CHS Staff Bulletin
April 6th, 2020
So many questions. The answers are coming.
I want to thank our staff and faculty for their patience and grace as we try to figure out how to be on-line teachers, essentially overnight. There are many exceptional questions and we are working on all of them. We really have a lot to process and figure out. In order to do it well we need to take care of first thing first and then step in and deal with the next layer as necessary. You have all demonstrated excellent poise and tact with recognizing that the district is working their tails off and so is everyone else. Thank you for your patience and your energy around getting things done. The answers to our questions are forthcoming.
In The Know
Tech Distribution - If you have students who need a device or internet and are still unsure of where to go please let them know we are distributing devices to all students that have completed the tech survey. If someone has not completed the survey we are helping out by having families complete the survey in the cafeteria before they get their device. We are open from 8am-12 and 1-4pm. STUDENTS OR THEIR PARENT NEED TO BRING STUDENT ID.
Time to inspire not require - Kids are really missing connection. Please consider using Remind, Flip Grid and other platforms that allow for students to present and connect. Flip Grid is also really good for our ELL students to connect with the culture. Please avoid social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, SnapChat, etc. These are not sites that can be supported by the district with respect to boundary issues. If you have questions about digital communication please let me know so I can help.
Building Access - The building will be shut down tight next week. If you need something please make arrangements to go get what you need this week so that you can be at home without a need to come in. If you need to come in please make arrangements with the Admin that is in the building that day so they know to expect you. We are responsible for 'appropriate social distancing' while staff enter the building. This means that if we have several people coming in then we need to be in the building. If it is one or two people with a need we could allow for you to go in and get what you need and then leave. Of course this needs to be minimized to the greatest extent possible. Therefore if you need something please make arrangements to get what you need by the end of the day Friday so that next week we can keep staff at home instead of in the building. This is critical. Thank you for your help with this.
Trimester 2 first; then Trimester 3 - This next week we should be working on making sure our kids from Trimester 2 have made contact with you, you are helping them understand what is coming their way, how to log on and use Zoom, how to navigate Google Classroom, etc. Think of it as the very first week of school when we go over expectations and general protocol. Take the opportunity to rally and orient.
Trimester 3 Student Lists are available on Synergy
Spending Freeze - We've been directed to freeze all spending. I am asking about CTE funds and will get back to you as soon as I know. We will only process PO's for expenses that have already occurred, but we will not be making any additional orders without prior approval, for any reason. The spending freeze is for any new expenses without prior approval from the level director. Let me know if you have questions.
CHECKING VOICEMAIL REMOTELY:
To check voicemail from a non-school phone:
1. Dial 541-790-4400, when the system answers, press the # key
2. You will be asked to enter your mailbox number. Your mailbox number, in most cases, is the same as the last 4 digits of your school telephone number. (ex: 5108)
3. You will then be asked to enter in your security code.
4. You will then be alerted if you have any messages.
5. Follow the prompts to listen to your messages.
If you wish to put an "out of office" greeting instead of your standard message you can do the following:
1. Follow steps 1 - 3 for checking voicemail
2. Press 3 for phone manager options.
3. Press 6 to record “out of office greeting”
4. I would prepare what you want to say. Something like: “Hi, this is …. I am currently working remotely and only checking voicemail weekly. You are welcome to leave a message and I will return your call as soon as I am able. You can also email me at … if you would like a quicker response.”
5. Press 5 to save the message.Resource Page - We are working on developing a central resource page for teachers and students to access. If you have tech and or teaching resources that could be helpful to your colleagues please send them to Debbie Levy and Jill Reents. We will be organizing our resources and making them available on the school website.
Student Email / Password Resets - Please email Robin Francisco for assistance with a student password reset or access to student email, Google services, or StudentVUE. Many students are finding that they need assistance to gain access to their 4J Student Email and 4J Google accounts in order to participate in remote learning. In response to the volume of requests, the added complications of remote communication, and the need for additional steps to verify a student's identity, Robin Francisco has agreed to be our point of contact for these requests during the remote learning period. Please forward email requests to Robin, or email her the student's name. She will verify the student's identity and will walk them through the password reset process.
Child Care Providers Needed - The district has established a child care team. They would like to compile a list of staff (classified, professional, and/or licensed teachers who are not required to plan for and deliver remote instruction) who have indicated they are available for work at this time and would be a good fit for child care. Detailed information about safety and child care programs can be found in this link. These staff members will need to complete some state mandated training and they would like to have them trained and ready so we can open sites as quickly as possible based on registration needs. Once trained, they will assign staff as needed and others will need to stand ready until substitute positions are needed or registration grows. Please let me know if you are interested and I will forward your name.
Looking Forward
Well this is the shortest calendar update yet.
The week of 4/6/2020 - Please support our students by reaching out to them, getting them started in on-line classwork as an opportunity to practice different platforms and get familiarized. Use this time for social emotional work. Please consider the use of supplemental lessons that Casandra will supply. These are excellent community building opportunities.
Kudos
I hope you are maintaining well. This is a stressful time for everyone. I marvel at the strength many people have to have in order to handle this global occurrence. This is an unprecedented event that will go down in history as a defining moment. This quarantine time is forcing new a refreshed perspective on so many things. I am hopeful for a positive outcome and a renewed sense of focus for our country, our state, and our schools.
I am especially impressed with every staff member that has taken this magnificent shift in stride with patience and poise. There are a few significant shout outs that I would like to make. Debbie Levy thank you for your focus on getting staff the resources and training they need to be successful with a complete transition to on-line. Emma Castle for throwing together a Tech Tip resource page, Robin Francisco and Kym Ramsing who came in and developed the plan for distributing technology to families in an efficient and organized manner, Keith Fjordbeck and the custodian crew (Joe, Nick, Dan, Dorothy, and Mandi) for making sure our building is safe and clean on the daily. Jill Reents for coordinating systems, anticipating needs, and communicating need to know information quickly and accurately, Jake Reents for cleaning over 250 devices and preparing them for our students.
I would also like to extend a very special acknowledgement to our young families that have little's that require so much attention. While the together time is golden and always a gift, it is also a very trying time emotionally. It is stressful and not relaxing. Your time and attention are on full tilt. Keep it up parents! It will pass eventually and hopefully we can look back on all of this with some great memories about how we survived our children and all their energy.
I am hoping we all find a new rhythm and come out on the other end, healthy and ready to moving forward with life.
Churchill High School
Website: https://chs.4j.lane.edu/
Location: 1850 Bailey Hill Road, Eugene, OR, USA
Phone: 541-790-5100
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChurchillHighSchool
Twitter: @CHSLancers