Dear EMS Families,
We miss being together in person inside the walls of EMS but we are drawing our energy from the times we’re able to connect with your children over Google Meets and other platforms. As we move toward this next stage of virtual learning we are looking forward to seeing even more of each other. We are still fleshing out the details of what Continuity of Learning will look like at EMS, but we do know that daily attendance will be taken. Next Friday my message will share more details for this next phase - stay tuned.
This week we had our first virtual faculty meeting and were able to laugh and reconnect as a staff with over 55 people on the google meet. I continue to be humbled by the challenges of this time and appreciative of the learning and ways in which we are being stretched and challenged to grow as educators and as humans. Images like the ones pictured below from Judy Klima of the creative pieces of art inspired by her CoronaVirus project also bring such joy to my day, as does the incredible announcement about the Hildene award recipients featured just after the artwork.
We are grateful for the work you are doing at home to partner in this new world of remote learning!
Sending my best to all of you,
Meg
Friendly Reminders
We are eager to hear from your child/ren EVERY DAY. Please encourage your children to reach out to their teachers and connect so we can provide support, clarity and guidance.
You and your child/ren should be receiving a weekly email from your child/ren’s team as well as our exploratory teachers sharing the learning plan for the upcoming week. These lessons can also be found on the EMS website.
Resources
Creating a new schedule for remote learning (from the Tarrant Foundation)
Student example 6th Grade Schedule written by Jeremy Demink and his wife for their daughter
Community Announcements
Quarter 3 grades will be finalized and sent home after April 17th. Due to school closure:
All work turned in after March 9th will be considered extra credit.
All assignments due before March 9th will be graded as normal.
Make up work for quarter 3 can be completed through April 10th.
No decisions have been made yet regarding plans for:
Locker clean out
Transition supports
Celebrations
TECH UPDATE
Student Data Privacy and Chromebook Security
- In choosing digital services for our students, specifically for those under the age of 13, we can only use services that are COPPA compliant. In addition, as a school district, we need to be CIPA compliant and restrict student access to inappropriate websites.
- At the elementary and high school levels, this is done through a subscription to OpenDNS. At the middle level, we have the addition of two GoGuardian filters that apply to all of the 1:1 Chromebooks. Additional information about how the GoGuardian system uses data, and how it applies to students is included here: privacy@goguardian.com. Further questions are encouraged and can be sent to that link as well.
- For this period of school closure, the middle schools will have a 6th-grade specific filter and a filter for 7th and 8th graders. As of April 3rd, the filters will be shifted slightly to align with the new reality of learning online.
- For the foreseeable future, all social media sites and streaming services will be blocked. A filtered version of Youtube will be available to students to access online learning videos. These filters will allow our students to access the materials they need to learn virtually, while adhering to state and federal guidelines.
Video Conferencing
- As of last week, students have not been able to video call other students (either through Google Hangouts or Zoom). This decision was made in line with other districts for the protection of students and student data privacy. Students can still join video conferences initiated and maintained by BSD educators.
- District Video Conferencing and E-Learning Guidelines will be shared by district communication.
Internet Access
The district COVID 19 Coronavirus Prep in BSD web page provides an “Internet Access for All BSD Students and Families” section which outlines details and offers from both Burlington Telecom and Comcast. Burlington Telecom and Comcast are working closely with the City of Burlington and the Burlington School District to identify and provide solutions for neighborhoods and families. Please view the district webpage for more information.Inspired by John Spencer’s Maker Hour and Eric Schoembs project , my own children spent last Sunday making an Ewok village and a vending machine in our unfinished basement. A perfect rainy day activity as we enter the month of April in Vermont (see photo above.) We would love to see snapshots of remote learning and family fun from your homes too. Send to me and I will share in my nightly faculty memo.
John Spencer's suggestions for ways to take learning away from screens during this time:
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