The Bulldog Beat
Thursday, August 13, 2020
Special Edition

August 10, 2020

Dear Mary Persons students and parents:

Welcome to the 2020-2021 school year! We are hoping to see our students face to face soon! 

This letter is to inform you of important information and to support your online learning experience. It is our hope that we will soon be able to have students together in the school building. We believe learning occurs best in a face to face setting. 

In this packet you will find:
  1. Cover letter from Dr. Finch
  2. Network password page
  3. Dr. Finch Google Classroom login for important information and announcements
  4. Printed schedule (excluding Edgenuity learners, full time dual enrollment, etc.)
  5. Textbooks (if applicable)
  6. Chromebook 
 Not all courses use a textbook. For example, most CTAE, Fine Arts, or Foreign Language courses do not use a textbook. Only a few courses at Mary Persons utilize a textbook as most of the resources are online. However, textbooks can be made available upon request, provided they are available for your course.
 
Here are some helpful tips for first time logins:
  1. Make sure to test your login credentials. If needed, you can use the parking lot area to sign on to your Chromebook.
  2. You must check your email daily. Add your school email account to your smartphone. 
  3. Look for Google Classroom codes to be coming from your teachers to your email. Teachers may send invitations as well. 
Online learning begins on August 17 at 8:00am. Students will need to login to their 1st block Google Classroom at 8:00am (excluding full-time Edgenuity learners and full-time dual enrollment students) and each class afterward. Below are the start times for first through fourth block during online learning:
  1. 1st block starts at 8:00am
  2. 2nd block starts at 9:45am
  3. 3rd block starts at 11:30am
  4. 4th block starts at 1:30pm 
Classes may not meet virtually for the entire 90-minute learning block. However, the Google Classroom sign-in must occur at the start times of each block. Teacher instructions on that day's activities will be given at that time.  
 
Lab space will be made available beginning August 17 for those students with limited to no internet connectivity. Lab space will be provided during the current online learning period we are in. Below are the guidelines for lab use.   
  1. Lab times will include 2 hour blocks with 30 minutes between each block for sanitizing and social distancing. Only one lab per campus will be open at this time, meaning one lab on the freshman campus and one lab on the main campus.    
  2. Students will utilize the Google Form below to register for lab use. The Google Form will be posted on Dr. Finch's Google Classrooms, the MPHS website, and the MPHS Facebook and Twitter pages. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1HrzZXFMhkgkOl_P3fwA_NPs-uJdslIR5QruA-NyGONE/viewform?edit_requested=true 
  3. A facilitator will be assigned to monitor students throughout the assigned block.   
  4. Custodial staff members or facilitators will ensure sanitization and preparation for assigned blocks throughout the day.
  5. Social distancing will be enforced and masking is required during the use of the lab space. 10 students maximum per block.  
  6. Facilitators or school personnel will oversee screening protocols at specified school entrances. 
  7. Covid-19 safety protocols are visible at the entrances and in the lab spaces at each campus.
  8. Technology staff will ensure computers are up and running prior to August 17, 2020, and will check each day to make sure devices and signals are satisfactory.  
Please note: It is important that students and parents/guardians understand that distance/digital learning for 2020-21 school year will not be structured like distance learning from this past spring. Expectations in terms of attendance, grading, and accountability will be the same for those students participating in digital/distance learning and in-person learning. 

Again, we are hopeful that we can soon phase into face to face instruction at Mary Persons. For the time being, we appreciate your patience and support. If you have any questions about our beginning of the year or online learning procedures, please don't hesitate to contact us. 

Sincerely,
Dr. Jim Finch, Principal   
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Monroe County School District does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, or sex in its employment practices, student programs and dealings with the public. It is the policy of the Board of Education to comply fully with the requirements of Title VI, Title IX, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act and all accompanying regulations. As a result, the following people have been appointed to oversee specific areas. Title II, Adult 504, Adult Title IX   Dr. Mike Hickman  25 Brooklyn Avenue, Forsyth, GA 31029  478-994-2031  Student and Athletic Title IX Jackson Daniel 25 Brooklyn Avenue, Forsyth, GA 31029  Student 504 Jenny Rooks 25 Brooklyn Avenue Forsyth, GA 31029 Copyright 2020. All Rights Reserved.