I’d love to see your child on Google Meet for our morning meeting & devotions at 9:00 tomorrow.

Thank you!

Hello families!  We have come to the end of our third week of remote learning!  How are you doing?  I hope things are going well for you and you can take time to relax with your family this weekend.

Below is some information for you… =)

Pro D Day Friday May 1st:  In our school calendar we have a pro d day scheduled.  It has been decided that we will keep this as a pro d day.  No new material will be scheduled to come out that day and students can make sure that their assignments are completed and handed in. We will also not be doing our calls with students on Friday.  I am happy to meet with your child on another day next week and will email you if your child is scheduled for a chat on Friday.

New Schedule:  A new schedule will be attached to this blog post.  As this is so new to us all, we are constantly trying to recalibrate and meet the needs of our school families.  All family situations are different and we want to be sensitive to the expectations we are placing on our families.  We have been asked to consider the amount of time it takes students to complete their ‘school work’ each day and have been given a guideline to follow when assigning work.  The new schedule has two columns set up – one with work that is expected to be done every day, and another column with option activities.  If your child needs ‘more’ to do each day then please utilize that ‘optional column’.  In addition I have an ‘extra extra’ column in the Google Classroom that has additional things your child can work on during the week.

Agenda April 27 – May 1 (2)

Whole Class Morning Meetings:  We will meet at 9:00 on Tuesdays and Thursdays.  These will be about 15 minutes and it would be GREAT to see your child there!

Class Chat Schedule

Tuesday:

11:00 – 11:30 Riley, Liam, Caleb, Jesse, Kamali, Barnabas

11:30 – 12:00 Calleigh, Grace, Nora, Arianna, Payton, Katlin

Thursday:

11:00 – 11:30 Josh, Jackson, Zachary, Owen, Jeriel, Ruben, Michael

11:30 – 12:00 Lavinia, Rebecca, Evy, Zyana, Dyllan, Mya

This is a message from the admin:

Hello Highroad Families!

We know that each student having their own dedicated computer at home is a change that can both make learning fun and productive. At the same time, these tools can pose new challenges that adults have to help a child manage. 

To help parents and students, Highroad Academy has installed:

• Filters to ensure that  your child will not be able to access anything on the Chromebook at home that they would not also be able to access from the classroom.
• A system that stores a student’s history and actions while online which is viewable by their teacher.

However, no system is perfect and parent support is crucial in helping students communicate with and use the chromebooks productively. 

Please continue reminding your child that:

• They should be respectful, kind, and honest when on the Internet.
• Their actions online can be seen by their teachers and others.
• Their devices should be treated carefully and with respect.

You can also help by keeping computers and devices visible for your attention at home as students are using their devices. 

We understand that families are doing their best and we want to thank you for all the work you are doing at home with your child during this difficult time. 

Videos & Photos:  I have gotten some cute photos and videos from families and would love to share them with you!  Zachary and Caleb have awesome PE activity videos!  Evelyn has been making some awesome creations!

https://s.amsu.ng/kvfZmBjNj49N

Caleb PE

I want to say a HUGE thank you to all the parents and relatives who are doing so much to help navigate this ‘new adventure’ we are on.  I know this isn’t an easy task and it requires so much time management, patience, and juggling all the different balls that are up in the air right now.  Please know that Mrs. Riley and I are very thankful for you and the efforts you are making to help keep ‘school’ moving forward.  If there is anything we can do to help make things easier for you then please let us know.  We want to support you in any way we can!

Here are a few things you should know about…

Friday Whole Class Morning Meeting – It was LOVELY seeing the class together on Friday morning and I think the kids liked it as well.  We will be meeting as a class EVERY FRIDAY at 9:00.

Video Conference Call – we have scheduled a one-on-one call with your child at the same time each week.  If at all possible, we would love to have your child be available for that time slot.  A helpful hint for remembering would be to have your child put a sticky note on their chromebook or a reminder on a phone/ipod calendar.  If the time slot isn’t working for your family then please email Pam at pgoosen@highroadacademy.com and we can schedule a different time.

Genius Hour – if your child would like to continue with Genius Hour while at home, they are welcome to work on any project of their choosing.  I am introducing a new program called Flipgrid on Monday and they will be able to showcase their project there.  If there are supplies at school then I am  happy to meet you there so you can grab them.  I myself (Pam) am learning to make sourdough bread.  The first one was baked on Friday night – and even though it was a bit over baked the boys in my house gobbled it up in one sitting!  I will be perfecting my own Genius Hour project over the next several weeks!

Bible – we will have a Bible activity for the class to work on this week as well as a BMV for the students to learn.  This will be memorized and either written out (on the chromebook) or recited on an app called Vocaroo.  I have also posted a chapel video that was sent out earlier this week.

Group Chats – The students really enjoyed the group chats this past week so I will have them again next week. Here are the groups – join if you’d like!

Tuesday:

11:00 – 11:30 Riley, Liam, Caleb, Jesse, Kamali, Barnabas

11:30 – 12:00 Calleigh, Grace, Nora, Arianna, Payton, Katlin,

Thursday:

11:00 – 11:30 Josh, Jackson, Zachary, Owen, Jeriel, Ruben, Michael

11:30 – 12:00 Lavinia, Rebecca, Evy, Zyana, Dyllan, Mya

Attached is the schedule for this week.

Weekly Calendar April 20 – 24

Have a wonderful weekend!

Please have your child on google meet tomorrow at 9:00 for a class meeting.  They must MUTE THEIR MIKES and keep the chat feature EMPTY.

Thanks!!

Good evening!

I thought I would send a quick message with a pdf of our weekly calendar that you can print out, a video showing students the ‘new look’ of Google Classroom as well as some more Math in the kitchen photos!

Please click on the link if you would like to take a look at this week’s calendar and print it out for your child.

Weekly Calendar April 14 – 17

Enjoy some more pictures from our amazing grade 5 bakers!

Happy Easter to you all.  I hope you are enjoying this beautiful Easter weekend.  I know this weekend looks very different for many of us, but it is my hope that your family has been able to take some time to reflect on the gift Christ gave us with his death and resurrection.  We watched our Easter service online this morning and then had an Easter egg hunt.  The turkey is on the BBQ and we will still enjoy this day together as a family.  I hope you are able to do the same.

This weekly update feels a little different as the class was not with us in the classroom this week, but rather at home with you.  It was LOVELY being able to connect with your child this week through video chats and Google Classroom.  If you think your child needs more time to chat with us via Google Meet or more support in another way then please let us know and we will set something up.

Google Meet – Individual & Small Group:  We will continue with our individual Google Meet sessions this week, (students who are normally on Monday will be at the same time this Tuesday) but I also wanted to try to coordinate times this week where smaller groups of students could meet together to chat.  I will still be on the video call but want students to have opportunity to catch up.  I have made groups of 4-6 for this week and I will reassess at the end of the week to determine how to do things the following week.  Students will get on the same way they normally do by clicking on the Google Meet button in Google Classroom.

Wednesday:

1:00 – 1:20  Riley, Liam, Caleb, Jesse

1:20 – 1:40 Calleigh, Zyana, Arianna, Payton, Evy, Lavinia

1:40 – 2:00 Josh, Jackson, Zachary, Owen, Barnabas

Thursday:

11:00 – 11:20 Grace, Dyllan, Nora, Katlin, Mya, Rebecca

11:20 – 11:40 Jeriel, Kamali, Ruben, Michael

Classroom Devotions This Friday at 9:00:  I thought it would be fun to try to get on Google Meet this Friday morning together as a class to do our morning meeting.  There are a few ‘rules’ when we have a large group meeting.  One is that students MUST MUTE THEIR MICROPHONES as soon as they get on.  The second is they can use the chat function when they have something to say.  I will record the devotion time and it will be available for those who are not able to make it at 9:00.

Google Classroom Update:  We have spent some time this weekend reorganizing the way Google Classroom looks.  Students will still go to the “Classwork” tab when they get on.  Instead of seeing items grouped according to days, it will be according to subjects.  This will hopefully eliminate hunting around to find assignments, since there are usually a couple of days to finish them.  I will be posting a video tomorrow that will show your child around the ‘new look’ of our Google Classroom page.

Assignments up to this point:  As all family situations are different and parents have different levels of involvement with their child’s day-to-day schooling, I thought it might be helpful to give you an overview of what we have done this week.  The due dates have been put in place to help create some structure for your child.  If your family situation is such that these are not doable, please send me an email and together we will create a schedule that works for your family.

Math – baking assignment. Picture emailed and Math sheet completed by this Tuesday.  4 Daily Math pages completed by Tuesday.

Reading – Close fossil activity booklet with pages 1-11 completed by Tuesday.

Writing – two poems completed by Tuesday.

Science – Rube Goldberg diagram has been started.  Due this Thursday.

Social Studies – Resources slides & questions finished this week.

Phys Ed – 30 minutes of activity and online form filled out and handed in.  Completed this week.

Photos from this week…

I thought I would pass along some baking photos from this week!  Everything looks so delicious!  Great work in the kitchen, Grade 5!

And one last photo of Jeriel learning to fish this week!  Way to go, Jeriel!

Wishing you a wonderful week!

Good morning and welcome to the first day of distance learning!

Google classroom is ready to go for your child!  Once they go into Google Classroom students will see the weekly schedule  and the items on the agenda for today.

If you (or they) have any questions then please feel free to send me an email.  Students can also ‘make a comment’ inside the assignments and those will come to me.  I will be keeping ‘office hours’ on school days between 9:00 – 3:00.  You are welcome to email me outside of those hours but can expect a response during those times.

I look forward to connecting with your child this week and supporting them, and you, on this new adventure!

Have a great day!

Below is our schedule for Google Meetings.  This Friday’s meetings will happen on Thursday morning (no meetings on Good Friday) and Easter Monday meetings will happen on Tuesday, April 14th.  Mrs. Riley and I will alternate meeting with students.  Essentially in a 3 week period students will have one meeting with Mrs. Riley and two meetings with Mrs. Goosen.

Have a great weekend!

Below is the link for Google Meet this morning!  Please come on between 10 and 11 OR 11:45 – 2.  I have a meeting at 11:00 so won’t be available for a bit.

https://meet.google.com/heb-bnsk-bux?pli=1&authuser=0&hs=179

I also made a short three minute video showing parents how to navigate Google Classroom.  Feel free to watch if you’d like!

Good morning!  It was so lovely connecting with you yesterday and hearing how your family is doing!

Today is supplies pick up day!  You will drive up to the entrance and chat with myself and Cathy LaHaise (from a distance, of course).  Please have your sign ready with your family & children’s names/grades.  We will direct you around the building to the primary door where you will get your chromebook…then move on down the lane to get your supplies.  All you need to do is drive, open your trunk and we will get you everything you need!

Once you are home and settled, please take a look at the slideshow that Mr. Hancock put together for you.  It will help you understand how to navigate Google Classroom.  You are welcome to go on to our Google Classroom and take a look around.  Mrs. Riley and I are in the middle of getting it ready for next week so you might see some things ‘partially done’.  Do not fear, all will be ready to go for Monday!

If you have any questions or concerns please send me an email!  I am here to help!  =)

I look forward to seeing you all today!

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1-UpojxijTz2-u50b06vhkkPWKb9C9J_9nh-l0giHchQ/edit?usp=sharing