Monthly Boost

March 2024

Hello Otters!

As we eagerly anticipate the start of Trimester 3, let's also embrace the arrival of spring and the promise of warmer days ahead. Much like the changing seasons, Trimester 3 offers a fresh start and renewed energy for learning and growth. Embrace challenges with enthusiasm, seek support when needed, and never underestimate your potential for greatness. With dedication and a positive mindset, there's no limit to what we can achieve. Let's support each other, celebrate our successes, and make Trimester 3 a memorable chapter in our academic journey.

• Friday, March 8th: Mark Reporting for PreK-12th Grade (No School for Students)
• Monday, March 11th: Trimester 3 Begins
• March 25th through March 29th - Spring Break
  

The Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) requires that statewide assessments are annually administered in reading, mathematics, and science. They are designed to provide the state, districts, and schools with a snapshot of student learning of the Minnesota K-12 Academic Standards. 279Online's MCA Testing will take place at North View Middle School (located at 5869 69th Ave N. Brooklyn Park, MN 55429).

If you have any questions regarding MCA testing, please contact Kate Rosbacka at RosbackaK@district279.org or Online@district279.org.

279Online will be hosting a Virtual MCA Q&A on Wednesday, March 6th from 3:15-3:45PM to answer any questions you may have. The google meet link is below:

https://meet.google.com/mwm-esjd-xzn

Or dial: +​1​ ​3​4​7​-​7​7​3​-​2​6​3​5 PIN: 2​6​6​ ​1​9​6​ ​5​9​3​#

If you are unable to attend the Q&A or have any questions at any time, please contact Kate Rosbacka at RosbackaK@district279.org or Online@district279.org.

The March edition of the College & Career newsletter is now available! Please check it out to find information that may be helpful.

This month's edition includes:

• 2024-2025 FAFSA Updates
• Resources to Help Decode Financial Aid Offers
• Resume Writing Tips
• ICATT Apprenticeship Opportunity Information
• ACT Test Preparation Resources
• PSEO and Early/Middle College Information
• Our March College Feature: University of Minnesota--Twin Cities
• Top Five Scholarships to Apply For

Check it out at this link: https://www.smore.com/we7ch

For more resources, visit the College & Career website.

If you are planning on attending Prom at another school as a guest and need a guest form completed, please email a copy of the form to Online@district279.org. Make sure your portion of the form is completed before sending to us to complete the rest.

For a complete list of our 2023-2024 school year community events please refer to this list. It is also included as a PDF to download for your convenience.

Coming Up:

• MARCH: Middle and High School Activity Night
• Thursday, March 7th, 6:00-8:00. More information to come.
• APRIL: Virtual Talent Show
• More information to come.

Per the Minnesota Department of Education, Online and Homeschool families are not eligible for the Minnesota Free School Meals Program. But it is still important for families to fill out an application for educational benefits.

Fill out the Educational Benefits Application to take advantage of benefits available to families who meet income requirements, including free or discounted costs for the following:

• Field trips
• Community education programs
• Clubs, activities, and athletics
• Instrument rentals
• Fees, including for AP testing, graduation, student parking permits and more
• Sliding scale for repair costs on school-provided devices for qualified damages
• Comcast internet for home
• Xcel Energy account assistance for electricity bills

Additionally, the state of Minnesota uses a school district’s percentage of qualifying students from applications completed and approved prior to October 1st each year to calculate each district’s funding level. School district funding impacts every student:

• Class sizes
• Number of support staff the district can hire to help scholars (counselors, social workers)
• Extra programming opportunities

Please fill out the Educational Benefits Application today to make sure your family can take advantage of these and other benefits! To bypass creating an EduTrakConnect account you can simply fill out an application at the following link: https://bit.ly/3hWdk7Q.

If your 279Online student would like to attend an indistrict sporting event please scan the QR code in the attached document to get tickets. Then on the day of event, make sure they bring their student ID.

Need help logging in to an account, checking in for an online meeting with a teacher, or setting up a device? Check out the technology resources in the Parent and Family Toolkit.

Need more technology assistance? The district tech support help desk is open Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. on student days, and 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on non-student days. Email help@district279.org or call 763-391-7180.

Reminders about Attendance Practices for 279Online:

GRADES K-5

Teachers take attendance twice a day through their classroom meetings.

GRADES 6-12

• Scholars are expected to self report attendance through a Schoology attendance quiz for each class by 6:00 pm in Schoology daily
• Click here for scholar directions

• Teachers verify and submit the official attendance record in Synergy the next day.
• At 6:00 pm, School Messenger calls will go out to families for scholars with unexcused absences from the previous day
• If a scholar is unable to attend, families need to report the absence to 279Online in order to excuse the absence (phone: 763-391-8670 option 1 or email: online@district279.org) OR report your student(s) FULL DAY absences in ParentVue. Click Here for directions.
• While attendance is taken through this quiz, scholars are still expected to attend synchronous meetings with their teachers and engage in their learning. We want them to be there and miss them when they don’t come!

Teachers will review this attendance process with scholars in advisory and their classes. If you have any questions regarding attendance please contact your scholars’ teachers or the main office (phone: 763-391-8670).

Rather than posting numerous resources each week, we are compiling them in a Google Doc that will be updated accordingly. Please click here for assistance regarding things like mental health, food and clothing support, and Internet access.

Seesaw is a digital portfolio that your scholars will use in grades K-5. Scholars can post images, drawings, videos, and other examples of classwork to show what they are learning in school and share it with their family.

For more detailed Seesaw technology tips and instructions, please click here.

For families who use Schoology, we created this handy reference guide to help you navigate what you’ll see in Schoology, how Schoology is different than ParentVue, and how to get support for accessing the parent side of Schoology. Click here for the reference guide.

Parents/Guardians can access the Schoology Parent Access Code in ParentVUE under the Lunch PIN in Student Info.

Click Here to view our scholar and family commitments for this school year. Please discuss these as a family, sign them, and post in a visible location. The purpose of these commitments is to be transparent about our partnership with your scholar and family.

Click Here to view our 279Online Scholar and Caregiver Handbook.

Here is the link to the 279Online school store where you can buy 279Online gear if you’d like: http://sideline.bsnsports.com/schools/minnesota/brooklynpark/279Online

• Follow us on social media:
• Facebook at 279Online
• Twitter at 279Online
• Instagram at 279Online_K12
• 279Online website.

• Keep your contact information current in ParentVUE. You can update phone numbers and email addresses at any time. If you need to update your address, please go to the Enrollment Center website for instructions.
• At the elementary level, please check Seesaw for daily assignments and schedules, information from your teacher, and more.
• At the secondary levels, please check Schoology for current grades, daily assignments, and overall progress. Mid-trimester grades and Trimester grades are posted in ParentVUE.
• Review our current and past newsletters on our website for important information.

Check your email regularly for Blackboard and Schoology emails from us. If you aren’t seeing them, please look in your junk folder or check your setting to make sure you don’t have emails blocked.