Hunting Ridge Hawk Happenings
August 31, 2020
Hunting Ridge Families:
Thank you for everyone's help making it possible for us to have a start to this unusual year. In our beginning days of virtual learning we wanted to remind families of some tips to help our learners at home:
- Try to find a dedicated spot for learning.
- Create a system where supplies and materials can be easily accessed. This might include a box or backpack on the back of a chair.
- Reduce distractions during learning time
- Consider headphones for your student(s) if there are sibling sessions nearby.
Our students are working closely with teachers to navigate their devices and to have teachers direct them through the applications that they will be using for learning. This takes time and students will become more independent in the coming weeks. Thank you for your patience.
Sincerely,
Mrs. Ortlund
Important Dates:
- PTA Hawk Hustle - Saturday, September 19, 8:00 - 12:00 PM
From the Nurse - Mrs. Spears
New School Year Health Forms and Health Documents:
As a gentle reminder, students that are entering kindergarten or sixth grade have specific physical, dental, and/or vision requirements. Please see the Health Documents link to our D15 website and consider scheduling these appointments before the new school year begins. All medications that are kept on site must be accompanied by a physician's order. Over the counter medications must be provided by the parent or guardian in an unopened box. As students return to school for in-person learning, these medications can be dropped off to the nurse.
Virtual Learning and Attendance
This year’s distance learning is more structured and interactive than what students experienced in the spring. Improved structure, minimum direct instruction time requirements, academic schedules, assignments, and grading all make distance learning more similar to the regular school routines.
Live instruction for students in grades 1-8 is approximately 2.5 hours per day. “Live teaching” means the teacher is presenting a live lesson, not a recording, or is engaging with students via video. Kindergarten and early childhood live instruction will be approximately 75 minutes per day.
If you have questions about your student’s special education or multilingual, please contact your school administrator to schedule a time to discuss your child.
Attendance requirements during distance learning are also similar to the requirements of regular school. Students must log in and be present at the scheduled start of each school day and attend each subject’s or class’ live teaching that day. Teachers take attendance and record students that are not present during the live teaching portions of the student’s schedule. Although students are required to attend the live teaching portions of the day, students may elect to complete independent school work or assignments during any part of the day.
If your child will be absent, the child’s parents are required to call the school’s absence line and notify the school that their child will be absent. If your student is marked absent and a parent has not reported the absence to the school, an automated attendance call and text will be generated.
Regular attendance is essential and District 15 schools are required to follow their attendance and truancy procedures. If your child is unable to participate in live teaching due to technology problems, parents should contact the school’s attendance line so that your child’s absence can be marked as an excused absence.
For assistance with technology, parents or students should call or email the teacher or the school’s office. The school office can assist with troubleshooting or, if necessary, can replace a broken device with a loaner.
Virtual Map Testing
Each year District 15 students in grades 2 through 8 take an achievement test called the MAP test. The MAP test measures a student’s reading and math levels, is taken by the student with a Chromebook, and takes between 20 to 40 minutes to complete.
This year, all students in grades 2 to 8 will take the MAP test during the distance learning portion of the school year. Teachers will be in contact with students to explain and walk them through the virtual MAP test taking process. Schools will schedule a MAP test “dry run” in early September. Students will take the actual MAP test between September 14 and October 1. Your school will provide specific test dates and times to families prior to testing.
Linked below is our parent and student “cheat sheets. You will be provided with another copy closer to MAP testing. Parent/Caregiver Cheat Sheet, Student Cheat Sheet.
Technology for Virtual Learning
In order to help keep students safer and more scholarly online during virtual learning, District 15 has adopted GoGuardian Teacher - an instructional delivery, classroom management, and community building tool. It helps keep students on-task and helps teachers stay connected to students wherever they learn. We will be deploying GoGuardian Teacher in phases over the next three weeks. Please review this letter to learn more about this powerful learning engagement tool.
Socialization and Connection During Virtual Learning
Hunting Ridge Parent Teacher Association
- Become a member
- Participate in the Hawk Hustle
- Place an order for spirit wear
We look forward to your participation and we thank you for your support! Our next virtual PTA meeting is Tuesday, September 1 at 7:00 PM. Please visit the PTA website or newsletter for connection information.