SHARK MAIL
Saturday, September 26th 2020
Saturday Message:
Happy Saturday, Sharks!
I hope this message finds you well. We just finished week 3 of our virtual learning. Hopefully, you and your families are settling into a routine that works for you all. If you need help navigating any parts of your situation, please remember the counseling department is here to help.
We have received several questions regarding the guidelines for synchronous learning for classes. Please see the list below for some clarification:
- Each middle school course is allotted a maximum of 35 minutes of synchronous learning per session.
- Each high school course is allotted a maximum of 45 minutes of synchronous learning per session (Algebra I, Geometry, French, and Spanish) - Additionally, they are allowed to assign two hours of homework per week.
- The time it takes for students to get logged on and attendance completed does not count towards synchronous learning.
- Teachers are permitted to break synchronous learning time into segments for the duration of the block and require students to check back in at certain times.
As always if you have concerns about teachers spending more than than the allotted time with synchronous learning, please reach out directly to the teacher first to share your concerns.
Sincerely,
Ms. Wood, Principal
Grade Level Newsletters
News from SMS:
Cloud Computing Form: In addition to the resources already provided by ACPS, our teachers have selected more tools to further enhance learning throughout the school year. Some of these tools require parent/guardian permission for students to create accounts.
Each of the tools listed below has been thoroughly reviewed by the Department of Technology to ensure student safety, age appropriateness, and data privacy. For a detailed look at the criteria they use to review the technology resources and to learn more about the Children’s Online Protection Act (COPPA), please visit this informational guide bit.ly/ACPStechReview. Click here to complete the form.- Friday Work: Just a reminder to parents that Friday is an asynchronous day. Students do not have classes to attend, although they can report to Office Hours in the afternoon by accessing the Zoom links on their teacher's Schoology page. HOWEVER, please note that Fridays do have work assigned. Teachers post a Friday lesson on Schoology for students to work on at their own pace. It is a good habit to check Schoology for each class on Friday morning to see your assignment for the day.
- Zoom names: We need your help reminding students to use their preferred name and last name when logging on to Zoom. When a student signs on with a creative name and no last name, teachers have been instructed not to allow them into the Zoom class. This is to ensure student safety in the Zoom session. Thank you.
Student Verification
We are excited to announce that online registration verification for the 2020-2021 school year is now open! This process replaces the paper forms traditionally sent home in First Day Packets at the beginning of each school year. Your verification is now available online. You will need to use the PowerSchool Parent Portal to access the PowerSchool Enrollment registration system. We request that you submit registration verifications for all students by Friday, October 9, 2020.
Note: Only students attending an ACPS elementary, middle or high school will complete registrations using this method. Students served by Ivy Creek, CSA, or our special education department will continue to update their information in the same manner as they have previously.
How do I get started?
If you have a PowerSchool Parent Portal account, go to https://sis.k12albemarle.org/ and sign in to the PowerSchool Parent Portal. From the Parent Portal:
1. Select the student you wish to update along the top.
2. Either:
- Click the Student Registration Verification button on the left sidebar; OR
- Click the Applications icon in the top-right corner and select Student Registration Verification.
3. Enter your student's date of birth to verify access to the form.
4. Follow the prompts to begin the form.
5. Review all information on each page and make changes where necessary.
If you do not yet have a Parent Portal account, please contact your student’s school.
Sutherland Reminders:
Library Checkout: This week each student participated in a library orientation during English Language Arts (ELA) class. Students learned how to place a hold on a book. If your child checked out materials, an email notification will be sent when the books are ready to be picked up. All prepared materials can be picked up from the front foyer Monday through Thursday from 8:00 A.M. to 4:30 P.M. We also added Friday hours from 8:00 - 3:00. All materials are bagged and organized in alphabetical order by last name. You do not have to enter the front office. Simply grab and go!
When you are finished with these materials, please leave them in the return bin in the front foyer. All books go through a 3-day quarantine process and will not be shelved or checked into our system until that time is complete. Happy reading!From the PTO: Our September newsletter can be found here. A helpful PTO flyer regarding fundraising and Attraction Books can be found here.
French Club: The Alliance Française of Charlottesville is offering a FUN, INTERACTIVE, and ENGAGING online French club for Sutherland middle school students this fall! Our Breakfast Club has 2 offerings:
Wednesdays 8:15-9:15 am for true beginners
Thursdays 8:15-9:15 am for those who have had some French!
Our club will focus on French-speaking and listening as we explore the French language and culture. More information found here- As we begin the new school year, Sutherland and the PTO are happy to announce the Tutor Equity Fund. This fund is designed to provide support to families to cover tutoring costs for students who may benefit from some extra support outside of school, especially during this virtual learning period.
We want to make sure all students have access to the resources they need to be successful. The fund has been seeded with a $1000 contribution from a Sutherland family. If you are willing to make a donation to the fund, please make your donation at the following link: http://paypal.me/sutherlandmiddleptoThere is a space to add a comment - please just type in “tutoring"
Families who would benefit from tutor support and are experiencing financial hardship are encouraged to contact the Sutherland counseling department via this Google form to apply for tutoring support.
Attendance Procedures
- Present Virtual Synchronous - PVS: indicates that a student was present virtually during the allotted class period.
- Present Virtual Synchronous- PVA: indicates that a student did the classwork but did not attend the class during the allotted period.
- UNV/UEX: indicates that a student did not attend class during the allotted time nor did they complete the class.
If you have questions regarding a student's attendance, please contact the teacher directly first. The teacher will email our attendance coordinator if a change is warranted.
Social Media
Email: cguy@k12albemarle.org
Website: https://sms.k12albemarle.org/
Location: 2801 Powell Creek Drive, Charlottesville, VA, USA
Phone: (434) 975-0599
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sutherlandpto
Twitter: @SMSSharks