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Good Afternoon Wolverines!
Thank you all for actively engaging your google classrooms today. You all have been beyond patient while all the issues with virtual learning have developed over the past week. Today, Principals were given options to proceed with live virtual instruction; continue with Blackboard Collaborate Ultra or move completely over to Google Classrooms using Google Meets.
West Potomac has chosen to continue our instruction in Google Classroom with Google Meets. We have made this decision based on several factors relating to the functionality/dependability as well as the ease of use for students and staff. Some teachers have already begun this afternoon with virtual sessions.
Google Classroom/Meets
- Students will need to log in to their Google Classroom through their fcpsschools.net accounts - their participation will not be anonymous
- Students will not have access to the Google Meets session until the teacher opens it
- Students are NOT required to have their videos on to participate
- Teachers will have the ability to mute and remove students from sessions
- Teachers will record and post all sessions
- All administrators have access to all virtual sessions and will “drop in” to class sessions
After the student logs in to google classroom, they need to open their class and the code appears in the class banner (see below). They can click on it and they will go into the live session. If the teacher is not there, they will not be able to access the session.
Our goal is to have virtual sessions begin as early as tomorrow for office hours but given this is yet another pivot and new platform it is possible that not all sessions will be live tomorrow. Your teachers will communicate directly through Google Classroom to let you know if it will be a live session or if they will be available through email. Again, office hours (schedule here) are optional for those who need additional support or to ask questions of their teachers. Over the next few days, more and more classes will be live.
Reminders of Virtual Learning Environments Expectations
Parents/Guardians, we have greatly appreciated your support throughout these past weeks. We ask that you continue to be active in engaging your child WHILE they are in the virtual environment. Check in on them, make sure they are actively engaging their learning. Your presence is a POWERFUL motivator to your child.
Students:
- Follow the best practices that your teacher establishes for participating in the class
- Participate fully and appropriately (just as you would if you were physically at school) in your virtual classes
- The FCPS SR&R is still the governing document for your rights and your responsibility
- If a teacher writes a referral for your behavior in the virtual environment, your AP will schedule a discipline meeting with you and your parent/guardian via Google Meets
- If your behaviors are negatively impacting the virtual learning environment, your google account will be suspended. Your work will be provided to your parents/guardian via email for you to complete.
We all look forward to consistent virtual learning opportunities.
Library Office Hours
The library staff is looking forward to supporting students and teachers as we move to distance learning. Mrs. Landon will be holding virtual office hours for students on from 10:00-11:00 on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Mrs. Rice’s virtual office hours are from 1:00-2:00 Monday, Wednesday and Friday. If those times don’t work for students, please email either one of us to set up a time that works for them (jllandon@fcps.edu or wsrice@fcps.edu). A link to the library Google Classroom has been posted in each Grade Level Classroom.
Again, thank you all for your support and please stay safe, stay healthy.
Ms. Millard
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