Final Week of Trimester One
Sunday, November 29
Message from the Principal- Final Week of Trimester One!
Hello AVHS Parents and Guardians,
I hope all of you had a safe and restful break. With three weeks to go, Winter Break and the New Year are quickly approaching, but first things first- we need to have a strong finish to trimester one! As we begin the last push to the finish of the grading period, please note the following key information and dates:
Every day of this week is a student contact/attendance day.
Teachers are available for virtual help sessions during intervention time (12:10 to 1:40) on Wednesday, December 2nd. Contact your student’s teacher(s) for additional information.
3 pm on Friday, December 4th is the final day for students to turn in missing work to improve a letter grade.
3 pm on Tuesday, December 8th is the final day for students to turn in missing work to earn a “Pass”.
A parent or guardian may request via written communication or phone call/message that a letter grade be changed to a “Pass" in any and all classes by Tuesday, December 8th.
Materials Drop-Off/Pick-Up on Thursday, December 3rd and Friday, December, 4th
Not all students will have items to drop off/pick up.
Your student's teachers will reach out to your student to let them know if they need to drop off or pick up materials.
AVHS will open the main entrance on December 3 and 4 from 8 am to 3 pm for drop off and pick up of school materials.
On behalf of the Apple Valley High School staff, I would like to thank you for your continued support as we complete the final week of the trimester. We look forward to seeing everyone for this final week before the first day of Trimester Two on Monday, December 7th. Take care. Be Well. Go Eagles!
Drew Mons
Principal
COVID Notifications in Distance Learning
As our district returns to full-time distance learning, our commitment to the health and safety of our students, families, and staff remains our top priority. Though we are not together in our buildings, it is very important that the COVID-19 Response Team at our school remains informed about all household COVID-19 information. Whether your child participates in distance learning, Tier 1 child care, 196 Digital Academy, or in-person targeted services, our school’s COVID-19 Response Team is continuing to track COVID-19 data.
Please continue to call or email us if you or your child is ill or are experiencing symptoms, if you or your child is identified as a close contact to someone who is COVID-19 positive, and if there are any positive test results in your household. We are obligated to continue tracking this data for the district, county, and state, and will be assisting with contact tracing. This is also one of the data points that will be used in determining the learning model and our opportunities for in-person experiences. This strategy contains virus spread while protecting the community.
It is important you and anyone in your household stay home and discontinue any activities outside of your household if you are feeling sick, regardless of whether symptoms are related to COVID-19. Less common symptoms of COVID-19 include sore throat; nausea; vomiting; diarrhea; muscle pain; fatigue; headache; nasal congestion; runny nose, and chills. More common symptoms include fever over 100.4; new or worsening cough; difficulty breathing, and a new loss of taste or smell.
The state of Minnesota is providing barrier-free testing to every resident. You can order a test online and have it shipped to your home at no cost. Included in the test are instructions for taking the test and consulting with a health professional. Order your free at-home saliva test at https://learn.vaulthealth.com/state-of-minnesota/.
Remember, please call or email your child’s school nurse or principal, if you or your child is ill or are experiencing symptoms, if you or your child is identified as a close contact to someone who is COVID-19 positive, and if there are any positive test results in your household. We will assist with screening your symptoms and walk you through the reporting process if symptoms are deemed COVID-19 related.
The Licensed School Nurse at School is Lori Henke. Contact information is lori.henke@district196.org or 952.431.8220. School nurse office hours are 7:30 to 3:30. The school’s main number is 952.431.8200 and school hours are 7:30 to 3:30.
Sincerely,
Drew Mons, Principal
Lori Henke, Licensed School Nurse
Wednesdays are Important School Days!
Wednesdays are days set aside for intervention and enrichment for students. With only two Wednesdays remaining before the end of the trimester, we need your help to ensure that your student(s) attend their virtual intervention sessions (Wednesdays from 12:10 pm to 1:40 pm).
Teachers and Learning Teams will offer Zoom sessions and other opportunities on these days for students to ask questions and complete missing work. Teachers will be reaching out to students to invite them to these sessions; we appreciate your help and partnership in encouraging your student to engage with their teacher on these days!
Materials Drop Off and Pickup - December 3 and 4
AVHS will open the main entrance on December 3 and 4 from 8 am to 3 pm for drop off and pick up of school materials. Your student's teachers will reach out to your student to let them know if they need to drop off or pick up materials. Not all students will have items to drop off/pick up.
End of Trimester Grades
The last day of the first trimester is Friday, December 4th. There are no final exams for the first trimester. November 24th is the final day of new graded content to be assigned for students.
Teachers will post current grades in Campus by 3:30 pm on Monday, November 30th. Those grades will be:
Letter grades for students currently earning an A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, C-
A "P" for students who have earned credit for the course below the level of a C-
An "NG" for students who have not earned credit yet
From November 30th through December 4th:
These are student contact days and students should log in to Campus for attendance accordingly.
These days are intended for the completion of assignments, assessments, make-ups, etc. This may also include student conferencing, outreach, and interventions
No new graded learning targets will be presented during these days, but students may request enrichment materials.
Between November 30th and December 4th, students are encouraged to turn in revisions or missing work to improve their letter grade.
The window to change letter grade to ‘pass’ is November 30th – December 8th.
A parent may request via written communication or phone call/message that a letter grade be changed to a “Pass" in any and all classes
Once received, teachers will go into Campus and adjust accordingly (Grading Window will remain open)
December 8th by 3 pm is the final day for students to turn in missing work to earn a “Pass”.
What Does Distance Learning Look Like?
Daily Schedule and Expectations
Students need to check-in for attendance every weekday (including Wednesdays) on Campus.
All students (Cohort A, B, and Digital Academy) are in Zoom classes from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays.
Flexible, independent work time for students has been built into the Zoom Day schedule from 7:30-9:00 am and 1:00-3:30 pm.
Students should expect 3-5 tasks/lessons per class during a school week.
Who Do I Go To For Help?
Technology. Click here for AVHS Tech Help. The AVHS Tech Help page is for parents and students and is for issues with Schoology, Campus, iPads, internet support, and more.
Contacting counselors. Click here to find your student’s counselor. Counselors are available to assist with concerns about scheduling, academic progress, and mental health. Contacting a student's counselor is a good first step if there are concerns about multiple classes and can help coordinate and streamline communication.
Student Schedule. Click here to log in to Campus Portal and see Student Schedules.
Grades. Click here to log in to Schoology and see in-progress grades.
Contacting teachers. Click here for a list of teacher e-mail addresses.
In advisory this week, students learned about important technology tips and digital learning expectations. This includes making sure student iPads are updated. The slide deck for these advisory sessions can be found here.
Zoom Class Expectations
Classes are scheduled from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm. Be prepared and on time.
Attend all Zoom class sessions.
If you are using a hotspot, put it near a window for the best service.
Zoom from a location that is quiet and allows you to focus on learning.
Use your full name/device name as your Zoom screen name (this is the default - do not change)
Students are expected to have cameras on and microphones muted (unless they are speaking).
WHY? We strengthen classroom community when we see each other’s faces.
If there are reasons you may not be able to have your camera on, please connect with your teacher directly.
Virtual backgrounds are okay if you’d prefer. Make sure they are school appropriate, neutral, and non-distracting.
Seven-Day Meal Kits Available During Distance Learning
Beginning Nov. 9, all students are eligible for free seven-day meal kits to support their distance learning. To best meet the needs of our families, meal kits will be available for pick up near the middle or high schools’ entrance doors at these times:
· Monday 4:00pm- 5:30pm
· Tuesday 7:30am- 9:00am
· Wednesday 10:00am- 11:00am (Digital Academy Meals will continue)
· Thursday 7:30am- 9:00am
· Friday 7:30am- 9:00am
Look for the banner and sign for the distribution location. Families with children in multiple schools are encouraged to pick-up all seven-day meal kits at one school.
Initially, families will be asked to complete this Seven-Day Meal Kit Interest Survey. This will allow the Food and Nutrition Services department to prepare the number of meal kits needed. The survey only needs to be completed once.
The U.S. Dept. of Agriculture has authorized funding for schools to provide meals at no charge to children, 18 and younger, for the entire school year. All secondary families are encouraged to participate in this opportunity. Any child 18 and younger, or parent/guardian of a child is able pick up these seven-day meal kits. For contactless distribution, the seven-day meal kit boxes will be placed on a 6-foot table with a bag of milk on the side. Families will be able to take as many boxes as needed for their children. Food and Nutrition Staff will monitor and replenish the table as needed.
Distance Learning Q & A's
On Tuesday, November 10th, the AVHS Administrative Team offered two Distance Learning Zoom calls to provide additional details at 8:00am and 7pm.
If you have questions that you would like to submit, CLICK HERE. We will use this form to provide more information for common questions.
Text Message Updates
Texts are delivered via SchoolMessenger, the mass notification service the district uses for phone calls and email messages. Parents must opt-in to receive text messages. Standard message and data rates may apply.
GETTING STARTED
- Text Y to 67587, you will receive a confirmation message stating you are registered to receive SchoolMessenger notifications via text.
For help information, text HELP to 67587.
To opt-out at any time, text STOP to 67587.
*Only SMS numbers listed as Guardians in the Infinite Campus student information system can receive texts.
**If you do not receive a confirmation message of what appears to be an error message, it most likely means that short code texting is not enabled on your wireless plan.
Apple Valley High School
Website: avhs.district196.org
Location: 14450 Hayes Road, Apple Valley, MN, USA
Phone: 952-431-8200
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/avhsscholar
Twitter: @avhsacademics