Hello Beallsville Students and Families,

To be better prepared as we progress through the mandated school closure ordered by Ohio Governor Mike Dewine due to the COVID-19 pandemic, I thought it was imperative to prepare a frequently asked questions/Blue Devil Guidance list or a quick reference guide.  As the COVID 19 pandemic is a fluid situation, this document will be ever changing as new information is made known. This document will be made available in our newsletter and website.

GENERAL INFORMATION

How long will the school closure last?  We do not know this answer.  We will provide students and parents/guardians with information as we receive it from the Governor’s weekly press conferences.  At this time, the school closure will last through Friday, May 1, 2020. Although we are currently scheduled to go back to school on Monday, May 4, 2020 teachers will be preparing assignments/projects for the remainder of the school year in the event school is closed for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year.

Are teachers working during the school closure?  Yes, teachers are working remotely during the school closure.  Teachers can be reached for assistance via their virtual classroom platform (i.e. Google Classroom, Class Dojo) or can be reached by email.  We will provide a list of teacher emails shortly, but in the meantime, you can reach your teacher by emailing them at: firstname.lastname@omeresa.net or firstname.lastname@swissohio.k12.oh.us. If you cannot reach a teacher please email casey.tolzda@omeresa.net and Mr. Tolzda can forward the email to the appropriate teacher. 

What if my student(s) have a positive lunch account balance?  You can contact the Switzerland of Ohio Local School District Central Office (740-472-5801) to inquire about refunds for your student’s lunch account balance for the 2019-2020 school year.  You may also carry your positive lunch account balance over to the 2020-2021 school year. Senior students will need to have their lunch account balance reconciled (no negative balance).

EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES/ATHLETICS

Will my student-athlete be eligible for the 2020 Fall Sport Season?  The Ohio High School Athletic Association requires a student to pass five, one credit courses during the previous grading period to be eligible for the next grading period.  Also, the Switzerland of Ohio Local School District requires a student to earn a grade point average (gpa) of 1.75 during the previous grading period to be eligible. However, the GPA requirement has been temporarily suspended by the school board.  Therefore,, a student who wishes to participate in athletics during the 2020 Fall Sport Season will need to have passed five, one credit courses. This is for grades 7-12.

Will there be Spring Sports? The OHSAA is still looking at options for an abbreviated Spring Sports season if we return on Monday, May 4th. We will stay tuned for more updates in May.

Will we have our Prom?  As of right now, Prom has been postponed and could be scheduled during the month of May if we are able to return to school on Monday, May 4, 2020.  In the event we are able to return to school on this date, Prom will be held at the school. If the event school is closed for the remainder of the academic year, we will have a plan to hold Prom at Beallsville High School when the “stay at home” and “social distancing” orders are lifted. If this extends too far into the summer, then prom will be canceled at that time. We will make every effort to have a prom in some form or fashion. 

Will we have our Academic Awards Banquet?  As of right now, the Academic Awards Banquet scheduled for grades 7-12 is Thursday, May 14th.  If we are closed for all of May then we will find an alternative way to honor our students.

Will we have Blue and White Day?  As of right now, Blue and White Day is scheduled for Friday, May 15th.  If we return to school on Monday, May 4th we will have Blue and White Day.  If the school extension is closed through the remainder of the year then we will simply be unable to hold Blue and White Day this year.

Will we have Rally Day?  Rally for Life Day is scheduled for Friday, May 8th.  If we return on Monday, May 4th we will have a Rally Day!  If the closure is extended then we will look at alternatives for a later date, possibly even in the summer.  

What about Senior Pictures for Yearbook?  Seniors can email their senior pictures as a jpeg to kayla.moore@omeresa.net

What about the National Honor Society? If we return in May, we will have a ceremony during the month before school is out for the summer.  If not, we will look at a couple options. One would be to have it in the summer if social distancing guidelines are lessened.  Other ideas are being explored, such as virtually holding a ceremony if we are unable to meet in person.

AP Classes- AP Central and College Boars are providing daily lessons for AP students of every AP course offering to ensure coverage of 4th nine weeks material, and to help students prepare for the revised AP exams.Students may join live streams, as the lessons are presented each day or access them at their convenience anytime after the livestream.  Lessons typically last between 20-40 minutes and cover the big skills students will be expected to know on the exam. Daily lessons started on March 25, but students can still access past lessons on YouTube. Students who are able should take advantage of this opportunity. Mrs. Wickham has posted links to the lessons on her google classroom and has sent the link via email to students.  The email contains information on daily classes offered by AP Central and reflects live stream time. Students unable to join live can access past videos using the same link. 

Will we have our Spring Musical?  The Spring Musical was scheduled to be performed in the River High School Old Gym from Thursday, April 2, 2020 through Saturday, April 4, 2020, which means the Spring Musical has been postponed.  If we are able to return to school on Monday, May 4, 2020 there will be discussion on how we can still ensure our students are able to showcase their talents in the Spring Musical.

ASSIGNMENTS/COURSEWORK

How do I get my assignments/projects from my teachers?  This will depend on your ability to access the internet.  If you are able to access the internet, then your assignments will be delivered via Google Classroom, Progress Book, or any other electronic platform your teacher is using.  If you do not have a reliable internet source, you can obtain a copy of your assignments/projects by emailing casey.tolzda@omeresa.net and I will forward to the appropriate teacher.  You may also call the school phone at 740-926-1302 and leave a voicemail. 

When will I receive additional assignments?  You will receive new assignments/projects/assessments beginning on Monday, April 20, 2020.  You will either receive new materials electronically or by regular mail depending on the teacher/class.

When are my assignments due?  There are two answers for this question.  For the first set of materials that were assigned prior to the school closure (Monday, March 16, 2020-Friday, April 3, 2020) these materials will be due by Friday, April 17, 2020.  For those of you that have a reliable internet source, you can email your teacher. If you have a smartphone, you can take a screenshot of your materials and email them to your teacher.  In the event you are able to travel to the school building, there will be a drop box on the high school office side inside the foyer area for any materials for students in grades K-12 to drop off work that you are wanting to turn in to your teacher.  Doors will be unlocked, but you will be unable to enter the rest of the school or office area. Simply look for the box and we will then get it to the appropriate teacher. Please make sure the name and grade of the child is on the outside and also what teacher the material should be sent to for grading. We will have this available beginning on Thursday, April 16th. For the material that will be distributed beginning Monday, April 20, 2020, you will be asked to work on the material Monday-Thursday and return your assignment on Friday weekly.  Again, you have multiple methods of turning material into your teacher. The work can also be mailed to the school at 43822 SR 556 Beallsville, OH 43716. Again, make sure the name of the student, grade, and teacher name is included if you are using this option.

*KEEP IN MIND THE FOLLOWING POLICIES WHEN TURNING IN MATERIALS:  1. PROMOTION TO THE NEXT GRADE LEVEL AND 2. FALL ATHLETIC/EXTRACURRICULAR ELIGIBILITY

How much time should be spent on homework?  This will depend on the individual student, but we are requiring teachers to give ALL students ample time to complete assignments.  For example, you will be given an assignment on Monday and you will not have to turn it in until Friday of the week it was assigned.  Of course you can turn it in early, but please make sure you have the material turned in by Friday of the week it was assigned.

How is work graded?  We are not concerned about grades as we are concerned about the well-being of our students and their families at this time.  No student will be academically punished as a result of the extended school closure. However, we are expecting our students to engage and utilize the lessons provided to them by their teachers to continue their education.  We ask that students complete and turn in their assignments given to them by their teachers. The focus is on students attempting the material and receiving feedback from their teachers. Please keep in mind, if we do not provide remote education during the extended school closure there could be a possibility of students making up time during the summer.

What about final grades for the quarter/semester?  Again, no student will be academically punished as a result of the extended school closure.  However, we are expecting our students to engage and utilize the lessons provided to them by their teacher to continue their education and this will be taken into account when determining credit, grade level promotion and semester grades.  The following decisions were made by the Beallsville staff for grades 9-12:

• If a student had a passing grade at the end of the 3rd grading period, that student cannot receive a failing grade for the 2nd semester.  Exception: if a student fails to attempt any of the assigned work by their teacher, then this decision would not apply.
• No student shall receive a semester grade that is lower than their earned 3rd quarter grade.  Exception: if a student fails to attempt any of the assigned work by their teacher, then this decision would not apply.
• Should a student perform well during the 4th quarter/extended school closure, he/she/ may earn a semester grade HIGHER than their earned 3rd quarter grade.

*The exception is AP/CCP courses will be graded as usual due to state/national guidelines.

Grades K-8 will not have letter grades for the 4th quarter grading period. Instead, they will simply have either a pass (P) or fail (F). 

Do we have to take final exams?  Final exams have been cancelled for the 2019-2020 school year.

Commencement/Graduation

Will there be a 2020 Commencement Ceremony?  If we are able to return to school and the Governor’s orders on “large gatherings” and “social distancing” are lifted, then we plan to hold the 2020 Commencement Ceremony as scheduled on Friday, May 22, 2020 at 7 p.m. at Beallsville High School.  If not, then we will make plans to hold the 2020 commencement ceremony at a later date.

What about Josten’s orders for Seniors? Obviously we postponed this due to the statewide shutdown. Once the social distancing guidelines change we will schedule a date for delivery of all items, and then final payments can be made when pickups take place at that date, whenever it is. We will relay the new date once it is scheduled. We are not going to schedule a date until we are sure we can do it without violating the Governor’s orders. 

What about other graduation ceremonies (8th grade, Kindergarten)?   These are also scheduled in May. Ongoing discussions will be held within the district based on return date. If we return in May, then we will proceed with the ceremonies. If we are unable to return in May then we will have discussions about whether or not we can hold these ceremonies at a later date or not, based on social distancing rules in place at that time.  

College Credit Plus

What if I am enrolled in a College Credit Plus (CCP) course?  You will need to contact your CCP teacher for guidance as these courses do not follow the traditional high school courses.  Again, you can reach your teacher by email or through their electronic platform for guidance. If you do not have the ability to contact your CCP teacher electronically, you can call the school office and leave a detailed message for your CCP teacher.  We will make sure he/she receives the message.

Who should I contact regarding College Credit Plus (CCP) for this school year or next school year?  Please contact Amy Shreve by email (or phone the school office if you do not have internet capability) for information regarding College Credit Plus courses.

2020-2021 School Year

How do I register for courses for the 2020-2021 school year?  We are currently working on this topic.  It is important that you complete the assigned work for this school year and additional information will be delivered regarding classes for the next school year.  If we do not return to school we will create individual schedules based on needs for graduation, and best for each student and their needs. When we return in the fall, then we will have an add/drop week for electives and changes can be made then based on the master schedule.

How do 8th grade students register for classes for the 2020-2021 school year?  If we do not return to school we will create individual schedules based on needs for graduation, and best for each student and their needs.  When we return in the fall, then we will have an add/drop week for electives and changes can be made then based on the master schedule.

Yours truly,

Casey Tolzda
Principal