Monroe Central Closure FAQs
Greetings Seminole Students and Family Members!
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/ 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, website, social media and email.
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) or can be reached by email. A few brave teachers have even shared their personal phone numbers with their students and, as always you can reach your teacher by emailing them at: firstname.lastname@omeresa.net or firstname.lastname@mchs.k12.oh.us
What if I left an essential item at school? Please call the school office (740-472-0414) and leave a message with specific details as to what you need from the school. If you have a quality internet connection, please leave a contact email address where you can be reached for further communication. If you do not have a quality internet connection, please leave a reliable phone number. We will make sure you are able to pick up any essential item that you may have left at school.
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 The Switzerland of Ohio Local School District Board of Education has decided to waive the 1.75 GPA requirement for students during the 4th grading period for the eligibility purposes of the Fall 2020 sports programs. Students still need to pass five, one credit courses during the 4th grading period to be eligible. More guidance will follow as the Board makes their decision.
Will we have the National Honor Society Induction Ceremony? As of right now, The NHS Induction Ceremony has been postponed. If we are able to return to school on Monday, May 4, 2020, there may be a possibility to schedule this event. According to the national office, there are certain parts of the NHS Induction Ceremony that must be completed for the candidates to achieve membership and we are researching ways to complete those.
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 can still be held on an alternative date. In the event school is closed for the remainder of the academic year, we will have a plan to hold Prom at Monroe Central High School when the “stay at home” and “social distancing” orders are lifted.
Will we have our Academic Awards Banquet? As of right now, the Academic Awards Banquet has been postponed and we are currently working on a creative plan to make sure all of our Academic All Stars are showcased. Please stay tuned for additional information.
Will we have Red and Gold Day? As of right now, Red and Gold Day has been postponed. If we are able to return to school on Monday, May 4, 2020, there may be a possibility to schedule this event.
Will we have our Senior Picnic? As of right now, the Senior Picnic has been postponed. If we are able to return to school on Monday, May 4, 2020, there may be a possibility to schedule this event.
Will we have our Spring Band and Choir Concert? As of right now, the Spring Band Concert has been postponed. If we are able to return to school on Monday, May 4, 2020, there may be a possibility to schedule this event.
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 doing the following:
- Call the school office (740-472-0414)
- Leave a message on the secretary’s phone
- Your message will be delivered to the secretary’s email
- The email will then be forwarded to Chris Ruble and myself. We are already creating physical copies for those who need to pick them up starting Tuesday, April 21st at the main office between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 12:00 noon.
- Physical copies can be mailed upon request. They can only be mailed to student addresses on file (if your address has changed, please note that in your message!)
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 (if you call the school office requesting a physical copy of the materials).
Do we still have a Spring Break? Yes! The district’s official spring break is April 9-13, 2020. An extension has been given on all original assignments through Friday, April 17, 2020 in which no new assignments/projects/assessments will be delivered to students. All students will have this time to spend with family and/or complete any assignments/projects/assessments he/she could not complete from the original assigned homework. Please contact your teacher via email if you need additional assistance.
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 or scan with an App that creates a PDF of the document and email them to your teacher. If you do not have either of the methods mentioned, please call the school office, leave a message and we will do our best to work with you to return your materials to your teacher. In the event you are able to travel to the school building, there is currently a plastic drop box outside the office door for any materials you are wanting to turn in to your teacher. The drop box is now there every day.
For the material that will be distributed beginning Monday, April 20, 2020, you will be asked to work on the material faithfully and return your assignments weekly. Again, you have multiple methods of turning material in to your teacher and if you require regular mail, please call the school office and leave a message.
*KEEP IN MIND THE FOLLOWING POLICIES WHEN TURNING IN MATERIALS: 1. PROMOTION TO THE NEXT GRADE LEVEL AND 2. FALL ATHLETIC/EXTRACURRICULAR ELIGIBILITY
How does my teacher receive my work? This will depend on your ability to access the internet. If you are able to access the internet, then you can submit your assignments to your teacher’s digital platform. You may also take a screenshot of your assignment(s) with your phone and email your assignment(s) to your teacher. There are several Apps available which enable you to take a screenshot of your work and convert it to a PDF file. This is preferred over a photograph for grading purposes. Chrome books have had an App added to them for this purpose and there are several available for your smart phone.
Those with unreliable internet will soon have an additional option: We are currently working on a method for those students who do not have a reliable internet source. Our IT staff are working on installing internet on the outside of the buildings which will extend into the parking lots. This will enable students to submit their assignments from the privacy of their cars. We have asked that the internet be available as a Guest only access and it will not be available after 11:00 p.m. at night. We will inform you of a timeline for completion of this project when that becomes available.
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 if possible. Teachers have been advised that not more than one major assignment or three smaller assignments be completed each week per student per class.
How is work graded? We are not as concerned about grades as we are more 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 provided you are making a faithful attempt to complete the assigned work. We do expect 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.
Grades 9-12: We ask that students complete assignments given to them by their teacher within the week they are assigned. At this time, we are beginning to assign grades for students during the 4th grading period.
What about final grades for the quarter/semester? Again, no student will be academically punished as a result of the extended school closure provided you are making a faithful attempt to complete the assigned work. We do expect 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 for students of Monroe Central high School:
- If a student had a passing grade at the end of the 3rd grading period and has been faithfully completing the assigned work, 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.
- All students who have been faithfully attempting to complete the assigned work shall not 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 during the extended school closure, he/she may earn a semester grade HIGHER than their earned 3rd quarter grade.
*One additional exception: AP/CCP courses will be graded as usual due to state/national guidelines. All AP/CCP students must check their email and be in contact with their teachers daily.
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? As of right now, the 2020 Commencement Ceremony has been postponed. 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 Saturday, May 23, 2020 at 7:00 p.m. in the MCHS Gymnasium. If not, then we will make plans to hold the 2020 commencement ceremony at a later date and, possibly, an alternate location.
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. Your CCP Letter of Intent is due by May 1st. This is for all CCP students and not just the new ones. Please check your email daily for updates on CCP!
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.
How do 8th grade students register for classes for the 2020-2021 school year? We are currently working on this topic. Additional information will be delivered regarding classes for the next school year.
Yours Truly,
Joe Semple
Principal
Monroe Central High School
