Forestdale Distance Learning Begins this Week

Hello Forestdale Families,

We hope this finds you healthy and well.  We miss seeing our students, families, and staff and are eager to reconnect emotionally and academically this week! 

With our recent school closure for the remainder of the school year, we have developed a distance learning plan to ensure that our students continue learning essential grade-level content and review previously taught concepts in all subject areas.  This week, families will receive more information about what distance learning will look like for their children.  Learning activities and schedules will vary by grade level.  Parents will receive emails with information about Forestdale’s Distance Learning course in Blackboard 24/7, specific grade-level schedules, and links to teacher’s online classrooms (Blackboard Collaborate Ultra) from teachers this week.  Please see below for the different ways students can learn from home for the remainder of the school year.

Weekly Learning Packets

Beginning the week of March 30, all elementary students began receiving weekly learning packets in the U.S. Mail.  If you have not received a learning packet for your child, let your child’s teacher know.  To go paperless and opt-out of receiving these packets in the mail, click here; to print activities of interest from the packets from home, click here.

Channel 21 Programming

FCPS will use Cable Channel 21 to air literacy and math lessons. You can watch these lessons on TV (check your local listings) or stream online.

Forestdale Distance Learning Site

Forestdale will be launching our distance learning site, “Forestdale Elementary 2019-2020,” as a way to provide our students virtual classroom lessons and learning tasks beginning April 14, 2020.  Also available on our site will be online resources for students to utilize to support student learning.
In order to access the “Forestdale Elementary 2019-2020” site, your child will need to log onto FCPS 24/7 Learning, which can be accessed here. Please note that this morning, FCPS 24/7 Blackboard has been experiencing issues with its databases preventing users from logging in; Blackboard is currently working to resolve the issue. 

Blackboard Log in Screenshot

Please note: If your child has forgotten his/her password and is having difficulty resetting it, email your child’s classroom teacher for assistance. Our staff directory can be accessed here.  Parents can also recover their child’s password here.

Once logged on, click on the “Forestdale Elementary 2019-2020” course.  Students will click on their grade level link (see first picture below) and then have access to a variety of grade level content folders (see second picture below) that will contain the actual lessons and learning tasks for them to complete.

Forestdale Blackboard Site screenshot

Teacher-Led Virtual Instruction

Teachers will be leading daily virtual instruction via an online platform, Blackboard Collaborate Ultra, at scheduled times Monday through Thursday.  Students can join the virtual classrooms at scheduled times by logging on through a device or calling in by phone.  The schedule can be found below; the link and phone number for the virtual classroom will be shared directly with families by teachers.  All virtual lessons will be recorded and uploaded to the Forestdale Distance Learning site in Blackboard 24/7 for later view by students who were unable to join the lesson at the scheduled time.

Teacher- Led Virtual Office Hours

Teachers will also be available at scheduled times Monday through Thursday for differentiated learning and support through virtual/phone office hours.  The schedule can be found below; teachers will share information about how to access these virtual learning opportunities with families this week.

Forestdale Virtual Learning Schedule

Telephone, Virtual Chats, Email, Twitter

Our teachers and staff are reaching out to connect with our Falcons.  We may call, email, or set up virtual chats, so keep an eye out for us!  Phone calls will come from Private Number or Blocked Caller.  If you need to update your contact information or add an email address that was not on file, please share that information with your child’s teacher.  Also follow us on Twitter- @ForestdaleES!

We recognize that the circumstances that led us to move instructional practices virtually are unique; however, we sincerely appreciate your flexibility and support. Additionally, we recognize that this format does not replace actual classroom instruction; nor does it offer the same rigor and authentic experience. The goals of distance learning are continuity of learning to the greatest degree possible, oongoing connections between teachers and students, and providing a sense of normalcy and routine as best as possible during a stressful time.

Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to either your child’s classroom teacher or specialists and resource staff who support your child. You are also welcome to reach out to a member of our administrative team by emailing us directly. All staff email addresses can be found on our school website.

We miss being together and look forward to continuing to support our students and families through virtual learning. 

Fondly,

Jamie Meier, Interim Principal

Jenny Cunneen, Assistant Principal