Remote Learning: Back to School
August 14, 2020
A Day in the Life of an HHS student....
Teachers will deliver appropriate distance learning using PowerSchool Learning (formally Haiku) and Zoom.
Student attendance will be taken to ensure a proper continuum of learning and lessons will be assigned using PowerSchool Learning (PSL). Students will be engaged in activities that will require them to participate in small and large group, individual or one-on-one activities. Students need to work from their assigned Chromebook.
As we enter remote learning, you will hear the terms ‘synchronous’ and ‘asynchronous’ learning used frequently. Synchronous learning involves a group of students and teachers engaging in learning at the same time, set by the teacher. An example of synchronous learning often used is a zoom meeting in which the teacher connects with students, offers direct instruction or differentiation with small groups of students. Asynchronous learning occurs when the student accesses the course content and tasks at a time that works best for them. For example, a teacher creates a recorded video for instruction and places it on his or her PSL page. The student then has access to watch the video during the scheduled class time or later in the evening.
To ensure that classes are able to meet synchronously at specified times for both direct instruction and student-centered learning, students will follow a block schedule. The purpose of shifting to a virtual block setting is to allow students to have more time to process and reflect on the learning and less information to process over the course of a school day. Rather than go quickly through 7 classes a day in the traditional setting, students and teachers will have time to meet virtually and focus on learning for only 3-4 classes a day. Instruction will be provided each day according to the following schedule:
Periods 1 through 4 will meet on Tuesday/Thursday; periods 5 through 8 will meet on Wednesday/Friday. Student assigned work will be planned for only the day the class is scheduled to meet.
Attendance will be taken during the above class times; therefore, we ask for parents’ assistance in structuring home expectations to school hours for structured learning. Together, we can help students to stay on task.
Teachers will provide students with feedback in many tech-driven ways, including via email, classroom discussions, shared documents, and PowerSchool Learning.
Parents and students should continue to monitor PowerSchool to see scores and student progress in coursework.
Attendance and Grading
The academic modifications that were made in spring 2020 are no longer in place. Attendance will be taken and grading policies will be in full effect.
Students will be marked UNV (unverified) if they skip a required synchronous session.
Parents need to call in to excuse an absence per typical attendance protocol.
Students will be marked ASYNC (asynchronous) if they will be working independently that period and not expected to attend a virtual class that day. This will ensure they are marked present for the designated day but indicate they did not have to engage in a synchronous lesson.
If a student is going to be absent from a synchronous lesson, parents are still required to call into the attendance office to verify their absence. Failure to do so will result in the student being in violation of the attendance policy and all unverified attendance protocol per the student handbook will apply.
Zoom Etiquette for Students
Although we are in a remote setting, we are still Red Raiders and will be Respectful, Responsible and Involved. Keeping this in mind will help all students have successful zoom sessions with their teacher and peers.
Students will need to ensure their device is fully charged or plugged in before entering a Zoom session.
Once students have clicked on the invitation link, they will go into a ‘waiting room’. The teacher will allow access to the session.
The volume will need to be up on the device students are using and the video will need to be activated
The teacher will lead the session and will be looking forward to having students participate.
Students need to respect the ideas and opinions of others, just like a normal school setting.
If students need to leave the meeting for some reason, they will let their teacher know.
If students need to have their video off, they must communicate with their teacher ahead of time.
Zoom Etiquette for Parents
Once your child is set up for their Zoom meeting please allow them to attend the session by themselves, as would happen with a classroom session.
Please try to have your child set up for the meeting in a space where there will be minimum disruptions.
Please do not use photography or any recording equipment (including Zoom recording) during the Zoom session.
Communication
Evening Remote Success Office Hours
We understand that our daily schedule will not always work for students and families and that for some, learning often will take place outside of the regular school day. To help meet the needs of these students, we will be offering evening academic support in the form of office hours.
Teachers in each core subject will be available 4 evenings per week to assist with asynchronous activities, homework, or other questions from students and families.
Please note that a student’s own teacher(s) will always be the best source of assistance for learning support. Remote Success Evening Office Hours are designed to provide extra help outside of regular school hours.
Specific processes and procedures for Remote Success Evening Office Hours will be clarified and hours will begin within the first several weeks of the school year.
More information will be shared with families as soon as possible!
Save the Date
The following are test dates and will be ASYNCHRONOUS LEARNING DAYS for all other students.
Seniors will take the SAT on September 23, 2020
Juniors will take the PSAT/NMSQT on October 14, 2020
Students testing on those days will be coming into the building in order to test. More information will come as we prepare for these very important dates and tests.
We Love and Care about YOU!!! We want to check in with you to see how you are doing. Please take a moment and let us know. We want to try to connect with students within the first couple of weeks and support in any way we can!!!
Huntley High School
Ms. Shelly Kish, Associate Principal
Mrs. Danyce Letkewicz, Associate Principal
Mr. Tom Kempf, Associate Principal
Email: mbelin@district158.org
Website: www.district158.org/hhs
Location: 13719 Harmony Road, Huntley, IL, USA
Phone: (847) 659-6601
Twitter: @Huntleyhs