Virtual School: News and Notes
Thursday, February 12
Hello Everyone,
Thank you! Thank you, everyone, for all of your hard work. Today marks our 93 day. The 100th day will be March 2. Everyone should be proud of your work and accomplishments this year. Yes, the challenges are real. Yet, every day you are providing an education to a student in such a profound time. The value of that is priceless.
Next week find and devote time for yourself. A vacation is so important, and it will be crucial as we head into March and April. Be well and enjoy the snow! As always, please let me know how I can support you.
Sincerely,
Brian
Welcome!
Please join me in welcoming Michael Miller who just started teaching Grade 7 social studies and American Literature at the high school. I know that Michael has already and will continue to be supported by this wonderful community. Please reach out to say hello and don’t hesitate to offer your Virtual School insights!
Black History Month
February marks Black History month. Black History is to be celebrated and sought to recognize, explore, and reflect the influence of what it means to be African American and American in general.
One incredible resource to support that celebration and exploration is the Learning Lab at the National Museum of African American History & Culture. This Learning Lab includes over 13,000 submissions. The "Featured" section is a wonderful place to start.
Given the recent passing of Hank Aaron, the "Sports: Leveling the Playing Field" and the Museum's impressive curation is something to treasure and get lost in.
There are four pillars upon which the NMAAHC stands:
It provides an opportunity for those who are interested in African American culture to explore and revel in this history through interactive exhibitionsIt helps all Americans see how their stories, their histories, and their cultures are shaped and informed by global influences
It explores what it means to be an American and share how American values like resiliency, optimism, and spirituality are reflected in African American history and culture
It serves as a place of collaboration that reaches beyond Washington, D.C. to engage new audiences and to work with the myriad of museums and educational institutions that have explored and preserved this important history well before this museum was created.
National Museum of African American History and Culture Resources
On Going Events run by National Museum of African American History and Culture
NMAAHC Kids: Joyful Fridays (Every February Friday)
Friday, February 12, 2021 11:00 am to 11:45 am
Happy Lunar New Year
Virtual School Instructional Material Pickup: Wednesday, February 24 @ 3:00
Our next district wide Virtual School material pickup will be Wednesday, February 24, 2021 from 3:00-4:00 PM. Please contact families directly if there are materials for you to pick up at this time.
Please review and utilize the process outlined below to ensure that all requirements are met for the most efficient pickup.
Process for Preparing Materials for VS Material Pickup
Determine if you have materials that students will need for the month following the pick up date
Please only inform families who need to pick up materials - please do not contact families of students for whom this is not applicable.
Label all materials with student’s first name, last name, and grade
Send an email to the families and students letting them know that there are materials for them to pick up.
Please CC Brian Menna and Karen Downing on these communications.
Please include the following information for the families in your communication
Date: (Wednesday, February 24
Time: (3:00-4:00 p.m.)
Pick-up Location: Middle School Door #7
Gather the materials needed and label each item with the student name and grade level.
Either bring the materials to the Central Office (the Office of the Asst. Superintendent and Superintendent) at the side of the middle school (door #4).
Interoffice Mail will pick up materials on Wednesday, February 24. Please email Brian Menna and Karen Downing if you are utilizing Interoffice Mail, so we can track those items.
Facilities requests that all supplies for Virtual Material Pick Up next week be ready and confirmed for pick up by Tuesday evening next week. The boxes will be picked up by or close to 7 a.m. on Wednesday.
Edgenuity: Update and Providing Support to Students
Our first round off Edgenuity courses and electives were scheduled to conclude on January 29. With that being said, first semester elective courses will be extended for an additional four weeks (February 26) for students who wish to take advantage of the extension. This extension was put in place as a result of the collaboration among the team at Edgenuity, our middle and high school principals as well as the feedback that we received from students, teachers, and parents alike. Thank you for letting us know what was working and what needed adjustment.
Please support students, knowing that this type of transition is slated for the beginning of this week. Please reference the support contact sheet below.
Semester two classes and electives have been scheduled for Monday, February 1 to Monday, June 14.
Key Points
New Edgenuity Courses begin February 1, 2021
Login Credentials are the same
Username
Password
Middle School Students will be taking: Performing Arts
High School Students will follow their Infinite Campus Schedule
You will see grades for Edgenuity scores updated over the course of this week. They will be moved over to Infinite Campus for Progress Reports (Middle School) and Semester Grades (High School)
Edgenuity Resources
Edgenuity Help for Families (Getting Started/Discover Edgenuity/Tips for Virtual Learning)
En Español: ¡Bienvenidos Padres y Familias!
Have a Safer Valentine's Day (CDC)
The safest way to celebrate Valentine’s Day is gathering virtually or with people who live with you.
- Make Valentine cards or decorations and drop them off to loved ones.
- Take a walk with your Valentine.
- Celebrate with loved ones virtually.
- Prepare a special meal or dessert.
- Plan a special movie or game night.
- Have a picnic outside.
If you plan to celebrate with people who don’t live with you, outdoors is safer than indoors.
MCAS Testing Plan for Spring 2021
As noted in the Superintendent's Update, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education has determined that a shorter testing experience for Grades Grades 3–8 in the areas of English/Language Arts, Mathematics, and Science, Technology, and Engineering will provide schools and the Commonwealth as a whole with a diagnostic picture of the student learning impact of the pandemic. Instead of taking part in two testing sessions per content area, students will take only one session each.
Schools will administer the MCAS tests to schools during the following TENTATIVE testing windows.
Testing Window
- ELA: April 5–May 7
- Mathematics: April 26–May 28
- STE (Grades 5 and 8): April 27–May 28
All MCAS testing sessions will occur in school buildings and building administration will be reaching out to families of students who are participating in our Virtual School to arrange for participation if students are able.
More information will come as we learn more from the state.
Report Cards
Resources for Remote Learning
Resources that we shared with families in the last newsletter.
Medway Public Schools
Location: 45 Holliston Street, Medway, MA, USA
Phone: 508-533-3266
Twitter: @medwayschools