Full-time, In-person Learning is Back!

WJCC Schools offers face-to-face learning, five days a week, for all students during the 2021-2022 school year. In addition, prevention strategies such as mask use, vaccinations for eligible students and staff, and limited physical distancing will be in place.

Data and guidance from the CDC and American Academy of Pediatrics are clear: the use of face coverings and vaccinations are the best things we can do as individuals to help keep ourselves and our community safe. Additionally, children are no longer a close contact when exposed to someone at school who is ill if both people wear a mask. That means fewer quarantines and more students in school every day.

Read the complete instructional plan »

What to expect at school

• All students, staff, and visitors must wear a face mask while indoors. Masks may be removed only when people are outside or when they are eating or drinking.
• Students will eat meals in the cafeteria at elementary schools. Middle and high schools will make use of the cafeteria and outdoor spaces for lunch.
• Breakfast and lunch (including hot meals) will be available to all students at no charge.
• Air ventilation systems are maintained in schools and classrooms; however, when possible, windows will be opened to increase airflow throughout the building.
• Students will share classroom materials. We now know that COVID does not live for an extended period on hard surfaces; therefore, there is no need for individual sets of classroom materials.
• Physical distancing will be limited to up to three feet. Where possible, desks will be separated to increase space between students.
• Most WJCC elementary schools added classroom trailers to increase learning space and decrease the number of students in traditional classrooms.

Virtual Learning Options

The division is also offering full-time virtual learning options for students K-12 who enrolled over the summer. These rigorous classes meet or exceed Virginia’s Standards of Learning (SOLs) and align with WJCC Schools’ graduation requirements.

Elementary students will participate in live daily instruction led by highly qualified, licensed teachers from the State’s Virtual Virginia initiative. Classes include reading/language arts, math, science, and social studies. In addition, time is built into the schedule for small-group work, daily class meetings, and specialty classes such as wellness, world languages, dance, and arts.

Middle and high school courses include a blend of live and asynchronous instruction led by WJCC Schools teachers and highly qualified, licensed teachers from the State’s Virtual Virginia program.

Web-based classes include core subject matter content such as English, math, science, and history, as well as electives, special education services, and Advanced Placement (AP) courses. Specific course offerings are determined based on student enrollment and teacher availability. Due to limitations with virtual learning, performing arts instruction will not be offered through the Virtual Academy. However, students will continue to be eligible to participate in extracurricular performing arts activities.

• Virginia Department of Health
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• American Academy of Pediatrics COVID-19 Guidance for Safe Schools
• Incidence and Secondary Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 Infections in Schools (Duke University)
• Schools and the Path to Zero: Strategies for Pandemic Resilience in the Face of High Community Spread (Harvard)
• City of Williamsburg COVID-19 Vaccination Dashboard