Comet Weekly Update
Granby High School - Week of October 12, 2020
Welcome
A Note from Your Principal, Mr. Smigiel
Attendance Counts
I cannot stress the importance of making sure your student is logging into their Zoom sessions each and every bell. We know that virtual learning can be frustrating, but attendance is still being taken and counts, every day in every bell. Please encourage your student to log in daily. If your student is having technical issues, make sure they email or communicate with their teacher immediately. Virginia's Compulsory Attendance Laws are being followed, even for virtual learning. You can read about attendance expectations on pages 65-74 HERE.
Grades Count
As virtual learning continues, please remind your student that assignments need to be completed. Some students believe that teachers will just give their students a passing grade for doing minimal work. NPS is doing regular grading. Grades must be earned and there are no incompletes or pass grades like the Spring for Quarter 4. Although teachers have adjusted assignments to meet the changes with virtual learning, students are still getting graded on classwork, homework, quizzes, alternative assignments, and tests. Parents and guardians, please monitor grades in ParentVue and speak with your students on any missing assignments. Interim 1 grades closed last Friday, October 9th and Quarter 1 grades will close on November 2nd. Make sure your student reaches out to their teacher and submits missing work as soon as possible. Interim grades are progress reports so your student can see what they need to do to improve their grade. There is no parent version of Canvas. Canvas and Synergy are synched together, so grades in Synergy (ParentVue) are the same grades in Canvas.
Asynchronous Learning Days Begin Wednesday
The Norfolk School Board voted last week to change Wednesdays to asynchronous learning days. Asynchronous learning does not require real-time interaction; instead, content is available online for students to access when it best suits their schedules. Students will not be required to Zoom on Wednesdays. However, assignments are still expected to be completed and attendance is still being taken for each bell. The asynchronous Wednesdays will still count as school days, and student attendance will be taken based on the assignments teachers require students to complete. Secondary students will still follow the A/B schedule as posted on the academic calendar; therefore, each week will have either an A or a B asynchronous day for students on Wednesdays. Expectations of what needs to be done with assignments and attendance will be emailed to students and discussed by their teachers on Monday and Tuesday of this week.
Reminder - Early Release Day, Thursday, 10/15
Please remember that this Thursday, October 15th is an early release day for monthly professional development for teachers and staff. The early release schedule is below and this was also emailed to students.
Have a great week of learning! Go Comets!
Weekly Even/Odd Schedule
Tuesday, October 13th - Even Day - Bells 2, 4, 6 & 8
Wednesday, October 14th - Odd Day - Bells 1, 3, 5, & 7 (1st Asynchronous Learning Day)
Thursday, October 15th - Even Day - Bells 2, 4, 6 & 8 (Early Release Day)
Friday, October 16th - Odd Day - Bells 1, 3, 5, & 7
Plan Ahead
Wednesday, October 14th - Asynchronous Learning Day
Thursday, October 15th - District PD Early Release Day
Friday, October 16th - Junior Class Ring Order Due
Monday, November 2nd - 1st Quarter Grades Close
Tuesday, November 3rd - Election Day - Teacher Virtual Work Day - Students Not in School
Granby Student Organizations and Clubs Have Started Meeting Virtually
Attention all students! Do you want to be part of a Granby Organization or Club? Select the link below to find a full listing of all of Granby's Student Organizations and Clubs.
Please go to our web site HERE.
Future Business Leaders of America has a meeting this Week on October 14th. If your student is interested, please have them email the advisor Mr. Simmons.
Students should email the advisor/sponsor to get the Zoom link for the meeting. This website is updated weekly.
ESL Families
Dear English as a Second Language (ESL) Families,
The ESL office is distributing virtual learning supplies, including headsets for your student. Information is attached in both English and Spanish. Granby ESL will be there on:
October 14 from 3pm to 6pm
Where: NPS Rosemont Center, 7000 West Tanners Creek
Look forward to seeing you on Wednesday! Please contact the ESL Office if you have any questions: eslsupport@nps.k12.va.us
Students should be checking their email daily
The link for the NPS Student Email is: https://portal.office.com/. Students can also download the Microsoft Outlook App and connect their student email to their SmartPhone if they have one. If your student is checking their email from a web browser, please make sure they select the Microsoft Outlook Icon on the left side menu. The image is above (the small image with the O). Some students are logging in and think they have no email because they haven't selected the icon. Thanks for your assistance!
Granby families have you taken the US Census this Year? Deadline extended to October 31, 2020
The City of Norfolk wants to remind its residents to complete the 2020 United States Census.
Why is the Census important to me and my community?
- Every person counts. It is easy and confidential by Federal Law.
- For every person who completes the Census, the city receives roughly $2,020 per year. Over 10 years of the lifespan of each census, that’s $20,200 per resident to help fund much needed programs and services in our city.
- The Census helps to fund programs such as free meals provided by Norfolk Public Schools, Head Start programs, WIC and provides funding and support for uninsured residents.
Select this link HERE to take the 2020 Census.
Although you can't come to the library, the library can come to you!
Check out the library website https://www.npsk12.com/domain/4170 and view the PowerPoint attached below to learn how to access our hundreds of eBooks as well as our new databases. Click on the "This Month" tab to find out what's going on in the library.
Reminder: Financial Obligation to Replace Damaged Chromebooks
Per the signed agreement:
- The computer device/equipment is to be used for school related activities.
- The use of the computer device/equipment, including web sites and documents, may be monitored.
- The computer device/equipment checked out to me must be returned in the same condition in which it was loaned without decorations, writing or changes.
- I am financially responsible for any damage, theft or loss to the computer device/equipment checked out.
- I understand that any computer device/equipment that NPS has checked out is property of Norfolk Public Schools an is subject to the terms of this agreement. My signature indicates that I agree to all of the terms listed above and those that are in the NPS Student Handbook and the Acceptable Use Procedure (AUP) for Computer Systems.
Is your student having trouble logging into Zoom!
If your student is having problems with logging in to Zoom please follow these steps first before contacting our Main Office or the NPS Help Desk.
First: Make sure you let your teach know right away that you cannot get into class.
Second:
Please have your students/parents/guardians follow these steps:
- Open a a new tab in Chrome
- Go to the NPS homepage
- Go to “For Students”
- Go to “Zoom”
- Sign in to Zoom from this link; it will ask you for your credentials
- It may also ask you for a domain
- You can enter “I don’t know my domain” OR
- norfolkpublicschools (enter is exactly like that, all lower case and no spaces)
- You should be able to go back to Canvas and use the Zoom link to enter class.
Third:
If these do not work you can call the school 451-4110 and someone can help you troubleshoot or you can follow these instructions:
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Chromebooks and MiFi's Available: We received a shipment of Chromebooks and MiFi's last week. If you need one, please email AskGranby@npsk12.com and we will assist with making an appointment to pick a device up from school.
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If you need technical support, please contact the school district's Help Desk.
Parents/Guardians and Students of Norfolk Public Schools
Please login to the NPS Virtual Learning Support Site with the following:
Username: npssupport@nps.k12.va.us
Password: npssupport
NPS Staff, if prompted to login, please use your NPS email address and password
Athletic Conditioning Schedule for Week of 10/12/20
Contact Athletic Director Chris Harris, jharris@nps.k12.va.us or 757-373-2870 for more information. Athletic physicals and Concussion forms can be turned in to the front office. Please make sure these are dated after May 1, 2020.
You MUST contact the head coach before you show up [Contact information is below]. He/she will give you instructions on how you will check in to the school per Norfolk Covid-19 Athletic Guidelines
You must have a current physical, concussion form, Covid-19 form (all must be dated after 5/1/2020) and follow sign in Covid-19 protocols and procedures.
Sport Pre-season conditioning has started:
Mondays
Football- 4-6:30pm
Boys Soccer- 4:15- 5:45pm (at Powhatan Stadium)
Tuesdays
Track/Cross Country - 2:30-4:30pm
Baseball- 3-5:00pm
Boys Basketball- 5-6:30pm
Wednesdays
Girls Volleyball- 2:30-4:15pm
Football- 4-6:30pm
Boys Soccer- 4:15-5:45pm (at Powhatan Stadium)
Thursdays
Cross Country (No Track) - 2:30-4:30pm
Football- 4-6:30pm
Boys Basketball- 5-6:30pm
Coaches Contact Information
Baseball
Coach Butler
Girls Volleyball
Coach Villanueva
Football
Coach Archie
Boys Basketball
Coach Evans
Track/Cross Country
Coach Wynder
Boys Soccer
Coach Denny
Contact Us
Phone Hours: Monday-Friday, 7:00am-3:00pm
Physical Office Hours: Tuesday-Thursday, 9:00am-1:00pm
Email: AskGranby@npsk12.com
Website: https://www.npsk12.com/ghs
Location: 7101 Granby Street, Norfolk, VA, USA
Phone: 757-451-4110
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GranbyHighComets