March 14, 2020
Parents and Students: We are in for an adventure! As noted in communication shared with you by the school district, you should be well aware that all Utah schools will undergo a mandatory 2-week dismissal beginning Monday, March 16 through Friday, March 27. We thank you for your patience in awaiting details of the plan for the students of South Sevier Middle School.
*Building access to pick up educational materials and/or check out school devices will be available during the following blocks of time:
Sunday, March 15th 4:00-6:00 pm
Monday, March 16th 10:00 am-12:00 pm
Monday, March 16th 2:00-4:00 pm
We believe we have outlined an At-Home Learning Program that is ready to serve our students in an effective way. Our aim is to ensure safety, instruction, and continued academic opportunity. Please read the following information carefully to aid in your understanding as to how school will function during the dismissal period.
*Every student will receive personal contact from a teacher on Monday, March 16th between the hours of 10:00-noon or 1:00-3:00.
Please wait for your contact rather than calling the school yourself. Be patient as it will take a great deal of time to make contact with each individual.
The calls will come through as a NO CALLER ID as per a Google Hangout tool teachers will be using for communication. Please accept the call. *Instruction will be provided electronically via personal device.
*Coursework is being scaled down to focus on the most essential skills/standards of the current grading period.
*Plan for 2-3 hours of school work per day (instruction and work time combined).
*Regular communication with teachers will be available through several different platforms: Canvas, Google Meet calls/video sessions, discussion boards, Google Classroom, and more. Take notice of information shared on individual teachers’ Canvas pages for specifics to each classroom.
*Small populations of students may be invited to attend occasional on-site instructional sessions. If this applies to your student, you will be contacted with those details.
Does my student need to come to the school? All students will likely need/benefit from access to information that is in their personal binder (Did the binder come home yesterday?)
Band students are welcome to pick up their instruments for ongoing practice
6th and 7th grade math teachers are asking that students pick up their math books
8th grade science teacher is requesting that students pick up their science notebook
8th grade reading teacher (6th period only) is requesting that students pick up the class novel “The Giver” (if you don’t have means to find access to another copy)
Check out a school device ONLY if you have no other way to access online materials (A device checkout contract is required to be signed before device can be loaned out)
*Building access to pick up educational materials and/or check out school devices will be available during the following blocks of time:
Sunday, March 15th 4:00-6:00 pm
Monday, March 16th 10:00 am-12:00 pm
Monday, March 16th 2:00-4:00 pm *
Internet connection options include: your own home (preferred), city library, locating near school property, locating near church property, other areas you are aware of connection and password information.
View an offer from CentraCom for free internet services (this is in no way school sponsored or covered). CentraCom helping family with students keep up with their school studies
*First assignments and other information from teachers will be shared on Canvas before 3:00 pm on Monday.
*Students will submit work according to the guidelines provided by individual teachers. It is expected that students stay actively involved throughout the full 2 weeks of dismissal. Regular contact/interaction between teacher and student will happen daily. Meeting these expectations aids in avoiding make-up days.
*Teachers are guaranteed to be available for “Office Hours” to provide immediate communication/feedback/live virtual sessions each day from 10:00-11:00 and 1:00-2:00 (except for Monday, March 16th). Other times will be available off and on throughout the school day, but responses may not be immediate.
*Work assigned will be recorded on 4th quarter grades and students will be held accountable for its completion. Do not procrastinate or ignore the tasks given.
*All students should “check-in” with Principal Nielson each day through a simple Canvas course page titled “Building a Stronger Me.” Invitations for participation will be sent out on Monday. Students, please take care of the following to help At-Home Learning run more successfully:
*Clean out what you no longer need, from your gmail inbox.
*On your Canvas Dashboard, remove courses from last quarter by clicking the 3 white dots in the top right corner of the class label, choosing MOVE and then choosing UNFAVORITE.
*Organize your google drive into folders by subject area.
*Test that you know how to access the school weblocs page. https://sites.google.com/a/seviersd.org/ssms/
*Test that you know how to log in to CLEVER (option on the weblocs page).
*Test that you know how to log in to Canvas (option on the weblocs page). *Pick up your binder and other educational materials on Sunday or Monday.
*On Monday, accept the Canvas course invitation from Principal Nielson focused on mental/emotional/physical health (this is what will be used to track daily attendance and provide you with a positive boost each day).
*Actively participate and take responsibility for daily interaction with teachers and work completion.
*Set a schedule for yourself of when you will complete your school work each day. We encourage you to do your work during regular school hours. Do not expect teacher communication or response after 3:30 each day. Parents, please help us with the following to effectively run the At-Home Learning Program:
*Develop a schedule for your home that sets aside daily and regular time frames for school work completion and participation. Consider basing work time around the “office hours” mentioned above.
*Require your student to actively participate in academic time each school day. School dismissal is not meant to be viewed as vacation time. Students will be held accountable for any work assigned.
*Teachers will work regular school day hours of 7:30-3:30 where they will be planning coursework and sharing instruction, grading submitted work, and connecting with students. Communicate questions, concerns or frustrations with teachers or administration but be respectful of their personal time. Contact attempts after hours will be replied to the next day.
*Send or take students to town sites for free meal services each school day (beginning Tuesday). See information on the district website for more information. https://www.seviersd.org/
*Come to the school during the above listed hours to pick up educational materials and/or check out a school device for your student (if needed).
We appreciate your support and active involvement in our At-Home Learning Program. Our students’ safety, access to continued instruction, and educational progress is of top priority. Please await your personal contact on Monday before reaching out to the school with questions. As you see appropriate, stop by the school during one of the outlined blocks of time to pick up materials. Stay safe, stay calm, and wash your hands!
Sincerely, Principal Nielson, South Sevier Middle School
