The Shadow
LOW MOOR, VA (VR) — With the safety of staff and students in mind, Thursday, Dec, 15, will be a virtual learning day for Alleghany Highlands Public Schools.
The National Weather Service in Blacksburg is predicting icy conditions for the Alleghany Highlands and other parts of Virginia Thursday morning. A winter weather advisory is in effect from 7 p.m. today until 1 p.m. Thursday. Icy conditions in higher elevations are expected to make travel treacherous on Thursday morning. The National Weather Service believes this is a stable forecast that is unlikely to change significantly and that will likely create concern along the I-64 corridor in the Highlands.
Virtual lesson plans will be carried out on Thursday either through the utilization of Chromebook lessons, packets of materials, or other “at home” learning activities that students will take home today.
“The virtual instruction day will help preserve the school board’s plan to give our teachers and students extra time off for the holidays. The plan for Thursday will help us meet the required number of instructional hours the school division is required to provide this year and avoid requiring students to come to school for one day next week,” said Kim Halterman and Melinda Snead-Johnson, leaders of AHPS. “The school division is announcing this change mid-day December 14 to allow as much time as possible for both school staff and families to prepare.”
On Dec. 6, the school board voted to extend the holiday break by three days to give teachers and students extra time off from school. Under the school board’s plan, schools will be closed the entire week of Dec. 19, contingent upon not missing any school days this week due to weather or other unforeseen emergencies.
Sports and holiday activities are scheduled for schools on Thursday. AHPS will make a decision about those activities by midday on Thursday. Weather conditions are expected to improve by Thursday afternoon.
