Heather Bell
RADFORD – Radford High School and John Dalton Intermediate School have moved to virtual-only instruction until after Spring Break, the school district announced Wednesday.
In-person instruction will return to the schools on Monday, April 12. McHarg and Belle Heth Elementary schools, which currently both operate out of the Belle Heth campus due to construction at McHarg will continue to operate at the four-day-per-week, in-person instruction model in place since March 1.
In an announcement to the school community Wednesday afternoon, Radford City Public Schools Superintendent Robert Graham said the decision came as a result of a high number of positive COVID-19 tests among the schools’ athletic programs.
“Due to the large number of positive COVID-19 cases we have been made aware of in some of our athletic programs, and the fact that we cannot contact trace the way we would like to because of the high number of positive cases, we will be moving Radford High School and John Dalton Intermediate to fully virtual learning beginning March 25, 2021 and ending Friday, April 2, 2021,” said Graham. “Belle Heth and McHarg will continue with in person learning and will not be impacted by this middle and high school level change.”
“In person learning will return to Radford High School and John Dalton Intermediate on Monday, April 12,” he continued.
Spring break is scheduled for RCPS from Monday, April 5 – Friday, April 9. The change also affects athletics schedules, as all extra-curricular activities, including practices and games are cancelled until Sunday, April 4.
“Extra-curricular activities may resume again on Monday, April 5 if coaches choose to have them during our spring break as long as our secondary school community is free of the virus,” said Graham.
Graham said RHS is scheduled to compete at the state level in Forensics this weekend and “are working with the coaches and the VHSL administrators to see if we can still participate in this activity.”
Graham stressed to all middle and high school students that the virtual days should be treated as regular school days, with students logging in and participating in their classes in real time.
“All middle and high school teachers will be in their school buildings during the move to virtual learning,” he said. “Students are expected to login at 8:30 a.m. and participate online and in real time.”
All middle and high school teachers will be online according to the schedule and will post recordings of their synchronous lessons by 2 p.m. each day. No assignments/video will be posted after 2 p.m. RCPS students who receive special education services may be entitled to additional services based on their Individualized Education Plan. Teachers will consult with those students and families as soon as possible.
“Thank you for your patience and flexibility with this situation,” said Graham.
Students and families can refer to the synchronous schedule for RHS (grades 9-12) and DIS (grades 7-8) found on page 17 of the Return to Learn document on the RCPS webpage www.rcps.org.
