Learning at Home
Newport School District: Parent Information
COVID-19 Closure: Message for our Families
We are reaching out today to provide you with information pertaining to our curriculum plan moving forward during the closure. As you know we have provided enrichment and review over the past few weeks. We will be moving to planned instruction next week, beginning on Tuesday, 4/14/2020 as we will recognize the entire original spring break. Information on this plan is posted below and is a living document that may be adjusted as necessary based on guidance from the department of education. We will provide updates as they are available.
We may not be in school, but... We can do this!
Curriculum Content
- This is what we have been providing and includes a review material already covered this year. This may be incorporated into the teachers' weekly plans.
- Providing activities that allow for a depth of knowledge connected to prior learning. This may be incorporated into the teachers' weekly plans.
- New instruction to move forward with content and learning with the goal of preparing students for the future. (Beginning week of April 14th)
Frequency
- Materials and activities will be posted at least weekly.
What about the 3rd and 4th Marking Periods?
3rd Marking Period
- Will include work up to 3/13/20, the day of the closure
- Any incomplete work up to that date can be submitted until May 1, 2020
- Please have your child do this as soon as possible
- Teachers will coordinate and support as needed
4th Marking Period
- Planned instruction will begin Tuesday, 4/14/20 (This includes new material)
- New material will include essential content covering the most important concepts
- We will use Sapphire and Google Classroom to "flip" our classrooms and provide content through video lessons, recordings, readings, activities, etc.
- Office hours and group meetings will be communicated by the teachers
What if I need something?
Communication and Needs
- Teachers will be in contact at least weekly (Google Meet, phone, etc)
- Office Hours and group meetings will be an opportunity for discussion and clarification
- Email is a preferred method of contact should you have questions for your child's teachers
- hrt@newportsd.org is still an active email address for technology needs or questions
- Device issues, lack of internet access, or other needs should be communicated to hrt@newportsd.org and your building principal.
- Call your child's building and leave a message on the voicemail. We will return your call.
- HS (717-567-2517)
- MS (717-567-2611)
- Elementary (717-567-2526)
What about attendance and grades?
Attendance, Accountability and Grading
- No specific attendance will be taken during the closure
- Tracking the completion of activities will provide information to the district on student engagement
Accountability and Grading
- Teachers will provide feedback, reflection, and encouragement to students
- Completion of activities will be tracked in Sapphire (Parents will see a "Y" for each activity completed)
- No numerical grading will occur during the closure
- Teachers and staff will communicate directly/additionally if there is a lack of student participation
What if my child has has special education services?
Special Education Supports
The appropriate special education supports and services listed below will be provided based on your child’s identified needs as listed in the IEP. These descriptions outline the District’s plan to support your child through the virtual learning described above.
- Speech or Language Support: Your child’s speech language pathologist will be providing activities for your son/daughter to complete over the next few weeks. These activities will relate to the focus of your child’s speech or language therapy needs. The frequency of these activities will be provided based on your child’s typical delivery of service. The speech language pathologists will also attempt to contact your son/ daughter either virtually or through phone contacts weekly.
- Learning Support: Your child’s learning support teacher, in coordination with the regular education teachers if appropriate, will be providing activities for your son/daughter to complete. Activities may include opportunities to write and create, practice math skills, attend a virtual field trip, read an essay and respond to questions, etc. Feedback will be provided by your learning support teacher. The learning support teacher will also attempt to contact your son/ daughter either virtually or thru phone contacts weekly.
- Life Skills Support: Your child’s life skills support teacher will be providing activities for your son/daughter to complete. Activities may include opportunities to reinforce basic math and literacy skills, topics related to your child’s IEP goals, attend a virtual field trip, read a short story, etc. Feedback will be provided by your child’s life skills teacher. The Life Skills teacher will also attempt to contact your son/ daughter either virtually or thru phone contacts weekly.
- Emotional Support: Your child’s emotional support teacher will be providing activities for your son/daughter to complete. Activities may include opportunities to write and create, attend a virtual field trip, read an essay and respond to questions, etc. In addition, activities focused on social skills, emotional regulation, or self-control will be provided consistent with the typical schedule of instruction during the school year. Feedback will be provided by your child’s emotional support teacher. The Emotional support teacher will also attempt to contact your son/ daughter either virtually or thru phone contacts weekly.
- Autistic Support: Your child’s autistic support teacher will be providing activities for your son/daughter to complete. Activities may include opportunities to write and create, practice math skills, attend a virtual field trip, read an essay and respond to questions, etc. In addition, activities focused on social skills, emotional regulation, or self-control will be provided consistent with the typical schedule of instruction during the school year. Feedback will be provided by your child’s autistic support teacher. The Autistic support teacher will also attempt to contact your son/ daughter either virtually or thru phone contacts weekly.
- Related Services (OT, PT, Vision, Hearing): District and outside providers will coordinate with you to provide services through multiple platforms. Personnel will develop activities that relate to your child’s needs. Feedback will be provided by your child’s service provider.
While not considered a special education service, if your child participates in a co-taught class, this team of teachers will be providing activities for your son/daughter to complete. Activities may include opportunities to write and create, practice math skills, attend a virtual field trip, read an essay and respond to questions, etc. Feedback will be provided by your child’s co-teachers.
Questions?
Newport School District
Website: www.newportsd.org
Location: 420 Fickes Lane, Newport, PA, USA
Phone: (717)567-3806
Facebook: facebook.com/ourschool