The Cougar Pounce
staying connected @ShuksanMS
The pounce will come to you every Sunday morning with weekly news
September 20, 2020
Hello Shuksan Families,
Today, I'd like to bring up this hot topic: Zoom cameras on or off?
In the classroom, teachers rely on getting "in the moment" feedback from students. What teaching tools work best? Are students understanding? If not, where are they getting stuck?
Many students choose to be in Zoom classes with their cameras off. With so many cameras off, teachers find this to be a new challenge. There are so many black screens. It’s also challenging to know if students are engaged with the lesson. Are the kids even there? 😊
So... why don’t schools just require every student to turn their Zoom camera on? There are several arguments against mandating that cameras be turned on. The biggest argument is to maintain students' privacy. Turning the camera on is a window into students’ homes. Many kids do not want to put their homes on display for the entire class. Feeling comfortable and safe in a learning environment is critical.
What’s the answer?
- Teachers will encourage students to show their faces, but not require it. We’re learning new ways to get "in the moment" feedback from students and promote engagement.
- Parents can discuss with their kids the pros and cons of using Zoom cameras. Start by asking if your student has their camera on.
We would also like to see families at our first SMS Family Meeting, Tuesday (9/22) at 7:30 pm on Zoom. During this time, we will talk about a student's typical day, how to use Teams, student clubs and activities and library book pick up. We will also ask you what future topics you would like to discuss.
We hope you can make it!
Matt
Meet Kelly Giles
Hi, my name is Kelly Giles and as the Student Assistance Professional at Shuksan.
I provide support around mental, emotional, and substance use issues as well as education about mental health and substance use misperceptions, enabling students to better focus on their academics.
Keep Kids Drug Free
Ms. Cowan, Counselor
Ms. Besson, Counselor
SMS Counseling Team
Welcome back, Cougars!
Ms. Coco and Ms. Cowan are excited to connect with you and to support families and students in a variety of ways.
If you have questions about your schedule, community resources, or just want to chat, please contact Ms. Coco at (360) 746-4132 and Ms. Cowan at (360) 303-2818.
We are also doing Zoom counseling with students! You can set those up by emailing us or letting your homeroom teacher know you would like to meet or do weekly check-ins.
Finally, we are able to make counseling referrals for Compass Counseling. Please contact us and we will walk you through a referral packet to get counseling started.
Looking forward to connecting with all of you!!
Ms. Coco and Ms. Cowan
Emails:
Shuksan Middle School
Vice-Principal, Allison Hancock
Dean of Students, Nichole Lockhart
Email: matthew.whitten@bellinghamschools.org
Website: https://shuksan.bellinghamschools.org/
Location: 2717 Alderwood Avenue, Bellingham, WA, USA
Phone: (360) 676-6454
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shuksanmiddleschool/