Jaguar News
Volume 3, Issue 27- March 30, 2020
Dear Gentry Families,
We want to thank you for your patience and grace while we all learn to navigate this new format of schooling. We are determined to provide the best experience for our students, keeping them engaged in the educational process while at the same time understanding the need to be flexible in such a difficult time for families. We ask that you continue to show the same kindness and patience with our teachers as they figure out the best way to communicate with families – being informative but not overwhelming – and that you continue to send us your feedback. We want to do better, and your perspective is needed to get there! We know we will run into issues (Schoology!!), but we are all together in this and we will get through it. We miss our students and we want the best for them!
While we want our students to be active and away from their electronic devices, we also want to remind you that practicing social distancing is vital for everybody’s safety!
Stay safe!
6th Grade Rotations
MAP/EOC Testing
Due to school closures as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19), the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) submitted a request to the U.S. Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (USED) to waive the MAP and EOC testing. The request was approved, therefore, there will be no state testing this spring.
On March 19, Commissioner of Education Margie Vandeven shared: “There is a time and a place for statewide required assessments and now is not the time. Effective immediately, Missouri will be cancelling statewide required assessments for this school year,” said Missouri Commissioner of Education Margie Vandeven. "There will be details that need to be worked out for graduating A+ seniors who may still need to take an assessment. Information on the federal assessment waiver should come soon and we will apply. We will share information and updates as soon as they become available." See Commissioner Vandeven's full video here (via Facebook).
Media Center Minute
- Students with damaged devices or non-working devices, please call the Technology Services Help Desk at 214-3333. Your name and information will be put on a list and we will contact you about a replacement.
- Students without internet service should contact Technology Services Help Desk at 573-214-3333 and they will mail a hot spot to your home to be used with CPS devices.
- The district has removed all passcodes from student iPads. You are not able to add a passcode on the device at this time.
- If students cannot check their email with the icon in the tray, please go through ClassLink and use the Student Email icon in there.
- Students should check their junk email folder to be sure that teacher emails are not going there inadvertently.
- For more information on CPS Technology during Covid-19, please see this link:
https://www.cpsk12.org/covid19/technology - Students and parents may contact Mrs. Spurling cspurling@cpsk12.org, or Mrs. Floyd via email for technology and device help.
The Gentry Library has eBooks and Audio Books!
You can access these resources from anywhere on your device!
Using Destiny Discover on your iPad (our online catalog):
· In your browser, visit https://destiny.cpsk12.org
· Under Location select Missouri
· Under Schools in Missouri type Gentry and select Gentry Middle School, Columbia MO.
· Touch “login”
· Enter your username (Ex. 26abc01) and password (Student number, first 3 letters of bday month)
· All books in our catalog will display. Look for eBooks or Audiobooks for your iPad.
· Select the book you want and click Open or Checkout
· To read your checked-out books, choose the book and select Open.
_________________________________________________________________
Using Sora by Overdrive on your iPad:
· Download the Sora app from Self Service.
· Choose “Find my school” and Scroll until you see Gentry Middle School and select it.
· Enter your username (Ex. 26abc01) and password (Student number, first 3 letters of bday month)
· Choose Add a library.
· Search for Columbia Public Schools and select the Columbia Public Schools Library. If you select only Gentry Middle School, you will have a limited selection of books.
· To add the Columbia Public Library, click the 3 horizontal lines in the upper right-hand corner and select “Add a Public Library”. Type In 65203 and select “Daniel Boone Regional Library”
· You will need to sign in with your Daniel Boone Library Card number and PIN (Birthdate in 6 digits, ex. 031508) in order to check out books from the public library.
_________________________________________________________________
Using Flipster:
· Download the Flipster app from Self Service and select it
· Go to ClassLink, Electronic Library, Electronic Library, Middle School Electronic Library (tab on left),
· Scroll down to Flipster and select it, select Gentry Middle School
· You can read online or select issue and go to menu to open in app to download to device.
· Menu also also allows access to all issues.
· Can delete issue when finished if it was downloaded.
Additional eBooks/Audio Books/Other Resources Available Free of Charge during Covid-19
Light Box by Follett: This is a product that we currently don’t subscribe to and is offered free to us through June. Enjoy it while you can!
· Go to destinydiscover.com
· In the Location box, it says “Any Location.” Do not change
· In the School Box, enter “Follett eLearning, McHenry, IL” and click Go!
· To log in, click on the “Log In” button at the top right of the Screen.
· Username: guest. Password: follett
· Click “See All” under Lightbox to the right of the screen to search for topics of interest.
Junior Library Guild @ Home: This is another free offering from one of our library vendors during this time. You will find eBooks and Audio Books at this site. Many of the books that we receive from them become award nominees, so there are lots of good ones to choose from.
· Go to https://www.juniorlibraryguild.com/at-home
· Scroll down to Middle School Stream (Big red button on left)
· Click on that and you can make a selection to PLAY an audio book or READ an ebook.
· There’s also a weekly original story called Aiden Tyler, Quaran-Teen. You can listen to a new chapter, read by the author, each week.
· There are many other webcasts and items on this page that you might be interested in as well.
Virtual Spirit Week!
District information
Our district website (www.cpsk12.org/covid19) is being updated regularly. Please refer to the website for information, including academic resources, technology information, mental health resources and more.
Dr. Fairouz Bishara
Email: fbishara@cpsk12.org
Website: https://www.cpsk12.org/Domain/17
Phone: (573) 214-3240
Twitter: @FairouzBishara