Shark Bytes
An update from the Virtual Academy
Week of October 2, 2023
Top Five in Five
The top five things you need to know for this week!
1. For students with jobs
The Virtual Academy allows for flexibility of when to complete school work, Meets are not optional. Being at work is not a reason for a lawful absence from attending Google Meets. Please make sure to share your schedule with your employer so you are not scheduled during the time you are required to be online with your teachers.
2. Impact Aid
St. Mary's County Public Schools (SMCPS) is encouraging all parent(s)/guardian(s) to please take the time to access and complete the online Impact Aid form located in the Home Access Center (HAC). Directions to access the online form can be found HERE. A video with instructions is available HERE. The form can now be accessed in Spanish by clicking on the Globe in the top right-hand corner once the form has been started.
Our schools are heavily impacted by federally connected students. Federally connected students are those students whose parent(s)/guardian(s) work on federal property in Maryland, live on federal property in Maryland, and/or are active-duty military personnel. Because of this impact, we receive federal grant funds to operate and maintain our schools and enrich school programs. To receive these funds, the U.S. Department of Education (USDE) requires us to survey each student to determine eligibility. The information must be based on the survey date, September 30, 2023.
All information that is collected is confidential and used solely for Impact Aid purposes. The Impact Aid grant application provides only demographic information on the numbers and locations of federally connected students attending our schools.
Impact Aid surveys will be digitally collected for this school year. Families who cannot complete the digital survey can either contact their child’s home high school for a paper copy.
Families will be asked to voluntarily provide various pieces of information. For instance, information such as workplace employment will be requested. Specifically, the following two employment addresses will be requested:
the address for the employer; and
the address of the Federal Property where their physical work address is located.
Parent(s)/Guardian(s) that are on active duty in the Reserves or National Guard, will need to either upload a copy of their active-duty orders or provide their supervisor’s contact information. (* all information on the service member’s orders can be blackened out, except for name, rank, branch of service, and Title Number “USC Title 10” or “USC Title 32”).
Your cooperation in completing the survey no later than Monday, November 14, 2023, is greatly appreciated. The more surveys that are submitted, the greater amount of funds will be available to our students in St. Mary’s County Public Schools.
3. MCAP Scores
If your student took an MCAP assessment in Spring 2023 (ELA 10, Algebra or Geometry, or LS-MISA), they will be receiving their score reports within the next week or so. If you have questions on how to interpret the scores, please utilize the resources below.
4. AI (Artificial Intelligence) REMINDER
AI or Artificial Intelligence is the newest technology trend. AI has its benefits but it also has its downfalls.
Students who use AI to generate their student work, then copy and paste it into an assignment for their teachers are violating the SMCPS Student Code of Conduct. With that said, there are applicable times when this can be used as a source. If students want to use AI to assist them in their coursework, please be sure to ask teachers first.
Eventually, AI will be like Google, Cellphones, and streaming TV - something that grows to be ubiquitous (everywhere, all the time), but right now, we're learning the best ways to use this powerful tool in education. When in doubt, ASK! Students can be referred for academic integrity if they use AI inappropriately or claim it as their own work (plagiarism).
5. Tech Tip of the Week
Computer running slow? Having difficulty with pages loading? It is good to get in the habit of updating Google Chrome, clearing your cache, cookies and browsing history of all time, and shut down your computer regularly so it can run and install updates. Updates are critical to the health and safety of your computer!
TECH HELP!
Having trouble getting to Google Meets, Schoology, using your camera, mic or other tech problem? If so, reach out to Ms. Barker for help! Contact her at ajbarker@smcps.org or call the Virtual Academy at 301-863-4090 and dial 16122 to talk to her directly.
Ms. Barker is also reaching out to student whom the teachers have reported are having difficulty.
Upcoming dates
- Monday, October 9: Asynchronous work day (Parent Teacher Conferences)
- Friday, October 20th, 2 hour early release
- Wednesday, October 25, MTSS event (by invitation only, students come to VA); details coming soon.
- Friday, October 27th, 2 hour early release
SMCPS STEAM Festival
This year’s SMCPS STEAM Festival will be held on Saturday, October 28th from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm at the St. Mary’s County Fairgrounds. Admission is free and open to the public. Wrap up the fall festival season with a day of learning, food trucks, and STEAM-related fun!
Saturday, Oct 28, 2023, 10:00 AM
Fairgrounds Road, Leonardtown, MD, USA
Return to school procedures
If a student success team determines that an In-Person placement would be beneficial for academic success, the Virtual Academy may take the following steps to return a student to their home school:
Step 1: Work with the student to create a success plan. The success plan should include measurable goals in the areas listed above (attendance, participation, work submission.) Analytics may be used, when appropriate, to measure student engagement with course material, though their limitations are understood.
Step 2: If the implementation of the success plan does not improve student achievement, the student will be referred to the Virtual Academy School Counselor and Supervisor of Virtual Learning.
Step 3: The Virtual Academy School Counselor and Supervisor of Virtual Learning will contact the student and connected guardian to hold a parent/teacher PST conference to discuss the student’s academic progress and the strategies implemented by the student, based on the success plan.
Step 4: A new success plan will be developed, implemented, and re-evaluated in 30 school days OR a determination will be made to work with the home school to return to in-person.
Step 5: If the student success plan improves academic success, the Virtual Academy will continue to monitor progress for the remainder of the year OR if it is determined that the student would return to in-person instruction, the Virtual Academy School Counselor will begin working with the home school counselor to make a transition plan back to the home school.
Virtual Academy Student and Family Guide
Did you know we have a designated Student and Family Guide that guides our vision for the Virtual Academy? Because we are an unique program, we utilize this handbook in addition to the SMCPS Student Handbook and Code of Conduct. Please bookmark it and take time to read over so you'll know our specific expectations.
Did You Know?
High School Sporting Events
Virtual Academy students can attend sporting events of their home high school; however, tickets are only available online!
All SMAC regular season and playoff tickets will be sold online using Go Fan. Create a free account to make purchasing tickets throughout the school year quicker. NO CASH will be accepted at the gates/doors.