Travis ECHS News
Reopening Plan and Resources for our Travis Community
When does school start?
The Travis family hopes this newsletter finds you safe and healthy. On Thursday night the AISD Board of Trustees approved a delay to the start of school until September 8. The first four weeks (Sept. 8th- Oct. 2nd) will be “virtual learning”. Students who do not have technology will be able to attend Travis COVID Response Engagement Workgroups or "CREWS". Details concerning our Travis CREWS is located later in this newsletter. Additional minutes have been added to each school day to make up for the postponed days. As we continue to support our students in the coming weeks our focus will be on safety as well as providing a quality, engaging online experience for all learners. We know that aligning the experience in Blend across subject-areas will create a student-friendly online experience. Travis ECHS has created a plan that provides well designed virtual learning.
Virtual Bell Schedule
Students and teachers will move through the virtual bell schedule below. This will help students connect with teachers at a predictable time and will allow for a smooth transition back to the classroom when conditions allow. Teachers will take attendance each class period.
Technology
We will begin contacting all families to ensure that all of our students have the appropriate technology this week (August 10th - August 14th). Please complete your online registration to make sure that we have your most up to date contact information.
Travis CREWs (COVID Response Engagement Workgroups)
Per TEA guidelines, our school will remain welcoming to students who do not have access to reliable wifi and technology. Whether a family needs on-site or at-home virtual learning, we have created a plan that also allows for optional participation in extracurricular activities before or after school. After the initial 4 weeks of remote learning, parents and students will have the choice to continue virtual learning for the rest of the semester or the entire school year. We understand this is an individual choice and each family must make the best decision for their student. We are here to support you and your student.
If my student is part of a CREW and needs on campus support, what will my child’s day on campus look like?
Students and staff are required to wear masks at all times while on campus. When a student arrives to campus they will complete a basic health screening with a staff member at designated kiosks and check in using the district app (coming soon). The student will then go directly to their assigned classroom or “monitored pod.” In the classroom, there will be no more than 10 student desks spaced at least 6 feet apart with one staff member supervising. Students will sit at their assigned desk, put on their headphones/earbuds, and start their first class via BLEND on their laptops. They will remain in that classroom doing their virtual lessons the same as they would do if they were at home. Breakfast, lunch and snacks will be eaten in the classroom at their assigned desk. They will need to bring a refillable water bottle. Water fountains will be disabled but there will be water bottle refilling stations. The goal is to find ways for students to have regular breaks to stretch their legs and possibly go outside with a staff member. Otherwise, there will not be any passing periods and students will not be moving classrooms at any point. *Middle school and elementary school on-site virtual learning may look different from high school.
What is the role of the teacher when students are on campus for on-site virtual learning?
There will be an adult in each room where we have students. This adult may or may not be your child’s teacher and will be conducting their own classes virtually in the monitored pod. They are there to keep track if a student asks to leave the room (to go to the restroom or nurse) and make sure students stay on task while safely socially distancing with masks.
Travis Student Guide to Improving Grades
AISD High Schools Tech Form: Do you need technology?
Seniors- click here to be in contact with Ms. Blakely & Mr. Wennberg
Link to Suggested Student Schedule & Campus Weekly Schedule
Tech Support for Austin ISD Community
Link to ECHS program from Ms. Orozco & Ms. Garcia
Link to Go Center from Mr. Duran & the Go Center Team
Austin ISD's Learning from Home Website
Need help with BLEND? Here's how to get started:
What is BLEND?
BLEND is a Learning Management System (LMS) designed to support and amplify teaching, learning, and communication in Austin ISD. BLEND is a digital tool that is being used by schools and universities across the country to provide students with a 21st-century educational experience
How do Community Members Connect to our Campus Community Course?
Before they can access BLEND, parents will need to set up a Parent Cloud Account. These resources are designed to support parents with this process. If a parent or guardian needs support with their account setup, they should call the Parent Help Desk at 512-414-9187
Start at the AISD Portal: https://portal.austinisd.org/
Multiple Languages Supported
This page contains helpful BLEND (Canvas) guides in multiple languages.
BLEND (Canvas) Guides - Guías - 指南中文版Helpful Blend Information
These printable documents provide parents/guardians with key information about BLEND.
Parent Setup Walk Throughs
These links will take parents to short screencasts that demonstrate what BLEND looks like from the parent "observer" view.
Community Resources & Letter from Nurse Adams
Resources from Nurse Adams for COVID-19/Coronavirus information
Please contact Nurse Adams at padams@austinisd.org with questions or for information.
Informational Site: John Hopkins University site for COVID-19/Coronavirus
Ascension Texas COVID-19 Hotline
1-833-919-1680
6a-midnight
Ascension Online Care - https://choose.ascension.org/onlinecare
Ascension is offering access to virtual urgent care visits through Ascension Online Care at a discounted rate of
$20 throughout the month of March and
$0 for SmartHealth Plan members.
Vida Clinic- Austin ISD's school-based mental health partner/Vida Clinic- Socio de salud mental en la escuela de Austin ISD
Austin ISD's school-based mental health partner, Vida Clinic, is now offering teletherapy services to the entire Austin ISD community. These services will allow adults and students to access quality mental health services right from their own homes. To schedule an appointment, visit vidaclinic.org/virtualvida and contact our Vida Clinic Care Team at 512-518-2209 or by email at vidacare@vidaclinic.org.
El centro de salud mental en la escuela de Austin ISD, Vida Clinic, ofrecerá servicios de teleterapia a toda la comunidad de Austin ISD. Estos servicios permitirán a adultos y estudiantes acceder a servicios de salud mental con alta calidad desde sus propios hogares. Para programar una cita, visite vidaclinic.org/virtualvidaesp y comuníquese con nuestro Equipo de atención de Vida Clinic al 512-518-2209 o por correo electrónico a vidacare@vidaclinic.org.
Virtual Care for Kids/Cuidado Virtual para Niños
To be seen by a provider, visit the Urgent Care for Kids website.
For more information on Virtual Care for Kids telehealth in Austin ISD visit their website.
Todas las familias de AISD tienen acceso a telesalud a través de nuestra asociación con Virtual Care for Kids. Puede consultar a un proveedor desde la comodidad de su hogar utilizando una computadora portátil, computadora de escritorio, iPhone, teléfono Android o tableta. Además, este servicio actualmente renuncia a los copagos para las familias de AISD. Para aprovechar estos servicios, primero debe registrarse en my.austnisd.org
Visit Austin's community resource site linked below for up to date information on support and resources.
Special Education needs or questions? Email Ms. Merritt for information/Necesidades de educación especial? Envíe un correo electrónico a la Sra. Merritt para obtener información
Students in DELTA Courses
In order to allow DELTA students to continue their learning, all Odysseyware tests, except for the final exam, are unlocked. When you reach the final exam, contact your DELTA teacher to proceed. Please feel free to continue to work from home on your courses if you desire.
DELTA is an online credit recovery program offered by Austin ISD. Students are placed in this program by their counselors as needed.
Travis ECHS DELTA Teachers:
Travis Social Media Links
Travis ECHS Official Website/ Página web oficial de Travis ECHS
Twitter:
Travis ECHS Facebook Page/ Página de Facebook de Travis ECHS
www.facebook.com/TravisECHSRebels/
Travis ECHS Parent Teacher Student Association (PTSA) Website/ Sitio web del Travis ECHS Parent Teacher Student Association (PTSA):
Travis PTSA Facebook Page/ Página de Facebook de Travis PTSA
www.facebook.com/pg/TravisRebelsPTSA
Travis PTSA/Community Facebook Group/
Grupo de Facebook de Travis PTSA/Comunidad:
Principal's Letter
April 5, 2020
Dear Rebel Students and Families,
Let me once again start by saying how much we miss all of our Rebels. We are concerned for our students’ health and well-being, as well as their families. Although none of us have experienced a pandemic before, our Travis family has quickly risen to the occasion! We would like to thank our community for their dedication and support, especially our health professionals, truck drivers, grocery store employees, first responders and all other essential operations personnel.
As the Superintendent announced Friday, our school buildings will be closed the remainder of the school year, but learning will continue. Travis students will continue their learning digitally using our BLEND platform. We have been using BLEND for well over a year and our Rebel students have shown to be wonderful digital learners so we hope this will ease any fears about learning in a new way. We are going to do our best to provide learning to keep our students' minds moving forward. Contact your teacher via email or call the school number and leave a message if you need help.
We ask for your patience and understanding as we travel this new territory. Our teachers and other employees are working long hours from home while dealing with their new, but temporary, normal. The next few weeks will not be easy. There will be mistakes, problems, and concerns along the way. However, there will be more successes, happiness, hope, laughter, fun, and purpose! We understand many of you are still working and have several children to help, financial concerns, health issues, etc. We are here to patiently support our students and you throughout this challenging time.
I know there are many questions about how extended school closures will affect student grades, promotion, graduations, and so much more. Austin Independent School District is working with direction from the Texas Education Agency to design policies and answers to these questions. Seniors are being contacted individually by their Assistant Principal, Ms. Blakley, and their counselor, Mr. Wennberg, to discuss their graduation plans. If you have questions please send them a quick note at lacy.blakley@austinisd.org or brian.wennberg@austinisd.org and they will reach out to you.
We all understand that we are currently experiencing an unprecedented public health crisis. At this time, even before our critical mission of teaching and learning, we are attending to issues of health and safety first. I urge everyone to follow Governor Abbott’s executive order to Stay Home and Stay Safe. By staying home and practicing social distancing if we must go out, we all can help slow the spread of COVID19 and keep our Rebels safe.
We are Rebel Strong!
Christina Steele Hantgin, Principal
Administration Contact Information
Storm Vance, Academic Director: storm.vance@austinisd.org
Lacy Blakley, 12th grade assistant principal: lacy.blakley@austinisd.org
Vinny Saldana, 11th grade assistant principal: vinny.saldana@austinisd.org
Amy Shirey, 10th grade assistant principal: amy.shirey@austinisd.org
Oscar Arroyo, 9th grade assistant principal: oscar.arroyo@austinisd.org
Eliseo Reyna, Director of Travis GPA: eliseo.reyna@austinisd.org
Patty Adams, School Nurse: padams@austinisd.org
Travis Early College High School
Website: travisrebels.org
Location: 1211 East Oltorf Street, Austin, TX, USA
Phone: 512-414-2527
Facebook: facebook.com/TravisECHSRebels
Twitter: @TravisRebels