IHMS Weekly News
September 11 - 18, 2020
Section 1: New and Important This Week!
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IHMS Supply Pick-up: September 14 and 15: 4:30 - 7:30 p.m.
Supply Pick-up Information and Schedule
We will be hosting two drive-up item pick-up events in the front circle of Indian Hills Middle School for families to receive necessary materials for the semester. This is for ALL students, and the materials are unique to the courses that your child is taking regardless of your selected learning model preference. The dates and times are listed below:
- Monday, September 14 from 4:30 PM - 7:30 PM.
- Tuesday, September 15 from 4:30 PM - 7:30 PM.
To alleviate traffic concerns on Mission Rd., a suggested item pickup schedule is posted below. If the suggested time frame does not work for your family, you are still welcome to pick up the items within the 4:30-7:30 p.m. time slot either day.
Suggested pickup schedule:
- Pick-up on Monday OR Tuesday - whatever day works best for your family.
- 4:30-5:30: Student last name begins with A-I
- 5:30-6:30: Student last name begins with J-R
- 6:30-7:30: Student last name begins with S-Z
Preparation and Guidelines:
- Before arriving to school, include the following information on a piece of paper that is legible from the car window:
- Knight Time teacher
- Student’s first and last name
- Knight Time teacher
- Place the sign in the passenger window
- When you arrive to the front circle (off Mission Rd.), a staff member will direct your vehicle
- Stay in your car as you wait for your materials, and please wear a mask as you receive your materials.
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Canvas Login Troubleshooting at Item Pick-up
While waiting for your student's supplies, have your student open their Mac and login using their network credentials. Once the SMSD Wifi Network (512P) connects, have your student navigate to smsd.instructure.com and login using the same SMSD network credentials. Being on the Wifi network should re-connect your student to the necessary back-end "usertable" which allows for proper use of Canvas.
All other Canvas issues that do not fall within these specific parameters will not be able to be addressed during the drive-thru event. Please submit an ICT HelpDesk ticket at support.smsd.org for any other issue.
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Library Book Return During Item Pick-up
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Library Book Checkouts Available to Students
Students can put physical books on hold through our library site. On the “Books & Stuff” → Destiny Discover page is a video on how to reserve a library book as well as check out our eBooks.
Once students have put a physical book on hold, it will be ready for them to pick up from a cart in the front office.
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Important Attendance Reminders
You can call the school's attendance line - open 24 hours - at 913-993-0412, or you can email the attendance clerks: debrahohly@smsd.org and jordanswanson@smsd.org. Please do not email teachers with attendance information because they will be instructing. If you have any questions, call the IHMS office at 913-993-0400.
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20-21 PTA Membership: Please Join Us!
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This Week's Technology Updates and Information:
Remote Learning Tab on Website
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Canvas Login Preparation
In preparation for using Canvas next week, students practiced logging into Canvas during Knight Time class on Friday, September 11. In case you missed it, or would simply like to practice, please review this Student Login Document and a copy of the Canvas Scavenger Hunt.
On Monday, students will continue to attend classes by joining teachers’ Webex Meeting Rooms, but we will also be starting modules and learning other features of Canvas moving forward. We are excited for a strong start to the week!
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MacBook Software Update
MacBook Software Update
Catalina is the current operating system for macOS devices. We are encouraging all students to upgrade their device. Steps on how to perform the upgrade can be found on the Student Support Central. Staff can install the upgrade from System Preferences on their device.
Please also reference the Student Support Central for troubleshooting and more MacBook information.
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Parent Reminder - Student Confidentiality
If you have specific concerns, you can reach out to the teacher via phone and/or email. These are uncharted waters for us all, and we will navigate them together!
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Section 2 - Review: Still Relevant From Last Week!
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First Day of School Yearbook Photo and Fun!
If you haven't submitted yet, here are the instructions:
INSTRUCTIONS:
- Try to take a photo of your middle school student(s) individually.
- Rename the photo file if you can with this format:
- First Name Last Name Grade FirstDayofSchool2020.jpg
- EXAMPLE: Isabella_Rosario_Grade7_FirstDayofSchool2020.jpg
- The .jpg is to make sure the photo remains a photo file.
- If you're not able to rename the photo file, please provide your child's/children's first and last name(s) and grade in the email, so each photo has the correct name and grade included.
- The photo can be taken inside or outside.
- It can be taken be taken with your phone or a camera.
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SMSD Food Service Information
The food service department is pleased to announce that we will be offering FREE meals to all SMSD students regardless if they are learning remote, hybrid or in person. This includes breakfast and lunch meals. Meals that were picked up on Friday 9/4/20 will not be charged to the student’s account.
Meals are funded entirely by USDA as part of their Summer Meals Program extension. These free meals will continue as long as federal funding is available and could end prior to 12/31/20. We encourage families to continue to apply for free and reduced meals in the event the funding is no longer available by clicking here. Qualifying may allow for other support through the district so it is important to continue to apply for free and reduced meals.
- Meals will be available for pick up at all 47 SMSD schools.
- Pick up is on Fridays from 7:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.
- No advance ordering is needed. (The online digital ordering system has been disabled.)
- Available only for students enrolled in SMSD.
- May pick up meals for all of your students at your most convenient location.
- At pick up, the student(s) SMSD ID number(s) will need to be presented. Please have this ready in advance. (Student ID may be found in Skyward.)
- Pick up will be just inside the doors of school. Pease wear a mask and follow social distancing.
During remote learning each week’s pick up will include 7 breakfast and 7 lunches for each student.
Menus are available on the district web page by clicking here and are subject to change due to availability. All entrées and sides need to be taken home and refrigerated or frozen until ready to heat or consume.
Each breakfast meal includes these components: fruit, grain, and milk
Each lunch meal includes these components: protein, fruit/vegetable, grain, and milk
When the district is able to move to the hybrid model, the students will receive their in-person meals at no cost during the two days they are in school. Meals may be picked up on Friday for the other 5 days of the week. Any extra ala carte purchases the students make while in-person learning will require money to be on their food service account.
Meals are prepared by District Food Services staff and distributed following food safety and sanitary practices.
Please contact the Food Service office with questions at (913)993-9710 or foodservices@smsd.org.
The school breakfast & lunch menus, digital pre-order information and other nutrition information are available on the district’s website at https://www.smsd.org/about/departments/food-service.
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Virtual Back To School Night Link
We absolutely understand the importance of face to face contact with your student, and if we are able to move into a hybrid learning model at some point, we will plan and communicate small group Back To School Night opportunities.
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Section 3: Mainstay News Items Repeated Each Week
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Remote Learning Schedule
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Remote Learning Information
Some time has likely elapsed since the last time you worked your way through the middle school reopening plans, but many of the questions you have regarding remote learning can be answered in one of two places:
1. The middle school reopening plan
2. The district reopening FAQ page that continues to be updated.
We want to assure you that remote learning will look, feel, and be different than during the spring semester this past school year. Our dedicated IHMS staff members are returning next week to continue professional learning that includes how to meet your student's academic and social/emotional well-being in a digital and hybrid environment. We know that we can count on your continued support, your continued solution-oriented problem solving, and your continued engagement throughout the coming weeks. This is what makes our IHMS community so special!
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Change to Last Name Split - ONLY IF/WHEN IN HYBRID MODEL
If/when we are able to be in a "hybrid" learning model during the fall 2020 school semester, the district last name split for M/T and W/TR in-person instruction days (previously A-L and M-Z), is now split A-Lamb and Lamc-Z. If you have made any determinations (child-care, etc.) based on the originally reported A-L split, please adjust accordingly in the coming weeks. This mainly affects those families where the oldest child's last name is between Lamc - Lz.
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FAQs
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Give us a Follow
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Important: Complete the 2020-21 Skyward Online Verification
As is the case every year, we need 100% of our IH families to complete the annual Skyward verification process. Please do so following the directions linked below. For 7th grade or new to SMSD parents, these are the same links that are included in the MacBook rollout process.