HOA Happenings
October 30, 2020
A message from the Principal
Dear HOA Students and Families,
Quarter one of the 2020-21 school year will end on Thursday, November 5, and that means fall conferences are just around the corner.
Just as virtually everything about this year is different than it is in “normal” school years, we will be making adjustments to our process for fall conferences as well.
One of the benefits of our Asynchronous/”On-Demand” model is that we have more flexibility for staff to connect directly with students and families. These connections have allowed us to have ongoing dialogue, understand families’ needs, and to provide tailored guidance to students along the way.
HOA conferences will focus on students who may have demonstrated a need for additional support or guidance as an online learner, and that we have been unable to connect with so far. HOA teachers hope to reach families of students through phone calls and emails. Some families will be invited to conference with teachers but not all families will receive an invitation.
HOA students who are doing well are on track and likely do not need a specific check-in at conference time as they and their families have been in contact with teachers throughout Q1. We have encouraged teachers to utilize the comments section of the progress report to share general feedback about students’ performance as an indicator to families of their child’s progress and habits in the class.
Thank you very much for your assistance in maximizing the usefulness and efficiency of our fall conferences!
Respectfully,
Linda Harrington
Hillsboro Online Academy
Did you know?
Internet access options during coronavirus closure
There are several ways students can connect to the internet to engage in distance learning.
You can request a personal MiFi hotspot device from your school (these are in limited supply and are subject to prioritized access, with seniors and students with special needs receiving first priority, and those in lower grades being fulfilled from 11th grade - down as they are available)
You can access free WiFi hotspots provided by local internet providers (https://bit.ly/3ayMb3T), by the City of Hillsboro (https://bit.ly/2Vx8aEc), or in the parking lots of some of our schools (access points marked by signs).
Or you can sign up for Comcast’s Internet Essentials program (website: www.internetessentials.com; flyer: https://bit.ly/3c6RPvT). This program brings affordable, high-speed internet to low-income households that qualify:
Are eligible for public assistance programs like free/reduced lunch, housing assistance, Medicaid, SNAP, SSI, and others.
Live in an area where Comcast Internet Service is available.
Have not subscribed to Comcast Internet within the last 90 days.
Have no outstanding debt to Comcast that is less than one year old.* (*Due to the coronavirus crisis, households with outstanding debt may still be eligible).
Families that qualify will get 6 months of high-speed internet paid for by HSD. After that, families can decide whether they want to cancel the service or begin paying the $9.95 per month plus tax (estimated monthly total is $12.50).
The Internet Essentials program features:
No term contract - cancel any time
No credit check
No installation fee
Several options for providing identification at sign-up - you do not need to provide a Social Security Number if you do not want to or do not have one
Please talk to our office manager if you would like to sign up for Internet Essentials or if you already have signed up and would like to access the District’s additional four months of account payment.
Families that want to access the District’s payment of six months of Internet Essentials will need to acknowledge the terms of the agreement, which are that the District will not filter the internet access and that families understand they will be responsible for canceling or paying for the service on their own after six months of District payment.
Easy access to Curriculum & Assessments
- Enter the following address into your web browser: https://launchpad.classlink.com/hsd
- Click the “Sign In with Google” button.
- Enter your Hillsboro School District credentials and click “Sign in”
Student e-Mail
Students DO NOT have full-functioning gmail accounts
Scholastic Book Clubs
During the COVID crisis, you can choose where to have your books shipped: to your home or delivered to me with our class order. With a $25 order, you will get FREE shipping and a FREE Book (use code: READS).
Class Order Due Date: 11/15/20
Connect and Shop Our School Page: https://orders.scholastic.com/HRTDP
Class Code: HRTDP
Message to high school students and families regarding athletics and activities
HSD has engaged in conversations about reopening the outdoor spaces on our campuses for limited activities by high school athletic and activity groups.
This opening will occur in a modified manner that will meet all required and recommended criteria that have been set forth by the Oregon Department of Education (ODE), Oregon Health Authority (OHA), Centers for Disease Control (CDC), and Governor Brown’s orders. In addition, HSD will take all precautions and safety measures and look to go above and beyond to ensure our students’ wellbeing.
We have a myriad of tasks at hand to get ready for this potential reopening. Two that pertain directly to our student athletes and must be completed prior to any activity taking place are:
- Complete the Family ID registration, and
- Have an updated physical on file. Physicals can be uploaded to the Family ID registration portal or emailed to the Athletic Director or Athletic Secretary (see your neighborhood school’s website for contact information).
Note: Students whose physical expires before the OSAA Association Year concludes will need to get a new physical and thus will not be cleared for participation until it is complete.
We are currently in Season 1 of the OSAA Association Year. While we are not able to engage in competitions or contests during this season, we are looking at holding modified workouts. We are excited about this possibility, so in preparation we are asking students to turn in their physicals and registrations as soon as possible.
HSD will communicate the details of their plan with coaches, student athletes, and their families as soon as we can and prior to lifting the current restrictions. Should you have any questions, please contact your neighborhood school’s Athletic Director.
Dennis Rice, CHS Athletic Director, Century Family ID
Matt York, GHS Athletic Director, Glencoe Family ID
Steve Drake, HilHi Athletic Director, Hilhi Family ID
Alan Foster, LHS Athletic Director, Liberty Family ID
Parent Connect Meeting: K-2
Our guiding question, “what’s working and/or what is not working?” We keep it real and are here to support the good experiences and the not so good ones. We often have guests and topics that offer parent support and resources.
Angela Lorenzo our Parent Coach / Homeschool Consultant will facilitate these meetings along with Shannon Freudenthal our Vice Principal. Email alparentconsulting@gmail.com for the meeting link!