KG 6.9.20 Update

Summer Technology Updates ~Sarah Talley

Dear Parents - As Kent Gardens' Technology Integration Specialist,it is with great thanks and amazement that I reflect on how our staff, parents and students have all worked together to harness the power of technology to pull off the most drastic change in education - Distance Learning.  Together, we have blazed a trail with great success, thanks to our FCPS technology resources that supported our teaching and student learning.    

As we transition to the summer months, we would like to take this opportunity to share some summer technology safety tips for parents.  Please be aware that Google Apps for Education, MyON, and i-Ready lessons will be available to students all summer. Please talk with your child regularly about their online habits and interactions.  Do they speak about them positively?   What online books/posts/articles are they reading?  Are they showing their #kgpride? As with any online experience, we encourage parents to monitor what students are viewing and assist them as they navigate the digital world.

As parents you have the option of resetting the password if needed.  Parents can reset a student password on multiple sites simultaneously which include: Blackboard, Google Apps, MyON, etc. The site to reset the passwork is: https://www.fcps.edu/resources/technology/password-management.  Scroll to the bottom of the page for password reset options and click on “Students” at the bottom.   Log in with your child’s username and password – the same one they have used the entire year.  On the second screen, simply enter a new password of your choosing twice and then keep that password secret.  This will NOT reset the password of any other personal email or other online accounts your child may maintain outside of the FCPS network.  Only their FCPS accounts will be affected. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at sjtalley@fcps.edu and I will be happy to help in any way I can.  Please have a happy and safe summer!

 

FCPS Laptops – Student Loans:  Over the past few weeks, we have loaned well over 100 laptops to students in our community.   As we expect that students will continue to engage in educational opportunities over the summer, most students may keep their loaned FCPS laptops over the summer. For those students who will not be returning to an FCPS school next year AND will not be engaging in summer learning should return their laptops. Please contact Terri Pendleton at tlpendleton@fpcs.edu.


FCPS Summer Reading Adventure

This summer, readers of all ages will have the opportunity to play a gameboard where they can complete a series of challenges, read books of their choice, or a mix of both depending on their interests and preferences. Youth game boards will be available in English and Spanish. These will go live on June 12th and extend through August 14th - the theme is “Imagine Your Story.” Additional information can be found here and is shared in detail below:

  • All participants should sign up online using our Summer Reading App prior to downloading a personal gameboard.
  • All game board PDFs are clickable and every challenge piece will link back to a page on our website with additional details, resources, and related enrichment activities for participants who want to go the extra mile;
  • As participants play the game and hit their milestones, they will be entered into prize drawings for one of two Amazon gift cards in each age category (preschool, school-age, teen, and adult). The 1st milestone prize is $50, the 2nd is $100, and the 3rd is $150. They will submit their information to us via a Survey Monkey form for each milestone. Links to the surveys are embedded into each milestone piece in the game and are available on our website;
  • Readers who sign up on the first day of the program (June 12) will be entered into a drawing for a $25 e-gift card from Scrawl Books;
  • Participants who complete all three challenges by August 14 will be entered into a grand-prize drawing for Washington Nationals ticket prize pack for them and their family to enjoy once games resume;
  • There is also a Summer Reading Adventure 2020 playlist on YouTube that features promo videos with basic information about the program (in English and Spanish) as well as short book talks for preschoolers, school-age kids, and teens. We will be adding additional book talks on Instagram throughout the summer;
  • Connect with our FCPS librarians on social media! @FairfaxLibrary on Instagram and Twitter and @Fairfax County Library on Facebook;
  • Our virtual programs will continue all summer long and information about those can be found on our events calendar

Summer Continuity of Learning, June 29 – July 31  

All elementary and middle school students will have the opportunity to participate in summer Continuity of Learning. Students/parents may OPT out (link to be provided).  If you have opted out and wish to receive the packets, we will provide a link in our next mailing.  FCPS webpage also includes resources, click the link here.

    • Students in grades K-6 will receive two Essentials Summer Practice Books (one math and one language arts) that will review key content from this school year. The book will include a letter to families, learning outcomes, Inquiry based “Learning Quest” activities.  Answer guides will be posted electronically, and math answers will be in booklets.
    • Virtual resources will be available on Blackboard 24-7.  In addition, students will have access to skill practice through the iReady digital lessons through the FCPS public Universal Screener website. Students will need to enter their FCPS login credentials to access these resources. These digital activities will be available until Friday, July 31st. Teachers will share log in information during upcoming virtual sessions.
    • A Kent Gardens teacher will be available to meet virtually with students to do check-ins and support student learning from Monday, June 29 - Friday, July 31 To register your student for office hours and receive a secure link, please complete this google form. Once registered, your child will receive log-in information via their FCPS Google email address prior to the first session. Office hours are intended to be a time where interested students can ask questions or receive support with that week’s Essentials Summer Practice Book content. We will release the office hours to parents who complete the google form for privacy purposes.
    • Staffing will include a grade level teacher for K-6, ESOL, and one special education teacher.  Those enrolled will receive detailed information regarding the hours.
    • Lexia and Dreambox will be available for student use during the summer.  At this point, your child’s current Blackboard 24/7 curriculum will not be available due to maintenance. The summer Continuity of Learning (COL) will have a 24/7 curriculum available to you with inquiry-based lessons.

Community Rally organized by McLean HS Students

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