Summer Update #2
July 28, 2020
Dear Staff,
I am sure you may be relieved or saddened to hear that we are starting our school year with the Comprehensive Distance Learning Model. My understanding is that all teachers will report on-line on August 31st and student instruction will begin on September 14. What those two weeks will look like is still being worked out, but I think there will be time for PD and preparation for a more "robust" on-line experience for students. All those details are being worked out now with teacher input. I'll keep you posted as I find out more.
As happy as I was in welcoming most of you back last week, we are in a tricky situation as we have about 31 (as of last week) students signed up for FLEX on-line and another handful choosing to homeschool or private school. My hope is that with the shift to CDL for all, many will reconsider and choose to return to Raleigh Hills. I have scheduled a parent meeting this Thursday to explain the difference between FLEX and CDL. Feel free to join. Information on those will be in the parent newsletter.
On another note, please know that we are continuing to work on all the requirements of the hybrid model. There are committees working on instruction, facilities, communication, etc. With in-person teaching not until November, the district and I now have a little more time to get our building ready. I will be contacting folks to join the school level team to make sure that the facility is ready for the hybrid model. This team will include a primary, intermediate and middle school teacher, one or both of our BEA reps, Yvett, a specialist, Val and a classified staff person. If you would like to be a part of this team, please let me know. We will hold our walk through on Wednesday, August 12th, at 10am.
Looking forward to our adventure together! It's going to be a school year like no other but together we can be awesome!
Be sure to continue having summer fun!! I will be asking for pictures soon! I am still holding office hours from 3-4 if you have questions or concerns. You may also email me any time.
Warm regards,
Jennifer
Book Club
The pandemic teaching of mid-2020 was not really distance learning, but rather crisis teaching. But starting now, teachers have the opportunity to prepare for distance learning with purpose and intent—using what works best to accelerate students’ learning all the while maintaining an indelible focus on equity. Please email me if you would be interested in joining a book club about this.
Optional PD
PD on the Patio starting next week ( more info. on this coming from T & L)
* FYI--Google Classroom will no longer be supported by the district. You can continue using Seasaw and/or learn how to use Canvas (for 2nd-8th only). Here are the reasons why Google Classroom will not be supported:
Why are we not allowing the use of Google Classroom for the 2020-21 school year.
Google Classroom is not a Learning Management System (LMS)
Google Classroom is not integrated with Synergy for student rostering
Administrators, parents, and other staff do not have access to a teachers’s Google Classroom
Parent and student feedback, along with guidance from ODE, have stressed the need to minimize the number of learning platforms. Teaching and Learning has selected Canvas as the LMS for secondary classrooms and SeeSaw for elementary classrooms
Some resources: