Dear St. Philip’s Families,
On Monday, March 30
th
, virtual activities, and assignments will increase for 4
th
and 5
th
grade. Subsequently, on April 6
th
, virtual assignments will increase for PreK3 – 3
rd
grade. Please review the information below in preparation for this ramp-up.
As we continue to progress through these unprecedented times, I want to thank you all for the support and patience you have demonstrated during this first week of this unexpected school closure. I am especially humbled by the efforts being put forth by our teachers who continue to educate our students via a virtual environment. I have really enjoyed seeing some of the amazing work being done via our Seesaw application as well as hearing some great stories from you. With that said, we are working on more ways to educate our students virtually since the School closure will be longer than we originally expected. One tool we are planning on implementing is that of Google Meet.
Effective Monday, March 30th, students in the 4th and 5th grade will connect via Google Meet with their teachers every school day for a “morning check-in”. During this check-in time, students will have the opportunity to ask their teachers any questions they might have about assignments, as well as learn about what is expected of them on that day. This is a great opportunity for our students to also experience a sense of community as they will be able to communicate and visit with one another during the check-in. As our students and faculty become more accustomed to the virtual environment, more subject-area teachers like Language Arts, Math, and Social Studies will begin to connect with their students via Google Meet. The virtual world will also be extended to our special area teachers who will be emailing students assignments, exercise videos, and in some classes, invitations to participate in virtual hangouts as well.
Students in the 4th and 5th grade will receive email invites to attend these virtual meetings. We encourage you to remind them to check emails regularly throughout the school day so that they do not miss any important information. Our teachers will copy you on their communications as well.
For PreK3 through 3rd grade, we will be implementing the “morning check-in” starting the week of Monday, April 6th. While we know that students in this age group do not necessarily have their own devices nor a St. Philip’s email address, an invitation for their “morning check-in” will be emailed to the parent/guardian email on record.
Below are some questions you might have about virtual learning for early learners.
What can I expect during the check-in for lower school?
Teachers will connect with students to read stories, interact, and create a sense of community with classmates.
How long will this check-in last?
As we have learned from numerous studies, it is never a good idea to have students in this age group in front of a device for too long of a period. This is why we have scheduled these check-ins to be no longer than 15-20 minutes. The goal here is for our students to feel like they are starting a day of learning, even though they are at home.
What do I need for my son/daughter to connect for the check-in?
Any Internet-connected device will work. All you need to do is use the link in the email you will receive from your teachers to join the meeting. Below is a screenshot of what you can expect to see when you visit the link. Click on the Join Now button and await your teacher to begin the check-in.
Here are some best practices for when logging into Google Meet:
- Go to a quiet room.
- Make sure the room is well lit, preferably lights should be facing you and not behind you, if possible.
- Make sure the room has good internet connectivity.
Can I expect other virtual classroom experiences for my son/daughter?
Yes. As we have been doing this past week, you can expect your son/daughter to continue to receive interactive lessons, tutorials, and videos to keep your child learning throughout the day.
As always, the tech team and I are here to support our students in any way possible. If you have any questions or need assistance with any application, please do not hesitate to email us at
tech@saintphilips.net
.
Click here
to access our previous communications and responses to COVID-19.
Regards,
Edward Diaz
Director of Technology & Facilities
