The Virgin Islands Department of Education informs parents and guardians of students enrolled at the Bertha C. Boschulte Middle School (BCB) that due to the declared State of Emergency, in response to an ongoing fire at the Bovoni Landfill, the school will remain closed. We prioritize the health and safety of our students, faculty, and staff and as a result, the following arrangements have been made:

 

Device and Instructional Packet Distribution:

 

• Date and Time: Thursday, September 21, 2023, from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm.

 

• Due to the poor air quality caused by existing smoke and odors from the landfill fire, the VIDE strongly encourages parents to collect devices and instructional packets during the specified time period, as the well-being of employees is a priority.

 

Alternative Pickup Date:

 

• Friday, September 22, 2023, from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm will serve as a secondary pickup date for those parents unable to collect devices and packets on Thursday.

 

• Please note that these two days are the only designated pickup dates. If you cannot pick up on either day, please contact the school at parents.boschulte@vide.vi, and the BCB staff will assist in finding the best possible solution.

 

Device Pickup Requirements:

 

• Only parents, guardians, or individuals listed in PowerSchool will be allowed to collect devices on behalf of students.

 

• Completion of the District Technology Form is mandatory before receiving a device.

 

• Devices should not be retrieved if they are not needed.

 

• Students still in possession of devices should log on to Microsoft Teams.

 

Instructional Packet Collection:

 

• Instructional packets are to be collected from the student's Homeroom Teacher.

 

• These packets will include pre-prepared assignments and previously covered class content.

 

• Assignments will be dated back to Monday, September 18, 2023, encompassing the entire week until Friday, September 22, 2023, with due dates scheduled for the following week. This will allow the students an opportunity to complete assignments for this entire week.

 

Communication and Virtual Learning:

 

• Teachers will communicate with students through Microsoft Teams and email once devices have been distributed.

 

• Students will work on missing assignments and review concepts taught in each class during this time.

 

As a result of the Bovoni Landfill fire not being sustainably contained at this time, a modified asynchronous schedule will be provided for students to commence Monday, September 25, 2023.

While working virtually, faculty and staff will be responsible for fulfilling their normal responsibilities, which include:

 

• Updating grades in the grade books after providing feedback to students.

 

• Contacting students and parents via communication platforms to provide a praise report or to report intervention and corrective measures as needed.

 

• Meeting with Team Supervisor.

 

• Team and Content Area Planning.

 

• Logging entries into PowerSchool.

 

The VIDE is grateful for the continued efforts of the Virgin Islands Fire Emergency Management Services and all other agencies and partners providing external assistance to extinguish the fire. This is a large-scale effort that initially began on Thursday, September 14, 2023, coinciding with the initial closure of BCB. As we navigate these challenging circumstances, we kindly request the support of parents as students continue their education virtually. Your cooperation and understanding are greatly valued.

 

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Download press release here:  pdf Press Release 0911 23 VIDE Announces Device and Instructional Packet Distribution for BCB (1 KB)

The Virgin Islands Department of Education is announcing schedule adjustments for six schools within the St. Croix District, effective Monday, September 25, 2023. These modifications to the operational hours of each school are a direct response to the challenges posed by the ongoing and severe heatwave that has been affecting the district. On September 18^th, heat risks were updated for the U.S. Virgin Islands resulting in a Heat Warning being issued.

 

The recent heatwave has created unfavorable learning conditions for students, faculty, and staff across several schools in the St. Croix District. The health and well-being of students and personnel are paramount, and the district has taken decisive action to address the impact of the extreme weather by identifying schools most impacted.

 

Following comprehensive assessments of the school facilities, the district has identified and categorized six schools where more than 50% of the campus lacks functional air conditioning units. These schools require immediate attention to improve the conditions.

 

Effective Monday, September 25, 2023, the St. Croix School District will implement schedule adjustments aimed at mitigating the adverse effects of the heatwave on students, faculty, and staff. These changes to the daily schedule are designed to offer much-needed relief during the hottest hours of the day.

 

• Revised Daily Schedules:

The following daily schedules have been updated since the VIDE Live announcement.

 

Ø  Juanita Gardine and Eulalie Rivera PreK-8 Schools: These schools will begin the school day at 7:30am and end at 12:30pm, with class periods lasting 45 minutes each. This earlier start time allows for instruction during the cooler morning hours, and lunch will be provided on a staggered schedule.

 

• • • ADJUSTED DAILY SCHEDULE:

 

Subject Area	Start Time	End Time
Homeroom & Morning Announcements	7:30 AM	7:35 AM
1	7:35 AM	8:20 AM
2	8:25 AM	9:10 AM
3	9:15 AM	10:00 AM
4	10:05 AM	10:50 AM
5	10:55 AM	11:40 AM
6	11:45 AM	12:30 PM

 

 

• • John H. Woodson Jr. High School: Will begin at 8:00am and end at 1:15pm. Class periods have been reduced from 55 minutes to 45 minutes each.

 

• • • ADJUSTED DAILY SCHEDULE:

 

Period	Start Time	End Time
1	8:00 AM	8:45 AM
2	8:48 AM	9:33 AM
3	9:36 AM	10:21 AM
4	10:24 AM	11:09 AM
5	11:12 AM	11:57 AM
Lunch	11:57 AM	12:27 PM
6	12:30 PM	1:15 PM

 

• • St. Croix Central High School; St. Croix Educational Complex; and the Career & Educational Technical Center: These schools will begin the school day at their regular start time of 7:40am, but will end earlier, at 1:05pm. Class periods have been reduced from 75 minutes to 65 minutes.

 

• • • ADJUSTED DAILY SCHEDULE:

 

Period	Start Time	End Time
1	7:40 AM	8:45 AM
3	8:50 AM	9:55 AM
4	10:00 AM	11:05 AM
Lunch	11:10 AM	11:55 AM
5	12:00 PM	1:05 PM

 

For all schools, bus transportation will continue to be available daily for students commuting to and from each school campus. It is important for the public to note that for the following schools,

morning routes can commence as early as 6:45am to accommodate students:

 

• Juanita Gardine, Eulalie Rivera PreK-8, and the John H. Woodson Jr. High School.

 

In the afternoon, buses will also be provided as each school dismisses. Parents are welcome to also begin pickups at scheduled dismissal times.

 

The St. Croix District wants to assure the public that these measures are temporary and have been implemented to create a more comfortable and conducive learning environment for students during the current heatwave period. The Virgin Islands Department of Education (VIDE) will closely monitor temperatures and heat conditions, to assess when regular school hours will be resumed.

 

The Department acknowledges that these adjustments are not an ideal long-term solution and is actively working to address the operational needs of schools within the district. The VIDE seeks the support and cooperation of parents, students, faculty, and staff during this challenging period.

 

Together, we can navigate the heatwave and continue our mission of transforming today's learners into tomorrow's leaders in safe and comfortable environments.

 

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Download press release here:  pdf Press Release 0910 23 Virgin Islands Department of Education Adopts Measures to Address Heatwave Challenges (1 KB)