A2 Virtual+ October Update

September 30, 2024

Principal Message

October is a critical month to reflect on how students are doing in their online class(es). Most students have started establishing routines that are either working or need to be adjusted based on their current progress. PowerSchool grades are the best resource for determining a student's progress in their online class. Teachers update grades weekly, except for students taking Michigan Virtual classes. These progress grades are updated according to progress checks within the class. Information about how to access PowerSchool can be found on this website: https://www.a2schools.org/powerschool. Login information is available through your student’s school. A2 Virtual+ class grades are not available through the PowerSchool app, they are only accessible through the website and you will see the classes by clicking on the A2V tab. We encourage parents and guardians to check student’s progress in PowerSchool Weekly.

In addition to weekly progress monitoring, students are expected to complete attendance weekly. Students are expected to complete a weekly attendance activity in each class on Wednesday. The activity is an excellent way for students to have a scheduled interaction with their teacher every week. Completing the attendance activity is especially important during October as it is how we receive funding from the state to continue to offer students online learning opportunities. In the next few weeks, you will notice additional communications directed to support students in completing the required attendance activity in Schoology. Thank you in advance for helping your student remember to complete their weekly Wednesday attendance activity.

Your partner in online learning,

Principal Lauer

Conferences with Teachers (10/7 and 10/17)

Conferences with teachers will be held on Monday, October 7th, from 5 pm - 8 pm and Thursday, October 17th from 3pm - 6pm. Conferences will be 10 minutes and hosted on Zoom. We encourage you to contact the teacher via email should you have any general questions. With 10-minute conferences, we encourage participants to review PowerSchool and have questions ready at the start of the conference. These two steps help ensure the 10-minutes is as beneficial to all participants. This year, parents will be able to sign up for a conference using Appointment Bookings using Google Calendar. Please click the appoint link for the teacher you would like to have a conference with. If there are not spots on the 7th or 17th, please contact the teacher through email and they will coordinate a time to meet with you.

If you are interested in signup for a conference, please click the button below or follow this link: A2V+ Conference Sign-Up Sheet Link.

Conference with Teachers Sign-Up

Online Count Month and Attendance Explained

For online classes, attendance is recorded differently than in the traditional building. Attendance in an online class is defined by two-way communication between the student and their teacher. This attendance interaction is only required once weekly and is completed through an assignment in Schoology for each class. The state defines a week for online classes as Wednesday - Tuesday. Since attendance is required only once weekly, we decided that the student would complete the activity in Schoology on Wednesday and that teachers would record attendance on Mondays in PowerSchool. If a student does not complete the attendance activity on Wednesday, they will be marked unverified, UNV, in PowerSchool the following Monday. A " CA" attendance code means the student completed the activity and has positive attendance for that week. Attendance will be recorded for every week of the term.

In addition to attendance being different for online classes, count day is also defined differently. For student count, a student must have positive attendance for four weeks, starting with Count Day, which this year is October 2nd, 2024. Positive attendance is defined as completing the attendance activity in Schoology. Thank you in advance for supporting our program and helping your student(s) remember to complete attendance every Wednesday.

Proctoring Schedule for October/November

The following proctoring events are open to all students. Students do not need to register in advance. We ask that they bring their device and, if needed, a power cord. Students are expected to complete two proctored activities per class. Information about the specific activities are available in Schoology classrooms.

The following events are scheduled at Skyline High School in the Media Center. Please enter the building through the student entrance.

Tuesday, October 1st 4pm - 7pm
Tuesday, October 8th 4pm - 7pm
Tuesday, October 15th 4pm - 7pm
Tuesday, October 22nd 4pm - 7pm
Tuesday, October 29th 4pm - 7pm

Middle and High School students can coordinate other opportunities through their building liaisons.

A2 Virtual+ Calendar of Events

Care Solace - Mental Health and Substance Use Service

When your family and child needs help, it's hard to know where to turn. In an effort to ease the burden of finding mental health and substance use services you need, AAPS has partnered with Care Solace, your central hub of care.

Care Solace - Ann Arbor Public School District

Ann Arbor Public School District is committed to the well-being of all students, staff, and their families and partnered with Care Solace to provide an additional layer of support. We navigate the mental health care system on your behalf to find community-based providers and secure appointments as quickly as possible with the best care possible.

caresolace.com

AAPS Sexual Harassment and Sexual Assault Information Guide

The Michigan Department of Education (MDE) created an information guide for students as a result of Public Act 57 of 2023. School districts are required to distribute a Sexual Harassment and Sexual Assault Information Guide to students in grades 6-12 starting in the 2024-2025 school year. Included in our Rights & Responsibilities Handbook is important information about sexual harassment and sexual assault. This information helps your student understand what sexual harassment is how to recognize it, and what to do if they or someone they know experiences it. Please review the guidelines located in the Rights & Responsibilities Handbook, pages 41-45 with your student. A link to the Rights & Responsibilities Handbook will also be sent to your student’s email later this week. These guidelines are here to protect everyone and ensure a welcoming, safe, and respectful school environment. It is important for students to know their rights and the support that is available to them.

Also, See the Bill Analysis of Public Act 57 of 2023 here. Signed by Governor Gretchen Whitmer. MCL 380.1508

A2 Virtual+ Parent Advisory Group

This year we will be looking for people to participate in an advisory group that will help us continue improving our students' online learning experiences. The group would meet every couple of months, and the people interested in participating would determine the schedule. Please consider participating by clicking this link. (https://forms.gle/zJqiwMvvKz44xS3j7)

Parents that signed up in the spring, do not need to apply again. Thank you for agreeing to be part of this group. I will contact you by the end of the month to develop a schedule and the first agenda.

A2 Virtual+ October Update

September 30, 2024

Principal Message Principal Message

Conferences with Teachers (10/7 and 10/17) Conferences with Teachers (10/7 and 10/17)

Online Count Month and Attendance Explained Online Count Month and Attendance Explained

Proctoring Schedule for October/November Proctoring Schedule for October/November

Care Solace - Mental Health and Substance Use Service Care Solace - Mental Health and Substance Use Service