Harmony Times
April 16
Harmony Science Academy Euless
Email: saslan@harmonytx.org
Website: hsaeuless.harmonytx.org
Location: 701 S. Industrial Blvd. Suite 115, Euless TX 76040
Phone: 817 354 3000
Phone Calls
As the school is currently closed please call the number below if you need information. Please leave a voice message and we will do our best to return your call.
682-265-8817
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HPS Distance Learning Grading Guidelines
GRADES 1 - 8
Core Courses: Students will be assigned weekly assignments in core courses (Math, science, social studies, and language arts). Students are expected to return their assignments in various ways (Google Classroom, other integrated platforms, a picture taken). Math and ELA labs will be graded under the main course.
Electives/Specials: Teachers will assign optional weekly experiences in electives, technology applications, PE, and Fine Arts courses. No submission is required in those classrooms.
Grading on Google Classroom: Progress Monitoring
○ Grades will not be assigned until April 13, 2020 so that students and families can adjust to the routines of distance learning.
○ Starting April 13, numerical grades will be assigned by teachers in Google Classroom gradebook.
○ We ask our teacher to provide multiple opportunities to complete assignments. Retest and flexible deadlines are promoted.
Skyward Gradebook: Official Grading
○ No numerical grades will be assigned in Skyward during distance learning time (4th Quarter). Students will receive one of the performance indicators (PI) below at the end of a week based on their progress on Google Classrooms.
■ E-Excellent
■ S-Satisfactory
■ N-Needs Improvement
■ I-Incomplete
○ Overall Quarter4 PI: Teachers will enter an overall PASS/FAIL/ or INCOMPLETE indicator for 4th quarter grade by the end of distance learning time. For electives and specials, teachers will enter X-Not Assessed indicator as Q4 grade.
Final Student Failure/Promotion Decisions: School Promotion Committee
● Student failure decisions will occur after the closure of distance learning. The school promotion committee should factor in both three-quarter performance and performance indicators during digital learning time.
*** High school guidelines apply to high school credit courses in middle school such as Algebra-1 & LOTE-I.
HIGH SCHOOLS
Core Courses: Students will be assigned weekly assignments in core courses (Math, science, social studies, language arts, and AP courses). Students are expected to return their assignments in various ways (Google Classroom, other integrated platforms, picture taken). Students will be taking weekly assessments.
Electives/Specials/CTE: Teachers will assign weekly experiences in technology applications, PE, CTE, Fine Arts, and other electives. Students will submit their assignments. No weekly assessment is promoted in those classrooms.
AP Courses/ Dual Credit / On Ramps Courses: Weekly expectations may vary for AP/Dual credit courses based on approved syllabi by college board and local community colleges.
Local Credit Courses (Math Lab, ELA Lab, SAT/TSI Prep): Local campuses will decide on the level of support in those classrooms. Assignments will be optional and no submission is required. On the other hand, teachers may assign work from lab resources and grade it under the main class.
Grading on Google Classroom: Progress Monitoring
○ Grades will not be assigned until April 13, 2020 so that students and families can adjust to the routines of distance learning.
○ Starting April 13, numerical grades will be assigned by teachers in Google Classroom gradebook.
○ We ask our teacher to provide multiple opportunities to complete assignments. Retest and flexible deadlines are promoted.
Skyward Gradebook: Official Grading
○ No numerical grades will be assigned in Skyward during distance learning time (4th Quarter). Students will receive one of the performance indicators(PI) below at the end of a week based on their progress on Google Classrooms.
■ E-Excellent
■ S-Satisfactory
■ N-Needs Improvement
■ I-Incomplete
○ Overall Quarter4 PI: Teachers will enter an overall PASS/FAIL/ or INCOMPLETE indicator for 4th quarter grade by the end of distance learning time. For electives and specials, teachers will enter X-Not Assessed indicator as Q4 grade.
Final Credit Awarding: School Graduation Committee
● Credit awarding decisions will occur after the closure of distance learning. The committee should factor in both three quarter performance and performance indicators during digital learning time.
Progression Plan During Distance Learning Time
● A student who did not receive a half credit for fall semester (semester average less than 70) in a course may still receive a full credit by factoring in the performance in third quarter and distance learning time. If the average of the first three quarters is higher than 70 and receives an overall PASS indicator for the 4th quarter, the student should be awarded the full credit.
● If the average of the first three quarters is below 70, the student may still earn a full credit based on distance learning performance and the school committee decision.
GPA/Senior Class Ranking
● Credits earned from both regular courses and weighted courses (Honors, AP, Dual, PLTWY) in the spring semester (third quarter plus distance learning time) will not be counted towards GPA.
● Final senior class ranking for class of 2020 will be calculated based on GPA calculation at the end of Fall 2019 semester.
Credit Recovery Options
● Our campuses are encouraged to provide distance learning options for those students in June/July to receive their missing credits.
Valedictorian, Salutatorian
● The GPA and Class Rank as of the end of the first semester in the 2019-2020 school year will be used to determine Valedictorian and Salutatorian honors.
* All these guidelines are subject to change based on most updated TEA guidelines.
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Senior Spotlight - Ahmed D.
Congratulations to Ahmed D. on your college admission to:
Columbia University
Stanford University
MIT(Massachusetts Institute of Technology)
Caltech-California Institue of Technology &
The University of Texas at Austin
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SCHOOL CLOSED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE
Dear Harmony Families & Team Members,
For the past 20 years, Harmony Public Schools has established an educational model built strongly on the foundations of science-based learning and responsible citizenship in our communities.
Currently, all available science from community health experts continues to tell us that the best way to be responsible members of our communities is to have our students and staff remain at home.
This is why we have determined that it is in the best interest of our students, team members, and communities to discontinue in-person schooling at our campuses and administrative offices statewide until further notice.
While these facilities remain closed, instruction and learning at Harmony schools will continue. Our classes are operating online through our established digital learning tools, taking advantage of many of the technology tools and blended learning methods already practiced in Harmony’s physical classrooms. Because our teachers and school leaders will remain available to guide our students each school day, we anticipate instructional continuity during these unusual and difficult times.
(For more information on our at-home learning program, visit HarmonyTX.org/AtHome. To request access to a chromebook or internet access, contact your child’s campus.)
We will also continue to offer free meal services to children in our communities, as local and state safety guidelines allow.
We thank you for your support and understanding in making this critical decision. We also are profoundly grateful for the extreme determination and Harmony pride shown by both our students and team members these past several weeks. Time and again you have proven why Harmony Public Schools is an institution where excellence is the standard.
We will continue to provide timely updates as new, relevant information comes available, and inform you immediately if our campuses reopen prior to the end of the school year.
Thank you and be well,
Fatih Ay
CEO | Harmony Public Schools
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Ideas for Leisure Time
This week, Mr. G recommends playing Overcooked. It is a smaller indie game that offers team building skills and fast paced problem solving. It can be played by many different skill levels and is easy enough for people who have never played video games before to learn. It is available on multiple platforms for less than 20 dollars. See more information below!
The Joy of Fishing
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Nature With Mrs. Dunn
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Important Information on Harmony DFW Meal Service
Dear Harmony DFW Families,
Harmony Public Schools will continue to provide breakfast and lunch for pick up by parents at
our designated locations (see below). However, the Texas Department of Agriculture no longer
provides funding for Saturday and Sunday meals, so these meals will not be available beginning next week.
Meals in our District may continue to be picked up on Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Parents now have the option of picking up meals for their children without them being present
in the vehicle. One meal bag will be issued for each child 18 and under. However, eligibility
must still be verified by the following options when picking up meals:
1. If children are present in the vehicle:
- No additional documentation is required.
2. If NO children are present in the vehicle: One of the following documentation is required at the time of pick-up by a parent/guardian requesting meals:
FOR CHILDREN ENROLLED IN HARMONY PUBLIC SCHOOLS
- Travel authorization (provided earlier to parents in counties with shelter-in-place order)
- Student ID cards
- School pick-up tag
FOR CHILDREN *NOT* ENROLLED IN HARMONY PUBLIC SCHOOLS
- Official letter/email/electronic school application from school listing children enrolled
- Individual student report cards
- Attendance record from parent portal of the school website, printed or electronic, that includes the children names
- Birth certificate for children not in school
- Student ID cards
If you have any questions, please contact your child’s school.
We look forward to continuing to serve you, and stay well!
-Harmony Public Schools DFW
GRAB & GO MEAL LOCATIONS:
Harmony Science Academy - Fort Worth
Harmony Science Academy - Grand Prairie
Harmony School of Innovation - Euless
701 S. Industrial Blvd., Suite 105
Harmony Science Academy - Dallas (Middle)
Harmony Science Academy - Garland
Harmony School of Innovation - Dallas
8080 W. President George Bush Turnpike
Harmony School of Innovation - Grand Prairie
Mrs. Nickles Update
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Mental Health
Dear Parents,
In this difficult time, we wanted to share with you some important resources with you. It is important for all of us to consider our mental health. The fear and anxiety created by this disease and the stress of changing situations can be very hard on students as well. Many of them are missing out on social interactions that mean a lot to them. Some students are stressing out now about grades and classes. It is important to check in with kids and see where they are and try to find ways to help. As parents and caregivers it is important to also monitor our own feelings so we can keep ourselves healthy as well. Be sure to take care of yourself as well!
The CDC has some great information about how to handle stress and anxiety during this time. It includes some great tips for yourself as well as information about what you can expect from kids and how to help them.
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prepare/managing-stress-anxiety.html
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration has also compiled some tips for dealing with stress during this time and have included a list of symptoms that can be related to stress. They include some great resources including the National Helpline for treatment referral and the National Suicide Hotline.
https://store.samhsa.gov/system/files/sma14-4885.pdf
This PBS Kids site includes great information on how to talk to kids about the Coronavirus and includes video links to show kids important lessons on cleaning hands and how germs spread. This is geared towards our younger children.
One of the biggest challenges can be keeping kids active and engaged during this time. This list includes tons of ideas for activities to do with your children. This also includes a list of educational websites that have waived their fees at this time.
- HSA Euless
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Mr. William's Update
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Mr. Martinez's Update
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Tips for studying
1. Set daily goals for studying
2. Create a dedicated study space
3. Schedule time to study on your calendar
4. Keep yourself accountable
5. Actively take notes
6. Join the discussion
7. Do one thing at a time
8. Take breaks
( from Coursera.com)