To be better prepared as we progress through the extended school closure ordered by Ohio Governor Mike DeWine due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we felt it was imperative to prepare a frequently asked questions/Redskins Guidance document 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 and Class Dojo.

GENERAL INFORMATION

How long will the school closure last? 

Governor Mike Dewine has closed schools for the remainder of the 2019-20 school year. We will continue to have remote instruction. We will continue to provide students and parents/guardians with information as we receive it from the Governor’s weekly press conferences.  Woodsfield Elementary’s grade level teacher teams have prepared for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year. During the week of April 13-17, Woodsfield Elementary sent letters in the mail enclosed with 3rd grading period report cards and checklists of activities to complete during the remaining school closure period. You can access this link for up to date information provided by the Governor’s office https://governor.ohio.gov/wps/portal/gov/governor/

What if I do not have internet at my home residence? 

We are aware and sensitive to this issue. For this reason, none of the required tasks of completion for the 4th grading period require internet access. There are additional activities and opportunities for learning that can be accessed only through having residential internet access but those are being classified as “enrichment”. These activities will of course benefit any and all students who are able to participate in them but in the interest of equitable access and trying not to add stress to this current situation, they are not required. We highly encourage parents and students to communicate with their child(ren)’s teacher(s) as often as possible and there are means to communicate with the teachers in the envelopes that went out last week.

The District’s Technology Department is currently working on installing wireless internet access points (WiFi) on the outside of all of our district school buildings where the internet can be accessed from a designated area on the school campus.  If you do not have reliable internet at your residence, but you have reliable transportation and would like to access the internet for school purposes, you can go to the designated area (building closest to your residence) and access the internet from the parking lot.  Please remember to remain in your vehicle at all times so we are still able to practice social distancing. 

Are teachers working during the school closure? 

Yes, teachers are working remotely during the school closure.  There are ways to communicate with teachers enclosed in the envelopes that were sent last week. We encourage frequent communication with your child(ren)’s teacher(s) to assist you during this period of remote instruction.

What if I left an essential item at school? 

Please call the school office (740-472-0953) and leave a message with specific details as to what you need from the school.  If you have a reliable internet connection, please leave a contact email address where you can be reached for further communication.  If you do not have a reliable internet connection, please leave a phone number.  We will make sure you are able to pick up any essential item(s) that you may have left at school.

KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION FOR 2020-2021

• At this time the in-person registration is postponed until further notice.  The district will accept online registration for Kindergarten through the OneView platform. This is the preferred method. Directions have been posted on the district website at www.sk12.org.
• If you do not have internet access, you may call the school (740-472-0953) in order to have information mailed to your home.  When calling, please leave a message with the following information:
  • Parent/guardian’s name
  • Student’s name
  • Mailing address
  • Email
  • Phone number where you can be reached.

Again, the district will now accept online registration for next year’s  (2020-2021) Kindergarten students through the OneView platform. Directions have been posted on the district website. 

EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES/ATHLETICS

Will my student-athlete be eligible for the 2020 Fall Sport Season (6th- 8th graders)? 

The Ohio High School Athletic Association requires a student to pass five, one credit courses during the previous grading period to be eligible during the next grading period. To summarize, a student who wants to participate in a fall sport during the 2020-2021 school year, he/she must have a passing grade in five (5), one (1) credit courses or the equivalent. 

Will we have our Academic Awards and Junior High Athletics Banquet? 

As of right now, the banquet has been postponed.  Please stay tuned for additional information.

Will we have our 8th Grade Trip to Gettysburg and Washington, D.C.? 

As of right now, the Trip has been postponed.  We are doing everything that we can to try to make this trip happen. A ton of credit goes to Mrs.Reich for her continuous efforts in this matter. Stay tuned.

Will there be an 8th grade year-end ceremony?

It is postponed for the time being. We are looking into having some way of celebrating our 8th grade students and their progress. It looks like a traditional ceremony will not be possible. Stay tuned for additional information.

Will we have our Spring Band Concert? 

As of right now, the Spring Band Concert has been postponed.  However, we are looking into creative solutions to allowing these students to showcase their skills, perhaps in a virtual format.

ASSIGNMENTS/COURSEWORK

How do I get my assignments/projects from my teachers? 

During the week of April 13-17, Woodsfield Elementary mailed letters enclosed with assignment/task/activity checklists created by our grade level teacher teams which we believe to be thoughtful, engaging and rewarding tasks, challenges and activities in order to maintain the quality of the skills and knowledge that our students have built during this school year. This checklist of activities has weekly activities that will provide instruction throughout the remainder of this school year.  On this checklist, we will not introduce new skills or concepts. We will be reinforcing what students have been instructed to the point of the school closure beginning on March 13.

In addition, the envelope also contained your child’s 3rd grading period report card as well as ways to communicate with your child’s teacher(s). If you did not receive this envelope:

1. Call the school office (740-472-0953)
2. Leave a message on the secretary’s phone.
3. Your message will be delivered to the secretary’s email. State your child’s name and current mailing address as well as a contact number/email to reach you.
4. The email will then be forwarded to Mr.Ischy or Mrs.Zwick.
5. Physical copies will be mailed to the student address that you leave on the voicemail message (if your address has changed, please note that in your message).

When are my assignments due? 

• Are we supposed to turn the work in that was due Friday April 17?
  
• No.  We have decided that out of concern for everyone’s safety we ask that you sign the first line on the Checklist sheet referencing the work that was complete from March 16th through April 17. There is also another to attest for the remainder of the school year.
• This is for all grade levels K-8
  • However if you are able to submit student work samples using the communications provided on the checklist, teachers are working on providing feedback on the work they receive. This is the most highly recommended remote instruction that we can promote.
  • This is NOT A REQUIREMENT rather wanting to help the students with issues they may face.
• So to recap: No, we will not be collecting that work in paper form. We are accepting your signature as we trust that you have done your best and made a good-faith effort to assist your child in completion.
• All you are required to do for that completed work is sign the checklist and send a photo of the signed checklist to your child’s teacher.
• Teachers provided a list of ways to communicate with them via the checklist.

*KEEP IN MIND THE FOLLOWING POLICIES WHEN TURNING IN THE SIGNATURE VERIFICATION PAGE: 

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 (Google Classroom, Class Dojo).  You may also take a screenshot of your assignment(s) with your phone and email your assignment(s) to your teacher. This is only for an extension of learning – YOU ARE NOT REQUIRED TO TURN IN ASSIGNMENTS

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.  However, we are expecting our students to engage and utilize the lessons provided to them by their teachers to continue their education.   The focus is on students attempting the material and, if possible, 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/other time.

What about final grades for the grading period?  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.  The following decisions were made by Woodsfield Elementary School:

• 4th Grading Period grades will be recorded as “Pass” or “Fail”
• Documentation with parent/guardian signature attesting to the student completion of the required activities will be the basis for the student earning a “Pass” grade.
  • • If you cannot send digital documentation of your child’s completion of the school closure activities, please contact your child’s teacher or call the school office and a school-addressed, stamped envelope will be mailed to you so that you can mail the documentation back to the school for credit.
• We cannot assign a grade of “Pass” to your child for the 4^th grading period without this documentation and your signature.

Will not doing the work this nine weeks result in a failure for the year?

• Although it may not result in failure for the year it certainly will not assist your child in progressing through their education, and could result in failure for the 4th nine weeks.   We are all making a good faith effort to do what we can to provide help and resources for students to continue to grow academically.
• When looking at retention, the student’s entire body of work will be assessed in making that decision.
• I would like to remind all that retention is not a punishment. When a child is retained it is with the belief that the child does not have the requisite skills/knowledge to be successful in the next grade level. Our belief is that retention is in the student’s best interests.

SUMMER/FALL COLLEGE CREDIT PLUS (CCP)

• It is time to register CCP courses for summer and fall. The testing has been waived, and the requirement is that the student has a 3.0 gpa instead of the passing Accuplacer scores. All summer courses are primarily offered through Belmont and online, and are not offered in our buildings like the fall courses are.  I am including a link to Belmont’s course offerings for summer, and then the CCP offerings for fall.Please have any student that meets the gpa requirement and wishes to register contact Mrs.Brianna McConnell via email and she will work with Belmont to get them scheduled. Email: brianna.mcconnell@omeresa.net

Link to Belmont College Course offering schedule: http://www.belmontcollege.edu/current-students/summer-course-schedule-viewer/

Yours truly,

Josh Ischy
Principal