Hello CI Family, I hope you all are doing well and staying safe. I have two items of important information for you today. The first is related to our distance learning and extra credit points. There has been some confusion related to this, so I hope to clear up any uncertainties.
Teachers across the district have worked diligently on the Learning Menus to encompass learning objectives that provide a continuum of learning in a simple, meaningful form. We are here to work with each student to help them progress academically. However, completion of the learning menus is optional for students, but they may do so for teacher feedback or as an opportunity to improve their grade. Any completed assignments should be turned in to the homeroom teacher. Teachers are required to connect with all of their homeroom students. If they aren't participating in distance learning, or haven't joined Google Classrooms, teachers will be reaching out to parents.
Student grades are frozen and will stand as they were prior to Spring Break on March 13th unless students want to take advantage of opportunities to raise them as discussed below. Student work submitted to improve grades will be assessed based on the assignment. There is not a specific percentage limit to overall grade improvement; however, it would not be reasonable that each student would be able to improve by an entire letter grade in five weeks of distance learning.
Students can improve upon current grades by:
1. Completing assignments from the weekly Learning Menu. Assignments must be submitted weekly and turned in on the corresponding week.
2. Make up work from up to two weeks prior to school closure (Monday, March 2nd). Any assignments outside that window are at teacher discretion.
If students desire to submit work for feedback or for grade improvement:
1. Student will need to inform their teacher if work submissions are intended for grade improvement or for teacher feedback.
2. Teachers will instruct students on how to submit assignments, i.e. Email, Remind, Google Classroom, or phone call
3. Any student work turned in to the teacher will be reviewed to monitor progress and provide feedback regardless of student intent to improve grades.
Also, our video for Spartan WrapUp went out today. The point of StartUp and WrapUp each week, virtually, is to continue to connect with our kids. It's a vital part of our school culture and WrapUp is definitely a favorite for our staff and students. In the video, we gave a TikTok challenge to the kids to send in videos for our next WrapUp video. We also said to be sure to do the TikTok video with the help of parents, and we want to stress the importance of doing this. A parent brought to our attention that this particular app is dangerous for kids and was one that Jason Weis discussed in our parent seminar earlier this year. We want to be responsible in our efforts to connect with our students, so we are changing the challenge so kids can send in any video they'd like of them dancing, singing, or sharing a talent so they do not feel the necessity to download the app. It is easy to forget or become complacent to these things, especially when kids are presented with a lot of downtime and boredom, so we are going to do better in doing our part to keep our kids safe, and we ask you to please monitor your kids usage of any social media site as well.
Undoubtedly as we navigate through these unchartered waters together, there will be more questions, so please do not hesitate to reach out to me or to your child's teachers. It is truly our desire to help you in any way possible. We appreciate your patience, and your support. Take care and stay safe.
Sincerely,
Brenda Shaw, Principal