Raider Nation Staff Newsletter
Week of April 27, 2020
Our New Norm
Hello Raider Nation,
It is hard to believe that tomorrow marks our foray into the fourth and final quarter of this most unique year. As I have shared with Dr. Martirano and many others, I have been so impressed with your ability to adapt to our new norm of distance learning but more importantly how much each of you are working with our students and helping them to adapt to this new norm as well.
Many of you heard of the new attendance procedures adopted during our Continuity of Learning. There are only a few takeaways I need you to focus on regarding this. There is NO expectation that attendance is tied to your class grade and you DO NOT have to keep track of “attendance” points. The only change on your part from the last two weeks is that you will now document attendance as you have in the past -- logging into Synergy to mark students either absent or present. You will do this for your check-ins and then if a student submits an assignment on Friday, you will mark them present. To summarize:
Teachers will take class attendance during their respective check-ins and record in Synergy
Teachers will use the submission of assignments as attendance for Fridays
We are asking (just as you would normally) that if a student is not consistently checking in or not turning in assignments that you follow this protocol:
If a student has not logged in or turned in any work by Friday, teachers make one attempt to contact the parent by the next week.
One attempt should be a phone call and voicemail.
If a teacher needs to leave a voicemail, follow-up with an e-mail.
If you do not get a response, or if the behavior continues, you are to reach out to the counselor. The counselor will involve the administrator and SST as appropriate.
You have department meetings tomorrow. If there are any questions, please pass on to your ITL who will bring them to administration.
I want to keep you all appraised of what is happening with our seniors. As we enter the last marking period of the school year, our attention turns to our seniors -- the Class of 2020. Slowly, and I am sure not fast enough for everyone, decisions are being made centrally regarding the end of year activities for our seniors. Hopefully, you should be aware of the first decision made -- the last day for seniors will be May 20, 2020. High schools are in the process of discussing ways to honor our seniors. One way we have decided to do so is through yard signs. Perhaps you have seen on social media the various pictures of senior yard signs. Don’t worry, our PTSA is in the process of preparing Atholton's signs for delivery! Don’t be surprised if one shows up on your lawn this week! HCPSS has created a website for the Class of 2020. You can find updates and information here as it becomes available. We are also in the process of preparing a virtual Senior Awards slideshow and we will continue our senior tradition of “Senior Stars” allowing our seniors to decorate their “google slide” for display on our webpage. Lastly, Mr. Senisi is working on Twitter feeds that will highlight our seniors from spring sports. Stay tuned for more information on all of these developments. We are doing our best to try and make this a memorable year for our seniors. If you are interested in helping to visit homes and place yard signs for seniors please send me an email. We need staff volunteers (to handle student information) with our PTSA volunteers.
Last week, Nina sent information regarding an electronic Grade Change Form. Please email Nina any questions you may have regarding this form.
THIRD QUARTER GRADES -- due in Synergy by this Friday, May 1. Again, reach out to Nina if you have any questions.
Just a reminder that you have department meetings tomorrow. ITLs -- please send your meeting link to your assigned administrator if you have not done so already.
Have a great week!
Robert
Happy Administrative Professionals' Day
Last Wednesday was Administrative Professionals' Day. In this virtual environment, we want to let our front office, student services, and media staff know that we appreciate you and the many WAYS you keep us going.
Your efficient ways. Your hard-working ways. Your dependable ways. Your professional ways. Your organized ways. The just-because-you’re-wonderful-you ways... These are just some of the reasons why you deserve thanks for all you do throughout the year.
Thank You and Happy Administrative Professionals Day!
THIS WEEK
Meetings
All Meetings are VIRTUAL
Monday-- Department Meetings (9:30 a.m.)
Friday -- ITL Meeting (11:30 a.m.)
Friday -- SST Meeting (1:15 p.m.)
Mark Your Calendar
May 20 -- Last Day for Seniors
Atholton High School
Email: rmotley@hcpss.org
Website: ahs.hcpss.org
Location: 6520 Freetown Road, Columbia, MD, USA
Phone: 4103137065