Getting Started @ LAVCA!
8th - 10th Grade Onboarding Spring 2016
This S'more has all of the information you need to get started at LAVCA.
Please take the time to read this document carefully.
Please bookmark this page, so you can refer back to it as needed.
Welcome to LAVCA!
We are so glad to that you have chosen to school at LAVCA! We look forward to working with your family to ensure your success.
Each new family will work with a FASL (Family Academic Support Liaison) as they get started. Each FASL works within grade bands. However, if you have multiple students in different grade bands, you will work with one FASL. Please take note of your FASL's contact information. Your FASL is your first point of contact as you are getting started.
Shortly, you will receive a Welcome Call from your FASL. Please take time to take this call from 504-322-7543. The FAST team is in place to help you have a Strong Start. Your FASL will give you important information and answer questions you may have to help you confidently start classes.
FAST Team Contact Information
Annemarie Resweber, Family Compliance Liaison
Email: aresweber@lavirtual.org
Phone: 3091
Start Dates:
You are not responsible for attendance hours or actual coursework until your official start date; however, these are preliminary requirements that must be completed.
Requirements for Getting Started
1) Internet Service
2) Computer (not a tablet or Chromebook) with microphone and speakers
*If you qualify for a loaner computer but haven't received it yet, please have a Plan B for completing the following steps (and possibly school work) in place until your computer arrives. You can go to the public library, use a personal computer that you own, or borrow a friend or family member's computer.
Please make sure you have Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, and Mozilla Firefox downloaded on your computer. Click here for information on recommended browsers and direct links to download these browsers.
3) A dedicated learning space
Click here for a downloadable checklist.
Step 1
Withdrawal Forms/Report Cards/Transcripts/IEPs/504s/EOC Scores
All public and charter school students should get an official withdrawal/drop slip from their current school on the last day of their current enrollment. Typically, this requires that you go to the school personally to obtain this form. (We do not need withdrawal/drop slips from kindergarten students, private school students, or out-of-state students.)
Also, all high school students must also submit a copy of their latest report cards/transcripts.
Please submit these documents to:
Quiana Holmes Williams at qholmes@lavirtual.org
Fax: 504-300-0806
Tenth Grade Students: Please submit a copy of any EOC scores that you have to Mr. Eric Pursley at epursley@k12.com.
Does your student have a current IEP? Please complete this form.
Does your student have a current 504 Plan? Please complete this form.
Step 2
Create Learning Coach and Student accounts at https://login-learn.k12.com/#login
Both you and your student will have to log-in for school; here is a video to help you create these accounts.
From this link, choose these two videos:
If you need to update your (Learning Coach) email account or phone number, please follow these steps.
Step 3
Install Blackboard Connect (BbC), Adobe Reader, and the Top 3 Browsers to the computer your student will use for schooling at home. (BbC is what you will use to "go" to class.)
Click here for BBC installation instructions.
Click here for Adobe Reader installation instructions.
Click here to download Internet Explorer.
Click here to download Google Chrome.
Click here to download Mozilla Firefox.
Step 4
Make sure your school email is working. Here is information on your school email.
If you are unable to access your school email, try these steps:
Students can also set up their school email accounts on their mobile devices. Click here to learn how.
Email is our main mode of communication. You will receive important, timely information via email. Checking and responding to your email daily is mandatory.
Having trouble? Click here for troubleshooting tips.
Step 5
Attend a MANDATORY Orientation/Onboarding Session
**If you have a student(s) in K-7 AND in a student(s) in 8-12, you must attend an orientation for each.
This session is one of the most important sessions you will attend at LAVCA, and it will help you get off to a strong start. This session will last 1.5 hours; please be prepared to stay the entire time. In this session, you will learn a lot of pertinent information. You will also learn how to navigate the OLS (Online Learning System). You'll learn things, such as how to take attendance, how to find your Class Connect schedule, how to follow your teachers' newsletters, how to write on the whiteboard and chat in class, as well as many other necessary things.
You can find the invitation to the sessions in your Class Connect schedule. (*Please note, although you will see the invitation repeatedly, you only have to attend ONE of the sessions.) Learning Coaches AND students should attend the session.
Log in at https://login-learn.k12.com/#login
Here's how 8-10th grade students find their Class Connect schedule.
The schedule is as follows:
Tuesday, March 7th @ 8.
Step 6
Complete ORN010_Online Learning by January 9th. This course will be open December 26th.
This course is also MANDATORY! The course will open on December 26th. There are 6 sections in the course. Sections 4 and 5 have quizzes that must be completed in order for the course to be counted as complete.
To find the course, log in @ https://login-learn.k12.com/#login
Click on Classes; Click on the ORN 010 course and begin working.
Here is a video that shows how to access the course. *Please note this video is from another K12 school; LAVCA has different expectations as far as completion.
Step 7
*You do not have to complete Quarter 1 pretests in Study Island. An email with your Study Island log in information was sent.
Complete Study Island Pretests for EOC courses (Algebra I, Geometry, English II and III, US History, and Biology)
**Please do NOT use Internet Explorer when working in Study Island,
**If you do not have courses in Study Island, it may be because counselors are still reviewing your transcripts. However, please let Mrs. Leger (eleger@lavirtual.org) know if you do not have courses loaded in Study Island.)
Study Island (www.studyisland.com) is an outside, research-based resource that is used by LAVCA and many districts around the nation to support what students' are learning in class. It helps to build and retain skills, and it also helps prepare students for standardized testing. Study island is a mandatory part of the curriculum at LAVCA.
Students will complete pre and post tests, as well as weekly assignments each quarter. Completing Study Island assignments ON TIME is imperative. Not completing Study Island assignments on time will negatively affect your student's grade.
***We will also send a detailed email about your Study Island log in information.***
Newly enrolling students will have to complete the beginning of the year pre-tests as well as the third quarter pretests. Beginning of the year pre-tests will have a due date of August 26th; however, they are still required to help teachers gain valuable data at the end of the year. You should complete these assignments within one week of being enrolled at LAVCA.
**PLEASE NOTE: Study Island is included with your enrollment. You do not have to pay for a subscription. Please choose Log In For Schools from www.studyisland.com or go directly to this link: https://app.studyisland.com/cfw/login/
New students’ log in information is uploaded on Mondays and Thursdays. If you cannot access your account, please try after those days.
Step 9
Read LAVCA's handbook
Please read the LAVCA Handbook in its entirety.
Please follow and complete the directions on page 36.
Step 10
Install the DRC program on your student's computer. (If you are getting a loaner computer from LAVCA, you can complete this step once the computer arrives.)
All students will utilize a program (referred to as EAGLE) as required and communicated by teachers. EAGLE 2.0 is an online assessment tool that supports formative assessment in the classroom and can be used to aid and enhance your learning throughout the year. It also connects you to items that align with the state adopted standards and prepares you for the rigor and format of state testing.
Please follow these instructions to download the program.
Please look for an email with your student's username and password.
Here is a link to help if you are having problems downloading the program.
If you are having problems downloading the program after January 9th, please contact Eric Pursley at epursley@k12.com.
Step 11
Additional Notes
Blended Sites
We have blended sites in Baton Rouge, Lafayette, and Monroe. These sites are staffed with certified teachers and are available for 6-12th grade students Mondays through Thursdays. (Please note Monroe has a different schedule, and you must reserve a spot.)
If you are interested in your student attending one of these sites, please complete this survey.
Learning Coach Certification
LCU Certification Course Now Available!
This training serves to provide a deeper understanding of the roles and responsibilities of a Learning Coach. The topics that are covered are:
Section 1 identifying the computer system requirements, accessing high speed internet, and downloading Blackboard for Class Connect Session
Section 2 to find school specific school requirements, calendar and more.
Section 3 goes to the Get Started Videos: https://fw.unitymg.com/rdr/D:2874
Section 4 covers Creating a Schedule, Importance of Routines, Time Management videos.
Here is a link for this interaction: http://www.k12start.vimdev.com/course/
You can find many valuable Learning Coach educational sessions here.
Attendance
Learning Coaches, when you log into the OLS, you may see a notice that you are missing attendance days. Please do not worry about this. You are not responsible for having attendance hours logged until your official start date, January 9th. The week of January 9th, you will need to make sure you have 30 hours (6 hours per day) of attendance logged.
Attendance time is not just for time spent doing online lessons or going to class; it's for any time spent doing school work, online or offline. We'll go over more about attendance in our orientation sessions.
Materials
**You are required to get started with coursework and attendance, even if you have not received materials or a loaner computer.
Please refer to this list for course materials.
High school text books are embedded within the online courses. Here is a recording on how to find course content.
Also, please note, if you qualify for a loaner computer, you will receive a printer as well. However, please note, the school does not supply printer paper or reimburse for ink.
Click here for information on how to track materials.
Here is information on which materials will need to be returned at the end of the school year.
FAST Live Help Sessions
We will have FAST Live Help sessions available for you and your student beginning January 9th. These are optional sessions and are available as "pop-in" question and answer sessions. Please look on your Class Connect schedule for invitations to these sessions.
Acronyms
High School Hot Topics
Need Help?
Thank you!
Thank you for completing these steps in a timely manner. We appreciate your time and dedication to your student's education.
Please know that we are available to help. Please do not hesitate to contact your FASL or another member of the FAST Team if you have any questions or concerns.