Hi all,
I was communicating with seniors today about end-of-the-year information for them. One thing that I shared is some questions that have come up. They are pasted in below as a FAQ.
I hope that everyone is staying healthy. I miss you all.
Stay well,
Mr. Schwartz
Remote Learning FAQ's
Q: When is the last day of Remote Learning?
A: Remote Learning for seniors who are passing their classes will end on May 15. Remote Learning for 9th-11th graders and any senior who is in danger of failing or earning an incomplete in a class will end on May 19.
Q: Will there be final exams?
A: Final exams will not be given as they traditionally have been administered. While there might be some classes where a cumulative assessment is given, any such assessment will not carry the weight of a final exam, and there will be no final exam schedule.
Q: Can a student’s semester grade be impacted by Remote Learning?
A: If a student has been sufficiently engaged throughout Remote Learning, the student’s semester grade can go up but not down. During Remote Learning, teachers will continue to assess student learning and enter grades into the Home Access Center. This can certainly cause a grade to fluctuate up and/or down over time. If, at the end of Remote Learning a student’s grade has risen, that is the grade the student will receive for the semester grade. If, at the end of the semester, the grade of a student who has engaged in learning and their grade has dropped because of assignments during remote learning, the grade will revert back to what it was prior to Remote Learning.
Q: What would cause a student to earn an Incomplete grade instead of a passing grade for the semester?
A: If a student hasn’t been sufficiently engaged in Remote Learning and/or has not demonstrated an understanding of essential learning in the course, a student will be assigned an Incomplete grade for the semester and will not earn credit for the course until the work has been completed in a way that demonstrates mastery of the learning. Just as occurs in a normal school setting, the number and types of assignments vary from course to course so there is not a universal number of assignments that must be completed in order to earn a passing grade. Teachers will collaborate with their colleagues to determine the baseline of essential skills needed to earn passing grades.
Q: How do students and families know if a student is in danger of earning an incomplete for the course?
A: There are actually several warning signs:
Each Friday, teachers take attendance based on engagement for the week. If students have been sufficiently engaged in the work for that week, they are marked present. If they have not, then they are marked absent. Therefore, any student who has been marked absent on a Friday should interpret that as a warning of an Incomplete grade.
Students who are earning a D or F in the course (either prior to Remote Learning began or currently) are in danger of earning an Incomplete.
Between May 4 and May 11, teachers will notify a student and family if they are in danger of earning an Incomplete grade for the semester.
Q: What should a student do to ensure they do not receive an Incomplete grade?
A: The single most important thing that a student should do is engage in all aspects of their learning. Students should complete their assignments each week, participate in virtual classroom sessions, and if they have questions, they should contact their teachers for help. Deans, counselors, and other staff members are also available to assist.
Q: What happens when a student gets an Incomplete grade?
A: The student will be expected to make up the work. Teachers will complete and share a form that outlines the deficient skills and assignments to be completed. One or more of the following may occur if students earn an Incomplete grade:
Require student to complete assignments that demonstrate learning of essential skills and/or content.
Assign student to a Remote Learning Summer School Class (yet to be determined).
Change student schedule for next year due to not completing the work or not meeting the prerequisites for the next level of a course.
Issue student a withdrawal grade with no credit but no GPA impact.
Q: When can a student retrieve items from lockers and return school materials?
A: Seniors will return and pick up materials on May 15. A survey will be sent to underclassmen to help us determine the level of need for retrieving items from lockers and/or returning school materials. School personnel will remove school issued books from student lockers. Any student who needs something from a locker now in order to complete schoolwork for this semester should email Mr. Schwartz.
Q: How do I get my student’s medication from the Nurse’s office?
A: We are finalizing procedures that will align with the Governor’s Executive Order of Shelter in Place and will communicate that information to students and families in the coming weeks.
Q: How do I get a refund of my SchoolBucks account?
A: Underclassmen with balances on their SchoolBucks account will carry over that balance into next year. As long as there are no outstanding school fees, seniors with balances on their accounts will be issued a refund. If a graduating senior has a younger sibling, the parents will have an opportunity to transfer that money to a sibling’s account. Underclassmen who would like their SchoolBuck balances refunded can request that by emailing Ms. Ethridge at jethridge@csd99.org.