Set Up for Distance Learning Success

Get set up for successful distance learning! Ms. Kelly Zekan, a Behavioral Analyst in SWWHS’s mental health team has pulled together resources to help students and parents. Find the resources above, and FAQs below. Contact Ms. Zekan at kelly.zekan@k12.dc.gov.

FAQs

Set Up for Parent Success Session Chat Feed 8/31/2020 

In terms of instructional materials, will it all be sent online or are students expected to pick up textbooks?  

The vast majority of classes have texts and materials on line.  If textbooks for specific courses such as AP environmental science need a book we will work with the teacher/s and students to distribute the books as we have for technology and musical instruments.

Music materials will be handed out by the music teacher in the coming weeks once students' schedules are finalized (Sept 14).

Is it still possible to drop off books? 

Yes! There will be several more opportunities to drop-off materials/textbooks.

Will there also be learning modules or packets parents can use to supplement the virtual learning environment with "real-life" experiences directly related to their learning content?

You should contact teachers directly to see what they can recommend to parents in order to help student success in their respective class.

Is there guidance on the average amount of homework per night?  

We are working on homework amounts. We are asking teachers to teach virtually for 45 of the 90 minute class so hopefully homework/practice will be included during the 90 minute block in many if not most classes.

Will the school be encouraging or requiring students to turn on cameras during class?  

Our Online Norms are that students should be "ready to be on camera", however, we will not mandate it. We will always encourage camera use. Some teachers may have their own class norms, and build student understanding that it is important to make connections.

There are lots of reasons we can’t and won’t require students to turn on cameras, including, some families may not have an environment they want to share, some students may not feel comfortable with their appearance (especially during Covid), some families may have a lot going on in the background. privacy, etc.

We have told every student how to make alternate backgrounds and made that an option. We are strongly encouraging them to show their faces, as it is one of our norms, but we will not mandate it.

Will they be given work to do on Wednesdays that need completed for Thursdays and Fridays classes?

Wednesdays should be used for students to complete any course work but no extra work will be given on Wednesdays.

What does "solidify the advisory" mean?

We are working with a partner organization to provide training and facilitation around conversations of race. We will be ensuring that those sessions are solidified and giving next steps for scheduling advisory for students.

Why am I receiving emails addressed to the student? Does my student receive these emails as well?

We usually include parents on all communication sent to students so that you are aware.

Is there a deadline for when teachers must put things in Canvas? 

There is no deadline for teachers to put things into Canvas, however, we hope that everyone will solidify their weekly plans by every Monday, and students should check their Canvas daily.

Do students get all their school emails through canvas?

Emails will come through Aspen, and/or Jupiter. I believe messages can be sent through Canvas as well, though each teacher will make that decision on how best to communicate to students. We are all problem-solving this week to do what's best and most efficient for all parties. continue to stay in touch with your teachers and let us know if there are any concerns. 

As we adjust to this new environment, what is the school's expectation about a future reopening? When will the school decide to reopen or not for the second term? 

​The school does not make that determination. The Mayor and Chancellor will look at the health data and make that determination. The next checkpoint is Nov 6. 

How will office hours/conferences with teachers be arranged? Via email? Via Canvas? Will office hours be posted in the Canvas calendar?

We are working on the most efficient way to create office-hours for teachers and staff for students.

If teachers are making their respective decisions on messaging, Can you notify us on teacher preferences (if they are not all going to be the same for all)?

Yes, we will ask teachers to communicate effectively with their students and parents about their communication tools.

Beyond the different classes, will there be opportunities for students to meet each other? Will it be built in or optional?

YES! Today we held lunch bunches where students and teachers met informally. we also have many clubs that students should feel free to sign up for!

What is the current situation regarding school sports? Are you planning to have tryouts?

Reach out to Kip.smith@k12.dc.gov 

Is there a club open house? 

Yes, there will be a virtual club fair on Wednesday, 9/2/20.  There are opportunities for students to participate in clubs as stated. We want our students to be engaged and develop relationships with their peers and the adults.

How long are classes? 

Synchronous, or "live" classes will only happen for about half of the class period. Teachers will then allow students to work in groups or individually, and students should be able to take physical and mental breaks during that time if necessary.

How is attendance handled? 

Students must sign on to Canvas between the hours of 6am and 11:59am daily.

All attendance occurs in Canvas. We recommend that students sign onto Canvas before signing on for their classes. Students will likely be signing in much more as all of their assignments and curricular materials are there.

Does clicking through Canvas count as "signing on"?

Yes, we believe it does. however, we are also expecting students to attend their synchronous classes. 

We told the students to shut down and sign on again daily.

What if I am worried about my student being engaged? 

Reach out to your student’s counselor and/or teachers as appropriate. It is important that we are handling situations like that as a team!

Who should we notify when our child is unable to log in that morning because of illness/appts?

Please email Ms. Jones Hinnant at wanda.jones-hinnant@k12.dc.gov

Do students use their outlook email?

Their outlook email can be used. It is an email address that is active through office.com and is available to them if they would like to use it. We would input that email into Aspen under their personal email.

Do parents get their own login to canvas or do they use their student's?

Currently only students have access to Canvas. We will share if this should change.

Will there be a back to school night with teachers?

Yes, we are planning Back To School Night. We will share when a date is confirmed.

How do students log into teacher or counselor office hours?

We will provide more information about office hours in the coming weeks!

Will there be field trips in Term 1?

No, no in-person field trips. Some teachers may engage in virtual field trips!

Do you have advice about kids forming in person study pods? 

That is up to you and will require you and other families to make decisions and set expectations about who is in the pod and what happens during the pod hours.

What might be some good questions to ask about school that promotes independence and communication? 

A great strategy to use is similar to supervision or 1:1s that you would see in the workplace. Set time aside each week for both you and your child to bring any concerns and specific "agenda" items to the meeting. You can do this on a more formal level or at a meal time. A great way to ask questions would be to ask open ended questions such as "what deadlines are approaching?" "How can I support you in these?" It can be helpful to utilize a recurring agenda such as: deadlines, what do you need help with?, what successes have you had this week? This promotes independence in preparing for your conversations. Encouraging your students to share their success stories also allows students to recognize their hard work and progress

With Canvas and Teams, I've been logging in as my student - in contacting staff, I try to identify myself. What is the preferred avenue for parent communications?

You can always email teachers using the firstname.lastname@k12.dc.gov from your email if you would like to directly contact them yourself. Signing in as your student isn't necessarily a bad idea, so long as you are partnering with your student.

Covid-19President SWWHSAcovid19, distance learning