A Message From The Superintendent
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Take a moment to check out Bart's Monthly Blog!
He writes about education, learning, leadership and more!
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State approves EPIC’s distance learning plan … what you need to know
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Greetings EPIC Families:
Like every public school system in Oklahoma, EPIC was required to submit a distance learning plan inclusive of student expectations and supports for approval to the Oklahoma State Department of Education (OSDE). The OSDE has approved our plan, which involves a daily framework for learning for the remainder of the school year and broken down by grade level.
While we recognize there must be flexibility for some families for COVID-related matters, the general guidelines in our approved plan are our template for distance learning amid the pandemic.
Under the plan:
- High school students are expected to spend 40-60 minutes per day, per subject, at least four times a week on average.
- Middle school students are expected to spend 40-60minutes per day, per subject, at least four times a week on average.
- Elementary students are expected to spend 1 hour and 20 minutes per day, at least four times a week on average.
Our plan also emphasizes that in addition to our EPIC Essentials resources, as well as other resources such as EPIC Live, Homework Help, etc., that
following online resources will be encouraged for additional assistance and support of our students:
- ELA ReadWriteThink - contains hundreds of free ELA lesson plans for each grade level. Many activities for all levels of available technology
- Scholastic Learn at Home - various texts for students, as well as reflection questions and activities that extend beyond the lesson
- Math YouCubed - math thinking activities encouraging a growth mindset.
- Khan Academy - videos and lessons for a wide range of topics with the option to set up classes or have students work independently
- NSTA Daily Do - daily sense-making tasks teachers and families can use to engage students
- Discovery Education - standards-aligned, digital curriculum resources and easy-to-use technology
- Oklahoma Council for the Social Studies - vast collection of instructional resources and research-based effective strategies to enhance social studies learning.
- C3Teachers - collection of lessons and articles using the social studies practices that include the primary sources needed.
Online resources specifically for younger students:
- Kid Zone! - An interactive sites for building literacy skills
- Supporting Your Child’s Literacy Development - Family toolkit for at-home literacy experiences
- Story Online - Access to a variety of stories read online
These are challenging times to be sure. Schools nationwide have struggled with rapid deployment of distance learning plans where, in some cases, none existed before. The good news is that every EPIC student has the tools needed to see them through this time and beyond. I encourage everyone to keep learning, stay in close contact with your teachers and keep daring greatly.
Sincerely,
Bart Banfield, Superintendent
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Greetings From The Asset Department
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The end of the school year is rapidly approaching. Given the circumstances of this year, return policies within the Asset department have needed to be changed. Should this be your last year at EPIC, either by graduation or by decision to transfer, it is the Asset Department’s goal to begin collecting on these assets starting in June. I would ask that you please reach out to the Asset Department to return all your technology items. This can be done in three different ways:
- Please submit a ticket to Beasley to have them ship out a box to your house for ease of return. This can be done by emailing Support@epiccharterschools.org.
- Please call our Asset Department and we will help to facilitate a UPS pick up from your house to return the technology items to EPIC. We can be reached at 405-749-4550 x455.
- Please drop these items off with your teacher. If the quarantine has been lifted and we can practice safe distancing protocols, this can be accomplished by sending us an email at Assets@epiccharterschools.org and alerting us that you would like to drop the items off with the teacher. We will follow up with your teacher to have the items returned to EPIC.
For any non-technology items that need to be returned. Please reach out to the Asset Department and we will help to facilitate a UPS pick up from your home to return the technology items to EPIC. We can be reached at 405-749-4550 x455.
If you are a teacher and have had items returned to you by a student that has graduated, departed or was withdrawn, and you need to return any assets to us, please reach out to Alyssa O’Connor at
Alyssa.Oconnor@epiccharterschools.org
. She can also be reached at 405-749-4550 ext. 455.
Thank you all for your support and patience during this time. This year has brought about unique challenges and with that, unique circumstances. We greatly appreciate your support of the Assets department and are here to assist you in any way possible.Thank you again.
Best regards,
Chandler Winningham
Asset Director
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Virtual Extracurricular Activities - In Case You Missed It
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Dear Families,
Good news!
As you know, per instructions from the State Board of Education, we were forced to disallow all normally sanctioned extracurricular activities due to restrictions meant to help stem the COVID-19 pandemic.
We communicated in writing with the Oklahoma State Department of Education 10 days ago regarding our wish for the agency to amend its guidance to allow for 100 percent virtual extracurricular activities and the need for us to have explicit guidance from the agency in order for us to feel we could make the local decision to do this. The agency responded to us today that it has decided that extracurricular activities if 100 percent conducted virtually will be allowed.
Therefore, effective April 26, 2020, EPIC students will be allowed to resume using their Learning Fund for extracurricular activities that can be offered 100 percent virtually and if it can be verified by EPIC that the activities were conducted 100 percent virtually.
Sincerely,
Bart Banfield, Superintendent
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EPIC is hosting our first-ever virtual graduation at 1 p.m. on June 6. This event will be streamed live on several online platforms, including the EPIC website,
epiccharterschools.org
.
The EPIC virtual ceremony will include honors recognitions, valedictorians, salutatorians, and all the elements a traditional graduation ceremony would. Each graduate’s name will be called as their picture is displayed. Honor cords will be mailed to students in advance of the ceremony.
This photo will be displayed as the graduate’s name is called for thousands to see, so please make sure that it is a current photo that you and your family will recognize. Photos should be free of filters, taken in good lighting, and be of the graduating student. Collages and group photos will not be accepted.
A cap and gown is not required for the virtual ceremony, but students are welcome to order one for their participation at home. Also, EPIC graduates of the Class of 2020 are invited to participate in next year’s commencement and will be honored separately from the class of 2021. If you would like to order a cap and gown you may do so at:
https://epiccharterschools.org/cap-gown-order
.
Your graduation is contingent on having being placed in a final schedule and completion of all curriculum requirements for the Class of 2020 and your selected graduation path.
The graduation support department will conduct a graduation check after your teacher has entered final course grades and submits a "Finalize Graduate Request".
If you have any concerns about meeting the requirements for graduation, please contact your teacher or GSM.
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EPIC is anticipating another year of enrollment growth. This means it is important to re-enroll now to secure placement on your current teacher’s roster for the 2020-2021 school year. As new students enroll in EPIC for the next school year, they are randomly placed with teachers in their geographic area, unless they make a specific teacher request. So, re-enroll now and remember the enrollment application must be completed using a computer and not a mobile device. You can re-enroll
here
.
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Congratulations to Cameron Fleming and Haley Jenkins! We are proud to have these exceptional students representing EPIC as our March students of the month.
Watch the video to learn more about these young scholars.
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Class Ring Orders Now Available
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View the short tutorial on how to order an official class ring for EPIC Charter Schools.
If you have additional questions or need assistance ordering, contact customer service at
highschoolcs@herffjones.com
or call toll free 866-238-5336.
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Summer Bridging Approaching
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Summer Bridging will be from July 6-August 14.
This program is for students who still have gaps to fill in their learning before starting the next grade level. Your teacher will be contacting you towards the end of the school year to notify you if you qualify for summer bridging.
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