Dear EMS Families,
A week into the start of Continuity of Learning and we now have a week of April vacation. I recognize there are mixed feelings regarding this break, but I want to encourage us all to use this time for self care, given the ongoing challenges we are facing.
With that in mind, the EMS faculty have put together resources to encourage and support us all in finding ways to prioritize our health.
The EMS Well-Being Challenge offers a few creative ways to take care of your health. Check out what the EMS staff has already been doing!
Finally, research shows that practicing “gratitude” improves our overall health and well being. Teacher Appreciation Week is May 4th-8th. Traditionally, this has been a time when EMS students and families have gone above and beyond to give thanks to our staff for their work and dedication. This year this will need to look different. Students and families might consider virtual ways to say thank you. Here are a couple of ideas that will hopefully make you smile and that might spark some creative ideas about how to say “thank you” for families, student groups, or even parent groups. Enjoy!
Sending my best for a safe week,
Meg
Friendly Reminders
Mental health reminder: If you would like to join a chat with a school counselor during break, we will have an open meeting every day from 11-12. Type the code EMSMeet into your Google Meeting icon.
Curriculum during the Continuity of Learning will continue to be posted on the EMS website
In addition to emails from your child/ren’s team and the curriculum being posted on the EMS website, students can find their assignments in their Unified Classroom accounts.
Confused about which exploratory class your child is taking this quarter? Please log into Powerschool to see the classes in which they are currently registered.
If you need assistance setting up a family or guardian Powerschool account, please email jstein@bsdvt.org.
Community Announcements
Report Cards: Report cards for Q3 will not be mailed out this quarter. They will be available in parent Powerschool accounts over April break. If you are unable to log into your Powerschool account or are having trouble seeing your child(ren)’s profiles, please contact Julia Stein at jstein@bsdvt.org. Please see this PowerSchool Guide that outlines the steps you must follow to see your child’s report card, along with how to access your PowerSchool account.
No decisions have been made yet regarding plans for:
Locker clean out
Transition support from mIddle school to high school
End of Year celebrations
When we return from break and continue the Continuity of Learning, I want to encourage us to maintain a balance of learning and screen time in order to prioritize our health. If you are not already, I would encourage:
- The use of timers when working - try 15 minutes of working on a task and 15 minutes taking a break.
Using your break time to:
Do sit ups and push ups
Draw a picture
Do a chore around the house to help out your family
Play a game with a sibling
Prioritizing exploratory projects and classwork; this classwork is designed to support students in self care.
Questions & Answers for Continuity of Learning
What is my child’s number one priority during this time?
Mental, emotional, and physical well being
EMS has numerous supports in place to help students who are struggling; this includes school counselors, case managers and student support services
If you would like to join a chat with a school counselor during break, we have an open meeting everyday from 11-12. Type the code EMSMeet into your Google Meeting icon.
Are we taking attendance?
Yes, per state mandate.
Teachers will be recording student attendance weekly.
Students will be marked present for the week if they: turn in assignments on Unified Classroom, attend a Google Meet class session, or email their teacher during the week.
How much work should my child expect to do each week?
A maximum of 15 hours per week
2 hours a day for their core classes - LA, Math, Social Studies and Science
1 hour a day for their exploratory classes
Many teachers will continue to offer enrichment resources as a supplement for students who would like additional materials.
How much new curriculum will be introduced to students?
Teachers have identified essential skills that they will focus on for the remainder of the school year. They are meeting weekly to determine essential progress. Teachers will complete a portion of previously planned material.
How will my child know what their assignments are?
Teachers will continue to email the weekly work plan weekly to students and families.
Assignments will also be posted in Unified Classroom
Assignments can also be found on the EMS website under Updates/Reminders - Continuity of Learning Plan
When are assignments due?
Each teacher has clear due dates in the weekly assignment/curriculum template posted online and emailed to families/students each week.
Does this quarter count?
Yes. Student learning will be assessed this quarter, though it is not expected that students will have as rich an experience as they would in a face-to-face scenario.
What will show up on my child’s transcript and report card?
EMS has aligned with a number of Vermont schools, including Hunt Middle School, to create a system which values student progress. See below for details.
Yearlong courses: Because students had the opportunity to provide a significant body of evidence of learning throughout the year, teachers can provide accurate scores for student learning. Students will receive a letter grade on their transcript based primarily on their learning in quarters 1-3. In order to maximize equity and opportunity, the average of quarters 1-3 cannot go down during Continuity of Learning, but can be raised through work they do through quarter 4.
Quarter 4 grades will be assessed using the following criteria. Feedback from teachers will be consistent and, when appropropriate, will be accompanied by narratives that incorporate this language and suggestions for growth in pursuit of the essential skill.
For end-of-Q4 “grades”, teachers will choose an overall “grade” based on a combination of participation and skills:
Not yet making satisfactory progress.
Making satisfactory progress.
Making exceptional progress.
What happens if my child cannot participate in Continuity of Learning?
Students who do not participate in Continuity of Learning will earn Incomplete scores on their report cards and transcripts. We are working on ways for students to make up this work at the end of the school year, over the summer, and/or in the fall.
What if my child needs extra help?
Teachers will be available to support students. If your child is overwhelmed with the workload, please communicate with the school counselor, your child’s teacher and/or case manager or administration. Our top priority during this time is to ensure we all remain healthy and are receiving the support needed.
What if my child has tech issues?
Call the BSD Tech Help desk line at 802-864-8437.
Leave a detailed voicemail - name, school, contact info (phone or email) - and detailed problem description.
A tech support technician will be assigned and will respond.
