OVS Weekly Update
December 1, 2017 Edition, Volume 52
Mark Your Calendars!
December 5th-7th: Common Sense Media with Ms. Keegan Korf
Other Important dates:
December 7th: 5-8pm Barnes and Noble Fundraiser & Student Art show at Crossroads Location
December 5th: 3-4pm 9th grade infosession for families of 2nd semester start 9th grade students who have accumulated credits in the 1st semester. 8th grade parents and students are welcome to attend. However, information regarding the 2018-19 experience will NOT be shared. Location: Metro Community College, 30th & Fort, Building 10 room 206
December 13th: School Pictures Make-Up Day from 1:30-2:30pm-Drop in between that time to have your student's picture taken.
Principal's Corner
Attendance-Did you know?
(This was sent home in an email as well)
Every quarter, we send an attendance report to the state. With our limited face to face time, our attendance report is determined by considering face to face instructional hours in addition to online learning hours.
This means that it is imperative that:
- students are present to face to face instructional time at the learning center
- students are engaged on K12.com regularly
- learning coaches are logging online and offline learning time, weekly (6-9th grade only logs offline learning time)
The state requirement of learning hours in one year from Rule 10
K-8th grade: 1,032 hours/year
9+: 1,080 hours/year
So?
To put this in perspective, below is the breakdown of required hours/quarter for a FULL-TIME student, who is expected to work 6 hours/day (see table page 24 in OVS handbook or in image below). Part-time students should expect to be engaged for an hour/day for each course. Please note, these hours don't need to be completed daily, they can be completed anytime during the week, it is easier to explain in this manner.
Kindergarten-8th grade students
Q1 total days = 44 x 6 hours/day = 264 total hours/quarter
Q2 total days= 41 x 6 hours/day = 246 total hours
Q3 total days = 41 x 6 hours/day = 246 hours
Q4 total days = 48 x 6 hours/day = 288 hours
Total school days/year = 173 days
Total hours/year = 1,044
What does this mean for you?
ALL learning coaches need to log their student's offline instructional time on K12 for attendance purposes. Examples of offline hours are: writing a paper on Microsoft Word, completing handwriting in a workbook, painting a picture for art, doing PE stretches/activities, reading a novel for their novel unit, researching an animal online for a research project. Any work that is NOT on K12.com is considered offline.
K-5th grade learning coaches need to log online work on K12 as well.
How can we help you?
We are devising a plan to send reminders to parents to log hours and to let parents know if their student's engagement is not on track to meet the quarterly progress. We will be handing out half sheets to full-time students to show parents what student's logged for the first quarter, just so you have a frame of reference.
Tips to make this manageable:
- Create a calendar for learning time for students to write down their minutes, and log this weekly.
- Have a calendar for YOU to keep track of learning time (if you have younger students), and log this weekly.
- We have devices available for learning coaches to use during class time, you can log your weekly time while your student is learning.
What attendance do learning coaches log?
K-5th Grade
ONLINE and OFFLINE Activity
6-8th Grade
OFFLINE ONLY-K12 tracks online engagement
Please note:
- Teachers take attendance at the class sessions at school, learning coaches do not need to log these hours.
- If your student participates in Independent study lab or Study Skills- beyond the instructional time- learning coaches need to log those hours. HOWEVER, depending on the work done during this time, 6-8th grade students may already be logged in to K12.
- LIVE ONLINE LESSONS with teachers and watching online lesson recordings need to be logged by learning coaches for ALL grades.
Synergy Corner
Book Fair Join us for the Omaha Virtual School's Art Display and Book Fair at Barnes and Noble's Crossroads location on December 7th. Please mention OVS and a percentage of your purchase will come back to strengthen our community. If you are ordering online you can enter the Book Fair ID #12273033. Come out and check out student art work from 5pm - 8pm.
Volunteers Needed: We have the opportunity to host a gift wrapping station at Barnes and Noble during our book fair. We are looking for volunteers who would like to help wrap presents on Dec 7th. Time slots are in one hour increments from 5-8pm. If you are interested, please email Ashley Muller.
Boxtop Collection: Congratulations to Ms Rogers classes for winning the box tops contest in the month of November! New contest will start for December, so bring in those box tops. Please start sending your clipped BOXTOPS to school. The teacher that collects the greatest number of box tops in the month of December will receive a prize for each of their students.
Watch out for the Ocelot paw prints We have asked our teachers to let us know of any classroom needs. They will keep posting these items on the Learning Coach Lounge door. Please consider adopting a paw print! You can then return the items directly to the classroom teacher. THANK YOU!
Synergy Board Vacancy The Synergy board is still seeking a treasurer. Please contact us at omahavirtualschoolpto@gmail.com if you are able to help serve our community.
OVS T-shirts Available: We still have grey and blue t-shirts available for sale. There are limited sizes and quantities. The blue shirts are $10 and the grey shirts are $17. Here is what is available:
- Blue Shirt: Youth Medium (2) and Youth Large (1)
- Grey Shirt: Youth Extra Small (2), Small (3), Medium (3) and Large (5), Adult Small (2) and Adult Medium (2)
Assembly Message: How Good Spreads
Tech Tidbits
Headphones, Stylus, and Mice, Oh My!
If your student's headphones, stylus, and/or mice stops working that is no fault of your student, please communicate with your teacher immediately, and bring in the item to school to receive a replacement.
Students are liable for the cost of the accessory, if:
1) Unexplained Loss or Mysterious Disappearance: The item is lost.
2) Intentional Acts: The Program will not cover a loss caused by intentional damage or destruction of property.
3) Dishonest Acts: The Program will not cover any loss caused by dishonesty or illegal acts.
4) Unauthorized Repairs: The Program will not cover damages in which repair was attempted or completed by non-District technicians.
5) Non-Timely Reporting: The Program may not cover damage or loss that is not reported with 3 days
With this in mind, we recommend that you determine an inobtrusive way to identify your students' accessory, to prevent it from getting lost. For example, a rubber band on the head phones or a sticker on the bottom of the mouse.
Replacement costs:
Wireless mouse: $30.09
Headphones: $16.99
Stylus for 612: $45.99
Once the cost of the item is received, it is up to the parent/LC if they would like the student to receive a replacement item from the school or purchase an item on their own.
$20 Device Coverage Clarification
Many of you opted into the $20 device coverage when your students received their devices. After further clarification from the district, this $20 covers only the student device, not the accessories (headphones, mice, stylus).
Classroom Happenings
Art update
Our last face to face sessions of 2nd quarter are next week!
**Please bring portfolios with student's completed work up to this point. Make sure all artwork is labeled with student name and Unit/Lesson (Example: Shannon Barry, U1L1)
Portfolios will be returned the following week.***
K/1 will be completing Unit 4, Lesson 3 face to face
- This is a painting activity. You do not need to bring any art supplies with you but students should wear clothes okay to paint in. This painting will go home with you because it is needed for the next lesson.
- To be on track per the pacing guide for 2nd Quarter the following should be completed: U2L4, U2L5, U2L7, U4L1, U4L2,
Grades 2/3 will be completing Unit 3, Lesson 4 face to face. We will be finishing the project from Unit 3, Lessons 2 & 3
- Please bring the started Rain forest project from Unit 3, Lessons 2 &3 to work on.
- To be on track per the pacing guide for 2nd Quarter the following should be completed: U2L3, U2L4, U3L1, U3L2, U3L3.
Grades 4/5 will be completing Unit 4, Lesson 2 face to face
- Bring your oil pastels from the K12 art kit.
- To be on track per the pacing guide for 2nd Quarter the following should be completed: U2L8, U2L9, U3L4, U3L5, U4L1.
OPTIONAL: Students bring in their favorite artwork so far this year to be displayed at the OVS Book Fair at Barnes & Noble.
Ms. Roger's Classroom
This week we participated in the Skype-a-thon! The students really enjoyed it. Our Tuesday group got to take a tour of the Microsoft store in Kansas City, our Wednesday group headed to North High School to see what their Robotics Club has been working on, and finally our Thursday group did a Mystery Skype with Mr. Dowling's class.
In reading, each group finished up the story or article from our online lesson. In Kindergarten we reviewed the non-fiction text features. 1st Grade finished reading the folktale Budalinek, students were then asked to write a different ending to the story or continue the story from the end.
In Math, we practiced number sense with the skill of addition. We will continue this next week.
Looking Ahead:
We will have Art next week, so bring your Art Portfolio!
Students will also be participating in the Hour of Code, follow the link to see the different options students will have. They can also work on this at home if they want.
In Math, each group will be taking a Unit Checkpoint to end the units we have been working on online and in class.
Reading will focus on practicing sight words and writing a 5 Star Sentence.
**Don't forget our school wide PENNY WAR and bring your BoxTops!
Mr. Dowling's Classroom
Ms. Nommensen's Classroom
Welcome to December! Can you believe half of the year is nearly over?!?! I’m shocked at how fast it has gone! Speaking of half of the year being over at the end of December, how are you doing on your progress in K12? We need to be at 50% complete (or done with all of second quarter’s pacing guide lessons) in all curriculum areas. I want to be the class that has 100% of us on pace! Let’s win, guys!!
Speaking of winning, we are having a penny war against the rest of the school to raise money for an animal rescue organization. All pennies and paper bills count FOR our class and all silver coins count against. So, if possible, bring in your pennies to fill our jar; and bring in your silver coins to fill the other classrooms’ jars!
Have a fantastic week and we will see you soon!
Mr. Gamble's Classroom
Week in Review:
The class worked through various science and social studies concepts.
Looking Ahead:
In class we will work on varied math concepts from their curriculum involving real-world math.
- Fundamentals: Identify different bank account types and balance a checkbook. (Lesson 5.05 – Bank Accounts)
- PreAlgebra: Solve real-world problems that involve percent of change. (Lesson 5.11: Percent Increase and Decrease)
- Algebra: Model problems in the real world that have a linear relationship. (Lesson 3.14: Linear Models)
- Algebra 1: Write inequalities from graphs. (Lesson 7.14: Inequalities from Graphs)
- Algebra 2: Identify different real world applications for geometric and arithmetic series. (Lesson 3.11: Series)
- Geometry: Determine similarity and explain how they are related using angles and sides. (Lesson 6.05: Similar Polygons)
Resources:
- The Mint has a lot of information on saving, spending, credit, and other financial terms.
- Math Playground has practice problems on discount/sale price and percent of discount.
- Ducksters has instruction and examples on linear equations and the relationship between the variables.
- Quia is similar to the millionaire game and you must match inequalities to their correct graphs.
- Purple Math has explanations and practice for arithmetic and geometric series.
- Math Planet has an explanation on similarity and a video on finding ratios to prove or disprove similarity of polygons.
Weekly Online Math Lessons:
Each week I am teaching the current math lesson, per the pacing guide, for each subject online via ClassConnect. These sessions are mandatory and students will learn the concept through interaction with the teacher. Upon completion, students will take their check-up and be complete with that lesson.
- Fundamentals: (Monday @ 9:30) Credit (5.07).
- PreAlgebra: (Friday @ 9:30) Cost of living adjustments (5.12).
- Algebra: (Monday @ 10:15) Graphing linear inequalities (3.15).
- Algebra 1: (Friday @ 10:15) Graphing linear inequalities (7.13).
- Algebra 2: (Monday @ 11:45) Varied topics.
- Geometry: (Friday @ 11:00) Similar polygons (6.07).
Ms. Blackburn's Classroom
Week in Review: This last week in class we worked on our social studies projects in class. Students who did not finish need to finish at home. These will be presented the week of Dec. 20th. We also worked on the science fair booklet. All students should have their project questions picked out now. They will start experiments this week at home.
Looking Ahead: This week in class we will work on writing complex sentences. Students will practice this by helping to write a classroom blog.
9th Grade
Troubles with your device?
Parents will get an email response following your submission. One of our staff members will email parents back to provide assistance, so be sure to check your email after sending your concern.
Mission Statement
Omaha Virtual School
Email: virtualschool@ops.org
Website: ovs.k12.com
Location: 3215 Cuming Street, Omaha, NE, United States
Phone: (531)299-0269
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OPSVirtualSchool/
Twitter: @OPS_Virtual