. THOMAS, USVI – The Virgin Islands Department of Education has released a series of surveys to gain feedback from public school students, teachers and parents on their experiences with distance learning during the suspension of in-person classes last school year due to COVID-19, and to capture respondents’ views on school campuses reopening for the 2020-2021 school year.
In an email announcement to staff on Friday afternoon, Commissioner Racquel Berry-Benjamin indicated that a School Reopening Taskforce has been formed to guide the safe reopening of the Territory’s schools and that three operating models are under consideration for public schools: in-person instruction, distance learning or a blend of the two.
Some survey questions ask students and parents to indicate their level of comfort with returning to school campuses in the upcoming school year, while other survey questions ask teachers to share their primary challenges with shifting from classroom to online instruction last school year.
The online surveys will remain open through 12 p.m. on Friday, July 3 and can be accessed from the Department’s website, www.vide.vi. Surveys are also posted on the Department’s Facebook page.
For more information, email public.relations@vide.vi.
Direct links to individual surveys
Parent Survey:
Student Survey:
Teacher Survey:
The United Way of the U.S. Virgin Islands introduced the “In It To Win It” Summer Book Club initiative as a Covid-19 response to support distanced learning. During these unprecedented times of early school closures and isolation, the program is designed to enhance literacy skills, bolster imagination, and creativity through reading. The power of reading and access to books is irreplaceable, and a critical component of combating the summer slide under normal circumstances. “With the prospect of a greater slide due to the impact of COVID-19 in the territory, the United Way is committed to fight for our students, parents, and teachers. Together we are In It To Win It,” stated the organization’s President/CEO, Mr. Vinod P. Dadlani.
Students in Kindergarten thru 6th Grade residing on the islands of St. Thomas, Water Island, St. Croix and St. John are invited to sign up to join the club! Literacy kits with free books will be distributed while supplies last. Students will have the opportunity to participate in the Book Club Contest, “Read. Imagine. Create,” to showcase what they’ve learned through self-expression. Participants on each island will have a chance to win $100, $75 and $50 gift cards to help with back to school.
Registration is open online at www.unitedwayusvi.org/bookclub. For more information please email inquiries to bookclub@unitedwayusvi.org. Parents and guardians are encouraged to sign up their children as soon as possible to reserve a literacy kit for the “In It To Win It” Summer Book Club.
