Information

Dear McLean Pyramid Community:

The McLean Pyramid Principals wanted to provide to you information about grading and the schedule for distance learning that will begin on April 14.  We understand that families have children who are in more than one school in our pyramid and we wanted to put out one piece of information to make things a little bit easier for you to handle. 

GRADING

Elementary Students
No fourth quarter grades will be assigned to elementary students due to equity issues of access to technology and limited student ability to submit work during distance learning.  Elementary students will engage in teacher-led and independent learning.  Learning packets will be distributed by mail to all PK-6 students beginning the week of March 30.   Literacy and math content will also be made available on FCPS Cable Channel 21 beginning the week of March 30.
Middle/High School Students
The School Board was briefed that no student work assigned after March 13 will be graded, at the recommendation of VDOE; however, work assigned prior to March 13 will still be accepted up until April 24 in order to be applied in the calculation of students’ third quarter grades. Additionally, it is the intention of FCPS to use maximum flexibility in assessing and evaluating student learning for the remainder of the school year. To that end, middle school and high school students will be assigned a “no mark” for the fourth quarter, with assignments submitted being allowed to positively influence the student’s overall grade for the year based on mastery of learning concepts, in accordance with FCPS grading policy. Only final grades will be shown on transcripts; a “no mark” will not show on a student’s final transcript.

SCHEDULE

Elementary School Students:
Teachers will provide an hour of virtual instruction and be available for one hour of “office” time to provide individual and small group support Monday through Thursday.  More detailed schedules will be sent by each elementary school by April 3.
Learning Activities
• Students will have access to weekly print activities through centrally created and distributed learning packets.
• Students will engage with the teacher in virtual chat as detailed in the school schedule.
• Video lessons available on cable Channel 21 and through Channel 21 web streaming.
• Teachers created activities will be posted in FCPS 24-7 Blackboard to ensure caregiver access.
• G Suite and Google Classroom may be used for students to complete activities.
• Students should have both off and on screen learning activities.

Middle School Students:

Distance learning for students begins on April 14.  Students should check their Blackboard accounts for messages and updates from their teachers.  Each teacher will provide the following information prior to April 14.
• Blackboard Collaborate Ultra link
o At the start of each class, students just need to click on the link
o This link will automatically connect them to the classroom
• Office hours times and days

Classes are Wednesday and Friday

High School Students:

Distance learning for students begins on April 14.  Students should check their Blackboard accounts for messages and updates from their teachers.  Each teacher will provide the following information prior to April 14.
• Blackboard Collaborate Ultra link
o At the start of each class, students just need to click on the link
o This link will automatically connect them to the classroom
• Office hours times and days

Links to learn about technology tools

Blackboard Collaborate Ultra

Mrs. Langhorne - recording_3

Pear Deck
Also, Erin Kreeger, Physics teacher, created a YouTube video explaining Pear Deck.  Pear Deck is a live slides presentation tool that works with Google Slides or PowerPoint presentations and allows students to see the slides on their own devices. With Pear Deck, interactive slides can be added to solicit feedback, do a quick formative check, or just see how your students are feeling today.
https://youtu.be/Gv2TMjAJHIY

EdPuzzle
Today's video is on EdPuzzle.  Here is Ms. Hicks, our Chemistry teacher, explaining how the purpose of this tool: https://youtu.be/-1I_dkhsN50

Padlet
To learn about another tool your students use watch this awesome video.  It is about Padlet taught by Jenn Choumil, Biology and Human Anatomy teacher.

Regards,

Benjamin Chiet, Principal, Timber Lane Elementary
Augie Frattali, Principal, Haycock Elementary
Carole Kihm, Principal, Longfellow Middle School
Stacy Kirkpatrick, Chesterbrook Elementary
Holly McGuigan, Principal, Kent Gardens Elementary
Kathy Quigley, Principal, Franklin Sherman Elementary
Ellen Reilly, Principal, McLean High School

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