Mrs. Barbour's Updates & News
Oct. 15th * Fall 2013 * Edition 6
In this newsletter:
- Grade Update
- Late Work Policy
- Last Deadline
- Thanksgiving Break
- Grade Remption Opportunity
- Email Reminder
- How Parents Can See Student Grades
- Survey
- Emergency Situations
Grade Update
All grades were updated as of Monday, November 11th. I have graded work that was submitted by the due date. Late work will be reflected after this update. Please note that phones calls for below passing averages will go out based on the current grade, without late work.
Work is due every two weeks. This means that while students are encouraged and urged to submit work daily, according to the class schedule, late points are only assigned after the due date (indicated by orange boxes).
I am aware that some students have special accommodations through our support department. For these, I am still required to enter the zeros after the due date. Grades will be replaced upon completion of work, per the accommodations for each student.
This rule applies for late work as well. Zeros are entered after the due date. As late work is turned in, the late grade will replace the zero. Please refer to the late work policy further down in this email for more information.
Last Assignment Deadline
Please note that November 22nd is the last assignment deadline. Some classes have work due on December 2nd. All late work from the 22nd and work due on December 2nd must be submitted by December 3rd. NO classwork will be accepted after December 3rd.
Thanksgiving Break
GaVS will observe a break for the Thanksgiving holiday November 25 - 29. Teachers will check email Monday through Wednesday. NO work is due during Thanksgiving break. Please note that this break is not a time to catch up on late work. ONLY work from the November 22nd deadline may be submitted for late credit during that time.
Grade Redemption Opportunity
Students will have one final opportunity to raise a grade. Students may choose ANY grade item from the MAJOR grades category to redo. Students will not be able to retake the test, or resubmit a project...instead students will have to email me with a proposal. The proposal should detail a way he or she can demonstrate the material that was covered for that grade item.
For instance, if I wanted to make up a test grade for Data Analysis, I might create a project that gives a brief summary of each concept - how to use, calculate, and interpret confidence intervals, how to find and interpret probabilities (90%, 95%, and 99%). This would show me that the student has relearned the material and demonstrated a knowledge is sufficient to replace the current grade.
If I wanted to redo the material for a Methods of Data Collection unit, I might create a presentation that covers all of the sample types mentioned in the unit. This could be in the form of a PowerPoint, a Jeopardy game, a review game, etc.
Proposal Deadline via email: November 22nd
Project Deadline via dropbox: December 1st
Email Request
Students and Parents,
When sending me a specific email about an assignment, a quiz, or other course issue, please create a new subject line. It becomes difficult to track your email when you reply to course update emails for multiple questions. I want to be sure that I respond to your questions and situations quickly. Thank you very much!
View the chat recordings
Before you attempt a quiz or test - make sure you are viewing the recorded sessions. I have provided a lot of detail and pointers to help you be successful!
Extra Points & Learning Opps
Are you wondering how to earn extra points? You can attend the live Adobe sessions, or listen to the recordings, and submit those points each week. The link for the recording summaries will be located in the links widget. Also..keep your eyes on the News Items.
Communicate
Students & Parents, Be sure to include your full name and the course you are enrolled in when you email me or leave voice messages. Also, if you are asking me questions about assignments, quizzes, etc., please be specific about the question (include as many details as possible).
Math Funny of the Week
A Note About Accommodations
ADOBE CONNECT SESSIONS
I will, from time to time, host a specific session that includes a lesson. The recorded sessions will be posted in the user links section of the course.
You are encouraged to attend all sessions, but not required to do so.
Please check the announcements for the exact time of the meeting each week. Ideally, it will be at 6:30PM each week, but this may change from time to time.My weekly Adobe sessions are held Wednesdays at 4pm for Math IV and Tuesdays at 6pm for AP Statistics A.
AP STATS - NOTE the new day for our chats.
*Remember, you can also email me with questions as well!!
See the instructions below of the steps to signing in your help session.
You must log in as a Guest.
Barbour's Sweet Tweets
You will receive reminders AND opportunities to earn some extra points via tweets. Now those are what I call sweet tweets!!
Check your feedback
Calling ALL Shmoopers
Need Help?????
STUDENT HELP & RESOURCES
Parent Auditor Accounts
Parents,
If you have a parent auditor account, please connect it to your student's account in order to see the most up to date grade. If you have not yet created an account, please do that as soon as possible. The link below explains all of those procedures.
Late Work Policy
Technical difficulties are not an excuse for assignments to be late. Students must have computer access to complete GAVS work. It is the student’s responsibility to secure backup computer options when technical difficulties arise. Many public libraries offer computers with Internet access. Additionally, GAVS courses can be accessed on a variety of mobile devices so it may be that a mobile device could be used to complete some coursework when there are computer problems.
*If you are a special education student and would like GAVS to consider making accommodations for you, please fax a copy of your IEP or 504 Plan to 770-357-3704. If you do not have a copy, please contact your facilitator.
Please be aware of the pacing guide and due dates for all assignments. Extensions past the last day of school will NOT be granted. All student work is due biweekly on Fridays at midnight. Check course schedules for course assignments and specific due dates. Work turned in after the deadline on the course schedule will be accepted within 1 week with a late penalty assessed. Late penalty begins on Saturday and is deducted at a rate of 10% of the assignment value per school day. Work submitted on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday is considered 1 day late.
Late Work Policy Example: David turns in an assignment at 3:15 pm on Sunday. He scores a 7 out of 15 on the assignment. David will lose 1.5 points on this assignment (15 * .10) and the score recorded in the grade book is 5.5/15. A note should be made in the grade book detailing the late work deduction.
CONTACT ME
Email: victoria.barbour@gavirtualschool.org
Website: www.gavirtualschool.org
Phone: (678) 801-6307
Twitter: @gavsBarbourMath
Keep my phone number & email address in a place that is easy to reach. If you have a special circumstance, please let me know. Here are some situations that might merit an immediate contact:
* Medical situation (hospitalization, extreme sickness, injury): Contact me BEFORE a due date if you have been too sick to complete work. Please note that a note from the doctor may be required to authorize any extensions for sickness.
* Technology emergency: Please notify me BEFORE a due date if you experience a technology issue. If you lose power, get kicked out of a test, have a computer crash, or other extreme situation, please let me know immediately. We understand that these things happen, but also expect students to have a back-up plan for technology issues. Plan to use a computer at school, the library, a friend or family member's computer, etc.
* General Assignment/Course Questions: These are best answered by email, but feel free to call me as well.