Monday Memo
May 4, 2020
Teacher Appreciation Week!
Thank you for what you do. You don't hear that enough from students, parents, or administration, but you are valued, appreciated, and vital to the success of our school, the health and welfare of our students, and each other.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!
Zoom Faculty Meeting @ 2pm - Monday
Gina Finnerty is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: Weekly Faculty Meeting
Time: May 4, 2020 02:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us04web.zoom.us/j/74303563042?pwd=aUdGdlJhWDIrOWhZRzA1WGhBSmdMdz09
Meeting ID: 743 0356 3042
Password: 6iNthe
Zoom Update - a MUST DO if you're using zoom!
At the end of May, Zoom will be forcing all of their users to update the client to Version 5. It is recommended that users do this in advance to avoid any problems using the application and from being forced to upgrade prior to the start of a meeting. The process is very easy and takes less than 1 minute. If you are using the Zoom application on your phone, the same recommendation applies.
How to Upgrade Zoom
- Open the Zoom App on your computer.
- Click on your profile picture.
- Click the “Check for Updates” option from the drop-down menu.
Updates Included with Version 5
- Report a User Feature: Meeting hosts and co-hosts can report a user in their meeting who is misusing the Zoom platform. Found in the Security icon, the option sends a report to Zoom’s Trust & Safety team for review. The report can include a specific offense, description, and optional screenshot. The Report a User function is on by default but can be turned off at the account, group, and user level in the Zoom web portal.
- Leaving/Ending Meeting Enhancements: With this new UI update, hosts can clearly decide between ending or leaving a meeting. If the host leaves, they can now easily select a new host and have the confidence that the right person is left with host privileges. The host will now be required to assign a new host when leaving the meeting. Additionally, the pop-up message asking if the host would like to leave or end the meeting will now be displayed by the Leave button.
- Add Expiration Date for Shared Cloud Recordings: Users can now choose to expire the link for a cloud recording after a set number of days or on a custom date. This setting is available for individual recordings and at the account, group, and user level and can be locked at the group or account level.
- Minimum Password Length of 6 Characters for Meeting and Shared Recording Passwords: The minimum password length for both meeting and shared recording passwords will now be 6 characters.
- Show the Connected Data Center: Users can see which data center they are connected to by clicking on by clicking on the info icon at the top left of the client window.
- Select Data Center Regions when Scheduling a Meeting: Users can now select which data center regions they would like their in meeting traffic to use when scheduling a meeting.
Virtual IEP Meeting Tips
Learning Loss Discussion Guide
Grab and Go Meals for Students and Families
Grab & Go Meals for Students
The Antietam School District will make free Grab & Go meals available beginning Tuesday, March 17th from 11:00am until 12:30 pm each day. These free meals are available to all children 18 years of age and under. Children do not need to qualify for the free or reduced meal program to participate. Children also do not need to reside in the district to receive these free meals. Meals will be available daily, Monday through Thursday, throughout the duration of our COVID-19 school closures.
Grab & Go meals will be available at two locations, outside the Mount Penn Elementary Center cafeteria/bus entrance door, located at 2310 Cumberland Ave, Reading, PA 19606. They will also be available outside the Antietam Middle-Senior High School main entrance, located at 100 Antietam Road, Reading, PA 19606.
Parents may drive up to either location for students to pick up meals. In addition, students who can safely walk to the location may pick up their own meals. Each meal will contain the required components of the National School Lunch Program. Please be aware these meals may contain allergens. Please share this message with other families as necessary.
Teacher Access to Building
Thank you in advance :)
Senior Cap and Gown Distribution
Dear Seniors and Senior Parents,
We will be distributing graduation caps and gowns next week on Wednesday, May 6th. For the safety of all involved in the distribution process, please plan to follow the procedures outlined below.
Please drive up to the main entrance, park, and remain in your vehicle. A District staff member will come to your car, get your name and then return with your cap and gown, including any medals which have been earned.
In order to stagger the number of vehicles in the parking lot and streamline the process for all, please attempt to follow the arrival times listed below for distribution by last name.
9:00am - 9:30am A - F
9:45am - 10:15am G - L
10:30am - 11:00am M - R
11:15am - 11:45am S - Z
If you come outside of the listed times, which we recognize may be a necessity due to your availability, you will likely be required to wait as we have limited staff available on site to complete this process. Your patience and understanding is appreciated as we distribute student caps and gowns in a manner which protects the safety of all involved.
Thank you,
Locker Clean Out
Dear Students and Parents, We will open the building on Tuesday, May 12th and Wednesday, May 13th. For the safety of all involved, please plan to follow the procedures outlined below. Students will be permitted in the building ten (10) at a time. Students must adhere to social distancing and wear a mask or they will not be permitted to enter the building. Students must go directly to their lockers and/or areas of the building to get personal items and leave immediately afterwards. Limited staff will be in the building to assist. In order to stagger the number of students and streamline the process for all, please attempt to follow the arrival times listed below for distribution by last name. 9:00am - 9:30am A - F 10:00am - 10:30am G - L 11:00am - 11:30am M - R 12:00pm – 12:30pm S – Z All Spring student-athletes who come to pick up belongings during these dates and times should bring their uniform along with them. Spring uniforms will be collected in the gym lobby and will be cleaned and sanitized before being stored for next year. Please remember to return all parts of the school-issued uniforms to avoid being placed on the debt list. Those student-athletes who are not able to return their uniforms on May 12th and/or May 13th will be able to do so when the rest of their school-issued items are returned at the end of the school year. If students come outside of the listed times, which we recognize may be a necessity due to availability, students may likely be required to wait. Your patience and understanding are appreciated as we assist students with personal belongings in a manner which protects the safety of all involved. Sincerely, Gina Finnerty
"Adopt a Senior" ~ Still looking for Seniors to be adopted!
*This message went out to all families, K-12, last week! We have had an incredible response but if you're interested, read below*
Oley Valley Class of 2020 Family, Friends and Community,
This years’ graduating seniors are missing out on so many opportunities that they were looking forward to during these last three months of high school. Let’s let them know we are thinking about them, support them during these uncertain times, and we care about their happiness and wellness. “Adopt” a Senior. Send them a letter, card, food delivery, care package-anything you think would make them happy. We can’t give them their spring sports season. We can’t take them on their class trip. We can’t promise them a traditional prom or graduation, but we can promise to do a little something to cheer them up. Let’s try to keep this a secret from them. Only share with parents of seniors, teachers, business members, coaches, and other friends of the class of 2020.
-This is not an original idea, borrowed from Northwestern Lehigh HS
How to get involved:
If you’re a parent of a senior student and would like your student to be “Adopted” please send an email Noel Christman at noelchristman@aol.com , please put your students full name, address and any sport, instrument or extracurricular activity they were apart of.
If you’re a business, community member, teacher, friend or coach and would like to “Adopt” a senior please email dmaddocks79@yahoo.com and we will set you up with a student
If you are youth sport player and would like to “Adopt” a senior of a matching sport, instrument or extracurricular activity please email dmaddocks79@yahoo.com and let me know which sport you are a part of and we will match you with a senior. Please also include your full name
If you are someone who can get us in contact with more senior parents outside of sports, maybe theater and/or the arts, band… please feel free to send this email out to whomever.
Also, please use the Facebook group ‘Support for Oley Valley Class of 2020 Seniors’ to spread the word
Thank you
9 Ways Schools Will Look Different When (And If) They Reopen
Technology Needs
Grading - P/F
P/F does not factor into GPA's - it should be based on work completion.
Mandated Reporting Q&A
During the COVID-19 School Closure, do the educator mandated reporting responsibilities apply?
Yes, Mandated reporting responsibilities apply during the continuity of education plans when instructing/servicing virtually.
Mandatory Reporting
All educators have certain mandatory reporting responsibilities under the Educator Discipline Act. In addition, chief school administrators have specific and expanded reporting duties beyond their responsibilities as a general member of the education profession. Please note that our focus is solely on the duty to report misconduct to the Department of Education under the Educator Discipline Act. Reporting to the Department does not relieve you of any other duty to report to either law enforcement and/or child protective services.
All Educators Reporting Duties to the Department of Education
All educators who know of any action, inaction or conduct which may constitute sexual abuse or exploitation or sexual misconduct are now required to file a mandatory report with the Department and shall report such misconduct to his or her chief school administrator and immediate supervisor. Mandatory Report Forms
Student Safety/Security and Mandated Reporting in an online learning environment
Rationale: Pennsylvania educators are required to adhere to all mandated reporting obligations regardless of the educational environment. Documenting and logging communication records, safeguarding student and staff privacy, and observing for warning signs in student behavior are all critical to maintaining a safe learning environment.
Suggested strategies and considerations:
· Documentation: Documentation of communication between faculty, students and families is a proactive approach that allows school personnel to identify recurring issues and recognize patterns of behavior. Implementing processes and procedures to document communication eliminates barriers across school systems.
· Communication: Engagement in frequent communication with families through email, phone or other communication methods.
· Changes in Behavior: Changes in behavior or frequency of communication are possible warning signs of changes in the home environment that could affect student performance and identify signs of negative or unhealthy living situations.
· Analyzing Student Work: Remain cognizant that student work submissions could be an outlet utilized as a means of expressing negative feelings, sharing of emotions and/or manifesting thoughts of self-harm.
Child Line toll-free hotline, 1-800-932-0313
Additional Resources Available:
· National Domestic Hotline | (800) 799-7233
· Crisis Text Line | Text HOME to 741741
· Safe2Say https://www.safe2saypa.org/ or 1-844-SAF2SAY (1-844-723-2729)
· Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline – 1800-4ACHILD
· SAMHSA Distress Helpline — 800-985-5990 or text “talk with us” to 66746
· 211 — National Suicide Hotline
· Crisis Textline — Text CONNECT to 741741
· National Alliance of Mental Illness — 1-800-950-6264 (Monday-Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET)
· National Suicide Prevention Lifeline – 1-800-273-TALK (8255)
One Stop Shop for Online Resources - Updated Weekly!
Distant Learning: https://sites.google.com/berksiu.org/distancelearningbciu/home
Core Connections to Virtual Learning: https://sites.google.com/berksiu.org/core-connections-virtual/home