Connected Learning Guide
For Bremerton School District Families
2020-21: Reunite+Reimagine+Relaunch
This communication intended to help families navigate during the 2020-21 school year. We continue to update the FAQ and other information on our website and encourage you to check www.BremertonSchools.org/Fall2020 frequently for updates. Our goal is to post updated information for you as soon as it is available.
The following sections have been updated or added:
- Wind & rain storm guidance (added 9/25)
- Update to meal distribution times (added 9/18)
- Chromebook pick-up (updated 9/14/20)
- Updated name from Connected Learning Start-Up Guide to Connected Learning Guide
- New: Google Meet/Zoom background guidance (added 9/4)
- REMIND classroom communication tool (added 9/4)
- Google Meet/Zoom call guidance for students (added 9/4)
- Links to all teacher websites (added 9/2)
- Where to look for known technology issues (added 9/2)
- First day of school info (deleted 9/2)
- IMPORTANT: Meal program update (8/31)
- PCHS School-based health clinic at MVMS (added 9/1)
- Link to Google Classroom 101 for families (added 9/1)
- Link to teacher Google sites (added 9/1)
- Link to childcare resources & information (added 9/1)
- Elementary, Flexible Learning & WHSA Checklists (updated 8/28)
- Attendance (updated 8/28)
- Link to Parent/Guardian or Visitor Health Screening information (added 8/28)
- Attendance (updated 8/27)
School Meal Program
9/18/20 update: Meal distribution will be from 9 a.m. - 12 noon at all sites beginning Monday, Sept. 21.
Meals will be available at no cost for all children beginning September 2.
Breakfast and lunch will be distributed:
- From 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. at all** Bremerton School District schools and
- By bus on all elementary school bus routes Monday through Friday
Important details:
- Children age 18 and under (or up to age 21 if enrolled in the Bremerton School District) are eligible to receive meals.
- Families can go to any bus stop or school that is convenient for them.
- Students do not need to be present for a parent/guardian to receive a meal.
**Students who attend Renaissance High School or Open Doors may pick up meals at any other school as meals will not be served at those locations.
Chromebooks (updated 9/14/2020)
Our goal is to provide a Chromebook for every student that needs one for remote learning.
We've got additional Chromebooks available for:
Students who had to share a device with a family member(s) in the spring.
Students who weren't previously assigned a device.
Any newly-enrolled student in the Bremerton School District.
Chromebooks are available at the District office (134 Marion Ave. North, Bremerton) Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., or by appointment.
Look for the orange cones on the front lawn directing you to the Technology Department on the south end of the building (near Renaissance High School.)
Questions about your Chromebook? Need to schedule a time to pick-up a Chromebook? Call the Tech Helpline at 360-473-1065.
UPDATE: Remind classroom communication tool
We wanted to share some information about Remind -- one of our core communications tools in our Continuous Learning System.
As a district, Remind has been an approved communication tool and used by many teachers for several years. If you're not already familiar with Remind, it's a classroom communication tool that makes it easy to stay involved with your child's learning. Remind is free to use, and you'll be able to get and send messages on any device—even a simple text message from your phone!
If your student's teacher is using Remind this school year, you will soon receive an email or text message from Remind - if you haven’t already. If you would like to utilize Remind and do not have an existing account, you can follow the steps in the message to finish setting up your account.
If you have already set up your Remind account, no action is needed!
Below is a quick video about getting started with Remind.
Para la versión en español, haga clic aquí: https://youtu.be/ScSYg-9ForI
Peninsula Community Health Services school-based clinic at Mountain View Middle School
Clinic hours:
During the first week of school, the clinic will be open Wednesday, September 2 through Friday, September 4/ After Labor Day, the clinic will be open on Mondays and Wednesdays from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. The clinic serves Bremerton School District students (preschool - 12th grade) and staff. Learn more here.
Update for kindergarten families
Our kindergarten students don’t start until Tuesday, September 8. However, next week, kindergarten families will be contacted by their child’s teacher as they work to get to know each of their students.
Why does kindergarten start later? All kindergarten classes in Washington state start three days after grades 1-12 start. This allows our kindergarten teachers to contact each family and find out what your child's strengths and interests are, and find out about any specific needs your child may have that will help them in the first weeks of school.
We are so happy you chose Bremerton School District and want to make this learning time fun and engaging for your child and your family. We look forward to working with your family to continue the learning you started at home!
Still need to register your student for kindergarten? Click here!
What to expect the first two weeks of school
The first two weeks of school will be focused on getting to know our students and families. We will incorporate training on technology tools to use during Social-Emotional Learning activities to build classroom community and relationships. Students will also be engaging in welcoming activities at their schools and getting to know their teachers and classmates. Your student’s school will be communicating about school-specific activities soon - if they haven’t already!
School Supplies
Most students will be able to complete connected learning tasks and assignments using a digital device and supplies commonly found at home. Supplies recommended for most students include paper, pencils, pencil sharpeners, pens, and composition notebooks for offline note taking. A set of earphones/headphones with a microphone may be useful for students while listening to recorded instruction or participating in live instruction.
Please watch for school and teacher communication at the beginning of the year for more information about grade-level or course needs and supplies. If you’d like to stock up on supplies while they are on sale, lists are posted on our website and on TeacherLists.com (note: not all supply lists have been updated to reflect our switch to Connected Learning).
Attendance
Daily attendance for all students will be taken for grades PK-12 and students are required to participate daily, just as they would in an in-person classroom.
Elementary: Elementary attendance will be taken with a daily check-in activity and monitored during other synchronous and asynchronous learning time.
Secondary: Attendance will be taken during synchronous learning and monitored during asynchronous learning times.
Research has shown that regular, daily participation and attendance are a key factor in student academic success. When students are ill or they will be missing school for any reason, parents/guardians will need to notify their student’s school to report absences as they have done in prior years.
Thank you for helping us ensure all students are engaging in and learning each and every school day!
View the most recent guidance from OSPI on attendance during virtual learning.
Grading
Students will be receiving feedback and assessed regularly on their learning in a variety of ways. Report cards will be issued at the end of each semester.
Secondary: Secondary grading will be grounded in essential standards utilizing an A, B, C, D, F and “Incomplete” grading scale.
Elementary: Elementary grading will be grounded in essential standards utilizing an 4, 3, 2, 1 and +/✓/- grading scale.
Report Cards: Click here for instructions for viewing/downloading report cards from Skyward.
Special Education
Glossary
Asynchronous vs Synchronous. Virtual learning... Connected Learning... Flexible Learning. Confused about all of the terminology? Check out our glossary.
Elementary School Families (including WHSA K-5):
Elementary parents: Please complete the following tasks before the first day of school.
Review the elementary daily schedule with your child.
If your child needs a Chromebook, click here.
Make sure your child remembers how to log-in to his/her Chromebook so he/she can be ready to learn on the first day. Click here for log-in instructions.
Complete your demographic updates in Skyward Family Access. Learn more here.
Watch for communication from your child’s school and classroom teacher.
Make sure your child's Chromebook is charged for the first day of school on Sept. 2.
Flexible Learning students (elementary only)
- Complete your family's demographic updates in Skyward Family Access. Learn more here.
- If your child needs a Chromebook, please click here.
- Make sure your child remembers how to log-in to his/her Chromebook so he/she can be ready to learn on the first day. Click here for log-in instructions.
- There is no set schedule for students enrolled in Flexible Learning. Please contact your Flexible Learning Teacher if you'd like samples or suggestions for a daily schedule.
West Hills STEM Academy (6th - 8th grades)
- (New!) View the WHSA Smart Start 20-21 website!
- Review the 6th-8th grade schedule
- If your child needs a Chromebook, click here.
- Does your student remember his/her Google log-in? Click here for instructions.
- Complete your family's demographic updates in Skyward Family Access. Learn more here.
- Watch for communication from your child’s school and teachers
- Make sure your child's Chromebook is charged for the first day of school on Sept. 2.
Mountain View Middle School
Please make sure your student completes the following tasks before the first day of school.
Check out the first day of school plans MVMS Connected Learning website.
All grades: Parents and students are invited to attend one of the two virtual Open Houses (pre-registration required)
6th grade students: Check your BSD email for a Zoom link for 6th grade orientation on Monday from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Review the MVMS sample daily/weekly schedule.
If your student needs a Chromebook, click here.
Does your student remember his/her Google log-in? Click here for instructions.
Parents: please complete your demographic updates in Skyward Family Access. Learn more here.
Please visit the MVMS Connected Learning website for updates.
Make sure your child's Chromebook is charged for the first day of school on Sept. 2.
Bremerton High School
- Complete your demographic updates in Skyward Family Access. Learn more here.
- If your student needs a Chromebook, click here.
- Please visit the BHS Smart Start website for all updates and information!
Renaissance High School
- If you/your student needs a Chromebook, click here.
- Complete your demographic updates in Skyward Family Access. Learn more here.
- Please visit the Renaissance High School Connected Learning website for updates.
Home Link
Updated 9/14/2020