Welcome!
Ms. Hapney's Virtual Schoolhouse Newsletter
GENERAL INFORMATION
Welcome back to school! My name is Ms. Hapney, and I will be your student’s resource room teacher this year. This year we will be working on your student’s current Individual Education Plan goals and setting new goals based on his or her learning. Their services in the Virtual Schoolhouse will be met either through Microsoft Teams assignments and teacher/paraprofessional led meetings. My personal aim is to help students meet all their goals and affirm that they are capable of great things.
Students please respond to the survey for Teams by Tuesday, September 8th:
Our VSH Special Education staff will be reaching out to students and parents that are unable to complete this form on Tuesday, September 8th.
About Me
Hello! My name is Lisbeth Hapney and I am one of the middle school Resource Teachers for VHS. This will be my 8th year teaching and I have taught both elementary and middle school students. I graduated from Northwest Nazarene University with a degree in Special Education. I am currently working on my master's degree at Boise State University for Curriculum and Instruction with a certificate in Mathematical Thinking and Instruction. I have two kids, who are in 6th and 10th grade. We love rock climbing, mountain biking, camping, and exploring new areas. I am excited to meet everyone virtually and have a great year.
ATTENDANCE/SCHEDULE
Resource room times will be scheduled in a variety of ways:
- The special education teacher or paraprofessional joining students during live sessions with classroom teacher. Students will be placed into a breakout room after class for extra assistance.
- Scheduled resource room time to work on IEP goals.
- Independently assigned activities to build skills.
TEAMS INFORMATION
Teams sessions will take place in:
- Q1 Hapney Study Skills 20-21
- Q1 Hapney Study Center 20-21
- Q1 Hapney Personal Social Skills 20-21
Your child will be added to groups based on individual needs and IEP goals.
Complete this short Teams survey before Tuesday, September 8th.
CLASSROOM RULES AND ONLINE ETIQUETTE
We'll have greater success in an online environment if we follow two rules.
- Respect others.
- Respect yourself.
As far as etiquette in Microsoft Teams, I ask that students do the following:
- When you enter the classroom, your microphone and camera should be turned off.
- Unmute yourself when it is your turn to speak. Mute yourself when you are done. This helps reduce feedback and background noise.
- The classroom chat will be available at times and must be used in an appropriate way. It can be a fun way to interact if it is used well.
Getting Ready for Your Class Meeting
- Make sure you have completed the pre-class preparation activity so that you'll be ready to learn.
- Think about your goals for learning. What do you want to achieve?
- Work with your family to find a quiet space that won't disturb other people in your house and won't distract you from learning.
- Prepare your learning space. Make sure you have a clear workspace to write and store your materials.
- If there are items that have personal information you wouldn't want other people to see, move them out of the camera range.
- Check your lighting so your classmates can see you when your camera is on.
- Check to see that your name is on the screen.
DURING CLASS MEETINGS
During class meetings
- Ask clarifying questions so you fully understand the learning intentions and success criteria for the lesson.
- Listen carefully to others and ask good questions!
- Use the reaction buttons to let your classmates know when you agree or disagree and give them a thumbs-up or round of applause to encourage them.
- The hand raising button helps all of us know when you've got something important to say.
- When you are not speaking, mute your microphone. It helps other people hear.
- Turn off notifications from email and social media so you aren't distracted.
- If you have a smartphone, shut it down so you aren't distracted.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Communication is a vital element in helping your student have a successful school year. For questions concerning a specific class, such as science or math, it’s best to contact the teacher for that class first. If you have any questions/concerns or would like to schedule a meeting, you can email me at:
I typically respond to emails within 24 hours during the regular school week.