Sem Connection
October 2, 2020
Sem Elementary
Email: sem@friscoisd.org
Website: http://schools.friscoisd.org/campus/elementary/sem/home
Phone: 469.633.3575
Facebook: facebook.com/SemElem2019
Twitter: @SemElementary
From Principal Mira and Mrs. Collins
Hello Sem Parents,
October is typically one of our busiest months, but 2020 has proven that any month can be eventful. Each day (sometimes each hour), our team learns and discovers new ideas, strategies, and techniques. Changes are not always welcomed, but they are sure to help us grow as educators.
Your partnership during this "change" has been significant and indispensable. As we continue, we want to remind you of some essentials:
- Teachers use student work to identify areas of need. Please don't help your child complete an assignment unless the teacher tells you it is okay.
- Ensure virtual students are attending their synchronous class times and completing assignments.
- In-person learners should come prepared with their mask, lunch, water bottles, and other essential items needed for the day.
- Stay connected with your child's teacher.
- In-person learners should be screened daily for COVID-19 symptoms before coming to school.
- Report any absence using the tile on Sem's website.
- Be sure students are getting a great night's sleep. Their active engagement, whether virtually or in-person, will have a significant, positive impact on their success.
Parent conferences will be held virtually this month. Our teachers will send you information and an invitation soon. You will be provided with your child's current academic level, along with other pertinent information.
#StongerTogether,
Principal Mira and Mrs. Collins
Sem News
News from Nurse Madden
Get Your Flu Shot
In healthy children, the risks from flu complications are higher than Covid-19. Studies show that flu vaccination reduces the risk of flu illness by 40% - 60% among the overall population during seasons when most circulating flu viruses are well-matched to the flu vaccine.
FAQs
- Allergic to eggs? No problem! The flu vaccine is available without eggs involved in the vaccine/virus production! Ask your doctor.
- Afraid of or just don’t like needles? A nasal spray form of the flu vaccine is available for kids/adults who meet specific criteria. Once again, ask your doctor.
- Your local pharmacist can share some preservative free options.
- For the statical people, more information on the annual flu burden adverted by flu vaccination can be found at https://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/burden/past-seasons.html.
Stay safe and healthy!
Counselor's Corner
Resources from Mrs. Jones
Student Needs Assessment
Please help us by having your student complete the Student Needs Assessment. This will help us identify areas of support needed for our students.
Thank you!
Picture Day
Picture Day is Coming!!!
Only students will be allowed in the gymnasium to take the picture. Parents will need to wait by the door.
Virtual Students
Masks
Pictures with masks will not be included in the yearbook.
Library Updates from Mrs. Price
Reminders
- Student lunch: Please continue sending your child with lunch every morning. We do not have the lunch boxes outside this year.
- School Internet is Down: If the school internet is down, we will attempt to send a message via Facebook, Twitter or school messenger. Students should continue to work on asynchronous activities until we are able to get back online.
- School Drills: During a school drill, all instruction stops. Teachers are not aware of when these drills will occur, but if they are on Zoom, they will notify the class. Instruction will resume at the conclusion of the drill.
- Unable to Connect to Zoom: Email the teacher and let them know that you are having difficulties accessing the class. If this is an ongoing problem, it might be your internet connection.
- Home Internet is Down: If your home internet is not working, if possible, notify your child's teacher via email or by calling the school. Your child will not be penalized.
- Carpool: Parents need to stay inside their car during morning drop off and after school pick up. If your child needs assistance, please pull to the side and allow traffic to flow.
- PTA: Join the PTA, because we are stronger together.
- Virtual Students: Please make sure your Virtual Academy student is completing 1 art, 1 music, and 3 PE assignments during specials time each week. The skills we are practicing and assessing are compounding and built upon each week. If a student misses an assignment, it will make future assignments harder to understand and complete. When your student returns to face to face learning, they will be behind if they have not been keeping up with specials assignments. Specials assignments are graded with an S for Satisfactory work (turned in on time and understanding is shown) or a U for Unsatisfactory work (not submitted and directions are not followed or completed).
Important Links
Student Absences and Attendance
School starts at 7:45 am. Tardies will be counted for students arriving after 7:45 am.
School ends at 3:05 pm.
We will no longer accept paper notes from the doctor. Any notes or letters will need to be uploaded to the "Report the Absence" tab on the Sem website.
The complete Attendance Procedures are attached.
Grading Policy
Guidelines for Grading
- Grades reflect the student’s relative mastery of an assignment.
- A sufficient number of grades are taken to support the grade average assigned.
- The District shall permit a student who meets the criteria detailed in the grading guidelines a reasonable opportunity to redo an assignment or retake a test for which the student received a failing grade.
Free online tutoring for ALL Elementary Students by FISD Teachers.
*Guardian & child must be present
Important Dates from #TeamSem
October
- 5th-Last day to register to vote!
- 8th-Picture Day!
- 12th-School Holiday
- 13th-Fire Safety Clowns
- 14th-23rd-Virtual Fall Book Fair
- 26th-30th-Red Ribbon Week
- Meet the PTA Board
- Stay connected
- Learn how can get involved
Get Connected!!!
Facebook: facebook.com/SemElem2019
Twitter: @SemElementary
Sem PTA:
Facebook: Sem Elementary PTA
Twitter: @pts_sem
Instagram: SemElementaryPTA
Together WE ARE Stronger!
Frisco ISD News
At Home Technology Information
Preparing for Learning Virtually
Here is a Just the Basics video provided by our district. While it addresses the Virtual Academy, the information will apply for our face to face families for the next 3 weeks while our instruction is virtual as well: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lLoK0vPFhJc
Getting StartedSite
This site provides information on what you need to get started, such as what learning platforms we are using, how to configure wifi on district devices and where to go for additional help.
https://www.friscoisd.org/departments/covid-19/technology-resources
Login Information:
- FISD Gmail address = First.Last.last3ofID@k12.friscoisd.org
- Username = FISD Gmail address
- Password = FISD password
- Also used to log in on FISD Chromebooks
Student Portal (Links to an external site.)
- Username = ID number
- Password = FISD password
- portal.friscoisd.org
- (Links to an external site.)
- Access online books (if available) and links to other FISD student resources.
Device Repair Tile (for district loaned devices):
The Device Repair tile is now available for FISD students.
This is the fastest way for you to get if your district device is not working properly.
Students will access this in the STUDENT PORTAL
Student Toolbox Tile:
This site contains information and tutorials for online resources:
Students will access this in the STUDENT PORTAL
Zoom Updates
If your student is having trouble with Zoom, the application may need to be updated. In order to update, open your zoom app and click the icon at the top right
Click Check for Updates and it should automatically start downloading the update
Once it's finished downloading click the BLUE UPDATE button and zoom will finish updating!
Here is a link for more information on updating: https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/articles/201362233-Upgrade-update-to-the-latest-version
Frisco ISD Responds to COVID-19
Sem will be taking all of the mandated and necessary precautions to prevent the spread of the COVID-19. Parents/guardians are expected to screen their students for COVID-19 symptoms each day before sending their students to school.
Students will need to stay home if they exhibit the following symptoms:
- fever or chills
- cough
- shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- fatigue
- muscle or body aches
- headache
- new loss of taste or smell
- sore throat
- congestion or runny nose
- nausea
- vomiting
- diarrhea
Parents are required to report to the District as soon as possible if their student has experienced any of the following:
1. Tested positive for COVID-19,
2. Is experiencing symptoms consistent with COVID-19,
3. Is under quarantine due to close contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19, even if the student is receiving virtual instruction.
Parents should contact the school nurse via email or phone call, 469-633-3575, to report a COVID-19 incident. Additionally, all absences, including absences related to COVID-19, should be reported before 8:30 a.m. each school day via the official absence reporting form available on the Sem website.
Symptoms at School
Should your child present symptoms while at school, as determined by the school nurse, he/she will need to be picked up within 30 minutes. The student will be required to quarantine until their symptoms have improved AND one of the following:
1) at least 10 days have passed since their symptom onset (letter of good health required)
2) they receive a negative test (letter of good health is not required, but you need proof of test results)
3) a physician identifies the individual’s symptoms as something other than COVID-19 (doctor’s note confirming alternative diagnosis required, but no letter of good health required).
Below are documents that will provide more information as we embark on this unique school opening. This information can also be found on the Frisco ISD website.