RMS Staff Wildcat Weekly
Staff Newsletter 4.13.20
Shout Out!
I also cannot thank Deanna Bennet, Holly Gruver, and Erin Rogers enough for organizing the Chromebook and medication distribution last week. With a superb team with David, Lisa, Gabby, Jason, Cory, Nancy, Martha, Mari, Maria, Omar, Porfirio, and Beatriz, the distribution was smooth and safe! Great job to all!
Collaboration and Meetings
We are following our typical PLC schedule, so the PLC virtual meetings on Monday will be from 8:10-9:10 am (our regular time) in departments. If all department chairs can add their meetings to the Virtual School Shared Information and Collaboration document, that would be helpful, and please include counselors and administration on the invitations so we can pop into different meetings. Also, please remember to use the same PLC Running Agendas on the staff website. I know you're planning other collaborations, so please keep adding them to the doc as you have been.
We have regularly scheduled all staff meetings within our PLC schedule, and our next all staff meeting is on April 20th. In the meantime, I want to make sure that I'm available for any questions or concerns that come up, or even if you just want to connect, so I will host an informal Weekly Zoom that you pop into if you would like on Tuesdays at 9 am.
Please continue to reach out to us with questions, concerns, suggestions, etc. We're all learning, and we're making progress because we're doing it together!
Virtual School Information and Resources
Virtual School Important Links:
Roosevelt Middle Virtual School Daily Schedule and Expectations
Roosevelt Middle Virtual School Student Checklist
Roosevelt Middle Virtual School Parent Guide- helpful FAQs and resources
8th Grade Course Selection Update- important info for picking classes for next year!
Virtual Learning Handbook- this guide is for STAFF ONLY. Please use this as an important guide and reference, and note that changes may be made as we move forward with Virtual School.
VUSD Letter to Teachers and Staff 4.2.20
Other Resources:
- Final VTA COVID-19 MOU
- Virtual Schooling Tips and Tricks
- RMS Virtual School Q & A
- Shared Folder- Middle School- Vista Virtual School
- VUSD Framework For MS Virtual School
- Teacher Implementation Checklist
Another Great Resource:
Online Student Library Access through myON:
Login page: https://www.myon.com/school/readathome
School Name: Read at Home
Username: readnow
Password: myon
Important Tasks for Week Two of Virtual School April 13-17
1. Please ensure that you completed TASKS ONE-THREE from last week. These include:
1. Link your Google Classrooms to AERIES so that students and parents are able to access through AERIES. Thank you to Kurdy for creating this very helpful video that walks you through exactly how to link each class in case you haven't already done so. Let us know if you need any support! How to Link Google Classroom to AERIES Tutorial Video
2. Complete Form for Google Classroom Codes- please make sure that you have given admin the join codes for each classroom.
3. Check-in with 7th Period Students- if you have students/families returning your phone calls and getting in touch with you, please complete the form so that we have accurate info. You can also communicate with Martha, Maidhya, and Gabby about Spanish speaking families.
2. Connect with your Pride/Department about Collaboration Structure or Plans
As we continue to connect and touch base with our students this week, collaborate with your Pride or Department to discuss the following:
1. Pride Hubs- discuss coordination of this shared space to use for communication of Pride info, school level info, counseling and admin announcements (such as registration, course selection, high school transition) etc.
- Week at a Glance
- Announcements/Check-ins- place for admin/counseling to disseminate info to all students
- Other ideas by Pride (organization tips, social emotional connections, emphasis on character ed, etc.)
3. Please encourage your students to complete the Google Form that is in their Pride Hub Classroom. It's a quick form, and this will allow us to cross-reference against all our student in AERIES to more quickly determine who has not checked in. So far, 532 students have completed the Google Form.
4. We now have 83% of our students logged into their Pride Hubs. That means we still have quite a few students out there that we need to connect with. It could be that they have entered into some of your Google classrooms, but have not logged into the Pride Hubs. We have 205 out of 275 students (75%) in the 6th grade Hub, 285 out of 330 students (86%) in 7th grade Hubs, and 293 out of 329 students (89%) in the 8th grade Hub. Please communicate with your teams so that we can start to identify who is active in the Classrooms and who is not. Our primary concern is making sure that our students are reconnected to us, and we're getting there!
Tech Update Shared with Wildcat Families
Internet Service Providers: Our school is working hard to obtain hot spots, but at this time we do not have confirmation that we will receive them. In the meantime, please contact these organizations, to see if you qualify for no/low cost internet.
Cox has a program called "Cox to Compete program." You can reach Cox Communications at (855) 222-3252 or www.cox.com/c2c. for information. To qualify you will need a letter from the Child Nutrition Dept. verifying you receive free lunch. To obtain this letter, please contact Teresa Diaz at the Child Nutrition Dept. at teresadiaz@vistausd.org or (760) 726-2170 ext 92400.
You may also qualify for affordable home internet if you are participating in one of the following programs: National School Lunch Program, SNAP, SSI, Medical, or have a household income under $40,000/year. To determine which of the Internet providers serves your area enter your zip code at this site: www.everyoneon.org/capta. It will list your choices and you can call the companies in your area.
Last Call for Chromebooks! If you did not get a Chromebook this week, we have added one more distribution day on Wednesday, April 15th from 8:00-10:00 am. We encourage you to pick up a device, which will make school work much easier for your child. Please fill out the SURVEY BEFORE coming to pick up your Chromebook. It will make distribution much smoother!
Counseling Corner!
Here's what was shared with families in the Wildcat Weekly:
Counseling: SD-Crisis Line-888-724-7240 Family Resource Center-866-262-9881
Hello RMS Families! Anyone needing School Counselor support and/or Social-Emotional resources in this difficult time is being directed to the “Counseling” page under the “Departments” dropdown on our RMS Website. We’ve created a short URL for easy sharing. bit.do/rooseveltcounseling (all lowercase). We have also created a “Student Support” slideshow for RMS families that has links to TONS of resources and links to fun stuff (CLICK HERE FOR SLIDESHOW). Lastly, our counselors have created a way for our students to request a virtual appointment with us. You can find it at bit.do/rmscheckin (all lowercase). It’s important students know they can make an appointment for themselves, or make an appointment to speak with us about another person they are concerned about!
PARENTS AND STUDENTS: Follow us on our new Instagram @rooseveltcounseling for daily updates:)
Attention all 8th grade families: Students should already have their course selection worksheet. It’s a perfect time to look at that with your students and finalize some choices. As of now our normal timeline for online registration applies. Refer to the HS Registration Timeline and our Counseling page for important dates and documents for high school registration! We just updated the linked website with a google slideshow for each school. Check it out!
PTA Announcements:
PTA Zoom Meeting - Monday, April 13th at 3:15! If you would like to join in please email me before noon on Monday at lizdebaets@gmail.com for access information. It is important to continue our parent teacher association activities, especially during this challenging time.
Popcornopolis Fundraiser Update - Delivery has been approved!! The popcorn will be delivered to school on Thursday April 16th sometime between 11-3. Using careful handling precautions and social distancing methods the drive-by handout at the curb by the flagpole at Roosevelt will be from 3:00 - 4:30 pm. If you need to make other arrangements for pickup or delivery please email lizdebaets@gmail.com prior to the 16th. And for a little fun, at the pickup show your Roosevelt Wildcat Spirit, wear red, make a sign, be creative and be proud and you’ll receive a special treat!