Eagle Express
July 2020
There's No Place Like STEM
One of the most famous scenes in cinema is when Dorothy clicked the heels of her sparkly red shoes together, closed her eyes, and uttered the phrase, "There's no place like home." She was then magically whisked away from all of the madness and into her safe place.
Wouldn't a pair of Dorothy's shoes come in handy right now?
While we can't click our heels together and return to the way things were in January, we can take a lesson from the Wizard of Oz to make the upcoming school year a successful one. In the movie, the Tin Man wanted a heart, the Scarecrow wanted a brain, and the Cowardly Lion sought bravery. What they did not realize is that they already possessed these traits. They only had to look within themselves to pull out the strength, courage, and intelligence they never knew they had. I know things are scary right now, but we have to find that strength, courage, and intelligence and come together to make this school year rock.
We need our strength to think outside of the box and to help us be flexible in an ever-changing situation. We need our courage to try something new. Yes, the upcoming school year will look quite different but different is nothing to be afraid of. Lastly, we must use our intelligence to make smart choices as we decide on the course of action that will be the safest for our students and their loved ones.
As you review the preliminary plans for the upcoming school year, please keep in mind that we are planning for a very unique and ever-changing situation. Know that our plans are being made with the safety, needs, and abilities of our campus in mind. As we learn more about how to safely welcome our students back in the fall, things may change. Additional guidance from the Louisiana Department of Education (LDOE) is expected to be released in the very near future. Therefore, adjustments could be made to our preliminary plans. Nonetheless, we will forge our path and follow it despite what obstacles we may encounter along the way just as Dorothy did on the Yellow Brick Road. As always, I thank you for your continued support and understanding as we plan for the upcoming school year.
Sincerely,
Lacey Morel Bueche
Chief Program Administrator
Phase 2 Preliminary Plans
On-Campus Instruction: Phase 2
In order to be in compliance with the guidelines issued by LDOE and LDH, the following precautions will be taken:
- Students will maintain static groups throughout the day and teachers will rotate from class to class. The only exception to this will be a moderate and staggered rotation for students in grades 10-12 for electives only.
- Each student will be assigned a device that will be used at all times. Chromebooks and laptops will not be shared. Any supplies that must be shared will be sanitized between use.
- Students in grades 9-10 will have (5) 55-minute classes and (2) 30-minute micro-blocks each day. The micro-blocks will be reserved for PE and foreign language. Juniors will have (6) 55-minute courses. Seniors will only take courses needed to fulfill their graduation requirements and complete their STEM endorsement (if desired).
- Juniors and seniors who drive will be able to leave once all required coursework is completed. This means that seniors who only need two courses will be able to leave after the second period (~9:45). All juniors are required to complete a minimum of four courses. Transportation will not be provided for students who opt to leave early.
- Students will continue to eat breakfast in the classroom. Lunch orders will be taken each day and lunches will be delivered to the classrooms for consumption.
- All students in grades 3-12 will have an additional break added to the schedule. All students in grades 3-10 will have PE (modified to adhere to safety guidelines) daily. Students will NOT dress out for PE until further notice.
- Students will be required to wear a mask or shield. Mask-free zones will be provided for students who need to "take a breather."
- Additional handwashing stations will be installed throughout the campus. Students will be required to wash their hands or sanitize every two hours. All students will have their temperature taken before entering the classroom.
Our teachers are brainstorming ways to keep our students excited about learning in this new environment. We don't like straight rows and worksheets either. Bear with us while we think, create, and innovate a new way of teaching! We are also working on ways to safely allow socialization with other students outside of the classroom.
Virtual Instruction
- Students will participate in instruction from home via Microsoft Teams (replacing Google Classroom) and Edgenuity (when applicable). Videos will be posted but courses will typically not be live.
- Students need to be held to a consistent routine of accessing course materials and completing schoolwork DAILYto avoid falling behind.
- Students must complete the same assignments and adhere to the same deadlines as the students on campus.
- The same grading policies and procedures will apply to virtual students, including the late assignment policy which deducts 1 letter grade for each school day an assignment is late.
- Students participating in virtual instruction will complete the same coursework as students on campus, with the exception of PE.
- The teacher or teachers of record will be based on virtual and on-campus demand. Please be advised that the teacher or teachers of record will likely also be in charge of instructing students on-campus. Please allow 24-hours for them to respond to emails and other communications.
- In the event of an internet outage or family emergency, the parent or student (high school) must notify the office by 10:30 a.m. to be excused for any missed assignments for that day. The same excused absence makeup policy (3 days) will be afforded to virtual school students. Extenuating circumstances should be brought to the attention of school administration.
- Students who select the virtual option will not lose their seats and are still required to maintain the required 2.75 GPA in order to return to STEM for the 2021-2022 school year.
All parents are encouraged to have a contingency plan in place for a school closure. As we saw in March, an increase in cases could force a "stay home" order. If this occurs all instruction will be virtual.
IMPORTANT Switch to Microsoft Office 365
Please review the information below to ensure you have access to your account.
Account Access and New Password
To access your new account, visit office.com.
Your email address will be the same (firstname.lastname@pcstudent.net)
The default password will be the student’s last name with the first letter capitalized and the last four digits of the student’s social security number. For example, student John Smith’s password would be reset to Smith1234.
Transition
During this transition period, beginning on MONDAY, JULY 6, all Google e-mail services will be stopped. Google Drive will continue to be available through the transition process. Your files will be migrated over eventually, but we suggest saving and backing them up in the meantime.
Checked-Out Devices
Students who checked out Chrome devices from the district in the spring will be redirected to a Microsoft log-in page. This will be where students will use their email address and the NEW password.
Please contact the dedicated Pointe Coupee IT Help Desk at 225-286-1448 if there are any technical issues or questions.
Complete the Census Today!
Pointe Coupee's 2020 Census response rate is one of the lowest in the state (51 of 64). Your response is crucial to our schools since the 2020 Census count impacts the federal funds that communities receive each year for programs and services that are critical for schools, students, and younger children, such as:
- Special education, Head Start, after-school programs, and classroom technology.
- Food assistance, including free and reduced-price school lunches.
- Maternal and child health programs.
You can respond online, by phone, or by mail. Individual responses are confidential and cannot be used against you by any court or government agency.
Contact Information Changes
Summer Math Lessons on LPB
Broadcasts will be available on your local LPB station, WLPB-DT - Baton Rouge (Channel 27-1 on most televisions).
Gearing Up for Next School Year
- Start your Summer Reading! Reading is one of the best ways to keep your brain sharp over the summer. Our teachers have created suggested reading lists for all students. The titles on these lists are not required. Students are welcome to explore alternative titles that interest them.
- School Supply Lists: Due to changes in a board policy, we are no longer able to offer a supply fee option. Therefore, supply lists have been created for all grade-levels. Yes, we do realize that some items on the list will be very difficult to find during a pandemic (hand sanitizer, oh my!). Students are only expected to purchase items that are available in stores.
- Uniforms: The online uniform shop is now open. Orders will be accepted until July 19th at midnight. Uniforms will be delivered to school and issued during schedule pickup and open house. Facemasks are available in the uniform shop. Students are not required to purchase a facemask with the STEM logo. Key's and Co. in New Roads now has STEM uniforms available.