JHS Parent Letter 8/12/2020

 

Dear JHS Parents,

The learning model may have changed, but our mission remains the same!  The JHS Staff has been working nonstop to provide a quality learning experience whether it be through distance learning, virtual learning, or when we return to in-person instruction.  We know there will be questions along the way as we take this journey together.  Beyond the updates we shared on July 23, we wanted to share the information below with you so that you can begin to prepare yourself and your student for a successful educational experience.  Please save this communication and use it as a reference as we get into our first couple of weeks of instruction.

Registration Process

If you have not yet completed the registration process, which must be done every year, please click HERE for more information.  This webpage also contains information about accessing your Parent PowerSchool Portal Account, which is what you will use to see your student’s schedule online.  Please contact Jennifer Odegaard at jennifer.odegaard@jenksps.org or 918-299-4415, x2230 if you need assistance with the registration process.

 

Blocksi – Internet and Activity Monitoring!

In today’s age and especially during distance learning, it is critically important for you to partner with us and help be aware of your student’s online activity.  To that end, you should have already received an email to activate your Blocksi account, which will allow you to monitor your student’s activity on their district issued Chromebook.  Blocksi Parent will allow you to monitor your student’s activity on their district issued Chromebook and help you: 

• Enforce stricter policies when the Chromebook is at home 
• Access time control at home for streaming, gaming, social media 
• Detect Cyberbullying & Self-harm Concerns 
• Access Full Web & YouTube history 
• Enforce bedtime and screen time control 

If you need additional help or information, please click HERE.

 

Want to Know What is Going On with Your Student’s Learning?  Please Be a Canvas Observer.

The best way to partner with us and know what is going on in your student’s class is to become a Canvas Observer so that you can see all assignments, learning activities, expectations, and grades all on one platform.  If you are not already a Canvas Observer, please click HERE to get hooked up.

 

Student Schedules Available on Wednesday, August 19

We had previously hoped to have student schedules available for you by Friday, August 14.  Due to the extension of the Trojan Connect and Blended Learning deadline and all of the restructuring to the master schedule that needs to be done, students’ schedules will now be visible online on Wednesday, August 19, through your parent or student’s PowerSchool Portal account. 

 

Instructions for First Days of Learning Activities – No Later than Friday, August 21

Students will receive Canvas messages, and parents will receive an email no later than Friday, August 21, with specific instructions on how to connect with your student’s teacher and participate in learning activities that begin on Monday, August 24.

 

Picking Up Chromebooks

Please click HERE for the JPS Student Distribution Info.

 

Other School Resources Needed during Distance Learning

Teachers whose course requires specific school resources to be successful during distance learning will post a Sign-Up Genius link on Canvas no later than Friday, August 21, so that students/parents can sign-up for a time to come by the teacher’s classroom on Wednesday, August 26, or Wednesday, September 2.  The numbers per time slot will be limited so that no more than 20% of students will be on campus at any given time.  Social distancing and masks will be required in buildings. 

 

Bell Schedule

Directly below is the starting time for each of our six periods this school year.  This information is important because it affects your student’s learning schedule during distance learning:

               1^st Period – 9:15 AM

               2^nd Period – 10:15 AM

               3^rd Period – 11:12 AM

               4^th Period – 1:10 PM

               5^th Period – 2:07 PM

               6^th Period – 3:04 PM

 

Learning Schedule for Distance Learning

Weekly for each class, your student will have up to two synchronous learning experiences (live and at a specified time) and three or four asynchronous learning activities (not live and accessed at time of student’s choosing).  Synchronous/live learning activities for periods 1, 3, and 5 will occur on Mondays and Thursdays.  Synchronous learning activities for periods 2, 4, and 6 will occur on Tuesdays and Fridays.  Wednesdays will be “office” days for teachers where they will be available for student/parent questions and communications, but teachers will also respond within 24 hours to communications received throughout the week.  In summary, the synchronous learning schedule is:

               Monday and Thursday

1^st Pd – 9:15 AM

3^rd Pd – 11:12 AM

5^th Pd – 2:07 PM

               Tuesday and Friday

2^nd Pd – 10:15 AM

4^th Pd – 1:10 PM

6^th Pd – 3:04 PM

 

Distance Learning vs Virtual Course

There have been some questions about the difference between distance learning and virtual courses.  Distance learning refers specifically to students who will attend school in person as soon as we are permitted.  Virtual students, which are students who are in Trojan Connect or doing Blended Learning, have a different online curriculum, are not considered distance learning, and will therefore not be following the learning schedule listed above.  Virtual students will need to login daily and make appropriate progress in their virtual courses.  Virtual teachers will reach out as needed when students are not making appropriate progress.

 

Student IDs

For now, we are postponing any plans on issuing student IDs.  In an ideal world, we will be able to issue those when in-person instruction is permitted.

 

FAQs

Jenks Public Schools continues to update FAQs related to each of our learning models.  Please check those out by scrolling down to the bottom of the page at www.jenksps.org and clicking on the topic of interest.

 

I am so honored to be part of such an amazing community.  The JHS Staff and I greatly appreciate your support and partnership as we navigate this path together.

 

Sincerely,

 

David Beiler

Principal

Jenks High School